United Club℠ Business Card Review: Elite-Like Perks and Lounge Access, High Annual Fee United Club℠ Business Card Review: Elite-Like Perks and Lounge Access, High Annual Fee

United Club℠ Business Card Review: Elite-Like Perks and Lounge Access, High Annual Fee

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For small business owners who value United Club access, the United Club Business Card is worth a look. It’s the business counterpart to United’s premium personal option, The New United Club℠ Card (Rates & Fees).

In March 2025, the United Club Business Card got an overhaul, just like the rest of Chase’s co-branded United cards. The changes introduced new statement credits and partner benefits designed to help offset the increased cost.

So, is it worth the steep price for your small business? Here’s a closer look at all the United Club Business Card offers.

United Club℠ Business Card
United Club℠ Business Card
United Club℠ Business Card
Annual Fee$695
Welcome Bonus 80,000 bonus miles plus 2,000 PQP after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

Pros and Cons of the United Club Business Card

Pros

  • Access 45+ United Club locations worldwide with a United Club membership
  • Free first and second checked bags
  • Can earn up to Premier 1K status through card spend

Cons

  • Annual fee of $695
  • United Club All Access membership requires $50,000 in spending or earning Premier Gold status
  • Earns United MileagePlus miles, instead of flexible rewards points

United Club Business Card Welcome Offer

If you're a new applicant for the United Club Business Card, you can earn 80,000 bonus miles plus 2,000 PQP after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

To put this welcome offer into context, AwardWallet users redeem United Airlines MileagePlus miles for an average of 1.94¢ apiece. At this rate, the bonus miles available with this offer are worth approximately $1,550.

This welcome offer also includes bonus Premier Qualifying Points (PQP). If you're working toward United Premier status this year, those PQPs can give you a helpful boost. But if not, they may not add much value.

United Club Business Card Benefits

As United’s premium business card, the United Club Business Card offers valuable perks that can outweigh the high annual fee, if you’re able to make full use of the benefits. Here’s what you get:

United Club membership

The standout benefit of the United Club Business Card is an annual United Club membership, which is available as long as you remain a cardholder. Without the card, this membership would cost $750 a year. If you or your business would have paid for access anyway, the card offers a more cost-effective option.

Membership grants lounge access to the cardholder, one adult guest, and any dependent children under 18 years of age. Recently, United updated its lounge access policies. Members who used to bring two adult guests must now earn an All Access membership by spending $50,000 on the card or reaching Premier Gold status.

To enter a United Club lounge, you’ll need a same-day boarding pass for travel on United or a Star Alliance partner.

A photo of a man and woman walking through a United Club
Credit: United

Premier Access and two free checked bags

The United Club Business Card gives travelers a suite of premium airport perks without needing elite status. Cardholders receive priority boarding, expedited security screening (where available), and priority baggage handling. These benefits are typically reserved for elite members and can make the airport experience faster and less stressful.

The card also offers free first and second checked bags for both the primary cardholder and one companion on the same reservation. Just keep in mind that the primary cardmember must add their United MileagePlus number to the reservation and use the card to purchase the ticket.

Spend toward status

United Club Business Card holders earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) toward elite status at a rate of 1 PQP per $15 spent. The annual cap has increased to 28,000 PQP per calendar year, allowing high spenders to reach Premier 1K status through card use alone.

A screen shot shows the PQP requirements to reach Untied Premier status levels
Credit: United

Expanded United award availability

One of the most valuable yet often overlooked benefits of the United Club Business Card is the expanded award availability through the MileagePlus program. Cardholders get access to more award seats than the general public.

Statement credits

  • Up to $150 per year in rideshare credits (monthly credits: $12 per month January–November, $18 in December; enrollment required each year)
  • Up to $200 per year on Renowned Hotels and Resorts bookings (anniversary year, prepaid bookings only)
  • Up to $240 per year in Instacart credits (two $10 credits per month)
  • Up to $200 back per year on JSX flight purchases (anniversary year)
  • Up to $50 back per year on United FareLock purchases (anniversary year)
  • Up to $100 per year in TravelBank credit for Avis or Budget rentals booked through United (two $50 credits per calendar year)
  • 25% back on United inflight food, Wi-Fi, and Club premium drinks

Additional benefits

  • Complimentary Premier upgrades on award tickets (space permitting)
  • Two global Economy Plus seat upgrades after $40,000 in annual spend
  • Annual 5,000-mile anniversary bonus when paired with a personal United card
  • Four United Club one-time passes annually if you hold an All Access membership and an employee card
  • Avis President's Club Status (enrollment required)
  • Save on business purchases with Visa SavingsEdge
  • Free employee cards

Travel and purchase protections

  • Baggage delay coverage: Up to $100 per day for 3 days; for delays over 6 hours, covers essential purchases like toiletries and clothing
  • Lost luggage reimbursement: Up to $3,000 per traveler; covers lost, damaged, or stolen checked or carry-on bags
  • Trip delay reimbursement: Up to $500 per traveler; applies after delays of more than 12 hours or requiring an overnight stay
  • Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: Up to $20,000 per trip; covers prepaid, nonrefundable expenses for covered events
  • Auto rental collision damage waiver: primary coverage; applies to most rentals when used for business and paid in full with the card
  • Purchase protection: Up to $10,000 per item; covers damage or theft within 120 days of purchase
  • Return protection: Up to $500 per item; reimburses if a store won’t accept a return within 90 days, up to $1,000 per year
  • Extended warranty protection: Adds one extra year; valid on eligible U.S. warranties of three years or less
  • No foreign transaction fees

For policy particulars, please refer to the card's Guide to Benefits.

A photo shows two people walking in an airport with luggage
Credit: United

United Club Business Card Earning Rates

The United Club Business Card‘s earning rates aren't particularly rewarding. That said, it’s the only co-branded United card that earns more than 1X on everyday spending.

  • 7X total miles on United flights (5x as a MileagePlus member, 2x with the card)
  • 5X miles on prepaid Renowned Hotels and Resorts bookings with the card
  • 2X miles on other eligible United purchases
  • 1.5X miles on all other purchases

Redeeming Miles With the United Club Business Card

United’s MileagePlus program has taken a few hits lately, but it still holds strong value, partially because of its massive partner network. Compared to some of the other larger airlines, United's miles offer considerable flexibility, given that members have access to over 30 partner airlines and more than 1,000 destinations worldwide.

Additionally, United does not pass on surcharges on its award flights. Therefore, the out-of-pocket costs for a miles redemption are minimal, even in business class. For example, you could fly from Chicago to Brussels, in lie-flat Polaris business class seats, for just 80,000 miles plus $5.90 in fees. That is an excellent value.

A screen shot shows an award redemption from Chicago to Brussels on United.
Credit: United Airlines

You can also make good use of your United miles by booking otherwise expensive crosscontinental domestic flights. For example, you can fly from Newark to San Francisco for under 14,000 miles with saver award prices.

A screenshot shows an award flight from Newark to San Francisco on United
Credit: United

United does not publish an award chart, and the award pricing is dynamic. However, we've assembled an unofficial award chart to help you determine approximately how many miles you'll need to plan your next journey.

The Excursionist Perk (ending August 21, 2025)

One of the more interesting benefits United MileagePlus has offered is the Excursionist Perk, but it's being eliminated as of August 21, 2025. If you're not familiar, this perk allows travelers to book a nearly free one-way award flight within a region, as long as it's part of a single itinerary that includes two other flights.

It comes with a few rules:

  • Your trip must begin and end in the same MileagePlus-defined region
  • The “free” segment must take place entirely within a single region that’s different from where your trip starts and ends
  • It must be in the same or a lower class of service and the same award type as the other flights

If that sounds a bit complex, here’s an example of how it works in practice:

A few summers ago, my family flew to Italy to spend a couple of weeks in Sorrento. Since we were already in Europe and my son wanted to see the Eiffel Tower, we added a free flight from Naples to Paris using the Excursionist Perk. After a few days in Paris, we flew back home to Houston. Because the journey started and ended in the same region (North America), and the free segment was within Europe, it qualified.

Use it while you still can. It disappears this summer.

Screen shot shows a flight from Naples to Paris using the Excursionist Perk from United.
Credit: United

Application Restrictions

This card is subject to Chase's 5/24 policy, which means your application won't be approved if your credit report shows five or more new credit card accounts opened in the past 24 months. See our full post on the 5/24 policy if you aren't already familiar with the rule.

Additionally, Chase states on the application page:

“This new Cardmember bonus offer is not available to either (i) current Cardmembers of this business credit card, or (ii) previous Cardmembers of this business credit card who received a new Cardmember bonus for this business credit card within the last 24 months.”

In other words, if you currently have this card or you have received a welcome bonus for this card in the past 24 months, your new application will be denied.

Furthermore, you will want to keep in mind that Chase does not typically approve more than two credit card applications from the same person within a 30-day period. If you’re planning to apply for multiple Chase cards, it’s a good idea to space out your applications. This will help you avoid being automatically declined based on this internal policy.

Related: Understanding Credit Card Application Rules and Restrictions

Cards That Compete With the United Club Business Card

Not sure if the United Club Business Card is the right card for your small business? Here are several other cards to consider:

  • If you are a United loyalist but want a card with a lower annual fee, you may want to consider The New United℠ Business Card (Rates & Fees). Some of the card's key benefits include a first checked bag free, priority boarding, annual one-time use United Club passes, and access to extra award space typically only for United elites. Learn more in our full review of the United Business Card.
  • If you want a business card with a lower annual fee that earns transferable points, take a look at the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Rates & Fees). You'll earn 3X points on travel, shipping, and advertising (3X is limited to the first $150,000 of annual spending in the bonus categories, then 1X). It earns transferable Ultimate Rewards points, which you can transfer 1:1 to 14 airline and hotel partners, including United Airlines. Learn more in our full review of the Ink Preferred.
  • If you value lounge access and other premium travel benefits, look into The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. Cardholders receive access to The Centurion® Lounge network, along with a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership. In addition, the Membership Rewards points earned through spending and the welcome bonus can be transferred to 21 airline and hotel partners, though it’s important to note that United is not one of them. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits. Learn more in our full review of the Business Platinum Card.
The New United℠ Business Card
The New United℠ Business Card
Welcome Bonus Earn 75,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Annual Fee$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150Rates & Fees
Credit ScoreGood, Excellent
  • 2x on United® purchases
  • 2x on local transit and commuting — including train tickets, taxicabs, mass transit, tolls and ride share services
  • 2x at gas stations, restaurants and office supply stores
  • 1x on all other purchases
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Welcome Offer Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee$95Rates & Fees
Credit ScoreExcellent, Good
  • 3X points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year
  • 1X point per $1 on all other purchases
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Welcome Offer Limited Time Travel Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after you spend $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel® with your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. You can earn one or both of these offers. Offer ends 6/30/25.
Annual Fee$695Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
Credit ScoreExcellent, Good
  • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com.
  • Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more.
  • Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase with U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers.
  • Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase with U.S. electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers.
  • Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase with U.S. shipping providers.
  • 1.5X earning rates are subject to a cap of $2 million in purchases per calendar year.

Related: The Best Small-Business Credit Card Offers for This Month

Our Take

The United Club Business Card is a premium product with a premium price tag. But for anyone already paying for a United Club membership, the membership alone can offset the annual fee, and there are several other benefits available, too. If you're a frequent United flyer who regularly uses the lounges, this card could be a great fit for your business.

That said, if you rarely fly United or don’t visit the lounges often, the steep annual fee can be hard to justify. Other business cards may offer broader travel perks or more flexible rewards.

United Club℠ Business Card
United Club℠ Business Card
United Club℠ Business Card
Annual Fee$695
Welcome Bonus 80,000 bonus miles plus 2,000 PQP after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: The New United Club℠ Card (Rates & Fees), The New United℠ Business Card (Rates & Fees), Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Rates & Fees), and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees)

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