The JetBlue Card and United Gateway Card are both no-annual-fee options for travelers, making them comparable choices. The JetBlue Card is the better option if you prioritize dining rewards and JetBlue loyalty benefits and if you’re indifferent between JetBlue and United Airlines. It offers 3X points on JetBlue purchases and bonuses on dining and groceries. While the United Gateway may appeal to United Airlines loyalists, the JetBlue Card's dining rewards and no foreign transaction fees make it a standout choice for everyday spending.
JetBlue Card
vs. United Gateway℠ Card
Updated: October 21, 2024
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JetBlue Card
United Gateway℠ Card
On Issuer's Site
On Issuer's Site
Who JetBlue Card Is Best For
The JetBlue Card is likely to be better for travelers who frequently fly with JetBlue and want to earn rewards without an annual fee. It offers 3X points on JetBlue purchases and bonus points on dining and groceries, making it a good fit for those who spend in these categories. However, it may not be ideal for travelers who prefer other airlines or need broader redemption options.
Who United Gateway Is Best For
United Gateway is likely to be better for travelers who frequently fly with United Airlines and want to earn miles on everyday purchases like gas and transit. It offers a higher introductory bonus, making it attractive for those looking to quickly accumulate miles. However, if you rarely fly with United or don't spend much on gas and transit, this card might not be the best fit for you.
Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features
Point by point comparisons help you see how each card fits your needs. For instance, if you're looking for rewards on airline purchases, the JetBlue Card offers 3X points on JetBlue purchases, while United Gateway offers 2X miles on United purchases. This detailed breakdown aids in making an informed choice.
Regular APR: JetBlue Card
The JetBlue Card is better for regular APR with a range of 21.24% to 29.99% variable. The United Gateway's APR details are not provided, making a direct comparison challenging.
Annual Fee: Tie
Both the JetBlue Card and United Gateway card are equally advantageous here, as neither charges an annual fee. This makes them both appealing options for those looking to avoid extra costs.
Introductory 0% APRs: JetBlue Card
The JetBlue Card is better for introductory 0% APRs, offering 0% on balance transfers for the first twelve billing cycles. United Gateway lacks any introductory APR offers.
Rewards: JetBlue Card
The JetBlue Card is better for rewards, offering 3X points on JetBlue purchases and 2X at restaurants and grocery stores. In contrast, United Gateway provides 2X miles on United purchases, gas stations, and local transit.
Welcome Offers: United Gateway
The United Gateway card is better for welcome offers, providing 20,000 miles after spending $1,000 in 90 days, compared to JetBlue's 10,000 points for the same spend.
Recommended Credit Score: Tie
Both JetBlue Card and United Gateway require a credit score of 670 to 850, making them equally accessible for individuals with good to excellent credit.
Penalties and Fees: JetBlue Card
The JetBlue Card is better for penalties and fees, offering no penalty APR and 0% foreign transaction fees. In contrast, United Gateway has a penalty APR, which could increase costs if payments are missed.
Issuer Satisfaction: United Gateway
The United Gateway card is better for issuer satisfaction, as Chase generally receives higher satisfaction scores compared to Barclays, the issuer of the JetBlue Card.
Card Benefits: JetBlue Card
The JetBlue Card is better for card benefits, like earning tiles on JetBlue's TrueBlue program and redeeming points for any seat without blackout dates. These benefits provide higher expected value for frequent JetBlue travelers.
Rewards Comparison
When comparing the rewards value, the JetBlue Card slightly edges out the United Gateway Card due to its higher point valuation. JetBlue's TrueBlue points are valued at approximately 1.45 cents each, while United MileagePlus miles are valued at about 1.4 cents each. This difference may appeal to those who prioritize maximizing point value.
For those indifferent to airline loyalty, the JetBlue Card offers better rewards on dining and groceries, while United Gateway provides more value for gas and transit spending. Thus, each card is suitable for different spending habits.
Below is a table summarizing the rewards categories for both cards, allowing you to quickly compare their offerings.
Category | JetBlue Card | United Gateway Card |
|---|---|---|
JetBlue Purchases | 3X points | 2X miles |
United Purchases | 1X points | 2X miles |
Dining | 2X points | 2X miles |
Groceries | 2X points | 1X miles |
Gas Stations | 1X points | 2X miles |
Transit | 1X points | 2X miles |
All Other | 1X points | 1X miles |
Redeeming Rewards
JetBlue points never expire, offering flexibility for long-term planners. However, redemption is limited to JetBlue-operated flights, which may restrict options. United miles can be redeemed across Star Alliance partners, providing broader flexibility, but they expire after 18 months of inactivity, requiring active management.
FAQ: United Gateway vs. JetBlue Card
What are the main differences in rewards between the JetBlue Card and United Gateway Card?
JetBlue Card offers 3X points on JetBlue purchases, while United Gateway provides 2X miles on United purchases and gas stations.
Which card offers better travel perks?
JetBlue Card has no foreign transaction fees, while United Gateway offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months.
Do either of these cards have an annual fee?
Both cards have no annual fee, making them great cards with no annual fee.
What are the introductory offers for these cards?
JetBlue Card offers 10,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days. United Gateway offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months.
Which card is better for everyday spending?
JetBlue Card earns 2x points on dining and groceries, while United Gateway earns 2x miles on gas stations and transit, making both a great rewards card.
Methodology
MoneyGeek's scoring process evaluates each card based on multiple use cases, ensuring the scores reflect the cards' strengths. In this comparison, the scores shown represent the best performance of each card in the 'Airline' category. Several factors determine this score:
- Expected value for travelers: Measures the monetary value of rewards and perks minus the annual fees for frequent travelers.
- Airline scope: Rates the number of destinations the airline flies to, which helps inform the breadth of travel options for the airline program.
- Introductory offer ROI value: Assesses the return on investment (ROI) from the card's sign-up bonus.
- Airline rewards rate for travelers: Evaluates the rewards earned on airline expenditures for frequent travelers.
- Issuer satisfaction: Based on customer satisfaction ratings from studies like J.D. Power.
- Foreign transaction fees: Rates the card's fees for international transactions.
- Recommended credit: Indicates the credit score range required for approval.
For more details on our scoring process, review our ranking methodology.
About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.