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Card vs Card Comparison

Chase Aeroplan Credit Card
vs
United Explorer.

Updated

Two cards, head-to-head. We break down earning rates, perks, transfer partners, and the real scenarios where each one wins.

Chase

Chase Aeroplan Credit Card

Annual fee

$95

Points

Air Canada Aeroplan

Signup bonus

75K points after $4K in 3 months

Top earning rates

  • →3x on Air Canada purchases
  • →3x on dining
  • →3x at grocery stores

Top perks

  • →First checked bag free on Air Canada for you and up to 8 companions
  • →Aeroplan 25K elite status after $15K in annual spend
  • →Pay Yourself Back option on travel purchases
See Chase Aeroplan Credit Card detailsarrow_forward

Chase

United Explorer

Annual fee

$150

Points

United MileagePlus

Signup bonus

Currently around 60K miles after spend, see issuer for the current offer

Top earning rates

  • →2x on United purchases and travel
  • →2x on dining and select streaming
  • →1x everywhere else

Top perks

  • →First checked bag free
  • →Priority boarding (Group 2)
  • →2 United Club one-time passes each year
See United Explorer detailsarrow_forward

The verdict

When each card wins.

Chase Aeroplan Credit Card wins if

Pick this if you fly Star Alliance carriers (United, Lufthansa, ANA) and want a flexible Aeroplan stash.

Honest downside: Air Canada is a smaller airline than the legacy US carriers, so the in-flight perks help fewer people.

United Explorer wins if

Pick this if you fly United a few times a year. The bag credit and priority boarding usually cover the $150 fee on a single round trip.

Honest downside: No lounge membership. Earn rate is mediocre. Fee jumped from $95 to $150 in 2026, which weakens the value if you fly United only once or twice a year.

At a glance

Side-by-side spec sheet.

SpecChase Aeroplan Credit CardUnited Explorer
Annual fee$95$150
Points currencyAir Canada AeroplanUnited MileagePlus
Signup bonus75K pointsCurrently around 60K miles
Top earn category3x on Air Canada purchases2x on United purchases and travel
Second earn category3x on dining2x on dining and select streaming
Third earn category3x at grocery stores1x everywhere else
Signature perkFirst checked bag free on Air Canada for you and up to 8 companionsFirst checked bag free
IssuerChaseChase

Questions

Frequently asked.

Which is better, Chase Aeroplan Credit Card or United Explorer?

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Chase Aeroplan Credit Card wins if you fly Star Alliance carriers (United, Lufthansa, ANA) and want a flexible Aeroplan stash. United Explorer wins if you fly United a few times a year. The bag credit and priority boarding usually cover the $150 fee on a single round trip.

Can I have both the Chase Aeroplan Credit Card and the United Explorer?

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Both cards are issued by Chase, so the issuer's application rules apply. Many cardholders carry both if the perks don't overlap, but check your issuer's velocity rules before applying for two cards close together.

Which has the higher annual fee, Chase Aeroplan Credit Card or United Explorer?

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United Explorer has the higher annual fee at $150, compared to $95 for Chase Aeroplan Credit Card. Whether the pricier card is worth the difference depends on which credits and perks you use each year.