Chase United Explorer BUSINESS Visa Signature Review (discontinued to new applications)
Updated August 24, 2019. Please see the replacement card Chase United Business Visa.
The Facts
The Math
United Explorer Business Visa vs. personal United Explorer Visa: the two cards share most of the features; however, there are few differences: (1) in addition to 2x on United and dining, which is shared by both, the personal version has hotels as a 2x category, while the business version has gas and office supplies as 2x categories; (2) the business version keeps the 10K annual miles booster after $25K spending, while the personal version sees this featured eliminated during 2018 revamp; (3) the personal versions offers Global Entry / TSA PreCheck reimbursement and 25% savings on in-flight purchases, which are not offered by the business version. Obviously the 10K annual miles booster on the business card alone makes it a better rewards card.
The Conclusion
United Explorer Business Visa actually presents better value than its personal counterpart. Small business owners who fly United will find what provided by this card to be attractive.
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The Facts
- Annual Fee: The 1st year free and $95 thereafter
- Signup Bonus: up to 100,000 miles (50,000 miles after spending $5,000 within 3 months of new account opening, and additional 50,000 miles after spending a total of $25,000 within 6 months of new account opening). Historical best bonus of this card: (1) 100,000 miles with $25K spending requirement in 2019; (2) 75,000 miles in 2019; (3) 55,000 miles many times in the past years.
- Application Landing Page
- Rewards: 2x United, dining, gas, and office supplies, and 1x everywhere else. You also receive annual 10,000 bonus miles when you spend at least $25,000 each calendar year.
- Best Use of MileagePlus Miles: MileagePlus 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, and our current valuation is 1.5 cents per mile.
- United Airlines Benefits: (1) Two lounge (United Club) day passes upon opening and each anniversary thereafter. (2) Waived check bag fees for you plus one companion on the same reservation. (3) Group 2 priority boarding after premium cabins & certain United elites (Premier Platinum and above) and before general passengers, for you and your companions on your reservation. (4) Domestic unlimited upgrades on awards tickets are available exclusively to United elite members with Explorer cards. (5) United Anytime Awards without capacity control are exclusive to United elites with Explorer cards (general members will access Anytime Awards with a slight reduction in availability). Even though Anytime Awards are not the best way to redeem miles (since you normally pay double miles), occasionally they can be valuable.
- Hotel Privileges: (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) Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection which offers perks including daily complimentary breakfasts for two, room upgrades upon availability, late checkout upon availability, $25 food and beverage credit per stay, free room wi-fi, and VIP amenities, at over 900 luxury hotels and resorts worldwide. You may book a hotel on VisaSignatureHotels.com and the rates are the same as BAR. Note that the coverage and perks are different from LHRC's, but some hotels participate in both programs. This benefit is actually available to any U.S. issued Visa Signature cards.
- Other Benefits: (1) Waived foreign transaction fees. (2) Primary rental car collision coverage for business purpose. 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. (3) Complimentary 24/7 Concierge Service.
- Other Facts: United Explorer Business Visa used to shared the same features as the personal version. However, after June 2018 revamp, United Explorer Business Visa has started to differ from the personal United Explorer Visa and actually presented better value in general.
The Math
United Explorer Business Visa vs. personal United Explorer Visa: the two cards share most of the features; however, there are few differences: (1) in addition to 2x on United and dining, which is shared by both, the personal version has hotels as a 2x category, while the business version has gas and office supplies as 2x categories; (2) the business version keeps the 10K annual miles booster after $25K spending, while the personal version sees this featured eliminated during 2018 revamp; (3) the personal versions offers Global Entry / TSA PreCheck reimbursement and 25% savings on in-flight purchases, which are not offered by the business version. Obviously the 10K annual miles booster on the business card alone makes it a better rewards card.
The Conclusion
United Explorer Business Visa actually presents better value than its personal counterpart. Small business owners who fly United will find what provided by this card to be attractive.
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