The United Explorer Card Is Great if You Fly Basic Economy

As airfares remain high, that basic economy fare might look more tempting than ever. Saving $100 on a round-trip domestic flight could mean more money for hotels, dining or other experiences at your destination.I’ve flown my fair share of basic economy flights, which come with restrictions like being unable to select a seat, earning no award miles and boarding last. You also can’t make changes or cancel your itinerary without paying a hefty fee, and — specific to United Airlines — you can’t bring a full-size carry-on on board.But as a United frequent flyer, I have a secret to share with you: Holding the United℠ Explorer Card (annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $150) lets you avoid several of those basic economy restrictions.Right now, new United℠ Explorer Card applicants can receive this welcome offer: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles when you add an authorized user in the first 3 months your account is open. Here’s how it all works.Earn miles on basic economyMost major airlines no longer let you earn points or miles on basic economy fares. United is an exception, though — assuming you hold the right credit card.Eligible cardholders, including those who have the United℠ Explorer Card, earn at least 3 miles per $1 spent on United basic economy tickets, excluding taxes and select fees. That’s half of what a standard economy ticket earns for cardholders (6 miles per $1), but it’s better than zero. If you have elite status, you’ll earn more.Those miles are in addition to the 3 miles per $1 you earn on all United purchases when using your United℠ Explorer Card.With the card, your miles can become more valuable. That’s because cardholders get at least 10% off award tickets that are operated by United or United Express. If you have United status, that discount gets bumped up to at least 15% off.Board earlier in Group 2With the credit card, you have access to priority boarding in Group 2. That means you’ll be able to board earlier compared to the rest of the basic economy passengers in Group 6, making it more likely you’ll find space for your carry-on bag.Now, you might be thinking: Wait a minute… Basic economy doesn’t allow you to bring a carry-on bag. Let me explain how that works.Bring a full-size carry-onUnited enforces its full-size carry-on restriction based on your boarding group. Group 6 passengers can't bring a full-size carry-on.Because the credit card gets you Group 2 boarding, you essentially skip that restriction.Premier members — who board in Group 2 or earlier — are also exempt from the full-size carry-on restriction when flying basic economy.…or check a bag insteadIf you don’t want to deal with the hassle of a carry-on bag, you can opt to check it instead.As long as you pay for your ticket using your United℠ Explorer Card, you’ll be able to check your first bag — and your companion’s first bag — for free when traveling on United. (If you’re booking an award ticket, make sure to use your card to pay for the taxes and fees.)Keep in mind that if the first flight on your itinerary is operated by another airline, that airline’s baggage rules would apply and you would have to pay for your bag.What doesn’t change for basic economyOf course, holding the right United credit card only gets you so far.With basic economy, you’ll still need to pay a fee to change or cancel your ticket, and you won’t be able to select a seat for free.Ultimately, whether basic economy is a good deal depends on a few factors.If your plans might change, pay up for standard economy. Otherwise, the penalty to change or cancel will end up costing you more than you saved.Another thing to consider is whether you’re willing to sit in a middle seat. You might be fine with it for a few hours, but what about a long-haul flight to Asia? Everyone’s threshold is different, so you’ll need to decide whether the middle-seat gamble is worth it.If your plans are firm and you don’t mind a potential middle seat, booking a basic economy ticket can be a solid way to save money. Just book with a United card like, the United℠ Explorer Card, to avoid the biggest downsides.How to maximize your rewards