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The 7 cards TPG staffers added to their wallets this quarter

April 17, 2022
7 min read
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With spring in full swing, many TPG staffers have applied for new credit cards so they can hit the ground running for future travel plans.

There have also been many enticing welcome offers that we've seen on many cards recently, so there has been no better time to apply for a new card and execute our long-awaited travel strategies.

Check out the seven cards we’ve added to our wallets this quarter.

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Bilt Rewards Mastercard

(Photo courtesy of Bilt)

"The Bilt Rewards Mastercard is a no-brainer given there's no annual fee and I get to earn points on rent, my biggest monthly expense. I'm also really excited that I get to earn 3 points per dollar on dining and have American Airlines as a transfer partner."

— Becca Manheimer, senior director of marketing and communications.

Editor’s note: TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt advisor and investor.

Related: No more waitlist: Bilt opens its Mastercard to all with Wells Fargo backing

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Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

(Photo by John Gribben for The Points Guy)

"I didn’t get the Venture X when it first debuted with the 100,000-mile welcome offer as I was still trying to hit the welcome offer from when I applied for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card last summer. I didn’t think I could hit both spending requirements since $20,000 in a year is a stretch for my spending habits. However, the new welcome bonus is more attainable, and it makes sense for me to grab the Venture X for the perks and earning rates."

— Madison Blancaflor, travel editor.


Official application link: Capital One Venture X with an offer of 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.


Related: The 8 most pressing questions about the Capital One Venture X card

American Express® Gold Card

(Photo by Wyatt Smith/The Points Guy)

"By using my friend's referral link, I was able to find an incredible welcome bonus for the Amex Gold of 90,000 Membership Rewards points and 20% back at restaurants worldwide (up to $250 back) during the first year of card membership. Best of all, the spending requirement is $4,000 in the first six months of card membership, which is the same as the publicly available offer."

— Stella Shon, writer.


Official application link: Amex Gold with a welcome bonus of 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first six months of card membership. You may be targeted for a higher welcome offer via the CardMatch tool.


Related: 6 ways to make the most of the Amex Gold Card benefits

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

(Photo by The Points Guy)

"The Chase Sapphire Preferred is my first non-student credit card and has helped me ease into the points and miles world with a low annual fee. The welcome bonus will help me save up for a trip by the end of this year!"

— Capri Whiteley, social media marketing manager.


Official application link: Chase Sapphire Preferred with 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.


Related: Who should (and shouldn’t) get the Chase Sapphire Preferred?

The Platinum Card® from American Express

(Photo by Ryan Patterson for The Points Guy)

"I have a lot of travel planned in 2022 to make up for the last two years and want to take advantage of all the travel perks and benefits that come with the Amex Platinum! The bonus will go toward two weddings I'm attending in Europe later this year."

— Sophia Fen, director.


Official application link: Amex Platinum with 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.. Check the CardMatch tool to see if you’re targeted for a 125,000- or 150,000-point Platinum Card offer (after meeting minimum spending requirements). These offers are subject to change at any time.


Related: 8 tips from a newbie on maximizing the Amex Platinum’s benefits

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card

(Photo by The Points Guy)

"I just got the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant even though I’m not a big fan of Bonvoy! It includes a $300 statement credit for Marriott hotels and 15 elite night credits, but the welcome bonus is what I couldn’t resist. I’ll get 100,000 bonus points and one free night award after you use your new card to make $5,000 in eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership. Certain hotels have resort fees. (This welcome bonus is no longer available). With a $450 annual fee (see rates and fees), I likely won't keep it long, but I will find ways to use those points, even with Marriott’s fresh devaluation."

— Clint Henderson, managing editor.


Official application link: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant with 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $3,000 in eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership.


Related: Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex worth the $450 annual fee?

Barclays AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard

(Photo by Eric Helgas for The Points Guy)

“I applied for the AAdvantage Aviator Red Mastercard. Then, I can hopefully upgrade to the AAdvantage® Aviator® Silver Mastercard, and by spending $50,000 on this card in 2022, I can earn 65,000 AAdvantage Loyalty Points. However, there may be better ways to earn Loyalty Points, so I may not actually work toward the threshold. Either way, the welcome bonus on the Aviator Red is really easy to earn as it just requires you to make one purchase of any size with your card."

— Katie Genter, senior writer.

The information for the AAdvantage Aviator Red and Aviator Silver has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: Chasing American Airlines elite status? Here are 14 ways to earn Loyalty Points

Bottom line

Plenty of credit cards and loyalty programs have recently announced changes and limited-time welcome offers, causing many of us to reevaluate our current earning strategies and apply for new cards as a result.

Before you apply for a new credit card, make sure you can take advantage of these best sign-up bonuses — and check our guide on application restrictions to be sure you’ll qualify to earn the bonus.

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, click here.

Featured image by There are all sorts of cards you can apply for, so make sure you pick a few that align with your spending habits. (Photo by Isabelle Raphael/The Points Guy)
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.