Chase United Gateway Card Gets a Refresh: Here’s What You Need to Know in 2025

If you’re a travel rewards enthusiast, or just someone who loves scoring free flights without paying an annual fee, the Chase United Gateway Card might already be on your radar. But heads up — some big changes just landed, and whether you already have the card or are considering adding it to your wallet, you’ll want to take a closer look.

💳 New Welcome Bonus: 30,000 Miles with No Annual Fee

Let’s start with the good news. Chase has updated the welcome bonus on the United Gateway Card. You’ll now earn 30,000 United MileagePlus miles after spending just $1,000 in the first three months. That’s a pretty solid deal, especially considering this is a no-annual-fee card.

Even better? You’ll also get 0% APR for 12 months, making it a decent pick if you have a large purchase coming up and want to pay it off over time without interest.

According to current estimates, those 30,000 miles could be worth around $360 in travel. Not bad for a card that doesn’t cost you anything to hold.

🧳 New Big-Spend Bonuses – Worth It?

Chase also introduced new "big spend bonuses" that unlock once you spend $10,000 in a calendar year. Here’s what you get:

• 🎒 Two checked bag certificates

• ✈️ Access to "member pricing" on award flights

Sounds great at first glance… but let’s break it down.

Checked Bag Certificates – With a Catch

To get the free checked bags, you need to:

• Book your flight through your United MileagePlus account

• Use your Gateway Card to pay for the flight

• Manually apply the certificates during booking

• Fly on United or United Express only

  
  

And the value? With checked bags usually running around $35–$40 each, this perk gives you about $80 in value for $10,000 in spend. Not exactly a killer return.

Plus, there’s some confusion about expiration — they say the certificates last 12 months, but it’s unclear if you need to book or complete your trip within that window.

Member Pricing on Award Flights – A Downgrade?

This one’s a bit more complicated.

Before the changes, the United Gateway Card gave you expanded award availability just for having the card — no extra spend required.

Now, you only get that perk after spending $10,000 per year — a pretty steep threshold for a basic travel card. While member pricing might reduce the miles needed for flights, it’s not advertised upfront and doesn’t seem to offer nearly as much value as the old system.

🤔 Is It Still Worth It?

Despite the changes, the United Gateway Card still has some solid baseline benefits:

• 2x miles on United purchases

• 2x miles at gas stations and on local transit/commuting

• 25% back on in-flight purchases (WiFi, snacks, etc.)

• No annual fee

• No foreign transaction fees

  
  

So, what’s the verdict?

If you’re:

• Looking for a starter card to earn United miles…

• Wanting to avoid annual fees…

• Or thinking about downgrading from a higher-tier United card like the Explorer or Quest…

…it’s still a solid option.

But if you previously valued the automatic expanded award access, or if you're a high spender looking for premium travel perks, this update might feel more like a downgrade.

🧭 Final Thoughts

As always, it comes down to your travel habits and spending patterns. If you're loyal to United and want to keep things fee-free, this card could still earn a spot in your wallet — especially with the new welcome bonus.

But if you’re chasing the best return for your spend, you might want to explore other options. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, or even the United Explorer Card, offer better perks if you're okay paying a fee in exchange for more value.

✨ Pro Tip:

Before applying or downgrading, ask yourself:

• How often do I fly United?

• Am I willing to spend $10,000 annually on this card?

• Do I truly need the perks this card offers?

Your wallet will thank you. 💼💸

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