If you want to fly business class or stay in nice hotels without paying full price, a chunky credit card welcome bonus is still the fastest shortcut. Right now, 23 cards on the market are offering at least 100,000 points or miles — and a few go well beyond that.
The current leaders are business cards. The Capital One Venture X Business can earn up to 300,000 bonus miles plus a $1,000 travel credit, though you'll need to hit steep spending targets: 150,000 miles after $40,000 in four months, and the rest after $120,000 total. TPG values the full package at up to $6,550. The American Express Business Platinum offers as high as 300,000 points after $20,000 in three months (worth up to $6,000), and the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business pays 200,000 points after $30,000 in six months, valued at $4,100.
For everyday travellers, the personal card pickings are still strong. The Amex Platinum can reach 175,000 points after $12,000 spend in six months (up to $3,500 in value), while the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers 100,000 points after $6,000 in three months — worth about $2,050. Airline and hotel cards sit lower in headline numbers but often have friendlier spending requirements: a card with a $0 annual fee offers 125,000 points after just $2,000 in three months, and some hotel cards throw in free night awards on top of the points.
A few practical notes before you get excited. Many offers now use 'find out your offer' tools, so the bonus you see may differ from advertised maximums. Spending requirements range from $2,000 to $120,000, so match the card to what you can realistically put through it in the timeframe. And factor in annual fees, which run from $0 to $895 on this list — the premium cards justify their costs through lounge access, statement credits and hotel elite status, but only if you'll actually use those perks.
Timed well, a single welcome bonus can cover a long-haul flight in premium cabins or a week of hotel stays. If you have a big trip on the horizon and a few months of regular spending ahead, this is about as good as the credit card market currently gets.
