How the United Gateway Card can help you earn travel rewards and bonus miles

Make this the year you take off to discover destinations full of charm, history and a few exotic beaches as well. Whether you want to soak in the sun-splashed pools of Palm Springs, California, wander historic alleyways in Savannah, Georgia, or even bask on the sandy shores of St. Kitts, there’s a card that will reward you along every step of your journey.

When flying on United Airlines® with the United Gateway℠ Card, you’ll have access to over 300 destinations worldwide, plus you’ll also enjoy several ways to earn miles for a future flight. Best of all, the Gateway Card offers you travel benefits and perks.

Chase United Gateway Card basics

If you fly United, you should definitely strongly consider the United Gateway Card.

Right now, the card is offering 30,000 miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. You can also earn an additional 5,000 bonus miles by adding an authorized user in the first three months.

That’s a nice stash of United miles right off the bat, but the card will also help you increase your earnings even more, both on everyday spending and on United purchases. Carrying the card will help you accrue:

• 7 miles per dollar spent on United flights (5 miles from being a United MileagePlus® member and 2 miles from using the Gateway Card)
• 3 miles per dollar spent on hotels booked through United Hotels (2 miles from being a United MileagePlus member and 1 mile from using the Gateway Card)
• 2 miles per dollar spent on other United® purchases, plus those made at gas stations and for local transit and commuting
• 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases

With those earning rates and a little bit of strategy, your next trip could quickly be within reach. That’s especially true because your United miles will never expire, and there are no blackout dates when it comes to redeeming those miles on United flights.

Here is how you can put the United Gateway Card and all its benefits to use on a vacation to one of these three incredible destinations.

A quick getaway to Palm Springs

As winter weather hangs on across much of the country, you might be dreaming of temperate climates and swaying palms. Throw in dramatic desert peaks and amazing midcentury modern architecture, and Palm Springs might just be the perfect choice for your next warm-weather escapade.

United flies nonstop to Palm Springs from multiple cities around the U.S., including Chicago, Denver and San Francisco, making it an easy jaunt almost no matter where you are coming from. As soon as you step off the plane, those vacation vibes will set in thanks to the airport’s indoor-outdoor design, which maximizes the California breezes and brings in plenty of fresh air and sunlight.

Hop in a rental car, making sure to use your United Gateway Card for the expense so you are covered with collision and damage waiver protection, then cruise along the city’s tree-lined boulevards past bucolic country clubs and historic homes. When you need to fill up, your Gateway Card will earn you 2 miles per dollar spent. If you decide to use ride-hailing services or taxis on your trip instead of renting a car, those purchases also qualify for the card’s earning rate of 2 miles per dollar.

Take some time to check out the new Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza, which features a museum dedicated to preserving the history, handicrafts and traditions of the Indigenous Cahuilla Indians.

Before long, though, it will be time for a round of golf on one of the area’s world-class courses or a cooling dip in your hotel pool.

Speaking of which, there are plenty of excellent hotels and resorts in Palm Springs to choose from. The recently opened Thompson Palm Springs is an ideal property for those looking to stay in the heart of town, with just 168 rooms and 18 suites, plus a Middle Eastern restaurant and bar and a wine-tasting room from Hall Napa Valley.

For more of a classic resort stay, the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa sprawls across 450 gorgeously manicured acres in Palm Desert and has two 18-hole championship golf courses designed by Ted Robinson, a 20-court tennis club and an expansive spa complex.

No matter where you end up staying, be sure to check United Hotels — you can use your United Gateway Card to book through the portal to earn 3 miles per dollar spent on your stay.

Although Palm Springs has plenty of allure, perhaps you are hoping for a destination that combines the vibrancy of city life with a more laid-back tempo. Turn your thoughts to the South and consider a sojourn in Savannah instead.

Southern charm in Savannah

Founded in 1733, Savannah holds the title of Georgia’s oldest city and has all the attractions of busier locales like Charleston, South Carolina, but far fewer crowds. It has a thriving arts and music scene, phenomenal restaurants and a crop of new hotels that make it one of the most dynamic destinations in the U.S. You can also take day trips along the coast to visit enchanting waterfront hamlets for fishing expeditions, local farmers markets, down-home cooking and more.

Once there, you can explore the city’s picturesque live oak-shaded streets and visit the famous fountain at Forsyth Park. You can learn more about the town’s Black history with a coach tour or a guided walking tour with Footprints of Savannah. Then, after the sun goes down, get a glimpse into some of Savannah’s more macabre stories during a goosebump-inducing experience with Ghost City Tours’ “Dead of Night” excursion.

If you’re in the mood for the outdoors, you can get out in nature with a day trip to picturesque Tybee Island for an afternoon of seaside relaxation on its wide, sandy beaches or a visit to its famous 18th-century lighthouse.

Once you build up an appetite, be sure to get lunch or dinner at Strangebird, a restaurant in a carefully restored 1967 Airstream that serves palate-pleasing Southern plates with Mexican flair, such as smokehouse tacos with nixtamalized tortillas and tangy-spicy Georgia shrimp aguachile. Or, head over to Cotton & Rye for a fun take on Southern cuisine and enjoy shrimp and grits or maybe even fried chicken thighs served with hot honey and pickle chips.

There are plenty of fabulous hotels in town, but you might want to check out one of the newest, the elegant Hotel Bardo. Its beautiful pool area is lined with pink umbrellas and cushy loungers, while its main restaurant, Saint Bibiana, is tucked inside a historic mansion on the property and is probably the best place in town for handmade pasta.

The JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District, meanwhile, is in the hip Riverside neighborhood, and one of its buildings is actually a historic 1912 power plant. Spend some time admiring the hotel’s unique, engaging art collection, then take in the city skyline with creative cocktails and light bites at the hotel’s Myrtle & Rose Rooftop Bar.

Book through United Hotels and use your United Gateway Card to earn 3 miles per dollar spent and start stocking up for the next trip on your travel docket.

Spooky tours and sunset sips set Savannah apart. But if your travel wish list skews more toward a balmy beach getaway, you might want to consider the next Caribbean island idyll.

Tropical bliss in St. Kitts

In the middle of the West Indies, St. Kitts is a distinctive destination with colorful towns, tranquil beaches, rainforest-covered mountains and historic rum distilleries. Though many travelers head to neighboring Nevis instead for quiet stays at one of its many luxury hotels, St. Kitts has a lot of character and attractions of its own.

If you use your United Gateway Card to purchase your tickets with paid fares instead, remember that you can earn 7 miles per dollar spent (5 miles for being a MileagePlus member and an additional 2 miles for using your card).

While on your flight, you can use your United Gateway Card to purchase snacks and drinks; you’ll not only earn 2 miles per dollar spent but also receive 25% back on your purchases in the form of statement credits.

Once you arrive, you can spend your days simply sunning on the sand at one of the island’s beaches. If you feel more active, rise early for a morning hike up the tree-covered slopes of Mount Liamuiga, a dormant stratovolcano, or book a boat charter and head out on the water for a sport-fishing session or a snorkel in the island’s secluded coves. Wind down the day with a tasting at Old Road Rum, where spirit production dates back to 1681.

Since it opened in November 2017, the luxurious Park Hyatt St. Kitts has been one of the most popular hotels in the Caribbean. It has two picturesque pools — an oasislike adults-only one and a family-friendly one overlooking the imposing Brimstone Hill Fortress — plus a tropical spa and six bars and restaurants, including the oceanfront Fisherman’s Village serving fresh-caught seafood.

You might be sad to check out, but at least you will know that by paying for your trip with your United Gateway Card, you are already earning miles you can use toward your next vacation.

Bottom line

Whether you are looking for your first travel rewards credit card or have been considering the United Gateway Card for a while, now is a good time to apply.

Not only is the card fielding a welcome offer of 30,000 miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening, but it is a solid earner on everyday spending. It also comes with several trip and purchase protections that can make your travel plans feel much more secure.

If you travel on United, it can really make sense to have a United card in your wallet. Thanks to having the Gateway Card, you can save 25% on inflight purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi. With the card, you will also enjoy purchase protection, making the card a great choice to use for purchases both at home and abroad.

If your future travel plans take you to one of these three destinations — or one of the hundreds of others to which United flies — the United Gateway Card can help make every journey rewarding.

Apply here: United Gateway Card