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The United Gateway℠ Card is essentially the most approachable entry level into United’s credit card ecosystem. After flying almost 1,000,000 miles and reviewing almost each tier of United’s lineup of bank cards, I can say that it’s clear the place the Gateway suits. Since it doesn’t cost an annual payment, it’s a easy method to earn United MileagePlus miles with out committing to the upper prices and complexity that include different United Airlines credit cards.
As traveling by plane continues to evolve — like adjustments in boarding procedures and elite standing changing into more durable to earn — not each traveler wants premium perks like accessing United Clubs. The Gateway Card doesn’t attempt to compete at that stage. Instead, it focuses on the basics: incomes miles on on a regular basis spending, maintaining a MileagePlus account energetic and offering a easy, low-risk method to begin incomes rewards when flying United Airlines.
To be clear, the incomes charges and advantages listed below are modest in contrast with mid-tier and premium playing cards, however that’s additionally the purpose. For vacationers who fly United sometimes, are new to travel rewards or simply wish to preserve prices as little as attainable, the Gateway’s simplicity is its defining function.
With no annual fee, the Gateway Card is straightforward to justify long-term. There aren’t any credit to trace, no break-even math to do and no stress to maximise advantages simply to come back out forward. You earn miles, keep your MileagePlus steadiness and redeem when it is smart.
Below, I’ll break down why the United Gateway Card generally is a sensible beginning place, the way it performs in real-world use and who’s more than likely to get worth from it, utilizing NCS Underscored’s credit card methodology as a information.
Learn how to apply for the United Gateway℠ Card.
I like to consider the United Gateway Card as a no-frills mileage-earning card for informal United flyers. It’s designed for simplicity slightly than excessive mileage incomes.
The card earns miles as follows:
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2x miles on United purchases
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2x miles on fuel stations, native transit and commuting
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1x mile on all different purchases
The present welcome supply is 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first three months your account is open. United miles are value about 1.5 cents apiece, in keeping with The Points Guy, placing the bonus at roughly $450 in journey worth, a strong return for a card with no annual payment. Plus, there’s a yearlong intro interval with no curiosity at 0% APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases, which supplies you a comparatively very long time to repay giant purchases. After that, you’ll pay a variable APR of 19.74% to twenty-eight.24%, so that you’ll wish to ensure that the steadiness is paid off earlier than the intro interval ends.
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No annual payment
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Simple incomes construction
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MileagePlus miles by no means expire
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No international transaction charges
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No free checked luggage except you meet a excessive spending threshold
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No United flight credit
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No airport lounge entry
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Fewer journey protections than higher-tier playing cards
Learn how to apply for the United Gateway℠ Card.
While the Gateway Card doesn’t embrace premium perks, it does supply a small set of advantages that assist make United journey a bit smoother.
While this card’s United advantages are modest, however they’re significant for a no-annual-fee card, particularly for vacationers who redeem miles sometimes and need entry to extra award stock. First, you’ll get 25% again on in-flight purchases on United, together with meals, drinks and Wi-Fi, issued as an announcement credit score. You’ll additionally take pleasure in expanded award availability for MileagePlus card holders, giving entry to extra saver-level award seats on United flights.
The card does supply the flexibility to test luggage at no cost on United however solely after spending $10,000 in a calendar 12 months. That will unlock the flexibility to carry two checked luggage, however not all card holders will spend this a lot on the United Gateway. Spending $10,000 will even unlock $100 in United TravelFinancial institution money, which you’ll be able to spend on United flights, together with its United Express regional arm.
Travel and buy protections
The Gateway Card features a restricted suite of protections in contrast with paid journey playing cards:
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Purchase safety for eligible gadgets
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Extended guarantee protection
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Trip cancellation and interruption insurance coverage
The latter is particularly essential for vacationers. If you purchase your nonrefundable journey with the Gateway Card, you will be reimbursed as much as $1,500 per coated traveler and $6,000 per journey if it’s canceled or minimize brief by illness, extreme climate or different coated conditions. However, you gained’t discover journey delay reimbursement or rental automotive protection right here. Travelers who need these protections might want to step as much as a mid-tier or premium card.
The Gateway Card’s incomes construction is deliberately easy and geared towards on a regular basis spending slightly than premium journey perks:
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2x miles on United purchases (together with airfare and in-flight purchases)
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2x miles at fuel stations and on native transit (together with ride-share providers, taxis, trains and tolls)
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1x mile on every thing else
For vacationers who don’t fly United steadily or are against a card with an annual payment, this construction nonetheless makes it simple to earn miles organically. Gas and transit are classes the place many individuals already spend closely, which helps construct MileagePlus balances with out altering spending habits.
That stated, this isn’t a card designed to exchange a versatile factors card or a premium journey card. Instead, it really works finest as a low-maintenance means — with out incomes caps — to earn United miles alongside one other main rewards card.
The United MileagePlus miles you earn with the Gateway Card perform precisely the identical as miles earned from flying or higher-tier playing cards.
Booking United and associate award flights
You can redeem MileagePlus miles on just a few various kinds of award flights:
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United-operated flights
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Star Alliance associate flights
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Select non-alliance associate flights
United doesn’t cost close-in reserving charges and imposes comparatively low gasoline surcharges on many awards with associate airways, which make MileagePlus miles notably priceless for worldwide journey when saver awards can be found. MileagePlus miles additionally don’t expire.
You may use miles for resorts, rental vehicles, merchandise and experiences, however these choices usually ship decrease worth. As with most airline applications, flights stay the perfect use of MileagePlus miles.
We assume the United Gateway Card is finest suited to vacationers who wish to earn United miles with out paying an annual payment or committing to a single airline by getting a higher-end, airline-branded card.
This card is a robust match for you if the next statements are true:
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You fly United sometimes, not steadily.
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You desire a no-annual-fee method to earn MileagePlus miles.
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You spend frequently on fuel or native transit.
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You already maintain one other main rewards card.
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You worth simplicity over maximizing perks.
On the opposite hand, the Gateway Card could also be much less compelling when you relate to the next:
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You frequently test luggage on United.
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You need airline credit or elite-style advantages.
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You fly United a number of instances per 12 months.
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You need robust journey insurance coverage protections.
If you need core United perks with out going all the way in which as much as a premium card, the United Explorer Card is the pure improve from the Gateway.
The United Explorer Card will get you the next:
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Annual payment of $0 the primary 12 months, then $150
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Free first checked bag for you and a companion
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Priority boarding
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Two United Club one-time passes annually
For vacationers who fly United just a few instances per 12 months, the Explorer can ship much more tangible worth than the Gateway, nevertheless it comes at the price of a modest annual payment.
Learn how to apply for the United℠ Explorer Card.
If flexibility is extra essential than airline loyalty, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, which has a $95 annual payment, stays one of many strongest mid-tier journey playing cards accessible.
The card has the next incomes construction:
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5x factors on journey booked by way of Chase Travel℠
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3x factors on eating, choose streaming providers and on-line groceries
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2x factors on different journey
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1x level on all different purchases
You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United MileagePlus as effectively, providing you with entry to United miles with out committing to a co-branded card. You’ll additionally get stronger journey protections than the Gateway Card gives.
Learn how to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
According to NCS Underscored’s credit card methodology, we consider playing cards based mostly on quite a lot of components, gauging their utility for real-world customers, not simply card consultants. The principal components we contemplate are the next:
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Earning fee vs. redemption worth: A excessive incomes fee is effective, however provided that the rewards are too. We steadiness each components to evaluate a card’s total worth.
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Weighing charges towards advantages: We examine annual charges to the tangible worth of a card’s perks. Travel advantages similar to lounge entry, assertion credit and insurance coverage protections are weighed relative to a card’s annual value.
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Welcome supply: A large welcome supply might make making use of for a card worthwhile in itself, however provided that the spending goal within reason attainable.
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Ease of redemption: We consider whether or not rewards will be simply redeemed and whether or not playing cards with transferable factors and miles have robust airline and lodge companions.
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Travel and buy protections: Trip delay and interruption protection, baggage safety and rental automotive insurance coverage add important worth to travel-focused bank cards. Purchase protections like prolonged warranties and value safety may make sure playing cards stand out.
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Interest charges and steadiness switch gives: While we advise avoiding curiosity prices, we consider 0% APR introductory gives for shoppers trying to handle debt strategically.
The following FAQs have been answered by NCS Underscored journey editor and bank card knowledgeable Kyle Olsen.
You’ll want good to glorious credit score for the United Gateway Card. That typically means a FICO rating of about 670 to 700 or greater, although approval additionally relies on components like earnings, current debt and Chase’s 5/24 rule (which suggests you’ll probably be denied when you have utilized for greater than 5 playing cards, throughout all issuers, prior to now 24 months). While a better rating improves your odds, it doesn’t assure approval, and when you’re beneath the excessive 600s, constructing your credit score first can meaningfully enhance your possibilities of being authorised.
No, the United Gateway Card doesn’t include lounge entry.
The United Gateway Card and United Explorer Card each earn MileagePlus miles, however they’re constructed for very completely different vacationers. The Gateway is a no-annual-fee starter card with fundamental incomes and some journey perks, whereas the Explorer prices an annual payment (waived the primary 12 months) in alternate for a bigger welcome bonus, free checked luggage, precedence boarding, United Club passes and stronger incomes on journey and eating.
In my opinion, the Gateway is finest for infrequent United flyers or rookies who wish to earn miles without charge, whereas the Explorer makes extra sense for vacationers who fly United a number of instances a 12 months and might offset the payment by way of baggage financial savings, lounge entry passes and added comfort.
At NCS Underscored, our bank card suggestions are grounded in hands-on use and years of expertise masking travel rewards. Our purpose isn’t to push premium playing cards or flashy bonuses, however to assist readers select the perfect bank cards that make sense for the way they really journey and spend. For this text, journey editor Kyle Olsen evaluated the United Gateway Card based mostly on its long-term worth proposition and its position inside United’s broader bank card lineup.