The following is the November 2017 edition of what we consider the 10 most lucrative credit card products available at the moment. The list is based on a combination of factors, including current welcome bonus offers, daily earning potential, transfer partners and bonus categories, along with the ability to redeem.
The number in parenthesis to the right of each card’s name is last month’s ranking for each card.
1 – Ink Business Preferred Credit Card (1)
Pros:
- Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,000 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in select categories each account anniversary year.
- Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases–with no limit to the amount you can earn.
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- Redeem points for travel, cash back, gift cards and more – your points don’t expire as long as your account is open.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- $95 Annual Fee.
- Ultimate Rewards points earned transfer on a 1:1 ratio to Chase partners British Airways Executive Club, Singapore KrisFlyer, Korean Air SKYPASS, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, United MileagePlus, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, Hyatt Gold Passport, Marriott/Ritz-Carlton Rewards and IHG Rewards Club.
Cons
- $5,000 minimum spend requirement to get the welcome bonus.
- Annual fee of $95 that is not waived the first year.
- As this is a business card, you must have a business to apply for this card.
2 – The Business Platinum Card from American Express (2)
Pros:
- Welcome Offer: Earn 50,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $10,000 and an extra 25,000 points after you spend an additional $10,000 all on qualifying purchases within your first 3 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.
- Get 5X Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com.
- Get 50% more Membership Rewards points on each qualifying purchase of $5,000 or more.
- Use Membership Rewards Pay with Points for all or part of a flight with your selected qualifying airline, and you can get 50% of the points back.
- Receive 50% points back on all First and Business class flights, with all airlines available through American Express Travel.
- Access to American Express Centurion Lounges
- No preset spending limit
- Starwood Gold Elite Status
- $100 credit towards TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fees (once every four years)
- Preferred Gogo and Boingo Internet access.
- $200 airline fee credit
- Access to Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- $450 annual fee not waived
- High spending requirement.
- American Express once-per-lifetime sign-up bonus limitation.
3 – Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express (N/A)
Pros
- Earn 70,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. In addition, earn a $100 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 3 months.Special Offer Expires on 11/08/2017.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card.
- Earn 10,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 or more in eligible purchases on the Card in a calendar year. Earn an additional 10,000 bonus miles and 10,000 MQMs after you spend $50,000 in eligible purchases on the Card in a Calendar year for a total of 20,000 bonus miles and 20,000 MQMs.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card.
- 20% savings on eligible in-flight purchases in the form of a statement credit.
- First checked bag free
- 2 Miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta.
- 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- High spending requirement
- $195 annual fee
- Delta SkyMiles can be a tough currency to redeem at reasonable rates
4 – Platinum Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card from American Express (N/A)
Pros
- Earn 70,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) and after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Terms and limitations apply.
- Earn a $100 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 3 months. Offer ends 11/8/2017
- Make $25,000 in purchases on the Card and earn 10,000 bonus miles and 10,000 MQMs each calendar year; make $50,000 in purchases on the Card and earn an additional 10,000 bonus miles and 10,000 MQMs each calendar year.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card.
- 20% savings on eligible in-flight purchases in the form of a statement credit.
- First checked bag free
- Priority Boarding.
- 2 Miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta.
- 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Cons
- High spending requirement
- $195 annual fee
- Delta SkyMiles can be a tough currency to redeem at reasonable rates
5 – Chase Sapphire Reserve (3)
Pros:
- Welcome bonus offer of 50,000 Ultimate Rewards points after $4,000 spent in the first three months of account opening.
- Earns 3X points per $1 on travel and dining.
- $100 credit towards Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee every five years.
- $300 annual travel credit
- 50 percent off when you redeem your points through Chase Ultimate Rewards for travel, providing an effective value of 1.5 cents/point.
- Ultimate Rewards points earned transfer on a 1:1 ratio to Chase partners British Airways Executive Club, Singapore KrisFlyer, Korean Air SKYPASS, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, United MileagePlus, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, Hyatt Gold Passport, Marriott/Ritz-Carlton Rewards and IHG Rewards Club.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Primary Rental Car Insurance.
- Priority Pass Select
Cons
- $4,000 minimum spend requirement to get the welcome bonus.
- Annual fee of $450 that is not waived the first year.
6 – The Platinum Card from American Express (4)
Pros:
- 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $5,000 in 3 months
- New! Up to $200 Uber Savings Annually.
- 5X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel.
- 5X Membership Rewards® points on eligible hotels booked on amextravel.com.
- As a Platinum Card Member, you can enjoy access to the Global Lounge Collection, the only credit card airport lounge access program that includes proprietary lounge locations around the world.
- Receive complimentary benefits with an average total value of $550 with Fine Hotels & Resorts. Learn More. Terms Apply.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit, up to $200 a year in baggage fees and more at one airline.
- $200 annual Uber credit
Cons
- High spending requirement
- $550 annual fee not waived
7 – Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card (5)
Pros:
- 60,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend on Southwest Airlines®
- Earn 1 point for every $1 you spend on all other purchases.
- Receive 6,000 bonus points after your cardmember anniversary.
Cons:
- $99 annual fee
- Limited international flight options offered by Southwest.
8 – Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express (6)
Pros:
- Earn 25,000 bonus Starpoints after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months,
- Earns 2X Starpoints per $1 spent on the card for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts participating in the Starwood Preferred Guest and Marriott Rewards program.
- Provides two stays and five nights elite credit each year toward SPG Gold and Platinum Elite status.
- Starpoints earned can be transferred mostly on a 1:1 ratio to SPG’s transfer partners, which include many of the world’s top airlines.
- For every 20,000 Starpoints that you transfer to one of SPG’s airline partners, you get an additional 5,000 points or miles bonus, which makes this one of the best cards to use for purchases that do not earn additional bonus points.
- Earn SPG Gold status after spending $30,000 or more in eligible purchases on the card in a calendar year.
- Provides complimentary unlimited Boingo Wi-Fi and access to Sheraton Club Lounge when staying at Sheraton hotel.
- Eligible for Amex OPEN Savings benefit.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Cons:
- $95 annual fee (waived the first year).
- No bonus categories outside of Starwood hotel stays.
9 – Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express (7)
Pros:
- Earn 25,000 bonus Starpoints after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months.
- Earns 2X Starpoints per $1 spent on the card for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts participating in the Starwood Preferred Guest and Marriott Rewards program.
- Provides two stays and five nights elite credit each year toward SPG Gold and Platinum Elite status.
- Starpoints earned can be transferred mostly on a 1:1 ratio to SPG’s transfer partners, which include many of the world’s top airlines.
- For every 20,000 Starpoints that you transfer to one of SPG’s airline partners, you get an additional 5,000 points or miles bonus, which makes this one of the best cards to use for purchases that do not earn bonus points.
- Provides complimentary unlimited Boingo Wi-Fi.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Cons:
- $95 annual fee (waived the first year).
- No bonus categories outside of Starwood hotel stays.
10 – IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card (10)
Pros:
- 80,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening
- Free Night after each account anniversary year at over 5,200 hotels worldwide
- 5 points per $1 spent at IHG hotels
- 2 points per $1 spent on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants.
- Automatic 10% points rebate on redemptions
- $49 annual fee (one of the lowest of any rewards credit card)
Cons:
- Free nights at top-tier IHG hotels can be pricey at upwards of 60,000 points per night
Removed from last month’s rankings:
Added to this month’s rankings:
- Platinum Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card from American Express
- Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express
What are you applying for this month?
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