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Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, dining (including eligible delivery services), at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Annual fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99
Intro offer
Earn 75,000 Bonus Miles
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Regular APR
16.74% - 23.74% Variable
Recommended Credit Score
Good to Excellent
(670 - 850)
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a
person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for.
However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any
financial product.
United Business Card Overview
Small business owners who are loyal to United Airlines can rejoice with the United Business card. Its valuable welcome offer kickstart your experience with plenty of momentum: 75,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open. 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.
What are the pros and cons?
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
A deeper look into the current card offer
Quick highlights
Rewards Rate: 2x miles on United Airlines purchases and 1x miles on all other purchases
Welcome Offer: 75,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open.
Annual Fee: $99 ($0 introductory annual fee for the first year)
Purchase Intro APR: N/A
Balance Transfer Intro APR: N/A
Regular APR: 16.74 percent to 23.74 percent variable
Current welcome offer
If you’ve been waiting to pull the trigger on the United Business card, the current welcome offer is the standard bonus point package the United Business Card typically offers: 75,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months.
It’s quite valuable compared to the annual fee, worth up to about $907 based on The Points Guy’s latest 1.21-cent mileage value. However, this is coming off the heels of one of the card’s all-time best welcome offers, so it feels a bit stunted after standing in the previous up to 150,000-mile intro bonus (worth up to $1,815 based on the same 1.21-cent value). You were able to rake in this huge payday by earning the first 75,000 points with the same spending requirement, but it was possible to stack another 75,000 by spending a total of $20,000 on purchases during your first six months.
Granted, the spending requirement may be problematic for some cardholders since you’ll need to spend about $1,667 per month with your card. That means the previous 150,000 points could have been even harder to net (you’d need to spend about $3,334 each month for six months), but the sheer value opportunity may be worth keeping an eye out for if the previous offer rolls around again.
now is an excellent time to apply. It currently poses one of its great welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
The 75,000-mile offer is quite valuable, worth up to about $847 based on The Points Guy’s latest 1.13-cent mileage value.
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.
Key cardholder perks
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 over 1,000 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 16.74 percent to 23.74 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 three 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.
United℠ Business Card
4.2
Our writers, editors and industry experts score
credit cards based on a variety of factors
including card features, bonus offers
and independent research. Credit card issuers have
no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Rewards rate
1X–2X
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, dining (including eligible delivery services), at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent(670 - 850)
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a
person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for.
However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any
financial product.
Welcome Offer: Earn 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.*
Rewards rate
25%–4X
Get 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 select categories where your business spent the most each month. 1X is earned for other purchases. ** Airline Bonus: Get 25% points back after you use points for all or part of an eligible flight booked with Amex Travel, up to 250,000 points back per calendar year.*
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent(670 - 850)
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a
person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for.
However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any
financial product.
Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Rewards rate
1X–3X
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases – with no limit to the amount you can earn
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent(670 - 850)
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a
person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for.
However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any
financial product.
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.
For rates and fees of the American Express Business Gold card, please click here.
Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. The offers that appear on this site are from companies from which Bankrate.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they may appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and the likelihood of applicants' credit approval also impact how and where products appear on this site. Bankrate.com does not include the entire universe of available financial or credit offers. Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover.
* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.
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