As the blog and Facebook Group have grown, 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 (September 2019)
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!
IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card
Current Welcome Bonus: 125,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening
Favorite Card Features:
- 40x for IHG stays during the first 12 months, 25x thereafter
- 4x on all other purchases during the first 12 months, 2x on gas, grocery stores, & restaurants and 1x on all other purchases thereafter
- Anniversary free night every year at IHG hotels costing 40k points or less per night
- Automatic Platinum Elite Status
- 4th night free on award stays
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 season, IHG redemptions can help save a ton. This Holiday Inn Express is nearly $300 a night in summer!
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature
Current Welcome Bonus: 40,000 points + an Alaska Air Companion Fare ($99 + tax/fees) after spending $2,000 in the first 90 days from your account opening
Favorite Card Features:
- 3x on Alaska Airlines purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- No foreign exchange fees
- Free checked bag for you and 6 other travel companions on the same reservation
- 50% Alaska Lounge day passes when you use with your card
Annual Fee: $75
Reasons to Consider it:
This is the best-ever welcome bonus on this card, as well. Alaska miles are valuable particularly because of their range of airline partners. Alaska miles can be redeemed for premium class awards to Asia, for example, on partners like Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines. Alaska also offers a free one-way on award tickets, which adds tremendous value to your Alaska miles.
This card is also the best way to earn Alaska miles because they aren’t a transfer partner with popular flexible points programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards. In fact, Marriott Bonvoy points are the only flexible currency you can use to transfer to Alaska’s MileagePlan loyalty program.
Avianca Veula Visa
Current Welcome Bonus: 60,000 points using Promo Code SB4060, earn 40,000 miles after your first purchase, earn 20,000 additional miles after spending $1,000 within 90 days of account opening
Favorite Card Features:
- 3x on Avianca purchases, 2x on gas & groceries, 1x on everything else
- No foreign exchange fees
- Free additional piece of luggage for travel between the U.S. and Central America
Annual Fee: $149
Reasons to Consider it:
The welcome bonus on this card has never been higher. Avianca is part of the Star Alliance and so their LifeMiles can be used to book award flights with all alliance partners. Domestic award flights booked with Avianca will be operated by United yet are cheaper than what United would charge. Premium seats to Europe are a LifeMiles sweet spot.
And, best of all, Avianca doesn’t pass on fees to award tickets. If you’re new to miles and points, this card should NOT be one of the first cards to get. However, if you’re over 5/24 or looking for cheaper ways to access Star Alliance award flights, give this limited-time-offer a look!
Just be sure to enter the Promo Code SB4060 Avianca Vuela Visa on your application to qualify for the extra welcome miles!
Venture Rewards Credit Card from Capital One
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.
Through January 2020, your Hotels.com bookings made through the special Venture card link earns 10x the Capital One miles. These are in addition to the perks you earn from the Hotels.com Rewards Program, including their free night for every 10 nights booked.
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 5/24 slot. And for those of you who already have travel rewards portfolio, the Venture card adds value with its dual flexible currency – travel eraser feature.
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.
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: 80,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $5,000 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
- 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 $1,000 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: 80,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening
Favorite Card Features:
- 3x on Southwest purchases, 2x on internet, phone & cable services, and advertising with social media sites and search engines, 1x on all other purchases
- No foreign exchange fees
- 4 upgraded boardings per year (when available)
- 9,000 bonus points on your card anniversary
Annual Fee: $199
Reasons to Consider it:
This is a brand new premium Southwest business credit card from Chase and they’re celebrating with a bright and shiny welcome offer. This card also 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 Explorer Business Card
Current Welcome Bonus: 100,000 points; 50,000 after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening and another 50,000 when you spend $25,000 total in the first 6 months.
Favorite Card Features:
- 2x on United, restaurants, gas, and office supply store purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- No foreign exchange fees
- Free checked bag
- 2 one-time United Club passes each year
Annual Fee: $95
Reasons to Consider it:
This is the biggest welcome bonus ever offered on this card. United announced earlier this year, they were ditching their award charts and moving 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 125k United miles, making the United Explorer Business card certainly something to consider!
Hilton Honors Business Card from American Express
Current Welcome Bonus: 125,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening
Favorite Card Features:
- 12x on Hilton purchases, 6x at U.S. restaurants, gas stations, on cell phone & shipping costs, flights booked with Amex Travel, and car rentals booked directly with the car rental company, 3x all other purchases
- Complimentary Hilton Gold Status
- No foreign exchange fees
- Earn a free weekend night reward after spending $15,000 on the card within 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.
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 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 offer do you think is the best right now?
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