We’ve recently seen some popular travel credit cards dangle eye-popping welcome bonuses, only to then raise the spending requirement to earn them. And, let’s be honest: Not everyone can realistically spend $10,000 or $12,000 in a matter of months.
Fortunately, there are some other cards that can still quickly top up your points balance without breaking the bank.
Here are a few I’ll call out:
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: With this longtime TPG favorite, new applicants can earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
This may be the most valuable bonus-to-spending-requirement ratio we’re seeing right now, and one that’s definitely worth jumping on! The bonus alone is worth more than $2,560, per our February 2026 valuations, and the card delivers tons of annual value beyond that.
Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card: The premium card of this beloved loyalty program offers 80,000 points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 90 days from account opening.
That’s effectively 105,000 points in one of the most lucrative airline programs, for a very reasonable amount of spending.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: New cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, upon approval, receive a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use during the first year.
The current limited-time offer on this old favorite of ours is worth at least $1,000 in travel — and you could easily get more value if you transfer miles to Capital One’s travel partners.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®: The newest card in my wallet, for a limited time this one is offering 90,000 bonus American Airlines AAdvantage miles when you spend at least $5,000 on purchases in the first four months from account opening.
Remember: AAdvantage miles are worth more than any other U.S. airline currency, according to TPG’s February 2026 valuations, making this generous bonus worth $1,530.
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Voted Best Business Card of the Year in the TPG Awards, the Capital One Venture X Business combines lounge access, strong earning rates and premium perks. Earn 150,000 bonus miles after spending $30,000 in the first three months from account opening.
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