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Answers (3)

Double up through Business Card?

Double up through Business Card?

  1. Anonymous Guest

    Lucky,

    Background: I have been a United Mileage Plus Visa card holder for a long time. I converted to the Explorer Card when that was created several years ago. I use my United Visa for almost everything that I can to accrue miles. I have booked several trips over the past 5 years using miles and upgraded to First Class for an upcoming trip. The $95 annual fee pays for itself if I travel once a year just on the Baggage Fees (4 x $25) for me and my girlfriend. So I am very happy with the program.

    Additional New Stuff: I get offers from Chase to open a United Mileage Plus Business Card. It gives 50,000 miles for opening and spending $3000 with the first few months. It has an annual fee similar to my Explorer Card, but the first year is free.

    My question is this: If I register for a Business Card, and make the purchases to get the 50k bonus miles, will I be able to transfer my Business Card Miles to my regular account, and then after about 10-11 months cancel the Business Card before the new annual fee is due? I haven’t seen anything in the fine print that would suggest that it wouldn’t work, but I want the opinion of an Expert.

    Thanks,

    John

  2. David W Community Ambassador

    Hi John,

    When you open the business card, you’ll be asked for your UA MileagePlus number so that it’s linked to the card. All your miles earned on that card will be deposited into your UA account and you’re free to cancel the card once the year is up. Based on the benefits of the UA Business Card, that might be better for your spend than the regular personal card – 2 miles per dollar on restaurants, gas, & office supply stores.

    Have you considered other Chase cards? Your UA card earns 2x on United purchases and 1x on everything else. Chase’s family of cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points are much better for earning UA miles for everyday purchases. For example:

    Sapphire Reserve, 3x on travel and dining
    Sapphire Preferred, 2x on travel and dining
    Ink Business Preferred, 3x on travel, advertising, internet, phone & cable services, up to a combined $150k per year

    Those points all instantly transfer to United at 1:1 when done thru the UR rewards portal.

    Chase also has no annual fee cards that earn UR points (when combined with one of Chase’s cards above):
    Freedom, 5x up to $1500 per quarter on rotating categories
    Freedom Unlimited, 1.5x on all purchases
    Ink Business Cash, 5x on office supply stores, wireless, internet, phone & cable services and 2x on gas and restaurants.

    You could be earning UA miles much faster and more effectively plus UR points means flexibility to transfer to other programs for award flights.

  3. Gaurav Community Ambassador

    Second what [USER=29]@David W[/USER] mentions. If you decide to go this route, don’t cancel your personal UA card. You can call and ask to be downgraded to the no-fee UA card. This card only earns 0.5miles/$ but will preserve your length of credit history and give you access to the expanded award availability for card holders. You could also go this way if you open the business card and just pay the annual fees for that card.

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