Having a business credit card that earns miles is very cost-efficient because you get rewards in return for expenses that your business normally spends money on.
You can then redeem these miles for rewards or transfer them to other loyalty programs, which can potentially increase the value of your miles.
Additionally, most of these cards also come with a plethora of perks and benefits such as discounts, bonus miles, airline credits, companion tickets, free checked bags, priority services at the airport, and many more.
In this article, we’ll discuss some of the best business credit cards for miles and help you choose the right one for your business.
Best for Earning Miles: Capital One Spark Miles for Business
Best for Lounge Access: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Best for Travel on United: United℠ Business Card
1. Capital One Spark Miles for Business
Best for Earning Miles
- Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles After Spending $4,500 in the First 3 Months
- Unlimited 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2x Miles On Every Purchase
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- $0 Intro Annual Fee for the First Year, $95 Thereafter
- Free employee cards which also earn unlimited 2X miles from their purchases
The Capital One Spark Miles for Business is one of the top travel rewards credit cards for small business owners.
The card earns unlimited 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. It also earns unlimited 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, which can be transferred to Capital One’s airline and hotel partners.
The Spark Miles also offers a statement credit for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee every four years (up to $100) and no foreign transaction fees.
We like this card because it has a simple rewards structure at 2x miles per dollar, which is one of the highest flat rates in the market. Since the miles are also transferrable to more than 15 transfer partners, you can potentially get more value for your money depending on how you redeem it.
2. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Best for Lounge Access
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is an outstanding choice for business owners who want airport lounge access including the American Express Global Lounge Collection, Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs, Escape Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, and more.
The Business Platinum card also offers several statement credits to offset the $695 annual fee:
- $200 Airline Fee: Annual airline fee credit of up to $200 on charges by the airline you select per calendar year.
- $400 Dell: Annual statement credit on all U.S. Dell purchases, up to $200 semiannually.
- $120 Wireless Phone Services: Annual statement credits for purchases made directly with any U.S. wireless telephone provider, up to $10 per month.
- CLEAR: Up to $189 toward an annual Clear membership for expedited airport security.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck: Statement credits for Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($85) every four years (4.5 years for PreCheck).
You can also earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1.5x points on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year
The American Express Business Platinum comes with automatic Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold so that you can enjoy perks like room upgrades, late check-out, and a points bonus.
Additionally, the points you earn can be transferred to several Amex transfer partners such as Air Canada Aeroplan, Delta SkyMiles, and Marriott Bonvoy. This potentially increases the value of your points depending on how you redeem them.
3. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Best for Benefits with Delta Air Lines
- Earn 70,000 SkyMiles After $5,000 in Eligible Purchases in the First 3 Months.
- 3x SkyMiles on Delta Air Lines
- Access to Delta SkyClub, Centurion Lounges, and Escape Lounge When Flying Delta
- Priority Boarding and Free First Checked Bag
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit
- $550 Annual Fee and No Foreign Transaction Fees (Rates & Fees)
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card earns 3x SkyMiles on Delta Air Lines and offers airport lounge access to the Delta SkyClub, American Express Centurion Lounges, and Escape Lounges.
The Delta Reserve Business has a $550 annual fee, which is offset by the airport lounge access and other perks such as an annual companion certificate, Non-Medallion Upgrades, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, free first checked bag, priority boarding, and 20% statement credit for food and drinks.
4. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
Best for Domestic Companion Tickets
- Earn 50,000 SkyMiles After $3,000 in Eligible Purchases in the First 6 Months
- 3X SkyMiles on Delta Purchases and Hotel Stays
- 2X SkyMiles at Restaurants and U.S. Supermarkets
- Free First Checked Bag
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit
- 20% Statement Credit on Delta In-Flight Purchases
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- $250 Annual Fee (Rates & Fees)
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is great for Delta loyalists, offering a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate every year upon renewing your card.
For a $250 annual fee, getting this card unlocks valuable flying benefits, including a first checked bag free that saves you up to $60 per person on a round-trip Delta flight, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, and 20% savings on in-flight food and beverages.
You and two companions also get a discounted rate of $50 per person per visit to Delta Sky Clubs.
Plus, you can waive the MQD requirement toward Silver, Gold, or Platinum Medallion Status and earn 10,000 MQMs after making $25,000 in purchases to reach status faster.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum card earns 3X SkyMiles on Delta purchases and hotel stays.
5. United℠ Business Card
Best for Travel on United
- Earn 75,000 Miles after Spending $5,000 in the First 3 Months
- 2X Miles for United Airlines, Dining, Gas Stations, Office Supply Stores, Local Transit, and Commuting
- 2 United Club One-Time Passes Per Year
- $100 United Travel Credit
- Free First Checked Bags and Priority Boarding
- Primary Rental Car Insurance
- Trip Delay and Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
- $0 Intro Annual Fee, $99 Annual Fee Thereafter
The United℠ Business Card currently offers a welcome bonus of 75,000 miles after spending $5,000 within three months.
The United Business card offers nice perks on United Airlines, including:
- Two United Club lounge passes annually;
- Priority boarding for you and your companions;
- Free first checked bag for you and one companion on the same reservation;
- 25% back on in-flight purchases in the form of statement credits;
- $100 Annual Travel Credit if you make at least seven United flight travel-related purchases, each totaling at least $100;
- Anniversary bonus of 5,000 miles;
- Premier upgrades on award tickets;
- Expanded award availability; and
- Ability to earn Premier Qualifying Points for United elite status with spending.
6. Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
Best for Travel on Southwest Airlines
- Earn 80,000 Bonus Points After Spending $5,000 in the First 3 Months
- 4X Points on Southwest Airlines
- 2X Points in Ridesharing, Transit, Social Media and Search Engine Advertising, Internet, Cable, & Phone
- 9,000 Bonus Points for Each Cardmember Anniversary
- 4 Upgraded Boardings Per Year
- 365 InFlight WiFi Credits Each year
- $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit
- $199 Annual Fee
The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is Southwest’s top-tier business credit card earning 4x points on Southwest purchases, 3x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, and 2x points on online advertising, internet, cable, phone, ridesharing, and local transit.
In addition to rewards for everyday expenses, the Southwest Performance Business card offers an enticing welcome offer of 80,000 bonus points when you spend $5,000 within your first three months.
For a $199 annual fee, you also get four upgraded boardings annually, 9,000 bonus points every cardmember anniversary, $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit every four years, and up to 365 in-flight Wi-Fi credits.
The Southwest Performance Business card also comes with lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, secondary rental car insurance, purchase protection, and an extended warranty.
7. CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
Best for Travel on American Airlines
- Earn 65,000 AAdvantage Miles After Spending $4,000 in the First 4 Months
- Free Checked Bags for You and 4 Companions
- 2X Miles on American Flights, Cable, Satellite, Gas, Telecommunications, and Car Rentals
- Preferred Boarding (Group 5)
- 25% Discount on American In-Flight Purchases of Wi-Fi, Food, and Beverages When Using the Card.
- $99 Annual Fee, Waived the First Year
The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® is good for business owners that want perks on American Airlines.
The card offers benefits such as a free checked bag on domestic flights for up to four travel companions on the same reservation, preferred boarding in Group 5, and a 25% savings on American Airlines inflight Wi-Fi, food, and beverage purchases when you use your card.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
