Best Business Travel Cards
Business travel cards earn transferable points on travel and dining, provide lounge access and travel insurance, and often come with annual credits that offset the fee. For business owners who fly regularly, a travel card typically provides far more value than a cash back card once you factor in the protection benefits alone.
Top Business Travel Cards
Business Travel Card
Points and perks designed for the road-warrior business owner
Annual Fee
$95
APR Range
19.99% - 27.99%
Intro APR
None
Base Earn
1%
Sign-Up Bonus
70,000 points
after $5,000 in purchases in first 3 months (worth approx $700 in travel)
Rewards Rates
- 3%3x points on all travel
- 3%3x points at restaurants worldwide
- 2%2x points on social media and search advertising
Employee Cards
$0 fee for additional employee cards; each earns full points
Expense Management
- +Airport lounge access (2 complimentary visits/year)
- +Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit ($100 value)
- +Trip delay and cancellation insurance
- +Auto rental collision damage waiver
- +Purchase protection up to $10,000 per claim
Pros
- +Strong 3x earn on travel and dining
- +Valuable travel insurance protections
- +Points transfer to major airline and hotel programs
Cons
- -$95 annual fee requires moderate spend to justify
- -Points redemption can be complex
Credit required: Good to Excellent (680+)
Business Platinum Card
Premium business card for high-spending companies
Annual Fee
$595
APR Range
21.99% - 29.99%
Intro APR
None
Base Earn
1.5%
Sign-Up Bonus
150,000 points
after $15,000 in purchases in first 3 months (worth approx $1,500+)
Rewards Rates
- 5%5x points on flights and hotels booked through issuer portal
- 2%2x points on direct airline and hotel bookings
- 2%2x on eligible business software and cloud services
Employee Cards
$300 per additional employee card; each gets full lounge access
Expense Management
- +Unlimited airport lounge access worldwide
- +$200 airline fee credit annually
- +$200 hotel credit on eligible bookings
- +Dedicated business concierge service
- +Cell phone protection up to $800
- +Extended warranty on purchases
Pros
- +Extensive travel credits that offset the annual fee
- +Unlimited lounge access for cardholder
- +Strong earn rate on business software and travel
Cons
- -$595 annual fee is only justified for high-spend businesses
- -Employee card fee adds up quickly
Credit required: Excellent (720+)
How to Value Travel Points
Points are not worth a fixed dollar amount. Value depends entirely on how you redeem them. The table below shows typical value ranges for each redemption method. Transfer to an airline partner for a premium cabin booking consistently delivers the highest value per point.
| Redemption Method | Value per 1,000 Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flights via issuer travel portal | $10 - $15 | Standard redemption; reliable but not maximum value |
| Transfer to airline partner | $15 - $25 | Best value when booking business or first class |
| Transfer to hotel partner | $8 - $12 | Varies widely by hotel program and availability |
| Statement credit | $6 - $10 | Predictable but lowest value per point |
| Gift cards | $8 - $10 | Simple but below travel redemption value |
Travel Insurance Benefits Explained
Trip Delay Reimbursement
Covers meals, lodging, and incidental expenses when a common carrier delays your trip by 6 to 12 hours or more. Typical coverage is $200 to $500 per ticket. Many business travelers overlook this benefit and pay out of pocket for hotel nights caused by delays.
Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
Reimburses prepaid, non-refundable trip expenses if you must cancel or cut short a trip due to covered reasons such as illness, severe weather, or a family emergency. Coverage limits typically range from $1,500 to $10,000 per trip. This can easily exceed the value of an annual fee.
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
Covers damage or theft of a rental car when you decline the rental company's collision damage waiver and pay for the rental with your business card. This benefit alone can save $20 to $40 per day on car rentals. Coverage applies to most standard vehicles but check exclusions for luxury and specialty cars.
Baggage Delay Insurance
Reimburses essential purchases like clothing and toiletries when your baggage is delayed by more than 6 to 12 hours. Typical coverage is $100 to $500 per trip. Not as valuable as the other benefits but useful for frequent travelers who check bags.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement
Covers the cost of lost or damaged luggage and personal property up to $3,000 per passenger on most premium travel cards. This is secondary coverage to what the airline or travel insurance already provides. Keep receipts for valuables you travel with.