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.

Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card

Earn 100,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award with this offer. To qualify, spend $6,000 or more on purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.

Annual fee: $395.

Value of welcome offer: $1,500. NerdWallet values Alaska Airlines' Atmos points at 1.2 cents each.

Why you should get it: Alaska Airlines just unveiled their new premium credit card and joint loyalty program, and both have several unique and high-value benefits. On the credit card, for example, cardholders can get a 25,000-point Global Companion Award and an automatic $50 voucher every time the cardholder's Alaska or Hawaiian Airlines flight is delayed by two hours or more.

Who should get it: West Coast flyers and international globetrotters that can take advantage of some of the sweet spots in the Atmos award chart (yes, they still have some, sort of!).

Who should skip it: People who don't fly Alaska Airlines or their partners often.

Learn more: Is the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card worth its annual fee?

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

For a limited time, 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®

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?

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?

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card - Miles Boost

For a limited time, enjoy a $100 credit to use towards flights, stays and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel during your first cardholder year. Plus, earn 40,000 bonus miles once you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

• Annual fee: $0.

• Value of welcome offer: $500, or more if you transfer the miles to high-value Capital One transfer partners.

• Why you should get it: This might be the first time we've ever seen a $0-annual-fee card offer a travel credit as part of its welcome offer.

• Who should get it: People looking for a $0-annual-fee travel credit card with a better-than-usual bonus. This card would be great for beginner points travelers who want to try earning travel rewards without the commitment of an annual fee or existing Capital One travel cardholders who want to add to their Capital One miles balance and get a $100 discount on a future trip.

• Who should skip it: Travelers who prefer to avoid the risks of booking through a credit card travel portal might not want the Capital One travel credit. Also, other Capital One travel cards (that come with an annual fee) earn at least 2x miles on all purchases, so people who can afford an annual fee will find they can rack up rewards more quickly with a more expensive card.

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 or $229 for the 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.

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.

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 85,000 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.