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, they typically give you access to more robust benefits and features.
The best business credit cards for travel are:
- American Express Business Platinum Card®: Best overall 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
Tip: 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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (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: Not many small business credit cards offer a comprehensive set of travel-specific perks like this card does. You can use this card to access 1,200 airport lounges worldwide for free and receive Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® membership reimbursements. Beyond these luxury benefits, you can also earn extraordinary rewards for airfare and hotel stays at 5x points per dollar spent. There’s not another card on the market that can match these features.
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 in-flight food and drink. The perks don’t stop there, however. You can also 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 avoid interest when you use this card because it’s a business charge card. While charge cards carry no interest, you are 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: If you find yourself spending business funds across a variety of categories every month, a travel card with strong fixed-rate rewards like this card suits you best. You’ll benefit from unlimited 2x miles on all spending, including travel-related purchases. However, what moves the needle for this card is you can earn an even higher rewards rate—5x miles per $1 spent—if you book hotel nights or rental cars through the issuer.
Similar to our top pick, this business credit card for miles also offers application fee reimbursements for Global Entry ($100) or TSA Pre✓® ($85). This perk gives you access to expedited airport security screening lines and can make your business travel more enjoyable. If you travel often, this is one of my favorite hacks that helps you unlock a more enjoyable travel experience.
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: Most of the top travel cards charge annual fees that may scare a lot of business owners away. But let me introduce you to a card that does the opposite. Chase Ink Business Preferred® is your go-to card if you want to avoid those high annual fees while earning comparable rewards.
This card’s annual fee gets more bang for the buck compared to some of the 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 United States 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: This is the first co-branded airline card on the list, which means it’s designed specifically for those who do most of their traveling on Southwest Airlines flights. This card offers enhanced rewards for Southwest Airlines purchases as well as travel perks like in-flight Wi-Fi credits and reimbursement for the cost to enroll in TSA Pre✓® or Global Entry.
You’ll not only earn top rewards for purchases made directly with the airline, but you also have 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 huge and lucrative sign-up bonus available for business owners who spend $5,000 within the first three months and $25,000 within the first six months that puts you 10,000 points away from 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 spends a lot on Marriott hotels, then this is the best business travel rewards credit card for you. It can be your way into luxury business features and big savings. You’ll not only save big at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, but you can 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 every card anniversary, complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, and premium on-property Wi-Fi access.
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: If you want to level up your Delta Air lines travel experience, there’s no reason to look anywhere besides right here. Frequent Delta flyers will appreciate the free checked bag and the ability to earn 2x miles per $1 in several different categories, including Delta Air Lines purchases. Plus, if you spend at least $3000 within the first three months of account opening, you’ll be eligible for a miles-based welcome offer you can use to help offset travel expenses.
When you open this card, you’ll enjoy priority boarding, no foreign transaction fees, and savings on in-flight purchases. You can also earn a $100 Delta credit voucher if you spend $10,000 on your card in a calendar year. These features are unique to this travel card, so if you typically spend big on Delta flights, you should consider applying for this option.
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 it also offers AAdvantage® miles at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants, and gas stations. These category rewards 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 includes 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: Although at the bottom of the list, this Bank of America travel card offers a unique feature: no annual fee. Not only will you never pay an annual fee, but you’ll also earn 3x points per dollar spent on travel purchases. If those rewards aren’t enough for your liking, you can increase your rewards rate by enrolling in the Preferred Rewards for Business program.
When you enroll in the bonus program, you can get up to 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. You can still earn a rewards bonus with fewer deposits, but the rate will be less than 75%.
How We Evaluated the Best Business Credit Cards for Travel
Business travel credit cards are suited for owners seeking top rewards for spending on airfare, hotels, or rental cars. For this reason, we prioritized the reward potential for each card as that can help reduce overall travel expenses. Annual fees and perks like companion passes, free baggage checks, and access to airport lounges were also taken into account. Cards that provide these features are ranked higher on the 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, and miscellaneous 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 nonco-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.
