Investment Bridge

Enjoy $300 as a new Chase checking customer, when you open a Chase Premier Plus CheckingSM account and set up direct deposit. This is our recommended Checking account for the added benefits. Full Review
HSBC $750 Checking BonusGet a $750 Welcome Deposit for eligible new customers who open an account with qualifying activities.
Get a $350 Welcome Deposit for eligible new customers who open an account with qualifying activities.
Member FDIC.
Get up to $350 when you open a new Chase Total Checking® account with Direct Deposit and/or open a new Chase SavingsSM account, deposit $10,000 or more in new money and maintain a $10,000 balance for 90 days. Full Review
Earn $200 when you open a new Chase Total Business Checking® account, deposit $1,000 in new money within 20 business days of account opening, maintain that balance for 60 days and complete five qualifying transactions within 60 days. Full Review
Get $100 as a new Chase checking customer when you open a Chase College CheckingSM account, enroll in paperless statements and complete 10 qualifying transactions within 60 days of account opening. Full Review
Open a new TD Bank Premier CheckingSM account online to earn a $300 bonus. Or, open a new TD Bank Convenience CheckingSM account online to earn a $150 bonus. Both offers have a direct deposit requirement. Full Review
With the Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard® you can earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee. Redeem toward qualified travel purchases and these 60K points will be worth $600. . Full Review
Earn 75,000 miles worth $750 each and every year with the Barclays Arrival® Premier World Elite Mastercard® when you spend at least $25,000 during the year. This card earns unlimited miles at the rate of 2 miles per $1 spent on all purchases. . Full Review
Open an online Money Market Account from CIT Bank (available nationwide) and earn a 1.85% APY rate on all balances. There’s no monthly service charge and the minimum opening deposit is just $100. Full Review
HSBC $750 Checking BonusThe HSBC Direct Savings account is available online, nationwide and is offering 1.80% APY. The minimum balance to earn this APY is just $1. There is no monthly maintenance fee, and you’ll have 24/7 online account access. Member FDIC.
Ally Invest has a promotion where you can earn a cash bonus of $50 to $3500, as well as $500 in commission-free trades for 90 days. Ally Invest is one of the best options for a low-cost stock broker. Full Review

Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonus Offers September 2018

By: | Last Updated: | This content is not provided or commissioned by the issuer. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of the issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuer. This site may be compensated through the issuer’s Affiliate Program. Please visit our Advertiser Disclosure for additional details.

Credit card sign-up bonus offers are a great way to earn hundreds of dollar’s (sometimes thousands) worth of cash, points and miles. Many times the best deals are only available for a limited time, so we’ve decided to keep track of them on this page.

The biggest bonus values usually are available with personal and business travel credit cards. Many great promotions come from airline or hotel-branded cards, but many can be had with general travel cards for flexibility in redemption.


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For those who prefer the simplicity of receiving straight cash back, there are many credit cards with awesome sign-up cash bonuses as well.

If you are new to credit card bonuses, every offer will require various requirements within a specified amount of time to earn the bonus. Typically this will be a set minimum amount you must spend on purchases within the first initial months of account opening.

For points and miles bonuses, you will have the option to redeem for statement credits, travel, gift cards, or other rewards depending on the program associated with that card. It’s important to know the value you’re getting with these points/miles, so we’ve added some insight into what you can expect they’re worth.


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Below is our round-up of all the best current sign-up bonuses available from all card issuers. Take a look at the “Best Overall” list first, and then view the other pages for card bonuses based on your specific needs.

PAGE INDEX

Best Overall Credit Card Bonus Offers

The most important criteria for credit cards on this list is the value of the bonus offered. Secondly, we look at the earning potential of the card in determining its ongoing usefulness for the user and whether it’s worth keeping around.


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Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard®

Barclays Arrival Plus 60000 Bonus Miles $630 Value

The sign-up Bonus: You’ll earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee for the Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard®. Redeeming these 60k bonus miles toward travel will give you $600 in value. Take into account the 5% miles back every time you redeem and the bonus miles are effectively worth $630.

What points are worth with the Barclaycard Arrival® Plus: Miles are worth 1 cent per mile when redeemed towards Travel statement credits, which is the best value to use your accrued miles. There are no categories to be concerned with while using this card – you’ll earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on all purchases.  You’ll also receive 5% miles back to use toward your next redemption, every time you redeem. This sets the ongoing rewards rate for this card at 2.1% when you redeem towards Travel.


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Who the Barclaycard Arrival® Plus card is good for: This is one of the best travel rewards credit cards on the market and will best fit someone who spends enough annually on travel to reap the benefits. Luckily, just about any form of travel you can think of will qualify for the maximum miles redemption value, including airlines, motels, hotels, taxis, timeshares, campgrounds, travel agencies, limousines, trains, buses, car rental agencies, discount travel sites, ferries, cruise lines and even the account Annual Fee. The awesome initial sign-up bonus really cements its place as one of the market leaders.


  • Enjoy 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase
  • Book travel your way-no airline, seat or hotel restrictions-and redeem your miles for travel statement credits
  • Get 5% miles back to use toward your next redemption, every time you redeem
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • International Chip and PIN for use at self-service chip terminals around the world
  • Miles don’t expire as long as your account is open, active and in good standing

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Chase Sapphire ReserveSM 50,000 Bonus Points

The sign-up Bonus: The 100,000 bonus points offer is no longer available, but you can still earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Being marketed as a premium travel credit card, these points are worth $750 in travel when you redeem through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards® portal. Even with the reduced bonus points offer, the benefits of this card make it the best choice out of all the premium travel cards.

What points are worth with the Chase Sapphire Reserve℠: These Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed for cash or gift cards. With the Chase Sapphire Reserve℠ card, the points can be redeemed for travel at a value of 1.5 cents per point. With Travel and Dining purchases using the card, you’ll earn 3 points per $1. These 3 points equate to a 4.5% (3 X 1.5) rewards rate when you redeem towards travel. All other purchases will earn the 1 point per $1 spent, which can be redeemed at the 1.5% towards travel.

Who the Chase Sapphire Reserve℠ card is good for: While everyone sure can use the massive bonus opportunity, this card benefits customers that spend a good amount on travel and dining. The annual fee on this card is steep at $450. However, this card will let you receive up to $300 in statement credits annually as reimbursement for travel purchases such as airfare and hotels. Consider also the included Priority Pass Select membership ($399 value) and you’ll definitely come out on top if you’re a frequent traveler.

It should be easy to receive the full $300 credit amount if you travel even just a few times a year. Then, earning at least 10,000 points by spending more than $3,333 on travel and dining each year will essentially cancel out the $450 annual fee.

  • 50,000 points sign-up bonus
  • High rewards rate on travel and dining
  • Metal card that stands out
  • No foreign transaction fee (a must for international travelers)
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit reimbursed as statement credits for travel purchases
  • Receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Access to 1,000+ airport lounges worldwide with complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership
  • Special car rental privileges from National Car Rental, Avis and Silvercar when you book with your card

The information related to this card has been collected by stinkyspoke and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.

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Barclays Arrival® Premier World Elite Mastercard®

The sign-up Bonus: The Barclays Arrival® Premier World Elite Mastercard® is unique in that it doesn’t offer an initial sign-up bonus offer. Instead, this card allows users who plan on carrying this card for the long-term to earn up to 25,000 loyalty bonus miles (worth $250) each and every year.

What points are worth with the Barclays Arrival® Premier: Miles are worth 1 cent per mile when redeemed towards Travel statement credits, which is the best value to use your accrued miles. There are no categories to be concerned with while using this card – you’ll earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on all purchases.  This equates to 2% back when you redeem towards travel.

Who the Barclays Arrival® Premier card is good for: This card is not intended for someone seeking a great sign-up bonus. Rather, Barclays is targeting consumers that are high spenders looking for a simple travel rewards card that is great value for the long-term. While signing up for new cards with big sign-up bonuses every year will likely bring more value, this card is for users who prefer not to go that route and rather stick to one card. High spenders that make at least $25,000 a year in purchases will earn 25,000 loyalty bonus miles (worth $250), and this bonus can be earned every year.


  • 75,000 miles each year if you spend $25,000 on purchases
  • After that, keep earning unlimited 2X miles on every purchase
  • Global Entry – $100 automatic statement credit for the cost of one Global Entry application fee every five years
  • Book the best travel deal, no airline, seat or hotel restrictions, and redeem your miles for travel statement credits
  • Access to over 850 lounges worldwide with Mastercard® Airport Experience provided by LoungeKey, fees apply
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • International Chip and PIN for use at self-service chip terminals around the world

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 Chase Sapphire Preferred® 50,000 Bonus Points

The sign-up Bonus: You can earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. These 50,000 total points are worth $625 when you redeem towards travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal. This has been on of the best card bonuses for travelers for a long time.

What points are worth with the Chase Sapphire Preferred®: As with all cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points, each point is worth at least 1 cent each, and you can redeem in a variety of ways including gift cards, Amazon purchases and cash back. When you use the points for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, they’re worth 1.25 cents each.

Who the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is good for: The bonus points are worth it for anyone, but customers who will benefit the most out of this card will be those who spend on travel and dining. When making purchases in these two categories, you’ll earn 2 points per $1. Purchases outside of these categories will earn 1 point per $1.

Travelers who don’t like being tied to a specific airline or hotel branded card will appreciate the flexibility. As expected with any good travel credit card, there are no foreign transaction fees to worry about.

  • Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
  • 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 50,000 points are worth $625 toward travel.
  • No blackout dates or travel restrictions – as long as there’s a seat on the flight, you can book it through Chase Ultimate Rewards

The information related to this card has been collected by stinkyspoke and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.

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Chase Freedom® $150 Bonus Cash

The sign-up Bonus: You can earn a $150 bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. This is one of the easiest bonuses to earn with a low spending requirement, and it’s straight cash back rather than points.

What rewards are worth with the Chase Freedom® card: There are no points to convert with this card – you’ll earn straight cash back. Easy and simple. Purchases in quarterly changing categories will earn 5%, while all other purchases earn 1% cash back.

Who the Chase Freedom® card card is good for: With no annual fee to worry about, this card fulfills the needs of a wide range of customers as an everyday spending credit card. You won’t have to be concerned about spending enough to offset an annual fee like many cards that offer bonuses. You do have to keep up with bonus categories that change every quarter, where you can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in spending.

For international travelers – be aware there will be foreign transaction fees.

  • $150 is one of the best cash bonuses from a no annual fee card
  • 5% cash back rotating categories (you must remember to activate each quarter to earn)
  • You’ll also get an introductory 0% APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
  • Your Cash Back rewards will not expire as long as your account is open

The information related to this card has been collected by stinkyspoke and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.

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Capital One® VentureSM Rewards 40,000 Bonus Miles

The sign-up Bonus: You can earn a one-time bonus of 40,000 miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within 3 months of approval. These 40,000 miles are worth $400 in travel redemption. This is one of the better travel bonus values for a card with an annual fee that is waived the first year. After the first year, the annual fee is still a manageable $59. While not the highest card bonus available, this is a great overall card to keep around for most travelers.

What miles are worth with the Capital One® VentureSM Rewards: Each mile is worth 1 cent when redeemed for travel rewards. This card earns an unlimited 2 miles for every dollar you spend on all purchases, which basically means you’re getting 2% back when you redeem towards travel expenses. You can also redeem miles for cash, gift cards and more, but you’ll get less value in doing so.

Who the Capital One® VentureSM Rewards card is good for: This card and it’s bonus miles will benefit customers that do at least some traveling every now and again. The good news is you don’t have to be concerned about only earning the maximum amount of miles with spending in certain categories. All purchases will earn the 2 miles per $1. However, to maximize what the miles are worth, you should redeem towards travel purchases.

It’s particularly easy to offset the low $59 annual fee (waived the first year) when every purchases qualifies for the 2 miles per dollar spent. As expected, there is no foreign transaction fee for international travelers.

  • A very respectable 40,000 bonus miles worth $400 in travel
  • No annual fee the first year; $59 after that
  • Unlimited 2 miles for every dollar you spend on purchases. 100 miles equal to $1 in travel rewards.
  • Make travel purchases on any website or app
  • Miles will never expire
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • You can be reimbursed up to $1,500 per trip for non-refundable travel expenses, if your trip is cancelled or cut short by things like sickness or injury

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Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express 50,000 Bonus Points

The sign-up Bonus: Going directly through the American Express website (don’t use the ad links above the Google search) will occasionally reveal an offer for 50,000 Membership Rewards bonus points (worth up to $500). The typical offer is for 25,000 bonus points when the 50,000 one isn’t available. Several American Express credit cards offer sign-up bonuses, so we decided to add this one to the overall best list because of the bonus amount and the fact that the annual fee is waived the first year (it’s $195 thereafter). You must not currently have or have had this card to be eligible for the bonus.

What points are worth with the Premier Rewards Gold Card: Point values will vary according to how you decide to redeem and can actually change at any time. In general, most ways of redeeming will have a maximum points value of 1% (1,000 points are worth up to $10). There are many ways to redeem your points. A good option is to redeem your points through the American Express Travel portal, where the 50,000 bonus points are worth $500.

Who the Premier Rewards Gold Card card is good for: This card is definitely most suitable for frequent travelers, as the maximum amount of points are earned with airfare purchases. You’ll earn 3X points for airfare purchases directly from airlines. Spending at US restaurants, US gas stations, and at US supermarkets will earn 2X points. You’ll still earn 1X points on all other purchases.

You can also get a $100 airline fee credit per calendar year for incidental fees (i.e. baggage fees) charged to your card by a qualifying airline.

Book a stay of at least two consecutive nights using their Hotel Collection page and you can earn 2X points, in addition to a $75 hotel credit to spend on qualifying dining, spa, and resort activities.

There is no foreign transaction fee for international travelers. Be aware that American Express cards are not as widely accepted as Visa and MasterCard depending on your destination abroad.

  • 50,000 bonus points offer directly through American Express’s website occasionally
  • $195 annual fee is waived the first year
  • High points earning and redemption potential on airfare
  • $100 Airline Fee Credit per calendar year
  • $75 Hotel credit using The Hotel Collection
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Many more premium card benefits only American Express offers

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Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express $250 Back

The sign-up Bonus: Using the American Express website directly, you can find a bonus offer for $250 back. This offer is worth a mention because the card has no annual fee involved. You can earn $250 back after spending $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of opening. The offer may not appear for everyone, especially if you’re applying through third party websites. When going to the product page on a different computer, we got a $100 bonus offer instead.

What rewards are worth with the Blue Cash Everyday® Card: There’s no conversion required here – you earn straight cash back in the form of statement credits. You will earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, up to $6,000 per year (it’s 1% after that). Spending at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores will earn 2% back, and all other purchases will earn 1% back.

Who the Blue Cash Everyday® Card card is good for: This is a great everyday spending card for most customers because the categories that earn the most cash back include supermarkets and gas stations. There’s no annual fee with the card, so just pick and choose when you’d like to use the card when it benefits you the most.

Many people prefer straight cash back for simplicity, especially if they don’t particularly spend much on travel and dining out.

  • $250 cash back offer can be found directly through American Express’s website
  • No annual fee to worry about
  • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months (after that there will be a variable rate)
  • Earn cash back faster on everyday spending at supermarkets and gas stations
  • Premium benefits that come with an American Express credit card

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BankAmericard Travel Rewards® 20,000 Bonus Points

The sign-up Bonus: Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. Redeeming these bonus points toward travel purchases will get you a $200 statement credit. This is one of the best offers from Bank of America because there is no annual fee involved.

What points are worth with the BankAmericard Travel Rewards®: Redeeming your points for travel is the best way to go. Each bonus point is worth 1 cent when you redeem towards travel, which includes flights, hotels, vacation packages, cruises, rental cards or baggage fees. Redeeming your points for cash or gift cards will be of lesser value.

With every $1 spent on all your purchases earning 1.5 points, you’re essentially getting 1.5% back when you redeem towards travel. You can also increase how many bonus points you earn on every purchase if you have an active Bank of America checking or savings account, or if you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards client.

Who the BankAmericard Travel Rewards® card is good for: This is a great card for customers who don’t travel enough to offset the annual fees associated with more feature-rich travel cards. Having no annual fee involved, you can hang on to the card and slowly build up enough points until you have travel expenses to redeem towards.

Your points will never expire and there are also no foreign transaction fees, so it’s a good Visa card to use abroad.

  • 20,000 bonus miles offer is worth $200 when redeemed towards travel
  • No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
  • Earn 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases
  • Introductory 0% APR on Purchases for the first 12 billing cycles (the APR is variable thereafter)
  • Earn extra bonus points on every purchase if you’re a current Bank of America checking or savings customer, or if you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards client

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier 50,000 Bonus Points

The sign-up Bonus: You can earn $50,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. Redeem these bonus points toward travel on Southwest Airlines and they’ll be worth $500. The $99 annual fee is definitely something to consider, but the bonus opportunity makes up for it.

What points are worth with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier: The Rapid Rewards points earned with this card are worth about 1 cent per point on average. When you redeem towards Domestic and international Wanna Get Away?® fares on Southwest Airlines they are valued at 1.1 cents per point.

Who the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier card is good for: Being an airline branded credit card, this one is best suitable for those who travel on Southwest regularly. You’ll earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines purchases and participating Hotel and Car Rental partners. All other purchases will earn 1 point per dollar. You’ll also receive 6,000 bonus points after your cardmember anniversary, which helps to offset the annual fee quite a bit. There are no foreign transaction fees with this card either.

  • 50,000 bonus points offer (consider the $99 ongoing annual fee)
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • Points don’t expire as long as your card account is open
  • 6,000 bonus points after your cardmember anniversary every year
  • 2 points/$1 spent on Southwest® purchases and participating Hotel and Car Rental partners

The information related to this card has been collected by stinkyspoke and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.

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Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ MasterCard® 60,000 Bonus Miles

The sign-up Bonus: The current special offer directly through Citi’s website is for 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Normally the offer is for 30,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

What points are worth with the : Determining what these bonus points are worth when redeeming for airfare can be tricky, but a good way to view it is roughly 1.5 cents per mile. Redeeming your miles for travel will be based on American Airlines’ flight award charts, and those numbers are nice round numbers. You’ll earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on American Airlines purchases, and 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases.

Who the  card is good for: If you’re near an American Airlines hub or fly with them often, this card is well worth it for you. You’ll get a lot of travel benefits that make life that much easier, including getting your first checked bag for free and Group 1 boarding on American Airlines domestic flights. You’ll also be able to fly on American Airlines operated flights for up to 7,500 fewer AAdvantage® miles. There are no foreign transaction fees with this card.

  • 60,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles offer
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to four companions traveling with you on the same reservation
  • Enjoy Group 1 Boarding on American Airlines domestic flights
  • Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on American Airlines purchases. Earn 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
  • Receive a 25% savings on eligible in–flight food and beverage purchases when you use your card on American Airlines flights
  • Earn 10% of your redeemed AAdvantage® miles back – up to 10,000 AAdvantage® miles each calendar year

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Hilton Honors American Express Card 50,000 Bonus Points Offer

By: | Last Updated: | This content is not provided or commissioned by the issuer. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of the issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuer. This site may be compensated through the issuer’s Affiliate Program. Please visit our Advertiser Disclosure for additional details.

The Hilton Honors Card from American Express is 1 of several credit cards offered by American Express that are affiliated with The Hilton Group. This card doesn’t have an annual fee and currently has a 50,000 bonus points offer. We value these bonus points at around $250, which is lower than an equivalent amount of miles/points with non-branded general rewards cards.

As an overview, it is a good supplementary card to have in your possession only if you tend to be loyal to the Hilton Portfolio of hotels. Because, as a general credit card, it doesn’t offer the most bang for your buck in terms of rewards rates.

The Hilton Honors Card 50,000 Bonus Points Offer

Hilton Hotel 2

Not a bad offer at all for a card with no annual fee, when you redeem towards free hotel nights. You can earn the 50,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the card within your first 3 months of Card Membership. A $1,000 minimum spending requirement should be easy to accomplish, but below are some tips on meeting the requirement if needed.

MEETING CREDIT CARD BONUS SPENDING REQUIREMENTS

  • Use Plastiq to pay with your card. Plastiq is a service that will allow you to pay for expenses that you wouldn't otherwise be able to with your card, such as rent, tuition, auto lease, mortgage payment, and more. They charge a 2.5% processing fee for using your credit card, but this will likely be worth the card bonus you'll obtain. They also have a referral program where you can earn "Fee-Free Dollars" to use towards processing fees.
  • Fund Checking accounts with your card. Many banks will allow you to fund the opening deposit with a credit card. To make the most out of this opportunity, you should consider opening Checking accounts that also offer a sign-up bonus. That way, you're working your way towards bonuses from two different sources. Big banks like Chase and TD Bank have great offers and allow credit card funding. You can often fund anywhere from $500 to $1,000 towards the opening deposit with a credit card, depending on the bank.
  • Buy gift cards with your credit card. Consider buying gift cards that you can then spend later at your leisure. Individual merchant cards (e.g. restaurant, gas station, supermarket) typically don't have purchase fees so this route won't cost you. On the other hand, American Express and gift cards will incur purchase fees. are also wonderful if you shop there often (no purchase fees either). Get some gift card ideas here. *Be careful with Citi credit cards, as they tend to code gift card purchases as Cash Advances and you'll incur the fee. Call in to customer service and lower your Cash Advance limit to $0 before purchasing gift cards (it's a good idea to do this with any card in general). There are also options to buy discounted gift cards as well:
    • (auctions can save you even more with patience)
  • Other ideas. Be sure to always using your credit card for everyday spending, such as for dining, gas, groceries, etc. You can also use your credit card to pay for things like insurance bills, property taxes and income taxes, but you'll have to consider the convenience fees.

*More ways to meet the spending requirement

Hilton Honors Card From American Express Pros & Cons

HIGHLIGHT FEATURES

RewardsComplimentary Silver StatusNo Foreign Transaction Fee

  • Earn 7X Hilton Honors bonus points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio. The Hilton Portfolio:
    • Properties: 5,100
    • Countries: 103
  • Earn 5X Hilton Honors bonus points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
  • Earn 3X Hilton Honors bonus points on all other eligible purchases.

Credit Needed: Good/Excellent

You’ll get Hilton Honors Silver status for free with this Hilton Honors card. You can also earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold status for the entire following calendar year by spending $20,000 on eligible purchases in the current calendar year.

Highlight Silver status benefits:

  • Guaranteed member discount
  • Extra points towards free nights (20%)
  • No resort fees on Reward stays
  • In-Room and Lobby Wi-Fi
  • Late Check-out
  • 5th Standard Reward Night Free
  • Elite Tier Rollover Nights

Highlight Gold status benefits (if you earn the upgrade):

  • All Silver status benefits
  • Extra points towards free nights is 80% instead of 20%
  • Space-available Room Upgrade (up to Executive room type)
  • Complimentary breakfast at all hotels
  • Unlimited Milestone Bonuses

Spend abroad and you won’t get charged additional fees, which average around 3% of transactions with cards that don’t have this feature.

PROS

  • The Rewards.
    • Redeem points for hotel stays, airfare, car rentals, cruises, shopping, dining or charity
    • Points don’t expire as long as you use the card at least once every 12 months
    • No limit on number of points you can earn
    • No blackout dates or capacity controls
    • Use partial points to book rewards
    • Use points to upgrade a reservation
    • Can transfer points to 40+ airline partners
  • No Annual Fee. A definite plus point for this card is that there is no annual fee to pay.
  • ShopRunner. If you do a fair amount of shopping online, you may have come across the ShopRunner service, where you’ll get free 2-day shipping on eligible items at a growing network of 140+ online stores. Your ShopRunner membership is free with the Hilton Honors Card.
  • Car Rental Coverage for Damage and Loss. If you pay for the entire car rental using your Hilton Honors Card from American Express, do not take out the additional collision damage waiver protection. If the car is subsequently damaged or stolen, you will get a level of coverage that can cover you in the event of such an occurrence. This will not apply for car rentals in New Zealand, Australia or Italy. Keep in mind, this is secondary coverage only and does not include liability coverage.
  • Travel Accident Insurance. When using your card to pay for the entire fare, travel accident coverage is provided for you and your family. Coverage includes traveling by Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus).
  • Shopping and Entertainment. An extended warranty option is available when your Hilton Honors Card from American Express is used to pay for a purchase. In cases where the manufacturer’s warranty is five years or less, your warranty will be extended for up to 2 years as long as there is a valid US warranty in place. The coverage is limited to the amount charged on the card. *For residents of Indiana, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Northern Mariana Islands, your coverage will continue to match the original warranty period for warranties of less than one (1) year or provide one (1) additional year if the warranty is between one (1) and five (5) years.
  • Purchase Protection. Purchase protection is offered for up to 120 days after you make a transaction with your Hilton Honors Card from American Express. It provides coverage for theft and accidental damage with a limit of $1,000 per occurrence, with a total of no more than $50,000 per year. *For residents of New York, Indiana, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Northern Mariana Islands coverage duration remains at 90 days.
  • Fraud Protection. When you use your Hilton Honors Card from American Express, if there are any fraudulent transactions, you will not be responsible for any fraudulent charges, and there will be no deductible to pay.

CONS

  • Limited Rewards Categories. The three rewards categories are U.S. Gas Stations, U.S. Restaurants, and U.S. Supermarkets. Using your card for other purchases, the rewards rate will be lower.
  • Only worthwhile if you stay with Hilton Portfolio Hotels. The rewards scheme on this card is only beneficial if you are someone who regularly stays at properties within the Hilton Portfolio.

Summary

As with any other hotel branded credit card, the Hilton Honors Card from American Express only makes sense to carry if you’re particularly loyal to the Hilton Portfolio. The good news is you can earn rewards at your own pace as there is no annual fee to weigh in.

There are many other cards available that offer no annual fee and give you back more flexible rewards, such as cash back. One popular option is the Capital One® Quicksilver® Rewards, which offers a great cash back rate, bonus offer, and has no annual fee. The Citi Double Cash is another great choice with no annual fee along with a solid cash back rate on all purchases.

Capital One® Quicksilver® Rewards

The Capital One® Quicksilver® Rewards card will earn a $150 bonus when you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months.The bonus offer is comparable to its top competitors, but this card earns a respectable 1.5% cash back on every purchase with no limit on how much you can earn. There are no spending categories to keep up with.

There's a 0% introductory APR on both Purchases and Balance Transfers for the first 15 months with this card; variable APR after that. The Balance Transfer fee is 3% on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months. People like this card because of the cash back rate, the flexibility to redeem your cash back for any amount, and there's no annual fee. Full Review 
  • One-time $150 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
  • No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how much you can earn
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months; variable APR after that
  • 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months; variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months
  • Pay no annual fee or foreign transaction fees
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Citi Double Cash

The Citi Double Cash Card earns up to 2% cash back on all purchases. You'll earn 1% cash back for all purchases charged to the card. You'll then earn an additional 1% cash back when you pay off those purchases, as long as you pay at least the minimum due. There are no spending categories to keep up with.

You'll also get a 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be based on your creditworthiness. There's no annual fee with this card. Full Review
  • Earn 2% cash back on purchases: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay
  • Balance Transfers do not earn cash back
  • 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be based on your creditworthiness
  • No categories to track, no caps on cash back, no annual fee
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The Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card From American Express 75,000 Bonus Points

By: | Last Updated: | This content is not provided or commissioned by the issuer. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of the issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuer. This site may be compensated through the issuer’s Affiliate Program. Please visit our Advertiser Disclosure for additional details.

The Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express is regarded as one of the top hotel rewards cards available. As of this update, there’s an offer for 75,000 bonus points, which we value at $750 when you redeem towards eligible hotel stays.

Aside from the superb bonus offer, the card actually provides benefits worth the $95 annual fee (waived the first year) for those who stay at participating SPG® and Marriott Rewards® hotels. You’ll have over 6,500 participating SPG® and Marriott Rewards® hotels across 29 brands to take advantage of this card with.

The 75,000 Bonus Points Offer ($750 Value)

Ritz Carlton Singapore

Spend $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening to earn the 75,000 bonus points. Redeem towards eligible hotel stays and those points are worth $750.

If you have any concerns about meeting that spending requirement during the first 3 months, here are some ideas to help:

MEETING CREDIT CARD BONUS SPENDING REQUIREMENTS

  • Use Plastiq to pay with your card. Plastiq is a service that will allow you to pay for expenses that you wouldn't otherwise be able to with your card, such as rent, tuition, auto lease, mortgage payment, and more. They charge a 2.5% processing fee for using your credit card, but this will likely be worth the card bonus you'll obtain. They also have a referral program where you can earn "Fee-Free Dollars" to use towards processing fees.
  • Fund Checking accounts with your card. Many banks will allow you to fund the opening deposit with a credit card. To make the most out of this opportunity, you should consider opening Checking accounts that also offer a sign-up bonus. That way, you're working your way towards bonuses from two different sources. Big banks like Chase and TD Bank have great offers and allow credit card funding. You can often fund anywhere from $500 to $1,000 towards the opening deposit with a credit card, depending on the bank.
  • Buy gift cards with your credit card. Consider buying gift cards that you can then spend later at your leisure. Individual merchant cards (e.g. restaurant, gas station, supermarket) typically don't have purchase fees so this route won't cost you. On the other hand, American Express and gift cards will incur purchase fees. are also wonderful if you shop there often (no purchase fees either). Get some gift card ideas here. *Be careful with Citi credit cards, as they tend to code gift card purchases as Cash Advances and you'll incur the fee. Call in to customer service and lower your Cash Advance limit to $0 before purchasing gift cards (it's a good idea to do this with any card in general). There are also options to buy discounted gift cards as well:
    • (auctions can save you even more with patience)
  • Other ideas. Be sure to always using your credit card for everyday spending, such as for dining, gas, groceries, etc. You can also use your credit card to pay for things like insurance bills, property taxes and income taxes, but you'll have to consider the convenience fees.

*More ways to meet the spending requirement

Pros And Cons Of The Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card

Card DetailsAdditional Information

PROS
  • Top sign-up bonus
  • Great rewards rate
  • Flexible redemption options for a hotel rewards card
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • Free Night Award every year
CONS
  • Requires good/excellent credit
  • Has an annual fee (waived 1st year)
ANNUAL FEE $95, waived the 1st year
BONUS OFFER Earn 75,000 Bonus Points after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. Terms Apply.
REWARDS RATE We value each point at 1 cent apiece; 10,000 points is worth $100 in hotel redemption.

  • Earn 75,000 Bonus Points after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months.
  • Earn 6 points for each dollar of eligible purchases at participating SPG® and Marriott Rewards® hotels and 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees on International purchases.
  • Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card account anniversary. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 points) at a participating hotel. Select hotels have resort fees.
  • Enjoy complimentary, unlimited Boingo Wi-Fi on up to four devices at more than 1,000,000 Boingo hotspots worldwide. Enrollment required.
  • $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
  • Terms Apply.

PROS

  • Annual Fee. The $95 annual fee is waived for the first year, giving you enough time to evaluate if the card will fit your needs.
  • Rewards. If you use your card for eligible purchases at participating SPG® and Marriott Rewards® hotels, you’ll earn 6 points per dollar. All other purchases will earn 2 points per dollar. Starwood Preferred Guest combined with Marriott Rewards in August of 2018, and now over 6,500 participating SPG® and Marriott Rewards® hotels across 29 brands are available for points redemptions. Redemption can now start as low as 6,000 points a night.
  • Points Transfer. Besides being able to redeem points for flights and car rentals, you’ll also have the option of transferring your points for travel program rewards with major airline partners.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees. There are no fees if you use your card for international purchases.
  • Free Night Award. You’ll receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card account anniversary. This award can be used for 1 night at a participating hotel at a max redemption level of 35,000 points.
  • Silver Elite Status. You’ll have complimentary Silver Elite status with this card. High spenders can earn Gold Elite status after spending $30,000 or more in eligible purchases in a calendar year (this threshold will increase to $35,000 on January 1, 2019). Silver Elite Status benefits include:
    • 10% bonus on Marriott Rewards points
    • Priority late checkout
    • Free Wi-Fi
    • Compensation for a hotel stay if Marriott can’t honor your reservation
    • Dedicated phone lines for reservations
  • Premium Internet – Free. Premium internet access at participating SPG® and Marriott Rewards® hotels will be free.
  • Car Rental Coverage for Damage and Loss. If you pay for your car rental using your Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card, do not take out the additional collision waiver protection. If the car is subsequently damaged or stolen, you will get a level of coverage that can cover you in the event of such an occurrence. This will not apply for car rentals in New Zealand, Australia, or Italy.
  • Shopping and Entertainment. An extended warranty option is available when your Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card is used to pay for a purchase. In cases where the manufacturer’s warranty is five years or less, your warranty will be extended for up to 2 years as long as there is a valid US warranty in place. The coverage is limited to the amount charged on the card.

CONS

  • Hotel Branded Card. The primary function of this card is to benefit those who travel frequently, and more specifically those who stay at participating SPG® and Marriott Rewards® hotels.
  • Annual Spend. After the initial year of holding the card, where the annual fee is waived, in order to make the card pay for itself, you will need to hit certain spending levels.
  • AmEx Acceptance. There’s no getting around the fact that Visa and Mastercard is more broadly accepted than American Express. The Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card definitely shouldn’t be the only rewards card in your wallet.

Bottom Line

Now that SPG® and Marriott Rewards® have combined, the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express enjoys broader capabilities.

If you use a personal card for your business expenditure, this is an ideal card to earn rewards back on money that your company will later reimburse you for. If you love loyalty programs, especially with airlines, having the ability to transfer your points to most major airlines gives this card additional flexibility.

What’s The Competition?

If you’re loyal to the SPG® and Marriott Rewards® brands, then this card is a sure winner because the rewards potential will beat any general rewards card.

However, if the above isn’t necessarily the case, you may benefit more with one of the many top travel rewards cards. All of these competitors have great sign-up bonuses as well.

Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard®

Barclays Arrival Plus 60000 Bonus $630 ValueThe previously discontinued Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard® is now available again, and with a 60,000 bonus miles offer. If you're not a high spender or if you'd prefer a big initial sign-up bonus, this is a great alternative to the Barclays Arrival® Premier World Elite Mastercard®. The 60k bonus miles will be worth $600 when you redeem towards travel. If you take into account the 5% miles back every time you redeem perk, the 60k miles would then have a $630 value.

This card also earns unlimited miles at the rate of 2 miles per $1 spent on all purchases regardless of category, and doesn't have foreign transaction fees on international purchases either. Full Review
  • Enjoy 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase
  • Book travel your way-no airline, seat or hotel restrictions-and redeem your miles for travel statement credits
  • Get 5% miles back to use toward your next redemption, every time you redeem
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • International Chip and PIN for use at self-service chip terminals around the world
  • Miles don't expire as long as your account is open, active and in good standing
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Chase Sapphire Preferred®

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® credit card currently has an offer for 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Redeeming the 50,000 bonus points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® program, which is praised by users, will get you $625 in value towards travel.

The 50K bonus points are worth $625 because you get 25% more value whenever you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Ongoing rewards with this card include earning 2 points per $1 on Travel and Dining at restaurants. The annual fee is $95, but it is waived for the first year. Full Review
  • Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. That's $625 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
  • No blackout dates or travel restrictions - as long as there's a seat on the flight, you can book it through Chase Ultimate Rewards
The information related to this card has been collected by stinkyspoke and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
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Capital One® Venture®

The Capital One Venture card currently earns a 50,000 miles bonus when you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months. These bonus miles are equal to $500 in travel and are easy to redeem as a statement credit towards the cost of your travel purchases. This card will earn an ongoing 2 miles for every dollar you spend on all purchases. 100 miles is equal to $1 in travel rewards. If you don't redeem towards travel purchases, your miles will have less value. The annual fee is $95, which is waived for the first year. Full Review 
  • Enjoy a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months of approval, equal to $500 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
  • Fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime
  • Travel when you want with no blackout dates
  • Miles don't expire and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
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Barclays Arrival® Premier World Elite Mastercard®: Earn 75k Miles Yearly

By: | Last Updated: | This content is not provided or commissioned by the issuer. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of the issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuer. This site may be compensated through the issuer’s Affiliate Program. Please visit our Advertiser Disclosure for additional details.

The Barclays Arrival® Premier World Elite Mastercard® is a new luxury travel card offering for 2018. 

Quick Facts
Bonus No initial sign-up bonus. 25,000 loyalty bonus miles after spending $25,000 on purchases (available yearly).
Ongoing Rewards Unlimited 2X miles on every purchase – essentially 2% back minimum on all spending with this card.
Annual Fee $150 (waived first year)
Redemption Options Travel (*best value) or cash back statement credits, gift cards, merchandise. Travel purchases eligible for redemptions are defined as airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, campgrounds, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries and your account annual fee (“Travel Purchases”).
Foreign Transaction Fees No
Travel Credit(s) $100 automatic statement credit for the cost of one Global Entry application fee every five years

Unlike the Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard®, this new card from Barclays doesn’t offer a much sought after one-time sign-up bonus that is commonplace with all the top rewards cards. Rather, this product rewards loyal, long-term cardholders that are high spenders. Cardholders that spend at least $25,000 a year on purchases will earn a loyalty bonus of 25,000 miles (worth $250) each and every year. This is a bonus, so is in addition to the standard miles you’ve earned throughout the year. At 2 miles per $1 on all purchases, spending $25k a year will earn you the base 50,000 miles along with 25,000 bonus miles. That’s $750 worth of miles that can be earned every year.

This new approach from Barclays is getting some pushback from typical rewards seekers, who do their due diligence learning from all the popular travel blogs and forums on accumulating points efficiently. As it turns out, Barclays isn’t necessarily targeting these consumers with the Barclays Arrival® Premier World Elite Mastercard®. With consumer research knowledge in their hands, Barclays has found there is a large group of consumers who are mindful of the rewards benefits of using credit cards often, yet prefer not to spend much of their time taking consideration for every category of spending or switching cards yearly for the best bonus offers. These cardholders are high spenders that want a straightforward rewards structure, along with a card where they won’t feel as if they’re missing out in the long term with the same card for years moving forward.

Forming a strategy to close old card accounts and open new ones for bonuses will net you more bonus rewards year after year, but the entire process takes time to track and plan. This is especially true with many big issuers, like American Express and Chase, who place restrictions on how often you can earn a bonus for the same card product. For many, such as myself (I write about obtaining bonuses obviously), the time spent is well worth it. In reality, many cardholders who are spending in excess of $25,000 a year on card purchases may rather focus on the many other facets of their lives.

Another thing to point out is, many high spenders either don’t take advantage of all the perks of a premium credit card (i.e. American Express Platinum, Citi Prestige, Chase Sapphire Reserve®) or simply don’t feel the benefits are worth the $450 to $550 annual fee. With an annual fee of $150, the Barclays Arrival® Premier World Elite Mastercard® may fill that void for these individuals.

Let’s review the bonus structure.

How To Earn 75,000 Or More Each Year

Earn bonus miles every year

Spend at least $25,000 on purchases during the year and you’ll earn at least 75,000 miles. Redeem these miles towards eligible travel spending and 75,000 miles will be worth $750. Here’s the breakdown of miles earned:

$25k spent during the year will net 75,000 miles as follows:

  • You’ll earn 50,000 base miles from the ongoing rewards rate of 2 miles per $1 spent
  • You’ll earn up to 25,000 loyalty bonus miles each year as follows:
    • Spend $15,000 on purchases and get the first 15,000 miles
    • Spend an additional $10,000 on purchases and get the additional 10,000 miles

Again, there is no initial sign-up bonus with the Barclays Arrival® Premier World Elite Mastercard®, but the trade off is the ability to earn 25,000 bonus miles every year for those interested in a long-term use credit card.

Barclays Arrival® Premier World Elite Mastercard®COMPARE: Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard®

Barclays Arrival Premier 75000 Bonus

  • 75,000 miles each year if you spend $25,000 on purchases
  • After that, keep earning unlimited 2X miles on every purchase
  • Global Entry – $100 automatic statement credit for the cost of one Global Entry application fee every five years
  • Book the best travel deal, no airline, seat or hotel restrictions, and redeem your miles for travel statement credits
  • Access to over 850 lounges worldwide with Mastercard® Airport Experience provided by LoungeKey, fees apply
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • International Chip and PIN for use at self-service chip terminals around the world

Intro Purchase APR & Duration:  N/A
Ongoing Purchase APR:  17.74%, 21.74% or 24.74% variable based on your creditworthiness
Intro Balance Transfer Fee & Duration:  N/A
Ongoing Balance Transfer APR:  17.74%, 21.74% or 24.74% variable based on your creditworthiness
Cash Advance APR:  26.99% Variable
Intro Balance Transfer Fee:  Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Cash Advance Fee:  Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
Annual Fee:  $150 (waived first year)
Foreign Transaction Fee: 0% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Credit Needed: Good/Excellent

Barclays Arrival Plus 60000 Bonus $630 Value

  • Enjoy 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase
  • Book travel your way-no airline, seat or hotel restrictions-and redeem your miles for travel statement credits
  • Get 5% miles back to use toward your next redemption, every time you redeem
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • International Chip and PIN for use at self-service chip terminals around the world
  • Miles don’t expire as long as your account is open, active and in good standing

Intro Purchase APR & Duration: N/A
Ongoing Purchase APR: 17.74%, 21.74% or 24.74% variable based on your creditworthiness
Intro Balance Transfer APR & Duration: 0% intro for first 12 billing cycles following each BT that posts within 45 days of account opening
Ongoing Balance Transfer APR: 17.74%, 21.74% or 24.74% variable based on your creditworthiness
Balance Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Annual Fee: $89
Foreign Transaction Fee: 0% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Cash Advance Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
Cash Advance APR: 26.99% Variable

Credit Needed: Good/Excellent

What’s The Competition?

If you believe the premium travel benefits are worth the $450 to $550 annual fee, consider reviewing these premium cards: Chase Sapphire Reserve®, The Platinum Card® from Amex and the Citi Prestige® card.

Prefer a card with a sign-up bonus and lower annual fee? The Chase Sapphire Preferred® credit card is one of the most popular cards for rewards on travel and dining.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

The Chase Sapphire ReserveSM card is no longer offering 100,000 bonus points (worth $1,500 toward travel), but you can still earn 50,000 bonus points (worth $750 toward travel). You'll need to spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening to qualify for the bonus.This is a premium travel card with a premium annual fee of $450. But, you'll receive premium benefits such as a $300 Annual Travel Credit, access to 1,000+ airport lounges with Priority Pass Select, 3X points on travel and dining, and 50% more in travel redemption. stinkyspoke picks this as the best premium travel credit card. Full Review
  • 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • Receive up to $300 in statement credits annually as reimbursement for travel purchases such as airfare and hotels charged to your card*
  • Earn 3X points on travel worldwide from airfare and hotels to taxis and trains*
  • Earn 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide from fast casual to fine dining*
  • Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases*
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.* For example, 50,000 points are worth $750 toward travel
  • No blackout dates or travel restrictions — as long as there’s a seat on the flight, you can book it through Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • Receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®*
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Access to 900+ airport lounges worldwide with complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership*
  • Special car rental privileges from National Car Rental, Avis and Silvercar when you book with your card*
  • Special benefits during your stay with The Luxury Hotel & Resort CollectionSM*
  • Pay no foreign transaction fees†
The information related to this card has been collected by stinkyspoke and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
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The Platinum Card®

The Platinum Card® from American Express has a special offer for 75,000 Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. The best options for redeeming these points would be by booking travel through American Express or by redeeming for gift cards. Using these options, the 75,000 bonus will be worth $750. You must go directly to the American Express website to find this offer. Typically, the bonus offer reverts back to a 60,000 or 40,000 points promo, so it's all about timing here.

The biggest drawback to this card is the $550 annual fee, which puts it in the premium class of credit cards. The card has a market because it offers premium travel benefits, such as 5X points for flights and eligible hotels, access to 1,000+ airport lounges, $200 in Uber credits yearly, and a $200 airline fee credit annually. For frequent travelers, the added benefits make sense in terms of value and added luxury. Full Review
  • Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.
  • New! Up to $200 Uber Savings Annually.
  • 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel.
  • 5X Membership Rewards® points on eligible hotels booked on amextravel.com.
  • As a Platinum Card Member, you can enjoy access to the Global Lounge Collection, the only credit card airport lounge access program that includes proprietary lounge locations around the world.
  • Receive complimentary benefits with an average total value of $550 with Fine Hotels & Resorts. Learn More. Terms Apply.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit, up to $200 a year in baggage fees and more at one airline. Terms Apply.
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Citi Prestige®

The Citi Prestige® Card is no longer offers a sign-up bonus (previously there were offers for 40,000 to 75,000 in bonus points). For the most value out of your points, redeem for flights through Citi, where your bonus will be worth 1.33 cents per point. This is another card that competes in the premium travel category, and the annual fee will signify that at $450. In effect, this card is only a good option for frequent travelers who can take advantage of the premium benefits : 3X points on air travel & hotels, 2X points on dining & entertainment, $250 Air Travel Credit annually, and free access to 1,000+ airport lounges with Priority Pass Select. For those in this niche market, this card will provide high perceived value. Full Review
  • $250 Air Travel Credit each year, and receive a statement credit, up to $100 every 5 years, as reimbursement for your application fee for Global Entry or TSA Pre Check
  • 4th night hotel benefit for any hotel stay at hotels booked through the Citi Prestige® Concierge
  • Transfer points to a variety of travel loyalty programs from airlines to hotels.
  • Earn 3x points on Air Travel and Hotels
  • Earn 2x points on Dining at Restaurants and Entertainment
  • 1 ThankYou® Point per $1 spent on other purchases
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Chase Sapphire Preferred®

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® credit card currently has an offer for 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Redeeming the 50,000 bonus points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® program, which is praised by users, will get you $625 in value towards travel.

The 50K bonus points are worth $625 because you get 25% more value whenever you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Ongoing rewards with this card include earning 2 points per $1 on Travel and Dining at restaurants. The annual fee is $95, but it is waived for the first year. Full Review
  • Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. That's $625 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
  • No blackout dates or travel restrictions - as long as there's a seat on the flight, you can book it through Chase Ultimate Rewards
The information related to this card has been collected by stinkyspoke and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
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Bottom Line

If you’re after a quick miles grab via a sign-up bonus offer, the Barclays Arrival® Premier World Elite Mastercard® is obviously out of the running. Need all the best premium travel perks? Nope, you won’t get it here either.

How about the best choice for $5,000 to $10,000 spent on travel annually? A card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card will offer more value per point,at a lower annual fee, when redeemed through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal.

Now, if you’re a high spender in excess of $25,000 yearly who’s looking for a simple, straight-forward rewards structure, then the Barclays Arrival® Premier World Elite Mastercard® may fit your needs. This is especially the case if your spending is evenly distributed throughout merchant categories. If you’re in this target consumer group, you’ll earn up to $250 worth of bonus miles yearly without much thought.

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Capital One Quicksilver Bonus Review: $150 Vs. $200 Offer

By: | Last Updated: | This content is not provided or commissioned by the issuer. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of the issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuer. This site may be compensated through the issuer’s Affiliate Program. Please visit our Advertiser Disclosure for additional details.

Capital One® Quicksilver® Rewards Credit Card is now offered in two bonus varieties, a $150 bonus and a $200 bonus. The two options will have different bonus requirements as well as different introductory APR benefits.

The low spending requirement and the bonus offer, along with the ongoing 1.5% cash back rate, puts this on our best credit card bonuses list.

I’ll review the bonus offers below.

Capital One® Quicksilver® $150 Vs. $200 Bonus

Great bonus options for this card…

Many other No Annual Fee credit cards only offer a $100 bonus, so this updated $150/$200 offer will compete well.

The first difference between the two offers is in the spending requirements to obtain the bonus:

  • $150 bonus: Earn a one-time $150 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
  • $200 bonus: Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $1,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.

Secondly, the introductory APR offers will be different between the two:

  • With the $150 bonus option: 0% intro APR on Purchases for 15 months; variable APR after that. 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months; variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months.
  • With the $200 bonus option: 0% intro APR on Purchases for 9 months; variable APR after that. 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 9 months; variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 9 months.

Aside from the differences above, the card benefits will be the same.

What sets this card apart is the 1.5% cash back rate on every purchase with no limit on how much you can earn. There are no categories to keep track of like with the Chase Freedom® card. You also don’t have to wait until you reach a specific amount of rewards to redeem them. You can redeem when you earn $1 if you so wish.

Redeeming is easy via statement credits, mailed checks, or gift cards.

With the unlimited 1.5% cash back rate, the Capital One® Quicksilver® card is a great option for users who don’t spend much each month on credit cards, and for those who like the simplicity of no category spending to keep track of. For big credit card spenders that can offset an annual fee, there are other cards that earn a better rate. You may choose to use this card for everyday spending in conjunction with a category spending card to maximize returns.

Having no foreign transaction fees also makes this a good carry option for overseas travelers.

Capital One® Quicksilver® $200 BonusCapital One® Quicksilver® $150 Bonus

  • One-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $1000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
  • No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how much you can earn
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 9 months; variable APR after that
  • 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 9 months; variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 9 months
  • Pay no annual fee or foreign transaction fees
Annual fee $0
Intro APR 0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 9 months

Recommended Credit Score: 670 - 850

  • One-time $150 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
  • No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how much you can earn
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months; variable APR after that
  • 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months; variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months
  • Pay no annual fee or foreign transaction fees
Annual fee $0
Intro APR 0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months

Recommended Credit Score: 670 - 850


Earning The $150 Bonus

Spending $500 for the $150 bonus or $1000 for the $200 bonus in three months should be fairly straightforward for most users, as everyday spending on gas, groceries, dining, and shopping will usually do the trick. But, if you’re applying for more than one card bonus or you’d just like some ideas, we’ve got them for you.

MEETING CREDIT CARD BONUS SPENDING REQUIREMENTS

  • Use Plastiq to pay with your card. Plastiq is a service that will allow you to pay for expenses that you wouldn't otherwise be able to with your card, such as rent, tuition, auto lease, mortgage payment, and more. They charge a 2.5% processing fee for using your credit card, but this will likely be worth the card bonus you'll obtain. They also have a referral program where you can earn "Fee-Free Dollars" to use towards processing fees.
  • Fund Checking accounts with your card. Many banks will allow you to fund the opening deposit with a credit card. To make the most out of this opportunity, you should consider opening Checking accounts that also offer a sign-up bonus. That way, you're working your way towards bonuses from two different sources. Big banks like Chase and TD Bank have great offers and allow credit card funding. You can often fund anywhere from $500 to $1,000 towards the opening deposit with a credit card, depending on the bank.
  • Buy gift cards with your credit card. Consider buying gift cards that you can then spend later at your leisure. Individual merchant cards (e.g. restaurant, gas station, supermarket) typically don't have purchase fees so this route won't cost you. On the other hand, American Express and gift cards will incur purchase fees. are also wonderful if you shop there often (no purchase fees either). Get some gift card ideas here. *Be careful with Citi credit cards, as they tend to code gift card purchases as Cash Advances and you'll incur the fee. Call in to customer service and lower your Cash Advance limit to $0 before purchasing gift cards (it's a good idea to do this with any card in general). There are also options to buy discounted gift cards as well:
    • (auctions can save you even more with patience)
  • Other ideas. Be sure to always using your credit card for everyday spending, such as for dining, gas, groceries, etc. You can also use your credit card to pay for things like insurance bills, property taxes and income taxes, but you'll have to consider the convenience fees.

*More ways to meet the spending requirement

What’s The Competition?

Top competitor’s of the Quicksilver card with no annual fee include:

The Chase Freedom® Card

The Chase Freedom® credit card is going to earn you a $150 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. You can also earn another $25 bonus when you add your first authorized user and make your first purchase within this same 3 month period.

People like this card because it earns 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories that change every quarter. The downside is you have to keep up with the quarterly categories, and activate the category each quarter before you can earn the 5%. You'll earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.There's also a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on both Purchases and Balance Transfers. After the intro period, a variable APR will take over. The Balance transfer fee is 5% of the amount transferred with a minimum of $5.

Many people have this as a supplemental card to use specifically on the 5% category spending, and use other other cards when it's more beneficial. The categories change each quarter, but historically they have included things like gas stations, grocery stores, and holiday shopping. There's no annual fee to be concerned with, so it fits well with such a strategy. Full Review
  • Earn a $150 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate
  • Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases — it's automatic
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR. Balance transfer fee is 5% of the amount transferred, $5 minimum
  • Enjoy new 5% categories every 3 months
  • Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open
  • No annual fee
The information related to this card has been collected by stinkyspoke and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
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The Citi Double Cash Card

The Citi Double Cash Card earns up to 2% cash back on all purchases. You'll earn 1% cash back for all purchases charged to the card. You'll then earn an additional 1% cash back when you pay off those purchases, as long as you pay at least the minimum due. There are no spending categories to keep up with.

You'll also get a 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be based on your creditworthiness. There's no annual fee with this card. Full Review
  • Earn 2% cash back on purchases: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay
  • Balance Transfers do not earn cash back
  • 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be based on your creditworthiness
  • No categories to track, no caps on cash back, no annual fee
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Barclaycard Arrival Plus BonusBarclays has two great card offers that should interest many who are looking for a solid travel rewards credit card.

The  has a 60,000 miles sign-up bonus worth $630 in travel. You'll be able to earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase and there are no foreign transaction fees to worry about. . Full Review

The ® will earn you 75,000 miles each year (worth $750) if you spend $25,000 on purchases during the year. This credit card is intended for high spenders looking for a card to carry for the long-term. The card will earn unlimited miles at the rate of 2 miles per $1 spent on all purchases. . Full Review 
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Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard® 60,000 Bonus Miles ($630 Value)

By: | Last Updated: | This content is not provided or commissioned by the issuer. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of the issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuer. This site may be compensated through the issuer’s Affiliate Program. Please visit our Advertiser Disclosure for additional details.

The Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard® is currently offering a 60,000 miles sign-up bonus worth $630. In terms of value, this is one of the best credit card bonuses available.

If it weren’t for the $89 annual fee, this card and offer would be a no-brainer. On top of that, the annual fee is no longer waived for the first year as was the case in the past.

Regardless of the annual fee, the high rewards earning rate will likely make it valuable for you if you typically spend enough on credit card purchases annually. The Barclaycard Arrival® Plus card is one of the most popular options among frequent travelers.

I love bonus opportunities (bank bonuses are our specialty) and this one definitely caught my eye enough to write about. I’ll review the bonus offer for the Barclaycard Arrival® Plus card below.

Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard® FeaturesMore Details

Barclays Arrival Plus 60000 Bonus $630 Value

  • Enjoy 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase
  • Book travel your way-no airline, seat or hotel restrictions-and redeem your miles for travel statement credits
  • Get 5% miles back to use toward your next redemption, every time you redeem
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • International Chip and PIN for use at self-service chip terminals around the world
  • Miles don’t expire as long as your account is open, active and in good standing

Intro Purchase APR & Duration: N/A
Ongoing Purchase APR: 17.74%, 21.74% or 24.74% variable based on your creditworthiness
Intro Balance Transfer APR & Duration: 0% intro for first 12 billing cycles following each BT that posts within 45 days of account opening
Ongoing Balance Transfer APR: 17.74%, 21.74% or 24.74% variable based on your creditworthiness
Balance Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Annual Fee: $89
Foreign Transaction Fee: 0% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Cash Advance Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
Cash Advance APR: 26.99% Variable
Credit Needed: Good/Excellent

60,000 Bonus Miles Worth $630 With The Barclaycard Arrival® Plus

You’ll earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee. When you redeem towards qualified travel purchases, these 60K points will be worth $600. Add to that the 5% in bonus miles you’ll get back after redemption, the bonus is effectively worth $630 in travel.

As an everyday spending card, you’ll earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all purchases. Taking into account the 5% miles back after redemption, you’re essentially getting back 2.1% in rewards with this card. This makes it one of the best rewards cards for everyday use, without any thought needed towards spending categories.

Keep in mind, if you don’t plan on redeeming towards travel, this may not be the right fit for you. Redeeming towards cash back, gift cards, or merchandise will make your miles worth much less. But, unlike airline or hotel branded credit cards, you have the flexibility to redeem towards travel purchased on any airline, hotel, or travel website. The Barclaycard Arrival® Plus card categorizes many different options as travel:

Travel Spending Categories
Airlines Hotels Car Rental Agencies
Motels Purchase & Travel Agencies Discount Travel Sites
Taxis Limousines Ferries
Timeshares Trains Cruise Lines
Campgrounds Buses The Account Annual Fee

You’ll have to reach at least 10,000 miles before you can start redeeming towards travel, which can be used towards travel purchases worth $100 or more within the last 120 days. If an airline ticket cost you $250, you can redeem 10,000 miles ($100) towards that purchase. In practicality, airfare and hotels will be redeemed for most often. There’s no rush to use your miles as they will never expire as long as your account is open, active and in good standing.

How To Get The 60,000 Miles Bonus

If you can spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening and pay the annual fee, then you’re set. Keep in mind, it’s 90 days from the time your account is approved, not from when you actually receive the card and activate it.

If you don’t know if you can spend $5,000 in 90 days, or if you are taking advantage of multiple card bonuses, here are some ideas to help you reach the minimum spending requirement.

MEETING CREDIT CARD BONUS SPENDING REQUIREMENTS

  • Use Plastiq to pay with your card. Plastiq is a service that will allow you to pay for expenses that you wouldn't otherwise be able to with your card, such as rent, tuition, auto lease, mortgage payment, and more. They charge a 2.5% processing fee for using your credit card, but this will likely be worth the card bonus you'll obtain. They also have a referral program where you can earn "Fee-Free Dollars" to use towards processing fees.
  • Fund Checking accounts with your card. Many banks will allow you to fund the opening deposit with a credit card. To make the most out of this opportunity, you should consider opening Checking accounts that also offer a sign-up bonus. That way, you're working your way towards bonuses from two different sources. Big banks like Chase and TD Bank have great offers and allow credit card funding. You can often fund anywhere from $500 to $1,000 towards the opening deposit with a credit card, depending on the bank.
  • Buy gift cards with your credit card. Consider buying gift cards that you can then spend later at your leisure. Individual merchant cards (e.g. restaurant, gas station, supermarket) typically don't have purchase fees so this route won't cost you. On the other hand, American Express and gift cards will incur purchase fees. are also wonderful if you shop there often (no purchase fees either). Get some gift card ideas here. *Be careful with Citi credit cards, as they tend to code gift card purchases as Cash Advances and you'll incur the fee. Call in to customer service and lower your Cash Advance limit to $0 before purchasing gift cards (it's a good idea to do this with any card in general). There are also options to buy discounted gift cards as well:
    • (auctions can save you even more with patience)
  • Other ideas. Be sure to always using your credit card for everyday spending, such as for dining, gas, groceries, etc. You can also use your credit card to pay for things like insurance bills, property taxes and income taxes, but you'll have to consider the convenience fees.

*More ways to meet the spending requirement

What’s The Competition?

The main competitor card bonuses for the Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard®are going to come from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card and the Capital One® Venture® card. Both of these competitors have good bonus offers, with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® edging out the rewards earning potential if you spend a good deal on Travel and Dining. You’ll have to redeem towards travel to maximize the rewards for both cards.

If you don’t think you’ll spend enough on your card to justify an annual fee, the Citi Double Cash card may be a better fit with its 2% maximum cash back rate on all purchases. It just doesn’t have a sign-up bonus offer to top it off.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred®

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® credit card currently has an offer for 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Redeeming the 50,000 bonus points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® program, which is praised by users, will get you $625 in value towards travel.

The 50K bonus points are worth $625 because you get 25% more value whenever you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Ongoing rewards with this card include earning 2 points per $1 on Travel and Dining at restaurants. The annual fee is $95, but it is waived for the first year. Full Review
  • Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. That's $625 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
  • No blackout dates or travel restrictions - as long as there's a seat on the flight, you can book it through Chase Ultimate Rewards
The information related to this card has been collected by stinkyspoke and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
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Capital One® Venture®

The Capital One Venture card currently earns a 50,000 miles bonus when you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months. These bonus miles are equal to $500 in travel and are easy to redeem as a statement credit towards the cost of your travel purchases. This card will earn an ongoing 2 miles for every dollar you spend on all purchases. 100 miles is equal to $1 in travel rewards. If you don't redeem towards travel purchases, your miles will have less value. The annual fee is $95, which is waived for the first year. Full Review 
  • Enjoy a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months of approval, equal to $500 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
  • Fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime
  • Travel when you want with no blackout dates
  • Miles don't expire and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
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Citi Double Cash

The Citi Double Cash Card earns up to 2% cash back on all purchases. You'll earn 1% cash back for all purchases charged to the card. You'll then earn an additional 1% cash back when you pay off those purchases, as long as you pay at least the minimum due. There are no spending categories to keep up with.

You'll also get a 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be based on your creditworthiness. There's no annual fee with this card. Full Review
  • Earn 2% cash back on purchases: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay
  • Balance Transfers do not earn cash back
  • 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be based on your creditworthiness
  • No categories to track, no caps on cash back, no annual fee
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The bonus offers available are going to be a big consideration for the first year or first few years, since the bonus will essentially cover the annual fee for that period of time. This is something you should keep mind before taking a card out of consideration just because it has an annual fee. After the first year or so, you’ll then have to weigh the annual fees and the ongoing rewards earning potential.


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Barclaycard Arrival Plus BonusBarclays has two great card offers that should interest many who are looking for a solid travel rewards credit card.

The  has a 60,000 miles sign-up bonus worth $630 in travel. You'll be able to earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase and there are no foreign transaction fees to worry about. . Full Review

The ® will earn you 75,000 miles each year (worth $750) if you spend $25,000 on purchases during the year. This credit card is intended for high spenders looking for a card to carry for the long-term. The card will earn unlimited miles at the rate of 2 miles per $1 spent on all purchases. . Full Review 
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Ally Invest BonusAlly Invest is one of the nation's top choices for a low-cost stock broker, and they now have a promotion where you can earn a cash bonus of $50 to $3500, as well as $500 in commission-free trades. Your cash bonus value will depend on your deposit amount made within 60 days of account opening. Full Review
Simple Bank BonusSimple Bank has an offer where you can earn a $20 bonus after opening their free online Checking account that's available nationwide. You'll then be able to earn unlimited $20 referral bonuses. Direct deposit isn't a requirement and all you and your referrals need to do is open a new account and use the Simple Visa debit card to make a first purchase. Full Review
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The Platinum Card® From American Express 75,000 Bonus Points Offer

By: | Last Updated: | This content is not provided or commissioned by the issuer. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of the issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuer. This site may be compensated through the issuer’s Affiliate Program. Please visit our Advertiser Disclosure for additional details.

The Platinum Card® from American Express has a special offer for 75,000 Bonus Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases with your new card in your first 3 months. We found this offer by going directly to the American Express website, rather than through 3rd party sites or via Google Ad links. This and a 60,000 bonus points offer tend to rotate throughout the year depending on your region.

The best options for redeeming these points would be by booking travel through American Express or by redeeming for gift cards. Using these options, the 75,000 bonus will be worth $750.

The biggest drawback to this card is the $550 annual fee, as this card falls in the premium class of credit cards. The card has a market because it offers premium travel benefits, such as 5X points for flights and eligible hotels, access to 1,000+ airport lounges, $200 in Uber credits yearly, and a $200 airline fee credit annually. For frequent travelers, the added benefits make sense in terms of value and added luxury. 

  • Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.
  • Up to $200 for Uber rides annually. Credit and Uber VIP status available to Basic Card Member only.
  • 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel.
  • 5X Membership Rewards® points on eligible hotels booked on amextravel.com.
  • As a Platinum Card Member, you can enjoy access to the Global Lounge Collection, the only credit card airport lounge access program that includes proprietary lounge locations around the world.
  • Receive complimentary benefits with an average total value of $550 with Fine Hotels & Resorts. Learn More.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit, up to $200 per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline.
  • Terms Apply.

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The Platinum Card® 75,000 Bonus Points Offer

The bonus points offer for The Platinum Card® definitely helps keep it in contention with its fiercest premium card competitors – the Chase Sapphire ReserveSM (our favorite) and Citi Prestige® cards. The long-running offer has been for 40,000 bonus points, worth $400 in Travel redemption. Special offers in the past have been anywhere from 60,000 to 100,000 bonus points. Your particular offer will likely depend on the current promotion for your region.

Usually you won’t find the best offer through third party blogs or credit card markets, or by clicking through from the Google Ads. You’re also not guaranteed to find the offer every time you go to the American Express website either. But, it’s definitely a trend with American Express that the best offers are usually found by going directly through their site.

This offer is available to you by clicking through this web page. If you leave or close this web page and return later, this offer may no longer be available.

If you get to take advantage of the 75,000 bonus points offer, you’ll have to spend $5,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months to earn the points. Book flights with your points directly with airlines or with American Express Travel and these bonus points will be worth $750. Redeeming your points towards Uber rides will also get you the same value, if you’re up for taking that route.

You have other options of redemption, but at a lower value:

Redemption Method Value Per Point
Shopping .625 cents
Gift Cards 1 cent
Paying off a charge .6 cents
Shopping on Amazon .7 cents
Booking Flights with Points 1 cent
Booking Hotels with Points .75 cents
Transfer Points 1.2 cents+
Uber 1 cent

Of note, transferring your points over using the loyalty program can net you more value per point, but you’ll constrict your points to usage with those partnered airline/hotel loyalty programs.

Have concerns about meeting the $5,000 spending requirement for the bonus? Here are some ideas:

MEETING CREDIT CARD BONUS SPENDING REQUIREMENTS

  • Use Plastiq to pay with your card. Plastiq is a service that will allow you to pay for expenses that you wouldn't otherwise be able to with your card, such as rent, tuition, auto lease, mortgage payment, and more. They charge a 2.5% processing fee for using your credit card, but this will likely be worth the card bonus you'll obtain. They also have a referral program where you can earn "Fee-Free Dollars" to use towards processing fees.
  • Fund Checking accounts with your card. Many banks will allow you to fund the opening deposit with a credit card. To make the most out of this opportunity, you should consider opening Checking accounts that also offer a sign-up bonus. That way, you're working your way towards bonuses from two different sources. Big banks like Chase and TD Bank have great offers and allow credit card funding. You can often fund anywhere from $500 to $1,000 towards the opening deposit with a credit card, depending on the bank.
  • Buy gift cards with your credit card. Consider buying gift cards that you can then spend later at your leisure. Individual merchant cards (e.g. restaurant, gas station, supermarket) typically don't have purchase fees so this route won't cost you. On the other hand, American Express and gift cards will incur purchase fees. are also wonderful if you shop there often (no purchase fees either). Get some gift card ideas here. *Be careful with Citi credit cards, as they tend to code gift card purchases as Cash Advances and you'll incur the fee. Call in to customer service and lower your Cash Advance limit to $0 before purchasing gift cards (it's a good idea to do this with any card in general). There are also options to buy discounted gift cards as well:
    • (auctions can save you even more with patience)
  • Other ideas. Be sure to always using your credit card for everyday spending, such as for dining, gas, groceries, etc. You can also use your credit card to pay for things like insurance bills, property taxes and income taxes, but you'll have to consider the convenience fees.

*More ways to meet the spending requirement

What’s The Competition?

There are really only two other cards to consider during your search for a premium travel credit card with a sign-up bonus, the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Citi Prestige.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Chase Sapphire ReserveSM card is no longer offering 100,000 bonus points (worth $1,500 toward travel), but you can still earn 50,000 bonus points (worth $750 toward travel). You'll need to spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening to qualify for the bonus.This is a premium travel card with a premium annual fee of $450. But, you'll receive premium benefits such as a $300 Annual Travel Credit, access to 1,000+ airport lounges with Priority Pass Select, 3X points on travel and dining, and 50% more in travel redemption. stinkyspoke picks this as the best premium travel credit card. Full Review
  • 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • Receive up to $300 in statement credits annually as reimbursement for travel purchases such as airfare and hotels charged to your card*
  • Earn 3X points on travel worldwide from airfare and hotels to taxis and trains*
  • Earn 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide from fast casual to fine dining*
  • Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases*
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.* For example, 50,000 points are worth $750 toward travel
  • No blackout dates or travel restrictions — as long as there’s a seat on the flight, you can book it through Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • Receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®*
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Access to 900+ airport lounges worldwide with complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership*
  • Special car rental privileges from National Car Rental, Avis and Silvercar when you book with your card*
  • Special benefits during your stay with The Luxury Hotel & Resort CollectionSM*
  • Pay no foreign transaction fees†
The information related to this card has been collected by stinkyspoke and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
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Citi Prestige

The Citi Prestige® Card is no longer offers a sign-up bonus (previously there were offers for 40,000 to 75,000 in bonus points). For the most value out of your points, redeem for flights through Citi, where your bonus will be worth 1.33 cents per point. This is another card that competes in the premium travel category, and the annual fee will signify that at $450. In effect, this card is only a good option for frequent travelers who can take advantage of the premium benefits : 3X points on air travel & hotels, 2X points on dining & entertainment, $250 Air Travel Credit annually, and free access to 1,000+ airport lounges with Priority Pass Select. For those in this niche market, this card will provide high perceived value. Full Review
  • $250 Air Travel Credit each year, and receive a statement credit, up to $100 every 5 years, as reimbursement for your application fee for Global Entry or TSA Pre Check
  • 4th night hotel benefit for any hotel stay at hotels booked through the Citi Prestige® Concierge
  • Transfer points to a variety of travel loyalty programs from airlines to hotels.
  • Earn 3x points on Air Travel and Hotels
  • Earn 2x points on Dining at Restaurants and Entertainment
  • 1 ThankYou® Point per $1 spent on other purchases
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Bonus Aside, What Are The Card Perks?

Like the other premium travel credit card choices, the high annual fee is not waived during your first year of use. This means consumers looking to just jump on board for the bonus offer only really should think twice before doing so. The $550 annual fee will really cut into your bonus bottom line, so find another card bonus offer if you’re not looking for a premium travel card with all its perks. Tried-and-true options like the Barclayard Arrival Plus and Chase Sapphire Preferred may be a better fit if you don’t feel the more premium travel perks are of benefit to you.

5X On Airfare And Hotels

They’ve made changes to this perk and now you’ll get 5 points per $1 spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, as well as 5 points per $1 on eligible hotels booked on amextravel.com. The need to book your hotels through the amextravel website may prove a little inconvenient, as you’ll often be giving up discounted rates from travel engines for these rewards points. Flights booked directly through airlines is rarely more expensive than through travel search engines (often just $1 or so in savings).

Access To 1000+ Airport Lounges

This is one of the most appreciated benefits of a premium travel credit card. Granted, the program was better in the past when cardholders had access to lounges from American Airlines and United. Now, the only major US carrier still participating in the partnership is Delta, where you’ll have access to Delta Sky Club locations, given that you have a flight with the airline.

The Platinum Card® does have an advantage over its competition with access to the Centurion airport lounges, which boast more luxury than most standard lounges. However, there are currently just a few options throughout the nation: Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Las Vegas (LAS), New York (LGA), Miami (MIA), Seattle-Tacoma (SEA), and San Francisco (SFO). International American Express lounges and Airspace lounges are also included with this access benefit.

Aside from those differences in lounge availability, you’re going to have access to all the 1,000+ lounges included in the Priority Pass Select program like you would with the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Citi Prestige cards. This membership level is equivalent to the “Prestige” membership plan that would cost you $399 if purchased directly on the Priority Pass site (). Frequent travelers find this to be great value, and it’s a big reason for choosing a premium travel card despite the high annual fee.

$200 In Uber Rides

This is a unique benefit to The Platinum Card®, and is one that has made many card-seekers pick this as their premium card of choice (we still give the Chase Sapphire Reserve a slight edge, as explained in the next section). Factor in the $399 savings for the Priority Pass Select program with this $200 in Uber credits, and the annual fee is essentially more than negated. One restriction is that the credits can only be used for Uber rides in the United States.

Just keep in mind that it’s not $200 in credits that you can use anytime throughout the year, rather it’s $15 in credits monthly with an extra $20 in bonus credits for the month of December. All things considered, this was a creative benefit addition by American Express.

The $200 Airline Fee Credit

While this sounds like a great benefit that competes well with the $300 Travel Credit from the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the $250 Air Travel Credit from the Citi Prestige, it actually pales in comparison.

The $200 Airline Fee Credit from The Platinum Card® actually can only be used on incidentals, such as checked bags and in-flight meals. The credit can’t be used on airline tickets themselves. In terms of execution, you’ll usually only have to pay for your first checked baggage with the budget airlines. And when was the last time you ordered an in-flight meal? Even worse, you have to use this credit on just one airline of your choice (you can change this choice once a year).

In comparison, the $250 credit with the Citi Prestige does encompass airline tickets as well as incidentals. The $300 travel credit with the Chase Sapphire Reserve beats them all, with airfare, hotels and even Uber rides counting towards the annual credit. Plus, your Uber ride credits, along with other travel credits, can be used anytime throughout the year, up to the $300 maximum.

Global Entry (TSA PreCheck) Credit

If you travel frequently, you should have already signed up for Global Entry! Once you have The Platinum Card®, there really is no excuse as you’ll receive an application credit (it’s $100 for Global Entry or $85 for TSA PreCheck) when you pay with your card. You’ll also receive the credit every 4 years when you renew as well. Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck, so it’s better to just go for that. Plan ahead, as appointment times for the interview can be weeks or months away.

Hotel Gold Status

Here’s a good perk that helps The Platinum Card® stand out a bit. You’ll receive Gold status in both the Starwood Preferred Guest and Hilton HHonors programs. To take advantage of this, you’ll have to manually enroll in each program on the American Express website. With a rough numbers crunch, Gold status in these programs can range in value from about $700 to $1000.

If you book two or more consecutive nights at a property in the American Express Hotel Collection, you’ll receive an automatic upgrade (if available) and a $75 credit towards dining, resort, spa or other activities at that property. Depending on location, rooms in their Hotel Collection are typically $150 a night or more.

Also, if you book a stay at one of American Express’s Fine Hotels & Resorts, you’ll receive upgrades and amenities worth about $550 each stay.

Now that Starwood has merged with Marriott, you can also match your complimentary Starwood Preferred Guest Gold status to Gold status in the Marriott Rewards program.

Car Rental Elite Status

Just like with the hotel Gold status upgrades, you can choose to manually enroll in elite status with several car rental agencies. This includes Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive, and Avis Preferred status.

Free Boingo Wi-Fi

If you’re stuck at an airport that happens to not have a lounge you can access for free with your Platinum Card® (or if it’s simply way too far a walk from your gate!), your free access to the Boingo Preferred Plan can come in handy. This plan includes unlimited access at more than 1,000,000 Wi-Fi hotspots worldwide. You can sync this free access with up to four of your devices.

Just like with many of the other card benefits, be sure to enroll for access on the Amex website.

Bottom Line

Pitfalls aside, The Platinum Card® from American Express is still a solid choice if you’re in search for a premium travel credit card. If you’ve made up your mind on this card, but aren’t in a rush, we recommend waiting for a special bonus offer to come around before applying. Just be sure to go directly to the American Express website to find these special offers.

Most would agree, there’s a certain sense of luxury that comes with carrying an American Express credit card, and you’ll feel it magnified with The Platinum Card®.  The card is made of solid stainless steel by the way.

For frequent travelers outside of the United States, however, our team finds it difficult to recommend this card given its lack of acceptance worldwide when compared to your other choices.

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Citi Prestige® Card 75,000 Bonus Points ($937 Value)

By: | Last Updated: | This content is not provided or commissioned by the issuer. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of the issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuer. This site may be compensated through the issuer’s Affiliate Program. Please visit our Advertiser Disclosure for additional details.

The Citi Prestige® Card is now offering a limited time 75,000 bonus points after you make $7,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Redeeming towards flights booked through Citi is your best redemption option, where the points are worth 1.25 cents apiece, or nearly $937. Your second best option for redemption would be with gift cards, where your bonus will be worth $750. This 75,000 bonus points offer should revert back to a 40,000 to 50,000 points bonus, so just check the Citi website directly for updates. *You might also be interested in the Checking bonuses Citibank offers as well.

You can find the 75,000 bonus points offer by going directly to Citi’s website.

The Citi Prestige® Card is in the premium travel credit card category and carries a massive $450 annual fee, which isn’t waived the first year either. Not surprisingly, most people wouldn’t even consider this card, and justifiably so. But this card has its place, and that’s with the frequent traveler who enjoys the premium travel benefits.

While there are many travel benefits exclusive to these types of premium travel cards, we feel the ones that stick out the most for the Citi Prestige® are:

  • The free access to 1,000 airport lounges through Priority Pass Select.
  • The $250 Air Travel Credit.
  • The rewards rate: 3X on Air Travel & Hotels, 2X on Dining & Entertainment, and 1X on other purchases.
  • The complimentary 4th night stay at any hotel of your choice.
  • Of course, the 75,000 bonus points offer.

The recently introduced Chase Sapphire ReserveSM is our pick as the best premium travel card, but it’s always best to compare all your options before deciding on a card with such a big annual fee.

Priority Pass Airport Lounges With The Citi Prestige® Card

Plaza Premium Lounge at Hong Kong International

The Priority Pass program is the best around for airport lounge access, with over 1,000 locations available worldwide. The membership level that is complimentary with the Citi Prestige® Card is the Priority Pass Select, which is equivalent to the Prestige membership level when purchased directly through Priority Pass. This is a $399 value (), which justifies the $450 annual fee quite a bit.

While many major airports in the U.S. have lounges in the program (e.g. JFK, LAX, ATL, ORD, etc.), many also do not. Luckily, the worldwide footprint is massive, where relaxation in lounges abroad benefit the most.

You can look on their or mobile app to find all the current locations.

Priority Pass Location Map

*Note: American Airlines Admirals Club lounge access is no longer complimentary with this card as of June 2017. Priority Pass Select membership will still continue on unaffected.

Get $250 In Air Travel Credit Annually

If you travel at all during the year, you’re probably going to use up this benefit and essentially cut out more than half of the annual fee. Every year, you’ll receive $250 in Air Travel Credit that will be automatically applied to flight related expenses charged to your card. Not only does it apply to incidentals like baggage fees and upgrades, but also the flight tickets themselves.

For frequent travelers who will take advantage of the lounge access and air travel credit, the $450 annual fee will already be more than negated.

The Rewards Rate Of 1.25% To 3.75%

Redeem for flights through Citi for maximum redemption value

For those that spend a significant amount on travel, the rewards earning rate of the Citi Prestige® Card will make more sense than with a traditional travel credit card. You’ll get 3 points per dollar spent on air travel and hotels, and 2 points per dollar on dining at restaurants and entertainment.

Two popular travel cards with lower annual fees, the Barclays Arrival Premier ($150 annual fee/2X miles on all purchases) and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® ($95 annual fee/2X points on travel and dining), earn travel rewards at a lesser rate.

The actual earnings rate will be higher if you redeem towards travel through the Citi ThankYou Travel Center, where each point is worth 1.25 cents. When redeemed with this option, your earnings rate will range from 1.25% (non-category purchases) to 3.75% (air and hotel purchases).

4th Hotel Night Complimentary

Free unlimited 4th hotel nights

When you book through the , you’ll get a free 4th night stay at any hotel of your choice after a minimum 4-consecutive night booking. The benefit will be calculated as the average nightly rate of your total stay, not including taxes.This is certainly a good perk if you travel often and stay at luxury hotels. However, your options for booking through the concierge are by calling in or emailing them. There’s no streamlined web interface for price comparison versus booking through the hotel itself, or through travel sites like Priceline or Agoda. Regardless, if you’re staying somewhere that is $300+ a night, it may be worth checking the price through the concierge to compare with your outside booking options.

Getting The 75,000 Bonus Points

Again, you’ll find this offer by going directly to Citi’s website. We’ll monitor the offer and make updates if there are any changes.

You’ll have to spend $7,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening to qualify for the bonus. The bonus will put you in the positive right off the bat for the first year despite the $450 annual fee.

We strongly believe the targeted market for this card should not have any problems meeting that spending requirement for the bonus. However, if for some reason you need some spending options, here are some popular ones:

MEETING CREDIT CARD BONUS SPENDING REQUIREMENTS

  • Use Plastiq to pay with your card. Plastiq is a service that will allow you to pay for expenses that you wouldn't otherwise be able to with your card, such as rent, tuition, auto lease, mortgage payment, and more. They charge a 2.5% processing fee for using your credit card, but this will likely be worth the card bonus you'll obtain. They also have a referral program where you can earn "Fee-Free Dollars" to use towards processing fees.
  • Fund Checking accounts with your card. Many banks will allow you to fund the opening deposit with a credit card. To make the most out of this opportunity, you should consider opening Checking accounts that also offer a sign-up bonus. That way, you're working your way towards bonuses from two different sources. Big banks like Chase and TD Bank have great offers and allow credit card funding. You can often fund anywhere from $500 to $1,000 towards the opening deposit with a credit card, depending on the bank.
  • Buy gift cards with your credit card. Consider buying gift cards that you can then spend later at your leisure. Individual merchant cards (e.g. restaurant, gas station, supermarket) typically don't have purchase fees so this route won't cost you. On the other hand, American Express and gift cards will incur purchase fees. are also wonderful if you shop there often (no purchase fees either). Get some gift card ideas here. *Be careful with Citi credit cards, as they tend to code gift card purchases as Cash Advances and you'll incur the fee. Call in to customer service and lower your Cash Advance limit to $0 before purchasing gift cards (it's a good idea to do this with any card in general). There are also options to buy discounted gift cards as well:
    • (auctions can save you even more with patience)
  • Other ideas. Be sure to always using your credit card for everyday spending, such as for dining, gas, groceries, etc. You can also use your credit card to pay for things like insurance bills, property taxes and income taxes, but you'll have to consider the convenience fees.

*More ways to meet the spending requirement

What’s The Competition?

Our team personally picks the Chase Sapphire ReserveSM card as our favorite premium travel credit card. It was released in the latter half of 2016, and was a big hit for Chase. The sign-up bonus offer is better, the annual travel credit is higher, your points are worth more at travel redemption, you earn rewards faster on dining, and the Ultimate Rewards program is a long term favorite with consumers.

The other big player is The Platinum Card® from American Express. This card earns rewards faster than its competitors on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel. You’ll also get more lounge access that includes The Centurion, International American Express, Delta Sky Club, and Airspace Lounges networks, as well as the Priority Pass Select membership. However, one big pitfall for international travelers is going to be the lack of American Express acceptance in many locations abroad.

Chase Sapphire ReserveSM

The Chase Sapphire ReserveSM card is no longer offering 100,000 bonus points (worth $1,500 toward travel), but you can still earn 50,000 bonus points (worth $750 toward travel). You'll need to spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening to qualify for the bonus.This is a premium travel card with a premium annual fee of $450. But, you'll receive premium benefits such as a $300 Annual Travel Credit, access to 1,000+ airport lounges with Priority Pass Select, 3X points on travel and dining, and 50% more in travel redemption. stinkyspoke picks this as the best premium travel credit card. Full Review
  • 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • Receive up to $300 in statement credits annually as reimbursement for travel purchases such as airfare and hotels charged to your card*
  • Earn 3X points on travel worldwide from airfare and hotels to taxis and trains*
  • Earn 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide from fast casual to fine dining*
  • Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases*
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.* For example, 50,000 points are worth $750 toward travel
  • No blackout dates or travel restrictions — as long as there’s a seat on the flight, you can book it through Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • Receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®*
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Access to 900+ airport lounges worldwide with complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership*
  • Special car rental privileges from National Car Rental, Avis and Silvercar when you book with your card*
  • Special benefits during your stay with The Luxury Hotel & Resort CollectionSM*
  • Pay no foreign transaction fees†
The information related to this card has been collected by stinkyspoke and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
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The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express has a special offer for 75,000 Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. The best options for redeeming these points would be by booking travel through American Express or by redeeming for gift cards. Using these options, the 75,000 bonus will be worth $750. You must go directly to the American Express website to find this offer. Typically, the bonus offer reverts back to a 60,000 or 40,000 points promo, so it's all about timing here.

The biggest drawback to this card is the $550 annual fee, which puts it in the premium class of credit cards. The card has a market because it offers premium travel benefits, such as 5X points for flights and eligible hotels, access to 1,000+ airport lounges, $200 in Uber credits yearly, and a $200 airline fee credit annually. For frequent travelers, the added benefits make sense in terms of value and added luxury. Full Review
  • Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.
  • New! Up to $200 Uber Savings Annually.
  • 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel.
  • 5X Membership Rewards® points on eligible hotels booked on amextravel.com.
  • As a Platinum Card Member, you can enjoy access to the Global Lounge Collection, the only credit card airport lounge access program that includes proprietary lounge locations around the world.
  • Receive complimentary benefits with an average total value of $550 with Fine Hotels & Resorts. Learn More. Terms Apply.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit, up to $200 a year in baggage fees and more at one airline. Terms Apply.
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Chase Sapphire Preferred® 50,000 Bonus Points ($625 Value)

By: | Last Updated: | This content is not provided or commissioned by the issuer. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of the issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuer. This site may be compensated through the issuer’s Affiliate Program. Please visit our Advertiser Disclosure for additional details.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is probably one of the most popular credit cards with a bonus today. Currently, you can earn 50,000 bonus points that are worth $625 toward travel when you redeem through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® program, which is one of the best credit card rewards programs. This is the best card bonus value for a card with an annual fee below $100 (*the $95 annual fee is waived the 1st year).

The ongoing rewards are also great, at 2 points per dollar spent on Travel and Dining. Like other great travel cards, there’s no foreign transaction fee.

Also, keep in mind Chase also offers bonuses for their Checking and Savings accounts as well.

We’ll review the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card bonus below.

How The 50K Bonus Points Are Worth $625

You’ll earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. If you think you’ll have any difficulty meeting that spending requirement, we go over some options further down below.

You’ll have several options for redeeming your bonus points, including cash back, gift cards, or to book travel through the Ultimate Rewards program. Redeeming with cash back or gift cards will only yield a value of 1%, or $500 for the 50K points. When you book travel (airfare, hotels, car rentals, cruises) through the Ultimate Rewards program, you’ll get 25% more value resulting in $625 worth of travel with your bonus points.

The bonus offer is one of the best, but this card won’t be a good fit if you don’t spend much on Travel and Dining, where you’ll earn 2 points per dollar. Purchases outside of these categories will only earn 1 point per $1.

The Dining category includes fine dining, as well as casual spots. The Travel category includes airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds and operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis (Uber counts), limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages.

If you don’t spend much on Travel and Dining, a more flexible rewards card like the Barclaycard Arrival® Plus card may be a better option with its 2% earnings rate on all purchases.

One of the best ways to take advantage of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is to supplement it with the Chase Freedom card. Both cards earn Ultimate Rewards points, so you can pool them together. The Chase Freedom® card earns 5% cash back on categories that change each quarter. Earn 5% on those categories when appropriate, and use your Sapphire Preferred® card on all other purchases. The 25% more value on travel through the Ultimate Rewards program is only a benefit of the Sapphire Preferred® card, so having both is a great pairing.

Finally, one of the biggest benefits for travelers with this card is the option to transfer your points over to partner airline and hotel loyalty programs at a 1:1 rate. It’s a great way to get that airline ticket or hotel night if you’re falling a bit short on those miles/points.

Airline & Hotel 1:1 Points Transfer Partners
Aer Lingus AerClub British Airways Executive Club Flying Blue AIR FRANCE KLM Iberia Plus
Korean Air SKYPASS Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® United MileagePlus®
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club IHG® Rewards Club Marriott Rewards®  The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®
World of Hyatt®

  • 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 50,000 points are worth $625 toward travel.
  • No blackout dates or travel restrictions – as long as there’s a seat on the flight, you can book it through Chase Ultimate Rewards
Annual Fee $0 intro annual fee for the first year, after that $95.

Recommended Credit Score: 690 - 850

The information related to this card has been collected by stinkyspoke and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.

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Earning The 50,000 Bonus Points

If you need some ideas on top of your everyday spending to meet the $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months requirement, here are some options:

MEETING CREDIT CARD BONUS SPENDING REQUIREMENTS

  • Use Plastiq to pay with your card. Plastiq is a service that will allow you to pay for expenses that you wouldn't otherwise be able to with your card, such as rent, tuition, auto lease, mortgage payment, and more. They charge a 2.5% processing fee for using your credit card, but this will likely be worth the card bonus you'll obtain. They also have a referral program where you can earn "Fee-Free Dollars" to use towards processing fees.
  • Fund Checking accounts with your card. Many banks will allow you to fund the opening deposit with a credit card. To make the most out of this opportunity, you should consider opening Checking accounts that also offer a sign-up bonus. That way, you're working your way towards bonuses from two different sources. Big banks like Chase and TD Bank have great offers and allow credit card funding. You can often fund anywhere from $500 to $1,000 towards the opening deposit with a credit card, depending on the bank.
  • Buy gift cards with your credit card. Consider buying gift cards that you can then spend later at your leisure. Individual merchant cards (e.g. restaurant, gas station, supermarket) typically don't have purchase fees so this route won't cost you. On the other hand, American Express and gift cards will incur purchase fees. are also wonderful if you shop there often (no purchase fees either). Get some gift card ideas here. *Be careful with Citi credit cards, as they tend to code gift card purchases as Cash Advances and you'll incur the fee. Call in to customer service and lower your Cash Advance limit to $0 before purchasing gift cards (it's a good idea to do this with any card in general). There are also options to buy discounted gift cards as well:
    • (auctions can save you even more with patience)
  • Other ideas. Be sure to always using your credit card for everyday spending, such as for dining, gas, groceries, etc. You can also use your credit card to pay for things like insurance bills, property taxes and income taxes, but you'll have to consider the convenience fees.

*More ways to meet the spending requirement

What’s The Competition?

Below are some credit cards with sign-up bonuses that you’ll want to compare with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card before applying.

Barclays Arrival® Premier World Elite Mastercard® / Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard®

The Barclays Arrival® Premier World Elite Mastercard® doesn't have an initial sign-up bonus offer. This card is targeted to high spenders that plan on carrying a good travel card for the long term. Instead of a bonus available upon account opening, cardholders are able to earn 25,000 loyalty bonus miles each and every year that they spend at least $25,000 in purchases. These 25,000 bonus miles are worth $250 in travel credits.

The card also earns unlimited miles at the rate of 2 miles per $1 spent on all purchases regardless of category. With the miles earning rate taken into account, spending $25,000 a year will net you 75,000 miles worth $750 in travel credits, and you'll be able to earn that amount yearly.As expected with any good travel card, there are no foreign transaction fees to be concerned with and you'll get the higher worldwide acceptance of a Mastercard, which is nearly equivalent to that of Visa and much better than Discover or American Express. If you're not a high spender who travels often, this likely will not be a suitable card option for your needs. Full Review
  • 75,000 miles each year if you spend $25,000 on purchases
  • After that, keep earning unlimited 2X miles on every purchase
  • Global Entry - $100 automatic statement credit for the cost of one Global Entry application fee every five years
  • Book the best travel deal, no airline, seat or hotel restrictions, and redeem your miles for travel statement credits
  • Access to over 850 lounges worldwide with Mastercard® Airport Experience provided by LoungeKey, fees apply
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • International Chip and PIN for use at self-service chip terminals around the world
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Barclays Arrival Plus 60000 Bonus $630 ValueThe previously discontinued Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard® is now available again, and with a 60,000 bonus miles offer. If you're not a high spender or if you'd prefer a big initial sign-up bonus, this is a great alternative to the Barclays Arrival® Premier World Elite Mastercard® above. The 60k bonus miles will be worth $600 when you redeem towards travel. If you take into account the 5% miles back every time you redeem perk, the 60k miles would then have a $630 value.

This card also earns unlimited miles at the rate of 2 miles per $1 spent on all purchases regardless of category, and doesn't have foreign transaction fees on international purchases either. Full Review
  • Enjoy 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase
  • Book travel your way-no airline, seat or hotel restrictions-and redeem your miles for travel statement credits
  • Get 5% miles back to use toward your next redemption, every time you redeem
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • International Chip and PIN for use at self-service chip terminals around the world
  • Miles don't expire as long as your account is open, active and in good standing
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Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture card currently earns a 50,000 miles bonus when you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months. These bonus miles are equal to $500 in travel and are easy to redeem as a statement credit towards the cost of your travel purchases. This card will earn an ongoing 2 miles for every dollar you spend on all purchases. 100 miles is equal to $1 in travel rewards. If you don't redeem towards travel purchases, your miles will have less value. The annual fee is $95, which is waived for the first year. Full Review 
  • Enjoy a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months of approval, equal to $500 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
  • Fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime
  • Travel when you want with no blackout dates
  • Miles don't expire and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
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Citi® Double Cash

The Citi Double Cash Card earns up to 2% cash back on all purchases. You'll earn 1% cash back for all purchases charged to the card. You'll then earn an additional 1% cash back when you pay off those purchases, as long as you pay at least the minimum due. There are no spending categories to keep up with.

You'll also get a 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be based on your creditworthiness. There's no annual fee with this card. Full Review
  • Earn 2% cash back on purchases: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay
  • Balance Transfers do not earn cash back
  • 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be based on your creditworthiness
  • No categories to track, no caps on cash back, no annual fee
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Plan To Supplement With The Chase Freedom® Card?

The Chase Freedom® credit card is going to earn you a $150 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. You can also earn another $25 bonus when you add your first authorized user and make your first purchase within this same 3 month period.

People like this card because it earns 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories that change every quarter. The downside is you have to keep up with the quarterly categories, and activate the category each quarter before you can earn the 5%. You'll earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.There's also a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on both Purchases and Balance Transfers. After the intro period, a variable APR will take over. The Balance transfer fee is 5% of the amount transferred with a minimum of $5.

Many people have this as a supplemental card to use specifically on the 5% category spending, and use other other cards when it's more beneficial. The categories change each quarter, but historically they have included things like gas stations, grocery stores, and holiday shopping. There's no annual fee to be concerned with, so it fits well with such a strategy. Full Review
  • Earn a $150 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate
  • Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases — it's automatic
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR. Balance transfer fee is 5% of the amount transferred, $5 minimum
  • Enjoy new 5% categories every 3 months
  • Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open
  • No annual fee
The information related to this card has been collected by stinkyspoke and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
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Barclaycard Arrival Plus BonusBarclays has two great card offers that should interest many who are looking for a solid travel rewards credit card.

The  has a 60,000 miles sign-up bonus worth $630 in travel. You'll be able to earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase and there are no foreign transaction fees to worry about. . Full Review

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Chase Sapphire Reserve Card 50,000 Bonus Points ($750 Value)

By: | Last Updated: | This content is not provided or commissioned by the issuer. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of the issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuer. This site may be compensated through the issuer’s Affiliate Program. Please visit our Advertiser Disclosure for additional details.

The 100,000 bonus points offer for the Chase Sapphire ReserveSM card officially expired back in March of 2017. You can still earn 50,000 bonus points with the card when you apply online or in-branch.

Even though the 100k points offer is no longer available, I still believe the card to be worth the $450 annual fee. However, I don’t necessarily feel this to be the case for users that don’t travel often, or those who don’t appreciate the premium travel perks.

*Be sure to check out the current Checking and Savings promotions from Chase Bank also.

Why I Chose The Chase Sapphire ReserveSM

Only recommended for travelers seeking premium benefits

I’ve been looking to jump on a premium travel card for some time. After a long period of debating between the Platinum Card® from American Express and the Citi Prestige® Card, the Chase Sapphire ReserveSM card made its introduction at the perfect time and I took the plunge.

For those simply seeking a hefty credit card sign-up bonus, the 50,000 bonus points that you can earn will be worth $750 towards travel booked through Chase. This offer more than makes up for the $450 annual fee, which isn’t waived for the first year.

Now that the bonus offer is down to 50,000 points, this card won’t be such a good choice for those only looking for bonus value. If you’re in this boat, go for one of the other bonus options with lower annual fees that are waived the first year (e.g. Chase Sapphire Preferred®).

If you are in the market for a premium travel card to hold on to, it’ll be hard to pass this one up. I don’t usually get excited when a new credit card arrives, as it’s always been a financial move towards the bottom line. It’s not the first metal card I’ve had, but this one felt a little more special. It put a smile on my face knowing I now had three premium travel benefits I picked this card for – Priority Pass lounge access, 3X points on travel/dining, and $300 in annual travel credit.

  • Automatically receive up to $300 in statement credits as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year
  • Earn 3X points on travel worldwide from airfare and hotels to taxis and trains
  • Earn 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide from fast casual to fine dining
  • Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 50,000 points are worth $750 toward travel
  • No blackout dates or travel restrictions — as long as there’s a seat on the flight, you can book it through Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • Receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Access to 1,000+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select.
  • Special car rental privileges from National Car Rental, Avis and Silvercar when you book with your card
  • Special benefits during your stay with The Luxury Hotel & Resort CollectionSM
  • Pay no foreign transaction fees
  • World-class suite of travel and purchase protections
  • 24/7 direct access to a Customer Service specialist
  • Access to Visa Infinite Concierge who can help you with requests like dinner reservations, or Broadway, music and sporting event tickets
Annual Fee $450 annual fee; $75 for each authorized user
Foreign Transaction Fees None

Recommended Credit Score: 720 - 850
The information related to this card has been collected by stinkyspoke and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
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#1: Free Priority Pass Select Membership

Save $399 on a Priority Pass membership with your card

You’ll have access to 1,000+ airport lounges worldwide with the complimentary Priority Pass Select membership. This membership level is equivalent to the “Prestige” membership plan that would cost you $399 if purchased directly on the Priority Pass site (). As this is a benefit that is important to me, I perceive the savings as a huge rationale for the $450 annual fee.

You’ll have access to all of these 1,000+ lounges at no cost, and your guests will also be covered according to the Priority Pass Select welcome letter I received.

While it is still a nice retreat when traveling domestically, this premium benefit is much needed on those long international travel plans. You’ll find common amenities like showers, refreshments, alcohol, WIFI, and comfortable seating at many lounges.

Lounges can be found at busy domestic airports like LAX, ATL, ORD, JFK and DFW. More importantly, many more lounges can be found at international airports like PEK (Beijing, China), DXB (Dubai), LHR (London), BKK (Bangkok, Thailand), NRT (Narita, Japan), etc.

Go to the to find a lounge in your intended destination and terminal.

KAL Lounge at LAX

Tips:

  • Once you receive your Chase Sapphire ReserveSM card, you’ll have to activate your free Priority Pass Select membership to take advantage of the benefit.
    • Log into your account.
    • Click on either the “Use Points” or “Earn Points” menu at the top.
    • Click on “Card Benefits”.
    • Click to activate your Priority Pass Select membership.
  • While some lounges may give you access with just your Chase Sapphire ReserveSM card, your best bet is to carry your Priority Pass member card during your travels. It could take 2-3 weeks after activation to receive your card, so plan accordingly (I received mine in under 2 weeks).
  • If you’re traveling before your Priority Pass member card arrives, charge the in-network lounge access to your Chase Sapphire ReserveSM card and you can call in to have it reimbursed.

You must activate your Priority Pass membership to have access!

#2: 3X Points On Travel/Dining

Enjoy a nice meal and earn maximum rewards

You’ll earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel worldwide from airfare and hotels to taxis and trains. The 3 points per $1 spent on dining at restaurants worldwide applies to both fast casual to fine dining. Outside of these categories, you’ll earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

What are these points worth?

While you can redeem your points towards Gift Cards, Cash Back, or Amazon.com “Shop with Points”, you’ll receive 50% more value when you book travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal.

Taking into account the 50% extra value, your rewards rate will be 4.5% on Travel/Dining and 1.5% on all other purchases. In comparison, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® earns an effective rate (also when redeemed towards travel through Chase) of 2.5% on Travel/Dining and 1.25% elsewhere. Hence, this is my second rationale for the $450 annual fee.

To possibly get even more value from your earned points, you can take advantage of the 1:1 points transfer feature. This is where you can transfer over your Ultimate Rewards points earned with the Chase Sapphire ReserveSM card for an equivalent amount of points/miles with their transfer partners. Depending on how you use your rewards with these partners, your transferred points could end up being worth more. This is the case with many of the hotel rewards partners. Partners sometimes change, but here’s a current list:

Ultimate Rewards Airline/Hotel 1:1 Point Transfer Partners

  • Aer Lingus AerClub
  • British Airways Executive Club
  • Flying Blue AIR FRANCE KLM
  • Iberia Plus
  • Korean Air SKYPASS
  • Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
  • Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards®
  • United MileagePlus®
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
  • IHG® Rewards Club
  • Marriott Rewards®
  • The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®
  • World of Hyatt®

#3: $300 Annual Travel Credit

Thirdly, the $300 Annual Travel Credit that you’re allotted will cut down on the $450 annual fee substantially. I’ve seen some misunderstanding from readers and websites on this credit thinking it only applies to minor expenses like baggage fees and seat upgrades. Actually, the $300 in credits will be used as reimbursement for travel purchases that includes airfare and hotels charged to your card. The credits also occur throughout the year automatically as your charges are processed (it only took a few days for my first hotel booking with the card to get credited). I can also personally confirm that ride-sharing expenses such as Uber and Lyft count towards the travel credit as well.

This credit will be easily used up for any traveler, much less a frequent traveler that I only recommend this card for. I received my entire $300 in reimbursements within the first month for my trip, where even my Uber rides were credited.

50,000 Bonus Points To Top It All Off

To earn the 50,000 bonus points, you’ll have to spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening to qualify.

Frequent travelers should have no issues meeting the spending requirement for the bonus, but here are some ideas:

MEETING CREDIT CARD BONUS SPENDING REQUIREMENTS

  • Use Plastiq to pay with your card. Plastiq is a service that will allow you to pay for expenses that you wouldn't otherwise be able to with your card, such as rent, tuition, auto lease, mortgage payment, and more. They charge a 2.5% processing fee for using your credit card, but this will likely be worth the card bonus you'll obtain. They also have a referral program where you can earn "Fee-Free Dollars" to use towards processing fees.
  • Fund Checking accounts with your card. Many banks will allow you to fund the opening deposit with a credit card. To make the most out of this opportunity, you should consider opening Checking accounts that also offer a sign-up bonus. That way, you're working your way towards bonuses from two different sources. Big banks like Chase and TD Bank have great offers and allow credit card funding. You can often fund anywhere from $500 to $1,000 towards the opening deposit with a credit card, depending on the bank.
  • Buy gift cards with your credit card. Consider buying gift cards that you can then spend later at your leisure. Individual merchant cards (e.g. restaurant, gas station, supermarket) typically don't have purchase fees so this route won't cost you. On the other hand, American Express and gift cards will incur purchase fees. are also wonderful if you shop there often (no purchase fees either). Get some gift card ideas here. *Be careful with Citi credit cards, as they tend to code gift card purchases as Cash Advances and you'll incur the fee. Call in to customer service and lower your Cash Advance limit to $0 before purchasing gift cards (it's a good idea to do this with any card in general). There are also options to buy discounted gift cards as well:
    • (auctions can save you even more with patience)
  • Other ideas. Be sure to always using your credit card for everyday spending, such as for dining, gas, groceries, etc. You can also use your credit card to pay for things like insurance bills, property taxes and income taxes, but you'll have to consider the convenience fees.

*More ways to meet the spending requirement

Bottom Line:

Anyone who makes full use of all the travel benefits of the Chase Sapphire ReserveSM card will see why choosing a premium card with a whopping $450 annual fee can actually make sense in some cases.

What’s The Competition?

Here’s a chart comparing the Chase Sapphire ReserveSM with its main premium credit card competitors –  The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Citi Prestige®.


The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express has a special offer for 75,000 Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. The best options for redeeming these points would be by booking travel through American Express or by redeeming for gift cards. Using these options, the 75,000 bonus will be worth $750. You must go directly to the American Express website to find this offer. Typically, the bonus offer reverts back to a 60,000 or 40,000 points promo, so it's all about timing here.

The biggest drawback to this card is the $550 annual fee, which puts it in the premium class of credit cards. The card has a market because it offers premium travel benefits, such as 5X points for flights and eligible hotels, access to 1,000+ airport lounges, $200 in Uber credits yearly, and a $200 airline fee credit annually. For frequent travelers, the added benefits make sense in terms of value and added luxury. Full Review
  • Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.
  • New! Up to $200 Uber Savings Annually.
  • 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel.
  • 5X Membership Rewards® points on eligible hotels booked on amextravel.com.
  • As a Platinum Card Member, you can enjoy access to the Global Lounge Collection, the only credit card airport lounge access program that includes proprietary lounge locations around the world.
  • Receive complimentary benefits with an average total value of $550 with Fine Hotels & Resorts. Learn More. Terms Apply.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit, up to $200 a year in baggage fees and more at one airline. Terms Apply.
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Citi Prestige® Card

The Citi Prestige® Card is no longer offers a sign-up bonus (previously there were offers for 40,000 to 75,000 in bonus points). For the most value out of your points, redeem for flights through Citi, where your bonus will be worth 1.33 cents per point. This is another card that competes in the premium travel category, and the annual fee will signify that at $450. In effect, this card is only a good option for frequent travelers who can take advantage of the premium benefits : 3X points on air travel & hotels, 2X points on dining & entertainment, $250 Air Travel Credit annually, and free access to 1,000+ airport lounges with Priority Pass Select. For those in this niche market, this card will provide high perceived value. Full Review
  • $250 Air Travel Credit each year, and receive a statement credit, up to $100 every 5 years, as reimbursement for your application fee for Global Entry or TSA Pre Check
  • 4th night hotel benefit for any hotel stay at hotels booked through the Citi Prestige® Concierge
  • Transfer points to a variety of travel loyalty programs from airlines to hotels.
  • Earn 3x points on Air Travel and Hotels
  • Earn 2x points on Dining at Restaurants and Entertainment
  • 1 ThankYou® Point per $1 spent on other purchases
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If you don’t spend enough on Travel/Dining or don’t feel as though the premium travel benefits are worth the annual fee, you may want to consider some great alternatives – the Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard® and the Chase Sapphire PreferredSM.

Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard® / Barclays Arrival® Premier World Elite Mastercard®