United Business Card
- Annual Fee
- $150
- Welcome Bonus
- Up to 100,000 miles
- Top Rate
- 2X
Terms checked against the issuer on October 10, 2026
At a Glance
- Annual Fee
- $150
- Authorized User Fee
- $0
- Foreign Transaction Fee
- $0
- Network
- Visa Signature
- Rewards Currency
- United MileagePlus
- Point Valuation
- 1.2–1.2 cpp (mid: 1.2)
- Credit Required
- Good to Excellent
Welcome Offer
Up to 100,000 miles
- 90,000 miles after $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months (plus 2,000 PQP)
- + 10,000 miles after adding an employee card in the first 3 months
The total needs every stage above. Meet only the first and you earn 90,000 miles.
Earning Rates
- 2X
Dining
2x miles on dining purchases
- 2X
Gas Stations
2x miles at gas stations
- 2X
Office Supplies
2x miles on office supply stores
- 2X
Transit
2x miles on transit purchases
- 2X
United
2x miles on United purchases
- 2X
United
2 miles per $1 spent on purchases from United® including tickets, Economy Plus®, Inflight food, beverages, Wi-Fi and other United charges
- 1X
All Other
1X miles on all purchases
Benefits & Perks
Travel Benefits
4 perksFlights & Airlines
General Travel
Annual Credits & Statement Credits
8 creditsUp to
$616
in recurring credits (annual)
1 credit listed below has no stated dollar amount and is not counted in this total.
$125 United travel credit
Receive $125 in United® TravelBank cash after making 5 United® flight purchases of $100 or more each calendar year with your United Business Card.
$125
Annual
$100/yr JSX credits
Up to $100 back each anniversary year in statement credits on flights booked directly with JSX using your United Business Card.
$100
Annual
$100 United Hotels credit
Receive $50 back as a statement credit on both your 1st and 2nd prepaid hotel stays purchased directly through United® Hotels with your UnitedSM
$100
Annual
$10/mo Instacart
Receive a $10 Instacart credit monthly, up to $120 total each calendar year, for purchases made directly through Instacart with your United Business
$10
Monthly
25% back on United inflight drinks
25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay
—
Annual
$50 Avis/Budget travel credit
Receive $25 in United® TravelBank cash, up to $50 each anniversary year, for your 1st and 2nd Avis or Budget car rental booked directly through
$50
Annual
Show all 8 creditsShow fewer credits
$25/yr FareLock credit
Up to $25 back each anniversary year on United FareLock purchases
$25
Annual
$100/yr rideshare
Enroll to receive up to $100 back each calendar year on rideshare purchases ($8 a month, $12 in December)
$8
Monthly
Lounge Access
2 United Club one-time passes annually
Get 2 United Club passes each year for lounge access with complimentary beverages, snacks, and Wi-Fi. Over $100 annual value.
Insurance & Protections
5 protectionsUp to $10,000 purchase protection per item
$10,000
Coverage up to $10,000 per item (max $50,000 per Account) for eligible purchases against theft or damage for 120 days from purchase date
Extended Warranty Protection
Extends the manufacturer's warranty by up to one additional year on eligible items purchased with the card.
$60,000 primary car rental insurance coverage
$60,000
Primary coverage up to $60,000 for damage, theft, and loss on rental cars up to a $125,000 MSRP when paid with your card.
Up to $500 trip delay reimbursement
$500
Receive up to $500 reimbursement for meals and lodging if your trip is delayed more than 12 hours due to carrier issues or weather.
Up to $300 baggage delay reimbursement
$100
Get reimbursed up to $100/day (up to 3 days) for essential items if your checked baggage is delayed more than 6 hours.
Dining Out
2x at restaurants
MileagePlus
≈$2.40 in value on a $100 dinner, at our valuation of 1.2¢ per point
Annual fee: $150
Explore 5,512 New York restaurants with this cardStack a dining program
Rakuten Dining
5% back at 20,618 participating restaurants, on top of this card's 2x, once you join and link this card.
+$5
cash back, or ≈$5.50 as points
More on a $100 dinner
Program & Transfers
MileagePlus
Your gateway to global Star Alliance travel
United MileagePlus is the loyalty program of United Airlines, serving millions of members with access to the Star Alliance network of 26 member airlines. As North America's largest Star Alliance carrier, United provides seamless earning and redemption opportunities across partners including Lufthansa, ANA, Singapore Airlines, and Air Canada. The program uses a revenue-based earning model for United flights while offering fixed-rate awards on partner airlines. United operates extensive domestic and international networks with major hubs in Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, Denver, Newark, and Washington Dulles. MileagePlus members earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) and Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF) toward elite status, with benefits including complimentary upgrades, bonus earnings, and fee waivers. The program is recognized for excellent award availability, particularly in premium cabins on long-haul international routes. United partners with Chase for co-branded credit cards offering elevated earning rates, free checked bags, and priority boarding. Premium cards grant club lounge access and expanded award availability, making them valuable for frequent United flyers.
Program Ratings
Recent Changes & News
Starting February 2026, all Premier members are eligible for complimentary upgrades on award tickets, not just revenue tickets.
United announced PlusPoints upgrade costs will become demand-based starting February 2027, moving away from fixed costs per segment.
United removed all change and cancellation fees for MileagePlus award tickets, making speculative bookings risk-free.
MileagePlus now allows up to 5 members to pool miles in a shared account, though pooled miles can only be used on United flights, not partners.
Sweet Spots — Best Redemptions
| Route / Property | Points | Cabin/Type | Value / Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intra-Europe on Star Alliance | 8,000 | economy | Europe |
| US to Hawaii in Economy | 17,200 | economy | United States |
| US to South America in Economy | 20,000 | economy | South America |
| US to Europe in Economy | 26,700 | economy | Europe |
| US to Southeast Asia in Economy | 39,200 | economy | Asia |
| US to South America in Business | 60,500 | business | South America |
| US to Europe in Business | 80,000 | business | Europe |
| US to Africa in Business (Partner) | 88,000 | business | Africa |
| Short-Haul US Domestic Economy | 5,000 | economy | United States |
| US to Mexico in Economy | 10,000 | economy | Central America |
| US Transcontinental Business/First | 30,000 | business | United States |
| US to Asia in Polaris Business | 100,000 | business | Asia |
Reviews & Analysis
Third-Party Rankings & Ratings
| Publication | Rating | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PointsNav | #14 of 119 |
Category Rankings (3 categories)
Editorial Review
If you fly with United at least once or twice a year, the United Business Card can deliver substantial value through free flights, valuable credits, and perks that justify its $150 annual fee.
Key Takeaways
If you are at or near your 5/24 and looking for a co-branded United Airlines card, this is a good choice for you. The United Business Card is for those who fly on United once or twice per year. Any more than that, you want to check out the United Club Business card. United is also a partner of Chase, so you can use Ultimate Rewards points to top up points you earn from this card. You can earn several free flights (or a single long-haul flight in business class) with the 75,000 (current special 100,000) point sign-up bonus. There are also valuable credits and perks, both travel and non travel-related, that make the $150 annual fee worthwhile beyond the first year.
Why This Card Could Be Right For You
If you and a companion fly on United once per year, you’ll receive a free first checked bag (worth $160 for two people, round trip) that effectively offsets the $150 annual fee on its own. If you travel light and only carry on, there are other benefits that still make keeping this card a smart decision.
Travel-related perks include:
- Two United Club one-time passes per year (a $100 value)
- Two $50 credits each year on prepaid hotel stays through United Hotels
- Two $25 credits to Avis or Budget (issued as United TravelBank cash, redeemable only for United flights)
- Priority boarding for the cardholder and companions on the same reservation
- 25% back on inflight club and premium drink purchases (including Wi-Fi)
- A 5000-mile anniversary bonus if you also have a personal United credit card
Non-travel benefits can also add value:
- A $10 Instacart credit each month, plus three free months of Instacart+ (and 25% off after that)
- An $8 rideshare credit each month, plus $12 in December (up to $100 in potential annual savings)
- Several spending multipliers that help you build more points while working toward your sign-up bonus
Read full review (3 more sections)
When The Usual Advice Doesn't Apply
This card might not be right for you if:
- You don’t fly United at least once per year and won’t benefit from the perks after the first year
- You don’t need the travel-related perks and wouldn’t use services like Instacart or rideshare (it’s not recommended to spend just to use perks you don’t actually need)
What to Know About United MileagePlus
United is a solid option for international flights, especially for business class.
- United has ample cards for collecting large sums of points.
- International business class seats can be found for as low as 60,000 points to South America and 80,000 to Europe.
- They’re a partner in our favorite rewards system, making top offs from Chase Ultimate Rewards both easy and a good value.
- United is also a decent option for domestic flights and standard international fares, but we generally use Southwest, American or Delta for those.
- We save our United points for those long international flights where business class is a difference maker.
How The United Business Credit Card Fits In The United MileagePlus Ecosystem
The United Club Business Card is the other business option for frequent United flyers. We recommend it if you’re loyal to United (or its partners) and fly 3–4 times (or more) per year. It has more perks but also carries a $695 annual fee, which may be worth it depending on your situation.
Because these are both business cards, they won’t count against your 5/24 status, providing another way to build points with a Chase partner without affecting your personal card eligibility. If you’re still under 5/24 and think a United co-branded card is right for you, consider the four personal cards they offer. Annual fees range from $0 to $695, so there’s likely a card that fits your travel habits on United and its Star Alliance partners.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- +Free first checked bag for cardholder and companion saves up to $200 roundtrip
- +2x miles on United, dining, gas, and office supplies
- +2 United Club one-time passes per year worth $100+
- +Priority boarding in Group 2
- +Earn up to 4,000 PQP annually toward Premier status, plus 2,000 PQP with the welcome offer
- +No foreign transaction fees
- +Free employee cards
Cons
- -$150 annual fee with no waived first year
- -Only 1x miles on most business purchases
- -No United Club membership (just 2 single-use passes)
- -Miles locked to United MileagePlus
- -Only 2 lounge passes per year vs unlimited access
Who It's Best For
Best For
- Business owners who fly United regularly and check bags
- Companies with high dining, gas, and office supply expenses
- Business travelers working toward United Premier status through card spend
- Those who value priority boarding and occasional lounge access
Not Ideal For
- Businesses that rarely fly United
- Companies wanting flexible transferable points
- Those needing frequent lounge access (need Club Infinite)
- Small businesses seeking low annual fees
The Math: Is $150 Worth It?
First-year value includes $1,080 welcome bonus (first stage)
Credit Utilization (60%)
Excludes earning value, lounge access, insurance, and elite status
Total Value Captured
$369.60
Annual Fee
-$150
Net Annual Value
+$219.60
Details & Terms
Application Rules
| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| No CR | This business card will not show on your personal credit report, so it won't count against your 5/24 status |
| 24 from Bonus | If you've received a bonus from this card within the last 24 month, you are not eligible for another bonus. |
| 5/24 | Chase applications will be declined if 5 new cards have been added to your personal credit report in the past 24 months. |
| Chase 2/30 | You'll be declined if you apply for a third Chase card of any kind within 30 days |
| Chase 4/6 | Chase will decline your application you apply for a 5th Chase card (personal or BUSINESS) in 6 months |
Payment Terms
| Purchase APR | 19.99%–28.49% (Variable) |
| Cash Advance APR | 28.74% (Variable) |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | $0 |
| Authorized User Fee | $0 |
FAQs
Do MileagePlus members get free bags?
You don’t get free bags just by being a MileagePlus member. You need United status or a credit card that includes free checked bags. Five of the six United cards offer at least one free bag, and all status tiers include the same perk. Premium cabin tickets also include at least two free bags.
How many MileagePlus miles do you need for a free flight?
You can find short-haul domestic flights for as low as 6300 miles one-way in the off-peak season. Since United uses dynamic pricing, award costs vary widely based on when you fly. Flights from the U.S. to Europe can occasionally be found for as little as 26,000 miles one-way.
Is a United Club subscription worth it?
A United Club membership costs $750, or 94,000 miles, so value depends on how often you fly United. Some United cards include passes, and the [United Club Business](https://pointsnav.com/credit-cards/united-club-card-business) card offers full membership. United Premier Gold members and higher also receive United Club access when traveling internationally.
How to earn United miles quickly?
The fastest way to earn United miles is to open a co-branded United credit card and meet the welcome offer requirement. The [United Club](https://pointsnav.com/credit-cards/united-club-infinite-card) and [United Club Business](https://pointsnav.com/credit-cards/united-club-card-business) cards both offer 80,000-mile bonuses, and we've seen offers reach 100,000. Other United cards offer bonuses up to 60,000 miles.
Do United miles expire?
No, United MileagePlus miles no longer expire. Your miles will remain in your account indefinitely, regardless of account activity. This is a major advantage over some competing programs.
Can you pool United miles with family members?
Yes, MileagePlus offers mileage pooling where up to five members can combine their miles into a shared pool. The pool leader must be at least 18 years old. However, pooled miles can only be used for award flights on United, not on partner airlines. Once contributed, miles cannot be withdrawn after 24 hours.
Media & Resources
Card Design
Evidence Sources
| Source | Verified | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Official | Chase Official: Multiple card facts | |
| Chase | Chase: Benefit flags | |
| Chase | — | Chase |
| Chase | — | Chase |
| Chase | — | Chase |
| Chase | — | Chase |
| Chase | — | Chase |
| United Partner | — | United Partner |
| RewardsCC API | — | RewardsCC API |
Top brands for this card
Brands where this card's earn-rate structure makes it a strong choice. Open a brand for the full ranked list.
Partner credits at
Merchants this card gives you a statement credit or membership at. Unlike the brands above, this isn't about earn rate — it's money the card hands back when you spend there.
