Several travel rewards credit cards are offering boosted welcome offers. It's great timing to apply now, spend the next few months earning the welcome offer and possibly redeem those points or miles for summer or fall travel this year.
Here’s a look at some of the best deals out there, based on the value of the welcome offers, which were calculated using NerdWallet's valuations of credit card and loyalty program points.
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card
Earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points plus a $150 statement credit after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 09/30/2026. Terms Apply.
- Annual fee: $250 (see rates and fees).
- Value of welcome offer: $1,025. NerdWallet values Marriott points at 0.7 cent each.
- Why you should get it: The $150 statement credit pushes this hotel card's welcome offer over $1,000 in value.
- Who should get it: Marriott enthusiasts trying to earn more Marriott points on groceries and restaurants. This card earns 4x points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
- Who should skip it: People looking for a Marriott card with a lower annual fee might opt for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card instead.
- Terms apply.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Earn 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points plus a $250 statement credit after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 09/30/2026. Terms Apply.
- Annual fee: $650 (see rates and fees).
- Value of welcome offer: $1,300. NerdWallet values Marriott points at 0.7 cent each.
- Why you should get it: This offer is 50,000 points more than the previous offer. Plus, the $250 statement credit can offset some of your spending.
- Who should get it: People who want the benefits of Marriott's Platinum elite status, such as complimentary upgrades to select suites when available. Usually, it would take 50 nights at Marriott hotels in a calendar year to earn Platinum status.
- Who should skip it: People who aren't loyal to Marriott could get Marriott Gold status and points that can transfer to Marriott and other airlines and hotels with an American Express Platinum Card®.
- Terms apply.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
As High As 80,000 Bonus Miles + Earn a $250 Statement Credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. You may not be eligible for the maximum welcome offer amount. Offer ends 11/04/2026. Terms Apply.
- Annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $150, see rates and fees.
- Value of welcome offer: $1,210. NerdWallet values Delta SkyMiles at 1.2 cents each.
- Why you should get it: Delta added a few new benefits earlier this year and the welcome offer now includes a new statement credit. The $10 monthly credit for certain ride-hailing services could help offset much of the annual fee.
- Who should get it: Delta flyers who want a credit card with an annual fee that's easy to justify and access to cardholder discount on award flights.
- Who should skip it: Travelers who want Delta Sky Club lounge access can get that and an even higher welcome offer with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.
- Terms apply.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Earn two round‑trip Delta Comfort Flight Certificates valid for travel to the U.S. 48, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $10,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 6 months. A 21+ day advance purchase is required. Taxes and fees up to $80 per person apply. Terms and other restrictions apply. Offer ends 11/4/2026. Terms Apply.
- Annual fee: $650, see rates and fees.
- Value of welcome offer: $600, plus the value of two round-trip flights within the contiguous U.S., Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands. NerdWallet values Delta SkyMiles at 1.2 cents each.
- Why you should get it: This is the first time we've seen a Delta card's welcome offer include two flight certificates in Comfort, the airline's extra legroom seats at the front of the economy cabin.
- Who should get it: Delta enthusiasts who regularly travel with a companion and want Delta Sky Club access. In addition to the two Flight Certificates from the welcome offer, cardholders also receive one companion certificate each year after card renewal.
- Who should skip it: Travelers who are mainly interested in Delta cardholder benefits like the Take15 15% cardholder discount on award flights could opt for a Delta card with a lower annual fee.
- Terms apply.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
As High As 90,000 Bonus Miles + Earn a $300 Statement Credit after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. You may not be eligible for the maximum welcome offer amount. Offer ends 11/04/2026. Terms Apply.
- Annual fee: $350, see rates and fees.
- Value of welcome offer: $1,380. NerdWallet values Delta SkyMiles at 1.2 cents each.
- Why you should get it: This Delta card comes with an annual companion certificate, which allows friends or family to fly for only the cost of taxes and fees on a round-trip itinerary in Main Cabin within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean or Central America. This benefit alone could be worth more than the annual fee.
- Who should get it: Delta flyers who travel at least once a year with another person and don't mind sitting in economy.
- Who should skip it: Travelers who prefer to book Delta First, Premium Select or Comfort seats for themselves and their travel companions. The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card's annual companion certificate can be redeemed for these premium seats.
- Terms apply.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.
- Annual fee: $150, see rates and fees.
- Value of welcome offer: $520. NerdWallet values Hilton points at 0.4 cent each.
- Why you should get it: This welcome offer provides a decent number of points for one of the lower-annual-fee Hilton cards.
- Who should get it: Hilton enthusiasts who plan to book Hilton properties at least once per quarter. This card gives cardholders $50 in statement credits per quarter for Hilton purchases.
- Who should skip it: People who want an automatic free night certificate might prefer a different hotel card. The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card requires $15,000 of spending in a calendar year to earn a Free Night Reward.
- Terms apply.
Bilt Palladium Card
Earn 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Annual fee: $495.
- Value of welcome offer: $1,200. NerdWallet values Bilt Points at 1.8 cents each.
- Why you should get it: Bilt just unveiled its new family of cards, and this is the only one with a points-based sign-up bonus. The points alone are worth $900, and the $300 in Bilt Cash can be redeemed for a variety of purchases within the Bilt ecosystem.
- Who should get it: People who want to earn Bilt points on everyday purchases and redeem them for travel with Bilt transfer partners like World of Hyatt and Alaska Airlines. Bilt Rewards is the only major loyalty program that offers point transfers to Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines' Atmos Rewards.
- Who should skip it: People who already have similar cards, like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card or people seeking to use this card solely to earn rewards on rent or mortgage payments. This card is best for people who plan to use the card as their everyday spending card.
To view rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, see this page.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
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