A reader recently emailed me this about annual spending bonuses:
“I’m interested in knowing what credit card has the best annual spend benefit. In other words, if I can manage $12k – $20k on one card per year, what card would you recommend?”
In case you’re wondering the same thing, I thought I’d share my answer.
There happen to be some rewards credit cards that will give you an annual bonus for spending a certain amount on the card within the first 12 months or calendar year. Personally. I’m usually too busy meeting minimum spending requirements or maximizing category bonuses on different cards to go for annual spending bonuses. BUT, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t a great thing, especially for the big spender who is looking to maximize their everyday spending. More miles so that we can travel more is what it’s all about!
Here are the rewards credit cards with the best annual spending bonuses.
American Express Premier Rewards Gold
The American Express Premier Rewards Gold card comes with an additional benefit of 15,000 Amex Membership Rewards points after spending $30,000 in a calendar year.
In addition to the spending bonus, you will receive 2x points per $1 on gas and groceries. That’s nice. There are no sexy sign-up offers on the card right now, but you may be targeted for one through the CARDMATCHTM tool. The standard sign-up offer on this card is 25,000 MR points after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months of cardmembership.
I like using my Membership Rewards points to transfer to Singapore Air, British Airways, ANA, or Aeroplan.
British Airways Visa Signature® Card
The British Airways Visa from Chase comes with the Travel Together Companion ticket if you spend $30,000 in a calendar year. The Travel Together Companion ticket is valid for award tickets, but you will still have to pay the hefty fuel surcharges and fees. Ouch. However, it can still be a good deal for business and first class British Airways award tickets. Still much cheaper than paying for the ticket.
travel together ticket
The British Airways Visa Signature® Card comes with a sign-up bonus of 50,000 Avios after you spend $2,000 in 3 months. See here why I love Avios.
Citibank Hilton HHonors Reserve
The Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve card will get you a free (not really free) weekend night certificate after you spend $10,000 in a cardmembership year (12 months after you open your card account). Nice. I met this spending requirement last year, and used my free night at the Hilton at the Madrid airport.
You will also receive Hilton Diamond status if you spend $40,000 in a calendar year. This was something I was working towards last year, until Hilton kicked me in the groin and devalued their award chart.
Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve
The Citi Hilton Reserve comes with sign-up bonus of two free weekend night certificates after spending $2,500 in 4 months.
United MileagePlus® Explorer Card
The United MileagePlus Explorer will give you a bonus of 10,000 United miles if you spend $25,000 in a calendar year. 10,000 United miles is almost enough for a one-way domestic ticket in economy. Currently, the United MileagePlus® Explorer Card has a limited time offer of 50,000 United miles when you spend $2,000 within the first 3 months of having the card. This card also gives you free checked bag, priority boarding, and two free lounge passes. See more here.
Citibank World Elite AAdvantage
With the Citi World Elite card, you will receive 10,000 Elite Qualifying Miles after spending $40,000 in a calendar year. This is obviously for the really big spenders and flyers who are wanting elite status with American Airlines.
The standard sign-on bonus on this card is 50,000 AAdvantage miles after spending $5,000 in 3 months, but it’s been known to have limited time offers that are much better. Jordan and I both applied for this one when it was 100,000 miles earlier this year, and I know many of you did too!
Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card
The Chase Marriott Premier card has a nice little spending bonus of 1 elite credit for every $3,000 spent. This is in addition to the 15 elite credits you receive annually. If you’re a Marriott lover, then this is a card you should be checking out.
For a limited time, you will also receive 70,000 points after spending $2,000 in 3 months. In addition to the 70,000 points, you will get a free night at a category 1-4 Marriott on account approval. The Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card is worth the annual fee too, because you receive an annual free night good at a category 1-5 Marriott property.
Marriott Rewards Card Offer
Chase Fairmont
The Chase Fairmont card has a couple of spending tier bonuses. First, you can earn an elite stay credit when you spend $7,500 per calendar year (maximum of two stay credits). If you spend $12,000 before your anniversary date each year, you will earn a free night certificate. I would rather have the free night certificate than an elite stay credit, but the spending is much higher.
You will receive 2 free nights with free breakfast after spending $3,000 in 3 months.
Hyatt Credit Card
The Hyatt Visa from Chase (yeah, they have a lot of cards) comes with the bonus of 2 stay credits and 5 night credits towards Diamond status upon spending $20,000 in each calendar year. And you can receive an additional 3 stay credits and 5 night credits toward Diamond status upon spending $40,000 each calendar year. Since I’m a Hyatt Diamond member, this interests me, but I probably won’t be going after the $40,000 spend bonus.
The Hyatt Visa comes with two free night certificates after spending $1,000 in 3 months. Plus, you get Platinum status and a free annual certificate good for a category 1-4 property.
Delta Reserve & Platinum
The Delta Reserve and Platinum rewards cards come with nice spending bonuses for the Delta loyalist.
The Platinum rewards card will earn you 10,000 bonus miles and 10,000 MQMs after you spend $25,000 or more in purchases on your card in a calendar year. You can earn an additional 10,000 bonus miles and 10,000 MQMs after you spend $50,000 or more in purchases on your card in a calendar year.
The Reserve card will earn 15,000 bonus miles and 15,000 MQMs after you spend $30,000 in eligible purchases on your card in a calendar year. You can earn an extra bonus of 15,000 bonus miles and 15,000 MQMs after you spend $60,000 in eligible purchases on your card in a calendar year.
These are hefty spends, but they make a lot of sense for Delta elite flyers who are big spenders.
Don’t forget that there are currently limited time offers on 3 of American Express’ Delta rewards cards.
American Express Delta Rewards Cards
The US Airways® Premier World MasterCard®
The US Airways card comes with a perk of 10,000 Preferred Qualifying Miles after spending $25,000 each calendar year. Not the sexiest deal, but it’s something.
One thing that’s great about the The US Airways® Premier World MasterCard® is that it comes with a bonus of 40,000 miles after your first purchase. That’s right, no minimum spending requirement. This card will eventually become an American Airlines card, so now is a good time to check it out.
Conclusion
If your goal is to become an elite member or maintain elite status in an airline or hotel’s loyalty program, then you should focus your spending on their co-branded cards to help you achieve elite status faster and earn more rewards in that program.
However, if that’s not you, I like the free nights the Citi Hilton Reserve offers, as well as the 10,000 bonus United miles that the Explorer card offers for meeting their annual spending qualifications.
(Disclaimer: I do receive a referral credit for some of the cards mentioned in this post. Thanks for the support if you ever apply through the blog!)
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— Geoff Whitmore