No-annual-fee airline credit cards exist as entry points to major U.S. carrier loyalty programs. They allow consumers to earn miles through everyday spending without the recurring cost of a fee-bearing card. However, these cards also omit many of the premium perks—like free checked bags and priority boarding—that define higher-tier products.
This comparison examines three no-annual-fee airline cards: the United Gateway Card from Chase, the Citi AAdvantage MileUp Card, and the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card.
How Earning Structures Differ
Each card uses a tiered multiplier system, but the bonus categories and base rates vary.
United Gateway Card
- 2x miles on United purchases
- 2x miles at gas stations
- 2x miles on local transit and commuting (rideshare, taxis, trains, tolls, mass transit)
- 1x mile on all other purchases
Citi AAdvantage MileUp Card
- 2x miles at grocery stores and grocery delivery services
- 2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 1x mile on all other purchases
Delta SkyMiles Blue Amex
- 2x miles on eligible Delta purchases
- 2x miles at restaurants worldwide (including U.S. takeout and delivery)
- 1x mile on all other purchases
The three cards target different spending patterns. United emphasizes transportation. American emphasizes groceries. Delta emphasizes dining. All three provide 2x on their respective airline purchases.
How Airline Benefits Compare
No-annual-fee cards typically omit core travel benefits. All three cards lack free checked bags and priority boarding as standard features.
Checked Bag Access
| Card | Free Checked Bag |
|---|---|
| United Gateway | Earned after $10,000 annual spend |
| AAdvantage MileUp | Not included |
| Delta SkyMiles Blue | Not included |
The United Gateway Card is the only one that offers a path to free checked bags, but it requires meeting a spending threshold. The other two cards provide no mechanism for bag fee waivers.
Priority Boarding
None of these three cards include priority boarding. That feature is reserved for fee-bearing products in each airline’s card lineup.
In-Flight Savings
All three cards offer in-flight purchase discounts:
- United Gateway: 25% back as a statement credit on food, beverages, and Wi-Fi
- AAdvantage MileUp: 25% savings on in-flight food and beverages
- Delta SkyMiles Blue: 20% back as a statement credit on food, beverages, and headsets
The discount rates are similar, though Delta’s is slightly lower. All discounts apply only on their respective airlines.
How Foreign Transaction Fees Differ
Foreign transaction fees affect the cost of using a card internationally.
| Card | Foreign Transaction Fee |
|---|---|
| United Gateway | None |
| AAdvantage MileUp | 3% |
| Delta SkyMiles Blue | None |
The Citi AAdvantage MileUp Card is the only one among these three that charges a foreign transaction fee. For international use, the United and Delta cards have a cost advantage.
How Redemption Options Differ
Mile redemption paths vary by airline program.
United MileagePlus
Miles can be redeemed for United flights, partner airline awards, and through the MileagePlus shopping portal. The United Gateway Card offers Cardmember Award Pricing after meeting the $10,000 spending threshold.
American AAdvantage
Miles can be redeemed for American Airlines flights, partner airline awards, and for non-flight options like upgrades and merchandise. The MileUp Card does not include any special award pricing or discount mechanisms.
Delta SkyMiles
Miles can be redeemed for Delta flights, partner airline awards, and through the Delta SkyMiles Marketplace. The Delta SkyMiles Blue card includes “Pay with Miles,” allowing cardholders to apply 5,000 miles for $50 off Delta flight purchases on delta.com. This provides a fixed redemption value of 1 cent per mile.
How Status Earning Works
Some airline cards contribute to elite status qualification through spend.
United Gateway
The card earns redeemable miles only. It does not earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) toward United Premier status.
AAdvantage MileUp
The card earns 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage mile earned from purchases. Loyalty Points count toward AAdvantage elite status thresholds.
Delta SkyMiles Blue
The card earns redeemable miles only. It does not earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) or Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) toward Delta Medallion status.
Among these three, only the AAdvantage MileUp Card provides a mechanism for contributing to elite status through spending.
How Network and Acceptance Differ
Card network affects where the card can be used.
| Card | Network |
|---|---|
| United Gateway | Visa |
| AAdvantage MileUp | Mastercard |
| Delta SkyMiles Blue | American Express |
Visa and Mastercard have near-universal acceptance globally. American Express has lower acceptance rates in some international markets and at certain merchant types. For travelers who may encounter acceptance limitations, the United and American cards provide broader usability.
How Welcome Offers Typically Differ
Welcome bonus structures vary by product and promotional period. These details change frequently.
- United Gateway: Typically offers 30,000–40,000 miles after spending approximately $1,000 in the first three months
- AAdvantage MileUp: Typically offers 15,000 miles after spending approximately $500–$1,000 in the first three months
- Delta SkyMiles Blue: Typically offers 10,000 miles after spending $1,000 in the first six months
The United Gateway Card generally offers the largest welcome bonus among the three. Specific offers vary based on promotional availability.
Tradeoffs and Constraints
No-annual-fee airline cards involve specific tradeoffs compared to fee-bearing alternatives.
What Is Given Up
- Free checked bags (except United after spending threshold)
- Priority boarding
- Lounge access
- Premium award discounts (like TakeOff 15 on Delta)
What Is Retained
- Mile earning on spending
- In-flight purchase discounts
- No recurring annual cost
- Access to airline loyalty ecosystem
These cards function as mile-earning tools rather than full travel benefit products. The value depends on how the cardholder uses the miles earned.
Who Each Card Is Designed For
Each card addresses a different spending and travel profile.
The United Gateway Card is structured for consumers who prioritize transportation spending—gas stations, rideshare, and transit—and who may reach the $10,000 threshold to unlock checked bag eligibility.
The Citi AAdvantage MileUp Card is structured for consumers with significant grocery spending who also want to contribute toward AAdvantage elite status through Loyalty Points.
The Delta SkyMiles Blue Card is structured for consumers who frequently dine out and prefer the flexibility of the Pay with Miles redemption option for Delta flights.
All three cards avoid the commitment of an annual fee while providing a pathway into their respective airline loyalty programs.
