Compare the best business cards for travel
Card name | Rewards rate | Annual fee | Excellent for... |
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4X Membership Rewards Points on purchases in the two eligible categories with the most spend each month from 6 eligible categories (up to $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year, after that 1X), 3X Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels booked at amextravel.com, and 1 point per $1 spent on other eligible purchases | $375 (terms apply) | Flexible rewards |
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2X Membership Rewards points on everyday eligible business purchases up to $50,000 each year, and 1X points on eligible purchases after that | $0 (terms apply) | Simple earning |
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5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com; 2X points on purchases at U.S. suppliers of construction materials and hardware, U.S. retailers of electronic goods, U.S. providers of shipping, software and cloud systems, and on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more (up to $2 million per year, then 1X), and 1X points per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases (purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus) | $895 | Premium Perks |
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Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase | $0 | Everyday earning |
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2x miles on United® purchases, dining, at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting; plus 1x mile on all other purchases | $150 | International flights |
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5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year; 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year; and 1% cash back on all other purchases | $0 | Elevated everyday earning |
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5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site, and 2X miles on every purchase, every day | $95 (waived first year) | Lucrative rewards on everything |
As you review each card, consider your top priorities to narrow down the selection to the best fit for you and your business.
American Express® Business Gold Card
- Annual fee: $375
- Welcome offer: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months
- Rewards rate: 4X Membership Rewards Points on purchases in the two eligible categories with the most spend each month from 6 eligible categories (up to $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year, after that 1X), 3X Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels booked at amextravel.com, and 1 point per $1 spent on other eligible purchases
While the American Express Business Gold Card doesn't provide many major travel benefits, its combo of strong earn rates and flexible rewards packs quite the travel punch.
The card earns 4X Membership Rewards Points on purchases in the two eligible categories with the most spend each month from 6 eligible categories (up to $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year, after that 1X), 3X Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels booked at amextravel.com, and 1 point per $1 spent on other eligible purchases.
Cardholders can transfer those points to more than a dozen American Express transfer partners, including major airlines and hotel brands. If you're earning bonus points on a good chunk of your expenses, you could start earning nearly free flights and hotel stays fast.
There are some travel benefits of note, however, including complimentary perks when you book The Hotel Collection, a global assist hotline1 <p>You can rely on Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility.</p><p></p><ul><li>Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. </li><li>Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. </li><li>Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.</li></ul><p></p> , travel discounts and amenities, lost luggage insurance2 <p>Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Eligible Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a Common Carrier Vehicle ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible Account. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on Baggage and up to $500 for checked Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus). For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip.</p><p></p><ul><li>Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. </li><li>Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. </li><li>Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.</li></ul><p></p> , and rental car insurance (secondary coverage).3 <p>Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply.</p><p></p><ul><li>Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. </li><li>Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. </li><li>Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.</li></ul><p></p>
Apply now or read our full American Express Business Gold Card review.
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
- Annual fee: $0 (terms apply)
- Welcome offer: Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership
- Rewards rate: 2X Membership Rewards points on everyday eligible business purchases up to $50,000 each year, and 1X points on eligible purchases after that
If you want a little more certainty when it comes to what spending categories will get you more rewards, consider the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express. It has a simple, flat rewards rate on business purchases, though that elevated rate is capped, making this card a better choice for small businesses with lower annual expenses.
For travel perks, the Amex Blue Business Plus provides car rental loss and damage insurance3 <p>Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply.</p><p></p><ul><li>Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. </li><li>Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. </li><li>Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.</li></ul><p></p> . As with the American Express® Business Gold Card, you can redeem your points for travel through American Express Travel or transfer your points to travel partners, including Delta, Hilton, and Virgin Atlantic.
Apply now or read our full Amex Blue Business Plus review.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- Annual fee: $895
- Welcome offer: Earn 200,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Rewards rate: 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com; 2X points on purchases at U.S. suppliers of construction materials and hardware, U.S. retailers of electronic goods, U.S. providers of shipping, software and cloud systems, and on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more (up to $2 million per year, then 1X), and 1X points per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases (purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus)
When redeeming your travel rewards, you'll get 35% of your points back (up to 1,000,000 per year) when you use them to cover some or all of an eligible flight ticket.
For those who crave luxury in their business travel, the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is a clear choice. Though it has a $895 annual fee, It comes with a suite of premium travel benefits that, if taken advantage of, can help offset that cost and make the card well worth holding.
For example, cardholders can get up to $200 in annual airline fee credits and a fee credit for application for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. The card also offers elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors and complimentary benefits when you book a hotel stay through Fine Hotels Resorts.
Membership in premium rental car programs that provide discounts and free upgrades are also included. When you fly, you'll get complimentary airport lounge access to several networks, including the Centurion Lounge, International American Express lounges, Delta Sky Club, Priority Pass, Airspace, and Escape.
Enrollment may be required to activate select benefits.
Like the other Amex cards here, the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express allows you to transfer your points to several airline and hotel partners to offset the cost of your travel purchases.
Apply now or read our full Business Platinum Card from American Express review.
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
- Annual fee: $0
- Welcome offer: Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Rewards rate: Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
This is another card for those who appreciate simplicity in their rewards earning. The Ink Business Unlimited stays true to its name, offering Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase.
If you don't want to think at all about whether a given business purchase qualifies for an elevated rate — some cards only earn more on office supplies or telecoms spending, for example — the Ink Business Unlimited makes it so you don't have to.
Use it to renew your team's wireless contract or to buy a client lunch and you'll earn more either way. On the travel front, you can redeem your rewards for travel through Chase Travel and take advantage of an auto rental collision damage waiver.
Apply now or read our full Ink Business Unlimited review.
The New United℠ Business Card
- Annual fee: $150
- Welcome offer: Earn 100,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open (limited-time offer)
- Rewards rate: 2x miles on United® purchases, dining, at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting; plus 1x mile on all other purchases
United Airlines has a wide network, both domestically and internationally. What's more, it belongs to the Star Alliance, which includes several international airline partners that you can use your United miles with to book flights overseas.
That means earning points on a United card like the The New United℠ Business Card opens up a range of flight redemption options.
But cheaper flights aren't the only reason to get the card. It also offers priority boarding and the first checked bag free for you and a travel companion on United, along with two one-time passes to the United Club airport lounge each year when the primary cardmember or authorized user is traveling.
United Business cardholders will have access to several trip protections, including primary rental car insurance when renting for business purposes, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, and purchase and extended warranty protection.
Read our full United Business Card review.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
- Annual fee: $0
- Welcome offer: Earn $900 after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Rewards rate: 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year; 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year; and 1% cash back on all other purchases
For a card with a $0 annual fee, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card can be pretty valuable to the right kind of business cardholder.
It earns 5% on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year, so you could get cash back on plenty of common business expenses, and that's great, but the card really shines if your work takes you on the road a lot.
The Ink Business Cash earns 2% on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year, so you could earn a little back on all those highway fill-ups — whether it's your gas tank or your stomach.
Plus the card comes with primary auto rental collision damage coverage, which puts it ahead of many credit cards that offer only secondary coverage. If you're frequently renting cars for business travel, it helps to have the peace of mind that comes with that protection.
Apply now or read our full Ink Business Cash review.
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
- Annual fee: $95 (waived first year)
- Welcome offer: Earn 50,000 miles after spending $4,500 in the first 3 months from account opening
- Rewards rate: 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site, and 2X miles on every purchase, every day
The Capital One Spark Miles for Business is a solid choice for business owners who don't spend a lot in any one expense category.
Like some other cards here, the Capital One Spark Miles packs the most value into its rewards earning and redemptions, rather than specific travel perks, earning 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site, and 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
Those points can then be transferred to Capital One's transfer partners, which include popular hotel chains like Wyndham and major international airlines like Emirates and Air Canada.
Cardholders do get an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, up to $120, so that adds a little bit of extra value every few years.
Read our full Capital One Spark Miles for Business review.
Bottom line
There are a lot of solid rewards credit cards out there, but the best business credit cards for travel really depend on your typical business expenses and what you want in a credit card. And it's worth keeping an open mind, too.
Be sure to compare these and other top business credit cards to get a better idea of what you're looking for and which new business card is the best fit for your needs.