The most common question I’m asked: Which travel credit card should I get?
The answer is, it depends. It depends on your travel goals and the current bonus offers.
Banks change sign-up bonuses all the time. The best card today might not be the best card next week.
The easiest way to earn a lot of miles and points for free travel is to sign up for a few new credit cards each year in order to get lucrative sign-up bonuses. This is how my family travels so often. See my post Travel Hacking 101. Here are some of the current best offers.
Full disclosure: Some of these cards are affiliate links, and if you get approved by applying through our links this blog earns a commission. By using our links, you are supporting our small business.
Personal Credit Cards
Citi Premier 80k
The Citi Premier card currently has a sign-up bonus of 80,000 Citi ThankYou points after spending $4000 in the first three months. These bonus points are worth at least $800 in gift cards and travel. Citi has its own travel portal, plus you can transfer points to travel partners. The card earns 3X points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, flights and hotels. $95 annual fee. See this post for all the details.
Capital One Venture Rewards 75k
The Capital One Venture Rewards card has got to be the easiest card to earn miles and redeem miles. Earn 75,000 m miles after spending $4000 in the first three months. Use your miles to erase travel expenses from your credit card statement, or transfer to travel partners (like Air France–see my post here). The card earns 2X miles on all purchases and has a $95 annual fee. See this post for more details.
Amex Gold 90k
This bonus on the American Express Gold Card is only available through referral links (non-affiliate link). Get 90,000 Amex Membership Rewards points after spending $4000 in the first six months. $250 annual fee. The card earns 4X on groceries and dining, plus it includes $120 of Uber/Uber Eats credits and a $120 dining credit. Amex has a ton of travel transfer partners.
Amex Platinum 150k
The bonus on the American Express Platinum card is 150k points through non-affiliate referral links after spending $6000 in the first six months. The annual fee is high ($695), but the card has a lot of benefits that offset that ($200 hotel credit, $240 digital entertainment credit, $200 airline fee credit, $200 Uber cash, $155 Walmart+ credit, lounge access).
Chase United Explorer 70k
The Chase United Explorer Card has a bonus of 70k United miles after spending a total of $6000 in the first six months ($3000 of that in the first three months). The annual fee is waived the first year!
Business Credit Cards
Own a small business? If so, you have the opportunity to earn even more miles and points!
Chase Ink Business Cash 75k
The Chase Ink Business Cash card has no annual fee and currently offers 75,000 points after spending $7500 in the first three months. These points are worth $750 in cash, or you can transfer them to your personal Chase Sapphire card to use with travel partners. Earn points quickly with 5X points at office supply stores, cable, internet and phone service.
Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card 80k
Get 80,000 bonus points with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Business Credit Card after spending $5000 in the first three months. Get 9000 bonus points on your card anniversary, and 4 upgraded boardings per year. The $199 annual fee also covers a credit for Global Entry/TSA Precheck.
Bank of America Alaska Airlines Business Card 70k
Alaska Airline miles are hard to come by, but they are very useful for partner awards. The Alaska Airlines Visa Business Card (non-affiliate link) currently has a bonus of 70k miles after spending $4000 in the first three months. This card has a $75 annual fee and a companion fare perk.
These are just some, but not all, of the hot credit card offers right now. You can see all credit card offers here. Please refer to application rules by bank.
Author: Nancy
Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.
Ecstatic that BofA approved me for the Alaska Business. Will close in on a quarter million AS miles!!
Another one I submitted a what-the-heck application for is the 50k Korean offer. Not a currency I’ve ever used. Hopeful US Bank approves me.
@Ian That’s wonderful! I was also approved for Alaska Business this morning. What are your plans with the miles???
Well, there’s always aspiring to Cathay First or Qantas First. Previously did Cathay premium economy/business with a stopover for 50,000 miles per person, China to U.S., with the older two kids.
But more likely, they’ll be burnt for domestic short hops in the Western U.S. Or visiting Alaska next summer.
FYI… on the United Explorer (offer supposedly runs through August 10) when you click through ALL of the links to eventually get to the Chase application page, the result is the standard public offer of 60K miles for $3K in 3 months plus an additional 10K miles for $6K total spend in 6 months…not $4K total spend as you have written above.
Huge bummer, I was IN for $4K total spend but it’s meh for spending $6K. I can do two different $3K SUB offers on other cards for a better ROI.
@Erik Oh dang it! Thanks for pointing that out. I’ll get that fixed.
Thank you!
For giving this valuable information for travelers.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH dear
I liked your post very much because it is good; I will also share it with my group of friends.