My Favorite Current Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses

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Update:   One or more card offers in this post are no longer available.  Check our Hot Deals for the latest offers. 

Many folks are interested in the new Chase Ink Bold and Chase Ink Plus Visa cards because of the 60,000 point sign-up bonus which ends on June 1, 2014.

So I’ve put together a list of my favorite credit card sign-up bonuses to help you decide which cards to apply for along with a Chase Ink card.

My Favorite Current Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses
If You Are Applying for the a New Chase Ink Card, Which Other Cards Should You Apply For?

What You Should Know Before Applying for Credit Cards

I like to apply for several cards at a time.  That’s because credit inquiries temporarily reduce your credit score by 3 to 8 points per application.

Getting multiple sign-up bonuses is also the best way to rack up a lot of miles and point for Big Travel with Small Money!  But applying for multiple credit cards is NOT for everyone.  If you are new to this, read the 5 Dangers of Credit Cards.

Before you apply for a credit card make sure you can meet the spending requirement to get the bonus.  See my post on 40+ Ways to Meet Minimum Spending for tips.

My List of the Best Current Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses

This doesn’t list all the possible cards, which are listed in the Hot Deals tab.  But just my top picks from each bank.

1.   Chase

A.   Chase Ink Bold & Chase Ink Plus

Link:  Chase Ink Bold

Link:  Chase Ink Plus

When you sign-up for the Chase Ink Bold or the Chase Ink Plus card you can get 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points when you spend $5,000 within 3 months.  The $95 annual fee is waived the 1st year.

The Chase Ink Bold is a charge card.  This means you have no set credit limit, but you have to pay your bill in full each month.

The Chase Ink Plus is a regular credit card.  So you have a credit limit and you can carry a balance on your card.  But it is best to pay your bill in full each month to avoid paying interest!

Why I Like These Cards
  • 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points sign-up bonus
  • 5X points at office supply stores and for paying my cable, internet, and phone bills
  • Flexibility because I can transfer points to airline and hotel partners
My Favorite Current Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses
You Can Earn a LOT of Points By Spending in 5X Bonus Categories!

You can read my full reviews of the Chase Ink Bold and Chase Ink Plus to learn more about these cards.  And here’s a post on how to fill out a Chase business card application.

B.   Chase Ink Cash

Link:  Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card

The Chase Ink Cash card gives 30,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points when you spend $3,000 within 3 months.

Why I Like This Card
  • NO annual fee
  • 5X points on telecommunications and at office supply stores

C.   Chase Sapphire Preferred

Link:  Chase Sapphire Preferred

When you sign-up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and spend $4,000 within 3 months you get 40,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points.  The $95 annual fee is waived the 1st year.

Why I Like This Card
  • 2X points on travel and dining
  • NO foreign transaction fees

D.   Chase Southwest Cards

Link:   Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

Link:   Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card

Link:   Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Link:   Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Business Credit Card

Chase has 4 Southwest credit cards.  These are the Southwest Premier personal, the Southwest Premier business, the Southwest Plus personal, and the Southwest Plus business cards.  Each Southwest Card will give you 50,000 Southwest Points when you spend $2,000 within 3 months.

My Favorite Current Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses
1 Personal and 1 Business Southwest Card Will Get You ~91% of the 110,000 Points You Need for the Southwest Companion Pass!
Why I Like These Cards
  • 2 cards get you most of the way to the Southwest Companion Pass, which means a friend or family member flies with you nearly free for up to 2 years!
  • 50,000 point sign-up bonus is worth ~$710 in travel or $500 in gift cards.

2.   Barclaycard

A.  Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard®

Link:   Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard®

You can get 40,000 Arrival Plus miles when you apply for the Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard® and spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months.  The $89 annual fee is waived for the 1st year.

Why I Like This Card
  • 40,000 miles sign-up bonus worth ~$420 in travel
  • 2.1 Arrival Plus miles per dollar spent when you redeem for travel
  • Flexibility to redeem without worrying about blackout dates or finding open seats

B.   Barclays US Airways

Link:  Barclays US Airways

You get 40,000 US Airways miles after your 1st purchase with the Barclays US Airways card.  The $89 annual fee is NOT waived.

Why I Like This Card
  • 40,000 US Airways miles
  • Free checked bag
  • Priority boarding

C.   Barclaycard Miles & More World Elite MasterCard

Link:  Barclaycard Miles & More World Elite MasterCard

The sign-up bonus on the Barclaycard Miles & More World Elite MasterCard was just increased to 50,000 miles when you spend $5,000 within 3 months.  This card has an annual fee of $79, which is NOT waived.

My Favorite Current Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses
Get 50,000 Miles With the Barclays Lufthansa Card
Why I Like This Card
  • 50,000 miles (more the double the usual offer)
  • No foreign transaction fees

3.   American Express

A.   AMEX Starwood Preferred Guest

Link:  Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express

You get 25,000 Starwood points when you spend $3,000 within the 1st 3 months on the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express.

My Favorite Current Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses
You Can Transfer Your Starwood Points to Airline Miles
Why I Like This Card
  • Get a 5,000 point bonus when you transfer 20,000 points.  Which means you are earning ~1.2 points per dollar spent
  • Lots of airline and hotel transfer partners
  • Terms & Conditions apply

B.   AMEX EveryDay Preferred

Link:  AMEX EveryDay Preferred

With the AMEX Everyday Preferred card you can earn 15,000 AMEX Membership Rewards points when you spend $1,000 within 3 months.  The $95 annual fee is NOT waived.

Why I Like This Card
  • If you make 30 purchases on the card each billing cycle you get 4.5X AMEX Membership Rewards points on groceries on up to $6,000 per year
  • Up to 3X points a gas stations
  • Up to 1.5X points on everyday spending
  • Terms & Conditions apply

C.   AMEX Platinum

Link:  AMEX Platinum

You can get 40,000 American Express Membership Rewards points when you spend $3,000 within 3 months on the AMEX Platinum card.  The $450 annual fee is NOT waived with this card.  But you get a $200 statement credit each year for airline incidentals (which I’ve been able to use to get airline gift cards)

So for you’re effectively paying only $250 ($450 annual fee – $200 statement credit).

Why I Like This Card
  • Airport lounge access (Delta, Priority Pass, Airspace, and American Express Centurion Lounges)
  • $100 statement credit for Global Entry
  • Flexibility with AMEX airline & hotel transfer partners
  • Terms & Conditions apply

4.   Citibank

A.   American Airlines Executive

Link:  Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®

With the Citi American Airlines Executive card you get 100,000 American Airlines miles and a $200 statement credit when you spend $10,000 within 3 months.

The $450 annual is NOT waived, but the $200 statement credit means this is essentially a $250 annual fee.  For $250 you get 100,000 American Airlines miles and access to American Airlines and US Airways lounges (~$500 value), which is a fantastic deal!

I was approved for this card in January.  And I’m surprised this sign-up bonus is still around.

Why I Like This Card
  • 100,000 American Airlines Miles
  • $200 Statement Credit
  • American Airlines & US Airways Lounge Access

B.   Platinum Select American Airlines

Link:  Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard®

You’ll get 50,000 American Airline miles when you spend $3,000 within 3 month on the Citi Platinum Select American Airlines card.  The $95 annual fee is waived the 1st year.

Why I Like This Card
  • 50,000 American Airlines miles
  • Preferred boarding
  • Free checked bag

C.   Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve

Link:  Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve

When you sign-up for the Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve card you will get 2 free weekend nights after spending $2,500 within 4 months and a $100 statement credit after you spend $100 or more on your 1st Hilton hotel stay within 3 months.

My Favorite Current Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses
You Can Use Your 2 Free Nights to Stay at the Hilton Koh Samui
Why I Like This Card
  • 2 free weekend nights (Friday to Sunday) at most Hilton hotels
  • Free Hilton Gold Status (free breakfast & internet)

5.   Wells Fargo

A.   Wells Fargo Propel World American Express

Link:  Wells Fargo Propel World AMEX

With the Wells Fargo Propel World card you get 40,000 points when you spend $3,000 within 3 months.  The $175 annual fee is waived for the 1st year.

Why I Like This Card
  • It’s a brand new card, which is great for folks who already have lots of cards from other banks like Chase, Citi, Barclays, etc.
  • ~$500+ in travel!
  • $100 statement credit for airline incidentals
  • NO foreign transaction fees
  • Terms & Conditions apply

The information related to the Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card has been collected by MillionMileSecrets.com and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.

Bottom Line

The Chase Ink Bold and Chase Ink Plus cards are 2 of my favorite cards.  That’s because you can get 5X points on telecommunications and at office supply stores.

But these cards just got even better because they are now issued as Visa cards.

So if you’re 1 of the many folks applying for the Chase Ink card, consider applying for these other cards with great sign-up bonuses at the same time.

But as always, only do what’s comfortable for you!

Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)

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