United Business Card vs. United Club Business Card: Which One Should You Get?
United offers two business credit cards with similar names but very different annual fees and benefits.
The midrange United℠Business Card offers great value for a low annual fee. In comparison, the top-tier United Club Business Card has a much higher annual fee and offers some valuable benefits to frequent flyer United Business travelers.
If you’re a business owner and want a United co-branded card, which of these cards is better for you? Let’s look at the pros of both cards and take a deeper look at each one.
Information about United Club business is independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
United Business vs. United Club Business Comparison
| United Airlines business card | United Airlines Club Business Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Sign up bonus | Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $5,000 on qualifying purchases within the first three months of account opening. | Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 1,000 Premier qualifying points after spending $5,000 in qualifying purchases within the first three months of account opening. |
| annual fee | The introductory annual fee is $0 for the first year, and $99 thereafter | $450 |
| benefit | Earn 2 miles for every $1 you spend on United flights
Earn 3 miles for every dollar spent on United Hotels Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent at restaurants, gas stations, office supply stores, local transportation and commuting Earn 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases |
Earn 2 miles for every $1 you spend on United flights
Earn 3.5 miles for every $1 spent on United hotel travel Earn 1.5 miles per $1 on all other purchases |
| Use the lounge | Two one-time United Club passes per year | United Club Membership |
| United Airlines Benefits | One free checked baggage
Priority boarding Earn $100 in annual travel credit after making seven or more United purchases worth $100 each anniversary year Earn 25% back on premium inflight and club beverages on United Airlines Earn up to 1,000 PQP through spending Expand reward scope Award ticket VIP upgrade If you still have a personal United card, you can earn 5,000 miles per card anniversary |
Two free checked bags
Premier Access service – designated check-in channel, priority security check channel, priority boarding and priority baggage handling (if available) Earn 25% back on premium in-flight and club beverages on United Airlines Earn up to 1,000 PQP through spending Expand reward scope Award ticket VIP upgrade |
| Other benefits | Travel and purchase protection
No foreign transaction fees |
Travel and purchase protection
Avis President’s Club Elite Status No foreign transaction fees |
United Business and United Club Business Welcome Offers
Currently, United Business Class earns 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $5,000 in qualifying purchases within the first three months of account opening. The United Club Business Card earns 50,000 bonus miles and 1,000 PQP when you spend $5,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening.
According to TPG’s January 2025 valuations, 75,000 and 50,000 United miles are worth $1,013 and $675 respectively. This number of miles is enough to purchase a domestic economy class award ticket or a one-way premium class ticket on United Airlines or its partners.
winner: tie. The United Business Card offers 25,000 more miles than the Club Business Card, but the Club Business Card gives you 1,000 PQP, which is useful if you want to earn United MileagePlus Premier status. .
Related Reading: How to Unlock Extra Rewards with a United Airlines Credit Card
United Business and United Club Business Benefits
The United Business Card offers the cardholder and up to one companion on United flights a free first checked bag, with a round-trip value of up to $160. Cardholders also receive priority boarding, 25% off on inflight purchases and two one-time United Club passes on each account anniversary. Additionally, cardholders with a personal United Card will receive 5,000 Anniversary Bonus Miles per account year if you use the card to make seven or more qualifying United purchases in an account year, each time For purchases of at least $100, you will receive a $100 bill credit.
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Travelers who hold the United Business Lounge Card and their companions on the same reservation purchased with the card receive a free first and second checked bag (up to a value of $360).
Cardholders have access to the airline’s Premier Access services, including designated check-in and security lanes, priority boarding and baggage handling. They also get a 25% rebate on food, beverages, Wi-Fi and expanded rewards on board, which could save them tens of thousands of miles each year.
These are all useful perks, but the most valuable United Club Business perk is free United Club Business membership. Access to United Club airport lounges and select Star Alliance lounges with up to two passengers (or one adult and any children) when flying with United and its partners. This benefit alone is worth $550-650 per year and is probably the most important reason to get this card.
Ultimately, both cards can help you modestly improve United’s elite Premier status. You can earn 25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases per year, up to a maximum of 1,000 PQP per year. Since United has lowered the spending requirements for PQP, it’s become easier to earn status through credit card spending.
Additional benefits of both cards include no foreign transaction fees, major rental car insurance, travel accident insurance, trip cancellation and interruption, and purchase coverage for new items. The United Club Business Card also offers Avis Presidents Club elite status, which provides benefits such as upgrades and expanded availability.
winner: United Club Business. Two checked bags and United Club membership are unbeatable.
Related Reading: The Ultimate Guide to Using United Airlines Lounges
Earn miles with United Business Class and United Club Business Class
The United Business Card earns bonus points in a number of different categories. Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent at United shopping, gas stations, restaurants and office supply stores, as well as local transportation and commuting (including public transit systems, tolls, cabs and rides). Cardholders also earn 3 miles for every $1 spent at United hotels.
In comparison, the United Club Business Card earns 2 miles per dollar on United purchases and 3.5 miles per dollar on United hotel purchases. Additionally, the card earns a flat rate of 1.5 miles per $1 spent on all other purchases.
If you tend to make multiple purchases from certain types of merchants, where the United Business Card earns 2 miles per dollar spent, the card’s earn rate can help you rack up miles for award flights quickly.
However, if your buying activity spans a broader category, a simpler revenue formula in the club business may suit you better.
winner: United Commerce. It offers bonus points in more categories than club business.
Redeem miles through United Business Class and United Club Business Class miles
Both United business credit cards earn United miles, which are deposited into the cardholder’s MileagePlus account. You can redeem United miles for United and United Express flights, as well as flights on any Star Alliance or partner airline.
TPG credit card writer Chris Nelson is a long-time Manchester United fan. He took advantage of many partner redemptions and redeemed his miles for many discounted award tickets, including last-minute Polaris business class flights to Europe.
winner: tie. Both cards earn United miles, which can be redeemed through the MileagePlus program.
Related: How to redeem miles through United’s MileagePlus program
Should I choose United Business Class or United Club Business Class?
If your business purchases tend to fall into the reward categories offered by the United Business Card, its higher earn rate can help you earn miles. On the other hand, if you travel frequently on United, you might prefer United Club Business because it offers lounge access, additional free checked bags, airport VIP access ( Premier Access) services and more comprehensive travel protection.
How to upgrade from United Business Class to United Club Business Class
Both cards are issued by Chase Bank and are part of the same credit card family. This is helpful because if you have a United Business Card, you can call Chase customer service to upgrade to a United Club Business Card. Please note that upgrading to the United Lounge Business Card will not qualify you for that card’s sign-up bonus, and you may not receive the card’s sign-up bonus if you try to apply for the same card within 24 months .
Related: The Ultimate Guide to Upgrading Your Credit Card
bottom line
Both cards are tailored for United loyalty members and offer competitive welcome bonuses to new applicants. Although the annual fees are significantly different, for those who are able to maximize their United Club business, the benefits more than make up for the high fees. Before applying for either card, understand your business expenses, determine how often you’ll fly with United, and choose the right card to meet your business expenses and redemption desires.
To learn more, read our full review of United Business Cards.
Apply here: United Business Card
