Send me a Private Message and I will send you referrals for any of these cards.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/priv...o=newpm&u=1127

The special deals right now are shown in red. Right now the hot deals are Capital One Venture X 100k, Southwest 85k personal cards, Chase Sapphire Preferred 75k, and 100k Ink Preferred. If you urgently need a card that doesn't have a special bonus, I'd appreciate your using my links. It keeps my family tolerant of the time I spend on FlyerTalk!

The Southwest 85k offers end 12/15/2025, although my link may continue to work a few days longer. These offers give you 3 months from account opening to meet your spending threshold, so they are perfect if you want to delay completing spending until early January so the bonus points count toward a 2026-2027 Companion Pass. Two caveats:
1. Southwest might change the rules for earning the Companion Pass in 2026 or using it in 2027. I believe Chase would have to agree to any radical change, and there is no sign that either party is unhappy with the program.
2. Due to assigned seating and bag fees, the new cards have higher fees and different benefits than the legacy Southwest cards. A-list members will find the card benefits are duplicative of their status benefits, which is disappointing. If you have a legacy Southwest credit card, be sure to use its annual benefits by December 31, 2025.
Regardless of these caveats, 85k Southwest points will get you something like $1000 of travel. More importantly, Basic fares purchased using points are fully refundable with no expiration. Avoiding funds expiration will simplify your life. I only buy Basic using points, and never round trip. For cash tickets, I always buy Choice (formerly Wanna Get Away Plus), because funds expiration is 12 months and I get free same day changes.
Read the full details in the Southwest section below.

If you don't yet have a Venture X or Venture card, consider getting one or both. Capital One has never offered more than 100k on Venture X, so jump on it.

United has devalued its miles and Hyatt values are slipping, both trends reducing the value of Chase Ultimate Rewards points. I've found some recent value in Avios, which you can get through Venture (or Chase). You can also (by phone) combine Venture points with family members or anyone else, for as long at that flexibility lasts. Be aware the the Priority Pass benefit for guests and for authorized users will end in February 2026. Consider a new primary card for your spouse if that's an issue.

Chase Sapphire cards are changing from 2 points per dollar on all travel to 1 point. There is a grace period for existing cards. Venture and Venture X still give 2 points on everything, so they look better to me now.

Southwest cards and points became more useful with the advent of Basic fares and bag fees. I recommend always using points and always booking one-ways when buying Southwest's Basic fares. PM me for an explanation if you need one.

All cards are personal unless they include Business in the title.

85k Southwest Plus (US)
- 85k Southwest Rapid Rewards points after you spend $3000 on purchases in your first 3 months
- First checked bag free for all passengers on your reservation
- 10k boost on Companion Pass qualification points
- No foreign transaction fees
- Free Standard seat assignment 48 hours before departure
- Earn 2 points per dollar on Southwest flights, 2 points on rideshare, internet, and phone, 2 points on groceries up to $5k per year
- 3000 anniversary points
- $99 annual fee
- This bonus offer is available to you if you do not have this card and have not received a new Cardmember bonus for a non-business Southwest card in the past 24 months.

85k Southwest Premiere (US)
- 85k Southwest Rapid Rewards points after you spend $3000 on purchases in your first 3 months
- 2 reimbursed early bird check-ins for 2025 flights
- First checked bag free for all passengers on your reservation
- 10k boost on Companion Pass qualification points
- No foreign transaction fees
- Free Preferred seat assignment 48 hours before departure
- Earn 3 points per dollar on Southwest flights, 2 points on rideshare, internet, and phone, 2 points on groceries up to $5k per year
- 6000 anniversary points
- A-list boost if you are a megaspender (1500 tier points per $10k spent)
- $149 annual fee
- This bonus offer is available to you if you do not have this card and have not received a new Cardmember bonus for a non-business Southwest card in the past 24 months.

85k Southwest Priority (US)
- 85k Southwest Rapid Rewards points after you spend $3000 on purchases in your first 3 months
- 4 reimbursed upgraded boardings if you use them in 2025. Ask me how to make each one cover two flights.
- There are reports that you will also get a $75 travel credit if you use it in 2025
- First checked bag free for all passengers on your reservation
- 10k boost on Companion Pass qualification points
- No foreign transaction fees
- Free Preferred seat assignment at booking. Free Extra Legroom seat 48 hours before departure
- Earn 4 points per dollar on Southwest flights, 2 points on rideshare, internet, and phone, 2 points on groceries up to $5k per year
- 7500 anniversary points
- A-list boost if you are a megaspender (1500 tier points per $10k spent)
- $229 annual fee
- This bonus offer is available to you if you do not have this card and have not received a new Cardmember bonus for a non-business Southwest card in the past 24 months.

Capital One Venture 75k personal card (US)
- 75k points after spending $5k in 3 months
- $95 annual fee
- Primary rental car insurance
- Hertz President's Circle (if you care to risk being jailed for driving a car that Hertz erroneously reported stolen)
- $120 Global Entry or Precheck reimbursement every 4 years
- Trip delay coverage which is reportedly hard to collect on
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Capital One Venture X 100k personal card (US)
- 100k (normally 75k) points after spending $10k in 6 months (normally $4k in 3 months)
- $395 annual fee is offset by several benefits:
- Priority Pass membership, but now excluding restaurants
- Up to 4 free associate member cards which also include full Priority Pass membership only until the end of January 2026
- $300 annual travel credit for bookings through the Capital One portal, rebated at purchase and refundable only as an expiring portal credit
- 10k points each anniversary
- Primary rental car insurance
- Hertz President's Circle (if you care to risk being jailed for driving a car that Hertz erroneously reported stolen)
- $120 Global Entry or Precheck reimbursement every 4 years
- Trip delay coverage which is reportedly hard to collect on

Chase Ink cards are becoming less churnable. Check the terms. My link does not list any restrictions.

100k Chase Ink Business Preferred (US)
- 100,000 (normally 90,000) Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in your first 3 months
- Earn 3 points per dollar on travel, online advertising, shipping, internet and phone services
- No foreign transaction fees
- $95 annual fee not waived
- This bonus offer is available to you if you do not have this card and have not received a new Cardmember bonus for this card in the past 24 months.

75k Chase Ink Business Unlimited (US)
- This is my single favorite card
- 75,000 (down from 90,000) Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in your first 3 months
- Earn 1.5 points per dollar on everything
- No annual fee

75k Chase Ink Business Cash (US)
- 75,000 (down from 90,000) Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in your first 3 months
- Earn 5 points per dollar at office supply stores, internet and phone services
- Earn 2 points per dollar at gas stations and restaurants
- No annual fee

75k (was 60k) Chase Sapphire Preferred (US)
- 75k Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months
- Earn 2 points per dollar on travel, 5 points per dollar on Lyft
- Transfer 1:1 to Hyatt, United, Southwest, others
- Redeem at $1.25 per point for travel purchased through Chase portal (discontinued for new cards)
- Primary insurance for car rental; other travel insurance coverage and purchase protection
- Free Dash Pass from DoorDash
- No foreign transaction fees
- $95 annual fee not waived
The product is not available to either (i) current cardmembers of any Sapphire credit card, or (ii) previous cardmembers of any Sapphire credit card who received a new cardmember bonus within the last 48 months.

20k Chase Freedom Unlimited (US)
- 20000 Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months
- Earn 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase portal
- Earn 3 points per dollar on restaurants including delivery services
- Earn 3 points per dollar at drugstores
- Earn 1.5 points per dollar on everything else!
- No annual fee

20k Chase Freedom Flex (US)
- 20000 Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months
- No annual fee

80k Southwest Performance Business (US)
- This is the normal offer
- 80,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months
- Plus another 40,000 points when you reach $15,000 spending within your first 9 months.
- Earn 4 points per dollar on Southwest flights, 2 points on rideshare, internet, and phone
- 9000 anniversary points
- 4 upgraded boardings per year (worth $30 or more each). Buy an A1-A15 slot at the gate and the charge will be reversed.
- Reimbursed in-flight Wifi once per day all year! This almost replaces A-List Preferred status.
- $100 credit every 4 years for Global Entry or PreCheck
- No foreign transaction fees
- $199 annual fee
- This bonus offer is available to you if you do not have this card and have not received a new Cardmember bonus for this card in the past 24 months.

60k Southwest Premier Business (US)
- This is the normal offer
- 60,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months
- Earn 3 points per dollar on Southwest flights, 2 points on rideshare, internet, and phone
- 6000 anniversary points
- 2 reimbursed Early Bird Check-In purchases per year (worth $25 or so each).
- No foreign transaction fees
- $99 annual fee
- This bonus offer is available to you if you do not have this card and have not received a new Cardmember bonus for this card in the past 24 months.

30k United Gateway (US)
- 30,000 UA miles after spending $1000 in the first 3 months
- Spend $10k in a calendar year and you get access to XN award inventory (reduced award pricing) for that year and the following year. I plan to use this feature.
- No annual fee
- This bonus offer is available to you if you do not have this card and have not received a new Cardmember bonus for this card in the past 24 months.

The other United cards have standard offers which are frankly not attractive given the increased annual fees.


Among non-referral deals my favorite is Hawaiian Airlines. Get their business card and you will be able to receive points (now called Atmos) from all your family members for free. Pool points from many cards into one account. The Hawaiian brand may not persist for long. Presumably you can later apply for Alaskan Airlines cards and pool those points too.

I am also becoming a fan of AA miles, due their low domestic coach award levels for last-minute travel. United is moving in the opposite direction.