United℠ Business Card review

Best for United rewards for small-business owners

• Rewards Rate: 2x miles on United Airlines purchases and 1x miles on all other purchases
• Welcome Offer: Earn up to 150,000 bonus miles: Earn 75,000 miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Earn an additional 75,000 miles after you spend $20,000 total in the first 6 months.
• Annual Fee: $99
• Purchase Intro APR: N/A
• Balance Transfer Intro APR: N/A
• Regular APR: 16.49 percent to 23.49 percent variable

Small business owners who are loyal to United Airlines can rejoice with the United Business card. The impressive welcome offer: Earn up to 150,000 bonus miles: Earn 75,000 miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Earn an additional 75,000 miles after you spend $20,000 total in the first 6 months. . The card used to be known as the United Explorer Business card but has since been refreshed to offer even more benefits. The numerous benefits and travel perks make this card a contender among the numerous business credit cards available. It’s also possibly the best United Airlines business credit card available.

United Business Card: Current welcome offer

The current welcome offer for the United Business card: Earn up to 150,000 bonus miles: Earn 75,000 miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Earn an additional 75,000 miles after you spend $20,000 total in the first 6 months.

Rewards

In addition to the welcome offer, this particular United credit card provides plenty of opportunities to earn miles toward future travel or other rewards. Don’t forget, you can earn rewards on your employees’ cards, too.

Earning rewards

You’ll earn 2x rewards miles for each dollar spent on United tickets and select United purchases (such as in-flight food and entertainment). You’ll also earn 2x rewards miles for restaurant purchases — including delivery services like Grubhub and DoorDash. Purchases for office supplies, gas stations and local commuting will earn the 2x miles per dollar as well. All other purchases will earn 1x mile per dollar. If you happen to also have a personal United credit card, you’ll receive 5,000 miles every year on your card anniversary.

Redeeming rewards

You can redeem your rewards through the United MileagePlus portal toward flights with United Airlines and with a number of United Airlines partners, including airlines that are part of the Star Alliance network. If you don’t want to redeem miles for airline travel, you can put them to use toward cruises, gift cards, travel experiences or other exciting gifts. As a cardmember, you’ll have access to more rewards seats, similar to the ones Elite status members enjoy, so you can score even more deals through the rewards portal.

United Business Card: Benefits

Where the United Business card outshines many of its competitors is the number of benefits and travel perks offered.

Travel benefits

When you fly United, you and a companion receive your first checked bags free (if you bought the ticket with your United Business card). Typically, your first checked bag has a $35 fee, so just one round-trip flight with you and a companion can make a dent in the card’s annual fee after the first year. You also enjoy Priority Boarding, which makes it less likely you’ll need to fight for overhead bin space. Annually, you’ll receive two passes to the United Club and lounge so you can relax and have a few snacks while you’re waiting for your next flight.

If you make seven or more United Airlines purchases of at least $100 per year with your business card, you’ll also receive a $100 statement credit. And you’ll always be eligible for seat upgrades as a card member.

Travel protection

You have plenty of extra coverage if you hit a snag while you’re traveling. For starters, you have up to $6,000 in reimbursements for trip cancellations. If your baggage is delayed for six or more hours by the airlines, you’ll receive up to $100 per day (up to three days) for reimbursement and up to $3,000 if your baggage is lost. Other benefits include travel accident insurance, roadside assistance, trip delay insurance and auto rental collision damage waiver.

Luxury hotel perks

There are 900 properties included in the Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection (LHRC), and you’ll receive several extras if you book with your United business card. Fun perks include daily breakfast for two, free Wi-Fi and complimentary room upgrades (if available).

Rates and fees

The card is subject to a $99 annual fee. Luckily, though, if you use your card while traveling overseas, you won’t have to pay a foreign transaction fee on any purchases.

The United Business card also has a decent APR and balance transfer fee. Currently, the card’s ongoing APR is set at 16.49 percent to 23.49 percent variable, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers require a $5 or 5 percent fee, whichever is greater.

How the United Business Card compares to other business cards

You certainly have numerous choices when it comes to business credit cards. How does the United Business card stack up?

The American Express® Business Gold Card is a popular business card offering 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership (Terms Apply). Then you’ll earn 4x points on up to $150,000 per calendar year in combined purchases in two categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle (including airfare purchased directly from airlines, advertising purchased in the U.S. to promote your business online, on TV or on the radio, U.S. gas stations, U.S. restaurants, U.S. shipping and U.S. computer hardware, software and cloud computing purchases made directly from select providers). You’ll be subject to a $295 annual fee, but you won’t have to worry about foreign transaction fees.

Another business card that doesn’t have foreign transaction fees is the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. Although there is a $95 annual fee, it’s hard to beat the initial 100,000 reward points in Chase Ultimate Rewards you earn if you spend $15,000 in the first three months. You’ll also earn 3x points for the first $150,000 you spend annually on qualifying purchases.

Best cards to pair with the United Business Card

The best card to pair this United credit card with is a card that includes a low or 0 percent intro APR on purchases. This is especially true if you are a startup or new business owner and need to invest in capital for your business and need payment flexibility along with low or no interest.

Bankrate’s Take — Is the United Business Card worth it?

If you’re loyal to United Airlines and need a business credit card, then the United Business card may be worth adding to your portfolio. Between the welcome bonus, the MileagePlus rewards and travel perks, it could make your business (or personal) travel easier and, dare we say, more exciting.

Pros:

• Generous welcome offer
• Earn miles for everyday business purchases
• Great travel benefits

Cons:

• Carries an annual fee after the first year
• No intro APR on purchases or balance transfers