United Club℠ Business Card Review [2024]: Are the Premium Perks Worth The $450 Annual Fee?

Frequent travelers understand the value of comfort, especially when you have to spend several hours waiting for flights. The United Club℠ Business Card offers a quick solution by providing access to airport lounges worldwide. Airport lounges give travelers a comfortable space to enjoy a break from noisy, crowded airport terminals, as well as complimentary snacks, beverages, and other amenities.

Between lounge access and other premium travel perks, there’s a lot to like about the United Club Business Card. Let’s take a closer look at this business card to see if it’s worth the high annual fee that comes with it.

Free Bags and Free Employee Cards

United Club℠ Business Card

4.7

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

United Club℠ Business Card

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Current Offer

Earn 50,000 bonus miles, plus 1,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP), after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months

Annual Fee

$450

Rewards Rate

2X miles on United Airlines purchases, plus 1.5X miles on all other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Earn 50,000 bonus miles, plus 1,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP), after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months
• Earn 2X miles on United Airlines purchases, plus 1.5X miles on all other purchases
• United Club membership
• Free employee cards

Drawbacks

• Has annual fee

Card Details

• Earn 50,000 bonus miles, plus 1,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP), after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months
• 2X miles on United Airlines purchases, plus 1.5X miles on all other purchases

Key takeaways

• The United Club℠ Business Card offers premium travel perks that help make up for its $450 annual fee.
• If you’re a frequent international traveler, the United Club Business Card gives you access to United Club locations and participating Star Alliance™ affiliated lounges around the world.
• The United Club Business Card also has a generous welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus miles, plus 1,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP), after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months.
• If you don’t travel very often, or don’t fly with United much, then a different travel or rewards credit card might be a better fit.

Who should get the United Club Business card?

If airport lounge access is a must when you’re flying, the United Club Business card gives you unlimited access to lounges around the world. You’ll enjoy entry to United Club locations everywhere, as well as participating Star Alliance lounges worldwide, a value of up to $650 annually.

Frequent United travelers will also enjoy other valuable travel perks. You’ll get two your first and second checked bags free for reservations booked with this United card. Other premier travel perks, like priority boarding, add to the value of this co-branded airline card. Plus, if you have status with another airline, you can take advantage of United Status Match.

The United Club Business card is a premium business travel card, especially with its lofty $450 annual fee. You’ll more than make up for the fee if you can take advantage of this card’s travel and business perks. Business owners who don’t spend significant time traveling or aren’t loyal to United may find more value in a more versatile business credit card.

Card basics

What we like about the United Club Business card: benefits and perks

• Generous welcome offer: Cardholders can earn 50,000 bonus miles, plus 1,000 premier qualifying points (pqp), after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months.
  
• United Club membership: Cardholders get a free United Club membership, valued at up to $650 per year. This perk includes access to United Club lounges and affiliated lounges around the globe.
• Free employee cards: Cardholders can maximize their earning potential by providing their employees with company credit cards.
• Free checked bags: Baggage fees can be costly, but this United business card minimizes that problem. With this card, the cardholder and a traveling companion receive their first two checked bags free when they’re booked on the same reservation. Authorized users also get this perk if on the same reservation.
  
• No foreign transaction fees: Feel free to use this credit card when traveling internationally. As a Visa card, it is accepted worldwide, and it has no foreign transaction fees.
• Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) benefit: You can earn 25 PQP on every $500 spent on your credit card. In a calendar year, you can earn up to 1,000 PQP, which will count toward your Premier status qualification through the MileagePlus program (up to the Premier 1K level).

What we don't like about this card: drawbacks

• Annual fee: This card comes with a hefty annual fee of $450. If you don’t travel frequently for business, it might be difficult to recoup this cost and this probably isn't the best airline credit card option.

• Reward rate: If you are interested in earning the most possible points on your business travel, it might be worth considering another one of the best business credit cards. However, if luxury travel perks are a priority for you, the United Club Business card delivers.

Earning & redeeming United miles

Potential earnings in years one and two

Here's a look at how your rewards can add up with the United Club Business Card. To calculate these values, we used a point valuation of $0.0115.

Remember, this is an estimation. The actual value will be determined by how much you spend and in which categories you spend.

Year one earnings: $1,219
Year two earnings: $644

These values are based on the FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model which takes a look at points earned via spending, the welcome bonus, and the annual fee.

Best ways to earn

Not only does the United Club Business card give business owners the opportunity to earn 50,000 bonus miles, plus 1,000 premier qualifying points (pqp), after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months, it also offers a decent reward rate for all business spending. If you use your card on United Airlines purchases, you’ll earn 2X miles for every dollar you spend. This is the best way to build up miles with this card.

The United Club Business card also earns 1.5X miles for all other purchases. There’s no need to keep track of which card to use for specific categories. Capitalize on extra earning by providing staff with free employee cards they can use for travel and other business expenses.

Maximizing your redemptions

Beyond premium travel perks, the benefit to a business card like this is to redeem miles for award flights with United. While redemption values vary on award flights, this redemption is typically a decent value. Not only can miles be redeemed for United airfare, but also airfare on 35 partner airlines within theStar Alliance and MileagePlus program.

Economy Class one-way domestic flights vary in cost, but you can assume it will cost around 12,500 miles for a typical one-way redemption. Flights to other countries or in Business or First Class will require more miles. You can also redeem miles for upgrades to a higher class.

Other redemption options with the United Club Business Card include:

• Hotels
• Car rentals
• Cruises
• Merchandise
• Apple purchases
• Gift cards
• Exclusive experiences
• TSA Precheck fees

With so many options, it’s easy to see why the United MileagePlus program is so popular among travelers.

United Club Business transfer partners

Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to the United MileagePlus program at a 1:1 ratio, and transfers are instant. This is a good option if you need to boost your United miles balance quickly.

You can also redeem your United MileagePlus miles for flights with over 35 partner airlines within the Star Alliance and MileagePlus programs, including:

• Aegean
• Air Canada
• Air China
• Air India
• Air New Zealand
• ANA
• Asiana
• Austrian
• Avianca
• Brussels Airways
• Copa Airlines
• Croatia Airlines
• EGYPTAIR
• Ethiopian Airlines
• EVA Air
• LOT Polish Airlines
• Lufthansa
• Scandinavian Airlines
• Shenzhen Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• South African Airways
• Swiss Airlines
• Air Portugal
• Thai Airways
• Turkish Airways
• Aer Lingus
• Aeromar
• Air Dolomiti
• Azul
• Boutique Air
• Cape Air
• Edelweiss
• Eurowings
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Olympic Air
• Silver Airways
• Vistara

United has also partnered with several hotel rewards programs. You can earn MileagePlus miles for qualifying stays at properties in the following programs:

• Marriott Bonvoy
• Accor Live Limitless
• Hilton Honors
• IHG Rewards Club
• Radisson Rewards
• World of Hyatt
• Wyndham Rewards
• Golden Circle

United Club Business card FAQs

Other cards to consider

If you like flying United but aren’t interested in paying a $450 annual fee, the United℠ Business Card is also available. With this card, you can earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open, but its annual fee is only $99 (waived first year). Plus, you’ll earn 2 miles per dollar spent on United purchases, dining, at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting; plus 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.

If you aren’t a loyal United customer, but you appreciate the luxury travel perks that come with the United Club Business card, a more versatile premium travel card like the The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express might be a good option for you. 

While this card does come with an annual fee of $695 (terms apply), new cardmembers can earn 150,000 Membership Rewards points when they spend $20,000 in the first 3 months. Plus, this card offers a higher reward rate on travel purchases: you earn 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on Amextravel.com; 1.5X points on eligible 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 eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $2 million per year, then 1X); and 1X points per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases. 

United Club℠ Business Card review: Bottom line

The United Club Business Card is a great option for frequent travelers who want high-end perks like worldwide lounge access and free checked bags. While the $450 annual fee is high, the benefits can make up for it if you use them. If you like to travel but don’t need the luxury perks this card offers, then compare our recommended travel credit cards to find an option that fits your travel style.

Free Bags and Free Employee Cards

United Club℠ Business Card

4.7

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

United Club℠ Business Card

4.7

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Why We Like It

Earn 50,000 bonus miles, plus 1,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP), after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months

See how these cards compare:

United℠ Business Card

• Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open
• 2 miles per dollar on United purchases, dining, at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting
• $100 annual United credit (terms apply)
• 5,000 bonus miles annually if you also have a personal United card
• Free checked bag, priority boarding, and 2 United Club passes annually

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

• Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months
• 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on Amextravel.com
• 1.5X points on eligible 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 eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $2 million per year, then 1X)
• Up to $200 statement credit per year for airline incidental fees
• $695 annual fee
• See rates and fees | Terms Apply