United Gateway Card Review
Chase recently launched a new card, so we will take a deep dive on it in our United Gateway Card review. We will take a look at the United Gateway Card bonus, earning structure, whether or not the card is a long term keeper, and our overall grade for the card.
United Gateway Card Review – The Bonus
The new United Gateway Card has no annual fee and comes with the following welcome offer:
- 20,000 United miles after $1,000 in spend in the first 90 days
- No annual fee.
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Welcome Offer Value – $380
From our experience redeeming United miles, we estimate their value at 1.9 cents per point (according to our miles & points valuations guide). That means you’ll get $380 in value from the points in the welcome offer. This card also offers ongoing benefits which will yield positive value, since you pay nothing to keep the card.
Need to Know – Welcome Offer Restrictions
Just like all other Chase cards, the United Gateway Card is subject to the Chase 5/24 rule. This means you will not be approved if you have opened up 5 or more revolving accounts at any bank over the past 24 months.
Additionally, the United Gateway Card has the following terms:
This product is not available to either (i) current Cardmembers of this credit card, or (ii) previous Cardmembers of this credit card who received a new Cardmember bonus for this credit card within the last 24 months.
However, this shouldn’t apply to anyone at this time. Given that the card is considered a new product, no one should fall under this 24 months restriction at this time.
Chase United Gateway Card Review – Earning Structure
The United Gateway Card earns United MileagePlus miles and features bonus categories, as well. Here is how you will earn United miles with this card:
- 2X miles per $1 spent on United purchases, gas stations and local transit and commuting
- 1X mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
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Chase United Gateway Card Perks
The United Gateway Card has no annual fee. As with most cards that have no fee, there are some benefits, but they are not extravagant. Here’s what the card offers.
- No foreign transaction fees
- 0% introductory APR for the first 12 months that you have the card
- 25% back on in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights when you pay with your Gateway Card.
- Expanded award availability – When searching for award bookings on United.com. See award flights not offered to other people.
- Primary rental car insurance.
- Extended Warranty Protection – Adds an additional year of protection on warranties of 3 years or less.
- Purchase Protection – Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim, up to $50,000 per account.
- Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance – If your trip is cut short or canceled by severe weather, sickness, or other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $6,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses.
- Learn More
Interestingly, the card does not include coverage for lost/delayed luggage. This is one of very few travel credit cards not offering this perk.
Should You Keep the United Gateway Card Long Term?
The United Gateway Card has a decent welcome offer and a few perks that you may like if you fly United. That being said, keeping a card that is free is typically worthwhile. It costs you nothing while building your average age of credit, which helps your credit score.
The welcome offer in year one can help build up your United miles stash. Here are some ideas on best uses of United miles.
As for year 2 and beyond, the trip insurance and purchase protection benefits are worthwhile if you don’t have other card with these benefits. However, you probably have more than 1 card offering these perks. The main differential on this card is the expanded award availability with United. Having at least 1 United co-branded credit card in your wallet helps you find additional award flights not visible to others. Another unique item on this card is the 25% back on in-flight purchases. It’s not worth keeping the card just for this, but it can be good to have if needed.
Summary
The Chase United Gateway Card is has an easily attainable welcome offer and ongoing perks that cost you nothing. Keeping the card long term is worth it, unless Chase simply won’t give you new cards and you need to close this one to get another.
Here are some key things we think you should take away from this review.
- The welcome offer / bonus is worth about $380
- You get access to more awards when searching with United’s program
- The card provides trip cancellation/interruption benefits plus rental car insurance
- 25% back on in-flight purchases when flying with United
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
Chase United Gateway Card Review – Bottom Line
Chase is offering another United card in its arsenal. For no annual fee, eligible applicants can pad their United MileagePlus accounts and open a card that’s worth keeping to build credit age. The card offers net positive value but doesn’t offer anything ground-breaking. A majority of the benefits are available on other cards commonly held in this hobby. The most important perk is the access to more award space, which makes holding this or another United card extremely valuable.
This card is worth keeping long-term, due to no fee and ongoing benefits, but other cards may offer more value to you if you evaluate the overall package of benefits and perks.
People looking for a more straightforward welcome offer may be better off grabbing the Chase United Card and then downgrading into the United Gateway card after the first year.
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Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
