The New United℠ Business Card Review: Sky-High Bonus Plus a Long List of Unique Perks The New United℠ Business Card Review: Sky-High Bonus Plus a Long List of Unique Perks

The New United℠ Business Card Review: Sky-High Bonus Plus a Long List of Unique Perks

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Offers for the United Club℠ Business Card and United℠ Explorer Business Card are not available through this site. Some offers may have expired. Please see our card marketplace for available offers

If you own a small business and regularly fly with United, the The New United℠ Business Card can be a valuable tool in your wallet. More than just a way to earn United miles, this card unlocks perks that can make business travel smoother, more affordable, and even help you climb the elite status ladder.

Benefits like a first checked bag free and two United Club passes each year can easily offset the annual fee. Additionally, cardholders gain access to expanded award availability — a benefit otherwise reserved for United elites — as well as opportunities to earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) through everyday spending.

But is it the best fit for your business? Let’s dive into the United Business Card to see how it compares — and whether the current welcome offer is worth jumping on.

The New United℠ Business Card
The New United℠ Business Card
Annual Fee$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150
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.
Cardholders earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United purchases, dining, gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting, alongside 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases​​. Key benefits include a free first checked bag on United flights, potentially saving up to $160 per roundtrip​​, a $125 United travel credit after qualifying purchases​​, and two one-time United Club℠ passes each year​​. Additional perks include 25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases​​, priority boarding on United-operated flights​​, and no foreign transaction fees​​. Plus, if you also hold a personal United credit card, you earn a 5,000-mile anniversary 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.
  • $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
  • 2x miles on United® purchases, dining including eligible delivery services, at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting.
  • 1x mile on all other purchases. Plus, employee cards at no additional cost - miles earned from their purchases accrue in your account so you can earn rewards faster.
  • Receive a 5,000-mile "better together" bonus each anniversary when you have both the United℠ Business Card and a personal Chase United® credit card.
  • Enjoy a free first checked bag - a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip (terms apply), 2 United Club℠ one-time passes per year, and priority boarding privileges.
  • Receive a $125 United travel credit after making 5 United® flight purchases of $100 or more each calendar year with your United℠ Business Card.
  • Member FDIC
  • Rates & Fees
  • 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

United Business Card Pros

  • Priority boarding and first checked bag free.
  • Two United Club one-time passes per year.
  • Earn a $125 United in travel bank credits after making five eligible United flight purchases per year.
  • Earn up to 4,000 Premier Qualifying Points per calendar year at a rate of 1 PQP per $20 spent.

United Business Card Cons

  • Charges an annual fee of $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150.
  • Bonus categories aren't as robust as other business credit cards.
  • Earns United miles tied to just a single award program vs. flexible points.
The entrance to the United Club at San Diego (SAN).
The United Club at San Diego (SAN). Credit: United

United Business Card Welcome Offer

If approved, applicants for the United Business Card can earn 75,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

What's the bonus worth? Consider that, on average, AwardWallet users typically redeem United miles for 1.94¢ apiece. That makes the welcome offer worth around $1,430 toward award travel. That makes it one of the best small-business credit card offers this month!

United Business Card Benefits

The United Business Card includes a long list of appealing benefits. Here's a look at what's available to cardholders.

Free checked bag

Get a free checked bag on United-operated flights when you pay for the flight with this card — whether paying for the flight outright or paying the taxes and fees on an award booking. This benefit is also extended to a companion on your same reservation.

Priority boarding

Get priority boarding (in Group 2) as a cardholder benefit. That's only behind Group 1, which includes those with higher status tiers and those traveling in premium cabins.

Annual United Club passes

The United Business Card comes with two one-time United Club each year. Passes will be deposited directly to your United MileagePlus account.

A United gate agent checks boarding passes in this photo
Credit: United

25% back on onboard purchases

Get 25% back on onboard purchases made with your United Business Card. Purchases eligible for the discount include food, beverage, and Wi-Fi. This statement credit also applies to premium drinks purchased in United Clubs.

Earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) towards status

You'll earn 1 PQP for each $20 spent on your card (including purchases made by authorized users) — up to a limit of 4,000 PQPs.

For reference, Premier Silver — United Mileage Plus's lowest elite status tier — requires 6,000 PQP or 15 Premier Qualify Flights (PQF) and 5,000 PQP. That means you can get most of the way toward this intro-level elite status just through card spending.

If you're interested in climbing higher, note that other United credit cards offer a higher cap on PQPs earned through card spending.

Related: How To Earn United Premier Qualifying Points Through Credit Cards

Expanded United award availability

As with other United credit cards, the United Business Card grants cardholders access to additional saver-level award space typically reserved for United elites. Eligible members will see this extra award space flagged as “special member pricing.” Extra award space means a higher likelihood you're able to find an itinerary that fits your travel schedule.

Additionally, United likes to offer cardholder-only award sales. Just by having a United credit card, you can partake in these promotions.

A photo of a woman sitting in business class on a United Flight.
Credit: United

$125 United Travel credit

Cardholders who make five United flight purchases of $100 or more in a year earn an annual $125 travel credit. Eligible purchases include upgrades, Economy Plus upgrades, inflight food, beverage service, Wi-Fi, baggage fees, and other United purchases.

5,000 bonus miles on every cardholder anniversary

Cardholders who have both the United Business Card and a personal United Airlines credit card can take advantage of the ‘Better Together' benefit and receive 5,000 bonus miles each anniversary. Based on what AwardWallet users redeem United miles for, these anniversary miles are worth about $95.

Related: Earn United Premier Qualifying Points Through Credit Card Spending

Rideshare credits

Receive up to $100 in statement credits on rideshare purchases per year.  This perk allows you to earn $8 each month except December, in which you can earn $12.

Earn Economy Plus seat upgrades

Spend $25,000 on your card in a calendar year and earn two continental U.S. Economy Plus seat upgrades.

Partner perks

Chase and United provide cardholders the opportunity to earn a variety of statement credits through partnerships with several companies:

  • Up to $100 annually when booking hotel stays directly with United Hotels.
  • Up to $25 annually when purchasing FareLock on a United flight to hold your fare price for up to 14 days.
  • Up to $100 annually on flights when you purchase directly through JSX, a semi-private hop-on-jet service.

Instacart+ discounts

Receive a complimentary 3-month Instacart Plus membership with 25% off an annual membership thereafter. Cardholders will also receive up to $120 in Instacart credits.

Avis and Budget rental car credits

Earn two $25 United Travel Bank credits when paying with your card for eligible car rentals at Avis and Budget.

Access to United Card Events and United Mileage Plus Exclusive Events

Cardmembers have access to exclusive experiences, previously known as Inside Access from Chase. These programs offer opportunities to explore personal interests and try something new. They include experiences ranging from VIP access at an MLB game to a small culinary experience with a top chef.

Save on business purchases with Visa SavingsEdge

The Visa SavingsEdge program is a simple and easy-to-use program offering two types of savings for Visa business cardholders: Everyday Savings and Instant Savings. Everyday Savings simply requires you to enroll your Visa business card to receive automatic cashback on purchases at participating merchants.

Instant Savings does not require you to enroll in the Visa SavingsEdge program, but you'll need to make a purchase through the Visa SavingsEdge portal. Most savings will range from 2%–5% — but with some luck, you'll occasionally find savings of up to 10%.

Free employee cards

Get employee cards for no additional fee. You can designate preset spending limits to your employee cards as well.

Insurance protections

When paying for purchases with your United Business Card, you'll get the following added protections:

United Business Card Earning Rates

Here's how you'll earn miles with the United Business Card:

  • 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

Related: Do United Miles Expire?

Redeeming Miles With the United Business Card

United MileagePlus Miles earned on the United Business Card can be redeemed for United Airlines flights and flights on Star Alliance partner airlines.

It's true that Star Alliance partner airlines typically have better redemption rates for flights within the alliance and even on United itself. You can still find sweet spots when redeeming United miles, including the Excursionist Perk. This benefit lets you add an extra flight to a booking without paying extra miles, as long as you follow some simple rules.

A screen shot shows the excursionist perk in United Airlines
Credit: United Airlines

Other good uses of your miles include domestic awards that start under 7,000 miles.

A booking screen for United shows a saver fare for a flight from EWR to IAD
Credit: Untied Airlines

While there's no longer a public award chart, we've completed an unofficial United award chart to help you know how many miles you might pay for an upcoming flight.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to United MileagePlus

Application Restrictions

The United Business Card is a business card, so you may need to prove you have a legitimate business to apply. That doesn't require a storefront or a warehouse, though; walking dogs, tutoring, or reselling items on eBay can qualify.

The card is also subject to Chase’s 5/24 policy. You likely won't be approved for this card if you’ve opened five or more consumer (personal) credit cards within the last 24 months, according to what's showing on your personal credit report.

As with all of Chase’s co-branded credit cards, if you currently hold the United Business Card, or you’ve received a sign-up bonus for it in the previous 24 months, you will not be eligible to receive a new cardmember bonus.

However, if you currently hold another United co-branded credit card, you are still eligible to receive the bonus on the United Business Card, including if you hold this card's predecessor, United℠ Explorer Business Card.

It’s a great card to apply for if you’re holding off on personal card applications to get back under 5/24, as applying for the United Business Card won’t add to your 5/24 count — though you have to be under 5/24 to qualify.

Related: Understanding Rewards Credit Card Application Rules and Restrictions

Alternatives to the United Business Card

Before applying for the United Business Card, you may find it helpful to weigh the card against its closest competitors. Here are a few additional quality options:

  • If you want an elevated travel experience with United, consider the United Club℠ Business Card. This is a premium card with a $695 annual fee to match, but the perks can be worth it for the right traveler. The main benefit is a complimentary United Club membership — worth roughly $750.
  • If you want points you can use with United and other programs, check out the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.  You'll earn 3X points in more business-related categories than the United Business Card, including travel, shipping, and advertising (3X is limited to the first $150,000 of annual spending in the bonus categories, then 1x). You'll earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points that you can transfer to United, Air Canada Aeroplan, World of Hyatt, and many more. Learn more in our full Ink Preferred review.
  • If you want an airline credit card and aren't tied to United, look into the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®. You'll earn 2X miles with American Airlines and several business categories, pay no annual fee in the first year, and get a free checked bag on American Airlines flights. You'll also save 25% on inflight purchases and can earn Loyalty Points toward elite status from credit card spending. Our Citi AAdvantage Business Card review has more details.
United Club℠ Business Card
United Club℠ Business Card
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.
Annual Fee$695
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
Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®
Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®
Welcome Offer Earn 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.
Annual Fee$99, waived for first 12 months
Credit ScoreExcellent
  • Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent on cable and satellite providers
  • Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent at gas stations
  • Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent on select telecommunications merchants
  • Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent on car rentals
  • Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
  • Earn 1X mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases

Related: The Best Business Credit Card Offers

Bottom Line

The current offer on the United Business Card of 75,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP miles offers plenty of value for United fans. But beyond the welcome bonus, however, cardholders can take advantage of extra award availability, complimentary United Club passes, a first checked bag free, bonus miles, and plenty of other perks. If you fly United for business a few times per year, the benefits — from free checked bags to extra award space and PQP earning — can easily justify the annual fee.

The New United℠ Business Card
The New United℠ Business Card
Annual Fee$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150
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.
Cardholders earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United purchases, dining, gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting, alongside 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases​​. Key benefits include a free first checked bag on United flights, potentially saving up to $160 per roundtrip​​, a $125 United travel credit after qualifying purchases​​, and two one-time United Club℠ passes each year​​. Additional perks include 25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases​​, priority boarding on United-operated flights​​, and no foreign transaction fees​​. Plus, if you also hold a personal United credit card, you earn a 5,000-mile anniversary 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.
  • $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
  • 2x miles on United® purchases, dining including eligible delivery services, at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting.
  • 1x mile on all other purchases. Plus, employee cards at no additional cost - miles earned from their purchases accrue in your account so you can earn rewards faster.
  • Receive a 5,000-mile "better together" bonus each anniversary when you have both the United℠ Business Card and a personal Chase United® credit card.
  • Enjoy a free first checked bag - a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip (terms apply), 2 United Club℠ one-time passes per year, and priority boarding privileges.
  • Receive a $125 United travel credit after making 5 United® flight purchases of $100 or more each calendar year with your United℠ Business Card.
  • Member FDIC
  • Rates & Fees
  • 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

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

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