It’s a quirk of post-pandemic travel: Companies are increasing prices for airfare and hotels due to pent-up demand, but they’re also offering record-setting sign-up bonuses for their loyalty credit cards. As these bonuses can offset the increased costs of travel, you might want to consider an airfare or hotel credit card before you book your next flight or hotel. Here’s a look at some of the best welcome offers available right now.
Cardholders can earn 65,000 points (worth $975, per The Points Guy) after spending $2,000 on purchases within three months of getting either the Priority, Premier or Plus versions of the card (Priority is the high-end card with a $149 annual fee, but it comes with additional perks like four free seat upgrades per year).
This is just 35,000 points shy of earning the Companion Pass, which allows you to bring a companion on your flights for free (aside from taxes and fees), and it’s valid for the rest of the calendar year and all of the next year.
The “IHG” is short for International Hotel Group, which includes the Holiday Inn, Intercontinental, Crowne Plaza, Regent Hotels, and Kimpton hotel chains. You can earn a welcome bonus of 150,000 points (worth $750, per The Points Guy) if you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months. Plus, you’ll get a free night at IHG hotels each year on the anniversary of your account opening. The other big perk of this card is that you get 25 points total per one dollar spent on IHG hotels, so it’s ideal if you’re a regular business traveller.
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Earn up to 200,000 points total ($1200 value, per The Points Guy), by spending $2,000 in the first three months (150,000 points) and then spending $8,000 within the first six months (50,000 points). If you spend more than $15,000 within a calendar, you also get a free weekend night redeemable at any Hilton hotel (like the Waldorf Astoria in New York). The card earns 12 points per dollar spent on Hilton hotels and resorts, and it has a good six points per dollar multiplier for gas and dining, too. Again, with hotel cards you’ll only want to sign up if you’re a regular patron of the hotel chain. The annual fee is $95.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has a new record-breaking welcome offer of 80,000 points ($1,000 value, per The Points Guy), which can be used to book airfare and hotels through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards portal. To claim the offer, you have to spend $4,000 within the first three months of account opening. The card comes with a variety of perks, including two points per dollar spend on travel and restaurants. The annual fee is $95.
Only sign up for bonuses you can completely pay off
Welcome bonuses are a great way to score discounted airfare and hotels, but it’s commonly recommended that you only spend what you can afford to pay off right away—otherwise, the high interest on a debt balance totaling thousands of dollars will quickly negate the welcome bonus.
