AYP List of Top Credit Cards March 2017
I write this post in a somber tone, as this month of March marks the end of the best public credit card offering I have seen. The Chase Sapphire Reserve took the credit card market by storm in August 2016, and while the card is still around and available for sign-ups, the MEGA 100,000 point bonus is no more.
All good things must come to an end… but when one door closes, another one opens! There are plenty of great credit card offers out there and I am pretty gosh darn excited to share them with you via…
AYP March Top Cards!
Achieving your travel dreams with points and miles is still a very real possibility, you just got to know where to look! There are some top-notch cards in here, some with hefty annual fees, but I can guarantee that they can and will make your dreams come true!
Our goal here with Top Cards is to list out the best offers of the month based on our research – so then you can apply for one or two of these sweet offers and be on your way to [enter destination of your choice] for CHEAP using credit card points and miles!
If you are new to the credit card game, it may be wise to warm up with the AYP Starter Guide before jumping straight in. Everyone else, it’s game time.
Note: Within this post I have included various referral links – some links are my own and some links are from friends of mine – and, as a result, either I or another will receive a referral bonus upon your application and approval. I receive no other commission so thank you in advance for your support of AYP by using these links!
Have a referral link yourself? Email me at accountingyourpoints@yahoo.com and I will mix your link into my posts to share the bonus points! Seriously! Send me your link and I will post it on the blog and offer it to others who ask!
The AYP Top Card List:
(1) Chase Sapphire Preferred (Chase) –
With the fall of the CSR, the CSP is the best card on the market and will provide you a solid rewards earning base, which can then be supplemented with other card applications and bonuses. The current offer for the Chase Sapphire Preferred remains at its highest in almost 5 years and will earn you 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, with an additional 5,000 bonus points awarded after adding an authorized user.
The current bonus has been available for some time now and I have not heard of any changes coming in the near future, but remember – offers can change at any point in time… If this card is not in your wallet then check out why you NEED the Chase Sapphire Preferred! The card comes with $0 fee the first year, then $95 annually.
Own a business? It might also be worth applying for the New Chase Ink Business Preferred card for 80k points, or potentially 100k points in-branch after March 12th! Note the $5,000 minimum spending in 3 months!
(2) Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier & Plus Visa (Chase) –
I LUV Southwest – no frills, free bags, just right! The current sign-up bonus on the Premier Card treks on at an increased 50,000 Rapid Rewards Points – which equates to about $700-$800 in Southwest flights – upon spending $2,000 in the first 3 months.
This card is a great pickup if you are focused on BOGO Southwest flights with the Companion Pass! Your quest for 110,000 Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year will seem much easier with that nice 50k boost! Though the annual fee is $99 (not waived the first year), the card provides great upfront value, as well as a 6,000 Rapid Reward Point annual card member bonus (earned following payment of the 2nd year annual fee). Although we typically see this bonus a couple times a year, I suggest taking advantage of it now, just in case history stops repeating itself.
Own a business? Go for the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier Business card and for another 60k Rapid Rewards points to bring you even closer to the Companion Pass threshold!
(3) Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card (American Express) –
American Express has brought back the increased sign-up bonus on The Starwood Preferred Guest credit card by American Express! This card has just tied its highest sign-up bonus in history at 35,000 Starpoints – which are among the most valuable reward currency in the points and miles world! Make sure to note that the bonus structure is a bit different this time around, as the 35k points are structured in 25k and 10k points based on minimum spending thresholds…
While 35,000 points may seem on the low end when compared to some other cards on this list, the value lies in the flexibility of Starpoints. Starpoints can be redeemed directly at SPG Hotels, or they can be transferred to over 30 airline partners – SPG will even tack on an extra 5,000 miles when you make a transfer of 20,000 to an airline partner! Additionally, keep in mind that the SPG and Marriott just merged and reward points can be used at both brands!
Here are the details on the Personal offer:
- 25,000 bonus Starpoints upon making $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months.
- Plus 10,000 bonus Starpoints after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months.
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95
- 35,000 offer expires 4/5/2017 – so ACT NOW!
And for those in Biz, there is also a similarly structured Business Offer!
(4) American Express Platinum –
The American Express Platinum Charge Card comes with a public sign-up bonus of 40,000 Membership Rewards points (though 75,000 point offers appear when using incognito browsing windows) after $5k spending in the first 3 months along with a long list of travel perks and benefits, but with a $450 annual fee (soon to be increasing to $550), it is not for everyone! While $450 soon to be $550 is a lot of money to spend to be a credit card holder, IT IS POSSIBLE to justify this fee if you can maximize the cards sign-up bonus and benefits:
- Annual $200 Airline Fee Credit
- 5x membership Rewards in Airfare Purchases!
- Global Entry of TSA PreCheck Fee Reimbursement
- Lounge Access –Delta SkyClub, American Express Centurion, & Priority Pass
- Gold Status at Hilton, Starwood and now Marriott (via Status Match!)
- AND NOW – $200 annual Uber credits
(5) Get Down to Business…
With the Business versions of two of my favorite personal credit cards! Getting a business card is easier than you may think. A business can be anything from a corporation to your side hustle on ebay – as long as you are “an organization or enterprising entity engaged in commercial, industrial or professional activities” – as per investopedia – then can qualify for a business credit card!
American Express Business Platinum – 50,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $10,000 and an additional 25,000 points after spending an additional $10,000 within your first 3 months of Card Membership… It is A LOT of spending… but it can be done!
- Annual $200 Airline Fee Credit
- 5x membership Rewards in Airfare Purchases!
- Global Entry of TSA PreCheck Fee Reimbursement
- Lounge Access –Delta SkyClub, American Express Centurion, & Priority Pass
- Gold Status at Hilton, Starwood and now Marriott (via Status Match!)
- 5x earning on eligible flight & hotel bookings (i.e. via amextravel.com)
- Improved Priority Pass guest access (2 free guests privileges)
- Plus come other junk like: Complimentary Additional Gold Cards, Expansion of the Global Lounge Collection, Access to a new Global Dining Collection
Chase Ink Preferred – Sign-up of 80,000 after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening. The annual fee is 4(5 and is NOT waived the first year.Some other perks include:
- 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel, shipping, Internet, cable and phone services, and advertising purchases made on social media
AYP Tip – Head in-branch for a possible 100k offer!
Final Thought
Don’t beat yourself up if you missed out on the GREATNESS that was the Chase Sapphire Reserve 100k sign-up bonus! You may have lost out there, but you still have the opportunity to take advantage of some pretty rewarding credit card offers.
It’s only March and the year is still young – meaning you have plenty of time to make 2017 the most travel rewarding yet!
You CAN travel the world and you can do it for FREE or cheap! The offers above will take you where you want to go, you just have to let them!
Keep in mind that all of the offers above are “public offers” and are available to all applicants. There are often higher, more exclusive, offers out there (check your email and mailbox). So, if you are targeted for these higher offers, apply for your targeted offer rather than through the links above!
Did I miss one of your favorite current card offerings? Comment below or email me at accountingyourpoints@yahoo.com
Happy Travels!
DW
