Editorial take: Bank of America Travel Rewards
The no-fee version of Premium Rewards. Only shines with BoA's Preferred Rewards boost, otherwise the Capital One VentureOne or Wells Fargo Autograph beat it.
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Side-by-side
Bank of America Travel Rewards vs United Explorer Card
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Bank of America Travel Rewards comes from Bank of America at $0/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 ($790 more in estimated value) than the Bank of America Travel Rewards's. Get the United Explorer Card first; revisit the Bank of America Travel Rewards after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Bank of America Travel Rewards | United Explorer Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $150 |
| Sign-up bonus | 25,000 points | 70,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus |
| Bonus value (est.) | $250 | $1,040 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $1,000 in 3 mo | $3,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | Bank of America | Chase |
| Card category | travel | airline |
| Best earning category (All_purchases) | 1.5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
Bank of America Travel Rewards
$0/yr · 25,000 points
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 Travel Rewards or United Explorer Card?
- The United Explorer Card has the bigger bonus, 70,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus, worth roughly $1,040, versus 25,000 points (~$250) on the Bank of America Travel Rewards.
- Is the Bank of America Travel Rewards's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the United Explorer Card?
- The Bank of America Travel Rewards has no annual fee, so the question is whether the United Explorer Card's $150 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the United Explorer Card's benefits to clear $150 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Bank of America Travel Rewards.
- Can I have both the Bank of America Travel 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 Travel Rewards or the United Explorer Card first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Bank of America Travel Rewards: $1,000 spend in 3 months. 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.