United Gateway Card overview
The United Gateway Card is a no-annual-fee airline bank card, ideally suited for these seeking to dip their toes within the United MileagePlus program. Incomes 2 miles per greenback on United, fuel station and native transit and commuting purchases, each newbies or informal vacationers can enhance their stash of United miles with this card. Card Ranking*: ⭐⭐⭐
*Card Ranking is predicated on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
The very best journey bank card for you doesn’t all the time must be the fanciest one in the marketplace or include an annual price.
In case you fly with United Airways or its Star Alliance companions, proudly owning this no-annual-fee card may be a simple method to earn and redeem award miles. The United Gateway Card has a stable set of bonus classes past simply United flights, which might assist newbies rack up miles — even when they aren’t always within the air.
Let’s check out the main points of this bank card.
United Gateway Card welcome supply
With the present welcome bonus for the United Gateway card, you’ll earn 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first three months your account is open. Since we worth United miles at 1.21 cents every, the sign-up bonus is price $242.
Though not essentially the most spectacular sign-up bonus we’ve seen provided on a card, it’s on par with different no-annual-fee airline bank cards. Relying on how you utilize these miles, you would doubtlessly outsize the said worth of the sign-up bonus.
Incomes miles on the United Gateway Card
The Gateway Card affords an honest variety of incomes classes, from United purchases to on a regular basis bills:
- 2 miles per greenback on United purchases
- 2 miles per greenback at fuel stations
- 2 miles per greenback on native transit and commuting, together with ride-hailing companies, taxis, prepare tickets, tolls and mass transit
- 1 mile per greenback on different eligible purchases
Since TPG valuations put United miles at 1.21 cents every, you’re taking a look at a 2.42% return on the 2-mile-per-dollar classes. For a no-annual-fee bank card, that’s a decent listing of bonus classes.
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Associated: Finest bank cards for reserving flights
Redeeming miles on the United Gateway Card
MileagePlus miles do not expire, so you may relaxation assured you could use your rewards quickly and even within the distant future in the event you aren’t touring quickly.
United is a part of Star Alliance, the biggest airline alliance on the earth. You need to use your hard-earned MileagePlus miles to guide accomplice airways by United’s web site, similar to Air Canada and Lufthansa. There’s no scarcity of locations you may journey to with United miles.
Past utilizing your miles for reward flights, you even have the choice to make use of them for reward playing cards, merchandise, different journey bookings and extra. Nevertheless, we typically don’t advocate these different redemption choices as you probably gained’t get as a lot worth.
Associated: Learn how to get most worth from the United MileagePlus program
United Gateway Card advantages
When you’re not going to get United’s top-notch premium perks with the Gateway card, there are nonetheless some appreciable advantages for a no-annual-fee journey card.
You may get:
Which playing cards compete with the United Gateway Card?
In case you aren’t certain the United Gateway Card is for you, chances are you’ll discover a higher match within the different United cobranded playing cards, or different no-annual-fee journey playing cards.
- If you’d like extra United advantages: The United Explorer Card comes with a bigger welcome bonus in addition to as much as a $100 credit score in your World Entry or TSA PreCheck software and a free checked bag for you and one companion touring on the identical reservation. You may additionally get two one-time United Membership passes every year. This card does include a $95 annual price, but it surely’s waived for the primary 12 months. For extra particulars, take a look at our full evaluate of the United Explorer Card.
- If you wish to earn Delta miles: The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Categorical Card is competing airline card with no annual price (see charges and charges). It earns 2 miles per greenback on Delta and eating purchases at eating places and 1 mile per greenback on all the things else. For extra particulars, take a look at our full evaluate of the Delta SkyMiles Blue Amex.
- If you’d like extra versatile journey rewards: The no-annual-fee Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit score Card affords a easy, sensible rewards fee: 1.25 miles per greenback on all purchases. You possibly can then switch your miles to Capital One’s airline and resort switch companions or redeem your miles at 1 cent every for any journey purchases in your assertion. For extra particulars, take a look at our full evaluate of the Capital One VentureOne.
For added choices, take a look at our full listing of finest playing cards for United Airways flyers and finest no-annual-fee airline playing cards.
Associated: Finest airline bank cards with annual charges underneath $100
Is the United Gateway Card price it?
Because the United Gateway Card would not carry an annual price, you may obtain a optimistic with the welcome bonus worth, perks and ongoing earnings you may get with this card. Nevertheless, understand that this card will take up considered one of your Chase 5/24 slots, so take into consideration how this card suits into your long-term technique earlier than leaping on it.
Associated: The very best methods to make use of your Chase 5/24 slots
Backside line
In case you’re contemplating diversifying your miles portfolio with a United bank card, the Gateway is perhaps an effective way to begin with the MileagePlus program. As you intend your upcoming journeys, this card is actually price contemplating if you’re a journey newbie who needs to earn United miles on on a regular basis purchases.
Official software hyperlink: United Gateway Card with 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first three months your account is open.
Extra reporting by Emily Thompson and Stella Shon.
For charges and charges of the Delta SkyMiles Blue Card, please click on right here.