Bottom Line

We always recommend waiting for a higher sign-up bonus. But even the current 75k sign-up bonus makes this a valuable card to obtain since the annual $99 fee is waived the first year. Beyond the sign-up bonus, you get one free checked bag (for you and a companion on the same reservation), two United Club passes per year, and priority boarding. If you fly United (or a Star Alliance partner) more than that, the above benefits plus the multipliers on spend provide even more value. The fact that United is a Chase Ultimate Rewards partner, means the United Business card just gives one more avenue of diversifying your points game by being able to top up MileagePlus points with Chase points.

Why You Might Want This Card

The current 75,000 point sign-up bonus (we’ve seen it as high as 100,000) with a low $5000 spend in 3 months, in addition to being a business card that doesn’t count against your 5/24, makes the United Business card a smart choice for anyone who flies United even once or twice in the first year of owning the card. It also offers a surprising number of other benefits for the low $99 annual fee, which is also waived that first year. If you fly United often, keeping this card beyond the first year might offer value to you, as it offers 7x miles on United flights (5x miles as a Mileage Plus member plus 2x miles on entire United purchases) and 3x miles on United hotels. It also offers 2 miles per $1 spent on restaurants, gas stations, office supply stores, and local transit.

The primary cardholder and one companion traveling on the same reservation each receive their first checked bag free on United operated flights and get priority boarding. The United Business card also offers two United Club one-time passes per year. These two perks alone are worth more than double the annual fee. If you make 7 United flight purchases (of $100 or more) per year, you also receive a $100 United travel credit annually. There are also a variety of travel and purchase protections with this card. Throw in the ability to both earn and redeem MileagePlus miles on any of the other Star Alliance airlines, and this card keeps adding value.

Exceptions To The Rule

Here are some exceptions where the card might not be good for you:

• United (or other Star Alliance airlines) are not what you typically fly

About United MileagePlus

United Airlines MileagePlus is the most flexible rewards program for international flights, especially if you're invested in the Chase ecosystem. They tend to be more available and cost fewer points than Delta or American Airlines. (The biggest exception is Southwest to the Caribbean.)

With a little planning, you can get some fantastic redemption rates. Even if you have the Reserve Card 1.5x multiplier, we usually find better value using United's portal directly. For example, we booked first-class flights to Africa searching the "Business Saver" seats through United and got flights for 80,000 points. That would've cost 250,000 points through the Chase Portal.

Plus, being part of the Star Alliance, points have more flexibility in terms of global destinations, including smaller cities in Asia, Africa and other niche locations. So if you're focusing on international flights and/or Chase transfers, United is a great go-to for flexibility and solid value.

Where United Business Fits In This Point Ecosystem

This card is all about earning United MileagePlus points. MileagePlus points are the most flexible for international flights, and they are also a Chase partner, so it’s easy to top off with any Chase Ultimate Rewards points. The United Club Business card is another option for those who travel on United regularly (at least 3-4x+ per year) that have better perks but also a higher annual fee ($450). Since these are both business cards, they won’t count against your 5/24, giving you another venue for building points with a Chase partner without compromising your personal card status. If you aren’t close to your 5/24 and still want a United-specific card, check out the four personal cards on offer, as United does a really good job covering all their bases and creating a product specific for how much you fly on United and Star Alliance partners.

Personal Experience