I created this website to explain to my friends and family how my wife and I have been able to travel the world for free. The “secret” has been using various credit card mega bonuses (often non-publicized), layering additional offers and some other tricks that I will show you. Below are some of my favorite offers or delve deeper by reading my Points Blog.
| Issuer | Card Name | Upfront Bonuses | Spending Benefits | Other Key Benefits | Annual Fee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase | British Airways Visa | 100,000 Avios Points! (50k on 1st spent + 25k after $10k + 25k after $10k) | 1.25 Avios Points/$ (not great without the bonuses) | $95 | Apply Here More Info |
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| Chase | Hyatt | 2 free nights at ANY Hyatt hotel or resort worldwide after 1st purchase | 3 Hyatt points/$ | $75 | Apply Here More Info |
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| AMEX | Starwood Preferred Guest® | 25,000 Starpoints (2 nights in many high end Westins, etc.) | 1 SPG Points / $ (SPG points are very valuable) | $0 First Year (then $65) | Apply Here More Info |
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| Chase | SapphireSM Preferred Card | 40,000 Ultimate Rewards Points = CO/UA or BA Miles or $400 Cash after spending $3k in 3 months | 1 Point/$ 2x for Travel (Good) and Dining (not impressive) | $0 First Year (then $95 or switch to Chase Freedom) | Apply (Visa) Apply(MC) More Info |
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| Chase | Ink Bold | 50,000 (25k 1st purchase, 25k after $10k in 3 mos) Ultimate Reward Points = 50k UA or BA Miles, $500 Cash or $625 toward travel | 1 Point/$ 5x for telecom and office supply | $0 First Year (then $95 or switch to Ink Cash) | Apply Here More Info |
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| Citi | AAdvantage Visa, Amex or Business | 50,000 American (AA) Miles after spending $5k (see details) | 1 Point/$ | $0 First Year (then $85 for personal and $75 for business) | More Info | ||
| Chase | Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus | 50,000 Southwest points (worth over $800 in restricted economy flights) + 3k/anniversary | 1 Southwest Point/$ | $69 | More Info | ||
| Chase | Priority Club Visa | 80,000 Priority Club points upon first purchase | 1 Point /$ (5x at their hotels, 2x on gas groceries and dining) | $0 First Year (then $49 or switch to Chase Freedom) | More Info | ||
| BofA and/or Bank of Hawaii | Hawaiian Airlines Visa Signature | 35,000 Hawaiian Air Points after spending $1k in 4 mos. | This card is for the bonus | $79 | More Info | ||
| Bank of America | Virgin Atlantic Amex | 50,000 VA miles (coverts to 100k hilton) - 20k after 1st purchase, 25k after $2,500 spend and 5k by adding 2 auth. users | 1.5 VA miles/$ | $90 | Issuer's Website |
| Issuer | Card Name | Upfront Bonuses | Spending Benefits | Other Key Benefits | Annual Fee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase | Hyatt | 2 free nights at ANY Hyatt hotel or resort worldwide after 1st purchase | 3 Hyatt points/$ | $75 | Apply Here More Info |
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| Bank of America | Virgin Atlantic Amex | 50,000 VA miles (coverts to 100k hilton) - 20k after 1st purchase, 25k after $2,500 spend and 5k by adding 2 auth. users | 1.5 VA miles/$ | $90 | Issuer's Website | ||
| Capital One | Venture Rewards | 2 Points / $ (basically 2% Cash - See More Info) | $0 First Year (then $59) | More Info | |||
| Chase | Ink CashSM | $250 after $5k in 3 months | $0 | Apply Here More Info |
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| AMEX | Blue Cash PreferredSM | $150 after spending $1k in 3 months | $75 | Apply Here More Info |
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| Citi | Forward | $0 | Apply Here More Info |
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| AMEX | Blue Cash EverydaySM | $100 after spending $1k in 3 months | $0 | Apply Here More Info |
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| Chase | Freedom | $300 after spending $500 | $0 | More Info |
| Issuer | Card Name | Upfront Bonuses | Spending Benefits | Other Key Benefits | Annual Fee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase | Priority Club Visa | 80,000 Priority Club points upon first purchase | 1 Point /$ (5x at their hotels, 2x on gas groceries and dining) | $0 First Year (then $49 or switch to Chase Freedom) | More Info | ||
| AMEX | The Platinum Card & The Business Platinum Card® | 25,000 MR points after spending $2,000 (personal) or $5,000 (business) in 3 months | 1 Membership Reward point / $ | $450 | Apply Here Personal Apply Here Business More Info |
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| Barclays | US Air Dividends Miles Select | 40,000 US Air points on 1st purchase plus 10k points on each anniversary (effectively negates the cost of the annual fee) | 1 mile/$, 2x on US Air | $0 First Year (then $89) | Link to Issuer | ||
| Chase | UnitedPlus® Explorer Card | 1 United Point /$ (2x for United/Continental spend) | $0 First Year (then $95) | "65k"+$50 Unofficial Link (take screenshots for proof) -- must be signed into active United account prior to clicking link "40k" Link |
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| AMEX | Delta Skymiles® Gold | 1 Delta Point /$ (2x for Delta spend) | $0 First Year (then $95); $150 for platinum, $450 for reserve | Apply Here Business Version |
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| AMEX / Citi | Hilton HHonorsTM SurpassSM / Hilton HHonors™ Visa Signature® | 40k after Amex:1st purchase or Citi:$1k in 3 months | Amex: $75 or Citi: $0 | Citi: Apply Here More Info |
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| Chase | Marriott Rewards® Premier | $0 First Year (then $85) | Apply Here More Info |
| Issuer | Card Name | Upfront Bonuses | Spending Benefits | Other Key Benefits | Annual Fee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discover | More | N/A | $0 | Apply Here | |||
| Chase | Slate(R) Visa | NO BALANCE TRANSFER FEE = Free money for 15 months | N/A | $0 | Apply Here More Info |
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| HSBC (Orchard Bank) | Secured | N/A | N/A | $0 First Year (then $35 per year) | Apply Here |
If you apply for a card with good credit and you don’t get instant approval, click here for a list of credit analysis and reconsiderations departments’ direct lines. They can often expedite an approval or fix a denial.
Unless otherwise stated, my advice is for people with good credit that are able to pay off their entire credit card balance each month. You also accept that my advice is provided as a courtesy and you agree to do your own research. Also, credit card bonus offers change rapidly — while I try to keep this site up to date, you must check the credit card company’s website for the latest rules before you apply. For a more complete introduction and details on how card applications can affect your credit score, click here.
See Glossary for definitions of the shorthand I use on the site.
