If you've been sitting on the fence about a new travel rewards card, this might be the month to jump. Several issuers are running elevated, best-ever welcome offers, and the headline deal is the American Express Platinum Card, where welcome offers can reach 175,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $12,000 in the first six months. Welcome offers vary by applicant, and you can now check your exact offer with no hit to your credit score before deciding.
The Amex Platinum carries an $895 annual fee, but the credits stack up quickly: lounge access to more than 1,550 airports via Centurion, Priority Pass and Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta); $200 in annual Uber Cash plus up to $120 in Uber One credits; $300 for digital entertainment; $600 in hotel credits on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or Hotel Collection bookings; $400 in Resy dining credits; $219 covering a CLEAR+ membership; a $200 airline fee credit; and credits at lululemon and Walmart+. If you'd actually use several of those, the maths gets friendlier than the fee suggests.
Chase Sapphire Reserve is back at 100,000 points after $6,000 of spend in three months, with a $300 annual travel credit, $300 in annual credits at Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables restaurants, complimentary Apple TV+ and Apple Music, and access to Chase Sapphire Lounges with two guests — Philadelphia and LaGuardia get particular praise, with LAX and Dallas on the way. Points transfer to United, British Airways, Air France-KLM, Singapore, Hyatt and more.
For business owners, the Ink Business Preferred has returned to 100,000 points after $8,000 of spend, with a modest $95 annual fee and triple points on travel, shipping, and phone/internet bills. The United Business Card offers up to 110,000 bonus miles (100,000 miles plus 2,000 Premier Qualifying Points after $5,000 of spend, plus 10,000 more for adding an employee card) for a $150 fee, alongside a $125 United travel credit and an anniversary bonus for holding both a business and personal United card.
Two newer premium entrants round things out. Citi Strata Elite offers 75,000 points after $6,000 of spend, with strong ongoing earning on Citi Travel bookings and Friday-and-Saturday-night dining bonuses — and its credits run on the calendar year, so applying now could effectively double-dip the $300 hotel benefit, $200 Splurge credit and $100 Blacklane credits in year one. Citi points transfer to American AAdvantage, Turkish, Qatar, Singapore, Emirates and Accor, among others. Capital One Venture X remains the value pick: 75,000 miles after $4,000 of spend, a $300 annual Capital One Travel credit, and a lower annual fee than its rivals.
Why it matters for travellers: these bonuses are worth serious money on the right redemption — think long-haul business class or a week of hotels. The catch is the minimum spend, so the right question isn't just which offer is biggest, but which one you can hit naturally and whose credits you'd genuinely use. These deals rotate monthly, so if one appeals, don't wait too long.