The best business credit cards for travel rewards in January 2025

Travel credit cards are often touted as the best credit cards for businesses—no matter their size. With every transaction getting you cashback, travel rewards, or access to coveted airport lounges, we understand why you might be considering a travel rewards card.

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However, traditional travel credit cards often come with high annual fees, limited card issuance, and the risk of accruing high interest.

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In this article, we'll explore the best business credit cards for travel perks and what to look for in a travel card. We'll also discuss how a modern financial platform like Ramp can offer a more comprehensive and cost-effective solution for your business's travel and spending needs.

Best business credit cards for travel rewards

Here’s a summary of our picks for the best business credit cards for travel:

• Ramp Corporate Credit Card
• American Express Business Platinum Card
• Bank of America Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard Credit Card
• Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express
• Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card
• Chase Ink Business Preferred Card
• Capital One Venture X Business
• American Express Business Gold Card

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The Ramp Business Credit Card is more than just a charge card; it's a powerful tool for businesses seeking to streamline travel management. It offers comprehensive features specifically designed for businesses with travel needs, including the ability to track travel spending in real-time to identify potential cost overruns or ensure compliance with budgets. 

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You can set specific budgets and spending limits for each trip or employee, improving cost controls and preventing unauthorized expenses. And that’s just on the front end. The program also includes simplified expense reporting with automated receipt matching and detailed travel expense categorization, saving time and reducing admin.

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Key features:

• Real-time trip expense monitoring
• Custom trip budgets and spending limits
• Easy travel itinerary management
• Integration with travel booking platforms
• Savings averaging 5% annually

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If you love an airport lounge, this may be the travel credit card for your business. The American Express Business Platinum Card is a premium travel card that offers unparalleled lounge access—including admission to the exclusive Centurion Lounges. Membership includes valuable travel credits like complimentary TSA PreCheck and Global Entry and automatic elite status at certain hotel chains. It earns 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on travel booked through amextravel.com.

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But, you’re going to pay for it. Its hefty annual fee (hundreds of dollars) necessitates careful consideration of its value proposition for each individual business.

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Key features:

• Extensive lounge access
• Hotel status
• Valuable travel credits
• Earns highest sum of points on travel booked within its platform
• High annual fee

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The Bank of America Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard Credit Card is a solid choice for businesses seeking a straightforward travel rewards program. It offers competitive earning rates on all purchases, including travel, and allows you to redeem points for travel through the Bank of America Travel Center. 

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While it may not offer the same elite status or exclusive lounge access as premium cards, its competitive rewards and no annual fee make it an attractive option for businesses that prioritize simplicity and value.

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Key features: 

• No annual fee
• Rewards are earned on all business expenses, not just travel
• Points can be redeemed for travel expenses through the Bank of America Travel Center

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The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card is an especially attractive option for businesses that frequently fly on Delta Air Lines. It offers  several Delta-specific perks, including an annual companion certificate, high earning potential on Delta purchases, accelerated elite status with Delta, and exclusive travel benefits like free checked bags and priority boarding.

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Key features:

• Annual Companion Certificate (excludes taxes and fees)
• High earning potential on Delta
• Accelerated Delta Medallion Status
• Lounge access
• High annual fee

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If you frequently stay at Marriott properties, adding The Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card to your wallet is worth considering. It includes a generous welcome bonus, high earning potential on Marriott stays, and automatic Silver Elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program. Cardholders get free in-room Wi-Fi, late check-out, and complimentary breakfast at participating hotels.

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Key features:

• Annual Free Night Award worth up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
• Elite Night Credits to accelerate Marriott Bonvoy status
• No foreign transaction fees
• You can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to airline partners, expanding your redemption options
• High annual fee

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The Chase Ink Business Preferred Card is a popular choice for businesses seeking a balance of rewards and travel benefits. It offers 3x points on the first $150,000 spent in purchases on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone services, and advertising. 

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While it may not offer the same level of travel perks as some premium cards, its competitive earning rates make it a strong contender for businesses wanting to maximize rewards on everyday business expenses, including travel. Chase Ultimate Rewards travel partners include Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and Hyatt — three brands that are missing from the Amex travel partner portfolio.

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Key features:

• 3x points across multiple categories
• Transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards points
• No foreign transaction fees

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Many business travelers prefer this premium travel credit card due to its simple earning structure — unlimited 2x miles on all purchases —, access to airport lounges (including Capital One’s own name brand), plus its annual travel credit that effectively offsets the annual fee. 

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Key features:

• Earn 2s miles on all purchases, and increased earning rates when booking through Capital One Travel.
• A $300 annual travel credit
• Access to Capital One lounges and the Priority Pass network
• TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit, travel insurance, and rental car insurance
• High annual fee

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We’ll round out our list of the best business credit cards for travel rewards with the American Express Business Gold Card. This card offers customizable bonus categories so cardholders can earn 4x points in the top two spending categories on eligible purchases each month. This is ideal for businesses with varied expenses as it maximizes rewards based on their highest spending areas—including travel. 

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It may not offer the same level of elite status or lounge access as the Platinum Card, its customizable rewards, competitive earning rates, and cheaper annual fee make it a strong contender for many businesses. And it still earns Membership Rewards, which can be used to redeem travel in the Amex Travel Portal or transferred to a bevy of travel partners.

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Key features

• Travel credits for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry
• Reward option includes statement credit
• Membership Rewards can be redeemed with multiple travel partners
• 4x points in customizable categories based on spend
• Mid-range annual fee

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Summary of the best business credit cards for travel rewards

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How to get a business travel credit card

To get a business credit card for travel, start by researching card providers, comparing features like rewards and fees. Travel card applications can be found online. Gather necessary information such as your EIN and business bank statements, and submit a completed application.

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Once approved, carefully review the terms and conditions before accepting, then activate your card and use it for business purchases.

How does a business travel credit card differ from a personal travel card?

You might wonder if using your personal credit card for business is good for now. However, there are key differences between business and personal travel credit cards that can work towards the growth of your business. A business travel credit card can:

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• Draw the line between personal and business finances: Separating your personal finances from your business finances is crucial for your company’s success. Whether you operate as a sole proprietor or a corporation, separating your finances is necessary for legal and tax reasons.
• Get rewards for your business: Business travel credit cards have better rewards. For example, you might enjoy travel rewards, airline miles, or access to a VIP lounge.
• Give you access to higher credit limits: Business travel credit cards offer higher credit limits than personal travel cards, making them ideal for bigger business purchases
• Help you build business credit history: If you make timely payments each month, you’ll build a strong business credit history and contribute towards a favorable business credit score

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What features should I look for in a business travel credit card?

Choosing the best business credit card for travel depends entirely on the needs of your business and employees. If you travel often, you’re probably looking for card offers that supplement your business trips rather than a generic rewards program.

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Unfortunately, more travel benefits often mean higher fees. To pick the best card, give some serious thought to what’s most important to you.

1. Consider the annual fees

Many cards that offer attractive travel benefits come with hefty annual fees. Generally, the higher the fee, the better the membership rewards. As such, the annual fee you pay will fluctuate based on the travel benefits and rewards that come with the card. If you’re diligent about using all the perks your card offers, they could offset the fee. Otherwise, you may want to choose a different card.

2. Watch for welcome bonuses

Most business credit cards for travel entice you with a welcome offer soon after opening the card. For example, you may get 100,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 in purchases in the first three months of your card membership.

3. Know the APR

Pay close attention to the APR offered by business credit cards. If you don't pay your credit card balance in full each month, this interest can quickly compound. The more you owe, the harder you’ll find it to pay off the debt.

4. Research the reward rates

Business travel cards offer various reward rates depending on your purchases. For instance, you might earn 5x points per dollar when you book through their flight portal, but only 1x points for all other purchases. With some cards, rewards points might be worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel purchases. Understanding the rewards program will help you make the most of your card membership.

5. Foreign transaction fees

Since you’ll be using it for travel, you want a card with no foreign transaction fees. If your card gets you great exchange rates but you need to pay transaction fees every time, it negates any benefits you might enjoy. Most business travel cards offer no transaction fees, but it's best to double-check the fine print.

6. General or co-branded?

If you enjoy using a specific brand or airline for travel, you may want to consider co-branded options rather than a general business travel card. For example, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card from American Express gives you rewards across different airlines and hotels. You get access to rewards from the main airline as well as any of their partners.

7. Consider purchase protection

Where will most of your traveling take you? No matter where you go, purchase protection can kick in as a backup. It works as a form of insurance on your purchases and covers things like airfare, hotels, and rental cars. This could remove the need for you to purchase additional travel insurance.

8. Compare travel perks

Look into the travel perks of the business cards you’re considering. For example, does your card come with airport lounge access? If your business is located near a smaller airport, your employees will likely spend more time changing flights at larger airports with longer layovers. They might benefit more from an airport lounge than employees who live near a larger airport and take nonstop flights.

Pros and cons of travel credit cards for business

Travel credit cards can be a gamechanger for businesses. But, like anything, there's a flip side.

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Benefits of using a business travel credit card:

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• Earn valuable rewards, like points and miles or cashback. Businesses can accumulate points or miles on travel-related expenses like flights, hotels, and car rentals. These can be redeemed for future travel, upgrades, or other travel-related expenses. Some cards offer cash back rewards on travel purchases, providing a direct discount on travel costs.
• Built-in access to travel conveniences, like airport lounges, elite status, free checked bags, travel insurance, and more.
• Some business travel credit cards offer features like employee card spending limits and controls, enabling better tracking of travel expenses and identifying cost-saving opportunities.
• Build business credit: Responsible card usage means a positive credit history — crucial for improving your odds of securing business financing.

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Although there are several benefits of a business credit card, there are also some downsides. Initially, you may have thought securing a business travel credit card would have you and your employees enjoying luxury airport lounge access around the world. However, this isn’t the case for many companies.

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Downsides of a dedicated business credit card for travel:

• Higher interest rates: Due to the often rich rewards they offer, business travel credit cards usually come with a higher APR than general corporate cards. Interest rates can be as high as 24%, much higher than the standard 16% you’ll see with traditional cards. Sky-high interest rates like these cancel out any potential travel rewards for your company. If you aren't paying off your credit card in full every month, these cards might be more trouble than they're worth.
• Steep annual fees: Business travel credit cards come with several perks, but they also have high annual fees. As we covered earlier, the American Express Business Platinum Card has a steep yearly fee of $695. With such a high cost, you’ll need to ensure that the card's benefits outweigh the costs.‍
• Limited cards create hassles: Credit card issuers have limits on how many cards you can issue to employees. This can quickly create chaos within the office. If you own a small business with 30 employees but only receive 10 cards from your card issuer, it can be confusing and time-consuming to track who’s using which card and chase down employees for travel expense reimbursements. If you give an employee your travel card, you might also wind up using your personal card for business expenses out of necessity. This opens you up to personal liability for your many business expenses.

Simplify business travel with Ramp’s all-in-one business credit card

Instead of a business travel card, consider a card that meets all your business's spending needs. While traditional credit cards encourage spending to earn rewards, Ramp’s corporate business credit card offers cashback on purchases and comes with spend management software designed to help your business save.

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Ramp cards also come with travel management features like real-time trip expense monitoring, custom trip budgets and spending categories on employee cards, and easily accessible travel itineraries. All these features add up to save Ramp customers an average of 5% a year.