United Business Card review: Full details

United Business Card overview

The United℠ Business Card (see rates and fees) provides a plethora of perks for a $150 annual fee. From a first checked bag free on United Airlines flights to ride-hailing statement credits and more, the card can provide solid value to the right small-business owners. However, some businesses may find it inconvenient to track the card’s coupon book of monthly benefits. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½

* Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

The United Business Card is a mid-tier card for small businesses that use United for flights at least several times a year. The card offers perks like a free checked bag and inflight discounts on food and beverages to help businesses save on ancillary flying fees.

In March, United refreshed its entire credit card portfolio. The United Business Card’s ongoing annual fee rose to $150 (after the first year)*, but we also saw the introduction of new statement credits and upgrade certificates to ease the sting. These benefits are not exclusively geared toward travel, so you’ll want to ensure they fit your spending habits.

For the best chances of approval, you’ll want a credit score of 670 or higher. If you have a small business and travel with United (even occasionally), you might want to consider applying for the United Business Card.

Here are all the United Business Card benefits you need to know about to decide if it’s right for you.

*No longer available.

United Business Card pros and cons

United Business Card welcome offer

New United Business Card holders can earn 100,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

Based on TPG’s July 2025 valuations of United miles at 1.3 cents each, this bonus is worth $1,300 (not including the bonus PQPs).

This is 25,000 miles higher than the standard offer, but not the highest offer we’ve seen. However, it’s still a great offer to consider if you’ve been eyeing this card.

You aren’t eligible for this welcome offer if you currently have or have had the United Business Card and received a welcome bonus for it within the last 24 months.

Chase considers the United Business Card a distinct product from the United Club℠ Business Card and the no-longer-available United Explorer Business Card. So, if you have or previously had either of these cards, you’re still eligible for the welcome bonus on the United Business Card.

The United Business Card also likely falls under Chase’s unpublished 5/24 rule. If you’ve opened five or more personal credit card accounts in the last 24 months, you might not be approved for it.

The information for the United Club Business and the United Explorer Business has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: Best credit card welcome offers

United Business Card benefits

The United Business Card is best suited for small-business owners without United or Star Alliance status looking for United Airlines benefits.

This card can certainly satisfy that desire with the following United-linked benefits:

• First checked bag free: Get the first checked bag free as the primary cardmember and for a companion traveling on the same reservation on United-operated flights.
• Priority boarding: Get priority boarding as the primary cardmember and for a companion. If you don’t like gate-checking your carry-on because the overhead space is full, this perk will help you avoid that.
• Two one-time United Club passes each year: Note that these can only be used by the primary cardmember, an authorized user or a guest traveling with either type of cardmember.
• FareLock statement credit: Earn up to $25 in statement credits annually after purchasing FareLock for a United flight using the United Business Card.
• United travel credit: Earn $125 in United TravelBank cash after five $100-plus United flight purchases per calendar year.
• Economy Plus seat upgrades: Earn two continental U.S. Economy Plus seat upgrades after spending $25,000 in a calendar year.
• Discount on United inflight purchases: Receive 25% back as a statement credit on eligible inflight United purchases when you pay with your United Business Card.

Aside from the United-related benefits, this card offers a set of statement credits to help offset its annual fee. These credits can be useful for business owners, but their usefulness depends entirely on your spending habits and merchant preferences.

These statement credits include:

• Up to $100 United Hotels statement credit: Receive $50 in statement credits on your first and second prepaid hotel stays purchased through United® Hotels using your United Business Card each anniversary year.
• Ride-hailing credit: Receive up to $8 each month (up to $12 in December) in ride-hailing statement credits for a total of $100 each calendar year. Yearly enrollment is required. Chase has a broad definition of what counts as a ride-hailing service. That means this credit will be more flexible for your business than the ride-hailing credits offered by other issuers, like American Express.
• United travel credit via car rental: Earn up to $25 in United TravelBank cash per eligible Avis/Budget rental when booking through cars.united.com. This benefit is limited to two $25 United TravelBank credits per anniversary year.
• JSX statement credit: Earn up to $100 in statement credits each anniversary year when making JSX purchases directly with the airline. JSX offers a semiprivate flying experience at commercial fares, so it may be worth exploring for a special company trip.
• Instacart+ membership and statement credits: Receive a complimentary Instacart+ membership for three months, then a 25% discounted annual plan. Cardholders can also earn up to $10 per month ($120 each calendar year) in Instacart credits on purchases made with the United Business Card. (These benefits end Dec. 31, 2027).

Overall, the statement credits and benefits are useful but require monitoring and tracking. The easiest statement credits to use are the ride-hailing credit and the $125 United TravelBank cash.

Businesses will find no value in the JSX and Instacart credits if they don’t use these services organically. Fortunately, your business can still get positive value from this card’s annual fee through its other benefits.

You’ll also enjoy the following additional benefits:

Business owners who fly United regularly will easily get enough value from these benefits to justify paying the $150 ongoing annual fee. However, this card will require extra effort and attention to detail to keep track of all its perks.

If your business is looking for a card that doesn’t require a slate of monthly reminders, this isn’t the card.

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 earns:

• 7 miles per dollar spent on United flights (5 miles from being a United MileagePlus member and 2 miles from being a United Business cardholder)
• 5 miles per dollar on hotel stays purchased through United Hotels
• 2 miles per dollar spent on the following purchases: All other eligible United purchases, local transit and commuting, gas stations, office supply stores and restaurants (including eligible delivery services)
• 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases

The bonus-earning for United Hotels feels too restrictive for business owners. Earning 2 miles per dollar spent on any hotel purchase would be more useful.

According to TPG’s July 2025 valuations, you’ll get a 9.1% return on United flights, a 6.5% return on United Hotels and a 2.6% return on other category spending. You’ll also earn 1 mile per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases, which is a 1.3% return.

Compared to the United Club Business Card, the United Business Card earns a stronger 2 miles per dollar across key business-related bonus categories. Nonetheless, not all businesses are alike, and some may benefit from the United Club Business Card’s 1.5 miles per dollar spent on all non-bonused spending.

Related: How to choose the best credit card for your business expenses

Redeeming and transferring miles on the United Business Card

You can use United miles to book award travel on United, other Star Alliance airlines and partner airlines.

It’s worth noting that United uses dynamic award pricing rather than award charts. Although this makes it more difficult to determine the price of an award until you’re ready to book, dynamic pricing can lead to inexpensive award flights in some situations.

TPG credit cards writer Chris Nelson loves booking United economy saver fares thanks to his United MileagePlus Premier status. These flights start from 24,600 miles one-way on medium-haul transatlantic hops from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to European destinations like Keflavik Airport (KEF), Edinburgh Airport (EDI) and the recently started route to Nuuk International Airport (GOH).

All of these flights are under seven hours, so he doesn’t feel the need for a lie-flat business-class seat, especially if it’s a daytime flight. Plus, he gets complimentary Economy Plus extra legroom seating from his status.

You’ll generally get the most value from your United miles when you use them to book flights. Other redemption options include:

• Secure a seat upgrade
• Purchase inflight Wi-Fi
• Book hotel stays and car rentals
• Purchase merchandise and gift cards
• Access once-in-a-lifetime events

You can also transfer your United miles to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio.

However, this is far from the most valuable option, so we recommend avoiding it unless you need to top off your Marriott Bonvoy balance for a specific redemption. You can’t transfer more than 200,000 United miles to Marriott in a calendar year, but that shouldn’t be an issue for most.

Related: Here’s what you should know before transferring Marriott points to airline miles

Which cards compete with the United Business Card?

If you want to earn United miles on your business purchases, the United Business Card has a few notable competitors.

• If you want a personal United card: The United℠ Explorer Card (see rates and fees) comes with an annual fee of $150 beginning in the second year ($0 introductory annual fee the first year), plus statement credits and a free checked bag. If the United Business’s bonus categories don’t fit your needs or you’re not invested in earning more PQPs, the United Explorer is the perfect alternative. To learn more, read our full review of the United Explorer Card.
• If you want more benefits: The United Club Business Card has a significantly higher annual fee of $695 but greater United-related benefits, such as a United Club membership for the primary cardholder, the ability to earn a United Club All-Access membership, two free checked bags and a better earning rate for PQPs. To learn more, read our full review of the United Club Business Card.
• If you’re a United fan but want more general rewards: The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees) offers the ability to earn valuable Ultimate Rewards points on different business expenses. Your points can then be transferred to several airline and hotel partners, including United MileagePlus, or redeemed directly for travel through Chase Travel℠. To learn more, read our full review of the Ink Business Preferred.

For additional options, check out our list of the best business credit cards.

Related: 4 reasons someone in your family needs a United credit card

Is the United Business Card worth it?

The United Business Card offers United Airlines benefits and partner perks that allow the right small-business owners, freelancers and side hustlers to justify the card’s $150 annual fee. As a business owner, if you can’t use the card’s perks or maximize the opportunity to earn United elite status, you’ll be better off with a more general business credit card.

Bottom line

The United Business Card provides several ways to earn United travel credits and make progress toward United elite status. The card offers meaningful value for some, but its steep annual fee and the effort required to maximize its credits mean it won’t be right for all businesses.

If your business can naturally use the credits this card offers or is aiming toward United elite status, this card is likely a no-brainer.

Apply here: United Business Card