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Link: Apply now for the United℠ Business Card
Chase and United Airlines have a close relationship. As part of that, they have several co-branded credit cards, and you can also transfer points from Ultimate Rewards to MileagePlus. The United℠ Business Card is a popular business credit card that’s an excellent value for many small businesses, so in this post I wanted to take a closer look at the card.
In this post:
United Business Card Basics For March 2024
The United Business Card is a card worth considering for your small business if you fly United with any frequency. The card has a huge welcome bonus, offers some useful bonus categories, and comes with perks that can more than offset the annual fee. Let’s look at what you need to know about this product in more detail.
United Business Card Bonus: 100,000 Miles
The United Business Card is offering a new welcome bonus of 100,000 MileagePlus bonus miles after spending $5,000 within the first three months. I value United miles at ~1.1 cents each, so to me the bonus is worth $1,100.
The welcome bonus on the United Business Card isn’t available to those who currently have the card or those who have received a new cardmember bonus on the card in the past 24 months. In addition to that, there are the typical restrictions when applying for Chase cards. You are eligible for the card if you’ve had any other United credit card.
United Business Card Annual Fee
The United Business Card has a $99 annual fee. You can also add authorized users to the card at no extra cost. This is a reasonable ongoing annual fee for a perks-rich card.
United Business Card Rewards Structure: Up To 2x Miles
While I wouldn’t say the bonus categories are industry-leading, the United Business Card does offer bonus miles on some purchases. With the card, you can earn 2x MileagePlus miles on:
- United Airlines purchases
- Local transit and commuting, including taxis, mass transit, tolls, and ride-sharing services
- Gas stations
- Office supply stores
- Restaurants
You can earn 1x miles on all other purchases. While there are lots of cards offering bonus categories, I’d say that’s a pretty well-rounded rewards structure for an airline credit card.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
The United Airlines Business Credit Card has no foreign transaction fees, so this is a good card for purchases abroad. Visa has excellent global acceptance, and you may earn bonus miles for purchases abroad, including at restaurants.
United Business Card Benefits
The United Business Card has a big welcome bonus and a fairly solid rewards structure for an airline small business credit card. The good news is that beyond that, the card has great perks as well.
This is true whether you’re an occasional United flyer, or whether you’re an elite member who is looking for extra perks. Here’s what you need to know about all the benefits offered by the United Business Card.
Free First Checked Bag
The primary cardmember on the United Business Card and one companion traveling on the same reservation receive a standard free first checked bag when flying United or United Express. In order to be eligible for this, you have to pay for your ticket with your United Airlines credit card.
United charges $30 for a first checked bag, so this is a value of up to $120 on a roundtrip ticket.
Two United Club Passes Annually
For having the card you receive two United Club passes annually. This includes the year where you open your card, and in any subsequent years. These will automatically be deposited into your Mileage Plus account within four weeks.
United Club passes ordinarily costs $59, so that’s a value of up to $118.
Priority Boarding
For having the United Business Card you and your companions receive priority boarding on United and United Express flights. You can board before general boarding, after customers with Premier Access, and those requiring special assistance. This would be in Group 2.
25% Back On Inflight Purchases
For having the United Business Card you receive 25% back in the form of statement credits on purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi, on United-operated flights when you pay with your United Business Card.
The statement credit should post within 24 hours of your eligible purchase posting to your statement.
$100 Annual United Travel Credit
Every anniversary year you can receive a $100 United Travel Credit on your United Business Card if you make at least seven United flight travel-related purchases, each totaling at least $100.
This includes purchases like seat upgrades, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages, and Wi-Fi, baggage service charges, or other United fees.
The statement credit will post to your account within 24 hours of your seventh qualifying purchase of $100 or more.
Anniversary Bonus Of 5,000 Miles
Every year on your account anniversary you receive 5,000 bonus miles if you have this card in conjunction with a personal United credit card, like the United℠ Explorer Card (review).
That’s a pretty awesome incentive to keep both a personal and business card, and frankly it’s a really smart incentive for United to offer, given that many personal and business cards have overlapping benefits.
Premier Upgrades On Award Tickets
All United MileagePlus elite members ordinarily receive complimentary upgrades on domestic flights, though this only applies to cash tickets. However, if you have the United Business Card, you also receive Premier upgrades on award tickets.
This applies to the primary cardmember on United and United Express flights. Travel companions and authorized users aren’t eligible for this benefit.
Expanded Award Availability
With a United co-branded credit card, you get access to expanded award availability. Just log into your MileagePlus account, and you should have access to more EveryDay Award level tickets with no blackout dates.
The value of this varies depending on where you’re trying to go.
Earn Premier Qualifying Points Toward Status
Spending money on the United Business Card can help you earn MileagePlus status:
- Earn 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) for every $12,000 spent in a calendar year
- Earn up to 1,000 PQPs in a calendar year through the credit card
- The PQPs can be applied up to Premier Platinum status (though not to Premier 1K status)
Ultimately this won’t get you that far toward status, but is better than nothing. As a reminder, below are United’s regular elite requirements.
Trip Delay & Lost Luggage Protection
The United Business Card offers a variety of protection benefits when traveling, assuming you pay for purchases with your card. These features include the following:
- Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption Insurance — be reimbursed up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip when your trip is canceled or cut short due to sickness, severe weather, etc.
- Trip Delay Reimbursem*nt — if your flight is delayed by more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, you and your family are covered for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500 per ticket
- Lost Luggage Reimbursem*nt — be reimbursed up to $3,000 per passenger if you or your immediate family member check or carry on luggage that is damaged or lost by an airline
- Baggage Delay Insurance — be reimbursed up to $100 per day for three days for essential purchases when your bag is delayed by over six hours
Make sure you check your cardmember agreement for all of the details since there are terms & conditions.
Primary Rental Car Coverage
The United Business Card offers a primary collision damage waiver (CDW) benefit. Just decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card.
Coverage is primary when renting for business purposes and provides reimbursem*nt up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most cars in the US and abroad.
Is The United Business Card Worth It?
In general, I don’t recommend using airline credit cards for everyday spending, unless you have a specific reason to do so.
In the case of the United Business Card, I think this is a card that’s worth getting for the welcome bonus and the long-term perks, which can more than offset the annual fee. That being said, I don’t think this card is worth spending much money on:
- The ability to earn PQPs is fairly limited with this card, and doesn’t justify the spending requirement
- While the card has some bonus categories, there are ultimately better credit cards for airfare, gas stations, restaurants, rideshare, etc.
What perks make this card worthwhile?
- For non-elite members, the priority boarding and first checked bag free could really come in handy
- For elite members, the upgrades on award tickets and the ability to earn PQPs could come in handy
- Then for everyone, the United Club passes, 25% inflight savings, expanded award availability, 5,000 bonus miles for having two United cards, and more, could come in handy
This really is quite a perks-rich card, in my opinion.
My Favorite United Airlines Personal Card
If you’re looking for a personal United Airlines credit card, consider the United Quest℠ Card, which for many this $250 annual fee card is more than worth it. The card offers a solid welcome bonus and some unique perks, like a $125 annual United credit, plus up to 10,000 miles reimbursed each year when redeeming miles on United; for many, those two perks alone will more than offset the annual fee
Read a full review of the United Quest Card.
Other Ways To Earn United Miles
The one thing I’d note is that while this is a great card for the perks, if you actually want to earn MileagePlus miles through spending, remember that MileagePlus is a Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partner, so you can convert Ultimate Rewards points into United miles at a 1:1 ratio.
There are so many great Ultimate Rewards cards that earn points at a potentially faster rate than you’d earn directly through United, so that’s something worth considering.
See this post for the best credit cards for earning United miles.
Bottom Line
If you have a small business and fly United Airlines with any frequency, then the United Business Card is definitely a card to consider. The card has a generous welcome bonus, and on top of that offers several perks that make this card worth holding onto. However, this isn’t a card I’d recommend using for your everyday spending.
If you want to learn more about the United Business Card or apply, follow this link.
