Earn powerful and flexible rewards through normal business spending.
These cards are designed for businesses on the move, offering solid perks like cash back or rewards in categories that include hotels, airfare and upgrades. Travel rewards are the most lucrative rewards for business owners who take many work trips. Pick up a travel business credit card if you travel for business often or simply want to save rewards for an occasional trip.
We looked at a few factors when comparing business cards for travel, including annual fees, welcome offers, reward opportunities, redemption options and other features a consumer might consider in a business travel card. We highlighted those that stood out above the others in a particular category.
What’s changed in 2021?
We added the American Express® Business Gold Card as our best for luxury travel. We also added a section that explains how many miles you need to fly to make a business travel card worth it — we even break out the math to help you identify opportunities to make the most of your card.
This card is a powerful product, with up to 3x points in common business categories. Your points are worth 25% more when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Pros
Signup bonus: 100,000 bonus points. Spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months or card membership to earn the bonus. These points are worth $1,250 when you redeem them through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Rewards: Up to 3x points in business categories. Earn 3x points on the first $150,000 you spend in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, and eligible advertising purchases. Earn 1x points on all other purchases.
Point transfers to airline and hotel partners. Transfer your points at a 1:1 ratio to nine airline programs and four hotel programs.
Cons
Annual fee. The card costs $95 annually.
No intro APR period. You don't get a 0% intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers.
Annual fee
$95
Purchase APR
15.99% to 20.99% variable
Foreign transaction fee
None
Welcome Offer
100,000 points after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months
If you travel constantly — and like doing so in style — put this card on your shortlist. The card offers accelerated rewards only on eligible flights and hotels through American Express Travel, so it’s much easier to earn meaningful rewards if you’re always on the go.
Pros
Global Lounge Collection. Get access to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, including the Centurion Lounge, International American Express lounges and Delta Sky Club when flying Delta. To get access to Priority Pass Select, Airspace and Escape lounges, you'll need to enroll first.
Welcome offer. Spend $15,000 on purchases in your first 3 months of card membership and get 120,000 bonus points. This is one of the higher welcome offers on the market.
Membership rewards. Get x points on prepaid hotels and flights through Amex Travel, 1.5x points on eligible purchases at US construction material and hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software and cloud system providers, shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Get 1x points on everything else you buy.
Cons
High annual fee. This is one of the more expensive business cards with a $595 annual fee.
Annual fee
$695
Foreign transaction fee
None
Welcome Offer
120,000 points after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months
If you want to keep your rewards simple, this may be the card for you. It offers 2x miles on all purchases and 5x miles on hotel and rental car bookings through Capital One Travel.
Pros
Annual fee: Waived for the first year, then $95.
Signup bonus: 50,000 bonus miles. Spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months of card membership to earn this bonus.
Rewards: Up to 5x miles. Earn 5x miles on hotel and rental car bookings through Capital One Travel. On everything else, you'll earn 2 miles per dollar. There are no blackouts or seat restrictions for redemption, and there is no minimum to redeem.
Cons
Potentially high APR. Your ongoing APR for purchases and balance transfers could be as high as 23.99% variable depending on your credit.
No intro APR for balance transfers. The Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business offers a 0% intro APR for purchases only.
Annual fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter)
Purchase APR
20.99% variable
Foreign transaction fee
None
Welcome Offer
50,000 miles after spending $4,500 in the first 3 months
When you anticipate heavy spending, an intro APR can be a lifesaver. If that’s what you’re after, check out this card. Not only does it offer a strong intro APR promotion, it also offers impressive flat travel rewards.
Pros
Annual fee: None. You might be surprised by the strength of the cards rewards given the $0 annual fee.
Intro APR: 0% on purchases for 12 months following your account opening. After that, your APR reverts to 13.24% to 19.24% variable depending on your creditworthiness.
Rewards: 2x points on all purchases. Earn 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent in all categories, on up to $50,000 in purchases each year, then 1x points after that.
Cons
No intro on balance transfers. This card no longer features an intro APR on balance transfers.
Annual fee
$0
Purchase APR
0% intro for the first 12 months (then 13.24% to 19.24% variable)
The Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card will serve you best if you frequently stay at Marriott properties on business. It offers 6x points on eligible Marriott Bonvoy hotels and a solid welcome offer.
Pros
Welcome offer: 75,000 bonus points. Also earn $150 back in statement credits on eligible purchases made within your first 3 months. To earn this welcome offer, make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
Rewards: Up to 6x points. You'll earn 6x points on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels. In addition, you'll earn 4x points at US restaurants and US gas stations as well as on eligible US wireless service and US shipping. This means you don't have to travel often to squeeze significant rewards from the card. You'll earn 2x points on all other eligible purchases. These points are worth roughly $0.01 cent each based on Finder's recent valuations and you can redeem your points for rewards like nights at Marriott Bonvoy properties, as well as flights and car rentals through Marriott Bonvoy's airline program. You can also transfer points to more than 40 frequent-flyer programs at a 3:1 ratio.
Complimentary Silver Elite status. You'll earn Silver Elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program with enrollment. That means you'll receive complimentary in-room Internet access, a 10% points bonus on eligible spending, priority late checkout and a dedicated Elite reservation line.
Free Night Award. A great perk that helps you recoup the value of your annual fee. Every year after your card account anniversary, you'll receive a Free Night Award. This is good for one night that costs 35,000 or fewer points.
Cons
Annual fee: $125. You'll pay an annual fee of $125 to own the card (Terms apply, see rates & fees). While the card perks more than make up for this fee, you'll need to remember to use them to offset this cost.
No balance transfers. American Express doesn't allow balance transfers to this card.
Annual fee
$125
Purchase APR
15.74% to 24.74% variable
Foreign transaction fee
None
Welcome Offer
Earn 75,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
This card offers up to 4x points in the two categories you spend the most in each billing cycle — up to a maximum of $150,000 in combined purchases annually. You’ll also net travel rewards like baggage insurance, travel accident insurance, roadside assistance and no foreign transaction fees.
Pros
Signup bonus: 70,000 bonus points. Spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months or card membership to earn the bonus. These points are worth when you redeem them through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Rewards: Up to 4x points in business categories. Earn 4x points on the first $150,000 you spend in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, and eligible advertising purchases. Earn 1x points on all other purchases.
Point transfers to airline and hotel partners. Transfer your points at a 1:1 ratio to nine airline programs and four hotel programs.
Cons
Annual fee: $295 annual fee. The American Express® Business Gold Card has a steep $295 annual fee.This is a higher annual fee than many other business credit cards. Several business cards that offer a $0 intro annual fee charge annual fees of just $95 in your second year.
No balance transfers. American Express does not allow balance transfers for this card.
Annual fee
$295
Purchase APR
14.24% to 22.24% variable
Foreign transaction fee
None
Welcome Offer
70,000 points after spending $10,000 in the first 3 months
How do I choose the best business credit card for travel?
There’s no such thing as a perfect card. Rather, there’s a card that works well specifically for your business. To choose the best travel card for your business, consider the following:
How large is your business? Many business credit cards are tailored to businesses of a certain size. A business card with a low spending cap on rewards for example might not be the best pick if your business spending is much higher than the cap.
Is your business growing? If you plan on expanding your business, you might want a card with an intro APR or with rewards on categories that you’ll be spending on during your expansion. A few examples might include office supplies or internet services.
What are your business travel needs? When picking a business card, you’ll choose between a general, airline or hotel credit card. A general card is typically a good choice if your spending is dispersed throughout several categories or if you don’t travel much. You’ll earn points or miles you can spend on a variety of travel rewards, such as airfare, hotels, cruises and car rentals. Consider an airline or hotel card if you’re a loyal customer of a certain travel brand. For example, there’s a perfect card for you if you’re a power Delta flyer. And if you simply must stay at Marriott properties wherever you go, there’s a card with your name on it.
Can you earn the signup bonus? Business credit cards often come with lucrative signup bonuses. Before applying for one, consider whether you can reach its bonus spending requirement. You get one chance to fulfill the requirement — if you don’t meet it within a specified time, you won’t get another shot.
Do you want the ultimate airline or hotel perks? If yes, choosing an airline or hotel business credit card may be a better choice over a general business travel card. That’s because you get to use perks you may otherwise not get, including free checked bags or priority boarding.
How many miles do I need to fly to make a business travel card worth it?
Generally, a travel card’s worth is less about the miles you fly and more about the perks and features you use. Many business travel cards require an annual fee. The price of this annual fee is usually tied to the number of perks and features offered by the card – the more valuable your perks and features, the higher the card’s annual fee. To make a business travel card worth it, the value you earn from using the card’s perks or rewards need to outstrip the cost of the card itself.
Thankfully, creating this value is often simple. In the case of a modestly priced card like the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you just need to earn enough points on the card to equal $95 — the annual fee of the card itself. The card earns 3x points on travel as well as other business expenses, like Internet, shipping and cable. Points earned on this card are worth 25 percent more when redeemed through the Chase portal.
1 Chase Ultimate Reward point = 1.25 cents
7,700 points x 1.25 = 9,625 points
9,625 points = $96.25
In total, you’d need to spend enough with your business card to earn 7,700 points to break even on the card. Anything you spend beyond that is pure value. Things can get both easier and a little more complicated with a higher priced luxury card. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express costs a whopping $695 each year. However, the card comes with a variety of interesting perks to offset this fee, including a $200 airline fee credit each year. Provided you use it, this effectively lowers the annual fee of the card to $395.
Tag on a few other perks, like complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, and the value you’re generating is far exceeding the cost of the card. Hilton Honors Gold status alone would run you thousands of dollars to achieve if you were to earn it without the Business Platinum Card. Provided you use the card’s travel features, you’re likely going to find a business travel card worth your time.
Pros and cons of travel business credit cards
Pros
Generous rewards on travel purchases
High welcome offer
Travel perks
Employee spending controls and monitoring
No foreign transaction fees
Cons
Not many cards come with a 0% intro APR period
Better cards come with a higher annual fee
Accelerated rewards only on travel purchases
Types of business credit cards for travel
There are three types of travel business cards, each with its own perks and features.
General travel cards. These are often best for businesses that travel with a variety of airlines and stay at a variety of hotels. That’s because travel cards reward you on general travel purchases and you can redeem your rewards on general travel purchases.
Airline credit cards. These are best for businesses that prefer one airline and their partner airlines. With this type of card, you earn accelerated rewards on one airline and you may get additional perks like free checked bags, priority boarding or in-flight food and beverage discounts. If you meet certain spend requirements, you may even reach an elite status tier that comes with additional perks.
Hotel credit cards. These are best if you prefer one hotel brand. That way, you’ll earn the most rewards on your hotel stays, plus you’ll get a host of other benefits like reward nights, complimentary breakfast, early check-in and more.
Note: Most airline and hotel credit cards let you transfer your points to partners, or you can redeem for a variety of other rewards. This makes them almost as versatile as general travel rewards cards.
What type of travel insurance is available with business credit cards?
The type of travel insurance varies between business credit cards but generally falls under one of the following types of policies:
Travel accident insurance. Coverage for death and dismemberment while traveling on a common carrier such as a bus, plane, train or a ship.
Travel inconvenience cover. Coverage for issues such as trip delays, luggage loss and trip cancellations.
Emergency assistance. This includes emergency ticket replacement, lost item assistance, referrals to lawyers, medical assistance and more.
Vehicle rental cover. Provides insurance for loss or damage to your rental vehicle.
What else do I need to know about business credit cards with travel insurance?
Keep these factors in mind to get the most out of a business credit card with travel insurance:
Policy activation. In most cases, you need to use the credit card to pay for some or all of your eligible travel before you leave.
Annual fee. Make sure you weigh the cost of the annual fee against the potential benefits of the card, including travel insurance, to decide if it’s worth it for your business needs.
Additional cardholder fee. If you want to share your business credit card account with employees, make sure you check whether an additional cardholder fee will apply and how much it costs.
Interest rate. If you need to pay for some or all of your travel using the credit card, make sure you check the interest rate and factor in the cost that could apply if you don’t pay your balance in full.
Other features. Remember to consider the other features of the card, including expense tracking, compatibility with accounting software and rewards and potential grace periods.
Should I get a business credit card for travel?
To answer this question, consider the following:
Do you want to separate personal and business expenses? There can be many benefits to getting a business card, such as establishing business credit history, keeping your personal credit utilization low and acquiring employee cards. In addition, you get spending management tools to simplify bookkeeping.
Do you travel a lot? If travel is a big business expense, you might have a great reason to get a business credit card for travel. Most notably, you can earn significant rewards for activities like flying and staying in hotels.
Do you want travel rewards? Even if you don’t travel much, a business credit card for travel might be useful. You can earn rewards throughout the year from normal business spending, then use your points or miles for an occasional getaway.
Do you want travel perks? Cobranded credit cards offer perks when used at a specific airline or a hotel. This may include free checked bags, airport lounge access, hotel elite status, complimentary breakfast and Wi-Fi and more.
Compare travel business cards
Here’s a quick side-by-side look at some of the travel business cards available.
Bottom line
A business credit card for travel can be a good choice if you travel often or want to save rewards for occasional trips. To find the right card for you, evaluate products by weighing out the cost and rewards of each. Consider the cards we listed as our best picks.
Kevin Joey Chen is a credit cards, banking and investments writer whose work and analysis have appeared on CNN, U.S. News & World Report, Business.com, Lifehacker and CreditCards.com. He's passionate about helping you get your finances in order by expertly navigating cutting-edge financial tools — including credit cards, apps and budgeting software.
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