Signing up for credit cards to earn frequent flyer miles and hotel points is the easiest and quickest way to earn miles and points for free flights and hotels. Through the accumulated knowledge of frequent flyer forums and blogs, a set of best practices have emerged. I have put them at the bottom of this page.
To remove clutter, I didn’t list much on this page besides the sign up bonus. For full details, follow the links to read each offer’s terms and conditions carefully.
The Biggest Deals–Personal Cards
The Lufthansa Premier Miles & More World MasterCard with 50,000 Lufthansa miles after spending $5k in the first three months
Targeted Delta Gold Personal card with 45,000 Delta SkyMiles after spending $5k in six months using CARDMATCH. Input your info and see if you get the offer.
Barclaycard Arrival World MasterCard – Earn 2x on All Purchases with 40,000 miles after spending $1k in the first three months
Citi® Platinum Select® / AAdvantage® World MasterCard® with 40,000 American Airlines miles after spending $3k in three months
Chase Sapphire Preferred with 40,000 Ultimate Rewards after spending $3k in three months. For more information, see this chart from JAPT.
The US Airways Premier World MasterCard with 30,000 US Airways miles after first purchase
United Mileage Plus Explorer Card with 30,000 United miles after spending $1k in three months. For more information, see this chart from JAPT.
Starwood Preferred Guest American Express with 25,000 Starpoints after spending $5k in six months. For more information, see this chart from JAPT.
Citi® Hilton HHonors™ Reserve Card with Two Free Nights worldwide at top tier Hiltons after spending $2,500 in four months
The Biggest Deals–Business Cards
coming soon…
I have earned millions of points, primarily though credit cards, to travel the world in first class for pennies. This blog will show you how to earn and redeem points to do the same!
Any chance you could suggest cards that non-Americans (or people without a US Social Security Number) can apply for?
I don’t have any insight there. Most countries have pretty paltry offers that you can probably uncover by going to your home airline’s website and American Express’s site.
Pingback: How to Earn 105,000 Miles in the Next Few Weeks | milevalue.com
Pingback: Free First Class Next Month: An Easy Way to Meet Multimple Minimum Spends at Once | milevalue.com
Hi! Enjoy the blog! First time with a question here. I have 2 USAirways personal cards. I got the first about 2 years ago and the second card about 9 months ago. Barclays was a bit difficult on approving the second card, but I said I wanted to separate business expenses. That worked! I don’t want to cancel the personal cards since I will get 10,000 miles each year, as per my signup agreement. Instead, I would like to go for the business card even though I realize the signup is less (25,000 vs 40,000).I believe, however, that my chances for getting the biz card would be better since I have numerous personal card apps and 2 biz apps in the last 15 months…..a “no-no” with Barclays.My last approval was November 11,2012-INK BOLD. Fortunately, my FICO is about 780, I have very low credit utilization, and I have a great long credit history. What do you think about me applying for the USAirways biz card with 2 personal USAirways cards still open? Thanks for your input and the great blog!
Aloha, was getting ready to do my March churn. I would like to include the citi business which you list above. Was having trouble finding the details of the card, wanted to make sure it was the one for 50k with the 2 admirals passes.
Also was interested in the am ex mercedes, however wanted to know your thoughts on a possible 50k normal platinum which would get the 200 airline credit etc. also was wondering if the lounge access of the mercedes to the normal platinum would be the same.
Thanks
Pingback: How to Exploit the American Airlines/US Airways Merger | milevalue.com
Based on your experience do you or should you apply for the business cards the same day as the personal cards? I thought it didn’t matter because the business is considered a separate entity. Your thoughts?
Same day is best. A business card will result in an inquiry on your personal account though once opened will sit on a different file.
What’s best for credit bureaus perspective for a bunch of cards at one time: take the bonus miles card companies offer to keep you in month 11 that more then equal the credit card yearly charge Eventhough I won’t be using the card or just cancel it?
Thanks
Holding a card is better than canceling a card for your credit score.
Pingback: The Incredible Frontier Airlines Award Chart | milevalue.com
Always call the bank and ASK . I asked a Chase person @ PHX and they said No Way . I canceled my SW Chase card a month ago when I got it because I knew I could never hit the min. BUT I found out I could pay my tax bill with it (thanks Scott) . SO I called and SW Chase REINSTATED my card good for 25k points on $1k spending .Could this be a first one for this site ??
Poor,Homeless Person ..
Cj
I noticed you referenced “if you have had one of these cards before”, if that is the case are you ever eligible for earning the rewards on that card again or is it a one time shot? I was just about to try this for the 1st time when I realized I had a US Air Mastercard, I assume it was the “World Premier” although I don’t remember and I don’t want to waste getting a card if I can’t get the bonus points.
All of the cards you can get more than once, but the rules for the amount of time between getting the cards varies. The US Airways card you can get again while the first is still open, so if you apply, you will probably be approved.
Pingback: 5% Off American Airlines Flights | milevalue.com
Pingback: Free First Class Next Month: Double Credit Card Miles with Business Cards | milevalue.com
Pingback: Free First Class Next Month: Other Credit Card Benefits | milevalue.com
Outside of my 9-5, I volunteer as the VP for a non-profit (www.OCHO.org) which organizes an annual medical brigade to rural Honduras each June.
Flying 40 people from various cities in the US (mostly out of BWI) to SAP is the EASY part (shipping supplies and treating patients is a separate challenge).
We have few expenses throughout the year, but buying 40 plane tickets is a hassle and, potentially, a goldmine of points. We have flown many airlines, but American Airlines most recently.
I wondered if you had a suggestion on which card that would save us some money (ie: Companion Passes, free luggage, AA miles through purchases, etc.). Thank you!
Shoot me an email at scott@milevalue dot com. What are the circumstances? You all buy 40 tickets for people and you want to lower your expenses on those tickets?
Do you happen to know how long I have to wait after closing a Citi AA credit card before I can reapply and receive the sign up bonus again? Also, do you know when I can reapply for the Chase British Air Avios credit card to receive the bonus again? Thank you!
To get identical Citi cards you need 18 months between applications. To get identical Chase cards, you must have the account closed for 24 months.
Thanks so much for the reply. Just to make sure I understand, I have a Citi AA card that I received 2 years ago. If I were to cancel it, I think we are saying that I should be able to reapply and get the bonus again almost immediately. I would probably wait 3 months or so just to avoid a red flag, but is my understanding correct given that I would have 26 months or so between applications?
If I get an American Airlines card, will I be able to transfer points back and forth with US air, since these airlines are merging?
I think this is likely in about a year, but this is not possible now, and there is no way to know whether it will be possible.
Pingback: Rookie Alli’s First App-O-Rama: Picking the Cards | milevalue.com
Hi,
How about if I don’t have enough credit history and only one low credit line?
Start with cards that don’t require such impressive credit histories like the US Airways card.
For a looong while, I only had a US Airways MasterCard . . . Now have added many cards in a year! So, that original card is the only one with longevity on it. What happens to that aspect of my credit score when it iscancelled by the merger?
To get AA points from my American Express card, can I transfer points to Starwood and then transfer them to AA ? thanks