Key facts
It’s notable upfront that the benefit people are mostly likely to want a United card for is a free checked bag. You won’t find that here, needing to step up to the “low” annual fee United℠ Explorer Card for that benefit. But there are still plenty of benefits for no annual fee, including expanded saver award ticket availability.
Annual Fee:
$0Min. Credit Score for Approval:
670-739 * GoodAPR on Purchases:
0 % Intro APR on purchases for 12 months, 21.99%-28.99% thereafterBalance transfer fees
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.Foreign Transaction Fee:
0%Reward multipliers
- Earn 2 United MileagePlus miles per dollar spent on United purchases, including tickets, in-flight food and Wi-Fi and baggage service charges
- Earn 2 miles per dollar spent at gas stations
- Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on local transit and commuting, including ride share services, taxicabs, train tickets, tolls, and mass transit
- Earn 1 mile per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
Earns bonus points for spend in the following bonus categories:
Key features
Unique Card Benefits
25% back on United Purchases In-flight and on United Club Premium Drink Purchases
Receive 25% off United in flight purchases when using your card, including Wi-Fi, food and beverages. Plus, get 25% off United Club premium drinks.
Expanded United Award Availability
You’ll have additional access to book United economy awards and may even see economy award seats requiring fewer miles when logged into your MileagePlus account. It’s not uncommon to see awards around half off the standard (public) price.
DoorDash Benefit
Get one-year complimentary DashPass, a membership for both DoorDash and Caviar that provides unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders. After that, you are automatically enrolled in DashPass at the current monthly rate. You must activate by 12/31/24.
The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection
This selection of over 1,000 properties includes many of the world’s top hotel accommodations, resorts, lodges and spas, each of which extend you complimentary benefits with every stay. By making a reservation for hotel stays through the program, you’ll receive:
- Daily breakfast for two
- A special benefit unique to each property, such as a dining or spa credit
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- A room upgrade, if available
- Early check-in and late checkout, if available
0% Intro APR on Purchases
0 % Intro APR on purchases for 12 months, 21.99%-28.99% thereafter
This card does not offer a 0% intro APR benefit for balance transfers.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
When you make purchases outside the U.S. with your Gateway card, they will not be subject to a foreign transaction fee.
Extended Warranty
The Extended Warranty Protection benefit extends the time period of the U.S. manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less.
Purchase Protection
This benefit of your United Gateway card covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Trip Protections
Trip Cancellation / Trip Interruption Insurance
You can be reimbursed up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable passenger fares, if your trip is cancelled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations.
Secondary Car Rental CDW Waiver
If you decline the rental car company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card, this benefit provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most rental cars in the U.S. and abroad, secondary to your personal insurance. Country and vehicle restrictions apply.
Concierge Services
As a Visa Signature card, you’ll be entitled to complimentary concierge service 24 hours a day. They can help find tickets to sports and entertainment events, make you dinner reservations and much more. Note that card holders are still subject to paying for any third-party services or items secured by the concierge.
Free Access to Credit Score
Available via Chase’s Credit Journey.
Earn more rewards by combining credit cards
Pros & cons
- No Annual Fee
- Expanded "Saver" economy award availability
- A wide range of trip and purchase protections and benefits
- No free checked bags or priority boarding
- Does not provide the "upgrades on award ticket" benefit of the other United credit cards
- Mileage rate is not as good as many other cards and miles earned are only good in the United MileagePlus program
Our review
The United Gateway card does a solid job of providing enough benefits to make you wonder if it will be sufficient, vs investing $95 or more on one of the other Chase United credit cards since this is the only one with no annual fee.
The answer will depend on you.
If you fly several times a year and check a bag each time, then you’ll come out ahead paying the $95 annual fee on the United℠ Explorer Card since you’ll get free checked bags (one for you and a companion on the same itinerary) every time you pay with your card on a domestic flight. You also won’t get priority boarding with the Gateway card.
However, if you are on “Team Carry-On Only,” then this card provides many of the same benefits, including the benefit that gives you access to expanded Saver economy coach availability just like a United Silver Premier member. However, unlike all of the other United cards, you won’t be entitled to upgrades on award tickets.
Additionally, you won’t have any opportunities to earn PQPs from spending on this card whereas all the other United cards do offer that benefit.
Lastly, you might do better with a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card if you aren’t using the checked bag benefit or the expanded award availability benefit. That’s because you’ll have more opportunities to earn points from spend on the Sapphire Preferred, and while you can transfer those points right over to United, you can also take advantage of all of the other Chase Ultimate Rewards airline and hotel transfer partners.
In the end, it depends on you if this is a good card for you, or if another similar card might be better.
Frequently asked questions
Does the United Gateway Card have an annual fee?
No, there’s no annual fee.
Does the United Gateway Card get you into airport lounges?
No, only the United Club℠ Infinite Card would offer United Club access.
Is it hard to get the United Gateway Card?
You’ll need a Good or better credit rating – about 670 FICO+.
Is it worth getting the United Gateway Card?
Honestly, it probably makes more sense to at least step up to the United℠ Explorer Card for a free checked bag on all domestic flights when you pay with your card. The main reason to get the Gateway would be if your ONLY desired benefit is expanded economy saver award availability.
How do I earn miles with the United Gateway Card?
- Earn 2 United MileagePlus miles per dollar spent on United purchases, including tickets, in-flight food and Wi-Fi and baggage service charges
- Earn 2 miles per dollar spent at gas stations
- Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on local transit and commuting, including ride share services, taxicabs, train tickets, tolls, and mass transit
- Earn 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
Does the United Gateway Card charge foreign transaction fees?
Surprisingly for a no annual fee credit card, no, it will not charge you a foreign transaction fee when spending abroad.
Does the United Gateway Card have car rental coverage?
It offers secondary CDW coverage.
Does the United Gateway Card offer extended warranty?
Yes. It extends the time period of the U.S. manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less.
Does the United Gateway Card offer purchase protection?
Yes, this benefit of your United Gateway card covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Does the United Gateway Card offer trip protections?
Yes, you can be reimbursed up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable passenger fares, if your trip is cancelled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations.
