United Club℠ Business Card Review

The United Club℠ Business Card is built for United Airlines’ flyers who regularly use United Club lounges. It offers 2x miles per dollar spent on United tickets and 1.5x miles on other spending. The $450 annual fee includes a United Club membership, valued at $550. You’ll pay as little as 18.24% annual percentage rate (APR).

The best business cards for travel pay up to 5x points on travel spending. They also offer introductory rewards worth $500 or more and travel benefits like priority boarding. This Chase business credit card isn’t competitive when it comes to introductory or ongoing rewards. However, it still may be worth the cost for frequent United Club patrons. After assessing its costs and benefits, we give the United Club℠ Business Card 3 out of a possible 5 stars.

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How We Evaluated the United Club℠ Business Card

The United Club℠ Business Card offers the same ongoing rewards for United flights as the less expensive United^SM Explorer Business Card, along with lower introductory rewards. However, its perks are more comparable to premium travel rewards cards, like the American Express Business Platinum Card®. In addition to lounge access, you’ll receive priority airport security screening and two free checked bags.

We considered the following grading criteria when judging this business credit card:

• Ongoing rewards: The points you’ll earn by using the United Club℠ Business Card; you’ll earn two miles per dollar spent on tickets purchased directly from United Airlines and 1.5 miles on all other spending
• Introductory rewards: The points you’ll earn by reaching minimum spending requirements during the first few months of card ownership; the United Club℠ Business Card offers 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first three months.
• Annual fee: How much you’ll pay each year to own the card; the United Club℠ Business Card charges a $450 annual fee
• Additional benefits: Whether the card comes with free perks that may increase its value, including two free checked bags and United Club membership
• Introductory APR: Whether the card offers a period of no-interest financing on purchases or balance transfers; the United Club℠ Business Card does not offer any introductory 0% APR financing
• Ongoing APR: How much it will cost to finance purchases on the card; this card charges an ongoing APR as low as 16.49%

If you’re looking for a business travel rewards card that offers a great introductory bonus, the United Club℠ Business Card isn’t for you. It offers just a $100 statement credit, far less than the 80,000 points you could earn with the Chase Ink Business Preferred^SM. However, this Chase business credit card offers United-specific benefits not offered by other issuers like priority boarding and United Club membership.

How We Evaluate Travel Rewards Business Credit Cards

When grading travel rewards business credit cards like the United Club℠ Business Card, we weight ongoing rewards, introductory rewards, and additional features heaviest. We also consider the card’s annual fee and its introductory and ongoing APRs. The only piece that is missing from this card is an introductory APR period.

We graded the United Club℠ Business Card using the following methodology:

Based on our 5-star rating system where 20 points equal 1 star, the United Club℠ Business Card would need to improve it introductory rewards and offer a 0% APR period to earn the next half star. In cases where cards receive perfect scores in most categories, we may award bonus points to boost the card’s rating.

Although this card offers excellent benefits for United travelers — including free access to the United Club lounge — it offers a disappointing introductory bonus. What’s more, the card comes with a high annual fee that most travelers will not be able to justify. Other travel rewards business credit cards offer more substantial rewards, such as the American Express Business Platinum Card®, which offers 5x points on travel-related purchases.

Who the United Club℠ Business Card Is Right For

The United Club℠ Business Card is best for owners who frequently fly United Airlines and don’t already have airport lounge access through another personal or business credit card. It’s also ideal for owners who regularly check bags on United flights. You and one traveling companion can check two bags apiece for free each way. That’s worth $280 per trip.

United Club℠ Business Card Costs

The annual fee of $450 charged by the United Club℠ Business Card is high, even for a business travel rewards credit card. The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard® charges $99, which is waived the first year but doesn’t include perks like airport lounge access. The ongoing APR also is higher than similar cards.

Financing costs and fees on the United Club℠ Business Card include:

• Introductory APR: None
• Ongoing APR: 16.49% to 23.49% variable, which will adjust with the prime rate
• Annual fee: $450
• Balance transfer fee: Either 5% of the amount of the transfer or $5, whichever is greater
• Foreign transaction fee: None
• Cash advance fee: 5% of the advance or $15, whichever is greater
• Late payment fee: $39
• Returned payment fee: $39
• Penalty APR: Up to 29.99% if you fail to make a payment by the due date or make a payment that is returned; the penalty APR may apply indefinitely, which is common among business travel rewards cards

If you have to carry a balance, choose a travel rewards card with a significantly lower APR, like the Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard®, which charges an ongoing APR as low as 12.99%.

How to Avoid Paying Interest on the United Club℠ Business Card

Your payment due date is at least 20 days after the close of the business cycle, which is when you should receive your bill. Pay your balance in full by the due date to avoid interest charges. The potential due date on this Chase business card could be shorter than other cards, like the Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business card, which has a payment due date at least 25 days after the close of the business cycle.

United Club℠ Business Card Rewards

The United Club℠ Business Card offers bonus category rewards on United flight purchases. It also offers a small introductory sign-up bonus of $100. The mid-level United business card, the United^SM Explorer Business Card, offers rewards on all United purchases, including onboard Wi-Fi. It also offers a much larger introductory bonus, along with ongoing bonus points for spending on restaurants, gas stations, and office supply stores.

Introductory Rewards

You’ll earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first three months.

Ongoing Rewards

You will earn the following ongoing rewards when using this Chase business credit card:

• 2 miles for every dollar spent on tickets purchased from United Airlines
• 1.5 miles on all other purchases

Other business credit cards offer higher returns on airfare purchases, including the Chase Ink Business Preferred^SM card (3x points) and the American Express Business Platinum Card® (5x points). However, the ongoing rewards for nonbonus category spending are higher than most other cards offer. You’ll only earn 1% or 1 point back on most other cards.

Rewards Restrictions

The United Club℠ Business Card won’t pay rewards for:

• Balance transfers
• Cash advances, traveler’s checks, foreign currency or money orders
• Wire transfers
• Lottery tickets, casino gaming chips, race track wagers or similar betting transactions
• Interest and fees of any kind, including an annual fee
• Unauthorized or fraudulent charges

Chase will transfer miles from your credit card account to your United MileagePlus® account monthly. Your miles will not expire as long as your credit card account is open. If your credit card account is closed, or if you change your account to another co-branded Chase credit card that does not have an annual fee, your miles will expire. It’s not unusual for co-branded credit cards to transfer miles from the issuer to the loyalty program, but this doesn’t occur with regular cards.

How to Redeem Your Rewards

You can redeem your miles by booking travel on United flights or United partner airlines. You’ll be responsible for paying all taxes and fees levied by the government on plane tickets.

One-way Saver Award travel starts as low as 12,500 miles for flights within the United States and Canada. Although there are no blackout dates, there are no guarantee award seats will be available for every flight. You may also book Everyday Awards travel, which offers expanded availability over Saver Awards. United says pricing varies from flight-to-flight.

Frequent flyer programs and redeeming airline miles can be confusing. The J.D. Power 2018 Airline Loyalty Program Satisfaction Study measured program member satisfaction based on earning and redeeming rewards, program benefits, account management, and member communication. United’s program ranked last among six airlines ranked. JetBlue Airways’ TrueBlue Loyalty Program ranks the highest.

United Club℠ Business Card Additional Features

The United Club℠ Business Card offers several travel and purchase protections common to small business credit cards like extended warranty protection, which will repair or replace damaged items long after manufacturer’s warranties expire. It also offers coverage a smaller number of cards offer like baggage delay insurance and priority boarding.

You’ll receive additional free benefits when using your Chase business card.

United Club Membership

You and eligible travel companions will receive free access to all United Club locations and participating Star Alliance-affiliated lounges with your United Club℠ Business Card/fitlink]. Star Alliance includes 27 member airlines. You can enjoy complimentary beverages, snacks, and free Wi-Fi while you wait for your departure. Membership rates for the United Club are typically based on the member’s MileagePlus® status level. Membership typically costs between $450 and $550 per year.

Few airline credit cards offer unlimited free access to airport lounges. The similarly priced Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card offers complimentary Delta SkyClub access. The card best suited for you depends on which airline is more convenient for you to use.

Two Free Checked Bags

You and one companion traveling on the same reservation using your United Club℠ Business Card can check two bags for free each way. Because United charges $30 for the first checked bag and $40 for the second, this benefit is worth up to $280 per round-trip flight. Several other airline co-branded credit cards offer free first checked bags, but we were unable to find one that offers two free checked bags.

Credit cards unaffiliated with airlines do not offer free checked baggage benefits, but some may offer annual travel credits that you could use to offset baggage fees. The American Express Business Platinum Card®, for example, offers a $200 annual airline fee credit. The statement credit is available on one qualifying carrier per year.

Premier Access

This benefit is meant to get you and companions on the same reservation using your United Club℠ Business Card through the airport and onto your plane quicker. Among the perks is a benefit similar to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) PreCheck®, which allows you access to security lines that are often shorter than what most travelers have to use.

The Premier Access perk offers four benefits, including:

• Exclusive check-in lines: Use designated airline check-in lines separate from what other United passengers must use, which is available in all airports
• Premier access security lane: Use a security lane for Premier Access members only; designed to be a shorter line than standard security screening lines; unlike with TSA PreCheck, you still may have to take off your shoes and take your computer out of your carry-on to get through security; this benefit is available only in select airports
• Priority boarding: You and companions on the same reservation will be able to board United-operated flights prior to general boarding; priority boarding follows boarding by groups including members of the military, families with children 2 years of age or younger and those with elite status in the airline’s frequent flyer program
• Priority baggage handling: Get your checked baggage before other passengers with this benefit

Premier Access offers a higher level of benefits than most other credit cards offer. A number of airline cards offer priority boarding benefits, including the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card.

Booking Fees Waived

United Airlines normally charges a $75 fee when you book award tickets within 21 days of departure. Use your United Club℠ Business Card to avoid paying the fee. This may be a particularly valuable benefit, as awards seats may open up during this time period. Other airlines, including American Airlines, also charge close-in booking fees. We were unable to find another credit card that allows you to avoid these fees.

Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle Elite Status

The United Club℠ Business Card enables you to join the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle and earn a 25% bonus on Hertz Gold Plus Rewards points and a free one-car-class upgrade every time you rent from Hertz. The American Express Business Platinum Card® offers status upgrades at multiple car rental agencies, including Avis, Hertz, and National.

Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance

This benefit will compensate you for trips canceled or interrupted due to a covered condition when you pay for at least a portion of your trip with your United Club℠ Business Card. This protection is also available on the Chase Ink Business Preferred^SM card.

What’s Covered with Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance

If you, your immediate family, or employee credit cardholders book a prepaid tour, trip or vacation that you or the travel operator cancel, you are eligible for coverage. That coverage is worth $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for you prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses.

You’ll be covered for the following scenarios when you book your trip using this Chase small business card:

• If you die, fall ill or suffer injury
• Severe weather, “which prevents a reasonable and prudent person” from traveling
• Change in military orders
• A terrorist action or hijacking
• A call to jury duty or receiving a subpoena from the courts
• An insured person finding their home or another covered person’s home to be uninhabitable
• Quarantine imposed by a doctor for health reasons
• Financial insolvency of the travel agency, tour operator or travel supplier

These covered conditions are common among cards that offer trip cancellation/interruption insurance. Most small business credit cards don’t offer this type of coverage. You’ll find this insurance typically on travel rewards credit cards that carry annual fees of $100 or more.

What’s Excluded From Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance

You won’t be covered when you book your trip using this Chase small business card if:

• Your travel arrangements are canceled by the travel operator that don’t involve severe weather or a labor strike
• Your plans, financial circumstances, or obligations change
• You have pre-existing conditions
• You’re traveling in a rocket-propelled or rocket-launched aircraft
• You suffer a self-inflicted injury
• War breaks out
• You’re traveling against the advice of a doctor
• You’re traveling while on a waiting list for specified medical treatment

These excluded conditions are common among credit cards that offer trip cancellation/interruption insurance.

Trip Delay Reimbursement

If your trip is delayed for more than 12 hours or an overnight stay by equipment failure, bad weather, labor strikes or a hijacking, you’re eligible for a reimbursement of expenses up to $500. Covered expenses include meals, lodging, toiletries, and medication.

Coverage up to $500 each is available for the cardholder, the cardholder’s spouse, and dependents 22 years of age and younger. You must have paid for at least a portion of the delayed trip with your Chase card to be eligible. This type of coverage is most often found on personal travel credit cards. However, it’s also offered by the Chase Ink Business Preferred^SM card.

Baggage Delay Insurance

If your checked baggage is delayed or misdirected by a carrier for more than six hours, your United Club℠ Business Card makes you eligible for a $100 per day benefit for up to three days. The coverage is limited to purchases of essential items like clothing, toiletries and charging cables for cellphones.

This benefit is found most often on personal travel rewards cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

Note: The information related to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card has been collected by Fit Small Business and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.

What’s Excluded from Baggage Delay Protection

The following coverage exclusions apply:

• Contact lenses, eyeglasses, or hearing aids
• Artificial teeth, dental bridges, or prosthetic devices
• Tickets, documents, money, securities, checks, traveler’s checks, and valuable papers
• Jewelry and watches
• Cameras, video recorders, cellular telephones, and other electronic equipment

Cards that offer this type of protection include similar exclusions in their benefits program.

Lost Luggage Reimbursement

If your checked or carry-on luggage is lost or damaged while on a flight or traveling with another covered carrier, like a passenger train, you’re eligible for reimbursement of up to $3,000 for each covered person.

That coverage on your United Club℠ Business Card includes a $500 maximum benefit for jewelry, watches, cameras, video recorders, and other electronic equipment. Loss of papers, money or tickets isn’t covered. The cardholder and immediate family members are eligible for coverage.

This type of coverage is nearly identical to what the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard® offers. That card’s benefit is capped at $10,000 per trip, regardless of how many covered travelers file claims.

Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver

When you rent a car using your United Club℠ Business Card, you’re covered in case of accident or theft. Coverage is primary if the vehicle rental is for business purposes, which means you won’t need to use your personal auto insurance or accept insurance offered by the rental agency. You may receive reimbursement for up to the cash value of the vehicle.

What’s Covered With Rental Insurance

The auto rental collision damage waiver covers damage due to collision or theft. Both the cardholder and any additional drivers permitted by the rental agreement are covered. Rentals of 31 consecutive days or less are eligible. You’ll also be covered for “reasonable and customary towing charges” and loss-of-use charges incurred by the rental car company.

This coverage is similar to what other small business cards offer. Some cards may place a monetary cap on the coverage. The American Express Business Platinum Card®, for example, caps coverage at $75,000. This Chase small business credit card does not cap coverage.

What’s Excluded From Rental Insurance

The following auto rental collision damage waiver coverage limits apply:

• Expensive, exotic, and antique automobiles
• Vans designed to carry more than eight people
• Trucks, motorcycles, mopeds, motorbikes, limousines, and recreational vehicles
• Expenses reimbursed under your personal auto insurance policy, your employer or your employer’s insurance
• Injury of anyone or anything inside or outside of the vehicle
• Leases and mini leases
• Loss or theft of personal belongings

This exclusions in this rental car insurance are common among cards that offer this benefit.

Purchase Protection

The issuer may repair, replace, or provide you with reimbursement for items purchased with your United Club℠ Business Card that are damaged or stolen within 120 days of purchase. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per item, up to $50,000 per year.

What Purchases Are Covered

Protection extends to items stolen or damaged or to items where the “location is known, but recovery is impractical to complete.” This coverage is common among credit cards offering this benefit.

What Purchases Are Excluded

The following items are not covered by purchase protection:

• Animals and living plants
• Antiques or collectible items
• Boats, aircraft, automobiles, and any other motorized vehicles
• Computer software
• Items purchased for resale
• Items that are lost or that vanish in an unexplained manner without evidence of a wrongful act
• Items under the care and control of a common carrier like the U.S. Postal Service or an airline
• Jewelry and watches stored in checked baggage
• Theft or damage resulting from abuse, fraud, hostilities of any kind, confiscation by the authorities, risks of contraband, illegal activities, normal wear and tear, flood, earthquake, radioactive contamination, or damage from inherent product defects
• Medical equipment
• Perishables or consumables
• Real estate
• Rented or leased items
• Traveler’s checks, cash, tickets, credit or debit cards, and any other negotiable instruments
• Used or pre-owned items

Business credit cards that offer this coverage typically limit coverage to either 90 or 120 days after purchase. The United Club℠ Business Card offers a longer coverage window of 120 days than Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business. Exclusions here are common across small business credit cards.

Extended Warranty Protection

Chase will extend the original manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year on warranties of three years or less up to a maximum of $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account. You must have charged some portion of the purchase to your United Club℠ Business Card or used reward points to make the purchase.

What Extended Warranty Protection Covers

Eligible items with a valid original manufacturer-written U.S. repair warranty of three years or less are covered by the extended warranty protection. Chase’s extended warranty protection offers a smaller window of additional coverage than some other small business credit cards.

What Extended Warranty Protection Excludes

The following purchases are not covered by extended warranty protection:

• Boats, automobiles, aircraft, and any other motorized vehicles
• Any costs other than those specifically covered under the terms of the original manufacturer’s written U.S. repair warranty
• Items purchased for resale
• Computer software
• Medical equipment
• Real estate
• Rented or leased items
• Used or pre-owned items

These exclusions are all common among small business credit cards that offer extended warranty protection, which is widely available from most issuers.

Adding United Club℠ Business Card Employee Credit Cards

The United Club℠ Business Card charges a $450 annual fee on the primary card, but you may add employee credit cards at no cost. With the exception of American Express, most small business credit card issuers charge no fee on employee credit cards, even if the primary card carries an annual fee.

Chase does not limit the number of employee cards you can get but says you should consider a corporate credit card if you need more than 100. You may consider a corporate card when you need more robust account management tools or want to eliminate personal liability.

What the United Club℠ Business Card Is Missing

The United Club℠ Business Card offers lower rewards on airfare than some small business credit cards, like the Chase Ink Business Preferred^SM. That card offers 3x points on all travel, including tickets on United Airlines. This card also lacks additional bonus categories like another United co-branded card, the United^SM Explorer Business Card. That card pays 2x miles at restaurants, gas stations, and office supply stores

United Club℠ Business Card Reviews

We scoured the internet in search of United Club℠ Business Card user reviews. Cardholders say they value the included United Club membership. Users who can take advantage often enough, say the free drinks and snacks help pay for the membership over time. Users with negative reviews say a personal card, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, offers higher rewards for the same price.

How to Apply for the United Club℠ Business Card

Before opening a small business credit card, learn what you need to do to prepare. Apply for the United Club℠ Business Card online either through Chase or United Airlines by filling out a basic application. You’ll need to provide both business and personal information, like your Social Security number and business address.

You may be approved instantly. If you’re not, check your application status online by logging into your account if you’re an existing Chase customer; otherwise, call 800-453-9719. If you’re approved, you’ll receive your card in the mail within seven to 10 days.

How to Log Into Your United Club℠ Business Card Account

Log into your United Club℠ Business Card account by providing your user ID and password. You can also contact customer service from the number on the back of your card.

Other Chase Business Credit Cards

Chase offers five other business credit cards, all of which offer rewards. Some cards are partner cards that reward you for airline travel expenses. The others offer points or cash back on all purchases. If you want a Chase business credit card, make sure to choose the card that’s right for your spending needs.

The other Chase business credit cards include the:

• Chase Ink Business Preferred^SM: This card is best for businesses with large travel, shipping, and telecommunications budgets as you’ll earn 3x points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases
• Chase Ink Business Cash^SM: This card is best for owners with big office supply expenses; you’ll earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable, cellular phone, and landline services each account anniversary year
• Chase Ink Business Unlimited^SM: This card is best for owners who don’t want to track bonus category spending; you’ll earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases
• United^SM Explorer Business Card: This card is best for owners who fly United Airlines frequently, but don’t need lounge access; it pays 2x miles on United purchases and at restaurants, gas stations, and office supply stores
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card: This card is best for businesses that frequently use Southwest Airlines for travel; it pays 2x points on Southwest purchases and 6,000 bonus points on each cardmember anniversary

Alternatives to the United Club℠ Business Card

The United Club℠ Business Card is great for loyal United Airlines’ customers who want unlimited lounge access. However, other travel rewards credit cards may offer better rewards or perks like a pass that allows a companion to fly free with a paying traveler.

3 Alternatives to the United Club℠ Business Card

For rates and fees on the American Express Business Platinum Card®, please click here.
For rates and fees on the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, please click here.
For rates and fees on the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, please click here.