Getting a new credit card is all about timing: Do it right and you'll end up with a massive pile of points (or miles) just for signing up and meeting your new card's minimum spending requirement.
The key here is applying when that big bonus is at its absolute peak . You see, banks periodically roll out increased, limited-time welcome bonus offers on their most popular cards – and when they do, that's the time to strike.
Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of reasons to sign up for a new card with the standard bonus offer – but if you can get in on an elevated bonus, it's all the sweeter.
Some of the biggest offers we've ever seen are available right now, while others have gone the way of the dinosaurs. Will they be revived? There's no way to know for sure, but it's unlikely that some of these eye-popping bonuses will ever be topped again.
Here's a look at the historical best offers from some of our favorite travel cards.
See all the best credit card offers currently available!
The Platinum Card® from American Express
*amex platinum* is the original travel rewards card. Long before banks like Chase, Capital One, and Citi were targeting travelers with bonus points and extra point earning, American Express had the market cornered. After a big refresh a few years ago , the Amex Platinum is still a top contender for the best ultra-premium travel rewards card.
And while its big annual fee may be hard to stomach, it's possible to come out way ahead if you're able to make use of the card's laundry list of statement credits and travel-related benefits . With best in class airport lounge access, travel insurance, and unrivaled point-earning on flight purchases, this card has become a mainstay in frequent travelers' wallets.
Read our full review of the Amex Platinum Card!
Best Ever Offer
Determining the Amex Platinum Card's best-ever offer is subjective. In typical Amex fashion, they've offered multiple bonuses of varying amounts on the Amex Platinum card and which one you can get all depends on where you apply.
For a while in late 2021, there was an excellent offer on the Amex Platinum where you could earn a bonus of 125,000 points, plus get 15x points on up to $25,000 in combined spending at U.S. restaurants and small businesses. If you maxed out the 15x earning and got the 125,000-point bonus, you'd end up with 500,000 Membership Rewards when all was said and done. Wow!
Right now, there's a targeted referral offer that's available right now for a 175,000-point bonus – when it comes to a lump sum number of points, that's as big as we've seen on this card.
Current Offer
Determining the current offer for any given Amex card is complicated. There are often three or four offers available on each card, depending on where you look.
For example, here's the standard welcome offer that you'll find on sites like ours, as well as Amex's homepage: bonus_miles_full
But that's not the best you can do. Lately, we've seen some people get targeted for a 175,000-point bonus through referral links . You may need to try opening the link in an incognito browser if it doesn't pull up for you on the first try.
If the referral method doesn't work for you, there is also a targeted welcome offer available through creditcards.com's CardMatch tool for 150,000 American Express Membership Rewards points .
Just be warned: If you're just getting started with American Express cards, it might make more sense to start at the bottom and work your way up . Going for the Platinum card right away will make you ineligible for some other card bonuses down the road.
Annual Fee: $695 (see rates & fees )
Learn more about *amex platinum* .
American Express® Gold Card
The *amex gold card* is one of our favorite travel rewards cards, period.
Here's what you need to know: The Gold Card earns 4x points for every dollar you spend at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 annually then 1x) and 4x points per dollar spent at restaurants , instantly making it one of the best cards for anyone who eats food.
You'll also get up to $120 in dining credits each year to spend at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, and select Shake Shack locations, and up to $120 annually in Uber cash to use on either Uber or Uber Eats. These credits are given out in $10 monthly increments – but just know, these credits are use-it-or-lose-it benefits. Any amount you don't use at the end of the month will be forfeited.
Maximizing these two credits alone will cover all but $10 of your $250 annual fee. These credits and bonus categories are a big reason we feel the card is easily worth the $250 annual fee .
Read next: 6 Reasons We Love the Amex Gold Card (& You Will Too)
Best Ever Offer
In the past, there have been reports of some people getting targeted with up to 100,000 point bonuses on the Amex Gold card. There have also been other offers that came with smaller point totals but additional statement credits or bonus points for dining purchases.
Right now, there's a targeted referral offer out for 90,000 points and 20% back on U.S. dining purchases (up to $50) in the first three months. A case could certainly be made for this being amongst the best offers.
Current Offer
Like the Amex Platinum card, the current offer on the Amex Gold will depend on where you look. If you directly through Amex or with a link from our site, here's what you get: bonus_miles_full
But once again, that's not the current best offer. If you apply through a friend's referral link , you might be eligible for 75,000 – or even 90,000 points – plus get up to $50 back on restaurant purchases in the first three months.
Annual Fee: $250 (see rates & fees )
Learn more about the *amex gold*
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
At the end of 2016, Chase took the travel world by storm by launching a brand new premium travel credit card called the *chase sapphire reserve* , building off the success of one of the most popular travel cards out there: the *chase sapphire preferred* .
The card was an immediate hit, and it was so popular at launch that Chase actually ran out of the metal they were using to produce the physical cards . With an easy-to-use $300 annual travel credit , airport lounge access, and strong point earning opportunities, it's no wonder the card was such a success.
Chase later indicated that the launch of the Reserve cost the bank hundreds of millions of dollars . So sure enough, just a few short years later in early 2020, Chase added a few new benefits to the card and hiked the annual fee on the Sapphire Reserve up to $550 where it currently sits today.
Read more: Is Chase's Sapphire Reserve Card Due for a Refresh?
Best Ever Offer
The Sapphire Reserve launched with a huge welcome offer bonus of 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points – at the time cementing itself as the only real competitor to *amex platinum* who had long owned the premium travel card market.
Since that initial welcome offer bonus, we haven't seen anything close to that amount of points being offered – and as the bank has indicated, we probably never will .
Current Offer
bonus_miles_full
Annual Fee: $550
Learn more about the *chase sapphire reserve* .
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
For over a decade, we've considered the *csp* the best travel rewards credit card for beginners. And in 2024, that still hasn't changed.
With bonus point-earning, multiple options for redeeming rewards like transferring points to Chase's slew of travel partners or using them through the Chase Travel portal , and added benefits like travel and rental car insurance, trip delay and cancelation protection , and more, it's no wonder the Sapphire Preferred has become a mainstay in so many traveler's wallets.
But above all else, it's the perfect card to start building a points-earning strategy to travel more for less. Whether you're planning your next trip or looking further out, we don't think you can do better than getting started with the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card!
Best Ever Offer
After travel came to a screeching halt in 2020 and early 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, banks were desperate to attract new customers. As a result, we saw some truly eye-popping welcome offer bonuses from all the big banks.
At one point in 2021, Chase offered a 100,000-point bonus on the Sapphire Preferred card . That's 20,000 points more than the usual limited-time offer. Just like the 100,000-point bonus that came with the Sapphire Reserve at launch – this one is likely too good to return .
Current Offer
bonus_miles_full
Annual Fee: $95
Learn more about the *chase sapphire preferred*
Capital One Venture X Credit Card
Capital One introduced the *venture x* was introduced in late 2021 as the bank's answer to cards like the Amex Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve. It's essentially a souped-up version of the ever-popular *capital one venture card* that's chock full of extra benefits: Access to Capital One Lounges , Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium lounges , a $300 annual travel credit , a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck , great travel and rental car insurance protection , and more.
Sure, its $395 annual fee may immediately turn off some travelers , but it's a mirage. In practice, it's actually far cheaper. Consider the fact that you get an automatic $300 credit a year towards travel booked through the Capital One Travel portal. Then, starting in year two, you get a 10,000-mile bonus (worth at least $100 towards travel) each and every year. If you're the type of person who'd otherwise be spending $400 per year on travel then Capital One is essentially paying you to have the card.
Read More: Capital One Venture X Card Review: Get 75K Miles, Lounge Access & More
Best Ever Offer
When the Capital One Venture X Card launched it came with a 100,000-mile sign-up bonus and a $300 vacation rental credit . This offer only lasted a few months and was designed to generate some extra buzz around the new card: It worked. I wouldn't count on seeing something this good return anytime soon.
Current Offer
bonus_miles_full
Annual Fee: $395
Learn more about the *capital one venture x*
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
With the *capital one venture card* , you won't get all the perks that come with the Venture X card, but you also won't pay $395 out of pocket each year.
What you do get is a solid travel card. The Venture Card also provides a credit of up to $100 every four years to cover the cost of a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership. It's one of the most cost-effective ways to get this benefit from a credit card.
But if it's just the miles you're after, this could make a compelling alternative to Venture X.
Read More: 75K Venture Miles & More Perks: All About the Capital One Venture Card
Best Ever Offer
Last summer, Capital One began marketing a 100,000-mile bonus on the Venture Rewards card, but there was a catch. This bigger offer was only available to those who used a special QR code, found in select U.S. airports, to apply. The link for this offer made the rounds online and died shortly after.
It wouldn't be unreasonable to think something like this could happen again but at the same time, we're not holding our breath that it will be widely available, either.
Current Offer
bonus_miles_full .
Annual Fee: $95
Learn more about the *capital one venture card*
Citi Premier Card
The *Citi Premier* is one of the most well-rounded cards when it comes to category bonus spending as it earns 3x ThankYou points per dollar spent at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel, and hotels on an unlimited amount of spending.
With a low $95 annual fee, this card is a great one-card solution for anyone looking to maximize their daily spending. ThankYou points transfer to nearly 20 different airline and hotel partners on a 1:1 basis (except to Choice Hotels which transfer on an even better 1:2 basis).
Read More: Get Great Rewards at an Entry-Level Price With the Citi Premier
Best Ever Offer
From time to time, we've seen Citi raise the welcome offer on the Citi Premier to a whopping 80,000 ThankYou points. It's been over a year since we last saw the bonus get that high, so it wouldn't be shocking if it made a comeback sometime soon.
Current Offer
bonus_miles_full
Annual Fee: $95
Learn more about the *citi premier* .
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
*biz platinum* is the bank's flagship business credit card. Much like personal Amex Platinum, the business version packs an equally huge punch with many great travel benefits.
That includes Amex Centurion Lounge access and a free pass into Delta Sky Clubs ( Sky Club access is changing Feb. 1, 2025); an annual $200 airline incidental credit; a credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry ; and more.
But the Business Platinum Card takes things a step further with added credits like up to $400 in annual credits at Dell.com ( at least for now ) and one of our favorite perks of all: A 35% rebate when using points through Amex Travel to book any first or business class flight, or all flights with your chosen airline.
Best Ever Offer
The Amex Business Platinum card requires a decent chunk of spending so it's only right that it comes with an equally high number of points. In the past, we've seen targeted offers on the card offering 150,000 or even 200,000 points to new cardmembers.
But nothing can top a recent, short-lived offer of 250,000 Membership Rewards points for the same $15,000 spending requirement you get with the standard offer.
It was a truly massive bonus that was never intended for the masses, so it's no wonder it died so quickly.
Current Offer
bonus_miles_full
Annual Fee: $695 (see rates & fees )
Learn more about *biz platinum*
Chase Ink Business Cards
Chase has a trio of Ultimate Rewards-earning business cards, ranging from the no-annual-fee *Ink Unlimited* and *Ink Cash* , to the popular *chase ink preferred* .
While the Ink Unlimited and Ink Cash cards technically earn cash back, it comes in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards points. And so long as you hold another Chase card that earns Ultimate Rewards, like the Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, or even the Ink Preferred, you can combine those points and transfer them to airline and hotel partners or redeem them through the Chase Travel portal.
With the $95 annual fee Ink Preferred, you're essentially getting the business version of the Chase Sapphire Preferred. You'll get top-notch travel insurance, bonus point-earning, and full access to Chase's travel partners. The Ink Unlimited is a great card for everyday business spending as it earns 1.5x points (or 1.5% cashback) on all purchases without having to worry about any bonus categories. But the Ink Cash just might be the most rewarding of all: Depending on where your business spends most, you can earn 5x points (or 5% cashback) on up to $25,000 per year in select business categories.
If you can't decide which card is best for your business, you actually don't have to choose – you can have all three at the same time … and earn a big bonus with each.
Read More: Earn a 75K Bonus With the Chase Ink Unlimited & Cash Cards!
Best Ever Offers
There's never a bad time to pick up a Chase Ink card as the bonus offers are consistently good. Still, there are some times that are better than others. Here's a look at the best offers we've ever seen on each of the three cards:
Chase Ink Preferred: The current bonus offer of 100,000 points after spending $8,000 in first three months is as good as it gets . Up until last year, you'd need to spend $15,000 in three months to earn the big bonus but Chase nearly halved the spending requirement , making it much easier for many small businesses.
Chase Ink Cash: From time-to-time, we've seen Chase up the offers on the no-annual-fee Ink Cards to a 90,000-point (or $900 cashback) bonus . The last time this happened was in late 2023 – only time will tell whether or not we see this increased offer return.
Chase Ink Unlimited: Just like the Ink Cash, 90,000 points (or $900 cashback) is the best we've seen on the Ink Unlimited. It wouldn't be shocking to see these bonuses return at some point in the future.
Don’t think you are eligible for a business credit card? You might be surprised by what qualifies as a small business .
Current Offers
Chase Ink Preferred
bonus_miles_full
Annual Fee: $95
Learn more about the *chase ink preferred*
Chase Ink Cash
bonus_miles_full
Annual Fee: $0
Learn more about the *chase ink cash* .
Chase Ink Unlimited
bonus_miles_full
Annual Fee: $0
Learn more about the *chase ink unlimited* .
Capital One Venture X Business
With the official launch of the Capital One Venture X business card late last year, the bank essentially hit copy and paste on the personal *venture x* . With the business version, you'll get many of the same benefits: Access to Capital One Lounges , Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium lounges , a $300 annual travel credit , a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck , and more.
And just like the personal version, you get all that for the same $395 annual price tag.
Read our full review of the Venture X Business Card!
Best Ever Offer
In January Capital One introduced a limited-time offer on the Venture X Business card where new applicants could earn a two-tiered bonus. It worked like this:
Earn 150,000 miles after spending $15,000 in the first three months.
Earn an additional 150,000 miles after spending a total of $100,000 in the first six months.
Add it all up and you could earn 300,000 miles for completing the admittedly lofty spending requirement. Since the Capital One Venture X Business card just debuted late last year, I doubt we've seen the best of the best offers yet. It wouldn't be surprising to see something like this two-tiered bonus return again at some point.
Current Offer
Earn bonus_miles_full .
Annual Fee: $395
Learn more about the *venture x business* .
Bottom Line
Taking advantage of elevated, limited-time offers is a great way to maximize your points earning. Some of these best-ever offers are currently available, while others are unlikely to ever be seen again. But one thing's for sure: When it comes to new card sign-up bonuses, bigger is always better.
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