If I were planning to apply for cards soon, the ones I think are most worth prioritizing are AMEX Gold, Platinum, Marriott Brilliant, Citi AA Platinum, and Alaska Summit; if you've already gotten those cards, then look next at CSP, Delta, and Ascent. Details below
- For in-house cards, AMEX Gold at 100,000 and Platinum at 175,000 are both excellent, though unfortunately both are high-reward offers with a random-element component. If you have a lot of rent or mortgage payments, Bilt's new premium card is also a good option.
- For airline cards: AA 80,000 is very good, and the bonuses from AS, UA, and Delta are all strong. It's fair to say they are firing on all cylinders!
- For hotel cards: Marriott Brilliant has a limited-time bonus and is worth jumping on; Hyatt is just so-so, and the rest can wait.
- If you are not sure which stage you're in or which card you should apply for, you can check our latest guide: 2026 U.S. Credit Card Application Roadmap: From Your First Card to Advanced Player
Sign-up bonuses I recommend focusing on this month
| Rank | Card | Bonus | First-year value | Credit value | Total value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AMEX Platinum
|
Up to 175k MR (random-element offer) | $1,730 | $1,700 | $3,430 |
| 2 | AMEX Gold
|
Up to 100k MR (random-element offer) | $1,175 | $424 | $1,599 |
| 3 | Citi AAdvantage Platinum
|
80k AA (expires Aug 23) | $1,200 | $0 | $1,200 |
| 4 | Alaska Atmos Rewards Summit
|
100k Alaska + 25K companion ticket (may expire at any time) | $1,105 | $0 | $1,105 |
| 5 | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
|
150k Marriott + $250 (expires Sep 30) | $800 | $300 | $1,100 |
| 6 | Chase Sapphire Preferred
|
75K UR | $1,030 | $100 | $1,130 |
This article mainly lists strong sign-up bonuses for personal cards; for business-card rankings, see: Business Card Recommendations
Contents [Hide]
- 1 This month's all-time-high sign-up bonuses
- 2 This month's limited-time sign-up bonuses
- 2.1 Citi AA Platinum (80,000)
- 2.2 BofA Atmos Rewards Summit (100,000+25,000 companion ticket)
- 2.3 AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant (150,000+$250)
- 2.4 Chase Sapphire Preferred (75,000)
- 2.5 Bilt Palladium (50,000+$300)
- 2.6 Chase Marriott Bonvoy (4 free night awards+$100)
- 2.7 AMEX Delta co-branded cards (80,000-125,000)
- 2.8 Capital One Venture X (75,000)
- 2.9 AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Bevy (135,000)
- 2.10 Citi Strata Elite (75,000)
- 2.11 BofA Atmos Rewards Ascent (85,000+companion ticket)
- 2.12 Chase United Airline (60,000+no annual fee in the first year)
- 2.13 Chase United Quest (70,000+500 PQP)
- 2.14 Chase Hyatt (75,000)
- 3 This Month's Standard Welcome Bonuses
- 3.1 Chase Sapphire Reserve (100,000)
- 3.2 Co-branded Platinum (80,000)
- 3.3 Capital One Venture Rewards (75,000)
- 3.4 Three AMEX Hilton cards (80,000-150,000)
- 3.5 Chase IHG Premier (140,000)
- 3.6 Bank of America Premium Rewards ($600)
- 3.7 Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite (75,000)
- 3.8 Citi Strata Premier (60,000)
- 3.9 Wells Fargo Autograph Journey (60,000-70,000)
- 3.10 Citi AA Executive (70,000)
- 3.11 Chase Aeroplan (60,000)
- 3.12 Citi AA Globe (60,000)
- 4 About Welcome Bonuses
- 5 Big Roundup of Account Bonuses
This month's all-time-high sign-up bonuses
- All-time high: the best sign-up bonus ever offered in history, or a particularly strong offer that has been excellent for a long time
- The recommendation is that if you can see this offer, apply for it first for sure! Getting it means you absolutely won't lose out!
AMEX Platinum (150,000-175,000)
- You can get up to 175,000, but you have to go all the way to the final step of the application to find out what sign-up bonus you get
- The best approach: spend enough to earn the bonus. Keep it for one year, and when the second calendar year begins, remember to use up the airline credits. In the second year, you can either downgrade or close the card. If you want to keep it, it's a good idea to ask for a Retention Offer
- Airline incidental credits, FHR, Lululemon, Uber, and Resy are all usable credits, bringing the total first-year value to $1,700 (if you want to be aggressive, you can count another round after the calendar turns)
Up to $2,600 in annual statement credits; plus a wide range of premium perks!
- Welcome bonus: Up to 175,000 Membership Rewards (spend $12,000 in 6 months)
- Rewards: 5x on airfare and select hotel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Redemption: Transfer 1:1 to many airline miles and hotel points programs
- Annual fee: $895（Changes for existing cardholders in 2026）
- Apply now>>
AMEX Gold (up to 100,000)
- You can get up to 100,000, but you have to go all the way to the final step of the application to find out what sign-up bonus you get
- The sign-up bonus is already extremely high, and the dining and grocery earn rates are also excellent.
- The monthly $10 dining credit and $10 Uber Eats credit can nearly offset the annual fee if you use both in full
High rewards on groceries and dining, plus $300+ in annual statement credits
- Welcome bonus: Up to 100,000 Membership Rewards (spend $4,000 in 6 months)
- Rewards: Dining, supermarkets 4x; airfare, amextravel.com 3x; all other purchases 1x
- Redemption: Can be redeemed for gift cards, cash, and travel; best value comes from airline mile transfers
- Annual fee: $325
- Apply now>>
This month's limited-time sign-up bonuses
- Limited-time: strong offers that are newly launched this month or likely to expire soon,
- The recommendation is very much to apply. You could say that if you have even a slight need, you definitely won't regret applying!
Citi AA Platinum (80,000)
- A classic airline card with a strong first-year bonus and no annual fee, so you can hold it for a year with no stress
- In the second year, you can downgrade to a no-annual-fee AA card or close it
Citi AA Platinum American Airlines Credit Card
No annual fee for the first year!
- Welcome bonus: 80,000 AA miles (spend $3,500 in the first 4 months)
- Rewards: 2X on AA website ticket purchases; 2x at restaurants and gas stations; 1x on all other purchases
- Redemption: Best value when redeeming for flights between China and the U.S. or between the U.S. and Europe; business-class redemptions can also offer solid value.
- Annual fee: $99（No annual fee for the first year）
- Apply now>>
BofA Atmos Rewards Summit (100,000+25,000 companion ticket)
- An extremely high sign-up bonus, plus a 25,000-point companion discount certificate and airfare discount certificate
BofA Atmos Rewards Summit Credit Card
Annual 25k-mile discount certificate; extensive airline benefits
- Welcome bonus: 100,000 miles + 25,000 global companion ticket (spend $6,500 within 90 days)
- Rewards: 3x on purchases outside the U.S. and dining; 1x on all other purchases
- Redemption: Redeem for Alaska or partner award tickets
- Annual fee: $395
- Apply now>>
AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant (150,000+$250)
- The annual 85,000-point free night award is very good and can be worth $300-$1,000
- The $300 dining credit can also offset part of the annual fee
AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Credit Card
Complimentary Marriott Platinum Elite status; annual 85k free night certificate and up to $300 in dining statement credits each year
- Welcome bonus: 150,000 Marriott points + $250 (six months spending $6,000)
- Rewards: 6x at SPG/Marriott/Ritz-Carlton hotels, 3x on airfare and dining, 2x on everything else
- Redemption: Redeemable at SPG/Marriott/Ritz-Carlton properties, or transfer to airline miles at up to a 3:1.25 ratio
- Annual fee: $650
- Apply now>>
Chase Sapphire Preferred (75,000)
- A classic mid-tier credit card; once you have it, UR can be transferred to airlines and hotels
- 7 tips to help you get the Chase Sapphire Preferred sign-up bonus!
Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card
Chase mid-tier travel credit card; includes a $50 annual hotel credit and free rental car insurance!
- Welcome bonus: 75,000 points (spend $5,000 in three months)
- Rewards: 5x on select travel; 3x on dining and streaming; 2x on other travel; 1x on all other purchases; 10% annual bonus
- Redemption: Can be redeemed for cash back; 1:1 transfers to airline and hotel loyalty programs; redeem at 1:1.25 toward travel purchases; value 1.6 cent/points
- Annual fee: $95
- Apply now>>
Bilt Palladium (50,000+$300)
- Those with a lot of rent or mortgage payments may want to consider applying
- The points are relatively valuable
Up to $400 in hotel credits each year, $200 in Bilt Cash, plus complimentary airport lounge access
- Welcome bonus: 50,000 Bilt points (spend $4,000 within three months) + $300 Bilt Cash (when you open the card)
- Rewards: 1x Bilt Points on rent and mortgage payments; 2x Bilt Points + 4% Bilt Cash on all other purchases
- Redemption: Points can be redeemed for miles with multiple airline partners and hotel points
- Annual fee: $495
- Apply now>>
Chase Marriott Bonvoy (4 free night awards+$100)
- It comes with annual free night awards, so it's still worth holding long term
- The $100 credit is split into two $50 halves; you need $250 in airline spend to earn it
Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Marriott Credit Card
Comes with 1 free night certificate every year; a standout card
- Welcome bonus: 4 Marriott free night awards at the 50,000-point tier (spend $3,000 in the first 3 months) + $100 airline credit
- Rewards: 6x at Marriott hotels; 3x on gas, groceries, and dining; 2x on all other purchases
- Redemption: Can be redeemed at Marriott/Ritz-Carlton properties, or transferred to airline miles at up to a 3:1.25 ratio
- Annual fee: $95
- Apply now>>
AMEX Delta co-branded cards (80,000-125,000)
Everyone can read our comparison article to choose the Delta card that fits them best
The cards are as follows
- No annual fee in the first year, plus an 80,000 sign-up bonus. I recommend this one for most people; it offers both upside and flexibility.
First two checked bags free; Delta flight perks, plus $100 hotel reimbursement each year
- Welcome bonus: Up to 80,000 miles (spend $2,000 in six months)
- Rewards: Delta purchases, supermarkets, restaurants 2x; everything else 1x
- Redemption: Redeem for Delta flights and SkyTeam partner award tickets; 15% off redemptions
- Annual fee: $150（Annual fee waived for the first year）
- Apply now>>
- If you want something even better and fly Delta fairly often, you can consider this Platinum. Note: if you have not gotten Gold yet, I recommend getting Gold first, because once you've gotten Platinum, you can no longer get the Gold bonus
First two checked bags free; $390 in annual reimbursement + a companion ticket, solid Delta perks
- Welcome bonus: 80,000 miles (spend $4,000 in 6 months) + 20,000 miles (spend another $2,000 in 6 months)
- Rewards: Delta purchases, hotel purchases 3x, restaurants and supermarkets 2x, everything else 1x
- Redemption: Can be redeemed for Delta flights and SkyTeam partner flight tickets; redemptions get 15% off
- Annual fee: $350（Some legacy cardholders: $250）
- Apply now>>
- If you want Delta elite status and access to Delta's own lounges, you can consider this card. Best suited for people who fly very frequently. Not suitable for most people to apply for
First two checked bags free; annual companion ticket + $610 reimbursement, with generous premium Delta perks
- Welcome bonus: 100,000 miles (spend $6,000 in six months) + 25,000 miles (spend another $3,000 in six months)
- Rewards: 3x on Delta purchases, 1x on everything else
- Redemption: Can be redeemed for Delta flights and SkyTeam partner airline tickets; redemptions get 15% off
- Annual fee: $650（Some legacy cardholders pay $550）
- Apply now>>
Capital One Venture X (75,000)
- Using the 500,000 method makes card approval very easy; click through for details
- This card gives you a $300 credit and 10,000 points every year, so the cost to hold it is basically zero. The earlier you get it, the better!
Capital One Venture X Credit Card
A premium card that can more than pay for itself each year
- Welcome bonus: 75,000 Capital One points (spend $4,000 in the first 6 months)
- Rewards: 2x on all purchases, plus 10x/5x through the Capital One Travel portal
- Redemption: 100 points = $1 toward travel purchases; 1:1 transfers to airline miles
- Annual fee: $395
- Apply now>>
AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Bevy (135,000)
- Just the sign-up bonus alone is worth about $1,400 in Marriott points
AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Credit Card
1,000 bonus points on every stay; complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status just for being a cardholder.
- Welcome bonus: 85,000 Marriott points (spend $5,000 in the first 6 months) + 50,000 (spend another $2,000 in the first 6 months)
- Rewards: 6x at Marriott hotels; 4x on dining and groceries; 2x on all other purchases
- Redemption: Redeem for Marriott hotel stays, or transfer to airline miles
- Annual fee: $250
- Apply now>>
Citi Strata Elite (75,000)
- The new Citi premium card; the various credits can offset the annual fee
- In the second year, you can consider downgrading to Premier or holding it long term
- Excellent value! 10 reasons to convince you to apply for the Citi Strata Elite credit card right away!
New premium card with a $300 annual hotel credit, $400 in statement credits, and complimentary airport lounge membership
- Welcome bonus: 75,000 Thank You Points (3-month spend $6,000)
- Rewards: 12x on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through Citi Travel; 6x on airfare; 6x at restaurants and on delivery on Friday and Saturday evenings; 3x on dining at other times; 1.5x on all other purchases
- Redemption: Points can be transferred 1:1 to airline and hotel partners, or redeemed for cash back
- Annual fee: $595（Discount available for Citi Gold and Private clients）
- Apply now>>
BofA Atmos Rewards Ascent (85,000+companion ticket)
- Click through for details to see multiple offers; choose the one you want
- The miles are relatively valuable, and you can also get a companion certificate
BofA Atmos Rewards Ascent Credit Card
One companion fare each year; free checked bags; one free museum day every month!
- Welcome bonus: 85,000 Alaska miles + 1 companion fare (spend $4,500 within 120 days)
- Rewards: 3x on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases; 2x on gas, EV charging, streaming, and public transit; 1x on all other purchases
- Redemption: Redeemable for award flights on the airline and its partner airlines
- Annual fee: $95
- Apply now>>
Chase United Airline (60,000+no annual fee in the first year)
- A classic airline miles card. No annual fee in the first year, so you can hold it with no stress
Chase United Explorer Credit Card
Annual Club Passes; free checked bags; plus plenty of statement credits!
- Welcome bonus: 50,000 UA miles (spend $3,000 in the first 3 months) + 10,000 (add a supplementary card within 3 months)
- Rewards: 5x on hotels booked through UA channels; 2x on airfare booked on the UA website, dining, and hotel purchases; 1x on all other purchases
- Redemption: Redeemable for domestic and international flights on UA and Star Alliance members, valued at 1.6 cents/point
- Annual fee: $150（Annual fee waived for the first year）
- Apply now>>
Chase United Quest (70,000+500 PQP)
- Once you factor in the credits, the value is pretty good; if you need help offsetting elite status requirements, you can consider this one
Chase United Quest Credit Card
Get $200 in annual flight credits, plus lots of reimbursements and perks~
- Welcome bonus: 60,000 UA miles + 500 PQP (spend $4,000 in 3 months) + 10,000 (add one authorized user within 3 months)
- Rewards: 3X on UA purchases; 2x on dining, streaming, and travel purchases (hotels, car rentals, airlines, cruises, etc.); 1x on all other purchases
- Redemption: Redeemable for domestic and international flights on UA and Star Alliance partners, with a value of 1.6 cent/point
- Annual fee: $350
- Apply now>>
Chase Hyatt (75,000)
- Spending requirement is a bit high
Chase World of Hyatt Credit Card
Free night award every year; 4x at Hyatt hotels!
- Welcome bonus: 45,000 Hyatt points (spend $5,000 within 3 months) + 2x bonus points (within 6 months, up to $15,000 in spending)
- Rewards: 4x at Hyatt hotels; 2x on airfare, car rentals, dining, transit, and fitness clubs; 1x on all other purchases
- Redemption: Redeem for stays at Hyatt hotels, valued at 1.6 cents/point
- Annual fee: $95
- Apply now>>
This Month's Standard Welcome Bonuses
- Standard bonus: this refers to a bonus that is typically offered on an ongoing basis for this card. When the bonus is increased, it gets moved into the limited-time and all-time-high categories. Keep in mind that this is being compared with the card's own history; compared with other cards not on the list, these bonuses are already very solid.
- If you can't apply for any of the cards above and you do have spending coming up soon, consider picking from this category.
Chase Sapphire Reserve (100,000)
- The refreshed version has major changes to the benefits and annual fee, and the welcome bonus is generous too!
- After subtracting the annual fee, the welcome bonus is worth about $500; the travel credit is easy to use, so add another $300
Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card
Premium perks included! Up to $2,300 in annual statement credits!
- Welcome bonus: 100,000 points (spend $6,000 in the first 3 months)
- Rewards: 8x on flights, hotels, car rentals, and activities booked through Chase Travel; 4x on flights and hotels booked directly; 1x on other purchases
- Redemption: Can be redeemed for cash back; can be transferred 1:1 to airline and hotel partners; up to 1:2 redemption for premium hotels and flights; value 1.6 cents/point
- Annual fee: $795
- Apply now>>
Co-branded Platinum (80,000)
- Best approach: spend enough to earn the welcome bonus in full. Hold it for a year, and at the start of the second calendar year, remember to use up the airline credit. In year two, you can downgrade or close the card; if you want to keep it, it is worth asking for a Retention Offer
Up to $2,600 in annual credits, plus a large set of premium perks!
- Welcome bonus: 80,000 Membership Rewards (spend $12,000 in six months)
- Rewards: 5x on flights and select hotel purchases; 1X on all other purchases
- Redemption: Points can be transferred to a Schwab brokerage account at 1:1.1 for cash redemption; also transferable at 1:1 to many airline miles and hotel points programs
- Annual fee: $895（Changes for existing cardholders in 2026）
- Apply now>>
AMEX Platinum (Morgan Stanley) Card
Up to $2,600 in annual credits; plus a long list of premium benefits!
- Welcome bonus: 80,000 Membership Rewards (spend $12,000 in 6 months)
- Rewards: 5x on airfare and select hotel purchases, 1X on all other purchases
- Redemption: Points can be transferred into a Morgan Stanley brokerage account and redeemed for cash at a value of 1 cent per point (100 points = $1); points can also be transferred 1:1 to many airline miles and hotel loyalty programs
- Annual fee: $895（Existing cardholders change in 2026）
- Apply now>>
Capital One Venture Rewards (75,000)
- Get pre-approved first, and you can see the welcome bonus. If you're not approved, your credit score won't be affected
Capital One Venture Credit Card
2x miles on all purchases!
- Welcome bonus: 75,000 Capital One points (spend $4,000 in three months)
- Rewards: 2x on all purchases
- Redemption: 100 miles = $1 toward travel purchases; 1:1 transfer to airline miles
- Annual fee: $95
- Apply now>>
Three AMEX Hilton cards (80,000-150,000)
AMEX Hilton Aspire Credit Card
Complimentary top-tier Hilton Diamond status! Up to $600 in annual airline and hotel credits, plus a free night reward every year!
- Welcome bonus: 150,000 Hilton points (spend $6,000 in six months)
- Rewards: 14x on Hilton hotel purchases, 7x on flights, dining, and car rentals, and 3x on all other purchases
- Redemption: Redeemable at Hilton properties worldwide
- Annual fee: $550
- Apply now>>
AMEX Hilton Surpass Credit Card
Complimentary Hilton Gold status + $200 hotel statement credits!
- Welcome bonus: 130,000 Hilton points ($3,000 spend in six months)
- Rewards: 12x at Hilton hotels, 6x at supermarkets, restaurants, and gas stations, 3x on all other purchases
- Redemption: Redeemable at Hilton properties worldwide
- Annual fee: $150
- Apply now>>
AMEX Hilton Honors Credit Card
No annual fee
- Welcome bonus: 80,000 Hilton points (spend $2,000 within six months)
- Rewards: 7x on Hilton hotel purchases, 5x at supermarkets, restaurants, and gas stations, 3x on all other purchases
- Redemption: Redeemable at Hilton properties worldwide
- Annual fee: $0
- Apply now>>
Chase IHG Premier (140,000)
- I personally prefer points because they don't expire
- This card is also good for long-term holding, and the free night certificate each year basically offsets the annual fee
Annual free night certificate + $50 flight credit!
- Welcome bonus: 140,000 IHG points (spend $3,000 in 3 months)
- Rewards: 10x on IHG purchases; 5x on travel, gas, and dining; 3x on all other purchases
- Redemption: Redeem at IHG hotels, worth 0.6 cpp
- Annual fee: $99
- Apply now>>
Bank of America Premium Rewards ($600)
- Just use the reimbursement to buy AA gift cards; it effectively makes the card's annual fee negative, so it can be held long term
- After subtracting the annual fee, the welcome bonus is worth about $500; the airline credit is easy to use, so add another $100
BofA Premium Rewards Credit Card
Up to $100 in annual airline incidental statement credits; 2x on dining and travel
- Welcome bonus: $600 cash back (spend $4,000 in three months)
- Rewards: 2% on travel and dining; 1.5% on all other purchases; BofA premium account holders can earn up to 1.75x points
- Redemption: 1:1 direct cashback redemption
- Annual fee: $95
- Apply now>>
Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite (75,000)
- The $300 airline incidental credit, plus $100 for things like ride-hailing, streaming, and food delivery, is pretty easy to use
BofA Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card
$450 in annual statement credits
- Welcome bonus: 75,000 points (spend $5,000 in three months)
- Rewards: 2x on travel and dining; 1.5x on all other purchases; BOA premium banking customers can earn up to 1.75x points
- Redemption: 1:1 cash back redemption; 20% discount on airfare redemptions
- Annual fee: $550
- Apply now>>
Citi Strata Premier (60,000)
- The refresh added perks like charging benefits and travel delay coverage, with no increase in price
- A newer one-card strategy, with 3x covering nearly every aspect of daily life and travel. It adds a $100 annual discount for hotel bookings through the travel center, and you can also redeem TYP points directly at 1:1.
- After subtracting the first year's annual fee, the welcome bonus is worth about $700. If you can make use of the hotel discount, add another $100
Citi Strata Premier Credit Card
One of the best all-around credit cards for both everyday spending and travel. Plus, get a $100 annual hotel benefit.
- Welcome bonus: 60,000 ThankYou Points (Spend $4,000 in three months)
- Rewards: 10x on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through Citi Travel; 3x at supermarkets, restaurants, gas stations, on airfare, hotels, and EV charging; 1x on all other purchases
- Redemption: Points can be transferred 1:1 to airline and hotel loyalty programs, or redeemed for cash back
- Annual fee: $95
- Apply now>>
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey (60,000-70,000)
- A new card launch with decent value; points can be transferred to airlines and hotels
- At 1.2¢ per point, the welcome bonus is worth about $750+
Great for travel spending, plus a $50 annual credit
- Welcome bonus: 60,000 points (spend $4,000 in three months)
- Rewards: Hotels 5x; airfare 4x; restaurants, takeout, and other travel 3x; all other purchases 1x
- Redemption: Cash back; can also be redeemed for airline miles or hotel points
- Annual fee: $95
- Apply now>>
Citi AA Executive (70,000)
- The welcome bonus is good, but the annual fee is very high and there isn't much to offset it
- Best for people who fly AA a lot
Citi AAdvantage Executive Credit Card
Complimentary Admirals Club access plus up to $480 in annual statement credits; a premium AA credit card
- Welcome bonus: 70,000 AA miles (spend $7,000 in three months)
- Rewards: 4x on AA purchases; after $150k in annual spending, earn 5x; 1x on all other purchases
- Redemption: Best value for redeeming flights between the U.S. and China or between the U.S. and Europe; business-class redemptions can offer solid value.
- Annual fee: $595
- Apply now>>
Chase Aeroplan (60,000)
- The miles are pretty valuable, and PYB can be used to cash out
Chase Aeroplan Air Canada Co-Branded Credit Card
3x on groceries, dining, and airfare!
- Welcome bonus: 60,000 miles (spend $3,000 in 3 months)
- Rewards: 3x on groceries, dining, and Air Canada website ticket purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Redemption: Points can be redeemed for domestic and international flights on Air Canada and other Star Alliance member airlines, with a value of 1.6 cent/point
- Annual fee: $95
- Apply now>>
Citi AA Globe (60,000)
- Apply purely for the welcome bonus; the reimbursement benefits aren't great
- In year two, you can downgrade to a no-annual-fee AA card or close it
$750 in various statement credits, extensive AA flight benefits, and an annual companion ticket
- Welcome bonus: 60,000 AA miles (spend $5,000 in three months)
- Rewards: AA Hotel 6x; purchases on the AA website 3x; dining and food delivery 2x; rideshare and public transit 2x; all other purchases 1x
- Redemption: Redeem for AA, Oneworld, and partner-airline award tickets, with an estimated value of about 1.5 cpp
- Annual fee: $350
- Apply now>>
About Welcome Bonuses
In the United States, many credit cards offer generous welcome bonuses. For example, 100,000 airline miles, 60,000 points, or 50,000 hotel points can each be worth more than $1,000. A welcome bonus can easily be worth far more than the rewards you would earn from holding a 5% cash-back card for several years. Beyond welcome bonuses, many cards also come with reimbursement perks, and if you can make use of them, the value can be impressive. Earning more than a thousand dollars from opening a card is not a fantasy, so this article rounds up the latest high-value welcome bonuses to give you a reference when applying.
We also added tags so you can quickly see which cards should be prioritized
*This ranking assumes you hold the card for one year; reimbursement value is factored in case by case.
**The current welcome bonus is based on the list's last update and is kept as current as possible. Some cards require a special method to open the offer and view the welcome bonus. You can follow the instructions in the card review to open it.
***All point values are based on: Points Value Estimates, and comparisons are made on a cash-equivalent basis.
****This ranking ignores the opportunity cost created by the minimum spending requirement
*****The formula is: Profit $XXX = welcome bonus * point value + reimbursement amount * discounted value - annual fee
Big Roundup of Account Bonuses
The accounts below all have solid sign-up bonuses. Pick the ones you like and earn some extra cash. Small gains add up, and over a year you can earn quite a bit from these financial accounts and build up travel funds.