Is a business travel rewards credit card right for you?

If you travel often for business, a business travel rewards credit card could help you save on flights, hotels and rental cars—and offer additional benefits, like airport lounge access.

Beyond travel benefits, business travel rewards credit cards can simplify spending, help keep business and personal expenses separate, and support growth.

Learn more about how business travel rewards credit cards work and how a travel card might fit your company’s needs.

What you’ll learn:

• Business travel rewards credit cards offer travel-specific benefits to cardholders.

• Common benefits of business travel rewards credit cards include miles earned on everyday purchases, access to airport lounges and travel credits.

• When comparing business travel rewards credit cards, it can be helpful to review card-specific benefits, determine your spending habits as a business owner, and research the terms and conditions.

Business travel rewards credit cards are designed for business owners and employees who travel frequently for work. Business cards can help you manage cash flow and track business expenses, and by using a travel rewards card, you’ll typically earn miles or points on every card purchase. You can then redeem those rewards for future travel expenses. 

Some cards offer elevated travel experiences or statement credits that can be used toward programs like TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry. And depending on the card issuer, you may also have access to additional card benefits, like flexible spending limits and free employee cards.

Different types of travel cards for businesses include:

• General business travel credit cards: These cards allow you to redeem your rewards for a variety of airline and hotel brands, making them a flexible, versatile option if you’re not dedicated to a specific brand.

• Co-branded business travel rewards credit cards: If you tend to stay at the same brand of hotels or fly the same airline every time you travel, these cards typically allow you to earn elevated rewards with those brands.

Business travel rewards cards typically work like this:

1. Spend with the card. You or your employees can use the business card or employee card to purchase items like supplies or equipment for the company.

2. Earn rewards. You earn rewards—typically in the form of points or miles—based on how much you spend, although terms and conditions vary by card issuer.

3. Redeem rewards. You can redeem your rewards for hotels, flights and more. 

For example, if you use your card to purchase company equipment, you may earn enough miles for a free flight on your next business trip.

Business travel rewards cards can also support business growth by allowing you to optimize your spending. If you’re already paying for certain expenses, you can potentially save on travel costs at the same time.

Business travel rewards cards offer a variety of benefits. So when comparing cards in an effort to choose the best business travel credit card for your company, look for advantages like: 

• Unlimited miles: Some business travel rewards cards offer unlimited miles that can be earned on every business expense you make.

• Bonus miles: You may be able to earn bonus points or miles for hitting certain spending thresholds, or as an annual credit.

• Travel credit: With some cards, you may receive a travel credit—as a one-time or recurring credit—that can go toward travel-related expenses.

• Miles transfer partners: Business travel rewards credit card issuers may let you transfer your earned miles to airline or hotel loyalty programs to maximize your benefits.

• Welcome offers: Depending on the card, you may receive a welcome offer or sign-up bonus—typically in the form of a statement credit or bonus rewards.

• Additional travel benefits: Certain business travel rewards cards offer other benefits to cardholders, like access to certain airport lounges or statement credits that can be put toward TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry.

In addition to these travel-specific benefits, all Capital One Business travel rewards cards include advantages such as:

• No foreign transaction fees: All Capital One business credit cards come standard with no foreign transaction fees. 

• Automatic payments: By setting up AutoPay on your account, you won’t have to worry about making on-time payments each month.

• Fraud liability: If your card is lost or stolen, you can expect an emergency replacement card—plus an advance, if needed.

• Year-end summaries: At the end of the year, you can receive a summary with a breakdown of your spending, which can help with budgeting and planning for taxes.

• Employee cards: You can get free employee cards to track expenses while earning rewards on every purchase. Plus, you can set customized spending limits on each card.

• Access to Capital One Business Travel: You can use Capital One Business Travel to find the most competitive prices on hotels, plus use the price prediction feature to find the best time to book a flight. You can also earn extra rewards when you book hotels and rental cars through this service.

Here are some steps to consider when you’re searching for the best business credit cards for travel rewards.

Business travel cards come with different reward redemption options and structures. For example, some offer rewards in the form of airline miles, while others offer points that can go toward hotels. Some credit cards—like the Capital One Venture X Business card—offer a flexible rewards structure, which means you can redeem miles on flights, hotels, vacation rentals and more, with no restrictions or blackout dates.

When you’re looking for a business travel rewards credit card, it helps to understand the terms attached to the card you’re applying for. Before making your decision, you may want to consider factors like the interest rate and whether the card has an annual fee.

Determining how much your business spends each month can help you decide which card makes the most sense to apply for. For example, certain welcome bonuses have spending thresholds that must be met before you can earn your reward. Or if your spending needs fluctuate, you might look into a card with no preset spending limit.

Most business travel rewards cards have credit score requirements. If your business doesn’t have an established business credit score yet, your personal credit score may be used when determining eligibility.

Your decision on the business travel rewards credit card that works best for you should depend on a variety of factors. Understanding your travel needs—for both business and personal travel—can help you narrow down your choices. And reviewing the specifics of the travel card you’re applying for can help you make the most of your credit card once you’re approved.

If you’re interested in a card that has business-grade benefits combined with elevated travel experiences, compare business travel rewards credit cards from Capital One. You can also see whether you’re pre-approved, with no impact on your credit scores.