United℠ Business Card from Chase Review

Navigating the world of credit cards can often feel like stepping into a labyrinth. With so many options available, each offering a tantalizing array of perks, rewards, and benefits, it’s often challenging to decide which card fits best with your financial lifestyle and goals. The United℠ Business Card from Chase is one such option that promises an impressive suite of benefits, especially geared toward business owners and frequent travelers who have a penchant for United Airlines. As a financial expert, I’ll delve deep into this card’s features, benefits, and potential drawbacks to help you make an informed decision.

United℠ Business Card from Chase Review

The United℠ Business Card from Chase is a co-branded airline credit card designed to offer robust rewards for business-related expenses while also providing numerous perks specific to United Airlines. For businesses that frequently engage in travel, dining, gas, and office supply purchases, this card promises to be an excellent companion.
With an eye-catching welcome bonus, frequent flyer miles on both business and personal purchases, and a range of travel benefits, this card aims to deliver substantial value to its cardholders. However, it’s crucial to scrutinize its benefits versus costs to determine if it aligns with your financial habits and business needs.

Rewards Structure

The United℠ Business Card’s rewards system is particularly appealing for those who travel frequently, dine out often, and have regular expenditures on gas, office supplies, and local transit. Here’s a detailed breakdown of its rewards:
– 2x Miles on United Airlines Purchases: This feature is aimed at frequent United Airlines travelers, allowing them to rack up miles quickly.
– 2x Miles per $1 Spent on Dining, Including Eligible Delivery Services: Whether it’s business lunches, team dinners, or personal meals, you earn double miles.
– 2x Miles per $1 Spent at Gas Stations, Office Supply Stores, and on Local Transit and Commuting: This is beneficial for businesses with significant transportation costs or those that purchase supplies frequently.
– 1x Mile per $1 Spent on All Other Purchases: While this is standard compared to other business cards, it ensures that every dollar spent contributes to your miles tally.

Welcome Bonus

One of the most enticing features of the United℠ Business Card is its welcome bonus:
– 75,000 Bonus Miles After You Spend $5,000 on Purchases in the First 3 Months: This is a generous offer that can significantly jumpstart your miles accumulation, potentially covering multiple flights or upgrades.

Annual Fee

The card comes with a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, which rises to $99 thereafter. For many business owners, the card’s benefits can easily outweigh this cost, but it’s important to assess whether your spending habits justify the fee.

Variable APR

The APR for purchases ranges from 21.99% to 28.99% variable. This is relatively high, so it’s crucial to pay off your balance in full each month to avoid hefty interest charges.

United℠ Business Card from Chase Key Takeaways

– Target Audience: Best suited for business owners who travel frequently with United Airlines, dine out often, and have regular expenses at gas stations and office supply stores.
– Rewards Structure: Earns 2x miles on United Airlines purchases, dining, gas stations, office supply stores, and local transit, and 1x mile on all other purchases.
– Welcome Bonus: 75,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months.
– Annual Fee: $0 for the first year, $99 thereafter.
– APR: 21.99% – 28.99% variable.
– Additional Perks: Includes free checked bags, priority boarding, travel credits, and more, which can be particularly valuable for frequent travelers.

United℠ Business Card from Chase Pros and Cons

Pros

1. Generous Welcome Bonus: The 75,000 bonus miles can significantly boost your miles balance, offering substantial travel rewards right from the start.
2. Strong Rewards on Key Categories: Earning 2x miles on United Airlines purchases, dining, gas stations, office supply stores, and local transit makes it easy to accumulate miles quickly.
3. Valuable Travel Perks: Benefits such as free checked bags, priority boarding, and travel credits can enhance your travel experience and save money.
4. No Foreign Transaction Fees: Ideal for international business travel, allowing you to make purchases abroad without incurring additional fees.
5. Anniversary Bonus Miles: The 5,000 bonus miles each anniversary year adds continual value, making it more rewarding to keep the card long-term.

Cons

1. Annual Fee After First Year: While the $0 fee for the first year is a great incentive, the $99 fee thereafter may be a drawback for those who don’t utilize the card’s travel benefits extensively.
2. High APR: With an APR ranging from 21.99% to 28.99% variable, carrying a balance can lead to significant interest charges.
3. No Intro APR Period: Unlike some other business cards, this card does not offer an introductory 0% APR period, which can be a disadvantage for those looking to finance large purchases over time.
4. Limited to United Airlines: The travel benefits are maximized only when flying with United Airlines, which may not be ideal for those who prefer other airlines or have limited access to United flights.

United℠ Business Card from Chase Benefits

The United℠ Business Card from Chase offers a wealth of benefits that can significantly enhance your travel experience and provide robust value for businesses. Here’s a closer look at the card’s key benefits:

Travel Benefits

1. Free First Checked Bag: The primary cardmember and one companion traveling on the same reservation receive their first standard checked bag free (up to $35 value each way, per person) on United-operated flights. This can save frequent flyers a substantial amount in baggage fees.
2. Priority Boarding: Cardholders can board United-operated flights prior to general boarding, providing a more relaxed boarding experience and greater access to overhead bin space.
3. United Club One-Time Passes: Receive two United Club one-time passes each year, offering a comfortable and productive space to relax before your flight.
4. $100 United Travel Credit: Earn a $100 United travel credit after qualifying flight purchases, which can be used toward future flights or travel expenses.
5. Anniversary Bonus Miles: Earn 5,000 anniversary bonus miles each year, adding continuous value to the card.
6. Premier Qualifying Points: Earn 500 PQP for every $12,000 spent on purchases (up to 1,000 PQP in a calendar year), which can be applied towards Premier status qualification, up to the Premier 1K level.
7. 25% Back on United Inflight Purchases: Enjoy a 25% discount on United inflight purchases, including food, beverages, and Wi-Fi.

Protection Benefits

1. Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card to receive primary coverage for theft and collision damage.
2. Baggage Delay Insurance: Get reimbursed for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing for baggage delays over 6 hours by passenger carrier, up to $100 a day for 3 days.
3. Lost Luggage Reimbursement: Coverage up to $3,000 per passenger for checked or carry-on luggage that is damaged or lost by the carrier.
4. Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance: Reimbursement up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for pre-paid, non-refundable passenger fares if your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather, or other covered situations.
5. Trip Delay Reimbursement: Coverage for unreimbursed expenses like meals and lodging if your common carrier travel is delayed more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, up to $500 per ticket.

Luxury Benefits

1. The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection: Access to over 1,000 of the world’s most exquisite hotels, resorts, lodges, and spas, with complimentary cardmember benefits at each stay.
2. United Card Events from Chase and United MileagePlus Events: Opportunities to purchase private, curated once-in-a-lifetime experiences, such as wine tastings, culinary events, and sporting meet-and-greets.

Conclusion

The United℠ Business Card from Chase stands out as a powerful tool for business owners who frequently travel with United Airlines. Its robust rewards structure, generous welcome bonus, and extensive suite of travel benefits provide substantial value, especially for those whose spending aligns with the card’s key categories.
However, potential cardholders should carefully consider the annual fee after the first year and the high variable APR. It’s essential to weigh these costs against the card’s benefits to determine if it’s the right fit for your business. If your travel and spending habits align well with the United℠ Business Card’s offerings, it can be an invaluable asset in your financial toolkit, enhancing your travel experience and delivering significant rewards for your business expenditures.
In summary, the United℠ Business Card from Chase is a compelling choice for business owners who are frequent United Airlines travelers, offering a combination of valuable rewards, travel perks, and protection benefits that can make both work and leisure travel more enjoyable and rewarding. As always, ensure you evaluate your individual needs and spending patterns to maximize the benefits of this card.