Looking for a credit card that can help you earn airline miles without an annual fee? The United Gateway℠ Card may be just what you need.
This co-branded credit card from United Airlines offers a range of benefits, including double miles on United purchases and at gas stations, and travel perks like trip cancellation and interruption insurance and auto rental collision damage waiver.
But if you want special perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, and two annual United Club passes, you may want to consider the United℠ Explorer Card (review).
In this article, we’ll look at the United Gateway Card and help you determine if it’s the right choice for your travel needs.
Welcome Bonus
The United Gateway Card currently offers the following welcome bonus:
bonus_miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
Earning Points
The United Gateway Card offers nice rewards for a no-annual fee card:
- 2 miles per dollar on United purchases (including tickets, Economy Plus®, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, baggage service charges, and other United purchases);
- 2 miles per dollar on gas station purchases;
- 2 miles on local transit and commuting, including rideshare services, taxis, train tickets, tolls, and mass transit; and
- 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
No Annual Fee
One of the best aspects of the United Gateway Card is that it allows you to earn rewards on United without having to pay an annual fee.
Benefits of the Chase United Gateway Card
Below are the benefits that come with the Chase United Gateway Credit Card:
25% In-flight Discount on United
This card offers 25% back in the form of an account statement credit on purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi, onboard United when you pay using your card.
Potential Annual 5,000 Mile Bonus
0% Intro APR for 12 Months
The United Gateway card offers 0% intro APR for the first 12 months from account opening on purchases. After that, a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
This card has no foreign transaction fees on purchases outside the U.S., which is helpful if you travel internationally to help you avoid paying a 3% fee on those international purchases.
Secondary Rental Car Insurance
Secondary rental car insurance covers any damage to a rental car not covered by your primary insurance when you pay for the rental using this card.
Other credit cards offer primary rental car insurance, which pays before your insurance and saves you the hassle of filing multiple insurance claims.
You still need to maintain liability car insurance to cover damage to another person or property.
Trip Cancellation / Interruption Insurance
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance reimburses you for non-refundable expenses if your trip is interrupted or canceled for a covered reason such as illness, severe weather, or an accidental injury when you pay for your travel expenses with this card.
Extended Warranty
Credit card extended warranty protection adds up to an additional year of coverage for eligible purchases on manufacturer’s warranties up to 3 years.
Coverage matches the protection provided by the original warranty so that damage or defect would have to be covered by the original warranty for extended warranty coverage.
Purchase Protection For 120 Days
Purchase protection can save you a lot of money if you bought an eligible item that is damaged or stolen within 120-days.
For example, if accidentally dropped your new phone or laptop and broke the screen, you could file a claim to get it replaced if it was purchased within the last 120 days.
Complimentary DashPash
This card offers a one-year DashPass membership for free, which includes DoorDash and Caviar, offering unlimited deliveries with free delivery fees and reduced service fees for eligible purchases The offer must be activated by December 31, 2024.
Once the free membership is over, you will be automatically enrolled in DashPass at the prevailing monthly rate.
Pros and Cons
Before you make a decision on whether you should get the United Gateway Card, it’s worth taking a quick peek at the pros and cons.
Pros
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Travel protections.
Cons
No free checked bags.
No priority boarding.
Card Alternatives to the United Gateway Card
Now that you know about this credit card’s various benefits and pros and cons, it’s time to see its alternatives.
United℠ Explorer Card
- bonus_miles_full
- 2X Miles on United Purchases, Dining, and Hotel Stays
- 2 United Club One-Time Passes Per Year
- Free First Checked Bags for Two People
- Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or Nexus Credit
- 25% Savings on United In-Flight Food and Drinks
- Priority Boarding
- Primary Rental Car and Trip Delay Insurance
- $0 Intro Annual Fee, Then $95 Per Year
The card_name (review) is one of my favorite cards to keep long-term because of the great benefits when flying United, including:
- Free first checked bag when you pay using the Explorer card;
- Two free United Club passes each account anniversary;
- Priority boarding for you and companions on the same reservation;
- Extra award space when redeeming your United miles;
- 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi on United; and
- Premier upgrades on award tickets.
Even if you’re not a frequent United flyer, the money-saving perks and travel benefits of this card can still make it a worthwhile choice.
Besides the airline-specific benefits, the United Explorer card offers purchase protection, extended warranty, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance, providing peace of mind while traveling.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- bonus_miles_full
- 5x Points on Travel Booked Via Chase
- 3x Points on Dining and Eligible Delivery Services
- 2x Points on All Other Travel Purchases
- 10% Anniversary Points Boost
- Trip Delay and Trip Cancellation Insurance
- Primary Rental Car Insurance
- $95 Annual Fee
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review) is one of the best rewards cards for travelers who want solid earning rates for travel and dining expenses.
For only $95 per year, this card earns 5x Chase Ultimate Rewards points on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, 3x points on dining, online groceries, and streaming services, and 2x on all other travel purchases.
Cardholders will also get a 10% anniversary points bonus, a 12-month DoorDash DashPass subscription when activated by December 31, 2024, and a $50 anniversary hotel statement credit.
Plus, it provides extensive travel protections, including trip delay, primary rental car, baggage, and purchase protection plans.
Is the United Gateway Card Worth It?
The United Gateway℠ Card is a decent option if you are looking to earn United Miles.
But if you fly United at least twice per year, I would recommend getting the United℠ Explorer Card because it offers extra perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, and two annual United Club one-time passes.
