The Gateway is the low-commitment way into United's ecosystem: no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, 2 miles per dollar on United purchases, gas, and transit, and 12 months of 0% intro APR on purchases, which is unusual on an airline card. The 30,000-mile bonus after $1,000 in three months, plus 10,000 more for adding an authorized user, is easy to reach, though it briefly rose to 40,000 in early April before Chase pulled it back two days later, so a better offer may resurface. The real limits are the perks: two free checked bags and the 10% discount on award flights only unlock after $10,000 of spend in a calendar year, which is a lot to put on a card earning 1 mile per dollar outside its three bonus categories. The 25% rebate on inflight food, drinks, and Wi-Fi is a nice touch but small. It's our pick for the best no-fee card on the Best Airline Credit Cards list, and that's the right frame: a cheap way to hold United miles, not a card for daily spending.
Earn rates & credits
| Category | Rate |
|---|---|
Airlines On eligible United purchases | 2x |
Gas | 2x |
Transit | 2x |
Everything Else | 1x |
| Benefit | Value |
|---|---|
Flight Booking Discount 10% off flights booked with miles after spending $10,000 in a calendar year | 10% /yr |
Inflight Purchase Rebate 25% back as statement credit on food, beverages, Wi-Fi on United flights and Club premium drinks | 25% |
Card details
Regular APR | 19.74%–28.24% variable |
Intro APR on purchases | 0% for 12 months |
Foreign transaction fee | None |