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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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Why right now is the most rewarding time to apply for a new rewards credit card
Summer Hull has been covering (and using) travel tips, rewards credit cards and loyalty programs for over a decade. She has flown close to a million miles, often on points and miles and with her family in tow.
June 18, 2021 • 8 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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Quick summary
Welcome bonuses for rewards credit cards have reached historically high levels, making it a compelling time to consider new applications.
Many current offers provide bonuses valued at $1,000 or more, with flexible redemption options for travel, home rentals and more.
Recent changes in airline routes and policies, such as expanded leisure destinations and more flexible change rules, may affect which travel partners are best for upcoming trips.
The increased ability to make travel plans, combined with valuable card perks like lounge access and credits, enhances the appeal of new card offers.
What to consider
Some offers mentioned may no longer be available, so checking current details is important before applying.
Eligibility for the highest bonuses can depend on targeted promotions or specific application channels, which may change at any time.
Not all bonus certificates or points can be used at every property or for every flight, so reviewing redemption options is recommended.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed breakdown of which current card offers provide the highest value and how evolving travel trends may influence your choice.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
If you are like me and pulled back on applying for new credit cards in 2020 when everything was so uncertain, it may be time to pull your wallet out of hibernation.
Right now, credit card welcome bonuses are reaching insane heights. In fact, multiple offers are at all-time highs, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. And with so many in the U.S. getting back to leisure travel, the timing for opening a rewards credit card is actually great.
Here are a few reasons why it's an insanely good time to apply for a new rewards credit card.
Bora Bora bungalows. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
For me, there are two prime candidates I'd recommend others apply for right now, both with the highest bonuses we've ever seen for these popular cards.
The first is the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card that's offering a bonus of 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Depending on how you use these miles, they are worth $1,388 toward travel (the latter is based on TPG valuations and not the issuer) with just a $95 annual fee. I love having points I can use toward home rentals and other more flexible redemption types, so I know I will put these miles now that I've unlocked the full 75,000-mile bonus. But, I can also choose to redeem these miles by transferring to partners if I want.
Then there is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and its new best-ever offer of 100,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. This bonus is valued at $2,000 based on TPG valuations if you leverage the 13 hotel and airline partners such as Southwest, United, Hyatt and more.
But -- even if you want to keep things super simple and not transfer your Chase points to any partner, you can still book $1,250 in travel via the Chase Travel site with those 100,000 points. This is, by far, my most recommend card to those new to points and miles.
Not only are credit card welcome bonuses really good right now, but it is a great time to evaluate your current travel patterns. Or rather, think about what your travel patterns are most likely to be in the coming months.
Other airlines similarly expanded service in some areas while contracting in others. The best airline for your 2021 and 2022 flights may not be the one that was best for you in prior years. Additionally, more airlines moved to fee-free change policies that will outlive the pandemic.
If Delta has become your airline of choice, the line-up of Delta credit cards is currently offering bonuses of up to 90,000 Delta SkyMiles.
I have and love the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card thanks to its annual awarding of a companion airline ticket and current offer of 90,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first three months of card membership. Offer ends 11/10/2021.
(Photo by AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
If you expect to stay at Marriott properties in 2021 or 2022, another increased card offer to consider is from the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card.
This card just introduced a welcome bonus that awards 125,000 bonus points + 1 free night (valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $5,000 in the first three months from account opening (total of up to 175,000 bonus points).
While not every Marriott property is available for booking with a 50,000 point per night certificate, you do have your pick of several solid 50k choices.
Cloudveil prices for 50,000 per night on off-peak nights (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
You can start making plans
It felt impossible to plan for much of 2020. As soon as you thought maybe things were getting better, they'd get worse all over again. And while that is still true to some extent in 2021, the vaccine rollout has really been a gamechanger for life -- and travel.
While we all know anything can happen, it's now possible to make tentative travel plans for the upcoming months and feel more secure that they are likely to happen than was true last year.
After not traveling through the winter months, my family is fresh off a successful spring ski trip, a return to Disney World and a trek through Glacier National Park.
(Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
And after a lean 2020 travel year, that's just the beginning of what we have planned for the coming months.
Getting back out there means we can again use airline credits and lounge access from cards such as The Platinum Card® from American Express (enrollment required).
Denver Amex Centurion Lounge (Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy)
This card currently has a public welcome bonus of 75,000-points after you spend $5,000 in the first six months of card membership. It's also offering new cardholders a whopping 10x points per dollar spent on eligible purchases made at U.S. gas stations and U.S. supermarkets. This bonus applies to up to $15,000 in combined eligible purchases during the first six months of card membership. The card has an annual fee of $550 (see rates and fees).
But some lucky folks are eligible for a bonus of up to 125,000 points via the CardMatch tool, so check there first before applying (targeted offer; subject to change at anytime).
Bottom line
While not everything is 100% back to normal, it's now a great time to consider getting a new rewards credit card -- especially if you've laid low on applying for new cards this year. While we were busy waiting, the welcome bonuses have shot up to some truly historical levels.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
