Which Travel Rewards Credit Cards to Look at Right Now (March 2020)

After getting requests in the Facebook Group, I’ve begun putting together a monthly list of what I think are the best credit card offers available right now. 

If you’re brand new to miles and points, make sure you understand Chase’s 5/24 rule and the first cards to get because of it. 

You can learn more about the fundamentals in my free miles and points basics course, as well. 

As always when applying for credit cards, think of your travel goals. Look not only at the card’s welcome bonus but also the bonus categories. Do they match up with your spending habits?

And, are there other credit card perks that come with the card, like lounge membership or hotel status that make sense for what you’re looking for in a travel rewards credit card?

Finally, know how you’re going to meet the minimum spend to earn the welcome offer. Travel rewards credit cards can add a ton of longterm value to your wallet but, initially, there’s no denying how lucrative a welcome bonus can be, particularly when the offer is increased or notable in some way.

Which Travel Rewards Credit Cards to
Look At Right Now (March 2020)

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Current Welcome Bonus: 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening

Favorite Card Features: 

• 2x on travel and dining
• No foreign exchange fees
• Transfer Ultimate Rewards points to airline and hotel partners like United, Flying Blue, and Hyatt
• 1.25 cents per point value if you redeem points for travel in the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal

Annual Fee: $95

Reasons to Consider it:

This is the highest welcome bonus ever offered on the Sapphire Preferred and it should be one of the first cards anyone new to miles and points considers adding to their wallet. It’s subject to the 5/24 rule and will add to your overall card count.

But, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are a flexible currency that can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to airline and hotel transfer partners for high-value redemptions. In addition, when you pay for a car rental with the Sapphire Preferred, you get primary collision damage waiver coverage.

Sapphire Preferred is arguably one of the best travel rewards credit cards out there and a perfect starter card!

Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card

Current Welcome Bonus: 50,000 Capital One® miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening

Favorite Card Features: 

• 2x on every $1 spent
• 10x when booking hotels through Hotels.com/Venture until January 31, 2020
• No foreign exchange fees
• Use your miles as a travel purchase eraser or transfer them to one of the Capital One transfer partners like Flying Blue or Aeroplan.
• Up to a $100 Global Entry or TSA Precheck credit

Annual Fee: $0 in your 1st year, then $95 thereafter

Reasons to Consider it:

While this welcome bonus has been at 50k for a while, the Capital One Venture card is noteworthy because of its earning potential and its redemption convenience and flexibility.

For travel redemptions outside traditional airline and hotel loyalty programs, as well as for deals on cheap flights, Capital One miles return a ton of value. And when you’re looking to redeem for a premium flight, Capital One’s transfer partners, even with the mostly 2:1.5 transfer ratio will help you pay fewer miles compared to the cent per point value with the travel eraser.

After the Hotels.com partnership ended at the end of January, Capital One added 5x the miles on hotel and rental car bookings using Capital One Travel and paying with your Venture or VentureOne card.

Capital One offers arguably one of the best travel rewards credit cards out there and one that many people start with. Just remember, it will take a 5/24 slot. And for those of you who already have a travel rewards portfolio, the Venture card adds value with its dual flexible currency – travel eraser feature.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass

Current Welcome Bonus: 125,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening.

Favorite Card Features:

• 12x on Hilton purchases
• 6x on U.S. gas stations, restaurants, and grocery stores
• 3x on all other purchases
• No foreign exchange fees
• Free Weekend Night when you spend at least $15k on your card in a calendar year
• Automatic Gold Status, with an upgrade to Diamond Status after spending $40k in a calendar year

Annual Fee: $95

Reasons to Consider it:

Among the line-up of American Express Hilton cards, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass stands out for its grocery and gas bonus categories. Earning 6x the Hilton points on these categories makes a lot of sense for most people. 

Hilton Hotel brands include Hampton by Hilton, DoubleTree, Embassy Suites, Waldorf Astoria and Conrad, to name a few. Hilton has a large geographic footprint so it’s likely wherever you’re traveling, you’ll find a Hilton property.

Other card benefits include 10 Priority Pass Lounge passes. For infrequent travelers who want to avoid the higher annual fee cards that come with unlimited lounge access, the Surpass offers a happy medium for those who still want lounge access.

The free weekend night can be redeemed at nearly any Hilton Hotel worldwide, which can be a fantastic deal. At a minimum, you’d earn 45k Hilton points on that $15k in spending, plus earn a free night on a hotel that would have cost hundreds of dollars or 100k+ points per night.

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass packs a lot of value making it easy to offset the card’s annual fee.

IHG Premier

IHG launched its highest ever offer on the IHG Premier card. Here are the details.

Current Welcome Bonus: 125,000 IHG points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. 

Favorite Card Features: 

• Earn a free night each card anniversary at eligible hotels up to 35k points per night
• 25x on IHG purchases
• 2x on restaurants, gas, and grocery spend, 1x on all other purchases
• 4th night free on award stays
• Platinum Elite status
• No foreign Exchange Fees

Annual Fee: $89

Reasons to Consider it:

This is the absolute best welcome bonus ever offered for this IHG card! This combined with the earnings for paid IHG stays and the free anniversary night every year means this card deserves a spot in your wallet.

IHG hotels include brands like Holiday Inn Express, Crowne Plaza, & InterContinental. This IHG Premier card is subject to and will add to your 5/24 count. However, it’s totally worth one of those slots!

I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Springdale, Utah for a trip to Zion National Park. Especially in peak National Park season, IHG redemptions can help save a ton. This Holiday Inn Express is nearly $300 a night in summer!

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

Current Welcome Bonus: 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months. You'll also earn a free night each year at hotels up to 35k points per night for your account anniversary.

Favorite Card Features: 

• 6x on Marriott purchases
• 2x on all other purchases
• Silver Elite Status
• Trip protection for delays and lost baggage
• No foreign Exchange Fees

Annual Fee: $95

Reasons to Consider it:

Marriott Bonvoy points can be redeemed for free nights at more than 7k hotels around the world. Marriott also has 40+ airline partners, including Alaska Airlines and American Airlines which aren’t partners with any other flexible points currency program.

Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio with a 5k bonus for every 20k points transferred. So, 60k Bonvoy points transferred to an airline like American results in 25k American Airlines miles.

The World of Hyatt Credit Card

Current Welcome Bonus: 25,000 Hyatt points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. Plus, earn another 25k points after spending $6,000 on your card within the first 6 months of opening your card. You'll also get a free night each year at category 1-4 hotels on your account anniversary.

Favorite Card Features: 

• Earn another category 1-4 free night if you spend $15k during your cardholder year
• 9x on Hyatt purchases
• 2x on restaurants, gym memberships, commuter transit costs, and airfare booked with the airline
• 1x on all other purchases
• Hyatt Discoverist status + 5 qualifying night credits every year
• No foreign Exchange Fees

Annual Fee: $95

Reasons to Consider it:

Now with the upcoming changes to Hyatt’s award pricing delayed until 2021, there’s still time (hopefully) later this year to take advantage of their reasonably priced award chart. Plus, a combination of points and cash can be used to redeem for free nights, as well.

The brand has made solid strides to build its geographic footprint, including its partnership with Small Luxury Hotels. Discoverist status that comes with the card includes preferred rooms and late checkout.

But the fast track the World of Hyatt card gives with the 5 qualifying nights towards higher status and the ability to earn 2 more qualifying nights for every $5k in spend means even people who don’t travel all the time can elevate their status.

Business Credit Cards

Applying for a business credit card is another great way for business owners to earn miles and points. The great thing about business credit cards, aside from the additional earnings, is they don’t add to your 5/24 count. So if you’re 4/24 and you get approved for a business credit card with Chase or another bank, you’ll still be 4/24 even after getting the card.

Most people wonder, though, if they can even apply for a business credit card. The biggest thing to understand is a business can be a side hustle. It doesn’t need to be your primary source of income. This might include teachers who tutor, anyone who consults or sells a service, selling on eBay, and even someone who bakes and sells trays of cookies from home.

You can apply for a business credit card as a sole proprietor, using your name as the business name. A social security number is fine to use if you don’t have an EIN. Business cards are even for new businesses whose earnings just starting.

Use this guide to answer all your questions about how to apply for a business credit card.

Just remember to be honest about your business. If it’s your first time applying for a business credit card, a bank may naturally have some additional questions for you about your application. 

Chase Ink Business Preferred

Current Welcome Bonus: 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening.

Favorite Card Features:

• 3x on travel, shipping costs, internet, phone & cable services, and advertising with social media sites and search engines on the first $150k in combined category spending
• No foreign exchange fees
• Transfer Ultimate Rewards points to airline and hotel partners like United, Flying Blue, and Hyatt
  1.25 cents per point value if you redeem points for travel in the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal

Annual Fee: $95

Reasons to Consider it:

The welcome bonus on the Ink Preferred can return at least $1,250 in value for your travel redemptions. It has the same 1:1 transfer to airline and hotel transfer partners like the Sapphire Preferred. These transfer partners can help you redeem for award travel all over the globe whether you’re dreaming of Rome or an African Safari.

In addition, the Ink Preferred comes with solid cell phone protection. Get up to $600 per claim for cell phone theft or damage when you use your card to pay for your phone bill.

The Ink Preferred, like all Chase business credit cards, is subject to 5/24, but it won’t add to your overall count. If you’re a business owner who’s new to miles and points, the Ink Preferred should be one of the first credit cards you consider.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business

Current Welcome Bonus: Earn up to 100,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards Points; 70,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening and another 30,000 Southwest points when you spend $25k during the first 6 months of card membership.

Favorite Card Features:

• 3x on Southwest purchases
• 2x on internet, cable, and cell phone costs, as well as advertising purchases for social media and search engines
• Perks include a Global Entry fee credit and 4 upgraded boarding positions
• Get 9k Rapid Rewards points each year you renew your card

Annual Fee: $199

Reasons to Consider it:

This is Southwest’s premium business card. It comes with Global Entry/TSA Pre-Check credits which can be super useful when flying from any of Southwest’s international locations.

Speaking of which, Southwest has routes to Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, and the Caribbean, which can be some of the best uses of Southwest points. Southwest award flights also come with a no-fee change or cancellation policy. If you’re plans change, simply change dates or have your points refunded.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business card is subject to 5/24 but won’t add to your overall count. A great option for mainly domestic travelers!

United Business Card

Current Welcome Bonus: 100,000 United miles after spending $10,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening.

Favorite Card Features:

• 2x on United purchases, restaurants, gas stations, office supply stores, local transit & commuting (including things like tolls, taxis, and ride share costs)
• 5k United miles each year on your account anniversary if you have a United business and personal credit card
• $100 United travel credit after making 7 United flight purchases > $100
• Get 25% off United inflight purchases for things like drinks and wifi
• No foreign exchange fees
• A free checked bag when you fly with United
• 2 United Club passes each year

Annual Fee: $99

Reasons to Consider it:

This is the launch of a brand new United Business card. The limited-time offer will only be available until April 2, 2020. You’re still eligible for this new business card even if you received the old United Explorer Business card welcome bonus less than 24 months ago.

In 2019, United ditched their award charts and moved to a dynamic pricing model for their award flights. Even still, the best ways to redeem United miles include making use of their Excursionist Perk to add a free one-way segment to award flights.

I’ve used United miles to fly to Patagonia, Thailand, & southern Africa! This card is subject to the 5/24 rule but because it’s a business card, it won’t add to your overall count.

After meeting, the full minimum spend, even at the 1x earning rate, you’ll have 100k United miles, making the United Business Card certainly something to consider!

Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

Current Welcome Bonus: 125,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening.

Favorite Card Features:

• 12x on Hilton purchases
• 6x on U.S. gas stations, restaurants, cell phone service, shipping costs, flights booked with the airline directly and rental cars booked with the car rental company directly.
• No foreign exchange fees
• Automatic Gold Status, with an upgrade to Diamond Status after spending $40k in a calendar year.

Annual Fee: $95

Reasons to Consider it:

This is one of the best welcome offers we’ve seen for this card. Having Hilton Gold status allows you to earn even more per dollar for Hilton stays, potential upgrades, free breakfast, and the 5th night free on award stays.

If you spend $15k in a calendar year, your Hilton weekend night reward is valid for a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday stay and can be used at just about any Hilton property. Hilton has hotels all over the globe, so you’re likely to find a Hilton no matter where you travel.

Remember, American Express limits you to 1 welcome offer on individual credit cards to per lifetime, so be sure you’re taking advantage of the best possible offer. 

CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select World Mastercard

Current Welcome Bonus: 65,000 American Airlines miles after spending $4,000 in the first 4 months from your account opening.

Favorite Card Features:

• 2x on American Airlines purchases, cell phone, internet, cable, and satellite services, as well as on gas and rental car costs.
• No foreign exchange fees
• 1 free checked bag on all domestic flights

Annual Fee: $0 in the first year, $99 in the second year

Reasons to Consider it:

American Airlines isn’t joined with any flexible points currency programs except Marriott Bonvoy. This makes American Airlines miles harder to earn outside of their co-branded credit cards.

American Airlines is part of the Oneworld Alliance with valuable partners like Cathay Pacific, Qatar, and Japan Airlines. The airline has improved its website partner searches by adding more Oneworld partners that can be searched and booked right from the American website.

In addition, American Airlines has begun offering Web Specials for deep discounts on award flights to destinations around the globe. These flash deals make it very beneficial to have American Airlines miles at the ready for an opportunistic booking.

Bottom Line

Which travel rewards credit card is right for you depends on your travel plans and whether you’re just starting out with miles and points or not. Applying for new credit cards helps you earn valuable miles, points, and perks that’ll up your travel game.

Just remember, to pace yourself according to which credit card offers make sense for your travel goals. And, always pay off that bill in full at the end of the month to avoid high-interest fees that’ll negate the value of the miles and points you’re earning.

So, which travel rewards credit card offers do you think are the best right now?

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