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United Explorer vs Bank of America Travel Rewards: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- The United℠ Explorer Card is ideal for frequent United Airlines flyers who want to maximize airline-specific perks like a free checked bag and priority boarding.
- The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card is a great choice for beginners or casual travelers seeking a simple, no-fee way to earn flexible travel rewards on all purchases.
United Explorer Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at what makes the United℠ Explorer Card a compelling choice for many travelers.
- Cardholders receive valuable travel perks like two annual United Club℠ passes and priority boarding, enhancing the airport experience.
- It offers a solid rewards structure, earning 2X miles on United purchases, dining, and hotel stays booked directly.
- The free checked bag benefit for you and a companion can offset the annual fee after just one round-trip flight (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Includes comprehensive travel protections, notably primary auto rental coverage—a benefit that is a step above the secondary coverage offered by many other cards.
- Helps offset travel costs with no foreign transaction fees and a statement credit for expedited screening programs like Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®.
- Cardholders can earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) toward United elite status, a valuable perk for the airline's frequent flyers.
Cons
- The card’s benefits are heavily skewed toward United loyalists, offering limited value for those who fly with other airlines.
- While it offers some travel perks, they are less generous than those found on higher-tier travel cards, particularly when it comes to airport lounge access.
- Earning rates on general purchases are less competitive than some rival cards, and miles can't be transferred to other airline or hotel partners, limiting redemption options.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at why the Bank of America® Travel Rewards card stands out.
- With no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, this card is a cost-effective choice for both domestic and international travel.
- It offers a straightforward rewards structure, earning an unlimited 1.5 points per dollar on every purchase without any rotating categories to track.
- You can earn the card's welcome bonus by spending $1,000 in the first 90 days of opening your account (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Earning rewards is simple, with a flat rate on all purchases and no complicated categories to track.
- You can redeem points for statement credits against a wide variety of travel and dining purchases, with no blackout dates or booking portal restrictions.
- As a Visa Signature card, it’s widely accepted worldwide, and you can book travel through any provider you choose before applying your points.
Cons
- The rewards program is fairly basic, with a flat earning rate that only becomes competitive if you qualify for the bank's Preferred Rewards program.
- It lacks the premium travel perks of higher-tier cards, offering no airport lounge access or the ability to transfer points to airline and hotel partners.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards vs United Explorer
Categories
Deciding which is better, United Explorer or Bank of America Travel Rewards, comes down to your personal travel style and frequency.
- United℠ Explorer Card - This card is built for frequent travelers, especially those loyal to United Airlines who can maximize its airline-specific benefits.
- Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card - This card is ideal for beginners or occasional travelers looking for a simple, flexible option that isn't tied to a single airline.
Redemption
United℠ Explorer Card: Miles are redeemed through the United MileagePlus program, primarily for flights with United and its partner airlines, but can also be used for other travel like hotels and car rentals.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card: This card offers flexible redemptions, allowing you to use your points as a statement credit to pay for nearly any travel or dining purchase, regardless of the airline, hotel, or booking site.
Travel Perks
- Lounge Access: The United℠ Explorer Card includes two United Club℠ one-time passes each year after your account anniversary. The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card does not offer lounge access.
- Airline-Specific Perks: Cardholders of the United℠ Explorer Card get benefits like a free first checked bag and priority boarding on United flights. The Bank of America® Travel Rewards card does not offer airline-specific perks, prioritizing flexibility over loyalty benefits.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: Neither card charges a foreign transaction fee, making both suitable options for international travel.
- Booking Portals: The United℠ Explorer Card requires you to redeem miles through the United MileagePlus® program. In contrast, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards card allows you to book travel anywhere and then redeem your points for a statement credit, or book directly through the Bank of America Travel Center.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
For a more personalized comparison, tools like Kudos let you evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards based on your actual spending habits.
- Test drive a credit card to see personalized earnings projections based on your real transaction history, without a hard credit pull.
- Unlock $100 in Kickstart+ Rewards when you add select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.
- Receive a welcome offer guarantee, where Kudos will match a better offer if you find one within three months.
- Get a detailed analysis of your approval odds for different cards based on your credit report.
- Maximize rewards with Kudos Boost when shopping at participating stores.
- Monitor your transactions, spending patterns, and credit score all within the platform.
Who Should Choose the United Explorer?
The United℠ Explorer Card is an excellent choice for frequent United Airlines flyers who can maximize perks like free checked bags and priority boarding. It also appeals to international travelers looking to avoid foreign transaction fees and anyone who values statement credits for expedited security programs like Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Ultimately, budget-conscious travelers who fly United even a few times a year can find that the card's benefits easily outweigh its annual fee, making it a worthwhile addition to their wallet.
Who Should Choose the Bank of America® Travel Rewards?
This card is an excellent fit for beginners and casual travelers who value simplicity, as it offers a flat rewards rate on every purchase without complicated categories. Its appeal skyrockets for existing Bank of America customers, especially those who qualify for the Preferred Rewards program and can earn up to a 75% bonus on points. Given its lack of an annual fee and a dedicated student version, this travel card is also ideal for budget-conscious individuals and students looking to build credit.
Alternatives to Consider
If our United Explorer vs. Bank of America® Travel Rewards comparison has shown you that neither card is the right fit, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent travel rewards cards on the market that might be a better match for your needs.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score – Most travel rewards cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
- Plan for the welcome offer – Ensure you can meet any spending requirements naturally with your regular purchases.
- Know your travel style – Decide if you prefer loyalty to one brand or the flexibility of general travel points.
Application Strategy
- Leverage existing relationships–Some issuers offer enhanced rewards for existing banking or investment clients.
- Be aware of issuer rules–Many card issuers have policies on how many cards you can open in a certain period.
- Match the card to your lifestyle–Don’t get a specific airline card unless you fly with them often.
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
What kind of traveler is the United Explorer card best for?
This card is ideal for travelers who frequently fly with United Airlines or its Star Alliance partners. The benefits, like a free first checked bag and priority boarding, offer the most value to loyal United customers.
Can I use Bank of America Travel Rewards points on any airline?
Yes, the points earned with the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card are flexible. You can redeem them as a statement credit for travel purchases made with any airline, hotel, or rental car company.
Is one card better for international travel?
Both cards are good options for international travel as neither typically charges foreign transaction fees. Your choice depends on whether you prefer the flexible rewards of the Bank of America card or the airline-specific perks of the United card.
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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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