Is the United Club℠ Infinite Card better than the United Gateway Card?

The United Club℠ Infinite Card is better than the United Gateway Card if you travel frequently and want access to premium travel perks like lounge access and priority boarding. The United Club Infinite also offers a better reward rate for United purchases at four miles per dollar compared to United Gateway’s two miles per dollar.

Can you get the United Club℠ Infinite Card if you have the United Gateway Card?

Yes, you can get the United Club℠ Infinite Card if you have the United Gateway Card. However, the United Club℠ Infinite Card has a $525 annual fee. It’s important to note that Chase will not approve you for either of these cards if you have opened more than five personal credit cards in the past two years.

Can you transfer points from United Club℠ Infinite Card to United Gateway Card?

The points you earn on either card will all be in the same United MileagePlus account, so transferring points isn’t necessary.

Can you switch from the United Club℠ Infinite Card to the United Gateway Card?

Yes, you can switch from the United Club℠ Infinite Card to the United Gateway Card. Although you will not pay any annual fees for the United Gateway, you will miss out on the travel perks available on the United Club Infinite such as lounge access, priority boarding and free checked bags.

What’s harder to get the United Club℠ Infinite Card or the United Gateway Card?

Both cards require a good to excellent credit score.

How much do you have to spend on the United Club℠ Infinite Card and United Gateway Card to get the welcome bonus?

You need to spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months to get the 100,000 bonus miles on the United Club Infinite card. The United Gateway only requires you to spend $1,000 in the first three months to earn 20,000 reward miles.

United Club℠ Infinite Card vs. United Gateway Card: Which Is Best for You?

The United Club Infinite and United Gateway Card credit cards offer great value in rewards and travel perks for United flyers. MoneyGeek’s United Club℠ Infinite Card vs United Gateway Card comparison will help you decide which of these cards will offer you the most value.

Advertising & Editorial DisclosureLast Updated: 11/18/2022

Reviewed By

Brett Holzhauer

Last Updated: 11/18/2022

For the frequent traveler loyal to United Airlines, the United Club℠ Infinite Card offers generous rewards including four miles per dollar spent on United purchases and two miles per dollar on travel-related expenses such as dining. The United Club Infinite also comes with premium perks including United lounge access, first and second checked bags are complementary and priority boarding which may offer a frequent traveler enough value to offset the $525 annual fee. However, if you’re looking to earn miles on everyday purchases like gas and local commute expenses, the United Gateway Card earns you miles at two miles per dollar spent on these categories. The United Gateway is a good choice if you want a low-cost travel card since it has no annual fees and no foreign transaction fees.

OUR COMPARISON AT A GLANCE

Comparison Overview
United Club℠ Infinite Card at a Glance
United Gateway Card at a Glance
Comparison Summary
Which Card Should You Get?

Comparison Overview: United Club℠ Infinite Card vs. United Gateway Card

United Club℠ Infinite Card
United Gateway Card
Has Annual Fee
Has Balance Transfer Offer
Has APR Offer
Cash Back Rewards
Travel Rewards
Hotel Benefits
Airline Benefits
Has Rewarding Welcome Offer
Has Foreign Transaction Fee
Recommended Credit
Excellent
Good-Excellent

United Club℠ Infinite Card At a Glance

If you’re a frequent traveler on United looking for premium perks, the rewards and benefits of the United Club℠ Infinite Card can justify the $525 annual fee. The United Club Infinite Card offers travelers a generous four miles per dollar spent on United purchases. You also earn two miles per dollar on dining and hotel expenses and one mile per dollar on all other purchases. United Club Infinite cardholders also get complimentary access to all United Club locations and eligible Star Alliance lounges worldwide. You also get free checked bags and priority check-in, screening, boarding, and baggage handling.

United Club℠ Infinite Card
An excellent card for earning United’s MileagePlus miles
- ExcellentRecommended Credit
- $525Annual Fee
- 1–4 Miles per $1*Rewards Rate
- 4xRewards Rate on Air Travel
- 2xRewards Rate at Hotels
Pros
Opportunity to earn a significant number of bonus points
High reward rate for United purchases
Airport lounge access through United Club membership
Free first and second checked bags on United-operated flights
25% back as a statement credit on United in-flight purchases
Premier availability-based upgrades on United-operated flights
Earn and redeem miles through United, members of the Star Alliance and other partner airlines
No foreign transaction fees
Extensive travel insurance

Cons
Annual fee of $525
Penalty APR may apply in case of late or returned payments
Cannot transfer miles to other airline loyalty programs
Earn a spend-based welcome bonus
Earn 4X miles per $1 on United purchases, including tickets as well as in-flight food, drinks and Wi-Fi.
Earn 2X miles on all other travel purchases, including flights, trains, cruise lines, local transit, car rentals, taxicabs, rideshare services, tolls, hotels and resorts.
Earn 2X miles on eligible dining purchases.
Earn 1X miles on other purchases.
Redeem your miles for air travel with United, members of the Star Alliance network (Air Canada, Lufthansa, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, etc.) and other partner airlines such as Aer Lingus, Boutique Air, Edelweiss, Hawaiian Airlines and Vistara.
Get access to all United Club locations and participating Star Alliance-affiliated airport lounges globally through your complimentary United Club membership.
You and one travel companion get first and second standard checked bags free on United-operated flights.
Benefit through availability-based premier upgrades on your award tickets.
Earn a statement credit of up to $100 toward Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fees once every four years.
Get 25% back as a statement credit when you use your card to pay for services onboard United-operated flights.
Avoid crowds at airports through priority boarding and security screening (availability-based) as well as boarding and baggage handling privileges.
Earn 500 premier qualifying points (PQPs) for every $12,000 you spend on purchases up to a maximum of 4,000 PQPs per year. These apply toward your MileagePlus Premier status, helping you get to the Premier 1K tier faster.
Enroll in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program and get to the President's Circle tier automatically to enjoy a 50% bonus on Hertz Gold Plus Rewards points as well as upgrades and special offers.
Stay at the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection properties to enjoy complimentary breakfasts, room upgrades, early check-ins and late check-outs.
Pay no foreign transaction fees.
Stand to benefit through complimentary trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip delay reimbursement, auto rental collision damage waiver, purchase protection, return protection and extended warranty.
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top-rated cards from our partners.

United Gateway Card At a Glance

The United Gateway Card is ideal for those who don’t travel frequently but still want to earn reward miles. With the United Gateway Card, you can earn miles on everyday spending at two miles per dollar spent on gas station purchases and for your local commuting expenses. You also get two miles per dollar for United purchases and one mile per dollar for all other eligible purchases. While this card doesn’t have luxury travel perks, you still have access to: purchase protection, 25% back on United in-flight food, beverage and Wi-Fi purchases and no foreign transaction fees.

United Gateway Card
A great no-annual-fee rewards card for people who fly United
- Good-ExcellentRecommended Credit
- $0Annual Fee
- 1 Mile per $1Rewards Rate
- 2xRewards Rate on Air Travel
- 2xRewards Rate on Gas
Pros
No annual fees
No foreign transaction fees
No blackout dates for redeeming miles
25% cash back on United in-flight purchases
Travel and purchase cover
Use for balance transfers

Cons
Penalty APR may apply if you make a late payment
High balance transfer and cash advance fees
Earn 30,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
Pay no annual or international transaction fees.
Earn 2 miles per $1 on United purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting.
Earn 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases,
Earn 25% back in the form of a statement credit when you pay for food, beverages or Wi-Fi on board a United flight.
Redeem points for flight tickets via United or on any other Star Alliance network member airlines.
You may redeem your points to shop at MileagePlusAwards.com.
Use your miles to book any United flight without worrying about blackout dates.
Safeguard your travels through auto rental collision damage waiver and trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance.
Safeguard your purchases via purchase protection and extended warranty protection.
Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles each year by referring friends.
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top-rated travel rewards cards.

Comparison Summary

You can compare the benefits and features of the United Club℠ Infinite Card and the United Gateway Card to see which card suits your needs best.

Card Detail
Comparison Summary
Travel Coverage and Purchase Protection
United Club℠ Infinite Card can reimburse you up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for your prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses for canceled trips while the United Gateway Card will reimburse you up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip. The United Club Infinite comes with purchase protection for 120 days of up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year but the United Gateway per claim limit is $500.
Winner: United Club℠ Infinite Card
Welcome Bonus
The United Club Infinite card offers a welcome bonus of 100,000 bonus miles for cardholders who spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months while the United Gateway has a welcome bonus of 20,000 miles if you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months.
Winner: United Club℠ Infinite Card
Rewards
The United Club℠ Infinite Card earns you four miles per dollar on United purchases, two miles per dollar on dining and all other travel-related purchases and one mile per dollar on all other purchases. The United Gateway earns two miles per dollar on United purchases, gas station purchases and local commute expenses such as tolls and rideshare services and one mile per dollar on all eligible purchases.
Winner: United Club℠ Infinite Card
Annual Fee
The United Club℠ Infinite Card has a $525 annual fee while the United Gateway has no annual fee.
Winner: United Gateway Card
Loyalty Programs
The United Club℠ Infinite Card and the United Explorer offer premier upgrades on award tickets, United plus card member exclusives and Platinum Elite status with IHG. You can also earn Premier qualifying points to apply towards Premier status tiers. The United Gateway Card earns you MileagePlus miles that can be redeemed for gateways and unique experiences but does not earn any Premier points.
Winner: United Club℠ Infinite Card

Which Card Should You Get?

When deciding whether to go for the United Club℠ Infinite Card or United Gateway Card, it’s important to consider how you can get the most value out of each of these Chase credit cards.

Who Should Consider the United Club℠ Infinite Card?

The United Club℠ Infinite Card has a hefty $525 annual fee but it may still be a great travel card option for you. This card is better than the United Gateway in terms of travel perks and rewards earning rates. Go for the United Club Infinite if:

You travel frequently on United and want to access premium perks like priority boarding, free checked bags and access to United lounges.
You want to earn reward miles fast. With a rewards rate of four miles per dollar on United purchases, it is easy to rack up reward miles on the United Club Infinite especially if you travel frequently.
If you’re a member of the United Club, this card will offer you more value since you will get a refund for the unused portion of your membership fee.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review

Who Should Consider the United Gateway Card?

The United Gateway Card is a solid card for those who do not travel frequently and want a card with no annual fee. The United Gateway card is better than the United Club Infinite if you don't travel often, but spend regularly on everyday purchases.

You want a travel card with no annual fees that will still give you value if you travel infrequently and allow you to earn United miles on your everyday purchases.
You want to earn miles for award flights, but do not necessarily need a card with premium United perks like priority boarding, lounge access or free checked bags.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review

EXPERT OPINION

These two United cards are vastly different in their offering. The Gateway card is meant for travelers who fly one–three times per year, while the United Club Infinite is meant for United flyers that fly more than six times per year. Because of this, neither of these cards are ‘better’ than the other. Each card has a specific user it targets, and if you’re debating between the two cards, it should simply come down to how often you travel with United.

Other Helpful Decision-Making FAQs

You can learn more about the United Gateway Card and the United Club℠ Infinite Card in the frequently asked questions below.

Still Not Sure About These Cards? Consider These Options

The United Club℠ Infinite Card is tailored for the luxury traveler looking for premium perks and hefty rewards. With an annual fee of $525, those who don’t travel United regularly may not get enough value from the United Club Infinite. However, the United Gateway has no annual fee and will benefit even those who don’t travel frequently since it offers miles on everyday purchases. However if you aren’t a United loyalist, you may also consider other travel credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card.

View All Credit Cards

Learn more about credit cards in general

sources

Chase.com. "United Gateway Credit Card." Accessed January 7, 2022.
Chase.com. "United Club Infinite Card." Accessed January 7, 2022.

*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.