I often tell people that the hardest way to earn airline miles is to step on an airplane. Even on the carriers that still offer you miles based on the distance you travel, you’ll only earn about 500 miles per hour you spend on an airplane. And you’ll have to spend an entire night in a hotel just to earn a few thousand points in their loyalty program.
In contrast, it takes just a few minutes to sign-up for a credit card that can offer you 50,000 to 100,000 points or miles as a sign-up bonus. 50,000 miles is a competitive offer from an airline card, or one that offers points that can be transferred to airline miles. However, the best offers will be in the 60,000 to 100,000 mile range. With hotel points, a strong offer is one with enough points for at least two free nights in a mid-range hotel. But because hotel points are generally less valuable than airline miles, expect to receive 80,000 to 100,000 points from the best of these offers.
To receive these rewards, you’ll typically have to meet a minimum spending requirement, often $3,000 to $5,000 within three months of account opening. However, some of the most generous offers will have even larger spending requirements. Also, most cards will have an annual fee, although some are waived the first year.
Once you’ve paid an annual fee and received your sign-up bonus, the last thing you’ll want to do is cancel your card. Instead, try it out for a year and see how you like its rewards, benefits and customer service. At the end of your first year, you’ll have all the information you need to decide if it’s worth keeping or not.
10 Major Credit Card Bonuses for May 2019
The Business Platinum® Card from American Express
Welcome offer: Earn up to 75,000 Membership Rewards points. Earn 50,000 points after you spend $10,000, and another 25,000 after spending an additional $10,000 within your three months of account opening.
Annual fee: $595 (see rates and fees)
Comment: This is an attractive welcome offer, but it’s also has a very high minimum spending requirement. Still this can be an attractive offer for small businesses owners looking to jump start their rewards balances. The annual fee is expensive, but it comes with enough perks, benefits and travel fee reimbursements to justify it.
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard®
Welcome offer: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first four months of account opening.
Annual fee: $99, waived the first year
Comment: This card now offers double miles on purchases at telecommunications, car rental merchants and at gas stations, as well as for eligible American Airlines purchases. You also receive a complimentary checked bag, preferred boarding, and discounts on in-flight food and beverages.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 points after spending $2,000 within the first three months of account opening.
Annual fee: $149
Comment: This card comes with $75 in Southwest travel credit each year, plus four upgraded boardings per year when available. You also receive up to 20% back on inflight drinks and wifi purchases.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Welcome offer: 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $5,000 within the first three months of account opening.
Annual fee: $550 (see rates and fees)
Comment: While the card's annual fee is among the very highest, it also comes bundled with an annual air travel fee statement credit of up to $200, an annual Uber credit of up to $200, and up to $100 credit towards the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application. This card now offers a $50 credit towards Saks Fifth Avenue purchases twice a year (requires registration). You also earn 5x points per $1 for flights booked through the airline and prepaid hotels booked with Amextravel.com.
Hilton Honors American Express Ascend Card
Welcome offer: Earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within three months of account opening. You also get a Weekend Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
Annual fee: $95 (see rates and fees)
Comment: This is a great offer for a card that offers 12x points at Hilton portfolio hotels, 6x points at US restaurants, supermarkets and gas stations and 3x points on all other purchases. You also receive Gold elite status.
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Welcome offer: Earn 125,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first three months of Card Membership.
Annual fee: $95 (see rates and fees)
Comment: This card offers you 12x at Hilton hotels, 6X on select business & travel purchases and 3x everywhere else. Plus you get Gold status, and a Weekend Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard
Welcome offer: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 within the first 90 days of account opening, worth $700 in travel statement credits
Annual fee: $89, waived the first year
Comment: This card is a great compliment to other travel reward cards, as it lets you use mile as statement credits towards any eligible travel purchase. So when you use other points and miles to pay for your flights or hotels, you can use your Barclaycard miles for the rest of your travel purchases.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening, worth $750 in travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Annual fee: $95
Comment: This card is a perennial favorite for travel rewards enthusiasts, as you can transfer your points to airline and hotel partners.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard®
Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending just $3,000 within the first three months of account opening.
Annual fee: $99, waived the first year
Comment: This card now offers double miles on purchases at gas stations and restaurants, as well as for American Airlines purchases. You also receive a complimentary checked bag, preferred boarding and discounts on in-flight food and beverages.
United℠ Explorer Card from Chase
Welcome offer: Earn up to 60,000 bonus miles. You earn 40,000 miles after spending just $2,000 within the first three months of account opening, plus an additional 20,000 miles after spending a total of $8,000 within six months of account opening.
Annual fee: $95, waived the first year
Comment: This card now offers double miles on purchases at hotels and restaurants, as well as for United Airlines purchases. You also receive a complimentary checked bag, priority boarding, and discounts on in-flight food and beverages. It even comes with two one-time United Club passes, up to a $100 credit towards the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee and expanded access to saver level awards in economy class for flights operated by United.
