Overview of the United Business Card
The United℠ Business Card offers an abundance of benefits for an annual fee of $150. With perks ranging from a complimentary first checked bag on United Airlines flights to ride-hailing statement credits, this card can deliver excellent value to select small-business owners. However, tracking the card’s array of monthly benefits might prove cumbersome for some businesses. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½
* Card rating reflects the views of Flying Frugal’s editors and is independent of the card issuer’s influence.
Designed for small businesses that frequently fly with United, the United Business Card is considered a mid-tier option. It provides various benefits, such as a free checked bag and discounts on inflight food and beverages, allowing businesses to save on additional flying costs.
United has recently updated its entire credit card lineup. While the annual fee for the United Business Card increased to $150, new statement credits and upgrade certificates were added to soften the impact. Many of these benefits are not strictly travel-related, so it’s essential to ensure they align with your spending patterns.
For optimal approval chances, a credit score of 670 or higher is recommended. If your small business makes occasional trips with United, you may want to consider applying for the United Business Card.
Below are the key benefits of the United Business Card to help you determine if it suits your needs.
Pros and Cons of the United Business Card
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Welcome Offer for the United Business Card
New cardholders can earn 125,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in the first three months from account opening. Additionally, users can earn another 5,000 miles by adding an employee card within the same timeframe.
Based on Flying Frugal’s March 2025 valuation of United miles at approximately 1.35 cents each, this bonus could be worth up to $1,755.
While not the largest offer we’ve encountered, it is the most substantial bonus we’ve seen in the past couple of years. If you’re considering adding this card, now is a great time to apply.
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Note that if you currently possess, or have previously held, the United Business Card and received a welcome bonus in the past 24 months, you aren’t eligible for this offer.
Chase regards the United Business Card as a separate product from both the United Club℠ Business Card and the discontinued United Explorer Business Card. Therefore, even if you have or had either of these cards, you can still qualify for the welcome bonus on the United Business Card.
The United Business Card likely falls under Chase’s unpublished 5/24 rule. If you’ve opened five or more credit card accounts in the last 24 months, your application may be declined.
The information regarding the United Club Business and United Explorer Business has been independently obtained by The Points Guy. The details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Best credit card welcome offers
Benefits of the United Business Card
This card is ideally suited for small-business owners without United or Star Alliance status who are seeking United Airlines benefits.
The card offers various United-linked perks, including:
- First checked bag free: Enjoy a complimentary first checked bag for both the cardholder and a companion traveling on the same reservation for United flights.
- Priority boarding: Benefit from priority boarding for both the cardholder and a companion, helping to avoid the hassle of checking your carry-on if overhead bins fill up quickly.
- Two one-time United Club passes: These passes are available exclusively for the primary cardholder, an authorized user, or a guest traveling with either cardholder.
- FareLock statement credit: Receive annual statement credits up to $25 after purchasing FareLock for a United flight using the card.
- United travel credit: Earn $125 in United TravelBank cash after making five $100+ eligible United flight purchases each calendar year.
- Economy Plus seat upgrades: Earn two one-time Economy Plus seat upgrades for spending $25,000 in a calendar year.
- Discount on United inflight purchases: Get 25% back in statement credits for eligible inflight purchases when using the United Business Card.
In addition to United-related benefits, the card presents a selection of statement credits that can help offset its annual fee. Depending on your spending habits and merchant preferences, these credits may prove valuable to business owners.
Available statement credits include:
- Up to $100 United Hotels statement credit: Obtain $50 in statement credits for your first two prepaid hotel stays purchased via United® Hotels using the United Business Card each anniversary year.
- Ride-hailing credit: Enjoy $8 each month ($12 in December) in ride-hailing credit, totaling $100 annually. Yearly enrollment is necessary. Chase has a broad definition for ride-hailing services, which allows more flexibility than credits from other issuers like American Express.
- United travel credit through car rentals: Earn up to $25 in United TravelBank cash for eligible rentals with Avis/Budget booked through cars.united.com, limited to two $25 credits per anniversary year.
- JSX statement credit: Up to $100 in credits each anniversary year for JSX purchases directly with the airline. JSX provides a semi-private flying experience for a commercial fare, potentially offering great options for special company trips.
- Instacart+ membership and statement credits: Enjoy a complimentary three-month Instacart+ membership, followed by a 25% discount for the annual plan, alongside up to $10 per month ($120 annually) in Instacart credits with purchases made using the United Business Card. These benefits expire on December 31, 2027.
Overall, while the statement credits and benefits can be beneficial, tracking them is crucial. The ride-hailing credit and the $125 United TravelBank cash seem the most manageable to utilize.
Those who do not use JSX and Instacart services may find no value in those credits. Fortunately, the card still offers tangible benefits to justify its annual fee.
Additional benefits include:
For business owners who frequently fly with United, the advantages of the card can easily justify the $150 annual fee. However, the card does demand careful attention to detail for tracking its numerous perks. If you’re searching for a card that requires minimal reminders, this may not be the best choice.
Related: United Airlines MileagePlus: Guide to earning and redeeming miles, elite status, and more
Earning Miles with the United Business Card
The United Business Card allows you to earn 5 miles per dollar spent on United fares and 2 miles per dollar on the following categories:
The bonus earning structure for United Hotels may feel a bit limiting for business owners. A more beneficial structure would offer 2 miles per dollar spent on hotel purchases generally.
According to Flying Frugal’s March 2025 valuations, cardholders earn a 6.8% return on United purchases and a 2.7% return on other category spending. For all other eligible purchases, you’ll earn 1 mile per dollar spent, equivalent to approximately 1.4% return.
In comparison, while the United Club Business Card allows for higher earnings in some categories, the United Business Card provides a stronger 2 miles on critical business-related expenditures. However, each business is unique, and some may find value in the broader earning potential of the United Club Business Card’s 1.5 miles per dollar spent on all non-bonused purchases.
Redeeming and Transferring Miles with the United Business Card
United miles may be redeemed for award travel with United, other Star Alliance airlines, and partner airlines.
It’s essential to note that United utilizes dynamic award pricing instead of fixed award charts, making it harder to pinpoint the exact cost of an award until booking. However, this dynamic model can also result in affordable award flights in some cases.
While award charts are available for redeeming United miles with partner airlines, there are still some valuable options on these charts.
Chris Nelson, a credit card writer at Flying Frugal, highlights the value of United’s Excursionist Perk. He managed to book a round-trip ticket between the U.S. and Europe, flying from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Edinburgh Airport (EDI) in Scotland, and then continuing to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) before returning to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). Thanks to the Excursionist Perk, his itinerary only cost 60,000 United miles because he flew for free between Edinburgh and Madrid.
In general, you’ll receive the best value from your United miles when redeeming them for flights. Other redemption opportunities include:
- Securing a seat upgrade
- Purchasing inflight Wi-Fi
- Booking hotel stays and car rentals
- Buying merchandise and gift cards
- Gaining access to exclusive events
You also have the option to transfer your United miles to Marriott Bonvoy at a ratio of 1:1.
However, transferring United miles to Marriott is usually not the most advantageous option, so it’s best to avoid this unless you want to round out your Marriott Bonvoy balance for a particular redemption. You can transfer a maximum of 100,000 United miles to Marriott within a single calendar year, a limit that most individuals won’t reach.
Related: What you need to know before transferring Marriott points to airline miles
Competing Cards to the United Business Card
If you’re looking to earn United miles for your business expenses, the United Business Card faces competition from several notable alternatives.
- For a personal United card: The United℠ Explorer Card offers a similar $150 annual fee from the second year onward (with a $0 introductory fee for the first year), along with ride-hailing credits, a free checked bag, and United TravelBank credits. If the bonus categories of the United Business Card do not meet your needs, or you’re not concerned about accumulating more PQPs, the Explorer Card might be a suitable choice. Discover more in our full review of the United Explorer Card.
- For additional benefits: The United Club Business Card has a significantly higher annual fee of $695 but provides enhanced United-related benefits, including United Club membership for the primary cardholder, capability to earn United Club All-Access membership, two free checked bags, and a more advantageous earning rate for PQPs. Read our comparison of the United Business Card versus the United Club Business Card for more information.
- If you’re a dedicated United customer but prefer broader rewards: The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card allows you to accrue valuable Ultimate Rewards points across various business expenses. Your points can be transferred to multiple airline and hotel partners, including United MileagePlus, or directly redeemed for travel through Chase Travel℠. For more insights, check out our comprehensive review of the Ink Business Preferred.
For further suggestions, see our ranking of the best business credit cards available.
Related: 4 reasons someone in your family should have a United credit card
Is the United Business Card Right for You?
The United Business Card grants access to United Airlines benefits and partnership perks, making it worthwhile for the right small-business owners, freelancers, and side hustlers to offset its annual fee of $150. However, if you cannot effectively utilize the card’s advantages or accumulate United elite status, it may be more prudent to select a more general business credit card.
Conclusion
Featuring various avenues for earning United travel credits and progressing towards United elite status, the United Business Card provides substantial value for some users. However, its high annual fee and the effort required to maximize benefits may not suit every business.
Should your business regularly utilize the benefits offered, or if you aim for United elite status, this card is likely an obvious choice.
Apply now: United Business Card
