The best time to apply for these 10 popular travel credit cards — based on offer history

Nothing is more disappointing than applying for a card, only to learn that you could have held out a bit longer to get a better welcome offer — especially since many banks won’t match you to that better bonus after you’ve already applied.

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, it helps to know the context to make the best possible educated guess.

In this guide, we’ll look at 10 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.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the most popular travel rewards cards for three main reasons: affordability, flexibility and value.

In 2021, the issuer launched an unprecedented 100,000-point sign-up bonus lasting four months. Aside from this and some 80,000-point offers, the Sapphire Preferred’s standard offer is a 60,000-point bonus, worth $1,230, according to TPG’s latest valuations.

*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s valuations and not provided by the credit card issuer.

When to apply for this card: If you see an offer of 80,000 points on the Sapphire Preferred, you should jump on it. 60,000 points appears to be the standard offer these days.

For more details, check out our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

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.

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This premium travel card first launched in August 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.

*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s valuations and not provided by the credit card issuer.

When to apply for this card: In terms of bonuses, 80,000 points might be the best you can hope for on the Sapphire Reserve these days, while an offer of 60,000 points is more common.

For more details, check out our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

One of the most emblematic symbols of luxury is The Platinum Card from American Express, which has dominated the premium travel card market for quite some time. While it has an eye-watering $695 annual fee (see rates and fees), its annual statement credits are worth over $1,500.

*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s 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 75,000 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.

For more details, check out our full review of the Amex Platinum.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Business owners should look at the Amex Platinum’s business counterpart: The Business Platinum Card from American Express.

This card also has a $695 annual fee (see rates and fees) but a slew of business-friendly perks and statement credits to help justify this ongoing cost.

Note that the Business Platinum usually offers a huge payout of Membership Rewards points but requires a high amount of spending ($15,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership).

*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s 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 sometimes sends targeted offers for 150,000 points and sometimes 200,000 points.

For more details, check out our full review of the Amex Business Platinum.

American Express® Gold Card

In 2018, Amex rebranded the American Express Gold Card to what we know it as today. The Amex Gold is one of the most popular everyday cards, thanks to its large payout on U.S. supermarket purchases and restaurants worldwide.

*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s 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 current 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.

For more details, check out our full review of the Amex Gold.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Say hello to the newest premium travel card. The Venture X has been a huge hit since its launch in November 2021 — and the $395 annual fee (see rates and fees) is much easier on the wallet than some other cards on this list.

*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s valuations and not provided by the credit card issuer.

When to apply for this card: As the Venture X is a newer card, 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.

For more details, check out our full review of the Venture X.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a classic fixed-rate rewards card, earning 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases (and 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel).

The $95-annual-fee (see rates and fees) card has offered a couple of opportunities 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.

*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s 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.

For more details, check out our full review of the Venture Rewards Card.

Citi Premier® Card

Citi unveiled its best-ever welcome offer of 80,000 points for this card in mid-2021, tracking with the trend of issuers offering large welcome bonuses as travel and the overall economy rebounded in the second year of the pandemic. We saw this bonus return for the second half of 2022.

The Citi Premier (see rates and fees) has improved over the years, from no sign-up bonus in 2017 to a respectable 60,000-point offer for current applicants.

*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s valuations and not provided by the credit card issuer.

When to apply for this card: The best time to apply for this card is when it offers 80,000 points or more.

For more details, check out our full review of the Citi Premier.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

As the top credit card in the Delta SkyMiles credit card family, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card typically offers more than just miles in its welcome offer. Applicants also can look forward to bonus Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) to help them toward elite status with Delta.*

*Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available, and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status with the Card. Learn more at delta.com/skymilesprogramchanges.

*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s valuations and not provided by the credit card issuer.

When to apply for this card: Aim for a welcome offer of 80,000 or above. When you see that number, it’s a good time to get the Delta SkyMiles Reserve.

For more details, check out our full review of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

We haven’t seen much change in the welcome bonuses for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. Both its original and current offers bring a lot of value to cardholders since we now peg Chase Ultimate Rewards at 2.05 cents per point.

*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s valuations and not provided by the credit card issuer.

When to apply for this card: Any time this card offers at least 100,000 bonus points is a great time to apply.

For more details, check out our full review of the Ink Business Preferred.

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’t repeated 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.

You’re planning an award trip now

If you have your sights set on traveling later this year or into next, you’ll want to start accruing those points and miles now. After you hit a spending minimum, it could take up to a couple of billing cycles for those points to hit your balance.

Related: Cards currently offering sign-up bonuses of 100,000 points or more

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, please click here.