United Business Card vs. the United Club Business Card: Which should you get?
Editor's Note
United offers two business credit cards similar in name but varying greatly in terms of annual fees and benefits.
The mid-tier United Business Card offers great value for a low annual fee. In contrast, the top-tier United Club Business Card has a substantially higher annual fee. Still, you'll find its benefits more tailored for the frequent United flyer and valuable enough to offset the annual fee.
Assuming you want one or the other, the question becomes, which of these cards is right for you? Let's look at both cards' benefits and then dive deeper into each one.
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.
United Business vs. the United Club Business comparison
| United Business Card | United Club Business Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Sign-up bonus | 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in the first three months of account opening | 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in the first three months of account opening |
| Annual fee | $0 introductory fee the first year, then $99 | $450 |
| Earning | 2 miles per dollar on United
2 miles per dollar at restaurants, gas stations, office supply stores, local transit and commuting 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases | 2 miles per dollar on United
1.5 miles per dollar on all other purchases |
| Lounge access | Two United Club one-time passes annually | United Club membership |
| United benefits | One free checked bag
Priority boarding 25% back on United Inflight and Club premium drink purchases Up to 1,000 Premier qualifying points (PQPs) Expanded award availability Premier upgrades on award tickets 5,000-anniversary miles $100 annual travel credit after you make seven or more $100 United purchases each anniversary year | Two free checked bags
Premier Access services — designated check-in lines, priority security lanes, priority boarding and priority baggage handling (where available) Priority boarding 25% back on United Inflight and Club premium drink purchases Up to 1,000 Premier qualifying points (PQPs) Expanded award availability Premier upgrades on award tickets |
| Other benefits | Travel and purchase protections
Complimentary DashPass membership No foreign transaction fees | Travel and purchase protections
Complimentary DashPass membership Avis President's Club elite status No foreign transaction fees
|
United Business vs. the United Club Business welcome offer
Currently, the United Business and United Club Business cards are offering the same welcome offer of earning 50,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in the first three months of account opening.
50,000 United miles won't take you as far as they used to, and they're worth $725 by our most recent valuations. That number of miles could be enough for several domestic economy award tickets or a one-way award ticket in a premium cabin on United or its partners.
Related reading: How to unlock additional award availability with United credit cards
Winner: Tie. Same welcome bonus offer for both cards, so either option is a good choice.
United Business vs. the United Club Business benefits
Those with the United Club Business Card get a first and second checked bag for free for themselves and a companion on the same reservation purchased using the card (up to $280 in value).
Cardholers can use the airline's Premier Access services, including designated check-in and security lines, as well as priority boarding and baggage handling. They receive a 25% refund on inflight purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and expanded award availability, saving them tens of thousands of miles per year.
The United Club membership is the most important benefit of carrying the United Club Business Card. That means you can access United Club airport lounges and some Star Alliance lounges along with up to two guests (or an adult and any children) when flying United and its partners. This perk alone is worth $550-$650 per year and is probably the most significant reason to get this card.
The United Business Card includes a first checked bag free for cardholders and up to one companion on United flights — up to $120 in value. Cardholders also enjoy priority boarding, a 25% inflight purchase discount, and receive two one-time United Club passes each account anniversary. Cardholders also receive 5,000-anniversary bonus miles each account year, and if you use the card to make seven or more eligible United purchases of at least $100 each in an account year, you will receive a $100 statement credit.
Finally, both cards can help you with a modest boost toward Premier elite status with United. For every $12,000 you spend on purchases per calendar year, you earn 500 Premier Qualifying Points, up to a total of 1,000 PQPs per year. Starting in 2024, earning status through credit card spending will become easier by lowering the spending requirement for PQPs.
Additional benefits on both cards include no foreign transaction fees, primary rental car insurance, travel accident insurance, trip cancellation and interruption, and purchase protection for new items. Both cards also offer a complimentary one-year DashPass membership from DoorDash, and the United Club Business Card provides Avis President's Club elite status, which provides benefits like upgrades and expanded availability.
Related reading: The ultimate guide to United Club access
Winner: United Club Business. Two checked bags and a United Club membership are hard to beat.
Earning miles with the United Business vs. the United Club Business
The United Business Card earns bonus points in several different categories. It accrues 2 miles per dollar on United purchases, at gas stations, restaurants and office supply stores, as well as on local transit and commuting — including mass transit systems, tolls, taxis and ride-hailing services.
By contrast, the United Club Business Card earns 2 miles per dollar only on United purchases and has no additional bonus categories. However, it does earn a flat 1.5 miles per dollar on all other purchases.
If you tend to make many purchases at the specific types of merchants where the United Business Card accrues 2 miles per dollar spent, then that card's earning rates could help you rack up the miles for award flights quickly.
However, suppose your purchase activity covers a more diverse range of categories, or you don't want the hassle of remembering to only use your United cobranded card at particular merchants. The Club Business' simpler earning formula might be better in that case.
Winner: United Business. It offers bonus points in several more categories than the Club Business.
Redeeming miles with the United Business vs. the United Club Business
Both United business credit cards earn United miles, which are deposited into the cardholder's MileagePlus account. Miles can be redeemed for United and United-Express flights and flights on any Star Alliance carrier or partner airline.
TPG's Kyle Olsen is a longtime loyalist of United and its MileagePlus program. Recently, he took advantage of partner redemptions and the Excursionist perk on United to fly over 25 hours in business class during his tour of Southeast and East Asia.
Winner: Tie. The cards earn United miles, which can be redeemed through the MileagePlus program.
Should I get the United Business or the United Club Business?
If your work purchases tend to be in the bonus categories the United Business Card offers, its elevated earning rates can help you rake in the miles. On the other hand, if you regularly travel with United, the United Club Business Card's benefits might be a better fit thanks to its additional free checked baggage allowance, Premier Access services at the airport and comprehensive travel protections.
How to switch/upgrade from United Business to United Club Business
Both cards are issued by Chase and fall within the same credit card family. This is useful because if you have the United Business card, you can upgrade to the United Club Business card by calling Chase customer service. Do note that upgrading to the United Club Business will not make you eligible for the card's sign-up bonus and may make you ineligible to earn a sign-up bonus on the same card if you try to apply for the same card within 24 months.
Bottom line
Both cards are tailored to United loyalists and offer the same welcome bonus for new applicants. Although there is a dramatic difference in the annual fee, with the United Business being $95 a year (waived for the first year) and the United Club Business being $450 a year, the benefits of the United Club more than make up for the hefty annual fee.
Before applying for either card, map your business expenses, determine how often you fly on United, and select the right card to complement your business expenses and redemption aspirations.
To learn more, read our full review of the United Business Card.
Apply here: United Business Card