Chase United Business Card review – New benefits and monster 100,000 mile bonus

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The United℠ Business Card is one of the best companions a United flyer can have. And it’s recently added a slew of new benefits that make the card even more valuable and puts it in the running to hop onto our list of the best airline credit cards.

You’ll get perks like a $100 United travel credit after meeting purchase requirements, 5,000 bonus miles on your account anniversary (if you also have a personal United card) and free checked bags (which can save up to $120 per round-trip), priority boarding (you’ll always board with plenty of overhead bin space), two single-use United Airlines airport lounge passes annually and lots more. Oh yeah, and you can earn a six-figure sign-up bonus after meeting tiered minimum spending requirements.

In this review, I’ll show you how to reach anywhere but Antarctica with its bonus — and I’ll expound on the card’s great benefits.

Who is the United Business Card for?

With a massive welcome bonus and reasonable annual fee, this card is great for United flyers. While you’ll really be able to maximize the benefits if you frequently fly with United, you can still get great value from this card even if you fly United just one or two times a year.

Chase United Business Card bonus

When you open the United Business Card, you can earn up to 100,000 United Airlines miles after spending $10,000 in the first three months from account opening.  We value United miles around 1.3-1.4 cents each on average, meaning this bonus could easily get you $1,300 in value.

100,000 miles could get you at least four to five round-trip flights in the US, although we’ll examine some fun things you can do with this card’s bonus later on, including amazing overseas vacations.

Benefits and perks of the United Business Card

Here’s the United Business Card’s moneymaker. If this collection of benefits doesn’t appeal to you, you probably won’t keep this card long term.

5,000 bonus miles on account anniversary

One of the new benefits added to the card is 5,000 bonus anniversary miles when holding both a personal United credit card and a business united credit card at the same time. While this might not apply to many people, if it does you can easily get solid value, around $70, from the 5,000 miles just for holding the two cards. And there may be ways to do this while only paying one annual fee by holding a personal, no annual fee United Credit card and the United business credit card.

$100 United flight credit

Another new benefit, United Business Card holders will now earn a $100 United travel credit after making seven United flight purchases of $100 or more. If you’re able to unlock this credit, it’s nearly as good as $100 in cash.

If you only travel on United a few times a year, you could still unlock this credit by breaking out your purchases as one-way flights to make the seven, $100+ transactions (and this is even easier if you’re traveling with a companion).

25% back of United inflight purchases

Again, another great perk for frequent United flyers that already existed on the United℠ Explorer Card. You’ll get 25% back after making in-flight purchases on United flights. That essentially means a 25% discount on food, beverages and even in-flight Wi-Fi. This could save you some cash even if you fly United just a few times a year.

A free checked bag for you and a companion

This can be huge.

When you use your United Business Card to purchase a ticket (or pay the taxes and fees on your award ticket), and add your loyalty program number, you and one companion will get your first checked bags free (United Airlines operated flights only). United Airlines charges $30 each way for checked bags, so if you’re in the habit of checking a bag, you’ll save $60 per round-trip flight, or up to $120 round-trip if you’re traveling with a partner.

Considering the card’s annual fee is $99, it’s worth opening if you and a partner plan to check a bag with United Airlines this year.

Extra (hidden) award seats

This perk isn’t even fair to folks who don’t have the card.

Anyone who holds an eligible United Airlines credit card will have access to more award seats than those without the card. In other words, if you don’t have the card, seats may look sold out online,  but card members have plenty to choose from.

This benefit can be a lifesaver when your travel plans aren’t very flexible and can open up saver awards that aren’t available to the general public, therefore saving you miles.

Priority boarding

With Priority Boarding, you’ll still be far from the first passenger aboard the plane. But you’ll also be far from the last. That’ll give you ample time to find overhead bin space for your carry-on.

The best part of this benefit is that it allows you to book United Airlines Basic Economy tickets without losing too many freedoms. For example, with Basic Economy, you aren’t allowed a carry-on. But if you book the fare with the United Business Card, you are. This can also save you some serious cash since you can avoid carry-on fees, even if you only fly United just once a year.

Also, Basic Economy means you’re absolutely dead last to board the plane.

Indy boarding his United Airlines Basic Economy flight

If you use your United card to purchase the ticket, you’ll still get priority boarding. The only effects you’ll feel of Basic Economy is that you won’t be able to choose your seat or make any changes to your ticket.

If you don’t have a United Airlines credit card, you should stay away from Basic Economy and just book the incrementally pricier coach fare. If you do have a United Airlines card, the ability to book Basic Economy with little repercussions can add up over time.

Two United Club Passes annually

Every year when you renew your United Business Card, you’ll get two United Club Lounge one-time passes.

These regularly cost $59 each, (though I’d never actually pay that amount), and they’re a nice refuge from the airport terminal, where you’ll find tons of electrical outlets, snacks and usually free alcohol. United Airlines has some pretty cool lounges in their hub airports, too, like San Francisco and Chicago.

Note: You must be flying United Airlines or a partner airline to use your one-time pass.

Primary rental car insurance

When renting a car for business purposes, you’ll receive primary rental car insurance for most car rentals under 31 days when you charge the entire amount of the rental to your United Business Card, but you must waive the rental agency’s insurance. This means you won’t have to alert your personal insurance company when you scratch or dent your car. Chase will take care of it!

Many rental car agencies will charge $15+ per day for their in-house insurance, so this can save you a bundle if you rent cars often.

Trip delay insurance

When your travel is delayed 12+ hours or requires an overnight stay, you and your family are covered for things like meals and accommodation, up to $500 per person.

Baggage delay insurance

When your bag is delayed six or more hours, you’ll receive $100 for reasonable expenses, like clothes and toiletries. You’re eligible to receive $100 per day for up to three days (a total compensation of up to $300).

Lost luggage reimbursement

If you or an immediate family member has checked or carry-on bags that become lost or damaged by the carrier, you can be reimbursed up to $3,000 per passenger.

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance

If sickness, severe weather or other eligible situations cut your trip short, you may be reimbursed up to $10,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses, such as:

• Airfare
• Tours
• Hotels

Purchase protection

New purchases made to your card are covered for 120 days against damage or theft, up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year.

Extended warranty

You’ll receive an extra year of coverage on manufacturer warranties that last three years or less.

United Business Card Customer Service

This is a Chase card, so you know you’ll receive exceptional customer service when you need it. When you call Chase, you’ll always be greeted by an agent instead of an automated menu. That in itself is a world of difference from other card issuers.

How to earn miles with the United Business Card

With the United Business Card, you’ll earn:

• 2 United Airlines miles per dollar you spend on purchases from United Airlines
• 2 United Airlines miles per dollar spent at restaurants, gas stations, and office supply stores
• [NEW] 2 United Airlines miles per $1 spent on local transit and commuting – including taxis, mass transit, tolls, and ride share services
• 1 United Airlines mile per dollar you spend on everything else

Those are decent earnings for an airline credit card. Many other cards have an equal or greater earning rate for those purchases, though. Still, it’s nice that the card has added the of earning 2x miles on local transit, taxis and ride-shares.

It’s worth mentioning the value of the MileagePlus X app paired with this card, though. The MileagePlus X app is a portal that gives you extra miles for purchases you’d make anyway via dining, online shopping, purchasing gift cards, etc.

The real power of the United Business Card comes from its benefits, not its earning rate. However, it’s earnings aren’t too bad so it can definitely still be worth putting spend on the card.

How to redeem miles with the United Business Card

It’s true, United Airlines got rid of its award chart on November 15, 2019. However, you can still use United Airlines miles to fly many more airlines than just United Airlines. The prices for partner awards, like Turkish Airlines, SWISS, Lufthansa and 20+ more airlines are staying the same. And you won’t have to pay gigantic fuel surcharges when booking through the United MileagePlus program, either.

You can read this post to learn exactly how to book United Airlines award flights on the United Airlines website. Before you know it, you’ll be jetting off to a bucket-list destination you never thought would materialize. Here’s some inspiration on the best use of United miles.

Here are a few fun things you can do with 100,000 United Airlines miles:

• Round-trip coach award flight to Europe (60,000 miles)
• One business class flight to Europe (60,000 miles)
• Two round-trip coach award flights to Hawaii (90,000 miles)
• Round-trip coach flight to Australia or New Zealand (80,000 miles)
• Two round-trip coach award flights to Peru (80,000 miles)

It’s also nice to know that United Miles no longer expire, so you don’t need to worry about redeeming your miles immediately.

Insider Secret

If you have a United business credit card, you’ll receive access to more available award seats than people without the card. This benefit can make it much easier to find award seats. The new perks like the $100 United travel credit and 5,000 bonus anniversary miles are exclusive to the United Business Card. The card can even unlock some benefits unavailable to those with United elite status.

Is the United Business Card worth it?

Yes! If you fly United Airlines more than a couple times per year, the United Business card is fantastic. Remember, you’ll save $30 each way when checking a bag. One round-trip flight with your partner and you’ve already saved $120. And on a related note, you’re able to book the cheapest fares (Basic Economy) without having too different an experience than a regular coach passenger.

Also, if you don’t have another card with travel insurance, this card is a boon. Baggage delays happen (I’ve been reimbursed hundreds of dollars from Chase for this exact reason), and you’re bound to receive reimbursement for your misfortune sooner or later.

And those are just the perks that have been around for awhile. With the new $100 United travel credit, the 5,000 bonus anniversary miles and the 25% discount on in-flight purchases you can easily get huge value out of this card. The $100 United credit alone could negate the cost of the annual fee.

There’s a $99 annual fee with this card, and it’s worth it for at least the first year to see if the card’s ongoing perks will save you money in addition to the huge sign up bonus. Not all of us on the MMS team have this card, but the ones that do have kept it because we save way more than we spend on the annual fee.

One important note is that if you’ve opened five or more cards from any bank (not counting Chase business cards and other business cards) in the past 24 months, you won’t be approved.

Cards similar to the United Business Card

United flyers can consider the personal version of this card. It’s got many of the same benefits (like free checked bags and access to more award seats), and you don’t need a for-profit venture to qualify. Currently, the United℠ Explorer Card comes with a limited time bonus of up to 60,000 United Airlines miles after you spend $3,000 in the first three months.

Or, if your primary motivation for getting the card is United Airlines miles, consider a card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which transfer to United Airlines at 1:1 ratio. Our top pick is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. Chase points are great because if you decide not to transfer to United for whatever reason, you have a dozen other valuable partners you can transfer to, like Hyatt or British Airways.

Bottom line

The United Business Card comes with up to 100,000 United Airlines miles after after spending $10,000 in the first three months from account opening. That’s a huge bonus and that alone could make the card worth opening.

United Airlines miles are easy to use, because you can redeem them for flights on 25+ partner airlines to reach every corner of the world! The card also has exceptional perks for United Airlines flyers, like free checked bags, extra award availability, priority boarding, primary rental car insurance when renting for business purposes, and lots more. And with the new perks like the $100 United travel credit, 5,000 bonus anniversary miles and 2x miles on transit make the card even more enticing.