Rewards Plan
Sign up Bonus
Credit Rating
0% Intro
Annual Fee
APR
- Rewards
- No Annual Fee
- No Elite Status Benefits
- Low Rewards Rate
Rewards Plan
Sign up Bonus
0% Intro
PROS
- Rewards
- No Annual Fee
CONS
- No Elite Status Benefits
- Low Rewards Rate
APR
21.49% – 28.49% variable
Annual Fee
$0
Balance Transfer Fee
N/A
Credit Requirements
Good - Excellent
- Our Verdict
- Pros & Cons
- FAQ
The United Gateway Card is a basic airline rewards credit card offered by United Airlines and Chase. This card is designed for United Airlines customers who want to earn rewards and enjoy travel benefits, such as no foreign transaction fees, travel protections and 25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases.
Cardholders earn 2X per $1 spent on United® purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting and 1X on all other purchases. There are no caps on the amount of miles that can be earned and the miles never expire as long as the card is active.
There is no annual fee for the United Gateway Card, making it a great option for those who want to earn rewards without paying an annual fee. However, the points reward rate is low compared to other United cards and the set of travel benefits is limited.
- No Annual Fee
- Rewards
- Sign-up bonus
- 25% Back On Inflight Purchases
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- No Elite Status Benefits
- Low Rewards Rate
- No Companion Pass
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In this Review
Estimating Your Rewards: A Practical Simulation
The rewards simulation table below shows the potential benefits of using the United Gateway card. It provides an overview of your estimated rewards based on general usage and spending across various categories.
While this simulation can help you better understand the potential benefits of this card, it's important to remember that the figures shown are only estimates and actual rewards may vary depending on your individual spending habits and other factors.
Spend Per Category | United Gateway Card |
$10,000 – U.S Supermarkets | 10,000 points |
$4,000 – Restaurants
| 4,000 points |
$5,000 – Airline | 10,000 points |
$3,000 – Hotels | 3,000 points |
$4,000 – Gas | 8,000 points |
Estimated Total Annual Points | 35,000 Points |
Pros and Cons
Just like any other credit card, the United Gateway card has some advantages and disadvantages:
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
No Annual Fee | No Elite Status Benefits |
Rewards | Low Rewards Rate |
Sign-up bonus | No Companion Pass |
25% Back On Inflight Purchases | |
No Foreign Transaction Fees |
- No Annual Fee
The card has no annual fee, making it a good option for those who want to avoid paying a fee for a credit card.
- Rewards
The United Gateway card offers 2X per $1 spent on United® purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting and 1X on all other purchases.
- Sign-up bonus
New cardholders can earn 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- 25% Back On Inflight Purchases
If you use your Gateway Card to pay for food, beverages, and Wi-Fi on United-operated flights or Club premium drinks, you can receive 25% back as a statement credit.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
The card has no foreign transaction fees, making it a good option for international travel.
- No Elite Status Benefits
The United Gateway card doesn't offer any United elite status benefits, such as priority check-in or lounge access, which can be a drawback for frequent flyers.
- Low Rewards Rate
The card rewards are basic are lower compared to premium airline rewards cards.
- No Companion Pass or Baggage Fee Discounts
The card doesn't offer a companion pass, which allows a companion to fly for free. Also, unlike many travel cards – the card doesn't provide free baggage fee, and you'll need to pay a baggage fee based on United's terms.
Redeeming Points: Options for Cardholders
You can redeem United MileagePlus miles for a variety of rewards, including flights, hotel stays, car rentals, merchandise, and more. Here are some of the most popular ways to redeem MileagePlus miles:
Book flights: You can use your miles to book flights on United Airlines and its partner airlines. Award tickets start at 12,500 miles for a one-way domestic flight in economy class. You can also use your miles to upgrade to a higher class of service or book a hotel and flight package.
Hotel stays: You can redeem your miles for hotel stays at more than 400,000 properties worldwide through the MileagePlus Hotels program.
Car rentals: You can use your miles to book car rentals from Hertz and other car rental companies.
Merchandise: You can redeem your miles for merchandise from the MileagePlus Shopping website, including electronics, home goods, and more.
Gift cards: You can exchange your miles for gift cards to popular retailers such as Amazon, Starbucks, and Target.
Experiences: You can use your miles to book unique experiences, such as concerts, sporting events, and vacation packages through the MileagePlus Exclusives program.
Keep in mind that the value of your miles can vary depending on how you redeem them, so it's important to compare the value of your miles to the cash price of the reward you want to redeem them for.
Evaluating Whether This Card is Right for You
Here are some specific situations in which you may want to consider the United Gateway Card:
You fly with United Airlines from time to time: If prefer United than other airline companies but not fly too much, the United Gateway Card can help you earn rewards on your flights and take advantage of travel benefits.
You want to earn rewards on gas: With the United Gateway Card, you can earn 2x miles per dollar spent on all gas purchases.
You want to avoid an annual fee: The United Gateway Card has no annual fee, which can make it a good option for those who don't want to pay for a credit card but still want to earn rewards.
You use the card only for airline benefits: the card doesn't offer high rewards rate on everyday spending. If it's not the primary card and you intend to use it only for airline purchases – it may be a good option.
Card | Rewards | Sign-up Bonus | Annual Fee | Up to 4x miles
4x miles on United Airlines purchases, 2x miles on all other travel purchases, dining and eligible delivery services and 1x miles on all other purchases
| 80,000 miles
80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
| $525 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Up to 3x miles
3 miles per $1 spent on United purchases immediately after earning your $125 annual United purchase credit, 2 miles on all other travel and select streaming services, 1 mile on all other purchases
| 60,000 miles + 500 PQPs
60,000 bonus miles + 500 PQPs after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open
| $250 | ||
1X – 2X
2X per $1 spent on United® purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting and 1X on all other purchases
| 20,000 miles
20,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open
| $0 | ||
United℠ Business Card | 1X – 2X
2X per $1 spent on United® purchases, dining (including eligible delivery services), at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting and 1X on all other purchases
| 50,000 miles
75,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months
| $99 | |
![]() | 1X – 2X
2x per $1 spent on United purchases, hotel accommodations, restaurants & eligible delivery services and 1x per $1 spent on all other purchases
| 60,000 miles
60,000 miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open
| $95 ($0 first year) |
How To Apply For The United Gateway Card?
Here are the steps to apply for the United Gateway Card:
Go to the United Gateway Card application page: Start by navigating to the United Gateway Card application page on the Chase website.
Fill out the application: Provide your personal information, including your name, address, and Social Security number. You can also check if you are pre-approved to avoid hard inquiry.
Submit your application: Once you've completed the application, submit it for review. You should receive a decision within a few minutes.
Wait for your card to arrive: If your application is approved, your card will be sent to you in the mail. Once you receive it, activate it and start using it to earn rewards on your purchases.
It's important to note that approval for the United Gateway Card is not guaranteed and is subject to credit approval.