United Business Card review: Earn 50,000 bonus miles
United Business Card overview
The United Business Card provides a lot of perks for a sub-$100 annual fee. From a first checked bag free on United Airlines flights to two United Club one-time passes a year and solid travel protections, the card can provide excellent value to small-business owners who travel on United even just a few times each year. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
* Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
If you have a small business and travel with United (even occasionally), you might want to consider signing up for the United Business Card. This card has a $99 annual fee ($0 intro fee for the first year), but its many benefits can be valuable enough to offset it year after year.
The United Business Card earns United MileagePlus miles and provides perks that are specific to United Airlines.
Here are all the United Business Card benefits you need to know about, its earning capacity and other details so you can decide if it's right for you.
Who is this card for?
The United Business Card is best if you have a small business and can get value from the card's benefits when flying United. For example, if you incur four checked baggage fees each year — at $30 each for a total of $120 — when flying United, you'll come out ahead each year since the ongoing annual fee is just $99.
Other benefits include two United Club one-time passes, which you receive after account opening and on each card anniversary, and 25% back on inflight purchases on United. These can provide value even if you don't usually check a bag.
And, if your business frequently purchases items with a manufacturer's warranty, you may benefit from the card's extended warranty protection. The card also features purchase protections and travel protections that can come in handy when things go wrong on the road.
Related: The best credit cards for United Airlines flyers for 2022
United Business Welcome offer
The United Business Card is currently offering :Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open.
Based on TPG's latest valuation of United miles at 1.45 cents each, this bonus is worth about $725.
You aren't eligible for the sign-up bonus if you currently have the United Business Card or previously had the United Business Card and received a new cardmember bonus for it within the last 24 months.
However, the United Business Card is considered by Chase to be a distinct product from the no-longer-available United Explorer Business Card and the United Club Business Card. So, if you have or previously had either of these cards, you're still eligible for the sign-up bonus from the United Business Card.
The information for the United Club Business has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Additionally, the United Business Card likely falls under Chase's unpublished 5/24 rule. This means that if you've opened five or more credit card accounts in the last 24 months, you might not be approved for it.
Related: Best business credit cards of 2022
Main benefits and perks
The United Business Card is best suited for small-business owners who are looking for United Airlines benefits and don't have United or Star Alliance elite status. The card will provide the following benefits when flying United:
Free first checked bag and priority boarding
The primary cardmember and one companion traveling on the same reservation will each receive their first standard checked bag free on United-operated flights. To receive this benefit, the primary cardmember must provide their United MileagePlus number on the reservation and purchase the tickets from United using their United Business Card.
United's checked baggage fees start at $30 each way, so this benefit can provide enough savings to justify the card's $99 ongoing annual fee after checking just four bags each year.
Plus, the primary cardmember and companions on the same reservation will be invited to board United-operated flights before general boarding when the primary cardmember includes their United MileagePlus number. Between priority boarding and your first checked bag free, this card helps you avoid the worst parts of a United basic economy ticket.
Related: How to avoid checked baggage fees on major domestic airlines
United Club passes
You may not fly United frequently, or you may have other cards that provide lounge access. Perhaps you don't find lounge access necessary.
However, there may be times when United Club access comes in handy. For example, a lounge can be a great place to wait out a flight delay or get faster help rebooking a trip when your flight is changed or canceled. At times like this, you may find the two United Club one-time passes (that you get after account opening and on each anniversary) useful.
Related: Best credit cards for airport lounge access in 2022
Other benefits and perks
- Annual United travel credit: Enjoy a $100 United travel statement credit after seven eligible United purchases of $100 or more with the United Business Card within an account anniversary year.
- Statement credit on United inflight purchases: You get 25% back as a statement credit on food, beverages and Wi-Fi aboard United-operated flights when you pay with your United Business Card.
- "Better together" bonus: Receive 5,000 bonus miles each year on your United Business Card anniversary when you have both the United Business Card and a personal Chase United credit card.
- Employee cards: Get employee cards at no additional cost and set individual spending limits on each employee card.
- Expanded award availability: The primary cardholder may see expanded award availability when using miles to book any United-operated flight.
- Premier upgrades on award tickets: The primary cardmember can take advantage of complimentary Premier upgrades on United flights (when available) when traveling on an award ticket.
- Earn Premier qualifying points: Get 500 PQPs for every $12,000 in card spending, up to 1,000 PQPs in a calendar year, that can be applied up to Premier 1K elite status.
- Access to The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection: Make a Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection reservation with your card and unlock elite-like benefits during stays at select properties.
- Travel protections: Trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, auto rental collision damage waiver, roadside assistance and travel accident insurance.
- Shopping protections: Purchase protection and extended warranty protection.
- No foreign transaction fees.
How to earn miles
The United Business Card earns 2 United miles per dollar on the following purchases:
- United purchases, including tickets, seat upgrades, Economy Plus, inflight food, inflight beverages, inflight Wi-Fi, baggage service charges and other United charges.
- Local transit and commuting.
- Gas stations.
- Office supply stores.
- Restaurants.
Based on TPG's valuation of United miles, this equates to a 2.42% return on these purchases. You'll also earn 1 mile per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases, which is a 1.21% return.
How to redeem miles
You can use United miles to book award travel on United, other Star Alliance airlines and partner airlines.
It's worth noting that United removed its award chart for United-operated flights in favor of dynamic award pricing. Although this makes it more difficult to determine the price of an award until you're ready to book, dynamic pricing can lead to inexpensive award flights in some situations. Award charts still exist for using United miles on partner airlines — and there are some sweet spots to be found on these charts.
You'll generally get the most value from your United miles when you use them to book flights. You can also use United miles to secure an upgrade, purchase inflight Wi-Fi, book hotel stays and pay for car rentals or use United miles for merchandise, gift cards and once-in-a-lifetime events.
Related: How to maximize redemptions with United MileagePlus
How does the United Business Card compare?
If you're in the market for a cobranded United card, the United Business Card has two main competitors: the United Explorer Card and the United Club Infinite Card. Let's take a closer look at these cards in the table below:
| United Business Card | United Explorer Card | United Club Infinite Card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sign-up bonus | Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open. | Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. | Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. |
| Annual fee | $99 ($0 intro fee for the first year). | $95 ($0 intro fee for the first year). | $525. |
| Bonus earning rates | 2 miles per dollar on United purchases, local transit and commuting, gas stations, office supply stores and restaurants.
1 mile per dollar on everything else. | 2 miles per dollar on United purchases, restaurants and hotels when purchased directly with the hotel.
1 mile per dollar on everything else. | 4 miles per dollar on United purchases.
2 miles per dollar on all other travel purchases and dining. 1 mile per dollar on everything else. |
| Standout benefits | First standard checked bag free for the primary cardholder and one traveling companion.
Priority boarding for the primary cardmember and companions on the same reservation. Two one-time United Club passes after account opening and on each anniversary. Earn 500 Premier qualifying points for every $12,000 in card spending, up to 1,000 PQPs in a calendar year. 25% back on United inflight purchases. | First standard checked bag free for the primary cardholder and one traveling companion.
Priority boarding for the primary cardmember and companions on the same reservation. Two one-time United Club passes after account opening and on each anniversary. Earn 500 Premier qualifying points for every $12,000 in card spending, up to 1,000 PQPs in a calendar year. Up-to-$100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit every four years. 25% back on United inflight purchases. | United Club membership for the primary cardholder — up to a $650 value per year.
First and second standard checked bags free for the primary cardholder and one traveling companion. Premier Access travel services. Up-to-$100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit every four years. Earn 500 PQPs for every $12,000 you spend on purchases, up to 4,000 PQPs in a calendar year. Save 10% on United Economy Saver awards on United and United Express flights when traveling within the continental U.S. or between the continental U.S. and Canada. Automatic IHG Rewards Platinum Elite status, plus receive up to $75 in statement credits for IHG hotel and resort purchases charged to your card. $70 discount on your annual Clear membership, plus earn 10,000 bonus miles if you sign up for Clear membership by June 30, 2022. 25% back on United inflight purchases. |
| Shopping protections | Extended warranty protection and purchase protection. | Extended warranty protection and purchase protection. | Extended warranty protection, return protection and purchase protection. |
| Travel protections | Trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement and auto rental collision damage waiver. | Trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement and auto rental collision damage. waiver | Trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement and auto rental collision damage waiver. |
TPG value is based on TPG valuations and not provided by the issuer.
When compared to the United Business Card, the personal United Explorer Card offers a lower sign-up bonus, a marginally lower annual fee that's waived the first year, a credit of up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fees every four years and slightly different bonus categories that earn 2 miles per dollar. Because many small-business owners use personal cards for business expenses, you'll likely want to consider these differences unless you have a specific need for a business card rather than a personal card.
Compared to the United Business Card, the United Club Infinite Card has a significantly higher annual fee at $525 per year, but features greater United-related benefits. For example, the United Club Infinite Card offers a United Club membership for the primary cardholder, an additional free checked bag on United, the option to register for automatic IHG Rewards Platinum Elite status and the ability to earn up to 4,000 PQPs in a calendar year from spending alone.
Related: 4 reasons someone in your family needs a United credit card
Bottom line
The United Business Card offers various United Airlines perks to small-business owners, freelancers and side hustlers who can easily justify the card's ongoing $99 annual fee. You'll need to use the card to purchase your United flights if you hope to take advantage of the first checked bag free for you and up to one travel companion.
Plus, the United Business Card provides solid travel protections. And if you make at least seven purchases of $100 or more with United each year on your card, you'll get a $100 statement credit.
Other perks such as priority boarding and 25% back on inflight purchases can add up over time. If you can get at least $99 of value each year from all of the card's perks, you should consider signing up for the United Business Card.
Official application link: United Business Card with a sign-up bonus of 50,000 miles.
Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox, Stella Shon and Benji Stawski.