Mile Nerd

Miles and points aren’t an equal currency. 50,000 Delta Skymiles are worth less to me than 50,000 miles from American Airlines. 25,000 Hyatt points are worth a ton more than 25,000 Hilton points. And so on. These links work right now (January 8th at midnight). If you read this later, many of the offers will have changed. Things move fast in this game 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 blabbering…here we go! My Top 25 current credit cards in order are…

• Various American Express Cards – first try for potentially better Amex offers here
  • Business Platinum
    • Spend $5,000 in 3 months. Get 75,000 points.
    • For Amex cards, try signing in first. Also try clicking the links in an incognito browser. Play with these a little bit and you’ll regularly see better offers.
    • Possible 100,000 points.
  • Business Gold Rewards
    • Spend $10,000 in 3 months. Get 75,000 points.
    • Possible smaller spend for the same 75,000 points.
  • Premier Rewards Gold
    • Spend $1,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 points.
    • Some people have seen 100,000 points.
    • The above links may be dead. As always, if you are aware of something better, please send me the link so everyone can benefit.
  • Platinum
    • Lots of people are seeing offers worth 100,000 points.

• Sapphire (Chase)
  • Spend $4,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 points.
  • Add an authorized user for 5,000 more.
  • Still very valuable points. See Ink Plus.
  • Up from the usual 40,000.
• British Airways (Chase)
  • Spend $2,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 points.
  • Spend $10,000 for 75,000 points.
  • Spend $20,000 total in the first year for a total of 100,000 points.
  • Big spending, but nice to have this back.
• Ink Plus (Chase)
  • Spend $5,000 in 3 months. Get 60,000 points.
  • The points transfer to United, Southwest, British, Hyatt, etc.
  • 5 times the points on purchases at office stores.
  • Ink Cash at the same link is also 5X at office stores.
  • Worth seeing if you can still get a 70,000-point offer in your local branch.

• Starwood Preferred Guest aka SPG (American Express)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Back down to 25,000 points.
  • Some of you are seeing a 30,000-point offer as applying for a new SPG account.
  • Great currency to have. See Cash + Points for hotel stays.
  • I’m also a big fan of some of their 3,000-point properties.
  • The Business version of the card is here.
• Barclay Arrival (Barclays)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 40,000 miles.
  • Some of the most flexible, easy-to-use miles around.
• American Airlines cards (Citibank)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 miles.
  • Targeted offers worth 60,000 miles have been around lately.
  • Executive card links are here.
• United Airlines (Chase)
  • Log in and see if you are targeted for the 50,000-mile offer.
  • This offer is also being found in-branch and in airports.
  • No luck? You can also try this link.
  • If still not working, try this way. If not, maybe this method.
  • Here’s a 50,000-mile Business link.
• Southwest (Chase)
  • Spend $2,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 points.
  • The Premier Personal link is working above. Personal Plus is here.
  • Premier Business is here.
  • Great time to start planning for your companion pass.
  • Possible 60,000-point Business Premier if you call 1-888-883-2721.
  • Scroll down to “Not the card for you” for a 40,000-point Plus offer.
  • Personal with $100 credit is here.
• Hilton Honors Reserve (Citibank)
  • Spend $2,500 in 4 months. Get 2 weekend nights.
  • This is the best Hilton card.
  • Gold status while you have the card. Upgrades, breakfast, internet, etc.
• Prestige (Citibank)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 points.
  • Nice benefits including $250 annual airline credit help with big $450 annual fee.
  • People are getting a lower $350 annual fee applying in local branches.
  • A tool on Citibank’s site shows cards you are prequalified for. You can also get a 50,000-point offer there.
  • See if you’re targeted for a 100,000-point offer.
• Ritz Carlton (Chase)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 2 free nights.
  • Big $395 annual fee. But a travel credit of $300 makes that much less of a pain.
• Mercedes Benz Platinum (American Express)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 Amex Membership Rewards points.
  • Big $475 fee but benefits like global entry credit and $200 credit.
  • A no-fee for the first year Platinum card is here.
  • Look for MUCH better targeted Amex offers in your mailbox or here.
• Hyatt (Chase)
  • Spend $1,000 in 3 months. Get 2 nights, $50, and 5,000 points for adding a user.
  • “Offer only available to you if you have stayed at a Hyatt property since May 1, 2015.”
  • No 50 bucks but no stay requirement either here.
• InterContinental Hotel aka IHG aka Priority Club (Chase)
  • Spend $1,000. Get a possible 80,000 points.
  • Another method to get that bonus is here.
  • And another possible way here.
  • Even at 60,000 points, this is probably the most underrated hotel card.
• Club Carlson Premier (US Bank)
  • Spend $2,500 in 90 days. Get 85,000 points.
  • Great hotel card and not from the usual issuers.
• Fairmont Hotel (Chase)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 2 nights and breakfast at any Fairmont.
  • Many of these hotels are very expensive (see: Maui).
• Delta (American Express)
  • Spend $1,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 miles.
  • If it shows up as 30,000, try clicking the link in an incognito browser.
  • Better Personal and Business links with $50 credit still currently working .
• Marriott (Chase)
  • Spend $2,000 in 3 months and add a user. Get 55,000 points and $200.
  • Or 70,000 points without the $200.
  • Or 87,500 with an annual fee.
  • The regular 70,000-point Business link still works.
  • An unimpressive offer here for 40,000 points and $100.
• Hilton Honors (Citibank)
  • Spend $1,000 in 4 months. Get 40,000 points.
  • Down from a 75,000-point offer.
  • Better 60,000-point offer is good until it dies.
  • Same for a 50,000-point offer.
• FlexPerks (US Bank)
  • Spend $3,500. Get 20,000 points.
  • Many different card options for FlexPerks.
  • Very useful points for paid flights.
• Thank You Premier (Citibank)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 points.
  • Bonuses on this card go up/down often.
  • Another version is here.
• Wyndham (Barclays)
  • Spend $1,000 in 90 days. Get 45,000 points.
  • Offer has fluctuated between 30,000 and 45,000 for a LONG time.
  • Book any Wyndham hotel for 15,000 points a night.
• Alaska Airlines (Bank of America)
  • Spend $1. Get 25,000 miles.
  • Better offer with $100 credit here.
  • When links die, use one of these methods:
    • Call 1.800.932.2775 and give priority code VACFQ7.
    • Shop for a flight and see the offer on the payment page.
  • Bank of America cards can be MUCH more “churnable” than most.
  • Here’s a great trick to get the most out of this.
• Propel (Wells Fargo)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 40,000 points.
  • It’s always good to see cards from different banks.
  • A note on this one from reader Adam.
  • Here’s a few Business cards from Wells Fargo.

• Lufthansa (Barclays)
  • Spend $1,000 in 90 days. Get 35,000 miles.
  • I like it better at 50,000.
• Spark (Capital One)
  • Spend $4,500 in 3 months. Get 50,000 miles.
  • Redeem the miles for $500 in travel purchases.
• Venture (Capital One)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 40,000 miles.
  • Has been up from 20,000 miles for a while.
• Hilton Honors (American Express)
  • Spend $750 in 3 months. Get 40,000 points.
  • Better offer for 60,000 points here.
  • Go to Hilton.com, begin making a reservation, and you can also see a 50,000-point offer on the payment page. Thanks jakobv84 for saying this is gone for now.
• Hilton Honors Surpass (American Express)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 60,000 points.
  • Currently, a working 80-000 point link is here.
  • Get the previous card, and you’ll get tons of offers to upgrade to this one.
• Gold Charge Card and/or Green Charge Card (American Express)
  • Spend $1,000 in 3 months. Get 25,000 points.
  • Not the greatest, but nice to have different Amex options.
• Hawaiian Airlines (Barclays)
  • Spend $1,000 in 3 months. Get 35,000 miles.
  • Better 50,000 until it dies if you log in and click View My Account. Or try clicking here.
  • Business version is here.
• Lifemiles (US Bank)
  • Spend $2,500 in 90 days. Get 35,000 miles.
  • Offer supposedly ends (again) at the end of 2015.
• Diners Club Elite (BMO Harris Bank)
  • 3x points at gas station, grocery stores, and pharmacies.
  • Killer way to pick up Starwood points.
  • Big annual fee.
  • Application links have been down lately.
• Aeroplan (TD Bank)
  • Spend $1,000 in 3 billing statements. Get 25,000 miles.
  • Unspectacular, but low spend and not the usual issuer.
• Virgin America (Comenity)
  • 2 different card offers I discussed here.
  • Issued by Comenity Bank, which is the best thing about these cards.
  • Oh, and flights to glorious Hawaii now!
• Freedom (Chase)
  • Worth having in your collection for the 5% quarterly bonuses.
  • Extra 2,500 points for adding an authorized user.
  • No reason to close this one.
  • Maybe a better bonus here?
  • Currently with a $150 bonus.
• Korean (US Bank)
  • Make 25 purchases. Get 25,000 miles.
  • Back up from 15,000.
• Bank Americard Travel Rewards (Bank of America)
  • Spend $1,000 in 90 days. Get 20,000 points.
  • This is double the normal offer. Worth $200.
• LAN (US Bank)
  • 20,000 miles after first use. Was 25,000 before March 1.
  • Down from a 40,000-mile offer.
  • Also a bonus 10,000 miles for making 45 transactions in 90 days. Ends 12/31.
• Frontier Airlines (Barclays)
  • Spend $500 in 3 months. Get 40,000 miles.
  • Moved way down. These miles suck. Expire after 6 months of no activity.
  • Interesting use for the miles here.
• Amtrak (Bank of America)
  • Two versions – 20,000 and 12,000 points.
  • Big limitations on the point transfers that made this card great.
• Expedia (Citibank)
  • Spend $2,000 in 3 months. Get 20,000 points.
  • Also a 10,000-point version with no annual fee.
• Virgin Atlantic (Bank of America)
  • Skip this 25,000-mile offer and wait for 50,000 to return.
  • Again, Bank of America is more churnable than most.
  • Big 90,000 miles offer for huge spenders comes and goes here, here or here.
• Blue For Business (Amex)
  • Spend $5,000 in 6 months. Get 20,000 points.
  • Higher offer is through January 25th.
• Everyday (Amex)
  • 30,000 and 25,000-point offers look to be dead so it moves down the list for now.
  • Always try an incognito browser to open the link with Amex.
  • No annual fee. Preferred has a 15,000-point bonus with a $95 fee.
• Sun Country (First National Bank of Omaha)
  • Spend $500 in 3 billing cycles. Get 40,000 points.
  • Not the most popular airline in the world. Sorry Omaha.
• Best Western (First Bank of Omaha)
  • 4 different card options. Up to 70,000 points on one.
  • Better than the old Barclays Best Western card.
• NFL (Barclays)
  • Spend $500 in 90 days. Get $100 credit.
  • Offer has been higher in the past.
• Choice Hotel (Barclays)
  • I keep this as the last card mostly out of tradition.
  • If you’ve been reading this far, I salute you!

Recently Dropped:

• Navy Federal Card (Military Only) – Nobody cared about this one. Oh well.
• JetBlue – Application links aren’t around until 2016. Moving from Amex to Barclays.
• Asiana (B of A) – Down from 25,000.

Beyond this mile/point list, the following are some great cashback cards:

• Discover IT – Double cashback for a year makes this very, very attractive.
• Amex SimplyCash – 3% cashback in chosen category. 5% at office stores.
• JCB Marukai – 3% cashback after $3,000 spending/year. Limited states.
• TD Easy Rewards – 5% cashback select categories for 6 months.
• Wells Fargo – 5% cashback select categories for 6 months.
• 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.
• NBA – 5x twice a year.
• AARP – Thanks Dale. $200 bonus and 3% categories.