Here is a chatGPT table comparing Lifetime Gold Elite vs. Explorer Card. We already used the 1 in 4 GE renewal this year and we have Chase Sapphire for travel insurance and no foreign trxn fees. The only benefit of the Explorer are the 2 domestic lounges but we rarely fly United domestic anymore as Southwest and Alaska have taken those flights. We can use Priority Pass and Sapphire lounges with CSR and those do not require use to be on any specific airline. Chase miles are worth more than United pesos and transfer 1:1 to United.
Therefore Explorer is $95 for 2 domestic passes which do not always get honored. And the pass does not allow companions. CSR does. So would we pay $47.50 per pass for one person? Our answer is no because we get the additional benefits from other sources (UAL elite, CSR).
Based on this we should downgrade to the free United Card. I would dump but the history on the credit report would justify a sock drawer spot.
