A Quick Way To Find Out If You Qualify For A 50,000-Mile Bonus On The United MileagePlus Explorer Card

UPDATE:  If you don’t qualify for the 50,000-mile offer described below, check your local Chase branch.

United ExplorerThe standard signup bonus for the United MileagePlus Explorer card is 30,000 miles after spending $1,000 within three months, but targeted offers touting higher signup bonuses for the card surface frequently.

I recently received what appeared to be a targeted offer for 50,000 miles – with the same spending requirement – in the mail.  Unlike a typical targeted offer, however, the mailing did not contain an offer code or any other type of personalized information; rather, it simply directed me to “Apply at UnitedExplorerCard.com/50KStart by June 15, 2013.”  I had already capitalized on a targeted 50,000-mile offer for the MileagePlus Explorer card last year, but I was curious to see if the offer was available to anyone who simply entered the “50KStart” URL.

The answer, it turns out, is not necessarily — but the link does provide a quick and easy way to determine whether you qualify for the offer.  When you enter the URL, you are prompted to either log in to your MileagePlus account or enroll in the program.

50KStart Page

If you do not yet have a MileagePlus account but enroll in the program to explore this offer, I’d be very curious to know whether the 50,000-mile bonus is extended to you.  Please post your result in the comments!

I plugged in my MileagePlus number and password, and was informed that I am eligible – again – for the offer.

50K Offer

I won’t apply for the card because I already have a Chase-heavy wallet and want to let my credit profile with Chase cool down a bit before applying for another card – especially a card that I recently churned. But I love 50,000-mile bonuses, and the MileagePlus Explorer card offers a very useful checked-bag perk and two lounge passes to boot, so it’s certainly a tempting offer.  If you’re interested in the card, you might as well enter your MileagePlus number and see if you’re offered the 50,000-mile bonus.  Keep in mind, however, that many other cards are superior to the MileagePlus card for actual spending, so if you don’t already have a good lineup of quality cards that earn cash or flexible points on a dollar-by-dollar basis, I’d suggest focusing on that front and worrying about signup bonuses down the road.

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  • Kalboz

    I currently have the card and when I plugged in my UA information, it just showed what benefits I am entitled to receive with this card.

    • David

      Yea, same thing happened when I tried my wife’s account; I guess a second bonus offer isn’t in the cards.

      • Kalboz

        Thank you for posting this … we all need a periodic reminder of our benefits 🙂

      • David

        HAH, you’re quite welcome.

  • Angie

    Nope, I signed up for a new account and it still only offered me the 39,000 I won’t sign up for the card unless I can get the 50,000 offer.

  • Angie

    30k not 39k sorry

    • David

      Darn, I figured. That would have been a real find if it offered 50,000-miles bonuses to new accounts.

  • Laura

    I don’t have the card (and want it), but it just showed me the benefits and when I kept clicking through to the apply now page, it showed 30K offer.

  • I got the 30k offer and my wife got the benefits of the card page, curious since neither of us has a UA Chase card…

    • David

      That does seem strange. Is anyone having any success with the 50K offer besides me? On the one hand I’m flattered that United set up this seemingly generic “/50KStart” link solely for my benefit, on the other I feel bad that others aren’t privy to the same offer 🙂

  • Fanfoot

    I *do* see the offer when I log in. I don’t currently have an Explorer, having canceled mine in January. Currently UA Platinum if that makes any difference here. Have a number of Chase cards. Thinking I just can’t do this right now.

    • David

      Ok great, that’s good to hear! I’m in the same situation though — tempted but passing.

  • SvenS

    This is the same offer as anyone gets if they walk in a Chase branch, plus they are actually offered more. They will tack on 5000 more miles for just adding an authorized user. Why does no one ever talk about in branch sign ups? I dont get it… Chase even has target offers only their bankers see. Like the 70k sapphire preferred offer.

    • David

      That’s interesting — in my years of reading points and miles blogs, I’ve never read about a superior offer being made in a bank’s branch. I’ll stop by the Chase branch in my neighborhood and look into this.

    • Joe

      Chase branch did nothing for me. I asked about card sign ups available (couple months ago) and they had nothing better than the usual ones seen on FF blogs. You might just be lucky in living near a branch that is proactively offering bonuses to generate CC apps.

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  • Brian

    Just opened a new UA account for my wife, transferred 1k UR pts to her….no dice 🙁 30k offer

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  • Joe

    I got a postcard saying 50k miles for spending 1000 in 3 months. But when I log on it says 50k miles for spending $2000 in 3 months. There seems to be no way to contact them about this false advertising, so no new card for me it seems.

    • Kumar

      False advertising? Really? Take a chill pill. Two separate offers man.

  • www.Fishing4Deals.com

    There is a similar offer floating around for a business version of this card but it requires $2000 of spend.

  • Sameer

    Opened a new account, but got the 30k offer only.. no 50k offer..

  • William Lane

    I just logged into my UA MP account and found the banner offer for 50K pts. I don’t want to apply for a new card yet, but I do want this one. I wonder how long these offers usually last?

  • Looks like I’m a bit late, sadly. I missed out!

    Torsten @mightytravels:disqus