Our take: The UnitedSM Business Card offers generous perks for business travelers, including free checked bags, lounge passes and discounts on in-flight purchases. However, the card’s category bonuses aren’t the most generous and United miles aren’t as valuable as others since award flights are subject to dynamic pricing.
Pros
- Offers lots of useful United perks to improve your travel experience.
- Cardholders can earn elite status credits via credit card spending.
- Annual fee is waived in the first year.
Cons
- The welcome bonus is low compared to other business travel rewards cards.
- Category bonuses are low and not ideal for a small business.
- United miles are not as flexible as other rewards currencies.
United Business Card Highlights
- Welcome Bonus: 50,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
- Annual Fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99.
- Rewards: Earn 2X miles on United purchases, dining (including eligible delivery services), gas stations, office supply stores and local transit and commuting. Earn 1X miles on all other purchases.
United Business Card Overview
The United Business Card is a top-notch choice for business travelers seeking premium benefits and rewards when flying United Airlines. This card offers an array of perks tailored to streamline your travel experience and enhance business spending. Cardholders earn 2X miles on United purchases, dining, gas stations, office supply stores, local transit and commuting. All other purchases earn 1 mile per dollar spent.
Moreover, the United Business Card offers valuable benefits like the first checked bag free (for you and up to one additional companion), two annual United Club passes, priority boarding, 25% back on in-flight purchases and the ability to earn elite status via credit card spending. The card offers 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) towards status for every $12,000 spent. You can earn up to 1,000 PQP every year this way. If you also have a personal United card, like the United MileagePlus Explorer, you’ll receive an annual 5,000-mile “better-together” bonus. Additionally, cardholders who make seven United purchases in a calendar year get a $100 statement credit.
One of the standout features of the United Business Card is its generous welcome bonus of 50,000 miles after spending $5,000 within the first three months of card membership. This sizable bonus can significantly boost your MileagePlus balance, allowing you to redeem miles for flights, upgrades or hotel stays. With the $99 annual fee waived the first year, it provides excellent value and a “trial” period to try out the card and its benefits before committing long-term.
Who is the United Business Card good for?
The United Business Card is good for small business owners who regularly travel with United Airlines. This card offers useful benefits to enhance the United travel experience, including a free first-checked bag, bonus miles, lounge passes, priority boarding and more. The welcome bonus provides a nice boost to any business owner’s rewards balance, while the card’s numerous travel protections provide peace of mind.
Small business owners can take advantage of the card's 2X bonus categories to maximize rewards on business expenses. Additionally, the card offers spend-based incentives to make earning elite status easier. The ability to add employee cards at no cost makes it easy for small business owners to track expenses and accrue more rewards without added cost. Overall, this card can be a great choice for any United flyer seeking extra rewards and benefits.
Who shouldn’t get the United Business Card?
The United Business Card might not be the best fit for small business owners who don't frequently travel with United Airlines or for those seeking more flexibility in their travel rewards. If your travel preferences extend beyond United's routes or if you prefer a broader range of redemption options, a general travel rewards card with more versatile redemption possibilities might be a better choice.
Additionally, if your business expenses don't align with the card's bonus categories or if you're not able to maximize the benefits offered, there might be other business cards more tailored to your spending habits and needs. You may want to consider cash-back cards or cards with more varied spending categories. Exploring other credit card options could offer greater benefits and flexibility compared to the United Business Card.
United Business Card: How to earn rewards
The United Business Card offers several avenues to earn rewards. To start, cardholders earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months of account opening. In addition, cardholders earn 2X miles on United purchases, dining (including eligible delivery services), gas stations, office supply stores, local transit and commuting. All other purchases earn 1 mile per $1 spent.
Your credit card spending doesn’t just reward you with miles but other perks too. Cardholders earn 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) towards elite status for every $12,000 spent per calendar year. You can earn up to 1,000 PQP each year through credit card spending on the United Business Card. Additionally, those who make at least seven United flight-related purchases per calendar year receive a $100 United travel credit.
Overall, the United Business Card can be a great way to earn United MileagePlus miles at least in the first year. By completing the spending requirement and taking advantage of the card’s category bonuses, it’s easy to earn lots of miles quickly.
How to redeem United Business Card rewards
United offers a versatile range of redemption options, with air travel being the best option. You can use miles to travel on United or one of its Star Alliance partners. However, you can also redeem miles for flight upgrades, travel packages, merchandise and more. These won’t get you the most bang for your miles and you might be better off getting a cash back card if you’re going to use your miles this way. However, they’re worth knowing about in case you ever need to offset travel expenses beyond flights. Here are some ways you can redeem United miles:
United flights
United miles can be used to book flights with United Airlines and its partner airlines within the Star Alliance network. This includes economy, business and first-class tickets, allowing plenty of flexibility and value. With over 1,000 destinations worldwide, there are plenty of options to choose from. The only downside is that United no longer publishes an award chart and pricing is determined by demand, so the number of miles needed can change. This makes it challenging to set a savings goal. As a baseline, expect a little over one cent per mile in value. Anything above 1.3 cents per mile could be considered a good deal.
Seat upgrades
MileagePlus members can use miles to upgrade their existing flights to a higher class, providing an opportunity to experience premium cabins by using miles instead of paying full price for the higher fare class.
Travel
United allows members to use miles for vacation packages, hotel stays, rental cars and cruises through its travel portal. This can provide flexibility for those looking to use their miles for other travel expenses. You’ll usually get around 0.7 cents per mile by redeeming your United miles this way. While this isn’t the best value, it’s a viable option if you want to reduce your travel expenses.
Other ways to redeem United miles
United lets you redeem miles for merchandise, gift cards, in-flight Wi-Fi credits, lounge passes, airport dining and more. The redemption rates range from 0.3-1 cent per mile. While we don’t recommend redeeming miles at this rate, it’s an option if you have miles burning a hole in your pocket.
Rates and fees
- Purchase APR: 21.99%–28.99% variable
- Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year (then $99)
- Foreign transaction fee: 0%
Additional benefits
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Provides primary coverage when renting a vehicle for business purposes. Reimburses up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most rental cars in the U.S. and abroad.
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement: Covers up to $3,000 for damage or theft to checked or carry-on luggage.
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance: Receive up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for non-refundable passenger fares in case of trip cancellation or interruption.
- Trip Delay Reimbursement: Provides up to $500 per person for meals and lodging in case of travel delays exceeding 12 hours or requiring an overnight stay.
- Baggage Delay Insurance: Reimburses cardholders up to $100 per day (up to three days) for essential purchases in case of baggage delays over six hours.
- Extended Warranty Protection: Extends the manufacturer's U.S. warranty of three years or less by an additional year.
- Visa Concierge: Provides complimentary 24-hour concierge service.
- DoorDash: One year of complimentary DashPass membership. Must be activated by 12/31/24.
- The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection: Receive exclusive perks at select hotels, including free daily breakfast for two, complimentary Wi-Fi, space-available room upgrades and other benefits that vary by property.
Credit cards similar to the United Business Card
The United Business Card is an excellent choice if you want a United card for small business expenses and travel perks. With the annual fee waived the first year, the card can be a worthwhile addition to your wallet. However, if you’re looking for more flexible rewards and luxury travel perks, there are other alternatives. Here’s a look at credit cards similar to the United Business Card:
United Club Business Card vs. United Business Card
The United Club℠ Business Card presents a compelling option for United Airlines travelers willing to pay a higher annual fee for premium travel perks. In exchange for a $450 annual fee, the card provides a complimentary United Club membership valued at up to $650 per year. If you plan on using the United Club Lounge more than twice a year, it might be worth the upgrade from the United Business Card. With lounge access, cardholders can enjoy comfortable spaces, complimentary refreshments and amenities while waiting for flights. Frequent flyers will appreciate this perk, as it can save them money on food and drinks at the airport.
The welcome bonus for the United Club Business is the same, at 50,000 miles after $5,000 spent within the first three months of account opening. However, the earning structure is slightly different. Cardholders earn 2 miles per dollar spent on United purchases and 1.5 miles on all other spending. If your business expenses fall outside of the category bonuses offered by the United Business Card, then the Club Business Card might be a better option.
The Club Business Card’s travel perks are slightly better. Cardholders get a free first and second checked bag. Additionally, the card’s travel protections are superior, with up to $10,000 in trip cancellation and interruption insurance (limited to $20,000 per trip). Cardholders also get Premier Access travel services, which include priority check-in, security, boarding and baggage handling. Overall, this card can enhance your travel experience significantly more than the United Business Card.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card vs. United Business Card
If you want a card that earns more flexible rewards, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a compelling alternative to the United Business Card. The card offers a significantly higher welcome bonus of 100,000 points after spending $8,000 in the first three months of card opening. You can also transfer these points 1:1 to United Mileage Plus.
The card earns 3 points per dollar spent on the first $150,000 in combined purchases on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone services and advertising made with social media sites and search engines. All other purchases earn 1 point per dollar spent. These category bonuses are higher and better suited to most businesses than the United Business Card’s.
The Ink Preferred’s travel protections are similar to the Ink Business Preferred’s, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, primary rental car insurance and extended warranty. On top of this, the card offers up to $1,000 in cell phone protection annually, which isn’t a common benefit available on many credit cards. With a lower $95 annual fee, the Ink Business Preferred can be an excellent alternative to the United Business Card.
Is the United Business Card right for you?
The UnitedSM Business Card can be a great fit for United Airlines flyers and small business owners who prioritize travel rewards at a reasonable annual fee. It offers valuable benefits that can enhance your travel experience, including United Club passes, priority boarding and generous rewards on business spending. With the $99 annual fee waived the first year, there’s little downside to testing this card out for a year and figuring out if it aligns well with your travel needs.
However, it might not be ideal for those who don't often fly United or who prefer more flexible travel rewards programs. It's heavily geared toward United Airlines and lacks versatility in redemption options compared to some other travel cards. Additionally, the annual fee might be a drawback for those seeking a lower-cost card in the long term.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best United Business Card?
The best United Business Card depends on your preferences and spending habits. If you want a card that rewards your business expenses and offers a few travel perks at a reasonable annual fee, the United Business card might be the best fit. However, if you’re looking for more premium perks, the United Club Business might better suit your needs.
What credit score do you need for a United Business Card?
You need a good to excellent credit score for the United Business Card, defined as 670-800. However, keep in mind that Chase will consider other criteria, including income, prior banking relationships and others.
What is the credit limit on the United Business Card?
The credit limit on the United Business Card can vary depending on various factors such as credit history, income and the issuer's evaluation.
Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Before applying, please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits.
