United Gateway Credit Card
No-Fee United Miles Earning
Annual Fee
$0
Earning Rate
2x united purchases • 2x gas stations • 2x local transit & commuting • 1x everything else
Welcome Bonus
Up to 40,000 miles: 30,000 after $1,000 spend in 3 months, plus 10,000 for adding an authorized user in 3 months
Card Material
Plastic card with matte finish • colors: Blue
Practical Recommendation
This is the no-annual-fee way to earn United miles on everyday spending. You get 2x on United purchases, gas, and local transit/commuting, plus a small in-flight discount. There's no priority boarding and no lounge days, and bags aren't free out of the gate—you have to spend $10,000 in a calendar year to unlock two checked bags. Treat it as an earn card first, a perks card second.
If you mainly want free bags and better travel bennies without a spend hurdle, look at United Explorer or higher. If you just want to rack up miles without paying a fee (or need a United keeper card), Gateway is painless.
Perks
- Earning, at a glance – 2x on united purchases; 2x at gas stations; 2x on local transit & commuting; 1x on everything else. Use this when you fly United or commute a lot.
- Two free checked bags after $10,000 in a calendar year – Hit $10,000 in purchases and United unlocks two checked bags (worth up to about $100 per traveler each way) for the rest of the benefit period. It's the one real travel perk here, but you have to earn it with spend.
- Bonus unlocks at $10,000 spend – The same $10,000 threshold also bumps you to 8x total miles on eligible United flights and 10% savings when you book United flights with miles.
- 25% back in-flight & United Club premium drinks – Pay with the card on United-operated flights (food, drinks, Wi-Fi) or for premium drinks in United Club and you'll see a 25% statement credit. Good for cutting airport costs.
- DoorDash DashPass – One complimentary 12-month DashPass membership when you activate; it auto-renews at the going rate unless you cancel.
- No foreign transaction fees – Take it abroad or use with foreign merchants without the usual 1–3% surcharge.
Protections
- Trip cancellation & interruption insurance – Can reimburse prepaid, non-refundable passenger fares (per-person and per-trip caps apply) when covered events like sickness or severe weather derail plans. Useful backup when plans change unexpectedly.
- Rental car insurance (secondary CDW) – Covers theft/damage to the rental car when you pay with the card and decline the agency's CDW. Secondary in the U.S.; typically primary abroad. Not liability coverage.
- Purchase protection – Short-term coverage for new items against damage or theft after purchase (limits/exclusions in your Guide to Benefits). Handy on gadgets and small appliances.