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Credit card signup bonuses have bounced around a lot over the years. Normal when I started was 15,000 miles. Bonuses surged tremendously around 4 and 5 years ago, it wasn’t uncommon to see 100,000 mile bonuses at least for less popular cards or in the form of targeted offers.
For the most part things have settled down, where 50,000 miles is a good offer and sometimes offers fall to 30,000 miles. Miles are more expensive to issuers than they were in the depths of the Great Recession, and they’ve gotten more sophisticated figuring out what it takes to earn back revenue from portfolios of customers to cover acquisition costs.
Both the American and United co-brand cards seem to ‘rest’ at 30,000 miles and then sometimes ‘surge’ with better offers for limited periods of time or offer targeted opportunities for bigger signup bonuses.
The United co-brand’s targeted offers tend to be more targeted than American’s, which is a function of the technology that Chase uses versus Citibank. Chase can literally targeted specific MileagePlus accounts for bonuses based on set criteria, while Citibank tends to provide links that may have better than normal offers which anyone can use; different IT investments and strategies.
There are a variety of offers in the marketplace now for Chase’s United-cobrand card. I’ve collected the information on United Explorer signup offers from various sites — since not everyone will be eligible I want y’all to know that these are not my links, and the information isn’t provided or reviewed by the card issuer.
Roundups of the card can be found at Well Traveled Mile and Doctor of Credit.
It appears there are offers for:
- 50,000 miles after spending $3,000 within the first 3 months of card membership plus a $50 statement credit after making a first purchase within that timeframe and 5,000 more miles for adding an authorized user who makes a purchase within the first 3 months as well. The card’s annual fee is $0 the first year then $95.
- 70,000 miles after spending $3,000 within the first 3 months of card membership plus 5,000 miles for adding an authorized user who makes a purchase within the first 3 months as well. Annual fee is $95 a year.
- 70,000 miles after spending $3,000 within the first 3 months of card membership plus a $50 statement credit after making a first purchase within that timeframe and 5,000 more miles for adding an authorized user who makes a purchase within the first 3 months as well. Annual fee is $95 a year.
I was targeted for the 70,000 mile offer (without statement credit) however I’m not eligible for the bonus — because I earned a 50,000 mile bonus for the card in the fall of 2014.
I’d like to get around that Chase rule, too I got a new card last fall with the sign up bonus. but with the new card this spring, Chase sent a postcard – after I did the spend – saying no sign up bonus for me. oh, well 🙂
I should be over the 5/24 as well but keep getting targeted mailers for this card. I’m thinking about giving it a go.
I last earned the bonus on June 16, 2013. Is that long enough to qualify for this bonus?
@Victor – Don’t, although YMMV , unless you are a Chase Private Client or you received a targeted offer by mail with an INVITATION NUMBER (not just a targeted ad mail without a code), Do not apply, you will be automatically subjected to the 5/24 stupid rule.
When does the clock start ticking on the 24 month wait period for a new bonus? Is it when the card opens or when the spend requirement is met several months later?
Our way around the one time bonus is to not sign up the spouse for “additional cards” and then they can take advantage of additional offers.
@Matt 24 months from when you actually receive the bonus
Hi Matt,
I’m new to the US, finally have a decent credit score and when I saw this offers in United (I received the 70k +5k user, no statement credit) I decided to apply for the card.
I got the card, and how already exceeded the 3k needed for the bonus. Is there anything I need to do to claim it? Do I just wait until my statement is paid and then the miles are credited?
I’m asking because I saw no further mention of the offer once I got the card, even if I signed up using a direct link from the offer.
Thanks for your help, best regards