Every month I make a post with what I consider to be the best credit card offers at the time, with a particular focus on the best travel credit cards. It’s always a great time to start getting your points strategy in order, so you’re ready to plan your dream trip when the time is right.
While there are several excellent long-standing credit card offers, the specifics of the top offers are constantly changing (be it the annual fee, minimum spending requirement, or even amount of the welcome bonus).
If you read my blog on a daily basis then by all means skip this post, but for me it’s a useful, “current” place to refer people who ask about which cards they should apply for, a question I get on a daily basis.
In this post:
Why you should care about credit card offers
Simply put, most people want to travel better, but don’t know how. One of the best ways to improve your travel experience is to pick up an excellent credit card that can add value to you.
After all, doesn’t this…
…look better than this?
When applying for a credit card, consider three main points:
- The bonus — how many points can you earn for signing up for the card and completing some amount of spending; this typically ranges from a single purchase to several thousand dollars
- The rewards structure — pick a credit card that offers bonus points in the categories you spend the most on, whether that’s dining or groceries or gas or airfare
- The perks — some cards offer perks that more than justify the annual fee, even if you don’t spend money on the card; for example, there are hotel credit cards with sub-$100 annual fees that offer annual free night certificates that can be redeemed at hotels that cost $300+ per night
In this post I’m focusing primarily on the welcome bonuses, which can be one of the best ways to get rewarded quickly. Often a good credit card bonus will be enough to earn you an international ticket in first or business class, which many would otherwise assume is off limits.
15 best credit card offers March 2024
Let’s look at some of the best credit card welcome bonuses that are available this month. Here are what I consider the 15 best to be:
1. Capital One Venture X Business
Current offer: Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
Annual fee: $395 (Rates & Fees)
Why it’s a great offer: Not only does this card offer an excellent welcome bonus, but it’s also incredibly lucrative. The card offers a variety of perks, including a $300 annual travel credit, 10K bonus anniversary miles, a Priority Pass membership, access to Capital One Lounges, and more.
This is a well-rounded card for the welcome bonus, the perks, and the return on everyday spending. While the spending requirement is significant, I value the welcome bonus on this card at $2,550.
Learn more about the Capital One Venture X Business (apply for the Capital One Venture X Business).
2. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Current offer: 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $8,000 within three months
Annual fee: $95
Why it’s a great offer: The Ink cards have extremely generous category bonuses that help sole proprietorships and small businesses maximize points on everyday credit card spending. This card offers 3x points on the first $150,000 spent annually in combined purchases on travel, shipping, internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines, each account anniversary year. The card’s bonus is also in line with the best publicly available offer we’ve seen on the card.
This is a card that’s good for both for the welcome bonus and for everyday spending. I value the welcome bonus on this card at $1,700.
Learn more about the Ink Business Preferred (apply for the Ink Business Preferred).
3. Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Current offer: Earn a one-time cash bonus of $1,200 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months
Annual fee: $150 (Rates & Fees)
Why it’s a great offer: This is a significant offer of $1,200 cash back, but it comes with a significant spending requirement. This is an all around great card, as it ordinarily offers 2% cash back with no caps and no foreign transaction fees (Rates & Fees). Best of all, rewards can even be converted into Capital One miles at the rate of one cent per mile, making this even more lucrative. This is a card that’s good for both for the welcome bonus and for everyday spending.
Learn more about the Spark Cash Plus (apply for the Spark Cash Plus).
4. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Current offer: 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $6,000 within six months
Annual fee: $650 annual fee (Rates & Fees) (offer ends May 1, 2024)
Why it’s a great offer: This card is currently offering its best-ever points bonus, so this is an ideal time to apply. There are lots of reasons to get Marriott’s most premium card, including that it offers Platinum status for as long as you have the card, up to $300 in annual dining credits, an annual free night reward, and more. I value Marriott Bonvoy points at ~0.7 cents each, so I value the welcome bonus at $1,295.
Learn more about the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant (apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant).
5. Ink Business Cash® Credit Card & Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Current offer: 75,000 points after spending $6,000 within three months
Annual fee: no annual fee
Why it’s a great offer: While these are two different cards, they have the same excellent welcome bonuses and both don’t have an annual fee, so I’ll cover them in the same section here. The Ink Cash offers 5x points in useful categories (on the first $25,000 spent per cardmember year on office supply stores, internet, cable TV, mobile phones, and landlines), and the Ink Unlimited offers 1.5x points on all purchases.
For both cards, points can be pooled with the Ultimate Rewards points earned on cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. Assuming you have one of these Ink cards in conjunction with one accruing premium Ultimate Rewards points, I value the welcome bonuses on these cards at $1,275 each.
Learn more about the Ink Business Cash (apply for the Ink Business Cash), learn more about the Ink Business Unlimited (apply for the Ink Business Unlimited).
6. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Current offer: 75,000 Capital One miles after spending $4,000 within three months
Annual fee: $95 (Rates & Fees)
Why it’s a great offer: This card has an excellent welcome bonus. This is a rewarding card, and offers 2x Capital One miles on all purchases, plus several great perks. You won’t find a better mid-range credit card for everyday spending. I value the welcome bonus on this card at $1,275.
Learn more about the Capital One Venture (apply for the Capital One Venture).
7. American Express® Business Gold Card
Current offer: 70,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $10,000 within three months
Annual fee: $375 (Rates & Fees)
Why it’s a great offer: In addition to a great welcome bonus, this is also one of the best Amex business cards for earning Membership Rewards points, given the 4x points categories. I value the welcome bonus at $1,190.
Learn more about the Amex Business Gold (apply for the Amex Business Gold).
8. World of Hyatt Business Credit Card
Current offer: Welcome bonus of 60,000 World of Hyatt points after spending $5,000 within the first three months.
Annual fee: $199
Why it’s a great offer: There are lots of reasons to consider Hyatt’s business card, including the excellent bonus being offered. The card offers up to $100 in Hyatt statement credits every year, you receive Discoverist status for you and up to five employees, and spending on the card can help you earn World of Hyatt elite nights. I value World of Hyatt points at ~1.5 cents each, so I value the welcome bonus at $900.
Learn more about the World of Hyatt Business Card (apply for the World of Hyatt Business Card).
9. The Platinum Card® from American Express
Current offer: 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 within six months
Annual fee: $695 (Rates & Fees)
Why it’s a great offer: The Amex Platinum is a perks-rich card, offering an up to $300 in statement credits each year on a digital or club membership at Equinox, $240 annual digital entertainment credit, $200 annual airline fee credit, $200 annual Uber credit, $200 annual hotel credit (min 2-night stay required for Hotel Collection, 1 night for Fine Hotels & Resorts), $189 annual CLEAR credit, $100 annual Saks credit, lounge access, and so much more. (Enrollment is required for select benefits)
Learn more about the Amex Platinum (apply for the Amex Platinum).
10. Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card
Current offer: 70,000 Mileage Plan miles plus an Alaska companion fare from $122 after spending $3,000 within 90 days
Annual fee: $95
Why it’s a great offer: This card has a big limited time welcome offer, and features lots of valuable perks. You can receive an Alaska companion fare from $122 when you spend $6,000 on the card annually, priority boarding, a first checked bag free, 20% savings on inflight purchases, and more. I value the welcome bonus at $1,050, not including the companion fare.
Learn more about the Alaska Visa Card (apply for the Alaska Visa Card).
11. Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Current offer: 70,000 AAdvantage miles after spending $7,000 within three months
Annual fee: $595 annual fee
Why it’s a great offer: This card recently underwent a full refresh, and has a nice welcome offer. There are lots of benefits to having this card, from a full Admirals Club membership, to the ability to earn up to 20,000 Loyalty Points per year, to all kinds of travel perks on American. I value the welcome bonus on this card at $1,050.
Learn more about the Citi AAdvantage Executive (apply for the Citi AAdvantage Executive).
12. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Current offer: 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 within three months
Annual fee: $95
Why it’s a great offer: This card has a solid welcome bonus, and offers bonus points on dining and travel, great travel protection, and more. Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to Singapore KrisFlyer, United MileagePlus, World of Hyatt, and many other programs. See this post to understand eligibility for the Chase Sapphire Preferred. I value Ultimate Rewards points at ~1.7 cents each, so to me the welcome bonus is worth $1,020.
Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred (apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred).
13. Citi Premier® Card
Current offer: 60,000 ThankYou points after spending $4,000 within three months; for a limited time, earn a total of 10x ThankYou points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked through the Citi Travel portal through June 30, 2024
Annual fee: $95
Why it’s a great offer: This is an often-overlooked mid-range transferable points card, which has a solid bonus. It has excellent bonus categories, as it offers 3x points on gas, dining, groceries, air travel, and hotels, and the card also offers up to a $100 annual hotel credit. I value Citi ThankYou points at 1.7 cents each, so to me the welcome bonus on this card is worth $1,020.
Learn more about the Citi Premier (apply for the Citi Premier).
14. American Express® Gold Card
Current offer: 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 within six months
Annual fee: $250 (Rates & Fees)
Why it’s a great offer: The Amex Gold was refreshed in 2021, and has a bonus of 60K points, which is among the best offers we’ve seen on the card. Not only does it offer 4x Membership Rewards points on dining and 4x points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases (then 1x), but the card also offers up to a $120 annual dining credit (Enrollment required), and Uber Cash & Uber Eats benefits. I value the welcome bonus at $1,020.
Learn more about the Amex Gold (apply for the Amex Gold).
15. Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card, British Airways Visa Signature® Card, & Iberia Visa Signature® Card
Current offer: 75,000 Avios after spending $5,000 within three months
Annual fee: $95
Why it’s a great offer: While these are three different cards, they all have the same solid welcome bonuses, and points are transferrable between the various Avios programs. Each card has different perks tailored to the specific airline, and you can find a comparison of them here. I value Avios at 1.3 cents each, so to me the welcome bonus on these cards are worth $975.
Learn more about the Aer Lingus Visa (apply for the Aer Lingus Visa), learn more about the British Airways Visa (apply for the British Airways Visa), learn more about the Iberia Visa (apply for the Iberia Visa).
Rules of applying for credit cards
Before applying for cards, makes sure you’re aware of the rules each bank has for credit card applications.
One of the common misconceptions people have is that they think applying for credit cards will hurt their credit. The opposite is largely true, actually. Assuming you use your credit responsibly (and make payments on time, don’t utilize too much of your credit, etc.), applying for credit cards can actually help your credit.
Lastly, if you are going to apply for credit cards, make sure you do so responsibly — only apply for them if you have self-control and won’t end up in debt, and try to pay your balance in full every month, or else the interest charges will negate any rewards earned.
Bottom line
The above are just some of the best credit card offers right now, though there are so many others to choose from.
If you’re already into miles & points but don’t have some of the above cards, consider applying. If you’re new to miles & points, now is the time to get started (and I think something like the Capital One Venture X (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Preferred, Citi Premier, or American Express Gold, are great options to start).
The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: American Express® Business Gold Card (Rates & Fees), American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees), The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees), and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees).
What about the Southwest promotion?
Why no United business card with 100,000 SUB or the Barclay AA card with no min spend and 50,000 miles?