Review
Updated
Status
The information related to United Gateway℠ Card has been collected by The Ascent and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer. Check out our best credit cards for current offers.
The United Gateway℠ Card is the airline's starter credit card. It doesn't charge an annual fee, making it the most economical United card, and it offers a reasonable lineup of perks. However, its benefits are more limited than the other credit cards in United's lineup. Find out what it offers and if it makes sense for you in this United Gateway℠ Card review.
United Gateway℠ Card
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Best
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= Excellent
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= Good
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Credit Score
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 12 months
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.99% - 28.99% Variable
Rewards
21.74% - 28.74% Variable
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer Earn 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Earn 30,000 bonus miles
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For people who fly United frequently, this card packs a bit of a punch with it's sign-up bonus and rewards rate. Unfortunately, it doesn't offer free checked bags or similar travel perks.
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- No annual fee
- Sign-up bonus
- Bonus miles in select categories
- Limited travel benefits
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- 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
The information related to United Gateway℠ Card has been collected by The Ascent and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.
Credit card comparison
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
| Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. N/A | 1% - 5% Cashback Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically. |
Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular: 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR |
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Up to $300 cash back Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. | 1.5% - 5% cash back Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases |
Intro: 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months Regular: 20.49% - 29.24% Variable |
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
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Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
60,000 bonus points Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. | 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. |
Intro: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A Regular: 21.49%-28.49% Variable |
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Full United Gateway Card review
This credit card is a good fit for: Occasional United flyers who want a no annual fee card with the airline. Those who don't mind an annual fee could likely get more value from one of United's other credit cards.
Top perks
Sign-up bonus
You'll receive bonus miles when you spend $1,000 on purchases with the United Gateway℠ Card in the first 3 months.
United MileagePlus miles have an approximate value of $0.01 to $0.015 each, depending on how you redeem them. That means the -mile bonus is worth about $200 to $300. It's a fairly competitive bonus compared to other no annual fee cards. You could use those miles for one or more domestic economy tickets, or you could save them to stock up for a future trip.
See more: Best Sign-Up Bonus Credit Cards
Rewards
The United Gateway℠ Card earns:
- 2 miles per dollar on United purchases
- 2 miles per dollar at gas stations
- 2 miles per dollar on local transit and commuting, including rideshares, taxis, train tickets, tolls, and mass transit
- 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases
Overall, it's a solid set of bonus categories. Gas stations are an area where many consumers have high spending, and local transit and commuting are bonus categories we don't see often.
See more options: Best Rewards Credit Cards
No annual fee
If you want a no annual fee card, the United Gateway℠ Card fits the bill. It also works well if you have a different United card that you want to downgrade to avoid an annual credit card fee.
25% back on United in-flight purchases
You'll get a 25% statement credit on various United in-flight purchases when you pay with your United card. These include food, beverages, and wifi on United-operated flights.
No foreign transaction fees
You won't get charged any extra fees on transactions you make during trips outside the United States. Most of the best travel rewards cards have eliminated foreign transaction fees, so this perk isn't unique. Regardless, it's a nice feature.
Travel protection
When you pay with this card, it offers the following travel protections on eligible purchases:
- Auto rental damage collision waiver
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
Purchase protection
Eligible purchases made through this card receive the following:
- Purchase protection against damage or theft
- Extended warranty coverage
Learn more: Best Airline Credit Cards
What could be improved
There are a couple issues to note with this card.
United benefits
The biggest drawback of the United Gateway℠ Card is its sparse benefits. You won't get a free checked bag, priority boarding, or any passes to United Club (the airline's airport lounges). Those perks are all included with the United℠ Explorer Card.
Before you decide to apply for the United Gateway℠ Card, it's a good idea to review United's other credit cards. You may find one of them offers more value -- even if it charges an annual fee.
Suggested credit score
To get the United Gateway℠ Card, we recommend having a FICO® Score of at least 670. You'll likely need good credit to be approved. However, your credit score isn't the only important factor on a credit card application.
Because this is a Chase credit card, there's one more qualification to note before you apply. The card issuer almost always denies applications from anyone who has opened five or more credit cards over the previous 24 months (known as Chase's 5/24 rule). If you'll likely be denied because of this rule, you're better off not applying.
Find the best credit card for your needs
Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.
This card right for you if:
You fly with United a couple times per year and want a credit card that doesn't come with a yearly fee.
The United Gateway℠ Card provides valuable features for a free travel card. If there's one thing working against it, it's that the other three United cards offer so much more. Make sure to compare credit cards and see whether you could get more value from these alternatives:
Our credit card methodology
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
FAQs
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The minimum starting credit limit for the United Gateway℠ Card is $1,000. Chase determines your card's credit limit based on your credit worthiness. Depending on your income and credit history, you may qualify for a higher credit limit.
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The United Gateway℠ Card typically arrives in the mail within seven to 10 business days after the application is approved.
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Yes, authorized users earn miles for the primary cardmember's account.
Our Credit Cards Expert
Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. He writes for The Ascent and The Motley Fool, and his work has appeared in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Lyle Daly has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends JPMorgan Chase and Target. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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