Bank of America Business Advantage Travel Rewards review: Enhanced benefits with the Preferred Rewards for Business program

The Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card earns 1.5 points for every dollar spent on regular business expenses and 3 points per dollar on eligible transactions at the Bank of America Travel Center. If you're part of the Preferred Rewards for Business program, this card delivers great returns across various categories. However, others may find better value with different card options. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐

*Card rating reflects the views of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

The Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card is one of two business cards from Bank of America that offers rewards (excluding cobranded cards). It provides a flat rate of 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases, with even higher earnings on qualifying travel purchases.

There is no annual fee associated with this card, and a credit score of 670 is recommended for applicants.

Current Bank of America clients may find this card highly beneficial, but it's essential to ensure it's the right business card for your needs. There are other affordable business cards available that provide higher rewards and more flexible redemption options.

Advantages and disadvantages of BofA Business Travel Rewards

BofA Business Travel Rewards introductory offer

The Business Advantage Travel Rewards card offers a solid sign-up bonus for a no-annual-fee option. You'll receive 30,000 points after spending $3,000 within the first 90 days of opening your account, translating to $300 in value.

While it may not be the largest sign-up bonus currently available, earning $300 for just $3,000 in spending is still quite attractive.

Advantages of BofA Business Travel Rewards

The Business Advantage Travel Rewards doesn’t come with a wide range of perks, which is expected given that it has no annual fee. However, it does provide business tools like QuickBooks integration to simplify expense management.

You’ll also benefit from travel protections, which include travel accident insurance, reimbursement for lost luggage, trip cancellation coverage, and reimbursement for trip delays.

Earning Points with BofA Business Travel Rewards

With the Business Advantage Travel Rewards, you earn a flat rate of 1.5 points for every dollar spent, plus 3 points per dollar on travel bookings made through the Bank of America Travel Center.

Remember that the Bank of America Travel Center is treated as a third-party booking site, so you might not earn hotel elite credits or have your hotel elite status acknowledged when booking through the portal. However, if you currently use third-party sites like Kayak or Expedia, switching to Bank of America’s portal to earn 3 points per dollar could be worthwhile.

Earning 1.5 points for every dollar spent on regular purchases makes this a solid business card for non-bonus expenses. However, the Preferred Rewards for Business program enhances the card's potential to be highly rewarding across all transactions.

The Preferred Rewards for Business program mirrors the personal version. Businesses maintaining a qualifying average balance of at least $20,000 over three months in Bank of America business deposit accounts or Merrill business investment accounts can enroll in the program.

There are three tiers available, each offering a range of banking and credit card benefits. Cardholders will receive an increased earnings rate on all base points accrued with the card.

Redeeming Points with BofA Business Travel Rewards

You can use your Business Advantage Travel Rewards points for statement credits on eligible travel expenses, gift cards, or cash back. To maximize your rewards, it's best to redeem them as a statement credit for travel purchases, as preferred by TPG editor Emily Thompson.

Unlike most of Bank of America's cards, which typically earn fixed-value points, the Business Travel Rewards card has a slightly different approach.

When points are redeemed as a statement credit for travel, they hold a flat value of 1 cent each. However, if you choose cash back, their value drops to only 0.6 cents each, meaning 2,500 points would only equal $15. Gift card redemption values may vary.

This limitation reduces your redemption options and puts this card at a disadvantage compared to business cards that provide greater flexibility.

Which cards rival the BofA Business Travel Rewards?

Several cards compete with the Business Advantage Travel Rewards.

• If you're an Amex fan: The The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card From American Express has no annual fee (see rates and fees) and earns 2 points per dollar on purchases. Note that this rate applies only to the first $50,000 spent annually; after that, it drops to one point per dollar. Additionally, there is a 2.7% foreign transaction fee (see rates and fees). For more details, check our full review of the Blue Business Plus.
• If you prefer Chase: Consider the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card. This card offers 1.5% cash back on purchases, and you can convert these earnings to Ultimate Rewards points if you hold a premium Chase card. For more information, see our full review of the Ink Business Unlimited.
• If you lean towards Capital One: Look into the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business. This card earns 1.5 miles per dollar on all spending and includes additional benefits as part of the Capital One portfolio. For more details, read our full review of the Spark Miles Select.

For more options, take a look at our full list of the best business cards.

The details for the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business have been gathered independently by Dinogo. The information presented on this page has not been reviewed or endorsed by the card issuer.

Is the BofA Business Travel Rewards a good choice?

In my opinion, there are more advantageous alternatives to the Business Advantage Travel Rewards, especially if you aren't a member of the Preferred Rewards for Business program. Even without an annual fee, the card seems less appealing if you're earning only a flat 1.5 points per dollar on most purchases and 3 points per dollar on eligible travel portal transactions.

For those looking to earn travel rewards with a flat-rate card for everyday business expenses, the Capital One Spark Miles for Business could be a better option.

Conclusion

If you're eligible for the Business Preferred Rewards program, the Business Advantage Travel Rewards can be an excellent option for earning travel rewards. This program provides banking and credit card benefits that enhance the value of the card for its members.

However, if you're not a member, you might want to explore other options for rewards. There are cards available that offer higher returns for both travel rewards and general spending.