The Best Travel Credit Card Welcome Bonus Offers Right Now

Several travel rewards credit cards are offering boosted welcome bonus offers right now.

Here’s a look at some of the best deals out there, based on the value of the welcome bonus offers, which were calculated using NerdWallet's valuations of credit card and loyalty program points.

» Learn more: Should I get more than one travel credit card?

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

Earn 80,000 bonus Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.

• Annual fee: $595.

• Value of welcome offer: $800, or more if transferred to high-value partners.

• Why you should get it: This new card is one of only two cards that earn Citi ThankYou points that can transfer to American Airlines' AAdvantage program, which has some of the cheapest domestic award flights.

• Who should get it: Regular American Airlines flyers who want the option to earn a flexible rewards currency that can be transferred to American, as well as other travel partners.

• Who should skip it: People who don't need the four Admirals Club lounge passes and Priority Pass might prefer the lower-annual-fee Citi Strata Premier® Card.

• Learn more: Citi Strata Elite vs. Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

Southwest Airlines credit cards

Our best points offer this year, earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 5 months from account opening.

• Annual fee: $99 for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, $149 for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card or $229 for Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card.

• Value of welcome offer: $1,300. NerdWallet values Southwest points at 1.3 cents each.

• Why you should get it: Southwest just updated the benefits on its family of co-branded credit cards, and applying for one of these cards is one way loyal flyers can continue to get some of the benefits Southwest took away earlier this year, such as a free checked bag.

• Who should get it: Southwest flyers who are trying to earn the Southwest Companion Pass this year. With the points earned from the spending to earn the sign-up bonus and the bonus itself, cardholders will only need to earn another 31,000 points to qualify for the pass, which allows a designated companion to fly on the same itineraries for the next calendar year at only the cost of taxes and fees.

• Who should skip it: All of the Southwest cards have the same bonus offer, so travelers should look for the Southwest card with an annual fee and benefits that match their budget and travel habits. Infrequent Southwest travelers could opt for a Chase Sapphire card instead because Chase Ultimate Rewards® can be transferred to Southwest and other airline or hotel partners.

• Learn more: Best Southwest Airlines credit cards

World of Hyatt Credit Card

Earn 2 Free Nights after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn 25,000 Bonus Points after you spend $12,000 on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening.

• Annual fee: $95.

• Value of welcome offer: $1,342. NerdWallet values Hyatt points at 2.2 cents each.

• Why you should get it: Many people get a hotel credit card for the free nights benefit. With this sign-up bonus, you don't have to wait for your one-year card anniversary to book your free nights.

• Who should get it: Hyatt lovers who plan to spend at least two nights at a Category 1 to 4 property this year.

• Who should skip it: Travelers who want to book higher category properties or all-inclusive resorts may prefer to earn a sign-up bonus with more bonus points, rather than free nights. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card would be a good alternative because Chase Ultimate Rewards® transfer to World of Hyatt.

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

For a limited time, earn 80,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $3,500 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.

• Annual fee: $99, waived for the first 12 months.

• Value of welcome offer: $1,280. NerdWallet values American miles at 1.6 cents each.

• Why you should get it: AAdvantage isn't a transfer partner of any other credit card rewards program, so if you want to collect American miles, this low-annual-fee credit card is one of your best options. Plus, this welcome bonus is 30,000 miles higher than the previous offer.

• Who should get it: Travelers who fly American Airlines regularly and are interested in getting airline-specific perks, like free checked bags and priority boarding.

• Who should skip it: People who don't want to be tied to one airline or who want lounge access might prefer a more general travel card.

• Learn more: Is an American Airlines card worth it?

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Earn 100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

• Annual fee: $795.

• Value of welcome offer: $1,500, or more if you transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards® to high-value partners.

• Why you should get it: This is the best ever offer we've seen on this card, and Chase Ultimate Rewards® points are still one of the most valuable types of credit card points because of the program's stellar roster of transfer partners.

• Who should get it: Frequent travelers that live near an airport with a Chase Sapphire lounge.

• Who should skip it: People who aren't interested in tracking their use of the monthly and semi-annual credits on this card. The high annual fee on is only worth it if you can make use of several of the card's benefits.

• Learn more: Chase Sapphire Reserve® makes big changes: Higher annual fee, new rates, more perks

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

• Annual fee: $95.

• Value of welcome offer: $750, or more if you transfer your points to travel partners for high-value redemptions.

• Why you should get it: If you missed the 100,000-point sign-up offer earlier this year, this offer is your next best option. It's 15,000 points more than the previous offer.

• Who should get it: People who want access to Chase's excellent transfer partners for a low annual fee.

• Who should skip it: Travelers looking for airport lounge access will need a more expensive card. May we suggest the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card?

The New United Quest℠ Card

Earn 100,000 bonus miles and 3,000 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

• Annual fee: $350.

• Value of welcome offer: $1,200. NerdWallet values United miles at 1.2 cents each.

• Why you should get it: This is the best ever offer we've seen on this card. The sign-up bonus alone will get you halfway to Premier Silver status, the first level of elite status in the United MileagePlus program.

• Who should get it: Frequent United flyers who spend at least $200 with United every year and pursue elite status.

• Who should skip it: More casual United flyers will probably get everything they need (free checked bags, United miles earning and even two United Club day passes) with the lower-annual-fee The New United℠ Explorer Card.

• Learn more: I missed my flight. The United Quest card saved the day.

The New United℠ Business Card

Limited-time offer: Earn 100,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

• Annual fee: $150.

• Value of welcome offer: $1,200. NerdWallet values United miles at 1.2 cents each.

• Why you should get it: This sign-up offer is 25,000 points more than the previous offer.

• Who should get it: Business owners who fly United at least five times a year and already have a United Airlines card. If you have a personal United card and this business card, you'll earn an additional 5,000 bonus miles per year.

• Who should skip it: Business owners who don't fly United always might want a more general business credit card.

Hilton Honors American Express Card

Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points and a $100 Statement Credit after you spend $2,000 on eligible purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express® Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 8/13/2025. Terms Apply.

• Annual fee: $0 ( see rates and fees).

• Value of welcome offer: $700. NerdWallet values Hilton points at 0.6 cent each.

• Why you should get it: This welcome offer is 20,000 points higher than the previous offer and gives new cardholders an additional $100 statement credit. 100,000 Hilton points is also not too shabby for a $0-annual-fee card.

• Who should get it: People who are interested in dipping their toes into the Hilton ecosystem without committing to an annual fee.

• Who should skip it: Travelers interested in booking luxury hotels with Hilton points might get more value from a different Hilton card with a higher annual fee, more premium perks and a higher welcome offer.

• Terms apply.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

• Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150 (see rates and fees).

• Value of welcome offer: $780. NerdWallet values Hilton points at 0.6 cent each.

• Why you should get it: This card made the list because of its intro annual fee. This gives new cardholders the chance to get two years worth of benefits while paying just one annual fee.

• Who should get it: Hilton enthusiasts who want to test drive a co-branded card with a low annual fee.

• Who should skip it: People who are looking for the highest welcome offer (and can stomach a premium annual fee) might find they can get more points by applying for The Platinum Card® from American Express and then transferring points to Hilton.

• Terms apply.

One Key+™ Card

Limited Time Offer: Earn $600 in OneKeyCash™ after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. OneKeyCash is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Expedia®, Hotels.com® and Vrbo®.

• Annual fee: $99.

• Value of welcome offer: $600.

• Why you should get it: This offer is $200 more than the previous offer.

• Who should get it: People who want flexibility to earn rewards to book vacation rentals, hotels and flights on Vrbo, Hotels.com and Expedia with their rewards.

• Who should skip it: People looking for a sign-up bonus with a higher cash value. It's possible to get a welcome offer worth twice as much with some of the other cards available right now.

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card

Earn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

• Annual fee: $250 (see rates and fees).

• Value of welcome offer: $1,395. NerdWallet values Marriott points at 0.9 cent each.

• Why you should get it: This offer is 20,000 points more than the previous offer and has a lower spending threshold to earn the welcome offer.

• Who should get it: Marriott enthusiasts who want a Free Night Reward that can be used at more properties. This mid-tier card offers a Free Night Reward worth up to 50,000 points while the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (which has an annual fee of $95) has a Free Night Reward worth up to 35,000 points.

• Who should skip it: People who want even more Marriott perks should probably consider the most premium card. More on that below.

• Learn more: Is the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card worth its annual fee?

• Terms apply.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

• Annual fee: $650 (see rates and fees) .

• Value of welcome offer: $1,665. NerdWallet values Marriott points at 0.9 cent each.

• Why you should get it: This welcome offer is 35,000 points more than the previous offer.

• Who should get it: People who stay at Marriotts frequently, but not enough to earn a high level of elite status, will enjoy the Platinum elite status that comes with this card, as well as the Free Night Award valued up to 80,000 points.

• Who should skip it: Travelers who want more flexibility with how they can redeem their points (read: at multiple hotel brands or on flights as well as hotels) may want to consider a premium card with transferable points instead.

• Learn more: Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card worth its annual fee?

• Terms apply.

Choice Privileges® Mastercard®

Limited Time Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - enough to redeem for up to 7 reward nights at select Choice Hotels® properties. Additional fees may apply.

• Annual fee: $0.

• Value of the welcome offer: $480. NerdWallet values Choice points at 0.8 cent each.

• Why you should get it: This sign-up offer is 20,000 points more than the previous offer.

• Who should get it: Travelers who want a $0-annual-fee hotel credit card and a low minimum spend requirement for the sign-up bonus. Cardholders can use their points at hotel brands like Radisson, Cambria Hotels, Comfort and more.

• Who should skip it: People who don't stay at Choice hotels regularly or want a bigger sign-up bonus to redeem for award travel.

The information related to Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.