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The United GatewaySM Card isn't the best credit card for United flyers, but it can be a good option if you want an airline credit card but you never, ever want to pay an annual fee. With the card, you'll earn United miles and access expanded award availability, but you'll wind up with a relatively low welcome offer and few cardholder perks. Chase offers several co-branded United Airlines credit cards , including personal and small-business versions.
The United GatewaySM Card is the entry-level card in the bunch, and the only one that doesn't charge an annual fee. However, this airline credit card is not the most lucrative or rewarding United credit card at all — not by far. In fact, the United GatewaySM Card has the lowest welcome bonus offer and fewest perks of any United credit card, although the earning rate with this card is decent.
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting. Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. $0 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months 21.
99% - 28.99% Variable Earn 30,000 bonus miles Good to Excellent Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
No annual fee Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Good bonus categories (including gas stations and local transit/commuting) Check mark icon A check mark.
It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Access to expanded United award availability con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Other United credit cards have much higher welcome bonuses con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'.
No free checked bag benefit like other United cards con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Few United perks other than 25% back on inflight purchases The United GatewaySM Card isn't the best credit card for United flyers, but it can be a good option if you want an airline credit card but you never, ever want to pay an annual fee. With the card, you'll earn United miles and access expanded award availability, but you'll wind up with a relatively low welcome offer and few cardholder perks.
Limited-time offer: Earn 30,000 bonus miles No annual fee Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases Earn 2 miles per $1 spent at gas stations, on local transit and commuting Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Gateway Card Member FDIC United Gateway Card Overview The United GatewaySM Card is offering a welcome bonus of 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open. You'll also earn 2x miles on United purchases, at gas stations , and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare services, taxicabs, train tickets, tolls, and mass transit), and 1 mile per dollar on everything else. One of the best aspects of the United GatewaySM Card is its $0 annual fee.
That means you can keep it for the long term and continue earning United miles, plus get access to expanded United award availability at no yearly cost. However, as you compare United credit cards, keep in mind that most others have much better bonus offers. With the UnitedSM Explorer Card , for example, you can earn a 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open (worth around $780 in travel, according to Business Insider's valuations).
The UnitedSM Explorer Card does have an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95 — but you also get perks like two United Club passes per year for your anniversary, a free first checked bag (worth $35 one-way) for yourself and a companion on the same reservation, priority boarding, and a credit toward NEXUS, Global Entry, or TSA PreCheck membership — all perks you do not get with the United GatewaySM Card. Even if you only fly United once or twice a year, the free checked bag benefit alone can offset much of the annual fee. Rewards You'll earn 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open.
Based on Business Insider's points and miles valuations , that's worth around $390 in flights. The United GatewaySM Card has a straightforward earning structure and bonus categories that can earn you extra miles on everyday purchases. Cardholders earn: 2 miles per dollar on eligible United purchases (including airline tickets purchased from United, United seat upgrades, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages, and Wi-Fi, baggage service charges, other United fees, and United Card Events from Chase) 2 miles per dollar at gas stations (either at the pump or inside the station — truck stops, boat marinas, oil and propane distributors, and home heating companies do not qualify) 2 miles per dollar on local transit and commuting (including operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, rideshare, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages) 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases While most people earn United miles in order to book flights with United or its Star Alliance partners, there are quite a few ways to redeem your miles for non-travel options.
For example, you can cash in your miles for gift cards to select retailers, shop for merchandise with United, or use miles for Apple products through the United website. You can also use your miles to pay for a United Club membership, inflight internet access, and TSA PreCheck membership. If you already have a flight booked, you can use miles toward an upgrade, and you can even donate your miles to charity.
However, you'll almost always get the most value from redeeming United miles for flights. Between United Airlines, other Star Alliance partners, and non-alliance partners, you can use your miles to fly to destinations in nearly 200 countries around the globe. United typically has good economy class award availability, and your miles will never expire.
While United doesn't have a traditional award chart anymore, they do list specific flight award deals that let you book featured flights for fewer miles than normal. For example, you may be able to book one-way domestic flights in economy for as little as 5,000 miles, depending on the route and date. That said, United recently increased the award prices for its own and partner flights between the US and Europe.
So far, other routes haven't seen such sweeping changes. United miles are worth 1.3 cents each , on average, according to Business Insider's valuations.
So when you compare the cost of your award flight to that of a paid ticket, a value of 1.3 cents per mile or better means you're getting a good deal. United also offers a redemption option called " Money + Miles .
" Similar to Delta's Pay With Miles , it's currently available on select United flights, and allows you to pay for part of your fare with cash and the rest with miles, at a fixed rate of 1 cent per mile. That's a lower rate than our average United miles value, but this can be handy if you don't have enough miles for an award ticket but want to reduce your out-of-pocket costs. United Gateway Card Benefits and Features The United GatewaySM Card has a $0 annual fee, so it's not surprising the card has fewer perks than other United cards issued by Chase.
However, there are a few key benefits, including purchase and travel protections, that could prove valuable if you need to use them. When you use your United GatewaySM Card to pay for inflight purchases of food, drink, or internet access, you'll get 25% of your purchase amount back in the form of a statement credit on your account. As a United cardholder, you'll get more access to award availability and flight options with no blackout dates.
The United GatewaySM Card offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months (then a 21.99% - 28.99% Variable APR).
This can be handy if you have large purchases coming up that you want to pay off over time, as long as you're able to pay off the balance before the intro period expires. Keep in mind there are plenty of other zero-interest credit cards with introductory 0% APR periods that are much longer than this. The United GatewaySM Card does have surprising insurance perks for a credit card with no annual fee .
When you pay the full cost of your car rental with the card and decline the rental company's collision damage waiver, you'll get coverage for damage due to collision or theft. This coverage is secondary to your own personal policy in the U.S.
, but primary insurance overseas (or if you don't have your own insurance). The card also comes with trip cancellation and interruption coverage worth up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip. This doesn't come close to some of the coverage offered by the best credit cards with travel insurance , but it's nice to see on a no-annual-fee card.
United GatewaySM Card cardholders also receive purchase protection against damage or theft, which is good for up to $500 per claim and up to $50,000 per account. When you purchase an eligible item with your United GatewaySM Card, you can qualify for up to one year of extended warranty coverage on original US manufacturer's warranties of three years or less. The Visa Signature concierge can help coordinate things like hard-to-get theater tickets or restaurant reservations.
The service itself is free, but any third-party costs are your responsibility. With United GatewaySM Card, you get access to the Chase Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection — upscale hotels which offer elite-like perks when you book through the program. You'll get benefits like complimentary breakfast, unique benefits or credits specific to each property, room upgrades, and other extras like early check-in and late checkout (when available).
Be sure you compare rates and perks through the Chase Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection to booking with the hotel directly. Sometimes, Chase's rates are more expensive and the benefits won't be worth it. United GatewaySM Card cardholders can activate a year of complimentary DashPass membership .
This is a subscription service that can save you money when you order food for delivery or pickup through DoorDash and Caviar. With DashPass, you'll get waived delivery fees and reduced service fees on orders of $12 or more. Pickup orders are also eligible for 5% back in DoorDash credit.
Normally, a subscription costs $9.99 per month, and DoorDash says the average DashPass user saves about $5 per order, so this can translate into significant savings if you use the service regularly. Activation of this benefit is required by December 31, 2024.
United Gateway Card Annual Fee and Other Costs We already mentioned how the United GatewaySM Card has a $0 annual fee and doesn't charge any foreign transaction fees . Note that this card doesn't charge an over-the-limit fee or a returned check fee, either. However, if you carry a balance, you'll be charged a 21.
99% - 28.99% Variable APR. As with most credit cards, there are fees for other activities, including: Balance transfer fees Cash advance fees Late payment fees Returned payment fees Compare the United Gateway Card United GatewaySM Card UnitedSM Explorer Card United QuestSM Card Annual fee $0 $0 intro for the first year, then $95 $250 Rewards rate 2x miles on eligible United purchases 2x miles at gas stations, and on local transit and commuting 1 mile per dollar on everything else 2x miles on eligible United purchases 2x miles on dining and hotel stays booked directly with the hotel 1 mile per dollar on everything else 3x miles on eligible United purchases (after earning the $125 United credit) 2x miles on travel 2x miles on dining 2x miles on streaming services 1 mile per dollar on everything else Welcome bonus 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open 70,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open United benefits 25% back on United inflight purchases Expanded access to United award flights Two United Club one-time passes per year for your anniversary Free first checked bag on United flights* Priority boarding on United flights 25% back on United inflight purchases NEXUS, Global Entry, or TSA PreCheck application fee credit Complimentary Premier upgrades 25 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) for every $500 you spend on purchases**** Expanded access to United award flights Up to $125 in annual statement credits toward United purchases Free first and second checked bags on United flights* Priority boarding on United flights 25% back on United inflight purchases 5,000-mile award flight rebate twice a year starting on your first anniversary NEXUS, Global Entry, or TSA PreCheck application fee credit Complimentary Premier upgrades 25 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) for every $500 you spend on purchases**** Expanded access to United award flights Review United Explorer card review United Quest card review *When you use your card to pay for your ticket, or the taxes and fees on an award ticket ****Up to 1,000 PQP in a calendar year for the United Explorer Card; up to 6,000 PQP per calendar year for the United Quest card United Gateway Card Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) The United GatewaySM Card is worth opening if you're just dipping your toe in the world of travel credit cards but don't want to pay an annual fee.
However, considering the UnitedSM Explorer Card waives its annual fee the first year, that card is a better choice for most travelers because it comes with a much higher bonus and better benefits. You're not eligible for the United GatewaySM Card if you already have the card or you previously had the card and earned its welcome bonus within the last 24 months. You're also not eligible if you've opened five or more credit cards from any bank (excluding certain small business credit cards) within the last 24 months (commonly referred to as the Chase 5/24 rule ).
The United GatewaySM Card currently offers a bonus of 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open. That's worth an average of $390 in travel, per Business Insider's valuations, but it's much lower than what you'd get with other annual-fee incurring United cards. United Airlines miles do not expire.
Even if you cancel your United GatewaySM Card, you won't lose your miles. Once you earn them, they deposit into your United Airlines account — they don't live on your credit card. Methodology: How we reviewed the United Gateway card Business Insider's credit card experts compared the United GatewaySM Card to other United credit cards and to competing no-annual-fee airline credit cards.
Aside from annual and other fees, we also assessed at the card's welcome bonus and ongoing rewards, travel benefits, and overall value. To find out more about our methodology, here's a guide to how we rate credit cards at Business Insider..
