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As travel continues to thaw, warmer weather approaches, and the idea of vacations becomes less scary, travelers won’t want to miss out on the latest great credit card bonus offers.
If you’re not using a credit card that offers points, you’re leaving money on the table — think free hotel nights, free flights and upgrades. Get a card that fits your spending and travel habits and reap the rewards.
Capital One Venture
Why we like it: An early spending bonus offer of 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 within the first three months is worth $750 in travel.
What to know:
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 in the first three months of membership.
- Earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- Earn 2 miles per dollar on every other purchase with no annual cap or expiration.
- Get up to a $100 credit on Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
- $95 annual fee.
Note: This card has a $95 annual fee. The Capital One VentureOne card does not, but doesn’t have the same early spending bonus offer and offers a lower rate of return.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Why we like it: Like its cousin the Chase Sapphire Reserve, this card offers great bang for your buck on travel rewards and currently has a compelling introductory offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months, worth $750 toward travel. Combined with all the other high reward points opportunities, this card more than pays for itself.
What to know:
- Get 60,000 bonus Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. 60,000 bonus points are worth $750 toward travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- Get a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit.
- Get a 10% anniversary points boost each year.
- Earn 5 points per $1 spent on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on dining.
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on other travel.
- Earn 1 point per $1 spent on everything else.
- Get trip cancellation insurance if your trip is canceled due to sickness or severe weather conditions.
- Get complimentary DashPass for a year or more for $0 delivery fees on DoorDash.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- $95 annual fee.
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Plus
Why we like it: This is a pretty low bar to clear for a great bonus offer — just spend $1,000 in the first three months and earn 50,000 points!
What to know:
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first three months.
- Get 3,000 bonus points each year for your cardholder anniversary.
- Get 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest flights.
- Get 2 points per $1 spent on transit and commuting.
- Get 2 points per $1 spent on internet, cable, phone service, and certain streaming purchases.
- Get 1 point per $1 spent on other purchases.
- $69 annual fee.
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier
Why we like it: You can earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months. That’s a low bar for a big bonus, on top of the everyday rewards.
What to know:
- Get 50,000 points when you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months.
- Get 6,000 bonus points each year for your cardholder anniversary.
- Get 3 points per $1 spent on Southwest flights.
- Get 2 points per $1 spent on transit and commuting.
- Get 2 points per $1 spent on internet, cable, phone service and certain streaming purchases.
- Get 1 point per $1 spent on other purchases.
- $99 annual fee.
Note: This card has no foreign transaction fees.
If you’re just after the Companion Pass and looking at these two cards, the Plus has the lower annual fee. But the added benefits on the Premier — the extra annual bonus points and lack of foreign transaction fees — might be worth the difference to many travelers.
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