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Review: Is the United Gateway the best credit card for you?
Chase offers several co-branded United Airlines credit cards, including personal and small-business versions. The
However, this airline credit card is not the most lucrative or rewarding United credit card at all — not by far. In fact, the
Read more: The best United credit cards
With the
The stand-out benefit of the
However, as you compare United credit cards, keep in mind that most others have much better bonus offers. With the
You also get perks like two United Club passes per anniversary year, a free first checked bag (worth $30 one-way) for yourself and a companion on the same reservation, priority boarding, and a credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership — all perks you do not get with the
The
Comparison: Chase United Gateway Card vs other United credit cards
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Annual fee |
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Rewards rate |
2x miles on eligible United purchases 2x miles at gas stations, and on local transit and commuting 1 mile per dollar on everything else |
2x miles on eligible United purchases 2x miles on dining and hotel stays booked directly with the hotel 1 mile per dollar on everything else |
3x miles on eligible United purchases (after earning the $125 United credit) 2x miles on travel 2x miles on dining 2x miles on streaming services 1 mile per dollar on everything else |
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Welcome bonus |
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United benefits |
25% back on United inflight purchases Expanded access to United award flights |
Two United Club one-time passes per anniversary year Free first checked bag on United flights* Priority boarding on United flights 25% back on United inflight purchases Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit Complimentary Premier upgrades 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) for every $12,000 you spend on purchases**** Expanded access to United award flights |
Up to $125 in annual statement credits toward United purchases Free first and second checked bags on United flights* Priority boarding on United flights 25% back on United inflight purchases 5,000-mile award flight rebate twice a year starting on your first anniversary Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit Complimentary Premier upgrades 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) for every $12,000 you spend on purchases**** Expanded access to United award flights |
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Review |
*When you use your card to pay for your ticket, or the taxes and fees on an award ticket
****Up to 1,000 PQP in a calendar year for the United Explorer Card; up to 3,000 PQP in a calendar year for the United Quest card
United Gateway Card vs other airline credit cards
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Annual fee |
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Rewards rate |
2x miles on eligible United purchases 2x miles at gas stations, and on local transit and commuting 1 mile per dollar on everything else |
2x miles on Delta purchases and at restaurants 1 mile per dollar on everything else |
2x miles on American Airlines and grocery store purchases 1 mile per dollar on everything else |
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Welcome bonus |
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Ariline benefits |
25% back on United inflight purchases Expanded access to United award flights |
20% back on inflight purchases |
25% back on inflight purchases |
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Review |
How to earn miles with the United Gateway card
The
- 2x miles on eligible United purchases (including airline tickets purchased from United, United seat upgrades, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages, and Wi-Fi, baggage service charges, other United fees, and United Card Events from Chase)
- 2x miles at gas stations (either at the pump or inside the station — truck stops, boat marinas, oil and propane distributors, and home heating companies do not qualify)
- 2x miles on local transit and commuting (including operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, rideshare, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages)
- 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases
Read more: The best airline credit cards
How to use United miles
While most people earn United miles in order to book flights with United or its Star Alliance partners, there are quite a few ways to redeem your miles for non-travel options.
For example, you can cash in your miles for gift cards to select retailers, shop for merchandise with United, or use miles for Apple products through the United website. You can also use your miles to pay for a United Club membership, inflight internet access, and TSA Precheck membership. If you already have a flight booked, you can use miles toward an upgrade, and you can even donate your miles to charity.
Read more: How to earn, redeem, and maximize United miles
However, you’ll almost always get the most value from redeeming United miles for flights. Between United Airlines, other Star Alliance partners, and non-alliance partners, you can use your miles to fly to destinations in nearly 200 countries around the globe. United typically has good economy-class award availability, and your miles will never expire.
While United doesn’t have a traditional award chart anymore, they do list specific flight award deals that let you book featured flights for fewer miles than normal. For example, you may be able to book one-way domestic flights in economy for as little as 5,000 miles, depending on the route and date.
United also recently introduced a new redemption option called “Money + Miles.” Similar to Delta’s Pay With Miles, it’s currently available on select United flights, and allows you to pay for part of your fare with cash and the rest with miles, at a fixed rate of 1 cent per mile.
That’s a lower rate than our average United miles value, but this can be handy if you don’t have enough miles for an award ticket but want to reduce your out-of-pocket costs.
Benefits and features
The
25% back on inflight purchases
When you use your
Expanded award availability
As a United cardholder, you’ll get more access to award availability and flight options with no blackout dates.
Car rental insurance
The
This coverage is secondary to your own personal policy in the US, but primary overseas (or if you don’t have your own insurance).
Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
The card also comes with trip cancellation and interruption coverage worth up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip.
Purchase protection
Extended warranty
When you purchase an eligible item with your
Visa Signature concierge
The Visa Signature concierge can help coordinate things like hard-to-get theater tickets or restaurant reservations. The service itself is free, but any third-party costs are your responsibility.
Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort collection
With
Be sure you compare rates and perks through the Chase Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection to booking with the hotel directly. Sometimes, Chase’s rates are more expensive and the benefits won’t be worth it.
Complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership
Pickup orders are also eligible for 5% back in DoorDash credit. Normally, a subscription costs $9.99 per month, and DoorDash says the average DashPass user saves about $5 per order, so this can translate into significant savings if you use the service regularly. Activation of this benefit is required by December 31, 2021.
Fees and costs
We already mentioned how the
As with most credit cards, there are fees for balance transfers, cash advances, and late or returned payments.
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