No annual fee airline credit cards can make sense for certain travelers to have in their wallets. These cards, like the card_name, allow you to taste what it’s like to be somewhat loyal to an airline without paying for the card. In this United Gateway Card review, we’ll navigate the card details, benefits, sign-up bonus, application process, competing airline cards, and the pros and cons of the card.
United Gateway Card Review: Best Airline Credit Card for Beginners?
card_name is a United Airlines entry-level travel credit card in partnership with Chase. No annual fee, statement credits for inflight purchases, no foreign transaction fees, and its sign-up bonus miles are highlights of the card.
I recommend starting with entry-level cards offered by Chase and American Express before applying for airline credit cards. The points you earn with banks are more valuable than airline miles because the points can transferred to airlines and hotels. You can’t transfer United miles out of its program.
United Gateway Card Benefits
$0 Annual Fee: Pay no annual fee on the card_name.
Earning Structure: Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United purchases, at gas stations, and on local transit and commuting. All other purchases earn 1 mile per $1 spent.
Statement Credits: Receive 25% back on United inflight and premium drink purchases at United Club lounges.
No Foreign Transaction Fees: Pay no fees when you use your United Gateway Card internationally.
Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection: Make a reservation using your card at LHRCollection.com and receive daily breakfast for two, a special benefit unique to each property (i.e. dining credit), a complimentary room upgrade, and early and late checkout subject to availability.
Exclusive Chase and United Events: Visit UnitedCardEvents.com to purchase private culinary events and united.com/cardevents to redeem your miles for multi-course dinners, sporting events, concerts, and behind-the-scenes experiences at United’s operation facilities.
United Gateway Card Sign-up Bonus
Upon credit card approval card members earn 30,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 on the card within the first three months from account opening.
For an entry-level credit card, you’ll generally see sign-up bonus miles in the 30,000-50,000 mile range. United miles are roughly valued at 1 to 1.5 cents per mile making 30,000 miles worth ~$300-$750.
United Gateway Card Eligibility
The bonus miles are not available to new card members who currently have the card_name or who have received a new cardmember bonus on the card in the last 24 months.
The Chase 5 24 Rule also applies meaning Chase will not approve you for one of its subject to the rule if you’ve opened five or more new credit card accounts in the last 24 months.
United Gateway Card Rewards Program
Cards like the card_name feed into the MileagePlus program where the miles you earn can be redeemed to book award flights. United along with American Airlines generally offers more valuable loyalty programs when compared to Delta Air Lines.
What’s great about the United MileagePlus program is access to the Star Alliance. Airlines within this alliance that you can book using your United miles include Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines, and Swiss International Air Lines.
United Gateway Card Application Process
Click the link to the card_name to be directed to the application process. Fill in the required information and you’ll either be approved, denied, or receive a message stating Chase needs more time to review your application.
New card members falling into bucket three can contact Chase after submitting their application. Sometimes this phone call clears up any application discrepancies leading to card approval.
United Gateway Card Review: Compare to Other Airline Credit Cards
Before applying for the card_name, it’s good practice to compare this against its competitors which include the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Mastercard® and the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card.
Both of these cards have no annual fee, reasonable earning rates in bonus spending categories, and statement credits for inflight purchases. Check out my review of the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Mastercard® and the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card for more card information.
United Gateway Card Review: Pros and Cons
Pros of the card_name include no annual fee, statement credits for inflight purchases, no foreign transaction fees, and sign-up bonus miles. On the flip side, cons of the card include a low mileage-earning potential in bonus category spending, approval restrictions with the Chase 5 24 Rule, and few card benefits.
Is the United Gateway Card Worth It?
When you’re deciding if the card_name is right for you, it comes down to the value you think the card provides. The card has no annual fee, mileage earning in bonus spending categories, statement credits for inflight purchases, and a decent signup bonus.
Disclaimer: If you click and/or sign up for a credit card through certain links on this site or any of my related social media platforms, I may make a commission from that click-through. The editorial content on this page and the user comments are not provided by any of the companies mentioned and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. The opinions expressed here are mine alone.
