Key facts
United Airlines maintains an impressive domestic and international route network that’s favored by business travelers. If you’re a loyal United flyer and have your own venture to boot, this business credit card offers considerable perks for a $0 annual fee during the first year of account opening — then $99 after that.
Annual Fee:
$99 $0 Introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $99Min. Credit Score for Approval:
670-739 * GoodOngoing APR:
21.24%-28.24% VariableBalance transfer fees
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.Foreign Transaction Fee:
0%The first free checked bag benefit is worth $35 per flight, so the savings add up noticeably if you fly United often. Other perks that will justify the $99 ongoing annual fee include (but aren’t limited to) the potential to earn a $100 United flight credit every account anniversary year, the ability to spend for Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) toward elite status, 2 annual passes to the United Club, and so much more.
Reward multipliers
The United Business℠ Card provides 2x miles on United purchases, restaurants, gas stations, office supply stores and on local transit and commuting costs. You’ll still earn 1x miles on all other eligible purchases.
Earns bonus points for spend in the following bonus categories:
Key features
Unique Card Benefits
Earn a $100 United Flight Credit
You’ll receive a $100 United travel credit after you buy seven United flights of $100+ during your card anniversary year.
5,000-mile “Better Together” bonus
When you have the United Business Card as well as any personal United credit card, you’ll receive 5,000 bonus miles at your account anniversary.
Two Free United Club Passes Annually
You’ll receive two United Club one-time entry passes each cardmember year, including your first year.
Earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQP)
You’ll earn 25 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) for every $500 you spend on purchases that will help you work toward United Premier status.
Expanded Award Availability
When you have a United credit card or have United elite status, you’ll see increased availability to Economy “Saver” awards – the lowest possible award price. (United operated flights, only)
Upgrades on Award Tickets
If you have Premier status on United, having this United credit card (or any other United credit card besides the no-annual fee United Gateway card), you and one companion on the same reservation will be eligible for space-available Premier upgrades on award flights. Normally, you would only be eligible on paid tickets.
25% Discount on United In-flight Purchases
When buying snacks, drinks or any other United inflight purchases, you’ll get a 25% discount (as a statement credit) when you pay with your card.
One Year of Complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership
Activate the free year of DoorDash DashPass by December 31, 2024, to enjoy $0 delivery fees, lower service fees and more on your food delivery purchases.
Access to United/Chase Cardholder Events
You can check out UnitedCardEvents.com for the various sporting, culinary or music events that United and Chase have, exclusive for cardholders.
Airport Lounge Access
You won’t get unlimited United Club access with the card (you’ll want to look towards the United Club Business Card or United Club Infinite for that perk). However, the United Business Card still offers two United Club passes per year, which can come in handy on the occasional visit to grab food, drinks or relax before your flight.
Free Checked Bags
Need to check a bag on your United flight? Fortunately, the United Business card can get you your first checked bag free for you and up to one companion traveling on the same reservation when the reservation is booked with your United Business Card.
Priority Boarding
You and any travel companions on the same United flight booking can enjoy priority boarding on United-operated and United Express-operated flights right before general boarding.
Primary Car Rental CDW Waiver
If you’re renting a car for business purposes, you’ll want to decline the rental company’s collision damage / loss waiver insurance as the United Business Card provides complimentary primary rental car coverage.
Does Not Report Credit Line to Personal Credit Profile
While there will of course be an initial hard inquiry on your personal credit when applying for a business card, it won’t report the card nor your utilization to your personal credit file as long as you remain in good standing.
Trip Protections
There are substantial coverages when you pay for travel with the card, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip delay reimbursement, and primary car rental collision damage waiver.
Trip Cancellation / Trip Interruption Insurance
If your trip is cancelled or interrupted by sickness, severe weather or other eligible situations, you can file for trip cancellation/interruption insurance to receive up to $1,500 per person or $6,000 per trip.
Baggage Delay Insurance
If your common carrier travel is delayed by 12 hours or greater, you can file a claim for baggage delay insurance to receive up to $500 per ticket to cover incidentals like meals or lodging.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement
You can receive up to $3,000 per passenger if you or an immediate family member’s carry-on or checked bags
Trip Delay Reimbursement
If your travel on a common carrier (that includes air and train travel) is delayed more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, this protection covers you and your family for unreimbursed expenses, like meals and a place to stay, up to $500 per ticket.
Extended Warranty
If an item you purchase on the card comes with an eligible U.S. manufacturer’s warranty of three years or less, the extended warranty protection adds an additional year of coverage.
Purchase Protection
This coverage protects your eligible items during the first 120 days of purchase against damage or theft, for up to $10,000 per claim (maximum limit of $50,000 per account).
Concierge Services
United Business card holders offer 24/7 Visa Signature Concierge access, whether you need help finding concert tickets or securing dinner reservations.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
This card is a perfect travel accompaniment for business trips, as it waives all no foreign transaction fees.
No Fees for Authorized Users
You can add up to 99 employee cards to your account for no additional cost.
Free Access to Credit Score
Check your VantageScore 3.0® credit score for free through Chase Credit Journey.
Earn more rewards by combining credit cards
Pros & cons
- United travel perks, such as your first checked bag free, priority boarding privileges, two annual United Club passes and more
- Earn PQPs towards elite status
- Great travel and purchase protections that can help your business save when things don't go as planned
- The annual fee is $99 after the first year
- Only provides two United Club passes per year
- Subpar earning rate, as you can only earn up to 2x bonus miles on eligible categories
Our review
If you’re a business owner contemplating on getting a personal United credit card, it’s worth taking a closer look at the United Business Card first. Cardholders earn 2x unlimited miles on a diverse range of bonus categories, including United purchases (which includes United flights, seat upgrades, wifi or onboard purchases), dining including eligible delivery services, gas stations, office supply stores, and local transit and commuting. All other purchases accrue 1x miles. And don’t forget, beyond the initial hard inquiry when applying for a business card, it won’t report to your personal credit as long as you remain in good standing.
The annual fee is waived for the first year, but will cost $99 every year thereafter. Fortunately, maximizing the card is effortless thanks to its number of tangible benefits. You can get every first checked bag free on United flights and even earn an annual $100 United credit after purchasing seven United flight purchases. Coupled with the opportunity to enter the United Club twice per year ($59 value each time), that’s roughly a $200+ value off the bat toward travel.
Other non-tangible, yet equally useful, benefits that the United Business Card provides include priority boarding, a 25% discount on inflight purchases, and the ability to earn up to 1,000 Premier Qualifying Points every year. Depending on how often you’re flying United every year, these perks offer elite-like benefits just by holding this card.
And don’t forget the ability to earn PQPs towards elite status from spend. You’ll earn 25 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) for every $500 you spend on purchases – up to 1,000 PQPs per year.
If you were purely looking to earn United miles, however, you might well do better with the Chase Ink Business Preferred® Card which would earn 3X Chase Ultimate Rewards points on the first $150,000 spent on all travel purchases, has similar trip protections, and its points transfer 1:1 to United – but also to more than a dozen other airline and hotel partners.
We have a detailed comparison of the United Business Card vs. the Chase Ink Business Preferred Card.
Chase is the issuer of this business card and is quite generous when it comes to providing travel and purchase coverages with high limits. Plus, Chase tends to offer partner benefits exclusively for cardholders. Currently, cardholders can register for one year complimentary DashPass benefits from DoorDash. This perk gets you unlimited deliveries on orders of $12 or greater with no delivery fee and lower service fees overall.
Frequently asked questions
Does the United Business Card have an annual fee?
During your first year of account opening, the annual fee is waived. After that, the ongoing annual fee on the card is $99.
Does the United Business Card get you into airport lounges?
The United Business Card gives you two United Club passes every year, which has a cash value of $59 apiece. If you like visiting the lounge occasionally but don’t find it necessary to hold a membership, the United Business Card’s lounge offerings are a great in-between.
Is it hard to get the United Business Card?
You don’t necessary need an LLC to open a United Business Card, as prospective applicants with new businesses or occasional side hustles can qualify using their name and Social Security Number (SSN). That said, you’ll presumably need a good to excellent credit score to get the card.
Is it worth getting the United Business Card?
The United Business Card is an excellent business credit card that offers a plethora of benefits for long-standing business owners or budding entrepreneurs. At the very least, the card’s annual fee is waived for the first year, so you can try out the benefits before committing to the $99 annual fee for the long-haul.
How do I earn miles with the the United Business Card?
You’ll earn miles through card spend; with 2x United miles on United purchases, dining including eligible delivery, gas stations, office supply stores and local transit and commuting; and 1x miles on all non-bonus categories.
Is there a better credit card than the the United Business Card?
The United Club Business Card and United Club Infinite Card’s are the carrier’s premium co-branded card that comes with a United Club membership (valued at $650 per year) and other United benefits. However, the annual fee is much higher at $450 per year. As mentioned, you might well be better off with the Chase Ink Business Preferred® Card which would earn 3X Ultimate Rewards points on all travel purchases, has similar trip protections, and its points transfer 1:1 to United – but also to more than a dozen other airline and hotel partners.
We have a detailed comparison of the United Business Card vs. the Chase Ink Business Preferred Card.
Does the United Business Card charge foreign transaction fees?
No, the United Business Card waives all foreign transaction fees.
Does the United Business Card have car rental CDW coverage?
Yes, the card comes with primary rental car CDW (collision and loss waiver) coverage as long as you rent it for business purposes.
Does the the United Business Card come with any Elite Status?
No, the card does not provide automatic elite status benefits. However, you can earn 500 PQP for every $12,000 you spend, for up to 1,000 PQP annually.
Does the United Business Card offer extended warranty?
Yes, the extended warranty coverage extends insurance by an additional year for items with a U.S. manufacturer’s warranty of three years or less.
Does the United Business Card offer purchase protection?
Yes, the purchase protection benefit can reimburse you up to $10,000 per approved claim and up to $50,000 per account for damage or theft in the first 120 days of purchase.
Does the United Business Card offer trip protections?
Chase provides extensive trip protections on this business credit card, including primary car rental insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement and baggage delay insurance.
What credit score do I need to get a United Business Card?
You’ll likely need to hold a credit score of 670+ to qualify for the United Business Card.
What can I do with the miles earned for spending on the United Business Card?
For the best possible redemption value, you should use the miles for flights on United or Star Alliance partners. As an example, you can score a one-way business class ticket from the U.S. to Europe for 60,000 United miles and $5.60 in taxes and fees.
Does the United Business Card have Cell Phone Protection?
No, the card does not provide cell phone coverage benefits.