How to earn miles with a business credit card
Quick insights
- Some airline co-branded business credit cards typically allow cardmembers to earn rewards in the form of miles.
- Other rewards credit cards and travel credit cards may allow cardmembers to earn points that can be converted into airline miles.
- Some airline cards may offer welcome bonus offers that provide bonus miles to new cardmembers if they meet certain requirements.
Business owners can log a lot of miles for work. From client meetings to site visits to conferences and events, there’s plenty of reasons to hit the road or the skies in the name of business growth.
If you have a business credit card, you may be able to earn miles while making purchases and conducting business. Read on to learn how you can earn miles with a business card and how to evaluate which card may be best for your business.
Types of business credit cards that earn miles
Some business credit cards associated with travel may allow cardmembers to earn miles. In some cases, general credit card rewards points can be transferred to partner brands that may allow cardmembers to convert points into miles.
There are a few types of rewards cards that may allow you to earn miles—directly or indirectly:
- Airline credit cards: Some of these cards are issued in partnership with an airline and may earn miles on many different types of purchases. They typically earn the most for purchases made with the airline, including in-flight purchases.
- Travel rewards credit cards: Designed for those who travel frequently, these cards often provide a variety of travel-related benefits and earn higher rewards on travel purchases. Rewards points may be transferred to partner airlines and converted to miles.
- General rewards credit cards: General rewards cards can earn rewards on a variety of purchases. Like travel credit cards, they may partner with airlines that allow you to convert points to airline miles, making them a versatile option if you travel frequently and want the freedom to choose your travel partners.
4 Ways to earn credit card miles
How a card earns miles will depend on the card’s rewards structure, but there are a few common spending categories that earn rewards at an accelerated rate on co-branded airline and travel cards.
1. Flights and in-flight purchases
Credit card miles can be earned through flight bookings, especially if you’re using a co-branded airline card. The card typically provides the highest rewards for purchases made through the airline. Other travel-related purchases may also have a higher rewards rate, but booking a flight with the card’s affiliated airline generally earns the most miles.
2. Travel purchases
Travel-related expenses at airlines, hotels, restaurants, car rental companies and gas stations may have a higher rewards rate on general and travel credit cards. Some cards may provide access to a travel portal that earns rewards at an accelerated rate for travel purchases booked through the portal. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ credit card earns 8X points on travel booked through Chase Travel℠.
3. Everyday spending
Many general rewards credit cards earn rewards on most purchases. These cards may not offer higher reward rates on travel or airline purchases. But by earning rewards on most purchases, cardmembers have the ability to accumulate rewards that may be converted to airline miles on partner brands. Everyday purchases can also lead to credit card mile earnings on your general, travel and partner credit cards.
4. Sign-up offers
New cardmembers may be presented with the opportunity to earn bonus miles through a sign-up offer—provided you meet the new cardmember requirements. For example, a card may offer 50,000 bonus miles when cardmembers spend $5,000 in the first three months of having the card.
How to use airline miles
The way you can redeem your miles varies by airline and credit card issuer. The redemption process may look like one of the following:
- Airline and loyalty programs: If you're purchasing directly through an airline’s website, you’ll typically need to enter your loyalty or rewards number to see how the miles you’ve accumulated can apply to flights.
- Your credit card: You will likely need to sign in to your card account and head to the rewards section of the website. From there, you can apply your rewards to travel or have the option to transfer rewards to partner airlines.
Choosing the best business card for airline miles
If you or your employees travel frequently for business, choosing a credit card that offers enhanced rewards and benefits for airline purchases can help you save money and make travel more comfortable. In addition, these cards may have other perks like elite status on your preferred airline or airport lounge access.
When comparing business credit cards that earn miles, you may want to evaluate the following:
- Fees: Some credit cards may charge annual fees, foreign transaction fees, fees for employee credit cards and more. Reading the card’s terms and conditions to determine what fees are associated with the card may help you avoid additional fees.
- Perks: In addition to earning miles, business cards—especially those designed with travelers in mind—may provide travel benefits like complimentary airport lounge access, priority seating or boarding on flights, travel and purchase protections and reimbursement for application fees associated with Trusted Traveler Programs like TSA PreCheck®, Global Entry or NEXUS.
- Rewards program: Aligning your credit card with your routine business expenses can help you maximize rewards. For example, if you travel a lot for business, a card that provides the highest rewards on travel purchases may make sense.
- Redemption options: You may also want to confirm that the card’s redemption options work for you. Generally, rewards can be redeemed for statement credits, cash back or travel.
- Business features: Business cards may offer complimentary employee cards, expense management and tracking features and discounts and rewards for routine business purchases. Examining what business perks and features are included may help determine which card is best for you.
In summary
Many co-branded airline business credit cards can earn miles as a part of their rewards program. General rewards cards and travel cards may earn rewards points that can be converted into miles with partner and affiliate airlines.
Cards that earn miles will generally provide the ability to earn rewards or miles at an accelerated rate for purchases that are with the card’s affiliated airline. Similarly, travel cards will usually award the most rewards points on travel purchases.
When evaluating which credit card to get, learning about the card’s fees, perks, rewards program, redemption options and business features can help you determine which card is best for your business.
