United Gateway Card Review

United Gateway Card Benefits

I’ve always felt that it’s a good idea to keep a no-fee version of an airline card, like the United Gateway, just to enjoy the benefits offered when I happen to travel on that airline.

Welcome Bonus Offer

The United Gateway comes with a modest welcome bonus. Earn 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. Learn more. Plus, new cardholders can earn an additional 5,000 miles after adding an authorized user within the same three months.

Earn United MileagePlus Miles for Spending

Traditionally, airline credit cards that had no annual fee offered very few miles per dollar spent. But the United Gateway Card features mileage earning levels that are competitive with other airline cards — even those that charge an annual fee.

This card offers 2x miles not just on United purchases, but also on prepaid hotels booked through United. You also earn 2x miles at gas stations, and on local transit and commuting, including ride share services, taxicabs, train tickets, tolls and mass transit. You’ll earn 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.

Receive United Perks

One of the staples of most airline credit cards is a waiver of checked bag fees. This card offers you the chance to earn two free United checked bag certificates each year, so long as you use your card to spend $10,000 in a calendar year. Considering United charges at least $35 for a first checked bag, this can offer you significant savings, even if you travel only once or twice a year.

This card also offers 25% back as a statement credit on in-flight food, beverage and Wi-Fi purchases on United, and on premium drink purchases at United Club lounges. As someone who lives in the middle of the country and rarely has to travel more than a few hours, I try to avoid these in-flight purchases, but if you fly longer routes, this discount can come in handy.

Generous Introductory APR

The United Gateway Card offers new applicants a 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases, then 20.49% – 28.99% Variable APR. For those who occasionally need to carry a balance, the interest savings can be substantial. It’s best to avoid interest charges by paying your balance in full each month, but if you have large purchases coming up you’d like to pay off over time, using the card could be a good strategy.

Travel Insurance and Purchase Protections

For a card with no annual fee, the United Gateway offers a good list of benefits. This includes secondary rental car insurance that allows you to decline the expensive collision damage policies offered by the rental car agencies.

You also receive travel insurance in the form of trip cancellation and interruption coverage that can reimburse you for up to $1,500 per covered traveler and $6,000 per trip if your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather or other covered reasons.

The card’s purchase protection covers your eligible new purchases for 120 days from the date of purchase against damage or theft up to $500 per item, while extended warranty protection adds an additional year to eligible warranties. I was able to utilize an extended warranty policy when I had an electronic device fail shortly after its one-year warranty expired.

United Gateway Card Drawbacks

Smaller Intro Bonus

The opportunity to earn up to 35,000 bonus miles is worthwhile, but it’s a fraction of the amount you can earn from competing cards with an annual fee. Top airline credit cards typically offer new applicants at least double this amount.

No Premier Access

All of the other United MileagePlus cards feature some form of Premier access, such as priority check-in, security screening, boarding and baggage handling privileges. United Gateway cardholders don’t enjoy any of these benefits, and there’s certainly no airline lounge benefit offered on any card with no annual fee.

Spending Required To Receive the Checked Bag Benefit

Getting two free checked bags on United can be valuable, but to receive this benefit, you have to use the card to spend $10,000 in a calendar year. Putting that amount of annual spending on a single card could be difficult for some. And unlike many other airline credit cards, the checked bag fee waiver is limited to two certificates each year — you can’t use it an unlimited number of times.

Who Is the United Gateway Card Best For?

This United Gateway Card is worth consideration by United flyers who travel infrequently, perhaps once or twice a year. It’s also a great card for people like me, who travel often, but don’t use United as their primary carrier. These travelers can use this card to earn miles and receive benefits without incurring an annual fee.

The occasional flyers for whom this card is made are also those who don’t typically earn elite status, and the perks that come with it. For example, even those with United’s entry-level Premier Silver status would receive a free checked bag on all of their flights, making this card’s benefits largely redundant.

Finally, this card is ideal for those who spend a lot in the bonus categories of gas stations, local transit and commuting. Which is to say, it’s probably not ideal for those who work from home and rarely incur such charges. But even if you’re just looking for an easy way to earn United miles on your everyday spending, the card could be a good deal.

I redeem United miles for not just United award flights, but also for flights with over two dozen of its Star Alliance and other partners. It’s not uncommon for me to redeem miles on partners such as Lufthansa, LOT Polish and Turkish Airlines. The best things about the MileagePlus program are that there are no added fuel surcharges and no change fees. So I like to book the best awards available, and then check back often to change my itineraries to better flights when I can find them.

Is the United Gateway the Right Card for You?

Your needs might match up well with the United Gateway Card if any of the following apply:

• You travel on United now and then
• You don’t like paying annual fees
• You spend regularly at gas stations and on commuter expenses
• You want a low intro APR offer on new purchases

Alternatives to the United Gateway Card

The United Gateway Card isn’t ideal for everyone. Here are some competitive alternatives worth considering:

• The New United℠ Explorer Card: This card is the next step up among the four personal cards that United currently offers. New applicants earn 60,000 bonus miles bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within three months of account opening. It offers the first checked bag free for the cardholder and one companion on United, priority boarding and up to $400 in annual credits with partners. This card has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150, so it makes sense for those who fly United more frequently.
• American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card (an advertising partner): This is another major airline card without an annual fee. It offers 15,000 Bonus Miles after spending $1,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening, and earns 2x miles on American Airlines and grocery store purchases, and 1 mile per dollar spent elsewhere. New cardholders also receive a 0% Intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers, then 20.24% – 29.24% (Variable). A 20.24% – 29.24% (Variable) APR will apply for purchases.. You receive 25% back on in-flight food and beverages, but there are no other significant travel benefits, which makes this card a viable choice for occasional American Airlines flyers, but not very attractive for others.