With 2017 now well underway, it’s important to stay focused and stick to a plan to achieve your travel goals, which means collecting the right points and miles at the right time. To help you reach your goal, each month I put together a list of the top credit card offers available. Offers change regularly, so the list changes often as well, which is why it’s important to check back each month for updates.
For each card, I’ll share the basics on the sign-up bonus and benefits, but I also like to add some personal context on how I’ve been able to maximize the perks and points from the card. It’s one thing to say that the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express is still one of the best credit cards out there, but it’s a lot more exciting to tell you how I was able to use 130,000 points I earned between the card and hotel stays to book a five-night stay at the all-new St. Regis Maldives worth well over $10,000.
Before you apply, check out these posts for more information on credit scores, application processes and more, especially if you don’t have a lot of experience with credit cards. Contrary to what you might think, it might actually help rather than hurt your score in the long term to open new cards, but it’s important to know what you’re doing.
How Credit Card Applications Affect Your Credit Score
5 Things To Understand About Credit Before Applying For Cards
Debunking Credit Card Myths: Does Applying For A Card Permanently Impact My Credit Score
And now, here’s this month’s list of the best travel credit cards. As always, if you’d like to see a list of all cards available, visit our All Cards Hub.
The Short List
Here’s the short list of this month’s cards, with more details on each below.
1. Ink Business Preferred Card from Chase
2. Chase Sapphire Preferred
3. The Business Platinum Card from American Express OPEN
4. The Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express OPEN
5. United MileagePlus Explorer Card and the United MileagePlus Explorer Business Card
6. Citi Prestige Card
7. Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite MasterCard and the CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select World MasterCard
8. The Platinum Card from American Express
9. Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express and the Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express
10. Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard
Bonus: Chase Sapphire Reserve – The 100,000-point offer is available in Chase branches until March 12.
The Details
Let’s take a closer look at these cards — their sign-up bonuses, specific benefits and the ways I’ve been able to maximize each.
1. Ink Business Preferred Card from Chase
Current Bonus: You’ll get 80,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Standout Benefits: The card earns 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent on travel, shipping, social media advertising and internet/cable/phone services, then 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Primary auto rental insurance and cell phone insurance when you use the card to pay your bill. No foreign transaction fees and employee cards at no additional cost.
Annual Fee: $95
Why it’s worth it: 80,000 Ultimate Rewards points is one of the best sign-up bonuses currently out there, and you can use these rewards to get terrific value on flights, like I recently did in first class one-way on Korean Air’s A380 from the US to Korea (or vice versa in my case). Or you could transfer them to Singapore KrisFlyer for a one-way business-class award on Singapore’s new A350 route from San Francisco to Singapore. Both of these tickets would easily run into the thousands of dollars if you had to pay for them.
On the earning side, you’ll get 3 points per dollar on travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable, phone services and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines, up to a total of $150,000 in combined spending each year, so you can easily pick up a bunch of valuable Ultimate Rewards points through purchases along with the sign-up bonus.
Along with primary rental car insurance, the card comes with an unusual cell phone protection benefit. By paying your cell phone bill with this card (along with the costs for any employees listed on the bill), you’ll get up to $600 in protection against any covered damage or theft for you and any other included lines, up to three claims per year with just a $100 deductible. Plus, putting your cell phone bill on this card earns 3x points since phone services are a bonus category.
While I miss the old Chase Ink Plus Business Card, I wasn’t able to maximize that card’s bonus categories as much as much as I’ll be able to with the Ink Business Preferred. This card’s a terrific addition to the Chase business line and a great companion to other personal Chase cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
2. Chase Sapphire Preferred
Current Bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. That’s $625 in travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards. You can earn another 5,000 bonus points by adding an authorized user and making a purchase within the first three months.
Standout Benefits: You’ll get 2 points per dollar spent on travel and dining at restaurants and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases worldwide. Cardholders have the ability to transfer their Ultimate Rewards points to 11 travel partners, including British Airways, Hyatt, Marriott, Southwest and United, among others. Other benefits include primary auto rental insurance, trip cancellation coverage and waived foreign transaction fees.
Annual Fee: $0 for the first year, then $95
Why it’s worth it: For a card with a reasonable annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred remains a great choice, especially if your credit score might not be high enough to qualify for the Chase Sapphire Reserve. By earning 2 points per dollar at restaurants and across a broad range of travel purchases, you’ll accumulate plenty of Ultimate Rewards points that you can transfer to any of Chase’s 11 great travel partners or redeem directly for airfare at 1.25 cents per point. On top of it all, the annual fee is waived the first year, which makes this a great first card for those just starting out.
3. The Business Platinum Card from American Express OPEN
Current Bonus: Earn up to 75,000 Membership Rewards points — 50,000 points after you spend $10,000 on the card and an additional 25,000 points after spending an additional $10,000, all within your first three months of cardmembership.
Benefits: Access to Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta) and Priority Pass lounges. $200 annual airline fee rebate and Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application rebate. Earn 2 points per dollar on eligible purchases when you book through American Express Travel, 1.5 points per dollar on purchases of $5,000 or more (up to 1 million additional points per year) and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. Transfer Membership Rewards to 20 airline and hotel partners.
Annual Fee: $450
Why it’s worth it: While this card comes with a large spending requirement, the rewards can be worth it since you can now get 2 cents per point in value thanks to the new 50% points rebate which has completely changed the way I book travel. You’ll get half your points back when redeeming points for air travel with the same carrier you select for the annual airline fee credit, or when you book business- or first-class airfare with any airline through Amex Travel. So the 75,000-point bonus can be worth at least $1,500 alone, and you might get even more value by transferring points to one of the Membership Rewards program’s 20 transfer partners.
This card also offers some great perks, including access to the terrific Centurion Lounge network — which is adding locations in Hong Kong and Philadelphia — along with Priority Pass lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (when you’re flying on Delta). And even though the $450 annual fee is substantial, it’s significantly offset by the $200 annual airline credit and the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit. Overall, this is a great card to have in your wallet if you’re a regular traveler.
4. The Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express OPEN
Current Bonus: 50,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of cardmembership.
Standout Benefits: Earn 3 points per dollar on a category of your choice from a list of five options, 2 points per dollar on the four remaining categories, and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. The 3x and 2x apply to the first $100,000 in purchases in each of the five categories per year, after which you’ll earn 1 point per dollar. Foreign transaction fees are waived on this card.
Annual Fee: $0 the first year, then $175 thereafter.
Why it’s worth it: Though the Business Gold Rewards Card doesn’t have the benefits package of the more premium Business Platinum Card, it comes with a much smaller $175 annual fee which is even waived the first year. I love using this card for my small business expenses thanks to the 3x category of choice and the range of 2x spending categories, which include airfare purchased directly from airlines, US purchases for advertising in select media, US purchases at gas stations, US purchases for shipping, and US computer hardware, software and cloud computing purchases made directly from select providers. My business earns about 300,000 extra Membership Rewards points a year entirely from the 3 points per dollar on advertising.
Because I also have the Business Platinum Card, I can redeem Amex points directly through Amex Travel for premium cabins like JetBlue Mint transcontinental business-class starting at only 29,950 points ($599) one-way. Redeeming that way, I’d have enough points for 10 tickets from my advertising spend alone! But I also like to transfer Amex points to partners like Aeroplan and redeem those miles for Lufthansa first class. It’s a terrific card with a ton of options, and there are phenomenal values to be had.
5. United MileagePlus Explorer Card and the United MileagePlus Explorer Business Card
Current Bonus: 50,000 miles after you spend $3,000 in the first three months. You can earn another 5,000 bonus miles by adding an authorized user and making a purchase within the first three months.
Standout Benefits: Earn 2 miles per dollar on United purchases and 1 mile per dollar on everything else. Enjoy priority boarding and a free checked bag for you and one companion on United flights. Two United Club passes each cardmember year. Enhanced award availability.
Annual Fee: $95 (waived the first year for the business card)
Why it’s worth it: I don’t fly United very often, but for those who do this card could definitely be worth it thanks to the elite-like benefits such as a free checked bag and priority boarding. The usual sign-up bonus for both the personal and business versions is just 30,000 miles, so the current elevated offers provide a good opportunity to earn some extra rewards. Some cardholders are even being targeted for a 70,000-mile offer, so you if you’re lucky you could rake in even more miles toward your next award flight. If you’re working toward United elite status this year, also keep in mind that you can waive the Premier-Qualifying Dollar (PQD) requirement when you spend at least $25,000 on the card in a calendar year.
6. Citi Prestige Card
Current Bonus: 40,000 Citi ThankYou points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first three months. Note that you may be eligible to receive 50,000 points after $5,000 in spending in the first three months if you use this link.
Standout Benefits: Earn 3 ThankYou points per dollar on air travel and hotels, 2 points per dollar on dining out and entertainment and 1 point per dollar on everything else. Redeem a $250 annual air travel credit . Get a 4th Night Free at hotels when you book through Citi’s concierge service. Priority Pass Select lounge access. Redeem your points for air travel at a rate of 1.33 points cents apiece or 1.6 cents apiece on American Airlines (until July 23, 2017), then at 1.25 cents per point afterwards. Transfer points to 14 different travel partners, including Air France/KLM Flying Blue, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Hilton HHonors.
Annual Fee: $450
Why you should get it: The 4th Night Free benefit can be amazingly valuable when you use it for expensive hotel rooms, even though it will no longer be calculated based on the actual fourth night starting on July 23, 2017 (instead it will be based on the average nightly rate), and taxes will no longer be included. I saved almost $1,800 on my recent trip to the Park Hyatt Maldives by taking advantage of this benefit, and I’ll be using it for plenty of upcoming stays this year as well. While there are some other negative changes coming to this card in July — including the elimination of Admirals Club access for existing cardholders, the reduction of direct airfare redemptions to 1.25 cents across all airlines and the end of the free rounds of golf — you’ll still get a $250 air travel credit for expenses like airfare, lounge access and some in-flight purchases. That plus the 4th Night Free benefit more than offset this card’s $450 annual fee for me.
7. Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite MasterCard and the CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select World MasterCard
Current Bonus: On either card, you get 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles when you make $3,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening.
Standout Benefits: Group 1 boarding, your first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to four companions traveling with you on the same reservation and 25% off eligible in-flight purchases. You also get 10% of your redeemed miles back up to 10,000 miles each calendar year.
Annual Fee: $0 the first year, $95 thereafter.
Why you should get it: Since the standard offers for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite MasterCard and the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select World MasterCard are 30,000 AAdvantage miles after you spend $1,000 in the first three months, the current sign-up bonuses are a major improvement. But these cards also have a few worthwhile benefits if you find yourself flying American on a regular basis. You get elite-style perks like priority boarding and a free checked bag as well as the in-flight discount on purchases. There’s also the 10% mileage credit, which can save you up to 10,000 miles per year. And cardholders have access to reduced mileage awards, meaning these cards have benefits that will extend throughout the entire year.
8. The Platinum Card from American Express
Current Bonus: 40,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 in the first three months. Also check for targeted offers through the CardMatch Tool as you could be eligible for special bonuses like 60,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first three months, which we last saw in November.
Standout Benefits: This card has a long lineup of great benefits, including the new 5x points per dollar on airfare. There’s also the $200 annual airline rebate, access to Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta), Priority Pass lounges, 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
Why it’s worth it: The sign-up bonus might not be the highest we’ve ever seen, but Amex has added a great new benefit to this card — a 5x bonus category for purchases made directly with airlines. In my opinion that’s now this card’s greatest asset, though it does offer amazing other perks including the airline fee and Global Entry credits, access to the Centurion Lounges, Hilton Honors Gold and Starwood Preferred Guest Gold status (and thus Marriott Rewards Gold status now), Fine Hotels & Resorts benefits and those 20 Amex transfer partners. I also love that you can get three additional cards for $175, and each one of those cardholders gets their own Global Entry fee reimbursement and lounge access, which means great value for a family of travelers.
9. Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express and the Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express
Current Bonus: Earn 25,000 bonus Starpoints when you make $3,000 in purchases within the first three months with the personal card or $5,000 with the business card.
Standout Benefits: Earn 2 Starpoints per dollar on purchases at participating Starwood (and now Marriott) hotels, and 1 Starpoint per dollar on all other purchases. You’ll get 2 stays and 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 in 2015, 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 grants OPEN program perks and free access to Sheraton Clubs when you book rates that are eligible to earn Starpoints.
Annual Fee: $0 the first year, then $95.
Why they’re worth it: Apart from hotel redemptions, you can transfer Starpoints to over 30 airline partners and get a 5,000-point bonus when transferring in blocks of 20,000 points, which makes this card a favorite in my book. Plus now you can also transfer points from Starwood to Marriott Rewards at a 1:3 ratio, opening up even more redemption options. The sign-up bonus for one of these cards alone would be worth 75,000 Marriott points, but if you already have Starwood points banked in your account, you could transfer them to Marriott and redeem for a combination of a hotel stay and airline miles at great rates with Marriott’s Night + Air packages (and maybe even pick up a Southwest Companion Pass along the way). Since these cards may have a limited future lifespan given Marriott’s takeover of Starwood, you may want to jump on these sooner rather than later.
10. Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard
Current Bonus: For a limited time earn 50,000 bonus miles when you spend $3,000 or more in the first 90 days, which can be redeemed for a $500 travel statement credit.
Standout Benefits: Earn 2 miles per dollar on all purchases and get 5% of your miles back when you redeem for travel statement credits. There are no foreign transaction fees.
Annual Fee: $89, waived the first year.
Why it’s worth it: Arrival miles are worth only 1.05 cents apiece when redeemed for travel, but fixed-value miles can be quite useful for unusual redemptions when other points and miles might not be usable, say for theme park tickets, renting a campsite or dealing with carrier-imposed surcharges on airline award tickets or upgrades. I recently used 70,000 Arrival miles to “wipe away” the $700 fee I paid when using Avios to upgrade a British Airways flight from London to Austin to first class. Since this card earns 2 miles per dollar on all spend, you’ll get a decent overall return of around 2.1% for every charge you put on the card.
Bonus: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Current Bonus: 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points when you apply in a Chase branch until March 12, or 50,000 Ultimate Rewards points online. The bonus points for either offer come after you spend $4,000 in the first three months.
Standout Benefits: Earn 3 points on travel and dining at restaurants and 1 point per dollar everywhere else. Redeem points through the Ultimate Rewards travel portal for 1.5 cents apiece. $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass Select lounge access, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit, no foreign transaction fees, primary auto rental insurance and trip cancellation coverage.
Annual Fee: $450
Why it’s worth it: The Chase Sapphire Reserve had an incredibly successful launch last year and has quickly become one of the most popular travel rewards cards on the market. It’s due to a phenomenal benefits package, including that $300 annual travel credit, the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, its travel earning bonus and the ability to redeem points directly for airfare, hotels and other travel bookings at the Ultimate Rewards travel portal for 1.5 cents apiece. While you can no longer earn the 100,000 Ultimate Rewards bonus online, you should be able to get it in Chase branches through March 12.
Which of these travel rewards cards do you plan to add to your wallet this month?