Editor’s note: This is a recurring post with regularly verified card details.
Business owners who frequently go on work-related trips can access top-tier rewards and luxury perks through travel credit cards. The best cards can make business travel more enjoyable through free airport lounge access, free checked bags, and annual travel credits. While some of these travel cards charge high annual fees, it typically means you’ll have access to more robust benefits and features.
The best business credit cards for travel are:
- American Express Business Platinum Card®: (Best overall) Best for premium travel rewards and benefits
- Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business: Best for booking hotels and rental cars
- Chase Ink Business Preferred®: Best for maximizing rewards with low annual fees
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business: Best for business travel on Southwest Airlines
- Marriott Bonvoy BusinessTM American Express® Card: Best for hotel stays at Marriott properties
- American Express Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card: Best for Delta Air Lines business travel
- CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard®: Best for business travel on American Airlines
- Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard®: Best for no annual fee
While these business travel credit cards offer stellar rewards and perks for people who travel for business often, it’s crucial to understand COVID-19 travel-related restrictions that may impact your business trips. Before planning business-related travel, be sure to review CDC travel guidelines.
For more details on how we evaluated business credit cards for this list, see our methodology.
American Express Business Platinum Card®: Overall Best Business Travel Credit Card
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Best For: Gaining access to unrivaled travel rewards and luxury travel perks like airport lounge access
| Intro APR | Regular APR | Annual Fee | Credit Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | N/A | $595 | Good, Excellent |
Why we like it: We rank this small business credit card as the best option for business travel because of the stellar travel-specific perks it offers business owners. You can use this card to access 1,200 airport lounges worldwide for free and receive Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership reimbursements. Beyond its luxury benefits, you can also earn extraordinary rewards for airfare and hotel stays at 5x points per dollar spent.
With this lounge access credit card, you’ll also tap into an annual travel credit worth $200 that can help offset travel expenses like baggage fees and inflight food and drink. The perks don’t stop there, however. You can benefit from elite status at several car rental agencies, free in-flight Wi-Fi, and flight rebates on business or first-class tickets.
You’ll also be able to avoid interest when you use this card because it’s a business charge card. While charge cards carry no interest, you’re required to repay your balance in full every month. Only apply for this card if you’re able to meet that requirement.
Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business: Best for Booking Hotels and Rental Cars
Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business
Best For: Unlimited 2x miles with every swipe
| Intro APR | Regular APR | Annual Fee | Credit Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 20.99% (Variable) | $0 intro for first year; $95 after that | Excellent, Good |
Why we like it: Capital One offers strong and consistent travel miles that can keep you from having to track category bonuses. You’ll benefit from unlimited 2x miles on all spending, including travel-related purchases. Plus, if you book hotel nights or rental cars through the issuer, you’ll earn an even higher rewards rate—5x miles per $1 spent.
Similar to our top pick, this Capital One business credit card also offers application fee reimbursements for Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($85). This perk gives you access to expedited airport security screening lines and can make your business travel more enjoyable.
Although this card lacks the airport lounge access some other cards offer, there is a lucrative sign-up offer waiting for you. If you typically spend at least $1,500 per month on your business credit cards, you can earn several thousand bonus miles that you can redeem for travel.
Chase Ink Business Preferred®: Best for Maximizing Rewards With Low Annual Fees
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Best For: Maximizing travel rewards at a lower annual fee
| Intro APR | Regular APR | Annual Fee | Credit Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 15.99% to 20.99% Variable | $95 | Good to Excellent |
Why we like it: If you want to avoid high annual fees seen on other travel cards but want to earn top travel rewards, Chase Ink Business Preferred® is your go-to card. This card’s annual fee gets the most bang for the buck compared to other cards on this list. It not only pays top rewards in travel but in other categories too, including shipping, online advertising, and internet, cable, and phone services.
Plus, you can travel outside the United States worry-free as this is a no foreign transaction fee card. Most issuers charge foreign transaction fees up to 3%. Avoiding these fees when you’re traveling outside the US can save your business tons of cash. This feature makes it an ideal fit for any international business travelers.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Card: Best for Southwest Airlines Loyalists
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business
Best For: Southwest flyers who want a Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® application fee credit
| Intro APR | Regular APR | Annual Fee | Credit Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 15.99% - 22.99% Variable | $199 | Good to Excellent |
Why we like it: If you choose to fly Southwest Airlines for business trips, this Southwest business credit card can benefit you. The card offers enhanced rewards for Southwest Airlines purchases as well as travel perks like inflight Wi-Fi credits and reimbursement for the cost to enroll in TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.
You’ll not only earn top rewards for purchases made directly with the airline, but this card also gives you the chance to earn ongoing rewards elsewhere. For example, you can expect to earn rewards on hotel and car partners, online advertising, and internet, cable, and phone services. Some airline-affiliated credit cards only pay rewards on purchases made directly with the airline, which you can avoid if you open this card.
There’s also a very large and lucrative sign-up bonus available for business owners who can spend $5,000 within the first three months and $25,000 within the first six months. This bonus reward will put you 10,000 points away from qualifying for a Southwest Airlines companion pass. The pass gets your guest on a flight for free, minus taxes and fees, for which you’ve bought yourself a ticket.
Marriott Bonvoy BusinessTM American Express® Card: Best for Marriott Stays
Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card
Best For: Owners who choose to stay at Marriott Bonvoy hotels
| Intro APR | Regular APR | Annual Fee | Credit Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 15.74% - 24.74% Variable | $125 | Good, Excellent |
Why we like it: If your company has high hotel costs, especially with Marriott, this is the best business travel rewards credit card for you. You’ll not only save big at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, but you’ll also earn premium rewards at restaurants, gas stations, and telecommunication services.
This card holds tons of value, however, beyond its rewards. For instance, it offers top-tier Marriott-related features that can elevate your business travel. You’ll receive one free night reward every card anniversary, complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, and premium on-property Wi-Fi access.
If you typically choose to book hotel nights with Marriott, you should consider this card. It can be your way into luxury business features and big savings.
American Express Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card: Best for Delta Air Lines Flights
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
Best For: Delta Airlines flyers and earning rewards outside of Delta purchases
| Intro APR | Regular APR | Annual Fee | Credit Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 15.74% - 24.74% Variable | $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99 | Good, Excellent |
Why we like it: Choose this Delta business credit card if you label yourself as a frequent Delta Air Lines flyer. You’ll be able to check two bags for free and earn 2x miles in several different categories, including Delta Air Lines purchases. Plus, if you spend at least $670 per month on your credit cards, you’ll be eligible for a miles-based welcome offer that you can use to help offset travel expenses.
Enjoy priority boarding, no foreign transaction fees, and savings on in-flight purchases when you open this card. You also can earn a $100 Delta credit voucher if you spend $10,000 on your card in a calendar year. Apply for this card if you’re looking to level up your Delta Air Lines travel experience.
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard®: Best for American Airlines Purchases
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard®
Best For: Frequent American Airlines flyers who want premium airline perks
| Intro APR | Regular APR | Annual Fee | Credit Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 16.99% - 25.99% Variable | $0 for the first year, then $99 | Good - Excellent |
Why we like it: If you find yourself booking several business-related trips through American Airlines, you should consider applying for this travel credit card. You’ll be able to check bags for free and access priority boarding on American Airlines’ flights, something nonairline branded cards can’t offer.
This card not only pays rewards on American Airlines purchases, but you’ll also earn AAdvantage® miles at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants, and gas stations. This will help you maximize your rewards outside of purchases you make directly with the airline.
What’s more, you can cash in big on bonus miles if you spend at least $1,000 per month on your business credit cards. This card offers a sizable miles-based welcome offer that can help you pay for travel-related expenses, including flights.
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard®: Best for No Annual Fee
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
Best For: Earning top rewards on travel purchases booked through Bank of America
| Intro APR ?0% APR for nine billing cycles on purchases | Regular APR | Annual Fee | Credit Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
0% 9 billing cycles |
12.24% - 22.24% Variable APR on purchases | $0.00 | Excellent |
Why we like it: The Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® lets you earn 3x points per dollar spent on travel purchases while paying no annual fee. This is the only card on our list that doesn’t charge an annual fee. Plus, you can increase your rewards rate if you enroll in the Preferred Rewards for Business program.
When you enroll in the bonus program, you can get an additional 75% rewards bonus every time you swipe your card. You’ll earn up to 2.62 points per $1 spent on all purchases and 4.12 points per dollar at the Bank of America® Travel Center. To earn that rate, you have to have at least $100,000 deposits or investments with the bank.
This card also gives you a chance to tap into an interest-free financing offer, which means you can finance purchases with no interest for nine billing cycles. This can help you start or grow your business.
How We Evaluated the Best Business Credit Cards for Travel
Business travel credit cards are suited for owners seeking top rewards on spending for airfare, hotels, or rental cars. For this reason, we prioritized the reward potential for each card as it can help to reduce overall travel expenses. We also evaluated annual fees and perks like companion passes, free baggage checks, and access to airport lounges. We ranked cards that provide these features higher on our list, but they typically charge higher annual fees.
Reasons to Consider a Business Travel Credit Card
- Earn lucrative travel rewards: While many business travel credit cards charge high annual fees, they also offer some of the best rewards on the market. If you travel often for work purposes, it’s best to open one of these cards to earn rewards on your travel expenses.
- Access luxury travel perks: The perks that come with a travel card are truly one of a kind. With the best cards, you’ll be able to tap into annual travel credits, free airport lounge access, and even expedited airport security lines.
- Earn free flights and hotels: Not only will you earn top rewards for travel expenses, but you can also redeem them for free flights or hotels. This can save your business hundreds of dollars when it comes to traveling for work.
- Save money on typical travel expenses: Some of the best travel cards let you save money on common travel expenses, including checked baggage, priority boarding, and onboard Wi-Fi fees.
How to Choose a Business Travel Credit Card
- Review the type of traveling you do for business: Before choosing a card, it’s crucial to understand where you spend most of your money during a business trip. There are three areas to consider: airlines, hotels, or a variety of travel expenses.
- Decide on a rewards structure: Based on the type of travel you do, you’ll want a card that offers the best rewards for those purchases. For example, if you spend big on flights, consider an airline-specific card. If you spend big on hotels, consider a hotel card. If you have a variety of expenses, consider a non-co-branded card.
- Consider annual fees and perks: Once you’ve narrowed down the rewards structure that best fits your type of travel, consider annual fees, foreign transaction fees, and any additional perks like free checked baggage or airport lounge access. You’ll want a card that offers the perks that your business can take advantage of.
- Apply for your card: After choosing the business travel card that best suits your needs, you can apply online through the provider. Cards on this list typically require a personal credit score of at least 670.
Bottom Line
Travel credit cards can help business owners like you tap into premium rewards and features that make business travel more enjoyable. While they tend to charge higher annual fees, they also offer excellent perks like free checked bags and access to airport lounges. Comparing the best cards can help you find a card that has a rewards structure that aligns with your spending habits.
For rates and fees on the American Express Business Platinum Card®, please click here.
For rates and fees on American Express Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business, please click here.
For rates and fees on the American Express® Business Gold Card, please click here.
