United's credit card is offering a huge sign-up bonus, but it's only around for a limited time

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United

• United Airlines and Chase are offering a limited-time sign-up bonus on the United Explorer Card.
• From now until May 16, you can earn up to 60,000 United MileagePlus miles: 40,000 after you spend $2,000 in the first three months, and another 20,000 miles when you spend a total of $8,000 within the first six months.
• Usually, the card only offers 40,000 miles, unless you're lucky enough to be targeted for a special promotion.
• The card has a $95 annual fee, but that's waived the first year.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

If you tend to fly United Airlines and you don't have the United Explorer Card, now is an excellent time to apply for it.

For a limited time, United and Chase, which issues the card, are offering the highest-ever public offer on their co-branded credit card.

When you open a new card, you can earn up to 60,000 miles when you open a new card. The offer is broken into two chunks - you'll earn 40,000 United miles after spending $2,000 in the first three months, and another 20,000 miles after spending a total of $8,000 in the first six months.

This offer is only available through May 16, 2019, so don't wait.

While that spending requirement is higher than many cards, there are plenty of ways to meet it without spending more than you would otherwise. For this card, earning the full bonus would require an average of $1,333 per month for the first six months, which is certainly normal for a lot of people.

The United Explorer card has a few unique benefits and features.

One highlight that sets it apart from the other airlines' mainstream cards: You'll get two one-time United Club passes per year. These passes get you entry to United Club lounges, where you can enjoy comfortable seating, Wi-Fi, free food and drinks, and more before your flight. Normally, one-time entry to a United Club would cost $59 if you didn't have a membership.

The United Explorer card offers a free checked bag for you and a travel companion when you use the card to pay for your tickets. A checked bag costs $30 each way, so if you and another person on your reservation both take advantage of the free benefit, you'll save $120 on a round-trip.

Additionally, the card offers an application fee credit of up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck - a solid value if you don't already have one or both of the services. While it's not a published benefit, United cardholders also get access to more saver award space than other United members, which makes it easier to find good flights when it's time to use your miles.

The United Explorer earns 2x miles per dollar spent at restaurants, hotels, and on all United purchases, as well as 1x mile on everything else. It has a $95 annual fee, which is waived the first year.

Should I apply?

This is one of the best public sign-up bonuses we've seen on this card, so if you're eligible to earn it, now is a great time to apply (there was an offer of up to 65,000 miles at the beginning of this year, but it had a higher spend requirement).

Keep in mind that you won't be able to earn the bonus if you currently have the United Explorer Card, or if you've earned a sign-up bonus for this card within the past 24 months. You also may not be able to get approved if you've opened five or more personal credit cards in the past 24 months.

Also keep in mind that we're focusing on the rewards and perks that makes this card a great option, not things like interest rates and late fees, which can far outweigh the value of any rewards.

When you're working to earn credit card rewards, it's important to practice financial discipline, like paying your balances off in full each month, making payments on time, and not spending more than you can afford to pay back. Basically, treat your credit card like a debit card.

Click here to learn more about the United Explorer Card from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.

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