United℠ Business Card: Review
The United℠ Business Card is an attractive option for business owners and other professionals who travel frequently, but only if it meets one very important condition.
Is the United Business Card worth it?
If you're a frequent flyer and a fan of United Airlines, the United Business Card is definitely worth it. There are plenty of benefits to applying for the United Business Card, including free checked bags, priority boarding, airport lounge passes, and annual money-back bonuses — but only if you're a frequent flyer.
This United Airlines card has no annual fee for the first year, but keep in mind that the fee increases to $99 after that. As long as you fly United often enough to get at least the $99 in value from the card rewards, this card is worth the annual fee.
United Business Card: Highlights
Here is a quick rundown of the main selling points of the United Business Credit Card.
- Annual fee: It's $0 for the first year, then $99 each year thereafter.
- Payout Rate: Cardholders earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on United Airlines purchases, plus a 2:1 ratio on eligible food delivery services, gas stations, office supply stores and select transportation/commuter related expenses, and 1 mile for every dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Welcome Offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points when you load $5,000 or more onto your new United Business card within the first three months of opening your account.
- Key benefits: Other perks include an employee card, first free checked bag on United Airlines flights, priority boarding privileges and two United Club one-time passes per year.
- Disadvantage: There's a $99 annual fee after the first year, no introductory APR applies to purchases or balance transfers, and good to excellent credit is required for membership approval.
Pros and Cons
Who is the United Business Card Best for?
The United Business Credit Card is a great choice for loyal United Airlines fans who fly United frequently and can take advantage of the many United Airlines perks that come with the card.
While earning miles on local transport and restaurant purchases is nice, the main perks include double miles on United purchases, a free checked bag on every flight, discounts on in-flight purchases and priority boarding.
United℠ Business Card: Rewards
The United Airlines business credit card is a strong perk if you know what you're getting and how to earn miles.
Earn rewards
Earning rewards with your Chase United Business card is very easy.
- Double miles on United Airlines purchases: Earn 2x points per dollar on all United purchases, including flights, baggage fees, seat upgrades, in-flight snacks and Wi-Fi purchases.
- Earn double miles on eligible dining orders, including delivery services: You'll also earn 2x points per dollar on spending at select restaurants, including eligible delivery services.
- Earn 2x miles at gas stations, office supply stores, local transit and commuting: Earn 2x miles at other non-United retailers and services to build up your rewards bank.
- 1 mile on all other purchasesFor anything not mentioned above, you earn at a 1:1 ratio, meaning you earn 1 mile for every dollar spent.
Redeeming rewards
Once you have accumulated miles, you need to redeem them, and this rewards credit card gives you a few ways to turn your miles into cash.
- Statement Credit: Use your United miles to apply rewards to your card statement and pay for your flight.
- United/Star Alliance Miles: Use your miles to book flights to over 1,000 international destinations with United Airlines and Star Alliance Airlines.
- Money + Miles: Combine United Airlines miles with cash to book bigger trips.
- United Club Membership: Use your accumulated miles to pay for your United Club membership and relax in nearly 50 lounges around the world.
- Other purchases: Avid travelers can redeem United Airlines miles for prepaid baggage, TSA Precheck fees, dining at participating locations at Newark International Airport and Houston Intercontinental Airport, and in-flight purchases. Miles may also be redeemable for non-travel purchases, such as Apple products, newspapers, and gift cards to participating stores.
Welcome Offer
United Business' welcome offer is an astounding 75,000 bonus miles that are awarded only if you spend $5,000 on the card within the first three months of opening your account.
United℠ Business Card: Rewards
Discover the perks that make this business credit card so popular among frequent United Airlines travelers.
Travel Rewards
- 1st checked bag free: United Business Card members can get their first checked bag free and save $35 per flight.
- United Club Lounge Pass: Relax in United Club Lounges with two one-time passes per year.
- Priority boarding: As a United Business credit card member, you will be able to board before your designated group.
- $100 United Travel Credit: Members who book at least seven United Airlines flights of $100 or more during the anniversary year will receive a $100 United Airlines travel credit added to their account.
- 25% cash back on in-flight purchases: When you use your United Business Card to make a purchase during a flight operated by United Airlines, you'll get 25% back as a statement credit.
- 5,000 bonus miles per yearUnited Airlines’ gifting skills are top notch, giving you 5,000 bonus miles every year on your anniversary, but only if you have both a personal card and a United Business card.
- Rental Car Collision Damage WaiverBasic rental car insurance, which covers both collision damage and theft, gives you extra peace of mind when you hit the road.
- Baggage Delay InsuranceIf your baggage is delayed for more than six hours, United Airlines will reimburse you up to $100 per day for up to three days so you can buy essentials while you're out and about.
- Lost Baggage Compensation: If your package is delayed or never arrives, you can get up to $3,000 to replace your belongings. This coverage also applies to damage to your package or its contents caused by the carrier.
- Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance: If your trip is curtailed or completely canceled, you'll be covered up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip (coverage applies to non-refundable expenses only).
- Travel Delay Compensation: You can get up to $5,000 in reimbursement for trips delayed more than 12 hours or overnight.
- Visa Concierge: Enjoy complimentary Visa Signature Concierge Service, available 24/7 to assist you with everything from show ticket reservations and dinner reservations to service recommendations and gift assistance.
- MileagePlus Exclusive Rewards: In addition to the card perks, MileagePlus membership gives you secondary perks like free upgrades and free access to Economy Plus.
Shopping Benefits
- Extended Warranty Protection: Extends the manufacturer's warranty on eligible purchases by one year. This only applies to certain warranties that originally covered consumer use for three years or less.
- Purchase Protection: If you're unable to return a faulty item purchased with your United Business Card, you may be able to get a refund of up to $500 per item (up to a $1,000 annual limit) within 90 days of the purchase date.
- DoorDash DoorPass Membership: Get a 1-year DoorDash DoorPass membership with $0 delivery fee, discounted service fees, and 5% of your purchase back in DoorDash account credit (must be activated by December 31, 2024)
Other benefits
- Employee Card: With a United Business credit card account, you can give your employees their own card, and every time they spend, the points they earn are added to their account, helping them earn rewards faster without having to share your main card.
- united card event: Your United Card is like a free access pass to special United Card events. You can purchase tickets to unique experiences like a luxury summer home in Jackson Hole, a dinner experience with a celebrity chef, or an exclusive concert by an award-winning artist.
United℠ Business Card: The Fine Print
With so many perks available, it’s also important to review the basics of this business-focused credit card.
Fee
- Annual fee: Free registration fee for the first year, $99 from the second year onwards
- Foreign Transaction Fee: none
- Late fees: $40
- Cash advance fee: $15 or 5% of the total transaction amount, whichever is greater
Interest level
- Standard APR: 21.99% – 28.99% Variable APR
- Annual interest rate for cash advance: Variable APR up to 29.99%
- Introductory APR Offer: none
Credit Limit
The minimum credit limit for United Business Card holders is $5,000, although applicants with better creditworthiness — for example, a higher income or credit score — may be given a more generous credit limit.
United℠ Business Cards: Cons
The Chase United Business card has many benefits, but it's important to know the drawbacks of this airline credit card as well before signing up for the digital line.
No introductory APR applies to purchases or balance transfers
Some cards entice consumers to open an account by promising a low- or no-interest introductory period that applies to new purchases or balances transferred from another card. The United Business Card offers neither, so plan to pay the full 21.99% to 28.99% APR on any balances you carry.
Annual fee (after the first year)
This Chase credit card has a $99 annual fee. It's free for the first year, but after that you'll have to pay nearly $100 just for the privilege of having the card. It's still much cheaper than other business cards, and if you travel a lot and can offset the annual fee with rewards, it's a great deal.
Good to excellent credit rating required
There's no official credit score threshold you need to qualify for the United Business Card, but insiders say you'll need a credit score of at least 670 to be approved. Higher scores up to 850 give you an even better chance, but you'll also need a solid debt-to-income ratio and a high income level to pass.
Compare United℠ Business Cards
Here’s how the Chase United Business credit card compares to other business travel credit cards currently on the market.
Compare United℠ Business Cards and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Cards
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers bold rewards by earning 3 points for every dollar spent on travel, shipping, communications and advertising purchases. These rewards are limited to the first $150,000 of eligible spending in a year, with only 1 point earned per dollar on all other spending.
The annual fee is just $4 less than the $99 fee for the United Chase Business Card, but the United card has no points cap, a much broader redemption scheme and overall more ways to earn miles.
▶︎ read more: Ink Business Preferred review
United℠ Business Card vs Capital One Venture X Business
The Capital One Venture X Business is a points redemption giant: Cardholders can earn up to 10x miles when booking hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel, 5x miles on Capital One Travel flight bookings and 2x miles on other purchases.
But the downside to the Venture X Business is the annual fee: You'll have to shell out a hefty $395 for the privilege of using the card, and you'll need to book the majority of your travel with Capital One to get the most out of this card.
▶︎ read more: Venture X Business Review
Should I get a United℠ Business Card?
If the rewards and redemption scheme aligns with your planned purchasing patterns and overall needs, then you should get the United Business card.
Most of the United Business Card offers rewards to consumers who purchase United products like flights and in-flight add-ons, so if you run a business and fly United frequently, you could save a lot of money and take advantage of some extra protection in the process.
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