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United Explorer vs Bank of America Premium Rewards: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- United℠ Explorer Card: This card is ideal for frequent United Airlines flyers looking for travel benefits like free checked bags and airport lounge passes.
- Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card: This card is best for earning flexible rewards on travel and dining, especially for existing Bank of America customers.
United Explorer Breakdown
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Why We Like It
This section breaks down why we like the United℠ Explorer Card.
- The card offers valuable travel perks on United flights, including priority boarding and a free first checked bag for you and a companion.
- You can receive up to a $120 statement credit every four years to cover the application fee for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®.
- The free checked bag benefit alone can offset the annual fee with just one round-trip flight with a companion (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Offers robust travel protections, including primary car rental coverage—a rare perk that can save you money and hassle.
- Provides a taste of the VIP airport experience with annual United Club℠ passes and a pathway to earn Premier Qualifying Points toward elite status.
- Save money on international trips with no foreign transaction fees and enjoy flexible reward redemptions across the vast Star Alliance airline network.
Cons
- The card’s value is heavily tied to flying with United, offering limited benefits for travelers who aren't loyal to the airline.
- Key perks like lounge access come with annual limits, and the card lacks the premium travel experiences found on higher-tier options.
- Reward redemption is somewhat inflexible, as miles earned with the card cannot be transferred to other airline or hotel loyalty programs.
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at why we’re fans of the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® card.
- Cardholders earn a straightforward 2 points per dollar on travel and dining purchases and 1.5 points on everything else.
- Existing Bank of America customers can earn up to 75% more rewards on every purchase through the Preferred Rewards program.
- The annual $100 airline incidental credit can offset the $95 annual fee, making the card pay for itself if you use the credit (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Features robust travel protections and insurance, covering mishaps like trip delays or lost luggage.
- Provides simple, flexible redemption options for cash back, travel, and gift cards with a straightforward value.
- No foreign transaction fees, making it a great companion for international travel.
Cons
- Points cannot be transferred to airline or hotel loyalty programs, limiting opportunities for high-value travel redemptions.
- The card’s highest earning potential is only available to Bank of America Preferred Rewards members.
- It does not include premium travel perks like airport lounge access, a common feature on competing travel cards.
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® vs United Explorer
Categories
Deciding which is better, United Explorer or Bank of America Premium Rewards, comes down to your travel habits and banking preferences.
- United℠ Explorer Card: This card is best for frequent travelers who fly with United Airlines a few times a year and want airline-specific perks.
- Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card: This card is ideal for moderate travelers and everyday spenders who want flexible rewards, and it is especially valuable for existing Bank of America customers.
Redemption
United℠ Explorer Card: Rewards are earned as miles in the United MileagePlus program, which can be redeemed for flights on United and its partner airlines, as well as for seat upgrades and other travel purchases.
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card: This card provides more versatile redemption options, allowing you to use your points for cash back, statement credits, gift cards, or booking travel through the Bank of America Travel Center.
Travel Perks
- Lounge Access: The United℠ Explorer Card includes two one-time United Club℠ passes each year. The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® card does not offer direct lounge access but provides an annual airline incidental statement credit for qualifying purchases.
- Travel Credits & Perks: Both cards offer a statement credit for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee. The United card adds airline-specific benefits like a free first checked bag on United flights, priority boarding, and a discount on in-flight purchases. The Bank of America card provides a more flexible annual airline incidental credit.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: Neither card has foreign transaction fees, making both good options for international spending.
- Booking Portals: The United card's miles are redeemed for travel through the United MileagePlus program. The Bank of America card’s points can be used to book flights, hotels, and car rentals through the Bank of America Travel Center, offering broader travel options.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
To make the decision easier, you can use a tool like Kudos, which evaluates nearly 3,000 credit cards to help you find the best fit for your spending habits.
- Test drive a credit card: Simulate your potential earnings with a new card based on your actual spending data before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.
- Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer for a card you get through Kudos within three months, Kudos will match it.
- Approval odds: Receive a detailed analysis of your approval chances for a card based on your credit report.
- Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your card's rewards when you shop at participating stores.
- Personalized matching: Get card recommendations tailored to your unique spending history.
Who Should Choose the United Explorer?
The United℠ Explorer Card is tailor-made for frequent United Airlines flyers who can maximize benefits like a free checked bag and priority boarding. It's also a strong contender for international travelers seeking to avoid foreign transaction fees and those who appreciate statement credits for programs like Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Ultimately, this card suits budget-conscious individuals with good-to-excellent credit who fly United often enough for the perks to outweigh the annual fee.
Who Should Choose the Bank of America® Premium Rewards®?
The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® card is an excellent fit for moderate travelers and everyday spenders seeking strong rewards without committing to a premium annual fee. It is especially powerful for existing Bank of America or Merrill clients, who can amplify their earnings with a 25% to 75% points bonus through the Preferred Rewards program. This card also appeals to users who value simplicity, offering flexible, fixed-value redemptions for cash back or travel, as detailed in a comprehensive review.
Alternatives to Consider
If our United Explorer vs. Bank of America® Premium Rewards® comparison has you feeling like neither card is the perfect match, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent travel rewards cards on the market that might better suit your spending habits and travel goals.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score: You will generally need good to excellent credit for the best approval odds.
- Map out your spending: Make sure you can comfortably meet any welcome offer's spending requirement without overspending.
- Understand the rewards ecosystem: Review how you'll use your points, as some cards offer enhanced value for existing bank customers or have limited transfer partners.
Application Strategy
- Leverage existing relationships: Having an account with the card issuer, as is often beneficial for Bank of America cards, can sometimes improve your approval odds.
- Time your application: Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement for a welcome offer more easily.
- Know the issuer's rules: Be aware of issuer-specific guidelines, like those from Chase, as some may have restrictions on recent card openings.
Our Methodology
We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.
Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which card is better for loyal United Airlines flyers?
The United℠ Explorer Card is designed for travelers who frequently fly with United, offering airline-specific perks and rewards that enhance the MileagePlus program experience.
Which card offers more flexible travel rewards?
For travelers who value flexibility, the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card is generally superior, as its points can be redeemed for a wide variety of travel purchases, not just with one airline.
How do these cards compare for non-travel spending?
The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card often has an edge for everyday spending with broader bonus categories, whereas the United℠ Explorer Card's earning rates are more heavily weighted toward United purchases and travel.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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