Best Current Credit Cards

Since this is obviously an important topic, I’ll try to keep an updated version of this posted every month. Here’s what I think your current best bets are:

Chase Cards

  • Ink Bold – 50,000 points. Spend $10,000 in first 3 months.
  • Sapphire – 40,000 points. Spend $3,000 in first 3 months.

(Ink & Sapphire points are GREAT. Transfer to United, British Air, Southwest, Hyatt, Marriott, & more)

  • Hyatt – 2 free nights at any Hyatt in the world after first dollar spent.
  • United Airlines Explorer Card – Instead of clicking this link, log into your account at United.com. If you have any miles there, you should get an offer for 50,000 miles after spending $1,000 in 3 months.

Bank of America (and Bank of Hawaii)

(I would transfer the Hawaiian miles to Hilton points at a 2 to 1 ratio)

Citibank
American Airlines Amex and Visa– 50,000 miles. Spend $3,000 in first 4 months.
(Get both by applying at the same time using 2 different browsers like Google Chrome and Internet Explorer)

Barclays
US Airways – 40,000 miles after first use.
(This & the Hawaiian Airlines cards are very “churnable” – earn bonuses multiple times)

American Express
Starwood Preferred Guest – 25,000 points. Spend $5,000 in first 6 months.
(My favorite card, especially if you need more hotel points. Their cash + points options are great)
**Please email me if you plan to apply for this card so I can send you a referral link**

My usual methods for credit card applications still apply:

  • I typically apply for multiple cards on the same day, once every 3 months.
  • I apply at the same time using different browsers, which can sometimes save me credit inquiry “hits.”
  • I don’t apply for more than 1 card from each bank on that day (1 from Chase, 1 from Citibank, 1 from Barclays, etc)
  • If I’ve recently gotten a bonus, I sometimes apply for the Business version of the same card. No, I don’t have a business. I just use my social security number, make up a business name, and apply.

If you’ve gotten all the best offers, there are always other decent options, such as:

  • Delta – 35,000 miles after spending $750 (American Express)
  • Alaska Airlines – 40,000 miles after spending $7,500 (Bank of America)
  • Hilton – 2 weekend nights plus gold status after spending $2,500. (Citibank)

250 American Airlines Miles

If you haven’t signed up for e-rewards yet, you can do it here. Take one survey within 3 months and pick up 250 American Airlines miles.

500 Miles For Donations

For those of you who donate to charity, get a little something for your good deeds here. 250 American Airline miles for a $50 donation and 500 miles for a $100 donation to the Red Cross.

Don’t Take No For An Answer

If you apply for bunches of credit cards, you’re going to hear some No’s. It happens. But getting denied for a card isn’t the final answer. I’ve had a good success rate getting my denials turned around. Below are the phone numbers I use. Chase is by far the best of the bunch. They’ll listen to why you need the card, move credit around, and pretty much do anything they can to help. If a 5-minute phone call can earn you thousands of miles, why wouldn’t you take advantage?

Chase
888-245-0625

American Express
866-314-0237

Citibank
866-606-2787 or 800-763-9795

Bank Of America
866-458-8805

Barclays
866-408-4064