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 (September 10th at midnight). If you read this later, many of the offers will have changed. Things move fast in this game so read the offer details and terms before applying. Especially the small print when trying to get bonuses more than once on the same card. Ok, here we go! My Top 25 current credit cards in order are…

• Various American Express Cards (first try for much better Amex offers here)
  • Business Platinum
    • Spend $5,000 in 3 months. Get 75,000 points.
    • Sign in to see offer.
    • The above links may be dead. As always, if you are aware of something better, please send me the link so everyone can benefit.
    • Possible 100,000 points.
  • Business Gold Rewards
    • Spend $5,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 points.
    • This offer comes and goes all the time. Back for now.
    • Possible 75,000 points.
  • Premier Rewards Gold
    • Spend $1,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 points.
    • If you see a lesser offer, try in an Incognito browser a few times.
    • Some people are seeing 100,000 points.

• Ink Plus (Chase)
  • Spend $5,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 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 up to 30,000 points through 9/14.
  • Incredible card. 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.
• Sapphire (Chase)
  • Spend $4,000 in 3 months. Get 40,000 points.
  • Still very valuable points. See Ink cards above.
• Barclay Arrival (Barclays)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 40,000 miles.
  • One of the best cards for actual spending, as discussed here.
• American Airlines cards (Citibank)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 miles.
  • The Executive card is back up to 75,000 miles.
• United Airlines (Chase)
  • Log in and see if you are targeted for the 50,000-mile offer.
  • This offer is also being pushed heavily in airports.
  • No luck? You can also try this link.
  • If still not working, try this method.
  • Here’s a 50,000-mile Business link.
• Southwest (Chase)
  • Spend $2,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 points.
  • The Premier link is working above. Premier Business is here.
  • The Plus card is working again too.
  • Very late in the year if you’re shooting for a companion pass.
  • 60,000-point Business Premier if you call 1-888-883-2721.
  • Personal with $100 credit is here.
• Hilton Honors Reserve (Citibank)
  • Spend $2,500 in 4 months. Get 2 weekend nights.
  • Best Hilton card.
  • Gold status while you have the card. Upgrades, breakfast, internet, etc.
  • Temporary offer with $100 credit 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.
  • Booking any hotel for 15,000 a night moves it up the list.
• 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.
• Prestige (Citibank)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 points.
  • Nice benefits including $250 credit, but huge $450 annual fee.
  • 60,000-point offer possible if you go into your local branch. That would move this higher on the list.
  • 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.
• 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.
• British Airways (Chase)
  • Spend $2,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 points.
  • If I were guessing, I’d say the 100,000-point offer will be back.
• Hyatt (Chase)
  • Spend $1,000 in 3 months. Get 2 nights, $50, and maybe points.
  • Even more valuable after the point devaluation.
• 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.
  • Absolutely one of the most underrated hotel cards.
• Club Carlson Premier (US Bank)
  • Spend $2,500 in 90 days. Get 85,000 points.
  • Great hotel card and not from the usual issuers.
• Marriott (Chase)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 80,000 points.
  • Those Personal and Business “supposedly” ended.
  • When those die, here are the regular links.
  • Another offer here for 40,000 points and $100.
  • Targeted 80,000-point offers around if you want to call/message Chase.
• Fairmont Hotel (Chase)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 2 nights and breakfast at any Fairmont.
  • Many of these hotels are very expensive.
• Hilton Honors (Citibank)
  • Increased to 75,000 points right now.
  • 60,000 points if that dies.
  • Also a 50,000-point offer.
• Delta (American Express)
  • Spend $1,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 miles.
  • If it shows up as 30,000, click the link in an incognito browser.
• FlexPerks (US Bank)
  • Spend $3,500. Get 20,000 points.
  • Many different card options for FlexPerks.
  • Very useful points for paid tickets.
• 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.
• Alaska Airlines (Bank of America)
  • Spend $1. Get 25,000 miles.
  • 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.
• 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.
  • Up from 20,000 miles.
• JetBlue (American Express)
  • Spend $1,000 in 3 months. Get 20,000 points.
  • Get the points before it switches to Barclays. Then get them again.
  • Thanks to reader Adam.
• 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 to jakobv84 for saying this is gone for now.
• Hilton Honors Surpass (American Express)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 60,000 points.
  • Get the previous card, and you’ll get tons of offers to upgrade to this one.
• Hawaiian Airlines (Barclays)
  • Spend $1,000 in 3 months. Get 35,000 miles.
  • Business version is here.
• 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.
  • The application links have been down lately.
• Aeroplan (TD Bank)
  • Spend $1,000 in 3 billing statements. Get 25,000 miles.
  • Not spectacular, 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 Hawaii now!
• Freedom (Chase)
  • Worth having in your collection for the 5% quarterly bonuses.
  • No reason to close this one.
  • Maybe a bonus here?
• Everyday (Amex)
  • Spend $2,000 in 3 months. Get 25,000 Membership Rewards points.
  • Up from the normal 10,000.
  • No annual fee. Preferred has a 15,000-point bonus with a $95 fee.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
  • Global Entry credit might still be working if you’re looking to save the TSA PreCheck fee.
  • Big 90,000 miles available here but a huge amount of spending needed.
• 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.
• Best Western (First Bank of Omaha)
  • 4 different card options. Up to 70,000 points one 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.
• Korean (US Bank)
  • Spend $1. Get 15,000 miles.
  • Back down from 30,000. I’d wait.
• Navy Federal (Military Only)
  • Back down to 10,000 from 30,000.
  • Offer fluctuates and is available only with armed services affiliation.
• Choice Hotel (Barclays)
  • Get the card and stay a night. Earn 4 free stays.
  • I keep this as the last card mostly out of tradition.

Recently Dropped:

• Lufthansa (Barclays) – I’d wait until it goes back to 50,000 miles.
• Asiana (B of A) – Down from 25,000.
• LifeMiles (US Bank) – Dropped from 40,000 to 20,000 miles.

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. $50 bonus available for now.
• 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.
• Barclays Sallie Mae – 5% gas, grocery, and books. On first $750 per month. Including Amazon!
• NBA – 5x twice a year.