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 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 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.
The 10 Best Travel Credit Cards for August 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.
Annual fee: $595 (See rates and fees)
Comment: This is an attractive introductory bonus, 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.
Related: The Best Chase Credit Cards for Travel Rewards
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard®
Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $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 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.
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 and on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more.
Related: The American Express Rewards Cards Every Traveler Needs
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 up to $200 in annual air travel fee statement credit, and up to $200 in annual Uber credit and up to $100 credit towards the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application. This card now offers up to 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 Card
Welcome offer: Earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within three months of account opening.
Annual fee: None (See rates and fees)
Comment: This is a great offer for a card that offers 7x points at Hilton portfolio hotels, 5x points at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets and gas stations and 3x points on all other purchases. You also receive Hilton Honors Silver status.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Welcome offer: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points and a free weekend night reward after you spend $4,000 in eligible purchases in the first four 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 $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 50,000 bonus miles after spending just $2,500 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 eligible American Airlines purchases. You also receive a free checked bag, preferred boarding, and discounts on in-flight food and beverages.
American Express® Gold Card
Welcome offer: Earn 35,000 bonus points after spending just $2,000 within the first three months of account opening.
Annual fee: $250 (See rates and fees)
Comment: This card now offers 4x points on dining worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 annually, then 1x), and 3x on flights booked through airlines or amextravel.com. You also receive up to a $100 travel fee statement credit and up to $120 in restaurant credits each year (enrollment required).
Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express
Welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus SkyMiles after spending just $3,000 within the first three months of account opening. You also receive 50% back in the form of statement credits on purchases made directly with Delta with your Card within the first 3 months, up to $500 back. Offer ends 8/15/19.
Annual fee: $195
Comment: This card’s best feature is the annual companion certificate good for a round-trip economy class ticket – all you pay is government taxes and fees. Another great feature is the MilesBoost offer of up to 20,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) ) if you spend $50,000 in eligible purchases within the calendar year.
