Battle of the United Airlines business credit cards. Who flies higher?
Those loyal to United have likely eyeballed both the United℠ Explorer Business Card and the United MileagePlus® Club Business Card. But which United Airlines business credit card makes the most sense for you?
If you’re constantly booking United flights, you’ll enjoy the extended amount of comfort that the United MileagePlus® Club Business Card offers. But if you’re not much of a frequent flyer, the United℠ Explorer Business Card will likely serve you just fine.
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United℠ Explorer Business Card
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United MileagePlus® Club Business Card
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|---|---|
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| 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open | Earn a $100 statement credit after your first purchase |
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Earn 2x miles at restaurants, gas stations and office supply stores, 2x miles on tickets purchased from United and 1x miles on all other purchases.
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Earn 2x miles on tickets purchased from United and 1.5x miles on all other purchases. |
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18.24% to 25.24% variable |
18.24% to 25.24% variable |
| $0 intro annual fee the first year, then $95 | $450 |
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APR: 18.24% to 25.24% variable
Fee: $5 or 5% of the transaction, whichever is greater |
APR: 18.24% to 25.24% variable
Fee: $5 or 5% of the transaction, whichever is greater |
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APR: 27.24% to 0% variable Fee: $15 or 5% of the transaction, whichever is greater |
APR: 27.24% variable Fee: $15 or 5% of the transaction, whichever is greater |
| Up to $39 | $39 |
| $0 | $0 |
| 20 days | 20 days |
| $0 | $0 |
| 670 | 670 |
| Credit | Credit |
| Rates & Fees | Rates & Fees |
Which card should you choose?
United℠ Explorer Business Card
- First bag checked free
- 2 complimentary United Club passes each year
- No foreign transaction fees
The United℠ Explorer Business Card is going to cost you less than its counterpart — only $95 a year — and you'll still have the opportunity to rake in the same amount of miles on tickets purchased from United. You'll even be able to earn an additional 10,000 bonus miles when you spend $25,000 each calendar year. And if you're spending across multiple categories like gas, dining and office supplies, you can earn 2x miles — an offer the other lacks.
United MileagePlus® Club Business Card
- Complimentary United Club Membership ($550 value per year)
- First and second bag checked free
- No foreign transaction fees
Off the bat, you'll get a $100 statement credit when you make your first purchase with the United MileagePlus® Club Business Card. Plus, you'll have Premier Access, which speeds up the time-consuming processes at the airport — including fast-tracked check-in, security, boarding and baggage handling. You'll also get exclusive access to The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, be invited to register for Discoverist status with World of Hyatt and get Elite status with Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President's Circle. And if booking flights last minute happens often in your business, the absence of close-in fees for reward flights will be a lifesaver.
Both cards offer no foreign transaction fees, distinct travel perks, employee credit cards at no cost and miles that don’t expire.
What’s next?
If you fly for business or personal reasons and your go-to airline is United, these two Chase United business cards can keep you comfortable when doing so — just be sure to choose the one that makes sense for how often you fly.
But if you’re someone who isn’t a complete United loyalist, you’ll likely be better off with an all-around travel rewards credit card. See what else is offered in our comparison table below.
An alternative airline card
Disclaimer
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.