I am new to this and trying to figure things out, so forgive me if this is a silly question.
Is there any way to open a card with a good sign up bonus earning quick points and use them towards purchasing tickets from boston to Paris this summer?
for example if I open the AA card,or 2 and perhaps my husband does as well. Is there any way to do this, or am I just better off focusing on opening a card that I can purchase these tickets with and then use the points towards a future flight? We usually fly domestically.

As soon as the post to your award account, you can use them

For a Citi AA card, probably about 4-6 weeks, depending on how they schedule your first statement.

I got my miles from AA rather quickly but I may be the exception to the rule. I applied for an account on a Monday, got my card on Friday, went Monday and met my 4k spending by paying my property taxes. Statement closed about two weeks after and miles posted a day or so later. So, I have my miles about 3 weeks after I applied but I think it just timed perfectly for me.

I'm stunned. I applied for the continental 50k miles MasterCard on 2/28. Got the card a few days later, and today the miles posted to my account. I never expected them to post this fast.

Europe this summer baby!

They will often post with the closing of your first credit card statement after you have met the spend requirements.

Even if the OP applies for the card, gets the card, meets the spend requirements, and then gets the miles posted in 3-8 weeks from now, she might have difficulty then finding award availability to Paris over the summer, right?

I think she's probably better off just buying the tickets to Paris now. If she waits two months and then is unsuccessful booking with miles, she may find that the cost of buying tickets has gone up by then.

If I were the OP and I knew I was going to Paris this summer I would JUMP on the business class fares from Boston to CDG. RT for two is running about $2800. That is cheaper than coach fares right now.

Thanks for all your advice. I know that these are great business fare rates, but I can book through a consolidator site, coach fares for over $1000.00 less for AA for the same flight. On the AA site the business fare is better than the coach right now, but not compared to the other consolidator. And I can book with Icelandair for almost $2000 less. Although I would prefer nonstop. That is a lot of money I could use on my trip so I am having trouble justifying spending on the business fare, even though it is incredible! The only thing I was concerned about booking on the consolidator is that it seems you can't choose your seats and I am flying with my two children.
I wish I had been savvy enough to find this FT site a long time ago!
thanks again.