$0 Annual Fee
Earn 30,000 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.
Earn 30,000 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.
The United Gateway℠ Card is an excellent choice for individuals who want to start earning United MileagePlus miles without an annual fee. It offers a simple and affordable way to begin accumulating miles for future travel on United Airlines and its partner airlines. While it may not have the premium benefits of other United co-branded cards, it provides a straightforward path to earning travel rewards.
2x per $1 on purchases from United, including tickets, inflight food, beverages, Wi-Fi, baggage service charges and other United purchases
2x per $1 spent at gas stations and on local transit and commuting, including ride share services, taxicabs, train tickets, tolls and mass transit
1x per $1 on all other purchases
🏆 Best for Frequent United flyers
🏆 Best for Frequent United flyers
$0 intro annual fee the first year, then $150
🏆 Best Mid-Tier United Card
🏆 Best Mid-Tier United Card
$350 Annual Fee
Earn 30,000 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.
If you're looking for a card to help you earn United miles without paying an annual fee, the Gateway card is your answer! This is United's entry-level card, and although it doesn't offer many premium perks, it does offer 2x miles per dollar on common, everyday purchases at gas stations and on various forms of transit.
And although two free checked bags a year might not sound like much, you can't deny that its a generous offer on a no-annual-fee card — despite spending $10,000 in a calendar year to earn them. Plus, you'll still get 25% back as a statement credit when using your card for United purchases.
Opportunity to earn United MileagePlus miles for everyday spending without an annual fee
No annual fee, making it a budget-friendly choice for those new to travel rewards cards
Earn two checked bags each year after spending $10,000 on your card in a calendar year
The card may not offer as many premium travel benefits as some other United co-branded cards
The rewards structure is relatively basic and may not be as rewarding for frequent travelers
2x per $1 on purchases from United, including tickets, inflight food, beverages, Wi-Fi, baggage service charges and other United purchases
2x per $1 spent at gas stations and on local transit and commuting, including ride share services, taxicabs, train tickets, tolls and mass transit
1x per $1 on all other purchases
We don’t recommend: Redeeming miles for non-flight rewards
While you can use your United miles for things like gift cards, the value per mile is significantly lower compared to booking flights. Save your miles for flights to get the best value and enjoy those free trips.
We always recommend: Booking through United's website
Booking directly on the United Airlines website often unlocks promotional offers and ensures you earn miles on your fare. Just keep an eye on blackout dates and availability, as value can fluctuate depending on travel dates.
While United miles can’t be transferred to other airlines, they can be used to book Star Alliance flights, including: Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Air Canada, ANA and more. This is where you'll get high-value award redemptions, particularly in premium cabins.
Why? The Sapphire Preferred card is one of the only cards (and bank programs) that transfers directly to United Airlines. This means if you're running low on United miles, you can transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to your United MileagePlus account to make that next redemption.
You'll definitely want to use your United Gateway card on United-specific purchases (thank you, 25% discount!), but for any other travel purchases, be sure to swipe your Sapphire Preferred card to get 2x points per dollar (including flights, hotels, rental cars, and public transit).
Why? If you'd also like to get involved with hotel rewards without incurring an annual fee, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold card is a great option. This is Marriott's entry-level card that still offers 14x Marriott points per dollar on purchases at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
The United Gateway card will help you earn on your flights, and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold card will cover you when it comes to accommodations.
Plus, with United MileagePlus and Marriott Bonvoy being partners, you can even transfer Marriott points to United at a 3:1 ratio. Double plus, for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred, you get a 10,000-mile bonus. This makes it one of the few hotel programs where transferring to United miles can make sense.
1. The Airline Rewards Beginner
Are you new to the world of airline rewards? The United Gateway Card is a superb choice for those just getting started with United. With no annual fee, this card provides an easy way to earn miles on everyday spending categories — miles you can put towards award flights on United and its partners in the future.
2. The Occasional United Flyer
If you find yourself flying with United a couple of times a year, this card is a valuable option. With its 25% back in statement credits on United purchases, you'll find yourself saving money on inflight food and drinks, seat selection and even cash tickets. Plus, the new offering of two free checked bags a year is a great little perk!
3. The Budget-Conscious Traveler
Let’s be honest — not everyone can travel frequently, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of your travel budget when you do. If you’re someone who takes a few trips a year and wants to stretch your dollars further, the United Gateway Card is worth considering thanks to its welcome offer which can be used to redeem for future award flights (and save you cash in the process).
Here’s a good rule of thumb: You probably shouldn’t own a credit card if you: (1) have a bad credit score, (2) are a non-U.S. resident (for this particular card), and (3) cannot control your spending. If your credit score is below 700, you'll probably want to improve it before applying for travel credit cards, just to increase your odds of approval. Be honest with yourself: if a new credit card will tempt you to overspend, it's best to avoid it. Credit cards are crucial for earning miles and points, but they require responsible use.
A decent credit score of 670-850 is recommended for this card. But again, if you’re in a solid place with your credit and feel you are ready for a new card, don’t let the fear of being rejected keep you from applying.
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