THE DEFENCE BLOG
16 Best Credit Card Offers September 2023
Every month I make a post with what I consider to be the weightier credit vellum offers at the time, with a particular focus on the weightier travel credit cards. It’s unchangingly a unconfined time to start getting your points strategy in order, so you’re ready to plan your dream trip when the time is right.
While there are several spanking-new long-standing credit vellum offers, the specifics of the top offers are constantly waffly (be it the yearly fee, minimum spending requirement, or plane value of the welcome bonus).
If you read my blog on a daily understructure then by all ways skip this post, but for me it’s a useful, “current” place to refer people who ask well-nigh which cards they should wield for, a question I get on a daily basis.
Why you should superintendency well-nigh credit vellum offers
Simply put, most people want to travel better, but don’t know how. One of the weightier ways to modernize your travel wits is to pick up an spanking-new credit vellum that can add value to you.
After all, doesn’t this…
…look largest than this?
This is increasingly true in the coronavirus era than overly before, given that increasingly space has wilt the ultimate luxury.
When applying for a credit card, consider three main points:
- The bonus — how many points can you earn for signing up for the vellum and completing some value of spending; this typically ranges from a single purchase to several thousand dollars
- The rewards structure — pick a credit vellum that offers bonus points in the categories you spend the most on, whether that’s dining or groceries or gas or airfare
- The perks — some cards offer perks that more than justify the yearly fee, plane if you don’t spend money on the card; for example, there are hotel credit cards with sub-$100 yearly fees that offer annual self-ruling night certificates that can be redeemed at hotels that forfeit $300 per night
In this post I’m focusing primarily on the welcome bonuses, which can be one of the weightier ways to get rewarded quickly. Often a good credit vellum bonus will be unbearable to earn you an international ticket in first or merchantry class, which many would otherwise seem is off limits.
16 weightier credit vellum offers September 2023
Let’s squint at some of the weightier credit vellum welcome bonuses that are misogynist this month. Here are what I consider the 16 weightier to be:
1. Ink Merchantry Preferred® Credit Card
Current offer: 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points without spending $8,000 within three months
Annual fee: $95
Why it’s a unconfined offer: The Ink cards have extremely generous category bonuses that help sole proprietorships and small businesses maximize points on everyday credit vellum spending. This vellum offers 3x points on the first $150,000 spent annually in combined purchases on travel, shipping, internet, subscription and phone services, razzmatazz purchases made with social media sites and search engines, each worth year-end year. The card’s bonus was plane recently improved, so that it’s now easier to earn.
This is a vellum that’s good for both for the welcome bonus and for everyday spending. I value the welcome bonus on this vellum at $1,700.
Learn increasingly well-nigh the Ink Merchantry Preferred (apply for the Ink Merchantry Preferred).
2. Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Peerage Mastercard®
Current offer: 100,000 AAdvantage miles without spending $10,000 within three months
Annual fee: $595 yearly fee
Why it’s a unconfined offer: This vellum recently underwent a full refresh, and has a limited time welcome offer. There are lots of benefits to having this card, from a full Admirals Club membership, to the worthiness to earn up to 20,000 Loyalty Points per year, to all kinds of travel perks on American. I value the welcome bonus on this vellum at $1,500.
Learn increasingly well-nigh the Citi AAdvantage Executive (apply for the Citi AAdvantage Executive).
3. Ink Merchantry Cash® Credit Card & Ink Merchantry Unlimited® Credit Card
Current offer: 75,000 points without spending $6,000 within three months
Annual fee: no yearly fee
Why it’s a unconfined offer: While these are two variegated cards, they have the same spanking-new welcome bonuses and both don’t have an yearly fee, so I’ll imbricate them in the same section here. The Ink Mazuma offers 5x points in useful categories (on the first $25,000 spent per cardmember year on office supply stores, internet, subscription TV, mobile phones, and landlines), and the Ink Unlimited offers 1.5x points on all purchases.
For both cards, points can be pooled with the Ultimate Rewards points earned on cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, and Ink Merchantry Preferred® Credit Card. Assuming you have one of these Ink cards in conjunction with one accruing premium Ultimate Rewards points, I value the welcome bonuses on these cards at $1,275 each.
Learn increasingly well-nigh the Ink Merchantry Cash (apply for the Ink Merchantry Cash), learn increasingly well-nigh the Ink Merchantry Unlimited (apply for the Ink Merchantry Unlimited).
4. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Current offer: 75,000 Venture miles without spending $4,000 within three months
Annual fee: $395
Why it’s a unconfined offer: This is one of the hottest credit cards in the market. Not only is this one of the weightier cards for everyday spending, but the vellum offers so many wondrous perks, including a $300 yearly travel credit, 10K bonus year-end miles, a Priority Pass membership, access to Plaza Premium Lounges, access to Capital One Lounges, Hertz President’s Circle status, valuable authorized user perks, and more. Furthermore, reports indicate a lot of people are having success getting tried for the card.
This is an incredibly well-rounded vellum for the welcome bonus, the perks, and the return on everyday spending. I value the welcome bonus on this vellum at $1,275.
Learn increasingly well-nigh the Capital One Venture X (apply for the Capital One Venture X) (Rates & Fees).
5. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Current offer: 75,000 Venture miles without spending $4,000 within three months
Annual fee: $95
Why it’s a unconfined offer: This vellum has an spanking-new welcome bonus. This is a rewarding card, and offers 2x Venture miles on all purchases, plus several unconfined perks. You won’t find a largest mid-range credit vellum for everyday spending. I value the welcome bonus on this vellum at $1,275.
Learn increasingly well-nigh the Capital One Venture (apply for the Capital One Venture) (Rates & Fees).
6. American Express® Merchantry Gold Card
Current offer: 70,000 Membership Rewards points without spending $10,000 within three months
Annual fee: $295 (Rates & Fees)
Why it’s a unconfined offer: In wing to a unconfined welcome bonus, this is moreover one of the weightier Amex merchantry cards for earning Membership Rewards points, given the 4x points categories. I value the welcome bonus at $1,190.
Learn increasingly well-nigh the Amex Merchantry Gold (apply for the Amex Merchantry Gold).
7. The Platinum Card® from American Express
Current offer: 80,000 Membership Rewards points without spending $8,000 within six months
Annual fee: $695 (Rates & Fees)
Why it’s a unconfined offer: The Amex Platinum is a perks-rich card, offering an up to $300 in statement credits each year on a digital or club membership at Equinox, $240 yearly digital entertainment credit, $200 yearly airline fee credit, $200 yearly Uber credit, $200 yearly hotel credit (min 2-night stay required for Hotel Collection, 1 night for Fine Hotels & Resorts), $189 yearly CLEAR credit, $100 yearly Saks credit, lounge access, and so much more. (Enrollment is required for select benefits)
Learn increasingly well-nigh the Amex Platinum (apply for the Amex Platinum).
8. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Current offer: 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points without spending $4,000 within three months
Annual fee: $95
Why it’s a unconfined offer: This vellum has a solid welcome bonus, and offers bonus points on dining and travel, unconfined travel protection, and more. Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to Singapore KrisFlyer, United MileagePlus, World of Hyatt, and many other programs. See this post to understand eligibility for the Chase Sapphire Preferred. I value Ultimate Rewards points at ~1.7 cents each, so to me the welcome bonus is worth $1,020.
Learn increasingly well-nigh the Chase Sapphire Preferred (apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred).
9. Citi Premier® Card
Current offer: 60,000 ThankYou points without spending $4,000 within three months; for a limited time, earn a total of 10x ThankYou points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked through the Citi Travel portal through June 30, 2024
Annual fee: $95
Why it’s a unconfined offer: This is an often-overlooked mid-range transferable points card, which has a solid bonus. It has excellent bonus categories, as it offers 3x points on gas, dining, groceries, air travel, and hotels, and the vellum moreover offers up to a $100 yearly hotel credit. I value Citi ThankYou points at 1.7 cents each, so to me the welcome bonus on this vellum is worth $1,020.
Learn increasingly well-nigh the Citi Premier (apply for the Citi Premier).
10. American Express® Gold Card
Current offer: 60,000 Membership Rewards points without spending $4,000 within six months
Annual fee: $250 (Rates & Fees)
Why it’s a unconfined offer: The Amex Gold was refreshed in 2021, and has a bonus of 60K points, which is among the weightier offers we’ve seen on the card. Not only does it offer 4x Membership Rewards points on dining and 4x points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per timetable year in purchases (then 1x), but the vellum moreover offers up to a $120 yearly dining credit, and Uber Mazuma & Uber Eats benefits. I value the welcome bonus at $1,020.
Learn increasingly well-nigh the Amex Gold (apply for the Amex Gold).
11. Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card, British Airways Visa Signature® Card, & Iberia Visa Signature® Card
Current offer: 75,000 Avios without spending $5,000 within three months
Annual fee: $95
Why it’s a unconfined offer: While these are three variegated cards, they all have the same solid welcome bonuses, and points are transferrable between the various Avios programs. Each vellum has variegated perks tailored to the specific airline, and you can find a comparison of them here. I value Avios at 1.3 cents each, so to me the welcome bonus on these cards are worth $975.
Learn increasingly well-nigh the Aer Lingus Visa (apply for the Aer Lingus Visa), learn increasingly well-nigh the British Airways Visa (apply for the British Airways Visa), learn increasingly well-nigh the Iberia Visa (apply for the Iberia Visa).
12. Capital One Spark Mazuma Plus
Current offer: $1,200 mazuma when without spending $30,000 within the first three months
Annual fee: $150
Why it’s a unconfined offer: This is a huge offer of $1,200 mazuma back, but it comes with a significant spending requirement. This is an all virtually unconfined card, as it ordinarily offers 2% mazuma when with no caps and no foreign transaction fees. Weightier of all, rewards can plane be converted into Capital One miles at the rate of one cent per mile, making this plane increasingly lucrative. This is a vellum that’s good for both for the welcome bonus and for everyday spending.
Learn increasingly well-nigh the Spark Mazuma Plus (apply for the Spark Mazuma Plus) (Rates & Fees).
13. Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Merchantry Credit Card
Current offer: 80,000 Rapid Rewards points without spending $5,000 within three months
Annual fee: $199
Why it’s a unconfined offer: The Southwest Performance Vellum has a huge welcome bonus with a fairly reasonable spending requirement. This vellum offers lots of fantastic long term perks, including year-end bonus points, self-ruling Wi-Fi on Southwest, upgraded boardings, and more. I value Southwest Rapid Rewards points at 1.2 cents each, so to me the welcome bonus on this vellum is worth $960.
Learn increasingly well-nigh the Southwest Performance Business (apply for the Southwest Performance Business).
14. World of Hyatt Merchantry Credit Card
Current offer: 60,000 World of Hyatt points without spending $5,000 within three months
Annual fee: $199
Why it’s a unconfined offer: There are lots of reasons to consider Hyatt’s merchantry card. The vellum offers up to $100 in Hyatt statement credits every year, you receive Discoverist status for you and up to five employees, and spending on the vellum can help you earn World of Hyatt peerage nights. I value World of Hyatt points at ~1.5 cents each, so the bonus points on this vellum are worth $900.
Learn increasingly well-nigh the World of Hyatt Merchantry Card (apply for the World of Hyatt Merchantry Card).
15. Alaska Airlines Visa® Merchantry card
Current offer: 50,000 Mileage Plan miles $100 statement credit an Alaska companion fare from $122 without spending $3,000 within 90 days
Annual fee: $70 for the company, $25 for each user
Why it’s a unconfined offer: This vellum was refreshed older in 2023, and features lots of valuable perks. In wing to the spanking-new bonus, you can receive an Alaska companion fare from $122 when you spend $6,000 on the vellum annually, priority boarding, a first checked bag free, 20% savings on inflight purchases, and more. I value the welcome bonus at $850, not including the companion fare.
Learn increasingly well-nigh the Alaska Merchantry Visa (apply for the Alaska Merchantry Visa).
16. IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Current offer: 140,000 IHG One Rewards points without spending $3,000 within three months, plus up to $100 in statement credits for purchases at IHG properties in the first 12 months
Annual fee: $99
Why it’s a unconfined offer: There several spare reasons to pick up this card, including an anniversary self-ruling night award, IHG One Rewards Platinum status, a fourth night self-ruling on ribbon redemptions, and much more. I value IHG One Rewards points at ~0.5 cents each, so the bonus points and statement credit on this vellum are worth $800.
Learn increasingly well-nigh the IHG Premier Card (Apply for the IHG Premier Card).
Rules of applying for credit cards
Before applying for cards, makes sure you’re enlightened of the rules each wall has for credit vellum applications.
One of the worldwide misconceptions people have is that they think applying for credit cards will hurt their credit. The opposite is largely true, actually. Assuming you use your credit responsibly (and make payments on time, don’t utilize too much of your credit, etc.), applying for credit cards can unquestionably help your credit.
Lastly, if you are going to wield for credit cards, make sure you do so responsibly — only wield for them if you have self-control and won’t end up in debt, and try to pay your wastefulness in full every month, or else the interest charges will negate any rewards earned.
Bottom line
The whilom are just some of the weightier credit vellum offers right now, though there are so many others to segregate from.
If you’re once into miles & points but don’t have some of the whilom cards, consider applying. If you’re new to miles & points, now is the time to get started (and I think something like the Capital One Venture X, Chase Sapphire Preferred, Citi Premier, or American Express Gold, are unconfined options to start).
The pursuit links will uncontrived you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: American Express® Merchantry Gold Vellum (Rates & Fees), American Express® Gold Vellum (Rates & Fees), and The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees).
Upon enrollment, wieldy through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically snift a cardholder as stuff eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the workable status tier. Spare terms apply.