Now that the United Gateway card is up on the Chase website, I was curious to see if it would be worth product changing my Explorer. So to that end, here is a comparison for anyone who might want to see the difference for the $95 AF. This is more from an existing cardholder standpoint, so I'm not including subs (if the Gateway will even have a sub):
Gateway:
- 2x gas stations
- 2x transit and commuting
- 2x United purchases
- 1x all other purchases
- No AF
- 25% Back on inflight purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance (Up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for pre-paid nonrefundable passenger fares canceled or cut short by covered situations like sickness or injury)
Explorer:
- 2x restaurants and delivery
- 2x hotels (purchased directly)
- 2x United purchases
- 1x all other purchases
- $95 AF
- $100 for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
- Free first checked bag
- Priority boarding
- 2 United Club passes/year
- No foreign transaction fees
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance (Up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for pre-paid nonrefundable passenger fares canceled or cut short by covered situations like sickness or injury)
- Primary auto rental collision damage waiver
- Baggage delay insurance (if over 6 hours, $100/day for 3 days)
- Lost luggage reimbursement (up to $3000)
- Trip delay reimbursement (if more than 12 hours or overnight, up to $500 per ticket)
- Purchase protection (120 days against damage or theft up to $10000 ($50000/year)
- Extended warranty (additional year to manufacturer’s)
Good information, as some speculated that the Gateway card was going to replace the TravelBank card AND Explorer. But now we know that's not the truth.
I still don't see this card on Chase's website. Thought it wasn't supposed to be released until the 30th..
I still don't see this card on Chase's website. Thought it wasn't supposed to be released until the 30th..
@Anonymous wrote:I hope they add the 2x transit and commuting to the Explorer card one day.
Get the CSP. The points aren't locked into only United, but you can xfer them to United, and you'll get exactly 2x back for transit and commuting. Hopefully more, if they decide to revamp the CSP/CSR.
This pair makes it more likely I will get a United Explorer card for the SUB, because it provides a no-AF route after a few AF.
I haven't had a United card at all, am 4/24 now, 3/24 in December. The Freedom Flex is also on my interest list.
The only problem is, where to travel 
Thanks for posting this comparison! I'm also an existing Explorer cardholder, and while I don't love having an annual fee, the annual United Club passes, Group 2 boarding, and free checked bag makes it worth it. At least, it does in a normal year since I travel frequently for work, and hope to actually start traveling more for actual fun. I might consider adding Gateway to my card portfolio when I start commuting to the office again, but my job is still a few months away from that, thankfully.
@MyFault wrote:
Good information, as some speculated that the Gateway card was going to replace the TravelBank card AND Explorer. But now we know that's not the truth.
I still don't see this card on Chase's website. Thought it wasn't supposed to be released until the 30th..
Thanks @MyFault , I added a link to post 1, cheers