The Top 25 Credit Cards

(If you see any errors, please let me know. I try to keep a full list, but it’s a lot of information and I do make mistakes)

 

Significant Changes Since Last Month:
-Southwest cards back to 60,000.
-Capital One Venture up to 75,000.
-Increased bonuses on Capital One Spark Cash and Miles cards.
-Edited American Airlines links/offers.
-Citi Premier added to list.
-Some readers seeing 100,000-point American Express Platinum offer via CardMatch again. Others seeing 75,000 in incognito browsers.
-Barclays Arrival up to 70,000.
-New link for United card.
-Slight increase on BMO Harris cards.
-Chase Freedom $200 bonus.
-Decreased bonus on IHG.
-Removed Wyndham from the list.

 

Before Playing This Game:
-Find a new hobby until you can pay off all balances each month.
-Take a second to look at what you’re applying for and confirm a bonus is what you expect.
-Get a screenshot of the bonus description in case you have issues collecting it later.
-Take 2 minutes to read the small print before applying.
(Look for “once in a lifetime,” “no bonus for cardholders in last 24 months,” etc.)
-Keep everything very organized in a spreadsheet. You’ll thank me later.

 

Time for my monthly Top 25 Credit Cards. It’s called “Top 25” out of tradition, but you’ll get many more links than that below. Again, if you’re a rookie, make sure you read The Newbie Guide. It’s a little outdated but many basic questions can still be answered there. For people running out of cards, remember there’s often a Business card option. Also, “churning” (getting the same card more than once) might be an option. The dates here were a guideline but things always tend to vary individually. If you’re new, it might be wise to start with Chase cards because of the limitations they’ll place on you soon.

Miles and points are far from an equal currency. 50,000 Delta SkyMiles are worth less to me than that amount from Alaska Airlines. 25,000 Hyatt points mean way more than the same number from Hilton. And so on. These links work right now (December 2nd at midnight). If you read this later, many of the offers will have changed. Things move fast so read offer details and terms before applying. Especially all that small print when you’re trying to get bonuses more than once on the same card. Ok, enough chatter…here we go! My “Top 25” current credit cards are below.

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United Promo

It’s time, once again, to check in with United’s Mile Play promo and see what bonuses they’re offering.

Personally, I got nothing.

But it ranges from zero to “This is borderline garbage” to “I’m not offended” to “That’s pretty damn good.”

Also, I know I need to write something here. We’re on the doorstep of the last month of 2018 and tons of you have been asking end-of-MileNerd questions. Part of waiting was that I really wanted to get through the year here in a “business as usual” way. Another big part is…I’ve just had a ton to organize…a lot to think about…and so much that I want to say. So, here’s how I’d like to close out 2018…

I’ll finish the year as usual. Meaning, writing 5 posts a week until taking a few days off for the holidays. And then January 1st, I’ll come back and write those posts. Most likely over a couple of weeks…to talk about what it meant to do this for so many years, why anyone would spend those hours on a “job” with no paycheck, how this will be evolving, what I want to give you, the future outlook of this game, and all the rest of the stuff that is on my mind. Those will be longer, wide-ranging, fiery posts…the type of stuff a lot of you guys seem to like/want from me. There’s a ton to be said. And I promise I’ll be saying it. I’d just really like to finish out the year first. Have a great weekend, nerds!

Island Fares

I got a bunch of emails from readers booking island flights yesterday. Nothing too unusual about that. But it was both coasts and totally different islands. So…

If you’re anywhere (but particularly on the West Coast) and looking to pay for a Hawaii flight between December and March…it’s worth a search right now. Multiple readers booked low fares (most under $400 and some under $300 for the round-trip).

Also, for people not on the West Coast looking for a paid Puerto Rico flight in the first half of 2019…that’s also worth a look.

 

Midweek Cameron

A pair of tidbits from reader Cameron…

The first (which won’t be for everyone) is up to 10,000 miles for joining/flying Qatar Airways.

The other one is potentially useful information. Especially if Bank of America currently likes you…

Apparently Cameron was charged fees on a closed Alaska card. First an annual fee and then a late fee for not noticing/expecting/seeing it. Another reader mentioned something VERY similar a few days ago. At this point, even after you close a Bank of America credit card…keep an eye on it.

Tuesday Triple

If I had to guess the 3 most regularly appearing deals of the year…

Gun to my head, I’d go with Delta sales, IHG PointBreaks, and Southwest sales.

They’re all here today.

What are the odds?

(Probably like 80%)