Credit card sign up bonuses can be a great tool for offsetting major travel expenses and there are some great bonuses currently available. Each card, has its own perks and terms and conditions so the best credit card sign up bonuses are the ones that will benefit you and help you work towards a travel goal whether it’s to volunteer halfway across the world or to see friends or family millions of miles away or plan a weekend getaway on a remote beach in the tropics. Here are my top picks for credit card sign up bonuses for the month of August.
1. Chase Ink Plus Business Card
Bonus offer: 70,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $5,000 within three months
Annual fee: $95 per year and the fee is not waived the first year
Review: The Chase Ink Plus Business version of the card has a high bonus offer of 70,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $5,000 within three months of opening an account however the offer is only available by applying at a Chase Branch. Ultimate Rewards are very flexible points that can be redeemed with United Airlines as well as at hotels and the UR shopping portal. The points can be transferred to partner programs at a 1 to 1 meaning they will not lose value when being transferred.
Card Perks:
- 5x points on office supply stores, internet, cell phone, and cable purchases
- Free Lounge Club membership and 2 complimentary lounge accesses every year you pay the annual fee on the card
- Ultimate flexibility by transferring points to valuable transfer partners
- No foreign transaction fees
2. The US Airways Premier World MasterCard®
Bonus offer: 40,000 US Airways miles after first purchase
Annual fee: $89 per year
Review: The US Airways Premier World MasterCard is currently offering 40,000 bonus miles after your first purchase. This is an incredible offer with no spending requirement, however the card does have an $89 annual fee.
US Airways miles have among the most valuable award chart and from the 40k miles you can easily get $750+ in free flights. A few best uses of US Airways miles include 120,000 for a roundtrip First Class flight from the US to North Asia and 100,000 roundtrip Business Class to Europe (125k in First).
With the card you will also get a free checked bag for you and four of your travel companions on domestic US Airways flights.
Card Perks:
- Free checked bag for you and four of your travel companions
- One companion certificate good for up to 2 guests to travel with you on a US Airways-operated flight at $99 each, plus taxes and fees
3. Barclaycard Arrival Plus™ World Elite MasterCard®
Bonus offer: 40,000 miles after spending $3,000 within 90 days
Annual fee: Waived the first year, then $89 per year
Review: Among the most flexible and highest earning rewards cards out there is the Barclaycard Arrival Plus™ World Elite MasterCard®. The card earns 2x points on all purchases and you will get a 10% mile rebate on all miles redeemed for travel, that means you will earn 2.2% cash back on every dollar spent. You can redeem miles for a statement credit to pay yourself back for any purchases travel, making the card incredible flexible and easy to use. These two aspects make the Arrival Plus card one of the top all-around travel rewards credit cards and one that every serious traveler should have.
You will get over $440 in free travel when you redeem the 40,000 mile sign-up bonus for travel purchases.
Card Perks:
- 40,000 mile sign-up bonus worth $400 in free travel
- 10% mile rebate on any miles redeemed for travel
- Ultimate flexibility and high rewards earnings
- No foreign transaction fees
4. Chase IHG Rewards Club Select MasterCard
Bonus offer: 80,000 points after spending $1,000 within three months
Annual fee: Waived the first year, then $49 per year
Review: The Chase IHG Reward card is considered one of the best hotel credit cards and the 80,000 sign up bonus comes with a free night certificate every anniversary that you pay the annual fee. 80,000 points can go a long way because some Holiday Inn location are 15,000 points per night, such as the Holiday Inn Sisli in Istanbul which is usually $350 per night. Additionally, for $49, you can book one night at any of the IHG properties which include Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and InterContinental hotels, but the best use of the free night certificate is for stays at hotels that cost up to $900 per night such as the InterContinental Thalasso in Bora Bora.
Card perks:
- Platinum status with IHG which gives you free internet, 50% points on paid stays and room upgrades
- 10% rebate on IHG Rewards Club points that you redeemed during the year
- No foreign transaction fees
5. Citi Platinum Select AAdvantage MasterCard
Bonus offer: 50,000 AAdvantage miles after spending $3,000 within three months
Annual fee: $95 per year, but waived the first year
Review: The Citi Platinum Select AAdvantage made the list because the 50,000 AAdvantage miles is a great sign up bonus that can be redeemed with any of American Airlines’ oneworld partners. That equates to about $950 in travel at 1.9 cents per mile. With 50,000 points you can travel round trip to Europe during the off-peak season on economy with American Airlines.
Card Perks:
- Your first checked bag is free for you and up to four companions
- No blackout dates on award travel on American Airlines, American Eagle, and the American Connection carrier
- Group 1 boarding when flying
The important thing to always remember when applying for credit cards is to never taken on more than you can handle. Don’t think of a credit card as free money, you should always always always pay your balance off in full every month to avoid paying interest fees. Interest fees take away the whole purpose of signing up for credit cards to earn free airline miles. If you’re accruing a balance, then you’re not really traveling for as free as you would like.
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