I often tell people that the hardest way to earn frequent flyer 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 apply for a credit card that can offer you 50,000 to 100,000 points or miles as a welcome 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 75,000 to 125,000 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 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 Great Travel Credit Card Bonuses for December 2019
The Business Platinum® Card from American Express
Welcome offer: Earn up to 75,000 Membership Rewards. You earn the first 50,000 after you spend $10,000, and another 25,000 after spending an additional $10,000 within your three months of account opening. *Please note, this offer has expired. Click to see current offer details.
Annual fee: $595 (see rates and fees)
Comment: This is a very attractive intro bonus, but it also has very high minimum spending requirements for its tiered bonuses. Still, this can be an attractive offer for small business 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.
Related: The Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards to Use for Holiday Purchases
United Explorer Card
Welcome offer: Earn up to 65,000 United MileagePlus miles. You earn the first 40,000 after you spend $2,000 within three months and another 25,000 after spending $10,000 total within your six months of account opening.
Annual fee: $95, waived the first year.
Comment: This is a really strong, tiered offer from a card worth keeping. That’s because cardholders receive access to additional saver award seats, making your miles more valuable. Other benefits include two United Club passes each year. It also offers you double miles at restaurants and hotels, and up to $100 Global Entry or TSA Precheck fee credit.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Welcome offer: Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $1,000 within the first three months of account opening.
Annual fee: $95 (see rates and fees)
Comment: This card now offers you 6% cash back on up to $6,000 spent each year at U.S. supermarkets (then 1%) and on select U.S. streaming services. You also earn 3% back at U.S. gas stations and on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more.
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 a $200 annual air travel fee statement credit, and up to $200 in annual Uber credit and up to a $100 credit towards the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application. This card offers a $50 credit towards Saks Fifth Avenue purchases twice a year (enrollment required). You also earn 5x points per $1 for flights booked through the airline and prepaid hotels booked with Amextravel.com.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Welcome offer: Earn 125,000 bonus points after spending just $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 great offer for a card that offers 12x points at Hilton portfolio hotels, 6x points at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets and gas stations and 3x points on all other purchases. You also receive Gold elite status.
Related: This One Credit Card Gets You Into 1,000+ Airport Lounges
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 at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations 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.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening, worth over $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.
Hilton Honors American Express Card
Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases within three months of account opening.
Annual fee: $0 (see rates and fees)
Comment: This is a very rare hotel rewards card with no annual fee, and it has a very modest minimum spending requirement to earn the welcome bonus. Yet you can still earn 7X Hilton Honors bonus points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Honors portfolio of brands, 5X points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations, and 3X points for all other eligible purchases on your card.
American Express® Green Card
Welcome offer: Earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within three months of account opening. You also earn up to $100 in statement credit after your first purchase made directly with Away in the first three months.
Annual fee: $150 (see rates and fees)
Comment: This newly refreshed version of an old classic has a lot going for it, including 3X Membership Rewards® points on all eligible travel and at restaurants worldwide. You also receive up to $100 per year in statement credits when you use the American Express® Green Card to pay for your CLEAR® membership, and up to $100 in statement credits per year on your LoungeBuddy purchases.
American Express® Gold Card
Welcome offer: Earn 35,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within three months of account opening.
Annual fee: $250 (see rates and fees)
Comment: This card has a lot going for it, including a $100 annual airline fee credit and up to $120 in annual dining credits to select restaurants. It also offers 4x Membership Rewards points on up to $25,000 spent each year at U.S. supermarkets (then 1x), and unlimited 4x points at restaurants.
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