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Earn Travel Rewards With These Top Business Credit Cards

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Earn Travel Rewards With These Top Business Credit Cards

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If you’ve read our piece on the best business credit cards overall, you’ll know that the banks are working overtime to attract small business owners. Between welcome bonuses worth $1,000+ and rewards rates up to 26X points per $1 spent, many of these cards are positively heaping perks and benefits onto new applicants. 

But what about for business travel specifically? Are there credit cards out there designed to make business travel more comfortable, rewarding and overall far cheaper? 

Absolutely. In fact, some of the most rewarding business credit cards are specifically geared towards folks who know how to fold a suit into a suitcase. 

From an obscure card that maximizes rewards on road trips to the cheapest card on the market with unlimited lounge access, a Southwest card with a potentially ~$1,400+ value welcome bonus and a 0% intro APR card with unlimited 2X rewards and 21 transfer partners, here are our picks for the best business travel cards. 

The best business travel credit cards

Best overall: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

With a generous 90,000-point welcome bonus (worth $1,125 in travel through Chase’s portal), 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and a comforting suite of trip insurance/purchase protection benefits, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a stellar business travel companion.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Intro bonus


Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠





Annual fee $95
Regular APR 20.74%–25.74% variable






The Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a business rewards powerhouse, offering a welcome bonus that will stop you in your tracks and bonus rewards on common business expenses, all with an affordable annual fee. Depending on your company’s spending profile, however, it may not be the right fit.





Rewards Rates

  • 3x3x points for $1 (up to $150,000 combined) spent on purchases like shipping purchases, internet, cable, phone, and advertising
  • 1x1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • 5x5x points on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025




    • Additional perks: Free employee cards, trip cancelation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, cell phone coverage

    • Foreign transaction fee: None


Learn More

at Cardratings.com


Why we like this card

The Ink Business Preferred card by Chase sets the bar high for simply piling on value for business travelers. It starts off strong with a whopping 90,000-point welcome bonus (earned after spending $8,000 within three months), and thanks to the card’s 25% bonus multiplier for any points redeemed through Chase Travel, those 90,000 points are worth $1,125 towards flights, hotels, rental cars or cruises. That’s more than enough to compensate you in the first year for the card’s $95 annual fee, and even surpasses the welcome bonus of some far more expensive business rewards cards. 

The Ink Business Preferred also offers 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel, 3x points per $1 (up to $150,000 combined) spent on shipping purchases, internet, cable, phone, and advertising with social media sites and search engines, 5X on Lyft rides and employee cards at no additional cost. 

But perhaps the card’s most underrated feature is its basket of travel and purchase protection. You’ll get up to $10,000 per trip of Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption insurance, $10,000 per claim in purchase protection (covering theft or damage of recent purchases), $1,000 in Cell Phone Protection with a $100 deductible and more. Even if you only file one claim every five years, coverage up to $10,000 per claim could save your business’ bacon.

The chief drawback to the Ink Business Preferred is that you’ll have to spend $8,000 within a short 90 days to earn your welcome bonus. That may be a struggle for many entrepreneurs and contractors, so if you’re a one-person show, you may want to time your card application right before a series of large purchases.

Otherwise, the Chase Ink Business Preferred is the business travel rewards card to beat.

Learn more in our full Ink Business Preferred review.

Pros

  • Sizable welcome bonus
  • Great rewards rate on popular expense categories
  • Flexible redemption options

Cons

  • Ancillary perks are limited compare to top-tier premium cards
  • No introductory 0% APR
  • Charges an annual fee

The Chase Trifecta

If you ask a seasoned credit card nerd the best way to maximize Chase Ultimate Rewards, they’ll tell you to start using the Chase Trifecta.

Traditionally speaking, the Chase Trifecta works like this: 

  1. Use the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited® cards to earn 1.5X to 5X on everyday spending.
  2. Use Chase’s “Combine Points” feature to move your points to your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card card account. 
  3. Redeem your points through Chase Travel for a 25% bonus multiplier (e.g. 100,000 points = $1,250 in value). 

However, there’s no reason you can’t substitute the Ink Business Preferred for the Chase Sapphire Preferred since both cards enjoy the same 25% bonus multiplier for points redeemed via Chase Travel. Let’s call it the “Chase Business Trifecta”—a way to turn everyday spending into maximum business rewards. 

To learn more about how the Chase Trifecta works and its points-earning potential, check out  our guide on how to combine the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for maximum travel rewards.

Ink Business Preferred card benefits

  • 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
  • 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel
  • 3x points per $1 (up to $150,000 combined) spent on shipping purchases, internet, cable, phone, and advertising with social media sites and search engines
  • 25% bonus on points redeemed through Chase Travel
  • 5X on Lyft through March 2025
  • No-cost employee cards
  • Cell phone protection
  • Extended warranty protection
  • Purchase protection
  • Trip cancellation and interruption protection
  • Trip delay reimbursement
  • Rental car insurance (primary when renting for business purposes)
  • No foreign transaction fees

Best premium card: Capital One Venture X Business 

The Capital One Venture X Business is the cheapest business rewards card on the market that includes unlimited airport lounge access. While its $395 annual fee may still feel intimidating, a $300 annual credit for booking through Capital One Travel, up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® and up to 10X on travel can help the card almost instantly pay for itself.

Capital One Venture X Business

Intro bonus


Earn 150,000 Miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening






Annual Fee $395
Purchase APR Balance is due monthly
Foreign Transaction Fee None


Why we like this card

The Capital One Venture X Business almost seems embarrassed by its $395 annual fee. Even though that’s on the low end for an ultra-premium travel rewards card (there are others on this list that charge $695), the Venture X Business still bends over backwards to pay for itself, offering a $300 annual credit for booking through Capital One Travel, up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® and more. 

In terms of rewards, you’ll get unlimited 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere-with no limits or category restrictions plus 5 Miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel/10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. While booking hotels through a travel portal typically means forfeiting any points or status benefits on the hotel side, 10X may still be worth it in many cases. 

Perhaps most enticingly, the Capital One Venture X Business also comes with complimentary Priority Pass Select, opening the doors to over 1,300 airport lounges in over 600 cities worldwide. And if you’ve ever sat in a chaotic terminal trying to get work done before a flight, you’ll know how valuable lounge access can be for business travel. 

Somewhat oddly, the Capital One Venture X requires you to spend an eye-watering $30,000 in three months to trigger its 150,000-mile welcome bonus. Even if you think you might get close to that figure, we’d advise extreme caution since this is also a “pay in full” card – meaning if you miss a payment, you’re immediately slapped with a 2.99% fine and your account is considered “past due,” which could seriously ding your credit. 

But even without the welcome bonus or the option to carry a balance, the Capital One Venture X Business still acts as a compelling, nearly-free lounge pass with generous travel rewards attached. 

Learn more in our full review.

Pros

  • Luxury travel benefits at a reduced cost
  • Annual travel credit and anniversary miles cover the annual fee
  • Complimentary airport lounge access for cardholders and authorized users

Cons

  • Annual credit must be used through Capital One Travel
  • Requires excellent credit
  • Lesser-known hotel and airline transfer partners

Capital One Miles

If you choose to go with the Capital One Venture X Business (and manage to reach its lofty welcome bonus), you should know that you’ll be earning Capital One Miles, not points or cash back.

As the name implies, Miles are really only good for travel redemption. You can redeem them for cash back in a pinch, but they’re only worth 0.5 cents each. They’re worth a full penny each when redeemed through Capital One Travel, and if you transfer them to one of Capital One’s transfer partners, they could be worth even more. 

Capital One has 18 transfer partners in total, 16 of which accept Capital One Miles at a 1:1 ratio. The list is short on domestic U.S. airlines, but if you have the patience, you can book Delta flights through Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles and United flights through Air Canada Aeroplan. 

To learn more, check out Capital One Miles: Everything you need to know.

Capital One Venture X Business card benefits

  • 150,000 Miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
  • 10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 Miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere-with no limits or category restrictions
  • $300 annual credit for booking through Capital One Travel
  • Get up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • $100 Premier Collection experience credit with every Premier Collection booking
  • Unlimited airport lounge access (Capital One Lounges, Priority Pass, Plaza Premium Group)
  • No-cost employee cards
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Extended Warranty Protection

Best for luxury perks: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

For the business traveler who wants it all, the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express includes free airport lounge access, instant status with Marriott, Hilton and several rental car agencies, over $1,400 in business-themed statement credits, elevated benefits with Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits and more. To some, this mountain of value will justify the card’s $695 annual fee.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

See Rates and Fees

Intro bonus


Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership






Annual Fee $695
Purchase APR 18.99% – 27.99% variable
Foreign Transaction Fee None


Why we like this card

The Amex Business Platinum may charge a ghastly $695 annual fee but offers staggering amounts of value in return. 

To start, you’ll get a welcome bonus of up to 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership. And since Amex has 21 total transfer partners including Delta and Virgin Atlantic, it wouldn’t be impossible to stretch the value of 150,000 points to $3,000 or more.

The card also grants you and two guests (in most cases except Centurion Lounges unless you spend $75,000 per year) unlimited access to the Global Lounge Collection, which includes Amex Centurion Lounges, Escape Lounges, Delta Sky Club, Lufthansa lounges, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass and more. All together, the network comprises over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide. 

You’ll also get a up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to the card (select one qualifying airline), up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal), up to $400 Dell credit, up to $360 Indeed.com credit and more, all totaling up to over $1,400 in value. If you manage to use just half of them each year, the Business Platinum card will pay for itself. Just keep in mind that credits are doled out in increments and are use-or-lose. 

Another nice touch is the instant elevated status you’ll get with Marriott, Hilton and several rental car agencies. You’ll also get status-like benefits with Fine Hotels + Resorts, including daily breakfast for two, room upgrades and more. For peace of mind, the Business Platinum also includes copious trip insurance and Amex’s Business Platinum Travel Service, which can help customize itineraries and provide “tailored recommendations.” 

So, yes—the Amex Business Platinum may charge a hefty $695 annual fee, but its $1,400+ in annual statement credits, unlimited lounge access, elevated status with multiple loyalty programs and a huge welcome bonus make it surprisingly good value.

 To learn more, check out our full review.

Pros

  • Packed with valuable potential credits for business software, computing, travel, and more
  • Airport lounge access with a larger network than any other card
  • Membership Rewards are valuable due to their flexibility

Cons

  • The multiple potential credits can be cumbersome to track
  • Sky-high annual fee
  • Some of the perks can be hard to use if they don’t align with your business

Amex Membership Rewards 

Like Capital One Miles, Amex Membership Rewards is a program designed to help you maximum travel rewards – not cash back. If you’re looking for a cash back Amex for business travel use, check out the Amex Blue Business Cash (which is also featured on this list). 

But if you’re looking to spend points on travel, boy does Amex have a treat for you. 

At first glance, Membership Rewards Points don’t carry much weight. They’re only worth up to a penny each via Amex Travel and even less if you swap them for cash or gift cards. But the key is to transfer them to one of Amex’s 21 transfer partners. From Delta SkyMiles to Hilton Honors, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club to Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Amex gives you numerous ways to move points around and multiply their value.

Heck, we’ve seen cases where Amex cardholders have been able to get up to five cents per point when booking select international business class flights. 

To learn more, check out American Express Membership Rewards: Everything you need to know.

Amex Business Platinum card benefits

  • 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership
  • 5x points on flights and prepaid hotel stays booked through amextravel.com, 1.5x points on purchases in select business categories (US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers), 1x points on all other eligible purchases
  • $400 Dell Technologies credit
  • $360 Indeed credit
  • $150 Adobe Creative Solutions credit
  • $120 wireless service provider credit
  • $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to the card (select one qualifying airline) (good towards bag fees, upgrades etc.)
  • $199 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal)
  • Unlimited airport lounge access (Delta Sky Club, Centurion, Escape, Lufthansa, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass)
  • Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
  • Hilton Honors Gold status
  • Premium rental car privileges (e.g. free upgrades)
  • No-cost employee cards
  • Vendor Pay by Bill.com
  • Quickbooks integration
  • Business Platinum Travel Service
  • Cell Phone Protection
  • Extended Warranty Protection
  • Purchase Protection
  • Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
  • Trip Delay Insurance
  • Rental car insurance
  • Lost/Stolen/Damaged Bag insurance

To view rates and fees of the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page

Best hotel business card: IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

With an attainable 140,000-point welcome bonus (worth ~$980 in IHG bookings), up to a net 26X on IHG purchases, a valuable redeem-three-get-one bonus and free Platinum Elite status, the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card is an unparalleled free-night machine that business travelers should strongly consider.

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

Intro bonus


Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.





Annual fee $99
Regular APR 20.99%–27.99% variable





The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card is what you get when the regular Premier card hastily throws a tie on. It offers nearly-identical perks, benefits and rewards as the personal version of the  Premier card, which is a good thing since it includes a 140,000-point welcome bonus worth four nights, another free night each account anniversary, instant Platinum status, up to 26X rewards on IHG purchases and so much more. The caveat is that the Premier Business card is a business card. So if you don’t have legitimate business expenses, look to the personal IHG Premier.


Rewards Rates

  • 26x26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels and Resorts
  • 5x5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, select advertising, and restaurants
  • 3x3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases


  • Additional perks: Up to $50 annual United credit, Global Entry, TSA PreCheck(R) or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $100 ($120 starting 10/1/24) every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card, trip cancelation/interruption insurance, ability to spend to Diamond status
  • Foreign transaction fee: None



Learn More

at Cardratings.com


Why we like this card

The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card gives out so many free nights that we’re honestly not sure how it exists. 

To start, you’ll earn a whopping 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s enough to stay four nights at a nicer property (e.g. Hotel Indigo), or seven nights at something more essential (like a Holiday Inn Express). You’ll also get a redeem-three-get-one-free benefit, which essentially takes 33% off a four-night stay, and another free night on your account anniversary. 

But the card’s hallmark feature might be that it grants you automatic Platinum Elite status, which is otherwise hard to reach. Platinum Elite unlocks a litany of perks that business travelers will appreciate, including free room upgrades, 72-hour guaranteed availability, early check-in, 2pm check-out and more. 

Plus, you’ll be getting a net 26X on IHG bookings, so you’ll never be far off from your next free night.

 To learn more, check out our full review.

Pros

  • Impressive welcome bonus worth up to four free nights at over 4,800 properties
  • Automatic Platinum Elite status grants free upgrades and early check-in Free night upon card renewal
  • Fourth night free on award bookings
  • Purchase protection up to $10,000 per claim

Cons

  • Limited redemption options outside of IHG
  • Limited travel protections for a travel rewards card
  • Anniversary night certificate is capped

IHG One Rewards

IHG does loyalty rewards a little differently than Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott. 

While those programs tend to dish out perks and rewards on a more linear basis (e.g. late check-out at Silver, free upgrades at Gold), IHG withholds all of the best perks until you reach Platinum Elite status. That’s when you unlock virtually everything at once, including reward night discounts, complimentary upgrades, guaranteed room availability, welcome amenities, early check-in, late check-out and more.

Trouble is, you won’t reach Platinum Elite status until you spend 40 nights or earn 60,000 IHG One Rewards points in a single year, so it can take a while before you really start benefiting from your IHG loyalty. 

That’s also why the IHG One Rewards Premier Business card offering free instant Platinum Elite is a bigger deal than it sounds. It allows you to skip the line entirely and benefit from the best IHG has to offer on day one. 

To learn more, check out our full guide on IHG One Rewards: Everything You Need to Know.

IHG One Rewards Premier Business card benefits

  • 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening (worth ~$980 in IHG bookings)
  • 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels and Resorts (10X for being a base member, 10X for having the card, 6X for having complimentary Platinum Elite status)
  • 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, select advertising, and restaurants
  • 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Anniversary Free Night worth up to 40,000 points (~$270)
  • Redeem-Three-Get-One-Free-Night bonus
  • Complimentary Platinum Elite status
  • Save 20% on rewards points purchases
  • No-cost employee cards
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Purchase Protection
  • Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance

Best for road warriors: Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card

With 8X on gas purchases, automatic Diamond status, free car rental upgrades and a solid, up to 80,000 bonus points welcome bonus, the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card is the rare business rewards card that helps you maximize rewards on road trips instead of air travel.

Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card

Intro bonus


Earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days and earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on purchases within the first 365 days






Annual Fee $95
Intro APR 0% APR for 6 billing cycles on all Wyndham Timeshare Purchases (see Terms and Conditions for details). After that, your APR will be 20.74% to 29.74%, variable
Balance Transfer APR 20.74% to 29.74%, variable


Why we like this card

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), a full 67% of business trips between 250 and 499 miles are done by car, not by plane. Even for lengthier trips between 500 and 749 miles, 33% of business travelers still hit the asphalt – not the tarmac. 

And yet, there aren’t a ton of road trip-focused business rewards cards out there. That’s why we appreciate the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business card, which gives you 8 points per $1 spent on eligible purchases made at Hotels by Wyndham as well as on qualifying gas purchases, up to 80,000 bonus points (40k after spending $4,000 within 90 days, and 40k after spending $15,000 within one year) and automatic Diamond status.

Diamond status is Wyndham’s highest loyalty tier and unlocks a bevy of benefits including dedicated member services, room upgrades, early check-in/late check-out, Avis and Budget car rental upgrades and more. 

All told, the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business card is highly rewarding and benefit-rich for a card charging just $95 per year.

Learn more in our full review.

Pros

  • Industry-leading rewards on gas station spending.
  • 15,000 bonus points anniversary bonus.
  • Grants automatic top-tier Diamond status.

Cons

  • Highest rewards categories may not be relevant to some businesses.
  • Redemptions are typically best within the Wyndham brand of hotels.
  • There’s a $95 annual fee.
  • Not all EV charging stations are eligible for the elevated gas station rewards.

Wyndham Rewards

Wyndham Rewards is generally geared towards helping budget-minded travelers maximize their rewards potential. 

Even as a base member you’ll earn 10 points per dollar spent or 1,000 points – whichever is greater – for each and every stay. That means even a quick overnight at LaQuinta will earn you a bare minimum of 1,000 points to apply towards your next stay. 

Wyndham also has a pretty simple system for redeeming points for nights. There are just three redemption options (7,500, 15,000 or 30,000 points) and you can even find rooms at various Wyndham Vacation Clubs starting at just 7,500 points. These simple reward tiers can also make planning a bit more predictable, since you’ll know that 45,000 points will be just enough to get you into a mid-tier property for three nights. 

Finally, Wyndham also lets you score discounted nights for 1,500, 3,000 or 6,000 points plus a little cash. A “Points + Cash” option can be especially handy for business travelers who may lack the full 7,500 points for a full night, but still want to subsidize their stay as much as possible.

You can learn more about Wyndham Rewards in our full review of the Earner Business card’s stablemate, the Wyndham Earner Plus Card.

Wyndham Rewards Earner Business card benefits

  • 40,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days and earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on purchases within the first 365 days
  • 8 points per $1 spent on eligible purchases made at Hotels by Wyndham as well as on qualifying gas purchases
  • 5 points per $1 spent on eligible marketing, advertising and utility purchases
  • 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases (excluding Wyndham Timeshare resort down payments)
  • Annual Bonus of 15,000 points each year (worth up to 2 free nights)
  • Complimentary DIAMOND status
  • Cardmember Booking Discount
  • No-cost employee cards
  • Visa SavingsEdge
  • Extended Warranty Protection
  • No foreign transaction fees

Best airline business card: Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card narrowly boxes out the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card and UnitedSM Business Card by offering a bigger welcome bonus and better overall rewards. You’ll get 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, 4X points on Southwest® purchases, a $120 Global Entry credit and more.

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

Intro bonus


Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.





Annual fee $199
Regular Purchase APR 20.99%–27.99%


Why we like this card

The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is simply more rewarding overall than its closest rivals in the airline business card space. 

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card and the UnitedSM Business Card both cap out at 2X miles on purchases , even on airfare, while the Southwest card offers up to 4X. You’ll also get a far bigger net welcome bonus: 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, and 40,000 after spending $15,000 in nine months. 

It’s also worth noting that Southwest Rapid Rewards points tend to carry more value (~1.4 cents) than Delta SkyMiles (~1.2 cents) or United MileagePlus Miles (~1.2 cents). Toss in four Upgraded Boardings per year, a $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit, 365 inflight WiFi Credits and more, and you have a value-packed airline business rewards card.

 Learn more in our full review.

Pros

  • 9,000 bonus points after your cardmember anniversary
  • Up to 365 inflight Internet credits every year
  • Huge sign-up bonus puts the Companion Pass within reach

Cons

  • It’s the most expensive of all of the Southwest credit cards
  • Points most valuable when used for flights with the airline
  • Travel protections don’t include trip delay/cancellation coverage or rental car insurance

Southwest Rapid Rewards

From singing flight attendants to “Wanna Get Away” fare levels, Southwest has always been a little kooky, and that unique personality spills into its approach to rewards, too. 

Even as a base member you’ll get 6X on flights, which is mighty generous considering each point is worth roughly 1.4 cents towards your next flight. Points also never expire and there are no blackout dates, which is super helpful if you’re booking inflexible dates for business travel purposes. 

Once you reach the highest loyalty tier (A-List Preferred), you’ll also unlock the vaulted Companion Pass, which allows a +1 to fly with you for free all year long. Again, this could be a massive money-saver if you frequently fly out with an employee or a business partner. 

The chief drawback to Southwest Rapid Rewards, however, is that Southwest has no partner airlines. That means you can’t transfer points to, say, Turkish Airlines if you need to fly to Istanbul for a conference. This will change soon with the addition of Icelandair as a Southwest partner, which opens up the possibility to use Southwest points to fly to Europe. 

But if you’re primarily bouncing back and forth between Southwest-friendly airports, getting a Rapid Rewards account is a no-brainer.

 To learn more, check out Southwest Rapid Rewards: Everything You Need to Know.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business card benefits

  • 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • 4X points on Southwest® purchases
  • 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners
  • 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services
  • 1X points on all other purchases
  • 9,000 bonus points after your cardmember anniversary
  • Four complimentary upgraded boardings
  • Up to 365 InFlight WiFi credits annually
  • Earn 1,500 tier-qualifying points for every $5,000 spent
  • $500 Fee credit for points transfers to other Rapid Rewards members
  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • Lost Luggage Reimbursement
  • Baggage Delay Insurance
  • Extended Warranty Protection
  • Purchase Protection

Best premium airline card: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

Despite the higher annual fee, the $650 Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card easily trounces the $525 United Club℠ Infinite Card and the $595 Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® by offering broader airport lounge access and over $700 in travel/dining credits.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

See Rates and Fees

Intro Bonus


Earn 80,000 Bonus Miles after spending $10,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months of card membership





Annual fee $650
Regular APR 20.49% – 29.49% variable


Why we like this card

Ostensibly a Delta-themed Amex Platinum card, the SkyMiles Reserve Business comes positively loaded with enviable perks like lounge access, $700+ in statement credits, free checked bags, priority boarding and more. 

To start, you’ll get unlimited access to three airport lounge networks: Delta Sky Club, Centurion and Escape Lounges. You’ll also get a $240 Resy Credit, earn up to $20 per month in statement credits (enrollment required), $120 rideshare credit, $10 back each month for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers, $250 Delta Stays credit annually on eligable prepaid hotels or vacation rentals booked through Delta Stays on delta.com and an annual Companion Certificate to bring your business partner along at no extra cost. 

You’ll also get elevated status with Hertz, free first checked bags, Zone 5 Priority Boarding on every flight, ample trip insurance and access to Amex’s Relationship Care service with reps who can provide “business-savvy support.” 

Finally, if you’re still struggling to choose between the Delta SkyMiles Reserve and the Amex Business Platinum, consider that the former card has the more attainable welcome bonus. It’s smaller, (110,000 SkyMiles versus 150,000 – 250,000 Membership Rewards points), but so is the spending requirement ($12,000 within six months versus $20,000 within three months).

 To learn more, check out our full review.

Pros

  • Premium benefits for Delta flyers, like first checked bag free and access to the Delta Sky Club and Centurion Lounge network
  • Companion certificate good for a round trip domestic Main Cabin, Comfort+ or First Class flight each year upon renewal of your card
  • Statement credits potentially worth hundreds of dollars

Cons

  • High annual fee
  • Access to Delta Sky Club limited to 15 passes a year after February 2025
  • Statement credits are granted in monthly increments

Delta SkyMiles

As far as airline rewards programs go, Delta SkyMiles may be the most straightforward. 

To start, SkyMiles are worth about 1.2 cents a pop, and even as a base member you’ll earn 5X on Delta flights booked in Main Cabin class or higher. You can swap SkyMiles for flights, upgrades, Delta Vacations, Delta Stays and more, and you can also book Award Travel on 25 partner airlines. 

Delta also has four Medallion Status tiers: Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. Even at the Silver Medallion level you’ll unlock unlimited complimentary upgrades (when available), complimentary preferred seats, free first checked bags for you and up to eight companions, priority check-in and boarding, benefits with Hertz and more. It’s definitely one of the most rewarding Silver tiers in almost any industry, although you’ll always be competing with other Silver (and higher) folks at the gate. 

But overall, Delta SkyMiles is certainly one of the more generous and rewarding airline loyalty programs out there, most notably for awarding free checked bags and access to upgrades on the very first step of the totem pole. 

To learn more, check out Delta SkyMiles: Everything you need to know.

Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business card benefits

  • 80,000 Bonus Miles after spending $10,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months of card membership
  • 3X miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases
  • 1.5X at transit, U.S. shipping, and U.S. office supply stores
  • 1X on all other eligible purchases
  • Up to $240 Resy Credit, earn up to $20 per month in statement credits (enrollment required)
  • Up to $120 rideshare credit, $10 back each month for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers
  • Up to $250 Delta Stays credit annually on eligable prepaid hotels or vacation rentals booked through Delta Stays on delta.com
  • Annual Companion Certificate good for up to first class flights in the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America
  • Hertz President’s Circle® status
  • Unlimited airport lounge access (Centurion, Escape)
  • 15 Delta Sky Club visits per year (starting 2/1/25)
  • 15% off Award Travel
  • Complimentary upgrade access
  • First bag checked free for you and up to eight companions
  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Extended Warranty Protection
  • Purchase Protection
  • Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
  • Baggage Insurance
  • Trip Delay Insurance
  • Rental car insurance

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, see this page

Best for flat-rate rewards: Capital One Spark Miles for Business

One of the rare business rewards cards without “business” in the name, the Capital One Spark Miles for Business offers unlimited 2 miles per $1 spent on all purchases, 50,000 miles if you spend $4,500 in first 3 months a Global Entry credit and as icing on the cake, the $0 intro for the first year, $95 after.

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Intro bonus


Earn up to 50,000 miles if you spend $4,500 in first 3 months






Annual Fee $0 intro for the first year, $95 after
Purchase APR 25.74% variable
Foreign Transaction Fee N/A


Why we like this card

With so many options on the market, sometimes you just want a business travel rewards card that offers a solid welcome bonus, flat-rate rewards and perks with real cash value. 

That’s where the Capital One Spark Miles card shines (is there a pun there? If so, it’s unintended). You’ll get 50,000 miles if you spend $4,500 in first 3 months, unlimited 2 miles per $1 spent on all purchases (plus 5 miles per $1 spent on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel), and a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

That’s it, plain and simple. Cap One even waives your $95 annual fee for the first year, so you’re essentially getting 50,000 miles and five years of Global Entry for “free.” Just keep in mind that Capital One Miles aren’t much good for cash back since they’re only worth about 0.5 cents each in statement credit. They’re worth a penny each via Capital One Travel (and possibly more if you transfer them to a partner). 

So if you’re looking for flat-rate business travel rewards and are OK without a solid cash-back option, the Capital One Spark Miles is a solid choice. 

Learn more in our full review.

Pros

  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase
  • Generous welcome bonus
  • Free employee cards with customized spending limits and reporting

Cons

  • Charges a $0 intro for the first year, $95 after
  • Limited travel benefits or protections
  • Business credit card reports on your personal credit report

Capital One Lifestyle Collection

One of the nicer hidden perks of the Spark Miles, Venture X Business and several other Cap One cards is access to Lifestyle Collection. 

The Lifestyle Collection is a curated list of unique hotel properties that Cap One calls “urban retreats,” “local gems,” “culinary hotspots” and more. Capital One doesn’t provide an exact total, but it’s safe to say there are many dozens to be found across the globe. Even a selected group of vacation rentals qualify for the program. 

And it might be worth finding one in your next destination, since your Capital One travel rewards card entitles you to a $50 experience credit, complimentary room upgrades, early check-in, late check-out and free Wi-Fi. In other words, you’re granted instant Platinum-like status benefits with all of these distinctive properties, so it’s certainly worth a look to see what’s in the portfolio.

Capital One Spark Miles card benefits

  • $0 intro for the first year, $95 after
  • 50,000 miles if you spend $4,500 in first 3 months
  • 5 miles per $1 spent on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 2 miles per $1 spent on all purchases
  • $50 Lifestyle Collection experience credit when booked through Capital One Travel
  • Get up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • No-cost employee cards
  • Extended Warranty Protection

Best with no annual fee: Capital One Spark Miles Select

In an extremely close tie with the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card card, the Capital One Spark Miles Select narrowly edges ahead by offering a more attainable 50,000 Bonus Miles when you spend $4,500 within the first 3 months from account opening, unlimited 1.5X miles on every purchase and the ability to transfer points to 18 travel partners. All things considered, it’s hard to ask for more from a business travel rewards card that charges no annual fee.

Capital One Spark Miles Select

Intro bonus


Earn up to 50,000 miles if you spend $4,500 in first 3 months






Annual Fee $0 intro for the first year, $95 after
Purchase APR 25.74% variable
Foreign Transaction Fee N/A


Why we like this card

As the no-fee “lite” version of the Spark Miles card (“less bright” version?), the Spark Miles Select reduces your rewards on all purchases from 2X to 1.5X and drops the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, which is totally understandable. 

But you’ll still get 50,000 Bonus Miles when you spend $4,500 within the first 3 months from account opening, which is pretty generous for a business travel rewards card that charges no annual fee. 

To be fair, the competing Ink Business Cash card from Chase still offers the higher welcome bonus: $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening. But the Spark Miles Select card has a $1,500 lower spending threshold, and the miles you earn can be transferred to any of Capital One’s 18 transfer partners (where their value may be multiplied). 

Plus, unlimited 1.5X miles on every purchase is a bit more flexible than the Ink Business Cash card’s 2% on gas and dining.  

To learn more, check out our full review.

Pros

  • Earns rewards on all business spending, with no limits or category restrictions.
  • Miles are transferable to 18 airline and hotel partners for high-value redemptions.
  • No annual fee.

Cons

  • The 1.5X earn rate is low compared to other no-annual-fee business cards.
  • Lacks travel protections found on other travel cards.
  • High cash advance and penalty APR.

Capital One Spark Miles Select card benefits

  • $0 annual fee
  • 50,000 Bonus Miles when you spend $4,500 within the first 3 months from account opening (worth $500+ in travel)
  • 5X on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 1.5X miles on every purchase
  • No-cost employee cards
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Rental car insurance
  • Extended Warranty protection

Best with 0% APR: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

The The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express includes 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.99%–25.99%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%, Expanded Buying Power, Purchase Protection and Extended Warranty protection. That’s quite a handy toolkit for helping business travelers finance big purchases, and you’ll earn 2x Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year (1x point per dollar thereafter) to boot.

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

See Rates and Fees

Intro Bonus


15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership






0% intro offer 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.99%–25.99%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
Annual fee $0
Regular APR 17.99%–25.99% variable


Why we like this card

If we’re being honest, the Amex Blue Business Plus card doesn’t really come out swinging. The 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership is pretty mid, and it lacks many of the perks and benefits you might expect from a modern Amex. 

But “simple” doesn’t always mean “lacking.” For starters, the card offers 0% APR for 12 full months so you’ll have some time to pay off a large balance. You’ll also get Amex’s handy Expanded Buying Power feature, which allows you to spend beyond your initial credit limit in select cases and simply adds the excess to your minimum payment next month. 

(Just be careful using Expanded Buying Power, since maxing out a credit card can still negatively impact your credit score). 

As for rewards, the Amex Blue Business Plus offers a blanket 2x Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year (1x point per dollar thereafter), which can help you rack up travel-friendly Membership Rewards points pretty quickly. You’ll also get several expense management tools like QuickBooks integration and Vendor Pay by Bill.com. 

Toss in Extended Warranty and Purchase Protection, and you have a card that’s fine-tuned for helping business travelers finance (and protect) big purchases like airfare and laptops.

 Learn more in our full review.

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • Membership Rewards points are valuable if you use them for for travel
  • 0% APR offer is unusual for business cards

Cons

  • Minimal perks
  • 2x rewards are capped
  • cash redemptions worth less than a penny per point

American Express transfer partners

We’ve mentioned Amex’s long list of 21 transfer partners several times in this article, so to save you a click, here’s the whole list: 

Airlines

  • Aer Lingus
  • AeroMexico
  • Air Canada Aeroplan
  • AIR FRANCE KLM
  • ANA Mileage Club
  • Avianca LifeMiles
  • British Airways Executive Club
  • Cathay Pacific
  • Delta Air Lines
  • Emirates Skywards
  • Etihad Guest
  • HawaiianMiles
  • Iberia Plus
  • JetBlue TrueBlue
  • Qantas Frequent Flyer
  • Qatar Airways Privilege Club
  • Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Hotels

  • Choice Privileges
  • Hilton Honors
  • Marriott Bonvoy

To learn more about managing (and maximizing) Amex points, check out You earned an Amex Membership Rewards welcome offer—here are the 4 best ways to spend your points

Amex Blue Business Plus card benefits

  • 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.99%–25.99%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
  • 2x Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year (1x point per dollar thereafter)
  • Amex Expanded Buying Power
  • No-cost employee cards
  • Quickbooks integration
  • Vendor Pay by Bill.com
  • Extended Warranty Protection
  • Purchase Protection
  • Rental car insurance

To view rates and fees of the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, see this page

How to choose a business travel rewards card

The best way to choose a business rewards card is to narrow down your options based on your business travel needs and wants. 

Here are some questions to ask: 

  • Are you already loyal to a specific airline or hotel? If so, finding a matching rewards card like the Delta SkyMiles Reserve or IHG One Rewards Premier Business can amplify your existing rewards.
  • Alternatively, would you prefer to earn rewards regardless of which hotel/carrier you choose? If that’s the case, a general-purpose card like the Capital One Spark Miles or the Ink Business Preferred is probably a better fit.
  • Do you value having airport lounge access? Because if you do, your options get narrowed down pretty quick and the choice might be easy. Check out the 4 best credit cards for cheap airport lounge access.
  • Do you want a cash back redemption option when you’re not traveling? If so, you should probably avoid cards that generate Capital One Miles or Amex Membership Rewards points. Same goes for airline miles or hotel points, since they’re usually non-redeemable for cash. But Chase Ink and Wells Fargo Autograph cards both generate points that are worth a penny each in cash.

Once you’ve gone through those four questions, your choices should be much slimmer. But for more options, check out our list of the best business credit cards that reward you for making money.

Methodology

To determine the best business travel credit cards we took a look at over 50 business credit cards and rated them on the following: 

  • Rewards rate on travel (25%): How much you could expect to earn using the card on travel purchases. In the case of a branded card, we used the amount you could earn spending on that specific brand. 
  • Travel benefits (25%): Benefits like car rental insurance, trip delay insurance or in the cases of branded cards free checked bag benefits or elite status. 
  • Annual fee (20%): We gave more weight to cards with lower or no annual fees. 
  • Everyday rewards rate (10%): The rate you would earn on non-travel purchases. 
  • Welcome bonus (10%): Rewards new cardholders get as a benefit of opening the card account and completing a certain amount of spending within a specified time frame.
  • Business benefits (10%): Benefits such as purchase protection, extended warranty coverage or cell phone coverage.

Frequently asked questions

What is a business credit card?

A business credit card aka (business rewards card) functions exactly the same as a regular credit card, only its perks, features and rewards are generally geared towards small business use. A business rewards card might offer 5X on shipping costs and SEO advertising, complimentary employee cards and expense management tools like QuickBooks integration.

Do I need a business to get a business credit card?

No, you do not need a registered business to apply for a business rewards card in most cases. You can apply for most business credit cards simply by using your full legal name and your social security number.

Which business credit card is best for travel points?

It depends what type of points you’re gunning for. The Ink Business Preferred may have the best points-to-annual-fee ratio, with a 90,000-point welcome bonus (worth $1,125 in travel bookings via Chase Travel) and a $95 annual fee.


Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefits guide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Fortune Recommends™ has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Fortune Recommends™ and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.

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