Chase AirTran Visa With 2 Roundtrip Sign Up Bonus
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here – Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
Until now, the public offer on the Chase AirTran Visa has been 16 A+ Rewards credits when you spent $1,000 in 3 months and two single-segment business class upgrades with your first purchase.
Now, however, Chase has increased the sign-up bonus on the public offer for the card (this offer was previously available to targeted consumers) to 32 A+ Rewards credits when you spend $2,000 in 3 months as well as two single-segment business class upgrades with your first purchase.
The card's other features include:
-2 A+ Rewards Credits every year after your cardmember Anniversary.
-2 A+ Rewards Dollars per $1 spent on AirTran Airways and Southwest Airlines purchases made directly with the airlines.
-1 A+ Rewards Dollar per $1 spent on all other purchases.
-Annual fee of $69.
Just as a little primer on A+ Rewards Dollars and Credits, each A+ Reard Credit is equal to 1,200 A+ Rewards Dollars. So that 32-credit sign-up bonus is equivalent to spending $19,200 on the airline, or $38,400 on other purchases. AirTran A+ Rewards Credits can be redeemed at a rate of 8 credits for a one-way economy award ticket.
AirTran Credit Card Versus Southwest Credit Card
Although you can apply for two Chase cards at once, this brings up an interesting question: whether to get this card or the Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Visa, which currently has a 50,000-point sign-up bonus - enough for ~$900 in Wanna Get Away fares, and which also comes with other benefits such as 6,000-point anniversary bonuses.
The main difference between these cards - other than the value of the sign-up bonuses and the annual fees (the Southwest card is $99 per year) - is the fact that the points you get from the Southwest card sign-up bonus count toward Southwest's companion pass, which is one of the best deals out there. AirTran A+ Credits, on the other hand, will not count towards the Southwest companion pass, even if you convert those credits into Southwest points. AirTran also has a companion pass, which requires 100 A+ Credits - the equivalent of spending $60,000 on the airline, or $120,000 on other things on the credit card.
Considering you can get the Southwest companion pass with 110,000 in points in a calendar year - if you got the personal and business cards (for the business card application scroll down to the bottom of the page where you can find the link) at 50,000 points each and $2,000 in spend on each - you'd be almost there, just from the sign-up bonuses.
That said, if you're an AirTran loyalist, it could make sense to get this card, since this program won't be around in a year or so once the merger with Southwest is complete and they merge mileage programs. At that time, you could then apply for the Southwest credit cards and earn the bonuses on those. Plus, whereas Southwest's strength is in its domestic route map, AirTran has some great destinations outside the US including the Caribbean and Mexico so you can take advantage of your new A+ Credits to book some sunny vacations once you hit that minimum spend - and even fly business class using those free upgrades.
[card card-name='Ink Plus® Business Credit Card' card-id='22129636' type='javascript' bullet-id='1']
TPG featured card
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Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.