I often tell people that the hardest way to earn airline miles is to step on an airplane. Even on the carriers that still offer you miles based on the distance you travel, you’ll only earn about 500 miles per hour you spend on an airplane. And you’ll have to spend an entire night in a hotel just to earn a few thousand points in their loyalty program.

In contrast, it takes just a few minutes to sign-up for a credit card that can offer you 50,000 to 100,000 points or miles as a welcome bonus. 50,000 miles is a competitive offer from an airline card, or one that offers points that can be transferred to airline miles. However, the best offers will be in the 60,000 to 100,000 mile range.  With hotel points, a strong offer is one with enough points for at least two free nights in a mid-range hotel. But because hotel points are generally less valuable than airline miles, expect to receive 80,000 to 100,000 points from the best of these offers.

To receive these rewards, you’ll typically have to meet a minimum spending requirement, often $3,000 to $5,000 within three months of account opening. However, some of the most generous offers will have even larger spending requirements. Also, most cards will have an annual fee, although some are waived the first year.

Once you’ve paid an annual fee and received your welcome bonus, the last thing you’ll want to do is cancel your card. Instead, try it out for a year and see how you like its rewards, benefits and customer service. At the end of your first year, you’ll have all the information you need to decide if it’s worth keeping or not.

10 Major Credit Card Bonuses for February 2019

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Welcome offer:  Until February 11, you can earn 30,000 points after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening, along with a Companion Pass valid until 12/31/19.

Annual fee: $69

Comment: This is an unprecedented offer to receive the Companion Pass with a single card. Similar offers are also available for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card.

 

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

Welcome offer: Earn 125,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first 3 months of Card Membership.

Annual fee: $95 (see rates and fees)

Comment: This card offers you 12x points at eligible Hilton hotels, 6x points at U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services, U.S. shipping and U.S. restaurants plus rental cars and eligible flights booked through Amex Travel. You get 3x points everywhere else, plus automatic Gold elite status and a Weekend Night Award  after you spend $15,000 in purchases during a calendar year.

 

The Business Platinum® Card from American Express

Welcome offer: Earn up to 75,000 Membership Rewards. Earn 50,000 points after you spend $10,000, and another 25,000 after spending an additional $10,000 within your three months of account opening.

Annual fee: $595 (see rates and fees)

Comment: This is an attractive welcome bonus, but it’s also has a very high minimum spending requirement. Still this can be an attractive offer for small businesses owners looking to jump start their rewards balances. The annual fee is expensive, but it comes with enough perks, benefits and travel fee reimbursements to justify it.

 

CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard®

Welcome offer: Earn up to 60,000 bonus miles. You earn 50,000 miles after spending $3,000 within the first three months of account opening, and another 10,000 miles after spending a total of $10,000 within 12 months of account opening.

Annual fee: $99, waived the first year

Comment: This card now offers double miles on purchases at telecommunications, car rental merchants and at gas stations, as well as for American Airlines purchases. You also receive a free checked bag, preferred boarding and discounts on in-flight food and beverages.

 

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Welcome offer: 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $5,000 within the first three months of account opening.

Annual fee: $550 (see rates and fees)

Comment: While the card's annual fee is among the very highest, it also comes bundled with an annual air travel fee statement credit of up to $200, and an annual Uber credit of up to $200, as well as a credit towards the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application of up to $100. This card now offers a credit towards Saks Fifth Avenue purchases twice a year of up to $50 (enrollment required). You also earn 5x points per $1 for flights booked through the airline and eligible hotels booked with Amextravel.com.

 

Hilton Honors American Express Ascend Card

Welcome offer:  Earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within three months of account opening. You also get a Weekend Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on purchases on your Card in a calendar year.

Annual fee: $95 (see rates and fees)

Comment: This is an excellent offer for a card that offers 12x points at Hilton portfolio hotels, 6x points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations and 3x points on all other purchases. You also receive Gold elite status.

 

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

Welcome offer:  50,000 points after spending $3,000 within the first 90 days of account opening.

Annual fee: $95

Comment: This card’s welcome offer is worth $500 and it includes 2x points on all travel and dining purchases, and 1.5x elsewhere. It also includes up to $200 in combined airline incidental and airport expedited screening statement credits, and no foreign transaction fees.

 

Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard®

Welcome offer:  Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 within the first 90 days of account opening, worth over $700 in travel statement credits

Annual fee: $89, waived the first year

Comment: This card is a great compliment to other travel reward cards, as it lets you use mile as statement credits towards any travel purchase. So when you use other points and miles to pay for your flights or hotels, you can use your Barclays miles for the rest of your travel purchases.

 

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Welcome offer:  Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening, worth $625 in travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Annual fee: $95, waived the first year.

Comment: This card is a perennial favorite for travel rewards enthusiasts, as you can transfer your points to airline and hotel partners.

 

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard®

Welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending just $2,500 within the first three months of account opening.

Annual fee: $99, waived the first year

Comment: This card now offers double miles on purchases at gas stations and restaurants, as well as for eligible American Airlines purchases. You also receive a free checked bag, preferred boarding and discounts on in-flight food and beverages.

 

Intro image by Ti_ser via Shutterstock