The United Business Credit Card is a good credit card for business owners who travel frequently but don’t want to pay an excessive annual fee. The card is worth its
$150 annual fee because you get a free first checked bag on United flights, 2 miles per $1 spent on United purchases, and the combination of 5,000 bonus miles and 2 free United Club lounge passes every account anniversary.
New cardholders also get a welcome bonus of
100,000 miles. United Airlines miles are worth an average of
1.21 cents per mile. Like many travel cards with annual fees, the United Business Credit Card’s overall value will depend on how well you can take advantage of its perks. And as with most rewards cards, carrying a balance on the United Business Credit Card will quickly negate its ongoing rewards.
What I Like About the United Business Card
Hefty Initial Bonus
Cardholders who can spend
$5,000 in the first
3 months will get a whopper of a bonus:
100,000 miles and 2,000 PQP. That could be worth quite a few flights. In fact, those miles will get you
$1,210 in United airfare on average, according to WalletHub research.
Decent Ongoing Rewards
In addition to 2 miles per $1 spent on United purchases, cardholders get 2 miles for every $1 spent at gas stations, office supply stores and restaurants (including eligible delivery services), as well as on local transit and commuting fares. All other purchases get 1 mile per $1 spent.
The minimum rewards rate is nothing special, but it’s nice that so many types of purchases qualify for bonus rewards.
Immediate United Freebies
After approval, you will receive 2 free passes to United Club airport lounges. Plus, you (and a companion traveling on the same reservation) get your first checked bag free on all United flights, along with a 25% rebate on inflight purchases.
Annual Bonuses Abound
The United Business Credit Card will keep on giving, far past the initial bonus and freebies. Every year after renewing your card membership, you can get 2 more United Club lounge passes, and an extra 5,000 bonus miles (if you also have a personal Chase United card). Plus, every year you make 5 United flight-related purchases of at least $100 each, you’ll take home a $125 United travel credit.
No Foreign Fees
You won’t have to pay extra if your business travel takes you abroad or you need to buy something from a merchant based abroad. This distinguishes it from most credit cards overall, though most travel rewards cards don’t charge foreign fees either. As a
Visa, the United Business Credit Card is accepted in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.
What I Don’t Like About the United Business Card
$150 Annual Fee
The United Business Credit Card’s annual fee of
$150 is higher than the
average credit card’s annual fee. However, what cardholders can get in return can more than cover the extra cost.
Ties You to United
It may seem obvious, but it’s worth noting: To get the most value out of the United Business Credit Card, you need to fly United. If you can’t commit to United or don’t fly often, you might want to keep looking.
After all, many of the card’s most convenient perks - including the United travel credit, 25% rebate on inflight purchases, free checked bags, and priority boarding - are worthless unless you're buying United airfare or flying with United. And all those bonus miles are worth less when they're redeemed for something other than United airfare. That said, the United Club lounge passes can be used when you're flying with United partner airlines, too.
Not a Good Option for Financing
The United Business Credit Card has a regular APR range of
19.74% to 28.24% (V), which isn’t exactly low-interest. Carrying a balance on this card will quickly eat into your hard-earned rewards as a result. So, make sure to pay in full monthly to avoid interest charges.
Requires Good Personal Credit
The United Business Credit Card requires at least
good credit for approval, and like with other business cards, it’s your personal credit standing that matters most. You can
check your credit score for free on WalletHub to get a sense of whether or not you’re likely to qualify before you apply.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, business owners who make even a semi-frequent habit of flying United will get lots of value out of this card. As long as you don’t carry a balance and can meet the initial-bonus spending requirement, the free flights you can earn will be worth the cost.
Note: This review is not provided, commissioned or endorsed by any issuer. Opinions and ratings are our own.
