Card guide · United MileagePlus
Chase United Gateway
Card guide overview
A no-annual-fee United card that earns MileagePlus miles on everyday purchases and United flights.
Key card attributes
| Issuing bank | Reward currency | Currency type | Network | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase | United MileagePlus | Airline Miles | Visa | $0 |
Closest alternatives
At a glance
The card in three decisions.
The Chase United Gateway is the no-annual-fee entry point to the United MileagePlus co-branded card family. It earns 2X miles on United purchases, 2X at gas stations, 2X on local transit and commuting, and 1X everywhere else. After $10,000 in calendar-year spend it unlocks two checked-bag certificates, 25% back on inflight food, beverage and Wi-Fi (and United Club premium drinks), and a 10%+ discount on award flights. At $0, it is the lowest-commitment way to start earning MileagePlus miles on everyday spending.
The Gateway lacks the premium benefits of its siblings—no priority boarding and no United Club passes—and its bag certificates and award discount only kick in after $10,000 in calendar-year spend. Its primary value is as a low-cost MileagePlus earning vehicle. For most United flyers, the Explorer or Quest offer better value despite their annual fees.
Best fit
Occasional United flyers who want MileagePlus miles at no annual fee
If you fly United once or twice a year and want to earn miles on spending without paying an annual fee, the Gateway is a simple fit.
Current timing
40K is the standard offer
The public offer has held steady at this level. Earn 30,000 miles after $1,000 spend in 3 months plus 10,000 miles after adding an authorized user.
Main watchout
Bag certificates and award discount require $10K spend
The two checked-bag certificates, 25% inflight credit, and 10%+ award discount unlock only after $10,000 in calendar-year spend. There is no priority boarding. The Explorer at $0 first year is often a better starting point.
Current & historical offer
40K miles after $1,000 spend + authorized user.
We compare public points offers with public points offers. Referral, branch, targeted and mixed cash-plus-points offers are outside this ladder.
Timing assessment
40K is the standard offer—apply when the card fits.
The current 40,000-mile offer (30,000 after $1,000 spend + 10,000 after adding an authorized user) has not meaningfully changed. At $0 annual fee, there is no cost to holding the card even if the bonus is modest.
Why someone may still wait
The bonus requires spend and an authorized user.
You earn 30,000 miles after $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months and a further 10,000 miles after adding the first authorized user in that window. Plan for both components to earn the full 40,000 miles.
Card benefits
MileagePlus earning and United-specific award value.
The tiers are a Points Brief editorial assessment of decision importance and rarity among no-annual-fee airline cards—not labels supplied by Chase.
Tier 1 · Core MileagePlus access
Benefits that define the card value proposition.
Save 10% or more on award flights
After $10,000 in calendar-year spend, save 10% or more on MileagePlus award flights.
- Applies to eligible award travel booked with MileagePlus miles.
- Unlocks after reaching the $10,000 calendar-year spend threshold.
Know the limits: This award discount is a rare United-specific differentiator, but the required spend is substantial.
Tier 2 · Spend-based United perks
United benefits that unlock after $10,000 in calendar-year spend.
2 certs Two checked-bag certificates after $10K spend
After $10,000 in calendar-year purchases, earn two checked-bag certificates for use on United-operated flights.
Certificates are issued after the spend threshold is met; they are not an unconditional free bag and do not apply to companions.
25% back 25% back on inflight food, beverage, Wi-Fi and Club premium drinks
After $10,000 in calendar-year spend, receive a 25% statement credit on United inflight food, beverage and Wi-Fi purchases, plus United Club premium drinks.
Unlocks at the same $10K calendar-year spend threshold as the bag certificates and award discount.
Tier 3 · Expected card basics
Standard protections that should not drive the decision alone.
No foreign transaction fees Travel baseline
No issuer foreign-transaction fee on purchases abroad.
Purchase protection Retail baseline
Coverage for eligible new purchases against damage or theft.
Rental car coverage Travel baseline
Auto rental collision damage waiver; coverage is secondary in the U.S.
Fraud and account protections Card baseline
Standard zero-liability and unauthorized-transaction protections.
Comparison method: No-fee airline co-branded cards including Amex Delta SkyMiles Blue and other entry-level options; official public pages reviewed in July 2026.
Earning rates
2X on United, gas and transit; 1X everywhere else.
Rates shown are total United MileagePlus miles per dollar on eligible purchases. Merchant coding and Chase terms control.
United Airlines purchases
Flights, seat upgrades, inflight purchases, and United Vacations packages booked directly with United.
Gas stations
Purchases at gas stations.
Local transit and commuting
Rideshare, taxis, trains, buses, tolls, and parking.
All other purchases
One mile per dollar on purchases not eligible for a higher rate.
Credit interaction: MileagePlus miles are United-specific and not transferable to other airline programs. They can be redeemed for United and Star Alliance partner flights.
United MileagePlus program
One of the largest U.S. airlines with Star Alliance global reach.
United MileagePlus is the loyalty program of United Airlines. Miles can be redeemed for United-operated flights and Star Alliance partner awards across 26 member airlines. MileagePlus uses dynamic award pricing with no published award chart. MileagePlus miles do not expire.
Key benefit
Star Allianceglobal network
MileagePlus miles access United own network plus 26 Star Alliance partners.
Redeem MileagePlus miles on United Airlines and partner carriers including Lufthansa, ANA, Singapore Airlines, Air Canada, Swiss, and more. United offers the Excursionist Perk—a free one-way award segment within select multi-city itineraries. Saver and everyday award pricing varies; no published award chart exists.
United hubs
Where United operates the most flights.
- Chicago (ORD)
- Denver (DEN)
- Houston (IAH)
- Newark (EWR)
- San Francisco (SFO)
- Washington Dulles (IAD)
- Los Angeles (LAX)
Star Alliance partners
Key airline partners accessible with MileagePlus miles.
- Air Canada
- ANA (All Nippon Airways)
- Lufthansa
- Singapore Airlines
- Swiss International Air Lines
- Turkish Airlines
- Avianca
- EVA Air
United Gateway at a glance
What this card gets you on every United flight.
- 2X on United purchases
- 2X on gas stations
- 2X on local transit
- Bag certs + award discount after $10K spend
- No priority boarding
- No United Club access
- No annual fee
United card family
How this card compares to other United cards.
- Gateway: $0 fee, no bags, no boarding perks
- Explorer: $150, free checked bag, 2 Club passes
- Quest: $350, credits, PQP earning, bag perks
- Club: $695, full United Club membership
Sources and methodology
Sources for this page
- Last checked: July 30, 2026
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