The best business credit cards for travel offer high reward earn rates across specific categories. They give you different ways to redeem your rewards, which often include transferring your points to airline or hotel loyalty programs.
The top travel business credit cards tend to vary based on specific requirements. For instance, do you wish to capitalize on your business spending by paying little to no annual fees, or are you a high spender interested in maximizing reward-earning potential and taking advantage of premium benefits? In addition, are you looking for a co-branded card that offers higher rewards across a particular airline or group of hotels, or for one that does not limit your reward-earning potential to any particular brand?
Let’s take the example further with credit cards that are not co-branded but may still work as effective travel cards. The no-annual-fee American Express Blue Business Plus Card offers 2x points per $1 on all purchases (up to $50,000 per year). On the other hand, the American Express Business Platinum Card — with an annual fee of $595 — offers 5x points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel. The latter also offers statement credits toward payments made to multiple service providers. Our guide will help you better understand these factors and how to relate them to your business spending.
MoneyGeek’s Take: Top 5 Business Credit Cards for Travel
Quick Summary
While co-branded airline and hotel business credit cards offer brand-specific rewards and benefits, travel business credit cards come with no such limitations. The top cards we’ve selected take into account their rewards and perks as well as the annual fees you’ll need to pay. For example, we’ve looked at how many points or miles you stand to earn per dollar as well as flexibility in redeeming your rewards. You may look for more recommendations further down the page.
Chase Ink Business Preferred
A great card to maximize earning unlimited rewards
Good-ExcellentCredit Needed
$95Annual Fee
1–3 Points per $1Rewards Rate
3xRewards Rate on TV, Phone, Internet Services
3xRewards Rate on Air Travel
The Ink Business Preferred Credit Card caught our particular attention not only because of its intro bonus points offer — you stand to earn 100,000 bonus points — but also because of its 3 points per $1 rate across multiple categories.
What's more, you may redeem your rewards in different ways, including for cash back, travel and gift cards. When you redeem your points for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, they become worth 25% more.
Employee cards come with no additional annual fees, and these can help add to your rewards. Plus, you don’t have to worry about overseas transaction fees when your employees travel internationally.
Cardholders may also benefit through purchase and travel coverage benefits.
Pros
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 you spend in a year across different categories
Earn 1 point per $1 across all other categories
Earn unlimited reward points that don't expire
Redeem points for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
No foreign transaction fees
Purchase and travel coverage benefits
Cons
Annual fees
Cash advance and balance transfer fees
A late payment can lead to a penalty APR
Earn 100,000 bonus points by spending $15,000 within the first three months.
Earn 3x rewards on the first $150,000 spent on travel; internet, cable and phone services; advertising purchases made online and shipping purchases.
All other purchases come with 1x rewards.
Redeem reward points in the form of cash back, as 1:1 points transfer to an airline or hotel travel partner, to buy gift cards, to cover travel expenses or to shop at the Chase Ultimate Rewards Store.
Pay no foreign transaction fees anywhere in the world.
Setting individual spending limits for employee cards is easy.
Stand to benefit through different complimentary coverage benefits, such as purchase protection, extended warranty protection, cell phone protection, auto rental collision damage waiver, roadside dispatch and trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance.
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.
A good miles-earning credit card with exclusive rewards and no foreign transaction fees
Good-ExcellentCredit Needed
$99Annual Fee
1–2 Miles per $1*Rewards Rate
2xRewards Rate on Air Travel
2xRewards Rate on Dining
We recommend this business credit card from Chase to business owners who are frequent United flyers and wish to capitalize on their spending. While this card charges a $99 annual fee, you don’t have to pay it for the first year. If you hold a Chase United personal card along with this card, you receive a 5,000-mile better-together anniversary bonus every year. You also stand to earn bonus miles through a spend-based welcome offer.
United purchases including tickets, in-flight food, beverages, Wi-Fi and other charges earn 2x miles per dollar. You also earn 2x miles per dollar on dining (including eligible delivery services) and local transit and commuting as well as at office supply stores and gas stations. All other purchases come with 1 mile per dollar.
Primary cardholders and one traveling companion benefit through their first bags checked for free. You get two United Club one-time passes every year. In-flight purchases come with 25% back. You get access to priority boarding on United-operated flights. You may earn a $100 United travel credit after making qualifying flight purchases.
Additional employee cards come at no extra cost. This card comes does away with foreign transaction fees, which makes it perfect for use outside of the U.S. You might also benefit through the card’s complimentary purchase and travel protection.
Pros
No foreign transaction fees
Earn miles
Travel benefits
Strong welcome offer
Free employee cards
Cons
$99 annual fee
High APR
Only one free checked bag
Earn $100 United travel credit
25% back on United in-flight purchases
Anniversary bonus
Perks in over 1,000 luxury hotels and resorts worldwide, including room upgrades, complimentary breakfast for two, late checkout, early check-in and access to other amenities
Buy tickets to private events, such as celebrity meet-and-greets and sports events
United MileagePlus Cardmember Exclusives
Contactless payment
Rental Car Insurance
Baggage Delay Insurance
Lost Luggage Reimbursement
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
Trip Delay Reimbursement
Purchase Protection
Extend eligible U.S. manufacturer’s warranty by one additional year
Visa Concierge
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.
Great no-annual-fee card for earning rewards on business spending
Good-ExcellentCredit Needed
$0Annual Fee
2 Miles per $1*Rewards Rate
1xRewards Rate on TV, Phone, Internet Services
1xRewards Rate on Online Shopping
We like the Blue Business Plus® Credit Card from American Express because it gives businesses the ability to earn rewards without having to pay any annual fees. This card comes with an intro 0% APR offer on purchases for 12 months. In addition, you may also get employee cards for free.
You’ll earn 2 points per $1 on all purchases up to a total of $50,000 per year, after which you’ll earn 1 point per $1. Redeeming your points is easy. You may use them to make purchases through popular online platforms, to book or upgrade travel and to buy gift cards. Points can also be transferred to airline or hotel partners for additional value.
Finally, assigning an account manager and using accounting-related tools provided by American Express can help ease your expense management woes.
Pros
No annual fees
0% intro APR on purchases
Earn 2x reward points on spending of up to $50,000 per year, followed by 1x
Free employee cards
Can assign an account manager
Download interactive year-end summaries
Use Vendor Pay to improve business cash flow
Purchase protection
Cons
Penalty APR applies when you make a late payment
Foreign transaction fees
Balance transfer fees
There’s a minimum required to redeem points
Pay no annual fees for the life of the card.
Earn 2x reward points for the first $50,000 you spend on purchases each year. Earn 1x after your spending exceeds this limit.
Redeem points for travel booked through American Express Travel, purchases via select online merchants or gift cards.
You may also transfer your reward points to different frequent flyer programs.
Save money on interest by using the 0% intro APR offer on purchases for 12 months.
Get free employee cards and set individual spending limits.
Improve cash flow by using your card to pay bills via Vendor Pay.
Safeguard purchases made using the card through extended warranty and purchase protection.
Get protection when you or your employees rent cars through car rental loss and damage insurance.
Get access to American Express Experiences and purchase pre-sale tickets for various events.
Use the American Express Business App and Connect to QuickBooks tools to simplify transferring spending-related data to your existing accounting system.
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.
Excellent card for maximizing the rewards you earn while traveling
Good-ExcellentCredit Needed
$125Annual Fee
2–6 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
6xRewards Rate at Hotels
4xRewards Rate on TV, Phone, Internet Services
We love the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card because of its generous reward points system. For instance, when you spend money at participating Marriott properties, you earn 6 points per $1 spent. For specific spending categories, such as at restaurants and gas stations, you earn 4 points. Purchases that don't qualify for special reward rates still earn 2 points.
This card brings with it a host of Marriott-specific benefits. In addition to free rewards nights, for example, cardholders receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status and premium on-property internet access.
You may also benefit by using this card outside of the U.S., as it does not come with any overseas transaction fees.
Pros
Earn up to 6 points per $1
Redeem points for free Marriott nights, air travel or cab rentals
No blackout dates when you redeem points for free nights
No foreign transaction fees
No over-limit fees
Employee cards
Free night awards
Marriott-specific benefits
Travel and purchase covers
Cons
High annual fees
Penalty APR applies if you make a late payment
Mandatory service and resort charges might apply at some Marriott hotels when you redeem points for free nights
Become a Marriott Bonvoy Business member automatically.
Earn 6 points per $1 on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
Earn 4 points per $1 on eligible purchases in the U.S. at gas stations, at restaurants, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from service providers and on shipping purchases.
Earn 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
Redeem points for free Marriott nights as well as for air travel and cab rentals through different travel partners.
Get a one free night award every year and qualify for another if your annual spending exceeds $60,000.
Get complimentary premium in-room internet access when you stay at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
Earn Elite night credits to get closer to the next level of your Marriott Bonvoy Elite status.
Pay no international transaction fees.
Benefit through intro offers for new cardholders.
Get baggage insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance, purchase protection and extended warranty.
Get employee cards and set individual spending limits.
Get access to a range of Amex offers.
Simplify accounting by designating account managers and getting year-end summaries.
Use Vendor Pay to improve cash flow.
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.
Depending on the features or perks you’re after, you get to choose from various travel business credit cards. However, if you’re looking for premium benefits, prepare to pay a higher-than-usual annual fee. Check the corresponding table to determine which of these business cards might work well for you.
A great card to maximize earning unlimited rewards
1–3 Points per $1
$95
Good-Excellent
MONEYGEEK PRO TIP
When considering a business credit card with travel rewards, it is advantageous to reflect on what your travel needs are. While having an abundance of features is enjoyable, it isn’t advisable to pay an annual fee for a card unless you use its benefits. -- Brett Holzhauer, Personal Finance Journalist
About Our Rankings
We keep an eye out for any significant change in the travel business credit cards segment. We begin the rankings process by filtering out all business credit cards from our database, and we follow that up by selecting ones that are best suited for travel. Then, we compare them across parameters such as reward rates, introductory bonuses and annual fees.
We understand that some small business owners and entrepreneurs might prefer using consumer credit cards even for business-related purposes. In this case, you might benefit by taking a look at what the best travel credit cards for individuals have to offer.
Top Rating Criteria for Business Cards
Spending Caps
Flexibility in Earning & Redeeming
Welcome Bonus
How to Compare Business Credit Cards & Intro Offers
Since there is no dearth of business credit cards for travel, it’s important that you consider different factors before making a selection.
1
Co-branded or not
If you favor using a particular airline or group of hotels for your business travels, getting a co-branded credit card might work in your favor. Such cards include the American Express Hilton Honors Business Card and the Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Card. With business credit cards for travel that are not linked to any particular brand, you get to earn similar rewards across different airlines and hotels. The latter typically lets you transfer your points or miles to loyalty programs of partner airlines/hotels. Such cards include the American Express Blue Business Plus Card, the Capital One Spark Miles Card and the Chase Ink Business Preferred Card.
2
Rewards rate
Co-branded business credit cards tend to offer higher reward rates when you spend at the brand in question. For instance, the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card offers 12x Hilton Honors Points per dollar for purchases made directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Flat-rate rewards cards, on the other hand, give you the means to earn the same number of points or miles across many or all categories. Examples include the Capital One Spark Miles Card, the Chase Ink Business Preferred Card and the American Express Blue Business Plus Card.
3
Annual fee
The best business cards for travel tend to come with annual fees, with the American Express Blue Business Plus Credit Card being a notable exception. Otherwise, the annual fee you need to pay varies based on the rewards and perks on offer. A number of regular business travel cards charge $95 or $99, and the premium ones charge upward of $500.
4
Foreign transaction fees
This aspect requires particular attention if your business takes you overseas. Depending on the card you get, this fee typically varies from 0% to 3% of the transaction amount and applies to each international transaction.
Expert Advice For Finding the Right Card
To further help our readers arrive at informed decisions about which travel business credit cards they should select, we’ve asked experts from the industry for their input surrounding these important questions.
Expert Advice For Finding the Right Card
What are some ways you can maximize travel credit card rewards for your business?
When does it make sense to get a travel business credit card with a steep annual fee?
With consumer credit cards offering better protection, why should small business owners consider getting business credit cards?
Dr. Andrew Burnstine
Associate Professor of Marketing at Lynn University
Alexandre Olbrecht
Professor of Economics and Executive Director, Eastern Economic Association at the Ramapo College Of New Jersey
Bruce Bachenheimer
Clinical Professor of Management and Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship Lab at Pace University
Chuck Lopez
Lecturer at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Christopher S. Tang
UCLA Distinguished Professor at UCLA Anderson School of Management
Dipra Jha
Assistant Director & Scholarly Associate Professor, School of Hospitality Business Management, Washington State University, Carson College of Business
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.
