Best Business Travel Credit Cards for Airline Miles in 2022
If you favor using any particular airline over others, you might benefit by getting a co-branded airline miles business travel credit card. If not, there are still multiple flexible point credit card options from which to choose.
The best business travel credit cards for airline miles give you the ability to bring down the cost of your air travel, and they tend to come with various travel-specific benefits. For instance, you might benefit by getting free checked bags, complimentary priority boarding and airport lounge access.
The top airline miles business travel credit cards charge annual fees that typically range from $95 to upward of $500. However, the best cards from this category come with no foreign transaction fees.
Some airline miles business credit cards offer complimentary loyalty program status upgrades, and others give you the ability to scale the chart faster. For instance, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Card and the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card from American Express give you the ability to earn Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) that go toward elevating your Delta Medallion Status by meeting some basic spend-based requirements.
MoneyGeek's Take: Top 5 Business Travel Credit Cards for Airline Miles
Quick Summary
The number of miles per dollar that you may earn depends on the card you get. It’s common for airline miles business travel credit cards to come with annual fees, although these vary significantly. We’ve selected the top five airline miles business travel credit cards after accounting for these factors as well as APRs, welcome offers, foreign transaction fees and additional benefits.
American Express Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Card
A great card for frequent business travelers who want to enjoy Delta travel perks and pursue elite status
Good-ExcellentCredit Needed
$250Annual Fee
1–3 Miles per $1Rewards Rate
3xRewards Rate on Air Travel
3xRewards Rate at Hotels
Pros
No foreign transaction fees
Status boost
Earn miles
Priority boarding
Free checked bag
Cons
High APR
High annual fee
Payment for lounge access
In-flight savings
Companion certificate
Global Entry or TSA Precheck
Trip delay insurance
Baggage insurance plan
Car rental loss and damage insurance
24/7 customer service
Extended warranty for covered purchases
Purchase protection against theft and accidental damage for up to 90 days from the date of purchase
Dispute resolution for fraudulent and incorrect charges
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
We recommend the Business Platinum Card from American Express to businesses that wish to earn and redeem rewards across different airlines and hotels while also getting access to various travel-related perks. For instance, you get elevated to Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and Hilton Honors Gold status without having to meet any requirements.
A welcome offer gives you the opportunity to earn 100,000 membership reward points by spending $15,000 on purchases within the first three months. You earn 5x points when you book flights and prepaid hotels through Amex Travel. When you use points to pay for eligible flights through Amex Travel, you get 35% of the points (up to 500,000 points) back.
All cardholders get access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection at airports the world over. You stand to get statement credits for payments made toward airline fees, TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fees, CLEAR and more.
Using this card outside of the U.S. comes with no foreign transaction fees. The card also brings with it different travel insurance coverage, purchase protection and expense management tools.
Getting this card makes sense only if you intend to use the benefits on offer because it comes with an annual fee of $595 ($695 if you apply on or after 1/13/2022).
Pros
Bonus points through a spend-based welcome offer
5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel
Get 35% points back when paying with points for eligible fares through Amex Travel
Statement credits for payments toward multiple service providers
Airport lounge access
No foreign transaction fees
Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and Hilton Honors Gold status
Complimentary travel insurance
Simplified expense management through employee cards, integration with QuickBooks and year-end-summaries
Cons
$595 annual fee
Low reward earn rate outside of bookings made through Amex Travel
Penalty APR may apply in cases of late/returned payments
Earn 150,000 bonus points if you spend $15,000 on purchases in three months from account opening.
Earn 5x points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels that you book through Amex Travel.
Earn 1.5x points on business categories and eligible purchases of over $5,000.
Earn 1x points on all other purchases.
Earn points quicker through employee cards.
Redeem your points for flight and hotel bookings through Amex Travel.
Transfer points to frequent flyer/loyalty programs of partner airlines such as Aer Lingus, Air Canada, British Airways, Emirates, JetBlue, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.
Use your points to cover for charges on your card, shop online or get gift cards.
Pay with points for all or part of eligible air travel and get 35% of those points back, up to 500,000 points back per year.
Get airport lounge access through the American Express Global Lounge Collection.
Get a $200 airline fee credit every year.
Get a $179 statement credit for payments toward CLEAR each year.
Get a $400 statement credit for Dell Technologies annually.
Get a $100 credit toward Global Entry fees every four years or an $85 credit toward TSA PreCheck fees every four and a half years.
Stand to receive discounts through the Premium Private Jet Program.
Pay no foreign transaction fees when you use this card outside of the U.S.
Get elevated to Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and Hilton Honors Gold status automatically.
Get perks such as complimentary breakfast, Wi-Fi access and late check-out when you book hotels through the Fine Hotels + Resorts Program.
Stand to benefit through travel coverage in the form of trip delay insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance and baggage insurance plan.
Safeguard your business purchases through extended warranty, purchase protection and cell phone protection.
Connect with QuickBooks for auto-expense categorization.
Get category-based year-end summaries.
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
We recommend the Capital One Spark Miles Card to businesses that want to earn unlimited cash back on their spending. You also get to earn a 50,000 miles early-spend bonus by spending $4,500 on purchases in the first three months.
Booking hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel comes with 5x miles per dollar. All other purchases earn 2x miles per dollar.
Using this card outside of the U.S. is ideal as it charges no foreign transaction fees. Cardholders get two free visits to Capital One Lounges each year as well as credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fees.
There is no annual fee to pay for the first year, but you need to pay $95 per year thereafter. Employee cards come at no additional cost.
Pros
Flat-rate rewards of 2x bonus miles
No foreign transaction fees
New cardholder offers
Free employee cards
Flexible payments
Cons
No special reward categories
High regular and penalty APR
Limited travel partners for rewards redemption
Spend $4,500 in the first three months and earn 50,000 bonus miles
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 per year thereafter
2x unlimited miles per dollar
Employee cards
Set up automatic payments.
Zero fraud liability
Year-end itemized summaries for tax and budgeting purposes
Purchase records in multiple formats
Virtual card numbers for making safer payments online
Tracking and monitoring of all cards
Purchase alerts for all cards
Lock and unlock cards using mobile app or online banking
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card
A card that offers many rewards for business travelers who fly Delta frequently.
Good-ExcellentCredit Needed
$550Annual Fee
1–3 Miles per $1Rewards Rate
3xRewards Rate on Air Travel
1xRewards Rate on Dining
We recommend the American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card to business owners who are frequent Delta flyers. As part of its welcome offer, you stand to earn 60,000 bonus miles, 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) and a $100 statement credit if you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months.
This business credit card offers 3x miles of category-based spending. Using it outside of the U.S. is ideal as it comes with no foreign transaction fees.
Some of the other benefits that you can expect from this card, charges a $550 annual fee, include access to Centurion Lounge and Escape Lounge, two Delta Sky Club one-time guest passes each year, one companion certificate each year, priority boarding and travel insurance coverage.
Pros
No foreign transaction fees
Complimentary access to Delta Sky Clubs and Centurion Lounges (or Escape lounges)
Companion pass for a Domestic first class, Delta Comfort+ or a Main Cabin round-trip flight for your travel partner
Sky Club guest passes
Travel insurance
Welcome offer of 60,000 miles, 10,000 MQMs and a $100 statement credit
Status boost feature
Three miles per dollar spent on purchases with Delta
One mile per dollar spent on other purchases
1.5 miles per dollar on eligible purchases after you spend $150,000 in a calendar year
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
Cons
High annual fee
High APR
Good/Excellent credit requirement
Pay a $0 fee on international transactions
Get complimentary access to luxury Delta Sky Club lounges and Centurion lounges (or Escape lounges) when flying Delta
Get a companion pass which can be redeemed for a free round-trip air ticket. Terms apply.
Get two Sky Club guest passes valid up to a year after the date of issue
Earn 60,000 miles, 10,000 MQMs and a $100 statement credit after spending $4,000 within three months
Get travel insurance for trip cancellation, trip delay, baggage, cell phone protection and car rental loss and damage
Earn an $85 credit for the TSA PreCheck application or a $100 credit for the Global Entry application
Earn 15,000 MQMs with the Status boost feature on making $30,000 worth of purchases. Do this up to four times a year.
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business
An excellent business card with Southwest and other travel benefits
Good-ExcellentCredit Needed
$199Annual Fee
1–3 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
3xRewards Rate on Air Travel
2xRewards Rate on TV, Phone, Internet Services
We recommend the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Card from Chase to businesses that use Southwest Airlines frequently. This is because the card offers multiple benefits to make up for its $199 annual fee.
You earn 80,000 bonus points if you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months. You receive 9,000 bonus points on each account anniversary. You also stand to earn 1,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs) for every $10,000 you spend on purchases. The latter helps you move up the Rapid Rewards membership tiers faster.
All Southwest purchases come with 4x points. You can earn 3x points for car rental and hotel purchases with Rapid Rewards partners. And you get 2x points on a few business-related categories. All other purchases earn 1x points.
Cardholders get availability-based seat upgrades on Southwest flights up to four times per year. TSA PreCheck/Global Entry and in-flight Wi-Fi credits are there for the taking as well.
Not having to pay foreign transaction fees is perfect for international business travelers. This card also comes with basic travel insurance coverage and purchase protection.
Pros
Spend-based sign-up bonus points
Annual bonus points
Upgraded boarding
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit
In-flight Wi-Fi credits
4x points on Southwest purchases
Employee cards
Cons
$199 annual fee
Absence of comprehensive travel insurance coverage
No airport lounge access
Cannot transfer miles to other airline loyalty programs
Default APR may apply in case of late or returned payments
Earn 80,000 points by spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months.
Earn 9,000 points each account anniversary.
Earn 1,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs) for every $10,000 you spend on purchases and move to the A-List or A-List Preferred membership status faster (both come with priority boarding and same-day standby).
Earn 4x points per $1 on Southwest Airlines purchases and 3x points per $1 on purchases made through hotel and car rental partners such as Southwest Hotels, Best Western, Hyatt, Marriott, Avis, Budget and Hertz.
Earn 2x points on local transit and commuting purchases, payments toward internet, cable and phone services, and social media and search engine advertising.
Earn 1x points on all other purchases.
Redeem your points for Southwest Airlines flights, international flights on global carriers, rental cars, hotel stays, merchandise, gift cards or exclusive experiences.
Get complimentary availability-based seat upgrades on Southwest flights up to four times each year.
Get 365 Wi-Fi credits, worth $8 each, per year for use on Southwest flights.
Get up to $100 as Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit every four years.
Pay no foreign transaction fees when you use this card outside of the U.S.
Stand to benefit through lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, extended warranty protection and purchase protection.
Employee cards come with no added fees.
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
Summary of the Best Business Travel Cards for Airline Miles
Take a quick look at the other good alternatives by referring to the corresponding airline miles business travel card comparison table. Check how they measure up based on factors such as welcome offers, APRs, foreign transaction fees and rewards rates.
One of the top business travel cards for frequent American Airlines travelers
1–2 Miles per $1*
$99
Excellent
MONEYGEEK PRO TIP
Business travel credit cards typically extend benefits of the primary card to authorized users. Your business can save money and improve the travel experience of your employees by providing them with an employee card, while also making expense tracking easier with a unique card number for each employee. -- Lee Huffman, credit card expert at BaldThoughts.com.
About Our Rankings
Each month, MoneyGeek experts review our entire database and select all the business credit cards that offer airline miles. Then, they select the best of the lot after comparing all available alternatives across parameters such as rewards rates, welcome offers, APRs, annual fees, foreign transaction fees and added perks.
Top Rating Criteria for Business Travel Cards
Miles Earnings per Dollar
Rewards Rate on Air Travel
Has Rewarding Welcome Offer
How to Compare Business Travel Credit Cards & Intro Offers
Selecting the airline miles business travel credit card that works best for your company requires paying attention to multiple aspects because not all the top cards work equally well for everyone.
1
Welcome offer
You might earn a welcome bonus through a time- and spend-based promotional offer. For instance, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card has a welcome offer through which you may earn 60,000 bonus miles, 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles and a $100 statement credit by spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months.
2
APR
The APRs that airline miles business travel credit cards charge are typically higher than those that come with business cards with no rewards. If you plan to maintain revolving balances in your account from one billing cycle to the next, consider looking at what low-interest business credit cards have to offer.
3
Foreign transaction fee
Credit cards that come with foreign transaction fees usually charge up to 3% extra on each international transaction. If you travel internationally or if you buy from international suppliers, consider getting a card with no foreign transaction fees. The five best business travel credit cards for airline miles we’ve selected make the cut.
The value of the miles/points you earn depends not only on the card you get and the airline loyalty program you’re part of but also on how you choose to redeem them. Redeeming your miles and points for air travel generally offers the highest value. However, the value you receive depends on the class of service, route you wish to fly and your desired travel dates.
6
Co-branded or not
If you favor using any one particular airline, getting a co-branded card might be the way to go because they offer benefits specific to that airline. Examples include the American Express Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Card, the Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Card, the Chase United Business Card and the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard. Flexible points programs offer flexibility but don't offer the same benefits are an airline card, such as priority boarding and free checked bags. Examples of good non-co-branded cards for airline miles include the Amex Business Platinum Card, the Amex Business Gold Card and the Capital One Spark Miles Card.
7
Added perks
Depending on the card you get and the annual fee you’re prepared to pay, you may be able to take advantage of card-specific features and benefits such as priority boarding, free checked bags, companion certificates, airport lounge access, travel insurance coverage, statement credits for payments made toward specific service providers, employee cards and access to various expense management tools.
Expert Advice For Finding the Right Card
We’ve asked financial experts to go through our airline miles business travel credit card reviews and provide answers to a few important questions so you may find it easier to make the right selection.
Expert Advice For Finding the Right Card
Given that most such cards offer low reward rates for spending outside of bonus categories, might it make sense to use a different card to capitalize on everyday spending?
How does the transfer of miles/reward points work with cards from this category?
How can a cardholder make the most of an airline miles business travel credit card?
Rajiv Baniwal has been writing about different financial topics for over 15 years. Meticulous in his research, he makes sure he provides accurate and up-to-date information. His areas of expertise include mortgages, personal loans, credit cards, insurance and international money transfers.
*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.
