Chase United Club BUSINESS Card (Visa Signature) Review
Updated June 10, 2023.
The Facts
The Math
United Club Business Card vs. United Club Infinite Card (personal): the personal card is $75 more expensive in annual fees and offers the following additional perks: (1) 10% discount for Economy Saver Awards, (2) higher annual cap for PQP earning (4,000 PQPs vs. 1,000 PQPs), (3) Global Entry / TSA PreCheck / NEXUS application fee reimbursement, (4) free IHG Platinum status and $75 credit (the latter only for 2022), (5) discounted CLEAR membership, and (6) perks associated with Visa Infinite such as Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection, and Relais & Chateaux privileges. In addition, two cards have different rewards earning structures: the personal card offers 4/2/1 miles for United / other travel & dining / other spending, while the business card offers 2/1.5 miles for United / other spending. The bottom line: there aren't fundamental differences between the two and you need to do your math to decide which one is better for you.
The Conclusion
If you are a United flyer who needs lounge access, you have two similar products to choose from: the United Club Business Card and the personal United Club Infinite Card.
The Facts
- Annual Fee: $450
- Signup Bonus: 50,000 miles after you spend at least $5,000 within 3 months of new account opening. This bonus is not available if you currently have this card or have received a signup bonus for this card in the past 24 months. Based on anecdotal reports, this card is subject to Chase's 5/24 rule (you won't be approved for this card if you have opened 5 or more new accounts within the past 24 months; any new account with any issuer will count, not just with Chase; new accounts include most credit cards and charge cards but exclude non-Chase business cards and store charge cards). Historical best bonus of this card: 100K miles in 2000 and 2022.
- Application Landing Page
- Rewards: 2x United, and 1.5x everywhere else.
- Best Use of MileagePlus miles: MileagePlus (MP) is the frequent flyer program of United Airlines, a member of Star Alliance. United miles are generally valuable for redeeming on United or partner metals.
- United Airlines Benefits: (1) The major perk for the high annual fees is of course the annual United Club membership which gives complimentary access to 50+ United Club lounges and 200+ Star Alliance lounges for the primary card holder plus two guests. Please see our featured review to learn more about airport lounge access. (2) Premier Access priority airport services including priority check-in, security screening, boarding (Group 2), and baggage handling when traveling on United metals for you and your companions on the same reservation. This is essentially the same treatments as United elite members receive. (3) Free first and second checked bags for you plus one passenger on your reservation. (4) Earn 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) per $12,000 spent on the card, up to a maximum 1,000 PQPs per calendar year. (5) United Premier upgrades on awards tickets for the primary cardholder who is also a United Premier elite, plus a companion on the same reservation. (6) No blackout dates or restrictions for awards tickets. (7) 25% back on food & beverage and Wi-Fi on United operated flights.
- Other Benefits: (1) Chase Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection (LHRC), through Signature Travel Network, offering perks such as daily complimentary breakfasts for two, room upgrades upon availability, early check-in and late check-out upon availability, and property specific amenities (such as a $100 spa/dining/hotel credit per stay), at over 900 luxury hotels and resorts worldwide. You may book a hotel on LHRCollection.com and the rates are mostly the same of the Best Available Rates (BAR, i.e., refundable flexible rates set by the hotel) and include taxes, resort fees, etc. This benefit is available on select Chase cards such as Sapphire Reserve, Sapphire Preferred, United Club, and United Explorer. (2) 24/7 Concierge Service. (3) Waived foreign transaction fees with an embedded EMV chip. (4) Primary rental car collision coverage. Note while most credit cards provide rental car insurance, they are secondary, meaning your personal insurance's collision damage coverage kicks in before the credit card's. Please see our featured review on credit cards that come with primary rental car insurance for details. (5) Avis President's Club privileges: complimentary two-car class upgrades, guaranteed car availability, expedited rental service and more.
- The History: introduced in 2016, the United Club Business Card (Visa Signature) did not receive the same revamp (increased annual fees & upgraded to Visa Infinite) the personal United Club Card received in 2020.
- Other Facts: this card has a metal design and weighs about 13 grams, much heavier than regular plastics weighing 5 grams.
The Math
United Club Business Card vs. United Club Infinite Card (personal): the personal card is $75 more expensive in annual fees and offers the following additional perks: (1) 10% discount for Economy Saver Awards, (2) higher annual cap for PQP earning (4,000 PQPs vs. 1,000 PQPs), (3) Global Entry / TSA PreCheck / NEXUS application fee reimbursement, (4) free IHG Platinum status and $75 credit (the latter only for 2022), (5) discounted CLEAR membership, and (6) perks associated with Visa Infinite such as Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection, and Relais & Chateaux privileges. In addition, two cards have different rewards earning structures: the personal card offers 4/2/1 miles for United / other travel & dining / other spending, while the business card offers 2/1.5 miles for United / other spending. The bottom line: there aren't fundamental differences between the two and you need to do your math to decide which one is better for you.
The Conclusion
If you are a United flyer who needs lounge access, you have two similar products to choose from: the United Club Business Card and the personal United Club Infinite Card.