Note of course that this is not a discussion of the best credit cards to put your spending on, rather it’s about what credit cards are offering the best bonuses for getting a new card and in some cases for putting some initial spend on that card.
Frugal Travel Guy mentioned this morning one of the 100,000-mile signup bonus offers that’s still running for Citibank American Airlines co-branded credit cards.
I mentioned this offer back on September 24: 50,000 miles after $2000 in purchases within 4 months, another 25,000 miles after $10,000 in purchases within the first year, and an additional 25,000 miles after $10,000 in purchases during the second year. The annual fee is waived the first year.
On November 1 though I posted what’s in general a better offer, or at least an easier one to qualify for: 75,000 miles after $4000 in spend within six months, and first year fee waived. This offer runs through February 28, so there’s still time, and of course consider getting both a personal and a small business card for 150,000 miles.
Chase and British Airways are offering a 50,000 mile signup bonus on their $75 annual fee card which waives foreign currency transaction fees and earns 1.25 miles per dollar spent (plus offers a free companion on award tickets after $30,000 in spend). Downsides to the BA program are an expensive award chart in some cases and fuel surcharges on awards, not just taxes. But 50,000 miles is 50,000 miles!
Chase and Southwest Airlines are offering a free award ticket for signup plus $500 travel credit after $5000 in spend with first year fee waived.
I’ve maxed out on British Airways and American Airlines cards in the past and can’t really get new signup bonuses for those. And while the Southwest card is lucrative, I don’t really want to fly Southwest.
My next card signup will be the Hyatt Visa from Chase which waives foreign currency transaction fees and Diamond members get two free nights in a suite at any Hyatt in the world (except, I think, Park Hyatt Sydney where the suite benefit doesn’t apply). Of course non-Diamonds get Platinum status and two free nights just not in a suite. I’ve held off on applying only because the two nights expire after a year and I’m trying to time the application for when I’ll best use those nights. But in the meantime I’m missing out on putting Hyatt spend on that card…
What other great, similarly lucrative and generally available (non-targeted) signup bonuses are out there at the moment?
Gary: We have partaken of all the card offers mentioned above and I’m still scouring the neet for more lucrative offers. We got the Hyatt card several months ago and the wife and I have 4 nights booked at the Kauai Hyatt. The customer service on booking the award was quick and simple. Go for it.
D’oh! Got the 50K card just before 11/1, so missed out on an extra 25K with just a bit more spend. Ugh.
Have you flown Southwest lately? It is no worse than the economy section on most US airlines, and in some cases a far better experience and certainly far cheaper.
I don’t know if you fly first class for all your domestic flights, but assuming that is not the case then the Southwest award tickets and credits can be quite valuable and in some cases the flights may be more convenient than other options.