I receive compensation for many links on this blog. You don’t have to use these links, but I am grateful to you if you do. I do not write about all credit cards that are available — instead focusing on miles, points, and cash back (and currencies that can be converted into the same).

I’ve been writing this blog since 2002, and it’s been a tremendous labor of love. I started it under the name More Room Throughout Coach — the idea that was could all find additional space in our travels and our lives, freedom and prosperity, by paying attention and working at it.

Of course, American got rid of their extra legroom throughout the entire coach cabin concept. But I kept blogging. Throughout the years there have been tremendous ups and downs to it. I wrote to catalogue what I was learning, and then I was in a position that I think what I had to say could be helpful to others trying to make the most of the travel and their miles and points.

While it’s been tremendously gratifying to help people achieve dream travels or just make their daily business commutes better, it has been very much a labor of love and not profit. There weren’t even ads up on the blog for a very long time. In the beginning there were ads, but that was when I was on Blogspot and they were getting the revenue. Awhile after my site was hosted by Randy Petersen‘s team they put up something called BlogAds which I think paid $40 a week or so, and I told Randy to keep it since presumably there were hosting costs and whatnot.

The current GoogleAds are certainly better, and it’s nice to have a little something extra from banner ads.

I’m frequently asked if there’s anything that readers can do to say thank you. And I usually tell them that their improved travels, or being able to get the frequent flyer award they want, is thanks enough. I really have been fortunate to have touched the travel lives of so many people like you.

But if I’ve been helpful in your travels or you’ve just enjoyed this blog for awhile, there is something you can do if you are inclined.

American Express, Chase, Citibank, and Barclays are advertising partners of this blog.

One of the easiest and most lucrative ways to accumulate miles and points quickly is through credit card signup bonuses. If you’re going to get a new credit card, and most readers probably should (a few times a year!) then please consider using my links for those cards.

The banks will provide me with referral credit, it doesn’t really cost you anything (you get the points, and many offers waive annual fees the first year!), but it does make a difference for me. I do greatly appreciate your consideration!

1. The Platinum Card® from American Express is interesting considering that you may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.

   Enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, with over $500 of annual value if you visit Centurion Lounges and each of our partner lounges including Delta Sky Club® lounges when flying an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations) , select Lufthansa lounges when flying Lufthansa, Plaza Premium lounges and Escape Lounges, and enroll in Priority Pass Select. See terms.

   
   Centurion Lounge Seattle

   You can also get a number of statement credit benefits,

   • $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
   • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.

   • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
   • $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
   • $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card®.
   • A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.

   This card earns 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.

   There are also additional travel benefits like Gold status in the Marriot program, Hilton Honors and Executive status in the National Car Rental program that you can sign up for. Terms Apply, see rates and fees.

2. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

   This card has a Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

   On an ongoing basis you’ll 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus. 1X points on other eligible purchases In addition earn 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com. 1X points on other eligible purchases. This is valuable in my view for flights, where you don’t give up benefits booking through a third party site. However the card gives you status through a relationship with Hilton and Marriott and you may give up status benefits on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com.

   The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 10/2024. Access is limited to eligible Card Members.

   Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals. Use the Business Platinum Card® and get up to $209 back per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal). NEW! Make the Business Platinum Card® work even harder for you. Hilton For Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Benefit enrollment required.

   This is a $695 annual fee card. Terms Apply, see rates and fees.

   
   Yquem in New Emirates First

3. American Express® Business Gold Card will let you earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of cardmembership.

   The card will earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap. Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.

   Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required.* You can also get up to a $12.95** statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. **Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.

   This is a $375 annual fee card. *Terms apply. See rates and fees.

4. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has an offer to earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel (See rates and fees)

   The card earns unlimited 2X miles on purchases – and 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel.

   You’ll receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel. And you’ll get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary. With this card you can access the Capital One Lounge as well as Priority Pass lounges.

   
   Capital One Lounge Washington Dulles

   
   Capital One Landing Washington National

5. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card will let you earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel. (See rates and fees.)

   The card earns unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day, plus 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. You can use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase-or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel. Plus, transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs. It has a $95 annual fee.

   
   Etihad First Apartment

6. Citi Strata Elite^SM Card (See rates and fees.) has an initial offer to earn 80,000 bonus Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.

   On an ongoing basis you’ll earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com and 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com; Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights^SMpurchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET; Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time; Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases

   Points can be transferred to a variety of frequent flyer programs, including:

   • oneworld: American Airlines AAdvantage, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Malaysia Airlines Enrich, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Qatar Airways Privilege Club
   • Star Alliance: Avianca LifeMiles, EVA Air Infinity MileageLands, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus, Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles
   • SkyTeam: Aeromexico Club Premier, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
   • Non-alliance: Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest, JetBlue TrueBlue
     
   • Hotels: Leading Hotels of the World Leaders Club, Accor ALL – Accor Live Limitless, Choice Hotels Choice Privileges, Preferred Hotels I Prefer, Wyndham Hotels Wyndham Rewards

   Many of the card’s annual benefits are on a calendar year basis so you have the opportunity to take advantage of them twice in your first cardmember year: the $300 hotel benefit for 2+ night stays booked through Citi Travel; the $200 Splurge credit (take it for American Airlines travel!), and $100 in Blacklane credits twice each year. That’s $1,200 in credits you can reap in year 1 if you’re approved now.

   The list of Splurge Credit merchants is 1stDibs, American Airlines (exclusions apply), Best Buy®, Future Personal Training, and Live Nation (exclusions apply) and you have to activate up to 2 merchants at a time prior to purchase, though you can change your selection as you wish. The Blacklane credit is actually $100 January – June and $100 July – December.

   It offers a Priority Pass Select Membership (as with other major issuers for most cards, this does not cover airport restaurants). It includes 2 guests. Authorized cardmembers receive Priority Pass as well. And there’s also four American Airlines Admirals Club passes each year.

   

7. American Express® Gold Card

   Initial bonus offer: You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.

   Earning: Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year; Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year; Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com; Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com; Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

   Credits and Benefits: $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply; $84 Dunkin’ Credit: With the $84 Dunkin’ Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit; $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required; $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.

   Annual fee is $325. Terms Apply, see rates and fees.

8. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (See rates and fees)

   This is the premium Southwest Airlines co-brand card really designed for folks who fly Southwest — it makes Southwest travel better, and spending helps earn both A-List status and a Companion Pass®.

   The card has a Limited Time Offer: Our best points offer this year, earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 5 months from account opening.

   Benefits include First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation; Select a Preferred seat at booking, at no additional charge, when available; Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.*

   Ongoing category bonus spend: Earn 4 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines® purchases, including flights, inflight, and Southwest gift cards. Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants. This is a $229 annual fee card.

9. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (See rates and fees)

   The card has a Limited Time Offer: Our best points offer this year, earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 5 months from account opening.

   Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation can check their first bag at no additional cost and can Select a Standard seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.

   Ongoing category bonus spend: Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines® purchases. Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year.

   You earn 3,000 anniversary points each year, a nice incentive to keep the card. And all points earned count towards Companion Pass®.

10. Aeroplan® Credit Card from Chase lets you earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. (See rates and fees)

    This $95 Annual Fee card earns 3X points for each dollar spent at grocery stores, on dining at restaurants, and Air Canada directly. Earn 1X point for each dollar spent on all other purchases; 500 bonus points for every $2,000 you spend in a calendar month – up to 1,500 points per month.

    Naturally cardmembers get free first checked bag (for the cardmember and up to 8 others people on same reservation). But the card also comes with the first tier of elite status (25K level) for the calendar year in which your Chase Aeroplan Card account is opened and for the following calendar year. You can keep that status with $15,000 in annual spend. In the future status
    that comes with the card will be for the remainder of the year in which you’re approved plus the following year.

    Spending $50,000 on the card bumps you up an elite level – to 35,000 mile status based on spend alone if you aren’t already at that level or higher. However a member earning that level of elite status or higher with Air Canada outside of the card who spends $50,000 on the card in a calendar year gets a one-level bump up starting at the beginning of the next calendar year. An Aeroplan 75K member who aspends $50,000 on the card becomes Super Elite in the next calendar year.

    
    Air Canada Business Class

11. Citi® / AAdvantage Business^TM World Elite Mastercard® Earn 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening. [See rates and fees]

    The card offers first checked bag on domestic American Airlines itineraries. There’s preferred boarding on American Airlines flights as well.

    Earning is 2 AAdvantage® miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, and on purchases at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants and at gas stations; 1 AAdvantage® mile per $1 spent on other purchases; 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible mile earned from purchases.

    
    American Airlines Boeing 787-9P Business Class

12. Citi Strata Premier® Card (See rates and fees.)

    Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.

    On an ongoing base this $95 annual fee card will: Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com; Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations; Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

    Points can be transferred to a variety of frequent flyer programs, including:

    • SkyTeam: Aeromexico Club Premier, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
    • oneworld: American Airlines AAdvantage, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Malaysia Airlines Enrich, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Qatar Airways Privilege Club
    • Star Alliance: Avianca LifeMiles, EVA Air Infinity MileageLands, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus, Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles
    • Non-alliance: Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest, JetBlue TrueBlue,

    
    Qantas First Class

    There’s also a $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, click here
For rates and fees of the The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of American Express® Gold Card click here.