The United Business Card Review

One of the top co-branded travel business credit cards on the market, the United Business card (which replaced the United Explorer Business card) not only offers ongoing rewards for airline purchases, but also for everyday business purchases. This being said, the United Business card is a particularly worthwhile option for business owners who travel frequently with United.

The United Business credit card has an impressive welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles by spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open. If you reach this threshold, your bonus miles will be added to your account within six to eight weeks. Your account, of course, will still have to be open and not in default to receive the welcome offer. Additionally, if your account is not open for at least six months, Chase and United can deduct the bonus miles from your account.

Like most co-branded travel cards, the United Business card has an annual fee of $99, which is waived for the first year. Although this may seem like a steep yearly cost considering all of the business credit cards with no annual fee, this fee gives you access to the ongoing rewards rates and additional travel perks associated with this card.

This being said, it’s also worth noting that this United Airlines business credit card has no foreign transaction fees, but will incur fees for balance transfers, cash advances, and late or returned payments. For balance transfers and cash advances, you’ll pay either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater. There is also a fee for late or returned payments.

As we mentioned, one of the benefits of the United Business card is that it allows you to earn ongoing rewards in multiple ways, not just on United Airlines purchases.

This Chase business credit card earns 2x miles for every dollar you spend on:

• United purchases—including airline tickets, seat upgrades, inflight food, beverages, WiFi, baggage service charges, and other United fees
• Purchases for local transit and commuting—including taxis, mass transit, tolls, and rideshare services
• Purchases from gas stations, office supply stores, and restaurants

You’ll also earn 1x miles on every dollar spent on all purchases.

Moreover, if you have the United Business card and a personal United credit card, you’ll earn 5,000 bonus miles each card anniversary.

With this program, the miles you earn during a billing cycle will be automatically transferred to United after the end of each billing cycle. You can use the rewards you earn with this United business credit card to purchase travel—including United and partner flights, hotels, cruises, rental cars, and more. You also can use your rewards for in-flight purchases, gift cards, events, and more.

In addition to the ongoing credit card rewards you’ll earn based on your spending, the Chase United Business Card offers a variety of other perks.

Some of these perks include:

• Free employee cards that also earn the same ongoing rewards rates
• No blackout dates when you use your miles to book a United-operated flight
• Two United Club one-time passes (after account opening and on each anniversary)—worth over $100 per year
• Free first checked bag for you and one traveling companion
• Priority boarding for you and anyone traveling on the same reservation
• $100 annual United travel credit after seven United flight purchases of $100 or more within each account anniversary year
• 25% back as a statement credit for United inflight purchases when you use your card
• Travel assistance and insurance
• Reimbursement for extended delays or lost luggage
• Purchase and extended warranty protection
• Complimentary cardmember benefits when staying at a Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection property

• Generous welcome offer
• 2x miles earned on United purchases, as well as other everyday business purchases
• Multiple ways to redeem miles
• No foreign transaction fees
• Variety of luxury travel business credit card rewards

• No 0% intro APR period
• $99 annual fee
• High spending threshold required to earn the welcome bonus
• Rewards and perks are still largely specific to travel with United

With all of this information in mind, you may still be wondering if this United business credit card is right for you.

At the end of the day, only you can make that decision—so you’ll want to think about exactly what you’re looking for in a business credit card, considering fees, rewards, and more—and determine how the Chase United Business card meets up to those qualifications.

This being said, however, the United Business card is likely best-suited for business owners who are looking for a travel rewards card, and more specifically, those who want to earn and spend their rewards with United. Although this United Airlines business credit card offers broader rewards than some other travel cards, the card is still designed for those who fly frequently with United.

If you want travel-specific rewards, but don’t frequently fly United, you might consider other business airline credit cards, like those from Southwest or American Airlines, for example, or even a non-airline-specific travel card, like the Chase Preferred card.

Along these lines, the United Business card is probably not right for you if you’d prefer a general point-based rewards card, or even a cash back card. Moreover, if you’re looking for a business credit card with no annual fee, or one with a 0% intro APR offer, you’ll want to explore other options.

Finally, it’s important to note that due to the perks associated with travel business credit cards, you’ll likely need a higher personal credit score to qualify for this United business credit card. Therefore, if you have average or poor personal credit, you’ll want to look into cards with more flexible requirements that are focused on building credit, like the Capital One Spark Classic for Business.

Based on the United business credit card benefits we’ve discussed here, you may decide that this card is right for you.

The next step is to apply for the United Business card.

Luckily, the application process is fairly simple and can be completed online. You can access the United Business card application from the United or the Chase website. Then, you’ll have to fill in some basic information about your business including the legal name, type of business, tax ID number, number of employees, etc. You’ll also need to provide financial information like your annual business revenue and personal gross annual income. As the business owner, you’ll add your personal contact information, including your social security number.

This being said, it’s important to remember that your personal information will be used to pull your credit history—as your personal credit score is typically one of the most influential factors of a business credit card application. With this in mind, after you’ve added all of the required information, you’ll read through the disclosure, pricing and terms, and certifications (which includes a personal guarantee) before submitting your application.

At this point, Chase will pull your personal credit score—and you should receive an approval or denial almost instantly. If you’re approved, you’ll receive your account information and will be able to use your United business credit card as soon as you get it. On the other hand, if you’re denied, you’ll receive an explanation, which you can then use to increase your chances of approval in the future.

First, for a United Business card alternative that offers more flexible rewards and is also part of the Chase Business suite, you might look into the Chase Ink Preferred.

With the Chase Ink Preferred, you can earn 3x rewards points for every dollar on the first $150,000 you spend on travel and select business categories—plus 1x points on every dollar spent on all purchases. You’ll be able to redeem these points for travel, cash back, gift cards and more—making it, overall, a much more expansive option than the United Business card.

Additionally, if you spend $15,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account, you can earn 100,000 bonus points. Plus, these 100,000 bonus points are worth $1,250 toward travel when you redeem them through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

This being said, the Chase Ink Preferred also has no foreign transaction fees, offers free employee cards, and on the whole, your rewards points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Like the United Business card, however, the Chase Ink Preferred does require an annual fee of $95.

With this in mind, however, although the Ink Preferred isn’t quite a luxury business credit card in the way the United Business card is, this Chase business card is a worthwhile alternative for access to a flexible rewards program that extends beyond the reach of a single airline.

On the other hand, if you’d prefer a travel rewards card that doesn’t charge an annual fee, you might consider the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business.

With this card, you’ll have no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and you’ll have access to a nine-month 0% intro APR period—meaning you can carry a balance interest-free during that time. After this period expires, however, you will receive a variable APR that will be based on the market and your creditworthiness.

This being said, however, the Capital One Miles Select earns 1.5 miles on every dollar you spend with no limit on the amount you can earn. Compared to the United Business card and the Chase Ink Preferred—both of which earn at different rates based on your purchase category—the rewards you earn with the Miles Select are much more straightforward and easy to understand. Plus, this card allows you to add free employee cards to your account, each of which will also earn 1.5 miles on all purchases.

Moreover, the Capital One Miles Select includes a 20,000-mile welcome bonus when you spend $3,000 within the first three months after opening your account. Of all the business credit cards we’ve discussed thus far, this welcome bonus has the lowest purchase requirement (in the same amount of time).

Finally, in addition to these perks, you can earn 5x miles on hotel and rental car bookings through Capital One Travel when you use your card—and your miles can be redeemed for any travel-related purchases.

Ultimately, the Capital One Miles Select is a competitive flat-rate rewards business credit card, especially if you’re looking for flexible travel rewards (that aren’t airline-specific). Plus, with no annual fee, this card is a great alternative for business owners who want access to travel rewards but don’t have the extra capital to pay a fee for their credit card every year.