I receive compensation for many links on this blog. You don’t have to use these links, but I am grateful to you if you do. I do not write about all credit cards that are available — instead focusing on miles, points, and cash back (and currencies that can be converted into the same).

I’ve been writing this blog since 2002, and it’s been a tremendous labor of love. I started it under the name More Room Throughout Coach — the idea that was could all find additional space in our travels and our lives, freedom and prosperity, by paying attention and working at it.

Of course, American got rid of their extra legroom throughout the entire coach cabin concept. But I kept blogging. Throughout the years there have been tremendous ups and downs to it. I wrote to catalogue what I was learning, and then I was in a position that I think what I had to say could be helpful to others trying to make the most of the travel and their miles and points.

While it’s been tremendously gratifying to help people achieve dream travels or just make their daily business commutes better, it has been very much a labor of love and not profit. There weren’t even ads up on the blog for a very long time. In the beginning there were ads, but that was when I was on Blogspot and they were getting the revenue. Awhile after my site was hosted by Randy Petersen‘s team they put up something called BlogAds which I think paid $40 a week or so, and I told Randy to keep it since presumably there were hosting costs and whatnot.

The current GoogleAds are certainly better, and it’s nice to have a little something extra from banner ads.

I’m frequently asked if there’s anything that readers can do to say thank you. And I usually tell them that their improved travels, or being able to get the frequent flyer award they want, is thanks enough. I really have been fortunate to have touched the travel lives of so many people like you.

But if I’ve been helpful in your travels or you’ve just enjoyed this blog for awhile, there is something you can do if you are inclined.

American Express, Chase, Citibank, and Barclays are advertising partners of this blog.

One of the easiest and most lucrative ways to accumulate miles and points quickly is through credit card signup bonuses. If you’re going to get a new credit card, and most readers probably should (a few times a year!) then please consider using my links for those cards.

The banks will provide me with referral credit, it doesn’t really cost you anything (you get the points, and many offers waive annual fees the first year!), but it does make a difference for me. I do greatly appreciate your consideration!

1. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has a 100,000 point initial bonus after $8,000 spend within 3 months. That can even be enough for a roundtrip business class award ticket between the US and Europe.

   It earns 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent each year on travel — that’s airlines, hotels, rental cars, tolls, even Uber — and shipping and advertising on social media and search engines, so great for anyone who advertises on Facebook or Twitter, or who spends money advertising with Google. It also comes with $600 protection against theft or damage when you use it to pay your cell phone.

   

2. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has an offer to earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel (See rates and fees)

   The card earns unlimited 2X miles on purchases – and 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel.

   You’ll receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel. And you’ll get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary. With this card you can access the Capital One Lounge as well as Priority Pass lounges.

3. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Capital One is offering a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel. You’ll unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day (Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs.) This $95 annual fee card also comes with up to a $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. (See rates and fees.)

4. Citi® / AAdvantage Business^TM World Elite Mastercard® is offering 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® miles after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first 5 months of account opening. This card has a $99 annual fee, waived for first 12 months. [Offer expired]

   The card offers first checked bag on domestic American Airlines itineraries. There’s preferred boarding on American Airlines flights as well. And each eligible mile earned from purchases also earns a Loyalty Point towards elite status.

   

5. Citi Premier^® Card On top of earning 60,000 bonus ThankYou^® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, there’s a limited-time addition: earn a total of 10 ThankYou^® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel^℠ portal through June 30, 2024. (See rates and fees.)

   That’s more than a year of substantially elevated earning through their travel portal as of this writing, and there’s no cap.

   It’s a good card for ongoing spend, too:
   

   • 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
     
   • 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
     
   • 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

   Points can be transferred to a variety of frequent flyer programs, including:

   • SkyTeam: Aeromexico Club Premier, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
   • oneworld: Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Malaysia Airlines Enrich, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Qatar Airways Privilege Club
   • Star Alliance: Avianca LifeMiles, EVA Air Infinity MileageLands, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus, Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles
   • Non-alliance: Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest, JetBlue TrueBlue
     
   • Hotels: Wyndham Rewards, Choice Privileges (1000 -> 2000!)

6. American Express® Business Gold Card has an offer to earn 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

   The card will earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap. In addition, earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.

   You earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required. You can also get $12.95 back in statement credits each month when you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. $12.95 plus applicable taxes.

   This is a $375 annual fee card. Terms apply. See rates and fees.

7. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has an offer to earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

   Points transfer to United, Hyatt, Southwest, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Singapore Airlines, JetBlue, Air France KLM, Emirates, JetBlue, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Marriott Rewards, and IHG One Rewards. Probably the best all-around credit card, certainly for getting started in the hobby, and with a great initial bonus.

   In fact since it seems easier to get approved for than Reserve, a great strategy if you want Sapphire Reserve is to get the Sapphire Preferred card and ask Chase to product change in a year. In general Chase doesn’t approve cardmembers who have signed up for 5 or more new card accounts in the past 24 months, so this is the first card you should apply for. However there are reports of some people being approved for the cards despite being over 5/24! (No guarantees. A lot of things go into an approval decision.)

   

For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, click here