Offers are organized according to the issuing bank instead of the affiliated loyalty program, so be sure to scroll through the entire list.
- Read my warnings on maintaining a strong credit score before.
- Check the credit pulls database at CreditBoards.com.
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed. This site may be compensated through some of the included links.
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Offers from Citi
Executive AAdvantage® WorldElite™ MasterCard®
Application Link: Admirals Club membership and 50,000 miles after spending $5,000 in 3 months
This card only makes sense if you already plan on getting a lounge membership. It’s about the same price, but you get some additional benefits. However, you can also get Admirals Club access with the American Express Platinum Card.
- Complimentary Admirals Club membership for cardholder
- Your first eligible checked bag is free
- Priority Boarding with Group 1 privileges and 25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases
- Double AAdvantage® miles on eligible American Airlines purchases
- Earn 10K bonus elite qualifying miles after spending $40,000 in a calendar year
- Annual fee of $450
Citi® Platinum Select® / AAdvantage® Visa Signature® Card
Application Link: 30,000 miles after spending $1,000 in 3 months
Application Link: 50K miles after $2,500 in 4 months / no statement credit (info)
Application Link: 45K miles after $5,000 4 months / + 2 club day passes (info)
This is a good card for elite passengers who want to earn AAdvantage miles (e.g., Ultimate Rewards points don’t transfer to American). It has a $95 annual fee, waived the first year.
- Earn 30,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of cardmembership*
- Your first eligible checked bag is free*
- Priority Boarding with Group 1 privileges and 25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases*
- Earn a $100 American Airlines Flight Discount every cardmembership year with qualifying purchases and cardmembership renewal*
- Double AAdvantage® miles on eligible American Airlines purchases*
- Earn 10% of your redeemed AAdvantage® miles back – up to 10,000 AAdvantage(R) miles each calendar year*
Select® AAdvantage® American Express®
Application Link: $150 statement credit and 45,000 miles after spending $5,000 in 4 months (info)
If you prefer American Express, this is a different version of the Platinum Select AAdvantage Visa Signature. The annual fee is slightly lower, and the benefits are roughly the same. Use Million Mile Secrets two-browser trick to get both.
- Earn 45,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $5,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of cardmembership
- Your first eligible checked bag is free
- Priority Boarding and 25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases
- Earn a $150 American Airlines Flight Discount every cardmembership year with qualifying purchases and cardmembership renewal
- Double AAdvantage® miles on eligible American Airlines purchases
- Earn 10% of your redeemed AAdvantage® miles back – up to 10,000 AAdvantage(R) miles each calendar year
- $0 annual fee the first year, then $85
AAdvantage® American Express®
Application Link: 25,000 miles after spending $750 in 4 months
This is a decent card for casual American Airlines flyers. You are missing a lot of perks, but it gives you the chance to earn miles in your favorite program with regular purchases. The annual fee of $50 is waived the first year, and you get a discount on award tickets.
- Earn 25,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $750 in purchases within the first 4 months of cardmembership
- Save 5,000 AAdvantage® miles back each time you book a Reduced Mileage Award
- $0 annual fee the first year, then $50
Offers from American Express
Delta Reserve Credit Card
Application Link: SkyClub membership and 10,000 MQMs after first purchase
This card is expensive but includes a Sky Club membership and free checked bags for the whole family. Earn a bonus 15K MQMs and 15K redeemable miles after spending $15,000 in one year (up to 30K MQMs and 30K RDMs for spending $30K).
- Get 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQM) upon your first purchase with the Card
- Unparalleled Miles BoostSM - get up to 30,000 MQMs and 30,000 Bonus Miles
- Enjoy Delta Sky ClubTM access
- Check your first bag for free on every Delta flight
- Access to Concierge services
- Receive 20% In-Flight Savings on food and entertainment
- $450 annual fee
Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card
Application Link: 35K miles + 10K MQMs after spending $2,000 in 3 months
The checked bag benefit with this card is pretty generous, and if you use the lounge only occasionally, I would recommend this card over the Reserve or Gold versions. Pair it with the Delta Reserve American Express to secure elite status without even flying!
- Earn 35,000 bonus miles, 10,000 of which are Medallion qualifying miles (MQMs), when you spend $2,000 in 3 months.
- Earn another 10,000 bonus Medallion qualifying miles each time you spend $25,000 in a calendar year, up to 20,000 MQMs.
- No mileage earning limit, and miles don’t expire.
- Check a bag for free on Delta – up to nine people in your reservation can each save up to $50 on a round-trip.
- Enjoy more in the sky with the new benefit of 20% In-FlightSavings – on food and entertainment.
- You can earn one mile for virtually every dollar you charge, from inventory and materials to monthly phone bills. You can redeem Delta miles for Award Travel with Delta or over 15 airline partners.
- Introducing Priority Boarding – Board early, find room for your carry-on bag, and settle into your seat sooner.
- $150 annual fee.
Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card
Application Link: 30,000 miles after spending $500 in 3 months
Application Link: Your targeted offer, possibly better
This card has limited benefits, which is shocking given the high annual fee (the same as the Chase Sapphire Preferred!), so I would be inclined to pick the Platinum or Reserve cards instead. However, it still provides value with a generous free baggage allowance.
- Bonus Miles: earn 30,000 bonus miles toward Award Travel when you spend $500 on the Card within the first three months of cardmembership.
- Earn As You Spend: Get 2X miles on Delta purchases and 1X miles for all other eligible dollars spent.
- Check Your First Bag Free: up to 9 people in your reservation can each save up to $50 on round-trip Delta flights.
- Premium Travel Perks: settle in sooner with Priority Boarding, and enjoy the skies with 20% off in-flight savings to use toward meals, beverages, and movies.
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Terms and Restrictions Apply.
JetBlue Card
Application Link: 20,000 points after spending $1,000 in 3 months
Be wary of the ads promoting “up to 8 points per dollar.” They’re including the 3 points for flying and 3 points for booking online. This card just provides 2 more points per dollar. However, JetBlue has the advantage of being the dominant low-cost carrier on the East Coast.
- Ability to use points for any seat on any JetBlue operated flight
- No blackout dates
- Points that don’t expire
- Bonus points the more you travel
- Oneway Award Flights starting at just 5,000 points and $2.50 taxes/fees
- 6 points for every dollar spent when you purchase a flight at jetblue.com
- Earn an additional 2 points for every eligible dollar spent on JetBlue flights when you use your JetBlue Card from American Express®, for a total of 8 TrueBlue points for every eligible dollar spent on jetblue.com
- $0 introductory annual fee, then $40
Offers from Chase
United MileagePlus® Explorer
Application Link: 30,000 miles after spending $1,000 in 3 months.
Those without elite status will be attracted to priority boarding, faster security, and free checked baggage. Primary rental insurance is also a rare find, and cardholders with elite status are eligible for free domestic upgrades on award tickets.
- Start with 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months.
- Check your first bag for free – save up to $100 per round trip.
- Earn double miles on United ticket purchases, and 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.
- Enjoy priority boarding privileges.
- Visit the United Club with two one-time-use passes every year.
- Use your miles for any seat, any time, on any United flight.
- Your miles don’t expire as long as you’re a cardmember, with no limit to the number of miles you can earn.
- $o intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
United MileagePlus® Club
Application Link: $100 statement credit toward $395 annual fee
Application Link: See if you’re targeted for a full $395 waiver
The primary benefit of this card is that it includes a United Club membership at a discount to buying it alone, and it also has several other perks like 1.5 miles on all purchases, primary car rental insurance, and eligibility for upgrades on award tickets.
- Annual United Club membership – Up to $475 value
- Premier AccessSM priority airport services
- Earn a 50% mileage bonus – 1.5 miles per dollar on all purchases
- Check your first and second bag for free
- No foreign transaction fees
- No close-in booking fees on United tickets
- Special treatment with Hyatt Hotels & Resorts® Platinum status and Avis® First status
- Enjoy Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection privileges
- $395 annual fee
Southwest Airlines® Rapid Rewards® Premier
Application Link: 25,000 points (worth $416) after spending $1,000 in 3 months
When a 50K offer is available, applying for a personal and business card can net 100K points, leaving you only 10K short of an annual companion pass valid for paid and award travel. After the bonus, I believe the Sapphire Preferred is a better choice for long-term spending.
- Receive 25,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months.
- Redeem points for International flights, cruises, hotel stays, car rentals, gift cards, and access to exclusive events.
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways purchases made directly with the airlines.
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Rapid Rewards Hotel and Car Partner purchases.
- Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Receive 6,000 points after your Cardmember Anniversary every year.
- Earn up to 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List and A-List Preferred status for every $10,000 you spend on the card (maximum of 15,000 Tier Qualifying Points annually).
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Access free business card reporting tools.
- Receive free employee cards.
- $99 annual fee.
Southwest Airlines® Rapid Rewards® Plus
Application Link: 25,000 points (worth $416) after spending $1,000 in 3 months
Effectively the same as the Rapid Rewards Premier card reviewed above, but with a smaller annual fee and a smaller annual retention bonus. If you like using a Southwest credit card, I strongly suggest the Premier version because of the extra points.
- Receive 25,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months.
- Redeem points for International flights, cruises, hotel stays, car rentals, gift cards, and access to exclusive events.
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways purchases made directly with the airlines.
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Rapid Rewards Hotel and Car Partner purchases.
- Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Receive 3,000 points after your Cardmember Anniversary every year.
- Access free business card reporting tools.
- Receive free employee cards.
- $69 annual fee.
British Airways Visa Signature® Card
Application Link: 50,000 points after spending $1,000 in 3 months
The distance-based Avios program is a great deal for domestic flights on U.S. partners American and Alaska without any connections, but less so for international travel. Plus British Airways has fuel surcharges on its own tickets.
- You will get 50,000 bonus Avios after you make $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
- Plus pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad.
- You will also get 2.5 Avios for every $1 spent on British Airways purchases and 1.25 Avios for ever $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Every calendar year you make $30,000 in purchases on your British Airways Visa card, you’ll earn a Travel Together Ticket good for two years.
- Chip with Signature Technology allows you to use your card for chip based purchases in Europe and beyond, while still giving you the ability to use your card as you do today at home.
AirTran® Airways A+ Rewards® Credit Card
Application Link: 16 A+ Rewards® credits after spending $1,000 in 3 months and 2 business class upgrades after first purchase
A+ Rewards is a big complicated, so I’ll spell it out here: 1,200 A+ Rewards Dollars equals 1 A+ Rewards Credit, and with every 16 A+ Rewards Credits, you’ll get a free roundtrip flight. AirTran is owned by Southwest, so you can transfer points to Rapid Rewards®.
- Get 16 A+ Rewards® Credits (enough for 2 roundtrip flights) after you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months of opening your account
- $69 annual fee
- Receive 2 A+ Rewards Credits every year after your Cardmember Anniversary
- Get 2 AirTran® Airways Business Class upgrades after first purchase
- Earn 2 A+ Rewards Dollars per $1 spent on AirTran Airways and Southwest Airlines® purchases made directly with the airlines and on purchases with A+ Rewards and Rapid Rewards Hotel and Car Rental Partners
- Earn 1 A+ Rewards Dollar per $1 spent on all other purchases
- With every 1,200 A+ Rewards Dollars earned, you’ll receive 1 A+ Rewards Credit toward your next flight
Offers from Bank of America
Hawaiian Airlines® Visa Signature®
Application Link (Bank of America): 35K miles after spending $1K in 4 months
Application Link (Bank of Hawaii): 35K miles after spending $1K in 4 months
This card is a good opportunity for award redemptions to Australia, where Hawaiian also flies; for partner redemptions on Virgin Atlantic with no fuel surcharges; and to transfer to Hilton at a 1:2 ratio. You can apply for the BofA and BofH versions at the same time!
- Earn Up To 35,000 Bonus Miles After Qualifying Purchases
- 2,000 Bonus Miles Every Anniversary
- Receive a one-time 50% off Round Trip Companion Travel Discount between North America and Hawaii
- Earn 1 mile per 1 dollar spent on purchases
- Earn 2 miles per 1 dollar spent on tickets purchased directly from Hawaiian Airlines†
- Earn up to 10 additional HawaiianMiles per 1 dollar spent at participating Xtramiles partners
- Share and Pool Miles with Family and Friends Online for Faster Award Travel
- Complimentary 24/7 Concierge Service
- No Mileage Earning Cap
- Access to Discounted Awards
- Annual Fee: $79/yr
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature®
Application Link: 25,000 miles after first purchase + $100 credit after spending $1,000 in 3 months
This is a good card for traveling to Alaska since most other airlines exclude our northernmost state from basic domestic award tickets. You can also open and close new accounts for additional bonuses (the original definition of “churning).
- 25K miles after first purchase.
- $100 statement credit after spending $1,000 in the first three months.
- Annual fee: $75 (NOT waived).
- $110 single-use companion fare each year valid in economy class only.
- 3X miles at AlaskaAir.com.
- Up to 5X miles at partner hotels and restaurants.
Virgin Atlantic Black Card
Application Link: 50,000 miles after spending $2,500 in 3 months and adding 2 additional cardholders
While I wouldn’t use it to fly on Virgin Atlantic because of the hefty fuel surcharges on award tickets, I think this is a great way to boost your Hilton HHonors balance by transferring points at a 1:2 ratio.
- 20,000 bonus miles after your first purchase
- 25,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 in 3 months
- 1.5 miles per $1 spent on all other purchases
- 3 miles per $1 spent directly on Virgin Atlantic purchases
- Up to 15,000 bonus miles every Anniversary after spending $25,000
- Up to 5,000 bonus miles when you add additional Cardmembers to your account
- One tier point per $2,500 in purchases (maximum of 2 per month)
- Complimentary Regus businessworldgold membership worth $300
- $90 annual fee
Offers from Barclays
US Airways Premier World MasterCard®
Application Link: 30,000 miles after first purchase
While I normally wouldn’t fly US Airways domestically, they are a great way to redeem for cheap award tickets on Star Alliance Partners. Don’t forget that off-peak award tickets are even cheaper during the winter, and they have a great international Envoy Class.
- Earn up to 40,000 bonus miles on qualifying transactions: 30,000 miles after first purchase and up to 10,000 miles after a qualifying balance transfer within 90 days.
- EXCLUSIVE: Redeem for flights for 5,000 fewer miles.
- Enjoy 2 miles per $1 on US Airways purchases.
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent everywhere else.
- Two roundtrip companion tickets each year.
- Zone 2 priority boarding on every flight.
- First class check-in.
- Please see terms and conditions for complete details.
- $89 annual fee.
The Premier Miles & More World MasterCard®
Application Link: 50,000 miles after spending $5,000 in 3 months
Why get a Miles & More credit card instead of one for a U.S. carrier? Miles & More saves most of its award space for its own members. This is another option to get Lufthansa First Class, albeit with a $79 annual fee. You can still use miles for award travel on United, too.
- Earn 20,000 award miles after your first purchase.
- Earn an additional 30,000 award miles when you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 90 days.
- Cardholders receive a companion ticket annually.
- Enjoy 2 award miles per $1 on Miles & More integrated airline ticket purchases.
- Earn 1 award mile per $1 spent everywhere else.
- No mileage expiration with monthly qualifying purchases.
- 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months after account opening, after that a variable APR currently 15.99% to 24.99% depending upon your creditworthiness.
- Please see terms and conditions for complete details.
The Frontier Airlines World MasterCard®
Application Link: 35,000 miles after spending $750 in 3 months
Frontier is one of those airlines you don’t hear about much, but it offers extremely competitive fares on many routes and competes with United out of its Denver hub. For those looking to travel cheaply, Frontier may be the right choice, and this card can get you started.
- Earn up to 45,000 miles on qualifying transactions, enough for a round trip flight plus taxes and fees from $5.00.
- Award travel redemptions begins at just 10,000 miles.
- Enjoy 2 miles per $1 on Frontier Airlines purchases.
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent everywhere else.
- Redeem companion tickets for 5,000 fewer miles – a cardholder exclusive benefit.
- Please see terms and conditions for complete details.
- $59 annual fee.
Virgin America Visa Signature®
Application Link: 10,000 points after first purchase
I think this is a better card than the one offered by JetBlue. Still, many people love Virgin America, and it’s more prevalent on the West Coast. It’s worth noting that Virgin America’s points are fairly valuable at more than 2 cents each.
- 10,000 Bonus Points with your first purchase
- Up to 5,000 Bonus Points with a balance transfer in the first 30 days.
- $150 off a companion ticket every year.
- All for a $49 annual fee.
- 3 Points per $1 on Virgin America.
- 1 Point per $1 spent everywhere else.
- Up to 1,200 Additional Points per year.
- Earn 10,000 Elevate status points when you spend $25,000 on everyday
- purchases each year.
Offers from US Bank
LifeMiles Visa Signature® Card
Application Link: 20,000 miles after first purchase
LifeMiles are the new US Airways Dividend Miles. With frequent sales on the purchase of additional miles (you must be an existing loyalty program member) and a generous award chart, it’s a good idea to keep LifeMiles on hand for Star Alliance award tickets.
- Earn 1 LifeMile for every net $1 you spend.
- 20,000 bonus LifeMiles with your first card use.
- 6,000 bonus LifeMiles with your annual credit card renewal
- Double LifeMiles on Avianca and TACA Airlines ticket purchases.
- 50% excess baggage redemption discount on TACA Airlines.
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, thereafter $75.
LANPASS Visa Signature® Card
Application Link: 20,000 miles after first purchase
Everyone is going to Peru using their British Airways Avios points, but consider paying cash instead. With this card, you get a generous discount on ticket purchases and three upgrade coupons so you can still travel well with more flexibility to pick the best itinerary for you.
- 1 LANPASS Mile for every net $1 you spend.
- No cap on miles earned.
- 20,000 bonus miles with your first card use.
- 4,000 bonus miles with your anual credit card renewal.
- Double miles on LAN ticket purchases.
- $0 introductory annual fee the first year, thereafter $75.
- 20% discount on LAN purchase (up to $1,000) 1 time per year.
- 25% flight miles bonus.
- 3 one-way upgrade coupons per year.
AeroMexico Visa Signature® Card
Application Link: 20,000 miles after first purchase and complimentary companion ticket (taxes/fees may apply)
AeroMexico is a SkyTeam alliance member and the only major Mexican carrier that remains. The discount on all AeroMexico ticket prices is a great deal for frequent travelers between the United States and Mexico, as are the discounted companion tickets.
- One Club Premier mile per net $1 spent.
- Double miles on gas and groceries.
- 20,000 first use bonus miles plus complimentary companion ticket (taxes/fees may apply).
- 4,000 annual bonus miles plus $99 companion ticket (taxes fees may apply) with credit card renewal.
- Double miles on AeroMexico airfare purchases.
- 15% discount on AeroMexico airfare purchases.
- Complimentary Salon Premier Lounge access (one day).
- $0 intro annual fee the first year, up to $80 thereafter
SKYPASS Visa Signature® Card
Application Link: 15,000 miles after first purchase
The SKYPASS credit card is one of the few products available with connections to an Asian carrier. Although the bonus isn’t huge, the card does include some lounge passes each year and is one of the few US Bank cards that does not charge a foreign transaction fee.
- Get up to 15,000 Bonus Miles after your first purchase.
- Get 1 mile for every $1 you spend in net purchases.
- Double miles on Korean Air ticket purchases.
- Redeem miles for award travel and upgrades on any SkyTeam partner, including Korean Air and domestic carriers such as Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines.
This content is not provided or commissioned by American Express. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of American Express, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express. This site may be compensated through the American Express Affiliate Program.
