(If you see any errors, please let me know. I try to keep a full list, but it’s a lot of information and I do make mistakes)
Significant Changes Since Last Month:
-Southwest cards back to 60,000.
-Capital One Venture up to 75,000.
-Increased bonuses on Capital One Spark Cash and Miles cards.
-Edited American Airlines links/offers.
-Citi Premier added to list.
-Some readers seeing 100,000-point American Express Platinum offer via CardMatch again. Others seeing 75,000 in incognito browsers.
-Barclays Arrival up to 70,000.
-New link for United card.
-Slight increase on BMO Harris cards.
-Chase Freedom $200 bonus.
-Decreased bonus on IHG.
-Removed Wyndham from the list.
Before Playing This Game:
-Find a new hobby until you can pay off all balances each month.
-Take a second to look at what you’re applying for and confirm a bonus is what you expect.
-Get a screenshot of the bonus description in case you have issues collecting it later.
-Take 2 minutes to read the small print before applying.
(Look for “once in a lifetime,” “no bonus for cardholders in last 24 months,” etc.)
-Keep everything very organized in a spreadsheet. You’ll thank me later.
Time for my monthly Top 25 Credit Cards. It’s called “Top 25” out of tradition, but you’ll get many more links than that below. Again, if you’re a rookie, make sure you read The Newbie Guide. It’s a little outdated but many basic questions can still be answered there. For people running out of cards, remember there’s often a Business card option. Also, “churning” (getting the same card more than once) might be an option. The dates here were a guideline but things always tend to vary individually. If you’re new, it might be wise to start with Chase cards because of the limitations they’ll place on you soon.
Miles and points are far from an equal currency. 50,000 Delta SkyMiles are worth less to me than that amount from Alaska Airlines. 25,000 Hyatt points mean way more than the same number from Hilton. And so on. These links work right now (December 2nd at midnight). If you read this later, many of the offers will have changed. Things move fast so read offer details and terms before applying. Especially all that small print when you’re trying to get bonuses more than once on the same card. Ok, enough chatter…here we go! My “Top 25” current credit cards are below.
Before getting to the main list, I’ve grouped the most popular American Express cards together. Bonuses on these vary and I’m listing some of the best that readers have gotten in recent months……
(You can always roll the dice for better Amex offers here, with much better targeted offers in your mailbox, or by checking here)
- Platinum
- Spend $5,000 in 3 months. Get 60,000 Amex Membership Rewards points.
- Schwab link offering same bonus on a different version.
- May still see 75,000 points with regular link in an incognito browser.
- Possible 100,000 points here.
- Small number of readers have seen 100,000 points here in an incognito window, then searching for American Express, then clicking Cards->Charge & Credit Card Offers->Check For Offers.
- Business Platinum
- Earn up to 100,000 points depending on how much you spend.
- Again, for Amex cards, try signing in first. Also try clicking the links in an incognito browser. Play around with these a little bit and you’ll regularly see better offers.
- Some readers are getting a 100,000-point offer by calling 1-800-971-6736 and asking for it. Spend is $10,000 in 3 months.
- Business Gold Rewards
- Spend $10,000 in 3 months. Get 75,000 points.
- Try this link too for $5,000 spend and same bonus.
- Some readers getting the same offer by calling 1-800-971-6736 and asking for it.
- Gold
- Spend $2,000. Get 50,000 points.
- 20% credit (up to $100) on restaurant purchases.
Amex offers vary. I listed some of the better scenarios. As always, if you find anything superior, please send me the link so everyone can benefit. Now to the main list…
- Altitude Reserve (US Bank)
- Spend $4,500 in 90 days. Get 50,000 points.
- Bad? $400 fee.
- Good? $325 annual travel credit.
- 3x points on travel & mobile wallet spending.
- Ink Business Preferred (Chase)
- Spend $5,000 in 3 months. Get 80,000 points.
- Some have seen 100,000 points in-branch.
- The points transfer to United, Southwest, British, Hyatt, etc.
- Ink Cash at the same link still gives 5X at office stores. That bonus is currently $500.
- Sapphire Preferred (Chase)
- Spend $4,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 points.
- These Ultimate Rewards points are very valuable. See Ink.
- Try applying in-branch for 60,000 or 75,000 points.
- Premium Rewards (Bank Of America)
- Spend $3,000 in 90 days. Get 50,000 points.
- $100 annual airline credit and Global Entry credit.
- Sapphire Reserve (Chase)
- Spend $4,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 points.
- Big $450 fee.
- $300 annual travel credit helps.
- Try applying in-branch for 60,000 points.
- Arrival (Barclays)
- Spend $5,000 in 90 days. Get 70,000 points.
- Awesome bonus. Tough card to get approved for if you’ve been busy.
- Avianca LifeMiles (Banco Popular)
- Bonuses are 40,000 and 60,000 if you enter code LM17WB.
- These are up from 20,000 and 40,000.
- Southwest (Chase)
- All personal and Business cards are currently back up to 60,000.
- Best companion pass strategy is to earn 110,000 points early in a year.
- These days, read terms on the new cards if a Companion Pass is your goal.
- InterContinental Hotel aka IHG aka Priority Club (Chase)
- Premier version is 85,000 points when adding an authorized user.
- Down from 100,000.
- American Airlines (Citibank OR Barclays)
- Citi – Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 60,000 miles. Try asking them to make it 75,000.
(No bonus available if any Citi American personal card opened/closed in 24 months) - Citi Business card is here and is up to 75,000 miles.
(No bonus if any Citi American Business card opened/closed in 24 months) - Or 40,000 miles + $250 with this personal or this Business link. Try asking them for 60,000.
- The Barclays 50,000-mile card is here. Their Business version is here.
- Citi – Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 60,000 miles. Try asking them to make it 75,000.
- British Airways or Iberia Plus or Aer Lingus (Chase)
- Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 points.
- Spend $10,000 the first year for 75,000. Spend $20,000 for 100,000.
- United Airlines (Chase)
- Spend $2,000 in 3 months. Get 40,000 miles.
- Spend $10,000 in 6 months for an additional 25,000 miles.
- If that spend is too high, there’s another link for 50,000.
- Some past targeted links were here, here, here, here, here or here.
- Multiple readers seeing 75,000 miles on the Business card when they log in.
- 50,000 miles for the Business version has been showing here or here.
- Also 50,000 miles for their high annual fee Club card.
- Hyatt (Chase)
- Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 40,000 points.
- Another 20,000 points when spending total of $6,000 in first 6 months.
- Hyatt cards are worth keeping open for some – because of the annual free night.
- Premier (Citibank)
- Spend $5,000 in 3 months. Get 60,000 ThankYou points.
- Only way (I’m aware of) to get this bonus is to have a custom link emailed. I have readers who can send one if you’d like.
- Alaska Airlines (Bank of America)
- Marriott (Chase OR American Express)
- Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 75,000 points.
- Business version is here.
- American Express personal card worth 75,000 points is here. Or 65,000 + $100 here.
- American Express Business card worth 100,000 points is here. Or 90,000 + $100 here.
- The American Express Starwood “Luxury” card is also worth 100,000 points. Big annual fee in exchange for some extra benefits like $300 annual credits at Starwood/Marriott properties.
- JetBlue (Barclays)
- This is the Business version. Spend $1,000 in 90 days. Get 50,000 miles.
- Personal version not on the list with the current bonus.
- Freedom (Chase)
- Worth having in your no-fee collection for the 5% quarterly bonuses.
- Some have gotten 30,000 points ($300) in-branch.
- The $200 is nice but the 3% on everything for a year offer was better for some.
- Virgin Atlantic (Bank of America)
- Spend $1. Get 20,000 points.
- Spend $12,000 in 6 months. Get 50,000 more points.
- Add two users for an additional 5,000 miles.
- When the link stops working, the regular bonus is obviously inferior.
- Asiana (Bank of America)
- Spend $3,000 in 90 days. Get 30,000 miles.
- Some good uses with partners like First Class on Lufthansa.
- FlexPerks (US Bank)
- Lufthansa (Barclays)
- Spend $5,000 in 90 days. Get 60,000 miles.
- Bonus up from 35,000 miles again.
- Propel (Wells Fargo)
- Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 30,000 points.
- Some good 3x categories like dining and travel.
- If you bank at Wells Fargo, see what cards are in your account.
- Radisson (US Bank)
- Spend $2,500 in 90 days. Get 85,000 points.
- Nice hotel card that’s not from the usual issuers.
- Hilton (American Express)
- 4 different cards with a range of bonuses and fees.
- Some readers seeing higher bonuses via incognito browser.
- Start a Hilton.com booking and see if you find better offers on the payment page.
- Spark (Capital One)
- Cash – Spend $5,000 for $500. Or $50,000 for $1,500 more.
- Miles – Spend $5,000 for 50,000. Or $50,,000 for 150,000 more.
- Uber (Barclays)
- Just a $100 bonus but some other strong benefits.
- 4% on dining, 3% on travel, and $600 in phone insurance on this no-fee card.
- Venture (Capital One)
- Spend $5,000 in 3 months. Get 75,000 miles.
- Up from 50,000.
- Hawaiian Airlines (Barclays)
- Bank Of The West Business (Bank Of The West)
- Spend $5,000 in 90 days. Get 60,000 points.
- Worth $450.
- Limited states.
- Cathay Pacific (Synchrony)
- Spend $2,500 in 90 days. Get 40,000 miles.
- I like the airline. Not my favorite bank.
- BMO Harris Platinum or Premium (BMO Harris)
- 25,000 or 35,000 points.
- Up from 20,000 and 30,000.
- Aeroplan (TD Bank)
- Spend $1,000 in 3 billing statements. Get 25,000 miles.
- Other cards from TD here.
- Korean (US Bank)
- Spend $3,000 in 90 days. Get 30,000 miles.
- Back up from 15,000. Goes up and down pretty often.
- Visa Infinite (UBS)
- Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 25,000 or 50,000 points.
- Big $495 annual fee.
- Even with a $250 airline credit, I’m not a huge fan of this one.
- Amtrak (Bank of America)
- Spend $1,000 in 90 days. Get 30,000 points.
- Back up from 20,000.
- Premier Traveler (PNC)
- Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 30,000 points.
- 2% back card if used for travel.
- Limited states.
- Bank Americard Travel Rewards (Bank of America)
- Spend $1,000 in 90 days. Get 25,000 points.
- Increased bonus. Worth $250.
- LATAM (US Bank)
- Spend $2,500 in 120 days. Get 20,000 miles. Extra 5,000 for multiple transactions.
- This bonus has gone up and down often.
- Frontier Airlines (Barclays)
- Spend $500 in 3 months. Get 40,000 miles.
- These miles kind of suck. Expire after 6 months of no activity.
- TravElite (First Bank of Omaha)
- Decent no-fee card to have.
- Some benefits like Global Entry credit. Register for their Premium Concierge.
- No bonus at the moment. Was 25,000 points.
- Expedia (Citibank)
- Spend $2,000 in 3 months. Get 25,000 points.
- Also a 15,000-point version with no annual fee.
- Everyday (Amex)
- Try for 25,000 points in incognito mode.
- Always worth trying an incognito browser to open the link with Amex cards.
- No annual fee. Preferred has a 15,000-point bonus with a $95 fee. Some have seen 30,000 in incognito browsers.
- Sun Country (First National Bank of Omaha)
- Spend $1,000 in 3 billing cycles. Get 30,000 points.
- Not the most popular airline in the world. Sorry Omaha.
- Best Western (First Bank of Omaha)
- Multiple card options. Up to 70,000 points on one.
- Up to 80,000 points on Business version with big spending.
- Decent. Better than the old Barclays Best Western card.
- Air France (Bank of America)
- Spend $1,000 in 90 days. Get 25,000 miles.
- Not great, not terrible.
- Spirit (Bank of America)
- Pro: Bonus up to 30,000 miles.
- Con: It’s Spirit Airlines.
- Business link is here.
- Total Rewards (Comenity)
- Spend $750 in 90 days. Get 10,000 points.
- Popular card for Vegas regulars.
- Choice Hotel (Barclays)
- I keep this card last out of tradition.
- Spend $1,000 in 90 days. Get 32,000 points. Spend $2,000 more for another 32,000.
- If you’ve been reading this far, I salute you!
Beyond that mile/point list, the following are some cashback options:
- Alliant – 3% back first year. 2.5% after that. On everything (but not Simon or gift card websites).
- Amex SimplyCash Plus – 3% in chosen category. 5% at office stores.
- Capital One Savor – 4% dining and entertainment. 2% grocery. $500 bonus.
- Freedom Unlimited – Unlimited 1.5% from Chase.
- PNC Cash Rewards – 4% on gas and 3% at restaurants. Limited states.
- Chase AARP – 3% on gas and restaurants.
- Blue Cash Preferred – 6% on grocery, 3% at gas stations. Some have seen better offer on CardMatch.com.
- Blue Business Plus – 2x on up to $50,000 per year with no category restrictions.
- Discover IT – Double cashback for a year makes this card very attractive.
- USAA Limitless – 2.5% back on everything in some states.
(offer will show if you’re in one of those states) - Wells Fargo – 5% cashback select categories for 6 months.
- US Bank Cash+ – 5% cashback categories that you select.
- Fidelity – 2% cashback.
- Citi Double Cash – 2% cashback.
- BB&T Spectrum – 3% cashback for 90 days, plus bonuses. Limited states.
- B of A Americard Cash Rewards – 2% grocery and 3% gas.
- Capital One Quicksilver – 1.5% cashback.
- Capital One Spark Business – 2% cashback. Big bonus right now.
- Costco Anywhere – 4% gas, 3% restaurant and travel.
- Sam’s Club – 5% gas, 3% restaurant and travel.
Editorial Disclosure: The information on this page is the opinion of the author.
