Top perks
This card has a ton of perks for regular United flyers that can both save money and improve the quality of your trip.
Sign-up bonus
Right from the get-go, the United Club℠ Business Card offers some great value with its large sign-up bonus. New cardholders can earn up to 50,000 United miles for spending $5,000 on their card in the first 3 months. (If this seems high, remember it's a business card. A $5,000 spending requirement isn't uncommon for business cards.) Short-haul economy flights with United can be found for as low as 5,000 points, so that bonus could score a lot of travel paid with points.
United Club℠ lounge membership
Airport lounge access is objectively the key benefit of the United Club℠ Business Card. Being a cardholder comes with an annual United Club lounge membership. Membership enables you to visit United Club lounges, as well as participating Star Alliance lounges. There are approximately 1,000 Star Alliance lounges worldwide.
To gain entry, you'll need to present your membership card, ID, and a same-day boarding pass for a United or Star Alliance flight. Members can also bring one adult and dependent children under the age of 21, or up to two adult guests.
Earn up to 2x United Miles
Even though the United Club℠ Business Card is a rewards credit card, oddly enough, the purchase rewards aren't really the focus. The other perks, like lounge access, are where it really shines. That being said, you earn United miles on purchases, and at a comparable rate with similar airline cards:
- 2x miles per $1 on United purchases
- 1.5 miles per $1 on other purchases
The bonus for United purchases applies to tickets, as well as in-flight purchases including food, beverages, and wifi.
Read more: Best Rewards Credit Cards
Two free checked bags on eligible flights
While most airline credit cards offer a free checked bag, the United Club℠ Business Card gives you two. Both you and a companion on the same reservation get two free checked bags each on United- and United Express-operated flights. This is a nice upgrade to a common perk, though it's worth mentioning that some airline cards let you apply the checked bag waiver to up to eight people on your reservation, rather than limiting you to one companion. Also, note that it only applies to regular-sized bags. You may still need to pay a fee for overweight or oversized bags.
No foreign transaction fees
Although this perk has become bog-standard for travel rewards cards, it's still worth a mention. Cardholders of the United Club℠ Business Card pay no foreign transaction fees on their purchases. Depending on how much you travel abroad, the lack of forex fees can mean huge savings. This is perhaps even more important for business cardholders than personal ones. Foreign transaction fees could apply to any purchases made with a foreign supplier, which can add up quickly for a busy business.
Avis President's Club® membership
As a United Club℠ Business Card member, you're eligible to enroll in the Avis President's Club. This gives you perks with a popular rental car agency. Perks can include:
- Expedited service
- Double rental car upgrades (when available)
- Guaranteed rental car availability
- Dedicated customer support
You'll need to join the Avis Preferred program and activate your President's Club status to start receiving the benefits. If you cancel your United Club℠ Business Card, you'll also lose access to President's Club status.
Premier Access® travel services
Premier Access® is an upgrade service available on United- and United Express-operated flights. It normally retails for $15 and up. Depending on your home airport, Premier Access® perks could be quite convenient. Some of the benefits of having Premier Access® include:
- Dedicated airport check-in lines
- Exclusive security lanes (at select airports)
- Priority boarding
- Priority baggage handling
That last perk is actually an extra; those who purchase Premier Access® don't get priority baggage handling. Keep in mind that not all perks are available at all airports, though you should receive them at most major U.S. hubs and several international hubs.
25% back on in-flight purchases
Unless you're in a premium cabin (hello, business class), you now need to pay for pretty much every amenity on a flight. United Club℠ Business Card users can save a little extra thanks to the 25% rebate on eligible in-flight purchases. This includes food, beverages (yes, even alcohol), and in-flight wifi. You'll need to use your United Club℠ Business Card to pay for the purchase. Since this is a rebate, not a discount, you won't get the 25% off at the time of purchase. Instead, your card account will be credited with the 25% back within 24 hours of your purchase posting to your account.