MoneyGeek's Take

Chase United Gateway Review

With no annual fees, a solid welcome bonus and a decent rewards rate, the United Gateway Card is perfect for occasional travelers who want to earn miles at no additional cost. The card is great for people who like to fly United Airlines.

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Last Updated: 11/9/2021

The United Gateway Card is the newest addition to Chase’s line of United Airlines credit cards. Unlike most of its siblings, this card has no annual fee. The bonus categories are beneficial for frequent United flyers or commuters, as cardholders can get two MileagePlus miles per $1 spent on purchases at United Airlines, gas stations and local transit. All other purchases get one mile for every $1 spent. There’s no limit to the rate or how many miles you can get in a year.

Card Details to Know Up Front

Bonus, Fee or Feature
Has or Not
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
Credit Needed
Good–Excellent

Click to see this card’s rates, fees and how they compare to other cards in our dataset.

OUR REVIEW AT A GLANCE

Credit Card Details at a Glance
Pros & Cons Explained
Bonuses & Rewards Explained
Our Verdict: Is This Card for You?

Chase United Gateway at a Glance

Chase’s United Gateway Card is an entry-level travel credit card with an attractive sign-up bonus and a decent rewards rate. This is perfect for infrequent travelers who still want to save on flights whenever possible.

Chase United Gateway
A great no-annual-fee rewards card for people who fly United
- Good–ExcellentCredit Needed
- $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
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 3 miles for each $1 on grocery purchases up to $1,500 per month until 9/30/2021.
Earn 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases,
Get 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 50,000 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.

Pros & Cons Explained

The lack of annual fees and welcome bonus make the United Gateway Card attractive, but it does come with some downsides that may cause others to prefer a more lucrative rewards card.

Pros

Benefits
Description
No annual fees
If you want to save on annual fees, the United Gateway Card is the right fit for you. Unlike most airline credit cards, this card does not require any annual fees for the life of the card.
No award restrictions
Book a United-operated flight with no blackout dates or other awards restrictions. As long as there’s a seat being sold on a flight, you can book it using your miles. There’s also no limit to how many miles you can gain, and there’s no expiration date for them either.
No foreign transaction fees
Enjoy no additional fees for any purchases made abroad.
Attractive welcome bonus
The United Gateway card has a high welcome bonus for a no annual fee card, as you stand to earn up to 30,000 miles. Earn 15,000 miles after spending $1,000 within the first three months upon account opening and earn another 15,000 after spending $3,000 within the first six months.
Extra protection
Stay protected with card benefits like trip cancellation and interruption insurance, secondary auto rental insurance, purchase protection and extended warranty protection.

Cons

Drawbacks
Description
Limited bonus categories
You only earn 2X miles per $1 at gas stations, transit and United Airlines purchases. All other purchases only give you one mile per $1. In contrast, other airline credit cards have more popular bonus categories, such as dining, streaming and online grocery purchases.
No additional travel benefits
Other airline credit cards give you Elite status, priority boarding or free checked bags. The United Gateway offers neither of these, which may be unattractive for frequent United flyers.

LOOKING FOR THE BEST CREDIT CARDS OF 2021?

The Chase United Gateway is a top pick in MoneyGeek’s list of the best travel credit cards. Check out how this stacks against other cards if you’re looking to earn more rewards when you travel.

Bonuses & Rewards Explained

Despite its simplicity, the United Gateway Card is packed with value that any type of traveler can benefit from.

Rewards rate

Earn two MileagePlus miles for every $1 spent at gas stations, local transit (such as ridesharing, train tickets, taxis, etc.) and on any United Airlines purchases. All other purchases give you one mile per $1 spent. MileagePlus miles can be redeemed in many ways, such as air travel, hotel stays, car rentals and cruises.

Welcome bonus

The United Gateway Card has an easy-to-meet welcome bonus that lets you earn up to 30,000 bonus miles within the first six months of account opening. Spend $1,000 in the first three months to get 15,000 miles and get an additional 15,000 by spending a total of $3,000 within the first six months.

Cash back on in-flight purchases

Paying for United in-flight purchases such as food or beverages with your United Gateway Card gets you 25% back in statement credit.

Complimentary DashPass from DoorDash

Get 12 months of DashPass, which gives you $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees. You can use it on both DoorDash and Caviar applications, so long as you use the same login credentials.

Other Features Explained

Apart from the rewards rate and sign-up bonus, the United Gateway Card has additional features that cardholders can appreciate.

Card Feature
Description
24/7 customer service
Chase offers 24/7 customer service through their phone line. They also accept operator relay calls for those who are deaf, hearing impaired or have a speech disability.
Account security
To protect your account, Chase has multiple authentication checks and uses 128-bit encryption technology to keep your details secure when you’re using their site. They also monitor your account for suspicious activity and alert you in case anything is unusual.
Contactless tap-to-pay
If there is a contactless symbol wherever you are making a purchase, you can simply tap to pay for an easy and secure checkout.
Travel insurance
United Gateway cardholders get trip cancellation and interruption insurance, which can reimburse you up to $1,500 per person or up to $6,000 per trip. There is also secondary car rental insurance, which protects against theft or collision.
Purchase protection:
Get 120-day coverage for new purchases against damage or theft up to $500 per claim with a $50,000 limit per account.

MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

Maximize your rewards by charging all gas station and transit expenses to the Chase United Gateway card and pairing it with another cash back card with no annual fee. This way, you can get cash back on other purchases in popular categories that you can use to make your flights cheaper.

Understanding the Fine Print

While the United Gateway Card has no annual fees, it still comes with a number of potential charges to keep in mind prior to applying.

Card Feature
Amount or Rate
APR
16.49%–23.49%
Annual Fee
$0
Cash Back Rewards
Rewards Rate
1 Mile per $1
Airline Benefits
Rewards Rate on Groceries
1x
Rewards Rate on Gas
2x
Rewards Rate on Dining
1x
Rewards Rate on Entertainment
1x
Rewards Rate on Online Shopping
1x
Rewards Rate on TV, Phone, Internet Services
1x
Rewards Rate on Air Travel
2x
Rewards Rate at Hotels
1x
Balance Transfer Fee
5%
Balance Transfer APR
16.49%–23.49%
Late Fees
$40.00
Cash Advance Fee
5%
Cash Advance APR
24.99%
Foreign Transaction Fee
None

Purchase and Balance Transfer APR
Purchases and balance transfers get a considerably high variable APR of 16.49% to 23.49%. This can change based on your creditworthiness and the market’s prime rate. Note that balance transfers also have a fee of $5 or 5% of the amount that’s transferred, whichever is greater. This means that if you transfer a balance of $1,000, you will get charged $50.
Cash Advance APR and Fees
If you plan to use the cash advance feature, anticipate an APR of 24.99%, which also varies based on the market prime rate. This is relatively high, which does not make the United Gateway an ideal card for cash advances. Additionally, a fee of $10 or 5%, whichever is greater, applies to the amount of each transaction. This means that it costs $25 to get a cash advance of $500.
Penalty Fees and APRs
For late or returned payments, an APR of 29.99% applies. This can remain in effect indefinitely but will depend on your unique circumstance. Both late payments and returned payments also have a fee of $40.
Annual Fee
There is no annual fee for the Chase United Gateway card.

FINDING YOUR CARD'S RATES AND FEES

The Chase United Gateway benefits are great for occasional travelers, but frequent travelers may want to see how this stacks up against other travel rewards cards. When making comparisons, check out the rewards rate and annual fees involved. This information can typically be found on the card issuer’s website or the credit card agreement database maintained by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Who Should & Shouldn’t Consider Chase United Gateway?

Other Considerations for Chase United Gateway

As a beginner travel card, the United Gateway suits individuals who only take a few flights a year. However, if you plan to apply for this card, there are a few things to keep in mind if it will be your only card or another card in your wallet.

Things to Consider if This is Will Be Your First or Only Credit Card

If you want a simple credit card to start earning miles with and you live near a United hub, the United Gateway Card is perfect as long as you have a good to excellent credit score. However, if you find yourself at the airport more than six times a year or often fly with different airlines, you may want a card that can give you access to airport lounges or better travel rewards.

Things to Consider if This is Will Be an Additional Card in Your Wallet

Occasional travelers who simply want to start earning miles will find that the United Gateway is a low-cost addition to their wallet. It’s best paired with a low or no annual fee cash back card that has a wider range of bonus categories, as it can give you more opportunities to save for your travels.

WHY TRUST OUR REVIEWS

MoneyGeek follows a meticulous six-step process when reviewing credit cards to ensure accurate and fair rankings. We start by gathering data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s credit card database and standardizing data points on APR, annual fees and the like for ranking calculations. We then create average spend profiles based on the data and factor in any introductory bonuses before establishing the three-year value of each card. Monthly re-rankings are conducted in order to factor in any new updates to the card’s offer.

How Chase United Gateway Compares to Other Cards

The United Gateway Card is a beginner’s travel card. However, it does not offer the best rewards. Its lack of annual fees can be enticing, but a careful evaluation of the rewards that come with other travel cards may make their annual fees worth it. Ultimately, how the United Gateway Card weighs up against other cards depends on what you’re looking for.

Quick Comparison of Chase United Gateway

Chase United Gateway

Regular APR: 16.49% - 23.49%
Annual Fee: None
Rewards Rate: Two miles per $1 for United Airlines purchases, gas station purchases and any transit expenses such as taxis, trains or ridesharing
Sign Up Bonus: Up to 30,000 miles on the first $3,000 spent within six months upon accounting opening
Mini Verdict: Best for occasional travelers who spend a lot on gas or transit

Capital One VentureOne Rewards

Regular APR: 15.49% - 25.49%
Annual Fee: None
Rewards Rate: Unlimited 1.25 miles per $1 on every purchase, every day
Sign Up Bonus: Earn 20,000 miles on the first $500 spent within three months upon account opening
Mini Verdict: Best for earning miles on everyday purchases

Other Helpful Decision-Making Q&As

Before applying for the Chase United Gateway card, review all fees and details on the card and the company that offers it. Below are a few commonly asked questions that can help you decide if this card is for you.

Still not sure about this card? Consider these options.

While the Chase United Gateway card benefits individuals who want a simple travel rewards card, it isn’t suitable for everyone. Evaluate your financial needs and travel habits to see if you need a card with better rewards and miles opportunities. Check out MoneyGeek’s list of the best rewards credit cards to see if other options suit your needs.