Appreciate you taking the time to put this list together. Thank you.
Of the 3 Major US airlines no annual fee cards.
As long as you are not hub locked. If you are hublocked then go with whatever airline you are locked too if getting an airline specific card.
IMO the United Gateway is the best choice.
The Sub is usually the best of the 3 at 20-30k points. iirc mine was 30k points for 1k spend in 90 days
0 FTF: only the Delta Blue and the United Gateway are 0 FTF(the AA card is 3%) and the United gets the nod because Visa.
Bonus Award space. Like the other United cards the Gateway unlocks more Saver rewards ticket redemption opportunites just for having the card.
Its earnings are ok. 2x United, Gas Stations, local transit and commuting, including ride share services, 1x everything else.
Yes it takes up a 5/24 slot but imo if you pair it with a CSP/CSR or the BILT card it unlocks extra award space for basically 0 effort.
Or if you are in the Amex ecosystem and not close enough to a Costco for the costco visa to make sense then it works well are your 0 AF/FTF backup Visa you have to carry if you travel internationaly.
Considering the Hilton Aspire
@NoMoreE46 you could likely add the AAdvantage Aviator Silver from Barclays. https://creditcards.aa.com/barclay-credit-card-aviator-silver-american-airlines-aadvantage/
You can only upgrade to it however. You have to hold the Aviator Red for 1 year and then request an upgrade to it.
@coldfusion https://www.fhb.com/en/personal/credit-cards/united-credit-card It is only for residents of Guam and the North Mariana Islands