United MileagePlus Select Card vs United Explorer Card

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Key Question: Should You Keep Your United MileagePlus Select Card?

The United Mileage Plus Select Visa is an old United card that is grandfathered and you can no longer apply for it. The key question is IF you are a United flyer, do you keep this card or upgrade to their newer cards like the United Explorer Card "?

We will compare these two cards and see under what circumstances does it make sense to keep your existing Select Card and when you should consider switching to the Explorer card.

How United MileagePlus Select Is Better Than United Explorer Card?

The United MileagePlus Select is better than the Explorer card in the following ways.

Earning Miles - This cars allows you to earn 3X on United purchases vs 2X for the Explorer card. You can also earn 2X miles on Star Alliance^TM airlines and also at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and some home improvement stores.

In terms of earning miles on both United, Star Alliance partners and everyday spending, this card beats the crap out of United Explorer.

Earning PQP - Both the Select and Explorer card allows you to earn PQPs through credit card spending. However, the Select card is much better. you can earn up to 3,000 PQPs through credit card spending (500 PQP for every $12,000 in spending) vs only 1000 PQPs for the Explorer card. Update - For 2020, you can earn up to 2,000 PQPs for the United Explorer (that can be applied up to Platinum Premier).

Furthermore, the PQPs earn on the Select Card can be used to qualify for 1K Premier membership. That means that even Premier Platinum members can make use of it. In contrast, the PQPs you earn from the Explorer card can only be used to qualify up to Premier Platinum level. That means if you easily qualify for Premier Platinum, the PQPs you earn from the Explorer card will be useless to you.

How United Explorer Card is Better Than United MileagePlus Select Card?

The Explorer is better the Select in the following ways.

Free First Checked Baggage - The Explorer card offers free first checked baggage, while the Select card does not. It is important to note that Premier Silver members already have their first checked baggage free when they fly and Premier Gold members get TWO checked baggage for free.

Priority Zone 2 Boarding - The Explorer card allows you to board at Zone 2. For those who do not know, Premier Silver members also board at zone 2 so if you are a Premier member, this perk is irrelevant to you.

Award Availability - United Explorer card holders will also see more award space available to them when they are searching for award flights. Having said that, Premier status members also get this perk.

2 Anniversary Companion Pass - Explorer card holders get this perk while Select cardholders do not.

Statement Credit on Global Entry/TSA Pre-check Application Fee - This is actually a very nice feature to have to. And the UMP Select does not have this feature.

Analysis

If you have an existing United MileagePlus Select Card, you will earn more miles for both United flights and everyday spending categories than you would with the United Explorer Card. Furthermore, you could certainly earn more PQPs through your credit card spending as well.

The Explorer Card has certainly more features than the Select Card. You get perks like first free checked bags, priority zone 2 boarding, 2 single entry club passes, statement credits on Global Entry application. However, many of this benefits are available if you are a Premier member (ie those with Elite Status).

I would say that the United Explorer Card is more appropriate for occasional United flyers who do not fly enough (and do not bother) to earn Elite Status because they can get some perks only Premier members get.

The UMP Select on the other hand will suit a Premier Member better because it has better earning rates for United miles and also because they can earn more PQPs through credit card spend.

You Should Keep the United MileagePlus Select IF......

If you have the United MileagePlus Select Card, you should keep it if

If are a Premier Member Who Needs Some PQP From Credit Card Spending To Maintain Status - If you are a Premier member who needs to earn PQPs through credit card spending to achieve or maintain your desired Premier Status levels, then this card is certainly better than any of the new United cards out there including the new United Club Infinite Card.

If You Value Earning United Miles From Everyday Spending - After United did away with their Award Chart and went to Dynamic Award Pricing, many United flyers have decided to stop earning miles through credit card spend. But if you still want to earn United miles through your credit card outside of buying United tickets, then the United MileagePlus Select Card is probably the best United credit card for that because you can earn 2X miles on a wide bonus category of everything spending items and expenses.

You should Consider Getting/Switching to United Explorer IF....

You should consider switching to the United Explorer only if