The United Gateway Card is Chase's entry-level card for United MileagePlus members. It costs $0 a year, earns up to 5X total miles on eligible United flights, and offers new cardmembers up to 50,000 bonus miles. Chase's page also lists a spending threshold that unlocks 8X on United flights, two free checked bags and a discount on award flights.
This review goes through everything Chase's own card page says about the Gateway, from the welcome offer to the protections. If you're deciding between it and Chase's other United cards, our guide to the Chase United card lineup puts all four side by side, and our United card welcome bonus roundup lists each card's current offer.
The Welcome Offer
Chase's page lists the new cardmember offer as up to 50,000 bonus miles, in two parts. You earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. The other 10,000 are awarded once, when you add your first authorized user in that same window and that user is still on the account at fulfillment. Chase asks you to allow 6 to 8 weeks for miles to post.
The card also has a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months from account opening. For the ongoing variable APR, Chase points to the pricing and terms on its page.
Eligibility matters. Chase says the offer isn't available to current cardmembers, or to former cardmembers who received the new cardmember bonus within the last 24 months. Approval isn't guaranteed, and the card may be issued as a Visa Signature or a Visa Platinum.
What You Earn
- 5X total miles on eligible United flights: that's 3X on the primary cardmember's United fare plus 2X on the entire purchase.
- 2X on all other eligible United purchases.
- 2X at gas stations and on local transit and commuting.
- 1X on all other purchases.
What Opens Up After $10,000 a Year
Chase lists three benefits that depend on reaching $10,000 in purchases in a calendar year:
- 8X total miles on eligible United flights: 6X on the United fare, in addition to 2X on the purchase.
- Two first standard checked bags.
- Lower award prices: primary cardmembers save 10% or more on flights booked with miles. Chase's wording is at least 10% fewer miles, and 15% for members with Premier status.
Everyday Benefits and Protections
- Inflight credit: 25% back as a statement credit on food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights, and on United Club premium drinks.
- Foreign transactions: none. Chase says purchases made with the card outside the U.S. won't be subject to foreign transaction fees.
- Trip cancellation and interruption coverage: up to $1,500 per covered traveler and $6,000 per trip.
- Purchase protection: 120 days from purchase, up to $500 per item (90 days for New York residents).
- Extended warranty: up to one additional year, to four years total, on eligible warranties of three years or less.
- Auto rental collision coverage: secondary to personal insurance in the U.S.
- Concierge: Visa Signature Concierge, 24 hours a day.
- Award travel: Chase lists no blackout dates for MileagePlus award travel, and says miles don't expire.
- Pay Over Time: eligible purchases of $100 or more can be split into 3 to 24 monthly payments with a fixed monthly fee and no interest. Access isn't guaranteed.
- Referrals: 10,000 bonus miles for each referred friend approved for a United MileagePlus card, up to 100,000 a year.
How It Compares With the Other United Cards
The checked-bag, club and status benefits on the United Explorer, Quest and Club cards are covered in our lineup guide. If you want to see how United miles are earned and spent beyond a card, our United MileagePlus guide explains the program.
Who the Card Fits
The Gateway suits someone who flies United now and then and wants to earn MileagePlus miles on those flights, plus 2X at gas stations and on local transit and commuting, without paying an annual fee. The two checked bags, 8X on flights and award discount only apply once your purchases reach $10,000 in a calendar year, so check that against your own spending before you count on them. Chase's offer terms can change, so read them on the card page before you apply.
