Editorial take: Bank of America Premium Rewards
Only a standout if you're a BoA Preferred Rewards member, that boost can push earnings to 2.625x on everything, 3.5x on travel and dining. Without it, Venture and Sapphire both beat it.
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Side-by-side
Bank of America Premium Rewards vs United Explorer Card
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Bank of America Premium Rewards comes from Bank of America at $95/yr; the United Explorer Card from Chase at $150/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the United Explorer Card is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($1,040 more in estimated value) than the Bank of America Premium Rewards's. Get the United Explorer Card first; revisit the Bank of America Premium Rewards after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Bank of America Premium Rewards | United Explorer Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $150 |
| Sign-up bonus | Not advertised | 70,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus |
| Bonus value (est.) | - | $1,040 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | - | $3,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | Bank of America | Chase |
| Card category | travel | airline |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
Bank of America Premium Rewards
$95/yr ·
Read the full review
United Explorer Card
$150/yr · 70,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus
Editorial take: United Explorer Card
Solid for United flyers. The free checked bag and 2 United Club passes per year add up, and the 70k + 10k AU bonus is a great starting point for domestic award flights. $0 intro annual fee, then $150.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Bank of America Premium Rewards or United Explorer Card?
- The United Explorer Card has a public bonus (70,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus, worth roughly $1,040), while the Bank of America Premium Rewards doesn't advertise one right now.
- Is the Bank of America Premium Rewards's $95 annual fee worth it compared to the United Explorer Card?
- At $95/yr, the Bank of America Premium Rewards is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the United Explorer Card's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
- Can I have both the Bank of America Premium Rewards and United Explorer Card?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Bank of America and Chase) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the Bank of America Premium Rewards or the United Explorer Card first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Bank of America Premium Rewards: no published min spend. United Explorer Card: $3,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.