It happens to the best of us. Of course, we all want to ensure we’re finding the best offers, and the name of this game is timing. While it’s impossible to predict if or when issuers will bring back these higher offers, knowing the context helps us make the best possible educated guess.
In this guide, we’ll look at nine popular travel credit cards, tracking their offers from the past several years. We’ll also compare those offers to the current bonuses and provide insight into how you can consistently find the best welcome offers.
In 2021, the issuer launched an unprecedented four-month 100,000-point sign-up bonus. Aside from this, the Sapphire Preferred’s standard offer is a 60,000-point bonus — worth $1,230, according to TPG’s September 2024 valuations.
Approximate date
Offer
Value*
June 2024 to now
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
$1,230
May to June 2024
Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
$1,538
May 2023 to May 2024
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
$1,230
April to May 2023
Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
$1,640
March to May 2023 (in-branch only)
In-branch only: Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 total on purchases made in the first 6 months.
$1,845
June 2022 to March 2023
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
$1,230
April to May 2022
Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
$1,640
October 2021 to April 2022
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
$1,230
June to October 2021
Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
$2,050
March to June 2021
Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening. Plus, earn a $50 statement credit on grocery store purchases.
$1,690
November 2020 to March 2021
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
$1,230
September to November 2020
Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
$1,650
March 2019 to September 2020
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
$1,230
2017 to March 2019
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
$1,025
*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s September 2024 valuations and not provided by the credit card issuer.
When to apply for this card: If you see an offer of more than 60,000 points on the Sapphire Preferred, you should jump on it. 60,000 points appear to be the standard offer these days.
While the Chase Sapphire Preferred tends to come with varying offers throughout the calendar year, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® has remained much more stable over the years.
THE POINTS GUY
This premium travel card was first launched in 2016 with a valuable 100,000-point welcome offer. Since then, the best offer we’ve seen has been 80,000 points in late 2022.
Approximate date
Offer
Value*
June 2024 to now
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
$1,230
May 2024 to June 2024
Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
$1,538
February 2023 to May 2024
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
$1,230
October 2022 to January 2023
Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
$1,640
June to October 2022
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
$1,230
October 2021 to June 2022
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
$1,025
June to October 2021
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
$1,230
March 2017 to June 2021
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
$1,025
August 2016 to March 2017
Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
$2,050
*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s September 2024 valuations and not provided by the credit card issuer.
When to apply for this card: In terms of bonuses, 70,000-plus points might be the best you can hope for on the Sapphire Reserve these days, while an offer of 60,000 points is much more common.
While it has an eye-watering $695 annual fee (see rates and fees), its annual statement credits are worth over $1,500.
Approximate date
Offer
Value*
August 2023 to now
Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.
$1,600
November 2022 to August 2023
Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.
$1,600
January to November 2022
Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.
$2,000
July 2021 to January 2022
Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Plus, earn 10 points per dollar on “Shop Small” purchases in the U.S. and at restaurants worldwide, on up to $25,000 in combined purchases, also in the first six months of card membership.
$2,000 (but up to $5,000 in additional value with the small-business and restaurant spending offer)
November 2020 to July 2021
Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Plus, earn 10 points per dollar on U.S. gas stations and U.S. supermarkets on up to $15,000 in combined purchases, also in the first six months of card membership.
$1,500 (but up to $3,000 in additional value with the gas stations and supermarkets spending offer)
2017 to November 2020
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first three months of card membership.
$1,200
*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s September 2024 valuations and not provided by the credit card issuer.
When to apply for this card: In general, aim to apply for this card only if its welcome offer tops 80,000 bonus points, and it should be a no-brainer at the 100,000-point mark, depending on the spending requirements.
Although the chart above shows the publicly available welcome offers, note that you may be targeted for a higher offer by using the CardMatch tool. Applicants have seen up to 125,000-point offers for the same amount of spending, so it’s worth checking to see if you qualify for a higher bonus. Note that offers are subject to change at any time.
Note that the Business Platinum usually offers a huge payout of Membership Rewards points but requires a high amount of spending.
Approximate date
Offer
Value*
April 2024 to now
Earn 150,000 points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first three months of card membership.
$3,000
December 2022 to April 2024
Earn 120,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card in the first three months of card membership.
$2,400
October to December 2022
TPG exclusive offer: Earn 150,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card in the first three months of card membership.
$3,000
October 2021 to October 2022
Earn 120,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card in the first three months of card membership.
$2,400
August to October 2021
Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card in the first three months of card membership.
$2,000
April to August 2021
Earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card in the first three months of card membership.
$2,500
January to April 2021
Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card in the first three months of card membership.
$1,700
March 2020 to January 2021
Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card in the first three months of card membership.
$1,500
September 2019 to March 2020
Earn up to 100,000 bonus points. Earn 50,000 points after spending $10,000 in the first three months of card membership and an extra 50,000 points after spending an additional $15,000 also within the first months of card membership.
$2,000
2018 to September 2019
Earn up to 75,000 bonus points: 50,000 points after spending $10,000 in the first three months of card membership and an extra 15,000 points after spending an additional $10,000 also within the first months of card membership.
$1,500
July 2017
Earn up to 150,000 bonus points: 100,000 points after spending $5,000 on eligible purchases with the card in the first three months of card membership and another 50,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 total in the first three months. Offer available by calling Amex.
$3,000
*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s September 2024 valuations and not provided by the credit card issuer.
When to apply for this card: The standard offer you should aim for these days is at least 120,000 points. However, American Express often sends targeted offers for 150,000 points and sometimes 200,000 points.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible restaurant purchases (up to $100) within the first six months of card membership.
$1,300
October 2023 to July 2024
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership.
$1,200
June 2022 to October 2023
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership.
$1,200
June 2022 (just for a few days)
Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
$2,000
October 2020 to June 2022
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership.
$1,200
March 2019 to October 2020
Earn 35,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership.
$700
October 2018 to March 2019
Earn 25,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 in the first three months of card membership.
$500
*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s September 2024 valuations and not provided by the credit card issuer.
When to apply for this card: If you aren’t targeted for a higher welcome offer, the standard 60,000 welcome offer is great for the Amex Gold. But like with the Amex Platinum, you may be targeted for a higher 75,000-point offer through the CardMatch tool — and spending the same amount.
The $395 annual fee is much easier on the wallet than some other cards on this list.
Approximate date
Offer
Value*
March 2022 to now
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
$1,388
November 2021 to March 2022
Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 on purchases in the first six months from account opening.
$1,850
*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s September 2024 valuations and not provided by the credit card issuer.
When to apply for this card: As the Venture X is still newer than others on this list, predicting the long-term “standard offer” is difficult. However, 75,000 bonus miles is the offer you can receive right now, down from the elevated offer from the card’s initial launch.
The $95 annual fee card has offered a couple of opportunities in the past to earn up to 100,000 bonus miles, though that $20,000 spending requirement in the first year of account opening may be out of reach for some.
Approximate date
Offer
Value*
September 2024 to now
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
$1,388
July 2024 to September 2024
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, plus a $250 Capital One Travel credit in the first cardholder year.
$1,638 when adding together the value of the miles and the Capital One Travel credit
May 2022 to July 2024
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
$1,388
July 2021 to May 2022
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
$1,110
March to July 2021
Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles: 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening and an additional 50,000 miles after spending $20,000 on purchases in the first 12 months of account opening.
$1,850
December 2020 to March 2021
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
$1,110
September to December 2020
Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles: 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening, and an additional 50,000 miles after spending $20,000 on purchases in the first 12 months of account opening.
$1,850
2018 to September 2020
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
$925
*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s September 2024 valuations and not provided by the credit card issuer.
When to apply for this card: 60,000 bonus miles was the standard offer for quite a while, so any offer above is one to take advantage of.
Applicants also can look forward to bonus Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) to help them toward elite status with Delta.
Approximate date
Offer
Value*
September 2024 to now
Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
$1,200
July 2024 to September 2024
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership.
$690
June 2024 to July 2024
Earn 95,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.
$1,093
March 2024 to June 2024
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.
$690
February 2024 to March 2024
Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.
$1,150
August 2023 to February 2024
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.
$690
June to August 2023
Earn 85,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.
$978
March to June 2023
Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first six months of card membership.
$575, plus value of MQMs
February to March 2023
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.
$1,035
November 2022 to February 2023
Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first six months of card membership.
$575, plus value of MQMs
September to November 2022
Earn 95,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first six months of card membership.
$1,093
August to September 2022
Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first three months of card membership.
$575, plus value of MQMs
June to August 2022
Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases on your new card in your first three months of card membership.
$1,150
April to June 2022
Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first three months of card membership.
$575, plus value of MQMs
March to April 2022
Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases on your new card in your first three months of card membership.
$1,150
November 2021 to March 2022
Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first three months of card membership.
$575, plus value of MQMs
June to November 2021
Earn 80,000 bonus miles and 20,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $5,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership.
$920, plus value of MQMs
*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s September 2024 valuations and not provided by the credit card issuer.
When to apply for this card: Aim for a welcome offer of 80,000 miles or above. When you see that number, it’s a good time to get the Delta SkyMiles Reserve.
After reviewing some of the welcome offers from the past, you may be tempted to wait until something better comes around. There are many good reasons to wait for a better welcome offer, but it’s not always worth the wait.
Here are some reasons why you might want to go ahead and get the card you’re thinking about:
A better bonus may not come back
Some bonuses just never come back. The Chase Sapphire Reserve hasn’trepeated the 100,000-point sign-up bonus since its launch in 2016 — and we don’t anticipate it will return.
You’re missing out on points from everyday spending
If you wait to apply for a card, you’re missing out on thousands of points from your everyday credit card spending. That difference alone might make up for the better bonus you’re holding out for.
Only time will tell what new offers we’ll see in the pipeline. Bookmark this guide to cross-reference a card’s history when you see an offer that interests you.
For more information on credit card bonus offers over time, see the following:
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, click here.