The 6 best business credit cards for travel

Businesswoman working at laptop in lobbyImage: Businesswoman working at laptop in lobby

In a Nutshell

The best business credit cards for travel could help you save money on your next business trip or vacation. Take a look at our picks in these categories: earning rewards, luxury, airline cards, hotel cards, drivers and cards with no annual fee.

Whether you own a business or are self-employed, you can use the rewards you earn from a business travel credit card to help cover expenses, including your next business trip.

Take a look at our picks for the best business credit cards for travel.


CardBest for
Ink Business Preferred® Credit CardEarning rewards
The Business Platinum Card® from American ExpressLuxury
United℠ Business CardFlying
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card Hotel stays
American Express® Business Gold CardDrivers
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit cardNo annual fee

Best for earning rewards: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Here’s why: The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card features a sign-up bonus that could be worth $1,250 in redemptions.

You’ll earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases during the first 3 months after opening the account. When redeemed through Chase Travel℠, your points are worth 1.25 cents each.

You’ll also earn three points for every $1 you spend on travel and select business categories (up to the first $150,000 you spend each year in these categories) and one point for every $1 spent on all other purchases. If you add employee cards at no additional cost, you’ll also earn rewards for the money spent with them, too.

If your business takes you overseas, you’ll enjoy no foreign transaction fees. But keep in mind that there’s a $95 annual fee.

Check out reviews of the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card to learn more.

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

Here’s why: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express can make your business trips more comfortable and relaxing.

Check your bag before your flight and you can use your $200 airline fee credit later on to cover the cost.

Then, speed up your time in airport security — The Business Platinum Card® from American Express will reimburse you for up to $100 to apply for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. And instead of heading straight to the gate, you can wait for your departure in one of American Express’ world-class airport lounges, like the famous Centurion Lounge.

Once you’re aboard, feel free to dip back into your $200 airline fee credit to cover the costs of food, drinks or entertainment.

When you land, head over to your hotel. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express comes with elite status at Marriott and Hilton hotels. You’ll enjoy a more comfortable stay with complimentary room upgrades and late checkouts based on availability. This card’s annual fee is $695.

To learn more, check out reviews of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.

From our partner

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

3.4 out of 5

From cardholders in the last year

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Best for flying: United℠ Business Card

Here’s why: The United℠ Business Card could save you money when you fly for business.                       

New card members can earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases during the first 3 months after opening the account. The card also comes with an annual fee of $99.

If you have a personal Chase United credit card, you’ll also earn 5,000 bonus miles on each business card anniversary.

You’ll also earn two miles for every $1 you spend on United purchases, dining, gas stations, office supply stores and on local transit. You’ll earn one mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.

You can use your miles to book rewards flights on United with no blackout dates. The United℠ Business Card also gets you a free checked bag, priority boarding and two complimentary visits to the United Club℠ each year.

From our partner

United℠ Business Card

5.0 out of 5

From cardholders in the last year

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Best for hotel stays: Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card

Here’s why: The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card is great if you’re looking for hotel value on overnight business trips.

The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card comes with one complimentary rewards night each year at a participating hotel after your account anniversary (that would otherwise cost you up to 35,000 points to book). This rewards night can help make up for the $125 annual fee.

New cardholders can earn three Free Night Awards (with a redemption value of up to 50,000 points each) after spending $6,000 on purchases during the first 6 months after opening the account.

With the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, you’ll get complimentary Gold Elite status that can earn you extra points on hotel stays.

When you use the card, you’ll earn six points on every $1 of eligible purchases at Marriott Bonvoy hotels. You’ll also earn four points per $1 at restaurants, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. Plus, two points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.

Take a look at reviews of the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card to learn more.

From our partner

Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card

4.7 out of 5

From cardholders in the last year

See details, rates & fees

Best for drivers: American Express® Business Gold Card

Here’s why: The American Express® Business Gold Card could help you save money when you’re on the road.

Whether you’re a rideshare driver or a salesperson who drives from client to client, the American Express® Business Gold Card comes in handy for people who spend a lot on gas. You can earn four points for every $1 you spend (up to $150,000 each year in combined purchases) on two categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle, including U.S. gas stations and U.S. restaurants (one point per $1 after that cap).

You’ll also earn three points per $1 spent on flights and prepaid hotels booked at amextravel.com and one point per $1 spent on other eligible purchases outside of the bonus categories.

If you own a business that employs multiple drivers, you could give each driver an employee card, at no additional cost. You’d be able to track the money they spend on gas while earning rewards for those purchases.

Be aware that the American Express® Business Gold Card carries a $375 annual fee.

To learn more, check out reviews of the American Express® Business Gold Card.

From our partner

American Express® Business Gold Card

3.9 out of 5

From cardholders in the last year

See details, rates & fees

Best for no annual fee: Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card

Here’s why: If you’re searching for a business credit card that offers travel rewards without the upfront cost of an annual fee, check out the Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card.

The Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card doesn’t charge an annual fee or a foreign transaction fee. But that won’t stop you from earning 30,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases during the first 90 days after opening the account.

You’ll also earn an unlimited 1.5 points for every purchase $1.

Learn why we think the Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card is one of the best Bank of America® business credit cards.

From our partner

Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card

See details, rates & fees

How we picked these cards

To find the best business credit cards for travel, we started by combing through the most popular business cards on the market.

Then, we narrowed our search to the cards that emphasized travel, weeding out others tailored for businesses that prefer a credit card with cash back or a low intro APR.

That left us with a handful of business travel credit cards. From there, we asked ourselves what features matter most to business travelers and built our categories around those perks and experiences.

How to make the most of the best business credit cards for travel

Business credit cards are intended for people who own a business, but you don’t have to be the head of a giant corporation to qualify.

If you’re self-employed or a sole proprietor, you might be surprised to learn you may also be eligible for a business credit card.

If you’re thinking about applying for a business credit card, here are a few things you should keep in mind.

  • Business credit cards should only be used for business purchases — not personal expenses.
  • Business credit cards may affect both your business and personal credit.
  • Even though the card belongs to your business, you may be personally on the hook for repaying the money your company spends.
  • Unfortunately, business professionals who don’t own the company they work for may not be eligible to apply for a business credit card — it depends on your position in the company and the card issuer’s terms.


About the author: Tim Devaney is a personal finance writer and credit card expert at Credit Karma. He’s a longtime journalist who prides himself on being a good storyteller who can explain complex information in an easily digestible wa… Read more.