| Last updated on November 17th, 2023
United Gateway Card
United Gateway Card
United Gateway Card
- 21.74% to 28.74% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Regular Purchase APR
- 21.74% to 28.74% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Balance Transfer APR
- 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate Cash Advance APR
- 0% for 12 months Intro Purchase APR
At a Glance
The United Gateway Card is a robust travel and airline credit card from United Airlines and Chase. The card offers double miles on United purchases and purchases at gas stations, as well as on local transit and commuting. The card also features no foreign transaction fees, no blackout dates on award flights, and no annual fee.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- 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 on 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
- Intro Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months
- Regular Purchase APR: 21.74% to 28.74% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer APR: 21.74% to 28.74% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer Transaction Fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Cash Advance APR: 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Penalty APR: Up to 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- You prefer to fly with United Airlines and are a MileagePlus member
- You commute to work or rely on local transportation options
- You want a no annual fee card with a quality sign up bonus
- You don’t need a card with premium perks like Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, priority boarding, or free checked bags
- You don’t want to pay an annual fee
United Gateway Card Review
The United Gateway Card is versatile, no annual fee airline card from Chase and United Airlines. The card, as part of the United MileagePlus frequent flyer program, earns miles with every purchase.
Signup Bonus
New United Gateway Cardholders earn 30,000 bonus United MileagePlus miles when they make $1,000 in purchases within the first three months of opening their account. This signup offer has an approximate valuation of $150, which is a nice – and easily attainable – bonus.
0% Intro APR on Purchases
The Gateway comes with 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases, followed by a variable APR of 16.49%–23.49%. That introductory APR on purchases is a great feature that provides everyday value for cardholders, versus the premium perks that come from other United credit cards with steeper annual fees.
How to Earn United MileagePlus Miles with the United Gateway Card
Like other credit cards from Chase and United, the Gateway Card offers various ways to earn enhanced miles with every purchase. The United Gateway Visa Signature earns double miles (2X miles per dollar spent) on United purchases, gas station purchases, and local transit and commuting.
The 2X miles on United purchases include the usual costs users associate with this type of card, including tickets, baggage service charges, and other United fees, plus in-flight services (Wi-Fi, inflight food and beverages, etc.). Equally typical is the 2X miles on gas station purchases – something found with many other travel cards.
The addition is 2X miles on commuting, and local transit is perhaps the card’s nicest regular feature. The ability to earn extra points or miles with transit and commuting is somewhat of a newer trend in the credit card space – with the Green Card from American Express among the first to provide such a benefit.
Earning double MileagePlus miles on everyday travel, such as rideshare services, trains, taxis, tolls, and other costs, is an excellent feature. It’s simple features like this that take airline credit cards to the next level and make them versatile everyday earners.
Every other purchase with the Gateway Visa signature earns a single mile per dollar spent.
How to Redeem MileagePlus Miles
The simplest way to redeem MileagePlus miles is through flights with United Airlines. United flies to hundreds of destinations across the world, allowing Gateway cardholders a wealth of travel opportunities.
United award fares come in two varieties: Saver Awards and Everyday Awards. Saver is the most economical of the award types, with flight awards starting as low as 5,000 miles. Everyday Awards, on the other hand, offer greater availability.
MileagePlus members and United Gateway Cardholders can also redeem miles for flights with United Airlines partners. These partners include the Star Alliance, featuring major carriers like Air Canada, ANA, Asiana, Avianca, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, and more.
Other United partners include major hotel brands, like Choice Hotels, Marriott, Radisson, IHG, and Hyatt, rental car brands Dollar and Hertz, and over 20 leading cruise lines.
United MileagePlus Credit Card Comparison
Unsure which United Airlines credit card is right for you? Here is a quick breakdown of all of Chase’s personal United Airlines credit cards:
 Gateway |
 Explorer |
 Quest℠ |
 Club℠ |
|
| Annual fee | None | $95 ($0 first year) | $250 | $525 |
| Rewards | 2X on United and gas purchases, 1X on all else | 2X on United, dining, hotels booked directly, 1X on all else | 3X on United purchases, 2X on travel, dining, and streaming, 1X on all else | 4X on United purchases, 2X on travel, 1X on all else |
| In-flight savings | 25% | 25% | 25% | 25% |
| Free bags | - | 1st bag | 1st & 2nd bag | 1st & 2nd bag |
| TSA PreCheck | - | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lounge access | - | United Club (2X/year) | - | United Club (unlimited) |
United Travel Benefits
Like any co-branded airline credit card, the United Gateway Card offers holders unique benefits when traveling with the carrier. The most apparent of these benefits is 25% back on United in-flight purchases. These savings take the form of a statement credit when the cardholder uses their Gateway card to make purchases on any United-operated flight. Other perks include no blackout dates on award flight bookings and no foreign transaction fees.
Chase and United also state that cardholders receive access to “exclusive experiences, such as winemaker dinners and other unique virtual events.” However, this perk, like the Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection, comes with all Visa Signature credit cards. So, while these are great, they aren’t as exclusive as United makes out.
Related Article: The Ultimate United MileagePlus Guide
Other Travel Benefits
Other travel benefits available thanks to the impressive Visa Signature perks and protections include:
| Zero Fraud Liability | Cardholder Inquiry Services | Emergency Card Replacement | Luxury Hotel Collection | Extended Warranty Coverage |
| Roadside Dispatch | Lost/Stolen Card Reporting | ID Navigator from Norton | Travel & Emergency Assistance |
FAQs About the United Gateway Card
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions regarding the United Gateway Visa Signature, along with the answers:
- Chase credit cards require a good or excellent credit score to qualify. This means you will likely need a credit score of around 680/690 or higher to qualify for the GatewayVisa Signature.
- Award flights in the United MileagePlus start as low as 12,500 miles for economy flights and 30,000 miles for business fares.
Chase Bank Ratings
Here is a selection of expert reviews for the card, as well as an overview of JP Morgan Chase as a bank:
| BestCards | Better Business Bureau | TrustPilot |
|
4.5/5 |
3.5/5 |
2/5 |
Should You Apply for the United Gateway Card?
The United Gateway Card is a quality addition to the no annual fee airline credit card space. No annual fee airline cards are somewhat hit-or-miss. While premium cards offer better benefits, the annual fee may not provide the value travelers need – especially if their travel plans don’t justify the cost associated with a premium card.
The Gateway Card isn’t overly impressive, but the notes it hits ring true. The best feature of the card is the 2X miles on commuting and local transit. The signup bonus is pleasant, too, offering a decent incentive to get out and make full use of the card.
Overall, there is much more to like about the United Gateway Visa Signature than there is to loathe. If you fly with United enough to warrant a credit card, you can rest assured that the Gateway is a reliable tool to help you save towards your next vacation – and help you out on your trip too.
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