Every month, I compile a list of the top travel rewards credit card offers currently available. Many of the cards on my list remain consistent from month to month thanks to great benefits and consistent bonus opportunities, like those available with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. However, the list does change, and rankings shift as new offers come out and old ones change. For example, the new JetBlue Plus MasterCard from Barclaycard has made the list again because of its sign-up bonus and earning potential, while the Citi Prestige has slipped in the rankings this month thanks to its lowered sign-up bonus and the loss of other key benefits.
You can always find a comprehensive roundup of the best deals currently available, as well as specific hotel and airline credit cards that might interest you on the Hot Deals page. However, if you’re thinking of applying for a credit card now, this list features my top choices at the moment. Check back each month for updates and the latest and best offers out there.
Credit Factors to Consider
Before you get started, you can peruse these posts for advice on checking your credit score, applying for new cards and getting approved.
How Credit Card Applications Affect Your Credit Score
5 Things To Understand About Credit Before Applying For Cards
Should I Be Concerned About A Credit Card Denial?
Credit Card Application Restrictions for the Major Issuers
5 Lesser-Known Things That Affect Your Credit Score
Will My Credit Score Drop If I Don’t Use My Credit Cards?
THE SHORT LIST
Here’s the short list of this month’s cards, but continue reading below for more details on each of them.
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred
2. Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier Card
3. Chase Ink Plus Business Card
4. Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express and the Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express
5. Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite MasterCard
6. Platinum Card from American Express
7. Hyatt Visa
8. Citi Hilton HHonors Visa Signature
9. Citi Prestige Card
10. JetBlue Plus Card
THE DETAILS
Here’s an in-depth look at each of the cards listed above, including their benefits and reasons to apply now.
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred
Current Bonus: 50,000 Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on the card in the first three months. That’s $625 in travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards. You’ll earn another 5,000 bonus points when you add an authorized user and make a purchase within the first three months.
Benefits: This card regularly ranks high on my list of top travel credit cards thanks to 2x points on travel and dining at restaurants and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases worldwide, no foreign transaction fees, primary auto rental insurance, trip cancellation coverage and the ability to transfer points to 11 travel partners, including British Airways, Hyatt, Marriott, Southwest, United and, as of May, Air France/KLM Flying Blue.
Annual Fee: $0 introductory annual fee the first year, then $95.
Reasons to get it: The Sapphire Preferred ranks as the top card again this month because of the sign-up bonus and the Ultimate Rewards program’s 11 great travel transfer partners. It continues to be my own top all-round travel credit card, and the one I use for most of my purchases thanks to the ability to earn 2 points per dollar at restaurants and on a range of travel purchases, with no limit. Not only that, but you can also redeem Ultimate Rewards points directly for airfare at a rate of 1.25 cents apiece, giving you even more flexibility.
Chase has been restricting some new credit card applications depending on how many cards you have (generally you can only apply for five Chase cards within a 24-month period), so when it comes to this issuer’s cards, you might want to apply for this one first. Check out this post of 5 reasons to get the Sapphire Preferred now, and these 5 things to do when you get the Chase Sapphire Preferred to help you maximize this card’s outstanding benefits.
Beyond that, read these posts for more information on the card and the Ultimate Rewards program:
5 Reasons Chase Sapphire Preferred Should Be Your First Credit Card in 2016
5 Chase Sapphire Preferred Benefits You Might Not Know About
10 Fun Ways to Use 50,000 Ultimate Rewards Points
One Year of Earning and Burning With The Chase Sapphire Preferred
Redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards Points for Maximum Value
2. Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier Card
Current Bonus: 50,000 Rapid Rewards points after spending $2,000 in the first three months your account is open.
Benefits: Earn 2 points per dollar on Southwest Airlines, and with Rapid Rewards participating hotel and rental car partners. No foreign transaction fees. Earn 6,000 bonus points each year after your account anniversary. Earn 1,500 Tier-Qualifying Points per $10,000 you spend on the card each calendar year up to a maximum of 15,000 Tier-Qualifying Points per year.
Annual Fee: $99
Reasons to get it: This card gets the top airline co-branded credit card slot because of its solid return on spending. Rapid Rewards points are worth about 1.5 cents apiece, so the sign-up bonus alone is worth at least $750. However, these points can be doubly lucrative if you leverage this offer to earn the Southwest Companion Pass by accruing 110,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. The Companion Pass is a two-for-one benefit that allows you to bring a companion along on any flight and just pay the taxes on his/her ticket, including tickets you book with points. Given Southwest’s fantastic domestic route network and the airline’s rapidly expanding international destinations list, the Companion Pass can mean tremendous savings and travel potential. Its final selling point: This card offers the ability to earn elite credit based on spending.
For more information on Southwest and the card, see these posts:
One Year of Earning and Burning with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier
Earning Southwest Rapid Rewards Points Without Flying
How Can I Earn Points for the Southwest Companion Pass?
Maximize 50,000 Southwest Points on Flights to the Caribbean
10 Tips for Maximizing Southwest Rapid Rewards
3. Ink Plus Business Card from Chase
Current Bonus: 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $5,000 in the first three months.
Benefits: Earn 5 points per dollar at office supply stores, on cell phone, land line, internet and cable TV services (on up to $50,000 in spending annually), and 2 points per dollar spent at gas stations and on hotel accommodations (also on up to $50,000 in spending annually). No foreign transaction fees. Ability to transfer points to 11 travel partners.
Annual Fee: $95
Reasons to get it: The Ink Plus earns a top slot on the list this month thanks to its sign-up bonus offer of 60,000 points. There are sometimes limited-time sign-up bonus offers of 70,000 points for in-branch applications, but those are not consistently available. If you’ve been thinking of applying for this card, now’s the time since it’s unlikely we’ll see the bonus go up from here. Apart from the sign-up bonus, this card offers 5x and 2x category spending bonuses, which makes it a great option not only for small business owners, but also for folks who can strategically take advantage of those bonus categories to rack up the points quickly.
For more information on how you can maximize this card and the Ultimate Rewards points it earns you, check out these posts:
10 Chase Ink Benefits You Might Not Know About
A Year of Earning and Burning with the Chase Ink Plus
Business versus Personal Credit Cards
Top 10 Reasons to get a Business Credit Card
4. Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express and the Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express
Current Bonus: Earn 25,000 points when you make $3,000 in purchases within the first three months on the personal card. Earn 25,000 points when you make $5,000 in purchases within the first three months on the business card.
Benefits: Earn 2 Starpoints per dollar on purchases at participating Starwood hotels, in addition to what you’d normally earn through SPG. Earn 2 stays/5 nights of credit toward elite status each year, plus automatic Gold status when you spend $30,000 on the card in a calendar year. American Express added new benefits to both cards last year, including no foreign transaction fees, complimentary unlimited Boingo Wi-Fi on up to four devices at once and complimentary premium in-room internet access. The business version also comes with more perks as part of the OPEN program, as well as free access to Sheraton Clubs when you book rates that are eligible to earn Starpoints.
Annual Fee: $0 the first year, then $95.
Reasons to get them: As Marriott prepares its takeover of Starwood, there’s a lot of uncertainty about how the two chains will merge their loyalty programs. So it might be worth applying for these cards while they still exist in their current form. That’s especially true if you can put the points to use before that takeover actually happens since we’re still not sure what is going to become of the SPG program.
Apart from the phenomenal benefits these cards offer, the Starwood Preferred Guest program is unique in that it offers both great hotel redemptions and has more than 30 airline transfer partners, including the recent addition of Virgin America, as well as interesting non-travel redemption opportunities like tickets to the US Open. When you transfer 20,000 points at a time to airline partners, you can also earn a 5,000-point bonus, making this card a great option if you need to top up your various airline accounts. These cards also regularly offer referral bonuses, so if you get them and have friends who are interested in applying, you might be able to rake in even more points.
If you already have the personal card and you own a small business (or are self-employed), the business version might be a good option, as long as you haven’t had it before. Just keep in mind that the bonus spending requirement on the business card is $5,000 versus $3,000 on the personal card.
For more information, check out these posts:
One Year of Earning and Burning with the SPG Amex
The Best Credit Cards for Starwood Guests
The Award Traveler’s Guide to Starwood Preferred Guest
6 Best Ways to Use Starpoints from the SPG Amex Cards
Redeeming Starpoints for Maximum Value
5. Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite MasterCard
Current Bonus: 60,000 AAdvantage miles when you spend $5,000 in the first three months.
Benefits: This card’s most valuable benefit is Admirals Club membership, which is why the annual fee is at a premium level. However, the card also expanded this benefit so that authorized users (of which you can add up to 10 per card account) also get lounge access along with guests, greatly increasing its potential value. The card offers a rebate for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application, worth up to $100 in value. American Airlines flyers benefit from an earning rate of 2 miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, a 40% premium over base-level earning with the new American earning structure that went into effect this month. Cardholders can earn 10,000 elite-qualifying miles for spending $40,000 on the card every calendar year (January through December billing statements), which can be a good shortcut to earning elite status. Cardholders also get priority boarding, 25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases, first checked bag free and concierge service.
Annual Fee: $450
Reasons to get it: There are a lot of great reasons to get this card now. While the current offer is not as high as the 100,000 miles this card has offered in the past, we haven’t seen a bonus like that in quite a while, and there’s no telling if it will ever return. The expanded lounge benefits are a huge selling point in my book because you can get up to 10 additional cards at no further cost. So, you can basically get lounge access for 10 people (and the guests they can bring) for the price of one. This card is also the only one to offer the opportunity to earn AAdvantage elite-qualifying miles based on spending, so if you’re an American loyalist, that can be a huge selling point.
Many people seem to wonder whether to get the Citi Prestige or the Citi / AAdvantage Executive because the two cards offer similar benefits. Now that Citi has announced the Citi Prestige Card will no longer include Admirals Club access starting next July, the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite MasterCard will be a much better option for American Airlines flyers who value elite status (or perks that mimic it).
6. Platinum Card from American Express
Current Bonus: 40,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $3,000 in the first three months. There are targeted offers through the CardMatch Tool, where you might be eligible for special bonuses like 100,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first three months, which we last saw in May.
Benefits: This card offers no shortage of valuable benefits, including a $200 annual airline rebate, access to Delta and Priority Pass lounges (plus the Amex Centurion Lounges) and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application rebate. You can also transfer the Membership Rewards points you earn with this card to 20 airline and hotel partners.
Annual Fee: $450
Reasons to get it: While this premium card has one of the highest annual fees on the market, it has several perks that make it worthwhile, depending on your travel needs and patterns. Its most valuable benefits include a $200 annual airline rebate, lounge access, free Hilton Gold status and free Starwood Preferred Guest Gold status. You also get access to booking hotels through the Fine Hotels & Resorts program and Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credits. Another great benefit is Centurion Lounge access; these clubs provide a great place to sip a cocktail, relax and even enjoy a pre-flight meal. Amex has been actively expanding its lounge network, including the recently opened Houston location as well as recent additions in Miami and Seattle. An LAX location might be coming soon as well.
For more information, check out these posts:
Maximizing Benefits with the Amex Platinum Card
Is Amex Platinum Worth It If I’m Not Near Centurion Lounges?
10 Things to Do When You Get Amex Platinum
My Experience Getting Refunded for the Global Entry Application Fee With My Amex Platinum Card
7. Hyatt Visa
Current bonus: Get 2 free nights at Hyatt properties worldwide — in any category — after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months after account opening. Get 5,000 bonus points when you add an authorized user to your account and make a purchase with your card during the first three months as a cardmember.
Benefits: Earn 3 points per dollar spent at all Hyatt properties; 2 points per dollar spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline and at car rental agencies; and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases made with your card. 1 free night every year after your cardmember anniversary at any Category 1-4 property. Exclusive benefits with Platinum status as long as you’re a cardmember. Receive 2 stay credits and 5 night credits toward Diamond status upon spending $20,000 in each calendar year. Receive an additional 3 stay credits and 5 night credits toward Diamond status upon spending $40,000 total in each calendar year. No foreign transaction fees on international purchases. Protection benefits including lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, extended warranty protection and more.
Annual Fee: $0 for the first year, then $75.
Reasons to get it: This card has a few key benefits that make it a great choice. First, the two free nights that come as a sign-up bonus can be used anywhere in the world (pending availability), including some very expensive, premium properties like the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme. So the sign-up bonus alone can be worth thousands of dollars. Then there are the ongoing benefits like automatic elite status, trip protection, waived foreign transaction fees, strong earning potential with broad bonus categories and the annual free night at a Category 1-4 hotel, which alone more than makes up for the $75 annual fee. Plus, now through October 31, 2016, Hyatt is offering cardholders a 10% points rebate on award and Points + Cash redemptions, stretching those Gold Passport points even further.
For more information, check out these posts:
Maximizing Chase Hyatt Visa Free Night Certificates
Which Credit Card is Best When Paying for Hyatt Stays?
What is Hyatt Gold Passport Elite Status Worth in 2016?
The Award Traveler’s Guide to Hyatt Gold Passport
The Best Credit Cards for Hyatt Guests
8. Citi Hilton HHonors Visa Signature
Current Bonus: 75,000 Hilton HHonors points when you spend $2,000 in the first three months.
Benefits: Earn 6 HHonors bonus points for each dollar spent at any participating hotel within the Hilton Portfolio. Earn 3 HHonors bonus points for each dollar spent on purchases at supermarkets, drugstores and gas stations. Earn 2 HHonors bonus points for each dollar spent on all other purchases. Enjoy the benefits of HHonors Silver status as long as you are a cardmember.
Annual Fee: None.
Reasons to get it: This card is one of several solid options for Hilton guests, and it offers some outstanding benefits considering it does not charge an annual fee. The complimentary HHonors Silver status is a nice perk that I value at about $65, with the main benefit being a fifth night free on award redemptions. This card also lets you upgrade to HHonors Gold status when you spend $20,000 on the card in a calendar year or complete four eligible stays within the first 90 days of account opening. However, the biggest draw is probably the 75,000-point sign-up bonus, which Citi launched in June. That can get you anything from a free night at a top-tier luxury property like the Conrad Hong Kong (where award nights start at 70,000 points in August), or which you can stretch for several nights or stays at lower-level Hilton properties where award nights require as few as 5,000 points.
9. Citi Prestige Card
Current Bonus: 40,000 ThankYou points when you spend $4,000 in the first three months.
Benefits: Earn 3 ThankYou points per dollar on air travel and hotel purchases, 2 points per dollar on dining and entertainment and 1 point per dollar on everything else. Get a $250 air travel credit each year for things like airfare, baggage fees, lounge access and some in-flight purchases. Admirals Club access (when flying AA) until July 23, 2017, and Priority Pass Select lounge access. No foreign transaction fees. $100 Global Entry application fee waiver. Get your 4th night free at hotels with no blackout dates when you book four consecutive nights at any hotel via a personal travel advisor designated by MasterCard. Redeem your points for air travel at a rate of 1.33 cents apiece, or 1.6 cents apiece on American Airlines (again, just until July 23, 2017). Citi ThankYou Rewards now has 13 transfer partners, including Air France/KLM Flying Blue, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Etihad Guest, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Hilton HHonors, among others.
Annual Fee: $450
Reasons to get it: Unfortunately, Citi announced a slew of negative changes to the card in July. These include the loss of Admirals Club access and lower redemption rates for airline tickets that will go into effect July 23, 2017. Citi also lowered its sign-up bonus to 40,000 points and raised the spending requirement to $4,000, a double blow. Not only that, but there are nuanced changes to the 4th Night Free benefit including the fact that it will now be calculated based on the average nightly rate, not just the fourth night of a stay, and taxes will no longer be included. The annual three rounds of golf benefit is also being eliminated.
With all those changes, you might wonder why the card still makes my list, but there are several major reasons. Namely, the $250 annual air travel credit, the Global Entry fee waiver, the fact that lounge access will continue in its current form for another year or so, that extremely valuable 4th Night Free benefit, and the bonus earning categories, not to mention those 13 travel transfer partners. All in all, this is still a really strong credit card, but you have to weigh the now-reduced benefits against that $450 annual fee.
For more information on the Citi Prestige and Citi ThankYou Rewards, check out these posts:
Maximizing Benefits with the Citi Prestige in 2016
How I’ve Gotten $2,250 in Value from my Citi Prestige Card
Maximizing Citi Prestige Benefits – A Reader Success Story
Immediately Denied for the Citi Prestige? You’re Not Alone!
Redeeming Citi ThankYou Points for Maximum Value
10. JetBlue Plus Card
Current Bonus: 30,000 TrueBlue points when you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days.
Benefits: Earn 6 points per dollar on JetBlue purchases, 2 points per dollar at restaurants and grocery stores and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Each year after your account anniversary you will earn 5,000 bonus points. Get 10% of your points back every time you redeem points for an award. You also get 50% savings on all eligible in-flight purchases including cocktails, food and movies, plus enjoy Mosaic benefits for one year after you spend $50,000 or more on purchases after your anniversary date.
Annual Fee: $99
Reasons to get it: Barclaycard recently launched its new set of JetBlue cards, and though this one comes with a $99 annual fee, the sign-up bonus alone is worth as much as $420 in my estimation. Then there’s the earning potential. If you use this card to purchase JetBlue tickets online, you’ll be earning at least 12 TrueBlue points per dollar you spend on eligible airfare, equivalent to about a 16% return on spending on ticket purchases according to my same valuation. The 10% points redemption refund and in-flight savings are also big benefits. Plus, you can earn Mosaic status and enjoy the benefits solely through spending, and JetBlue recently started giving Mosaic members TSA PreCheck for free, adding even more value. All in all, this card is a big step up from the former Amex version of the JetBlue card, so if JetBlue is your carrier of choice, this new product is a no-brainer.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Apply Here
Earn 50,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $625 in travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Named a 'Best Credit Card' for Travel Rewards by MONEY Magazine
2X points on travel and dining at restaurants & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Sleek metal card design
Earn 5,000 bonus points after you add the first authorized user and make a purchase in the first 3 months from account opening
$0 foreign transaction fees, plus chip-enabled for enhanced security and wider acceptance when used at a chip card reader
1:1 point transfer to leading frequent travel programs at full value — that means 1,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points equal 1,000 partner miles/points
Travel confidently with premium Travel Protection Benefits, including Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Trip Delay Reimbursement and more
Intro APR
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Balance Transfer
Credit Rating
N/A
16.24%-23.24% Variable
Introductory Annual Fee of $0 the first year, then $95
See Terms
Excellent Credit