The days are getting shorter, the air is getting crisper … and it can only mean one thing: It's sign-up bonus season! 

No? OK, maybe that's not a real season … but it is undoubtedly the best time of year to get a new premium travel card.

With holiday shopping in full swing and tax time (nearly) upon us, even the biggest welcome offer bonuses (and their equally big spending requirements) are within reach for most travelers, making this the perfect time of year to pile up points for next year's travels. Add in the opportunity to triple-dip on many of these premium cards' statement credits – all while paying a single annual fee – and it makes the case for getting one of these new cards even stronger. 

Whether you're just getting started with points and miles or an old pro, there are a handful of travel cards on the market right now that make sense to add to your wallet before the end of the year.

Here are the best options … and why now is the perfect time to apply! 

 

In this post

Some of the Biggest Welcome Offers We've Ever Seen

One after the other, airlines and hotels keep devaluing their points by raising the rates they charge for a “free” flight or hotel nights – we call it pointsflation.

But the silver lining (if you're looking for one) is that the big banks have continued to increase the welcome offers on their priciest cards – and even the not-so-pricey ones – in an effort to keep up with the rising costs of award travel.

The result? Some of the biggest welcome offers we've ever seen. Take a look! 

 

American Express Platinum Card®

bonus_miles_full

To reiterate, you may not be eligible for the full 175,000-point welcome offer … but if you are, this is the biggest public offer we've ever seen from Amex, making now the perfect time to add this card to your wallet.

Annual Fee: annual_fees (see rates & fees)

 

*amex platinum*

 

Learn more about the *amex platinum*.

 

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

You can currently earn bonus_miles_full.

This is the biggest bonus we've ever seen on the Venture X … and it likely won't last long. We don't know exactly when it will end, but Capital One has indicated it's a limited-time bonus offer, making now the perfect time to apply! 

Annual Fee: annual_fees

 

*capital one venture x*

 

Learn more about the *capital one venture x*

 

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Here is what's currently at stake: bonus_miles_full

Before applying, be sure to check to see if you're targeted for an even bigger 175,000-point bonus with Chase's pre-approved offers! 

Annual Fee: annual_fees

 

*chase sapphire reserve*

 

Learn more about the *chase sapphire reserve*.

 

A Certain, Mystery Card

bonus_miles_full

I'd love nothing more than to tell you which card I'm referring to, but due to some silly bank rules, I can't name it here. Just know that this is a card that earns transferable points that can be moved to a dozen-plus airline and hotel partners, including American Airlines (hint, hint). 

You can find full details (including the card name) by clicking here! 

 

Statement Credit Triple-Dip

These days, it's not a question of if your premium travel card comes with a slew of “money-saving” statement credits; it's how many and how often they reset. 

But if you're willing to work for it, these credits can more than justify each card's annual fee … especially in year one. Since some of these credits reset when the calendar turns over, you'll have the opportunity to use them three different times – all while paying a single annual fee. 

Here's how it works: Apply now and use these calendar-year credits before the end of 2025, then use them again next year, and once again right at the beginning of 2027. Since most annual fees get charged when your first statement closes – and you typically get 30 days to decide if you want to renew your card before downgrading to a lower annual fee version or closing it outright – you'll have just enough time to make use of these credits three separate years, while paying a single annual fee. 

Here's what's at stake. 

Related Reading: Get Our Free Card-Tracking Tool to Stay on Top of All Your Benefits

 

American Express Platinum Card® 

Amex pegs the annual value of its new-look Platinum Card at over $3,500. While most travelers will undoubtedly have a tough time coming anywhere close to getting that kind of value out of the card, it does offer real savings in several areas where everyday travelers are already spending money. 

Here's a look at the card's calendar-year credits that you can triple-dip in year one: 

  • Up to a $200 airline fee credit: Earn up to $200 per calendar year in statement credits after incidental fees are charged by your one selected qualifying airline to your card.
  • Up to a $209 CLEAR® Plus credit: You can receive up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you sign up and pay for a CLEAR Plus membership with your card.
  • Up to a $200 Oura Ring credit: You can receive up to $200 in statement credits when you use your card to purchase an Oura Ring at Ouraring.com each calendar year.
  • Up to a $300 Equinox credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits each year at Equinox by using your card to pay for an Equinox+ digital subscription, or an Equinox club membership.
  • $120 Uber One membership: Get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year after you purchase an auto-renewing Uber One membership with your card.

In addition to all that, the Amex Platinum also includes a few benefits that reset quarterly or semi-annually, giving you a chance to squeeze a little more value out of your card before deciding whether or not to renew it. 

  • Up to a $600 hotel credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits semi-annually for up to a total of $600 per year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection1 bookings through American Express Travel®.
  • Up to a $400 Resy credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use your Platinum Card to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at over 10,000 U.S. Resy restaurants.
  • Up to a $300 lululemon credit: You can receive up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use your card for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com.
  • Up to a $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit: Get up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually (up to $100 per year) for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com with your Platinum Card.

Add it all up and that's north of $5,500 in value for a single (but steep) annual_fees annual fee. Again, the likelihood that you come anywhere close to getting that much value out of all these credits is slim to none, but even if you get half that, it's still a trade I'd be willing to make every day of the week. 

 

Amex Platinum mirror card on table with a pen and plate

 

There are even a few more perks, such as Uber Cash, a digital entertainment credit, and a Walmart+ benefit that reset monthly. While you won't be able to triple-dip those (per se), you can still use a couple extra months' worth to tip the math even further in your favor. 

Just know: A few of these credits require enrolling in the benefit online (in your Amex account) ahead of time. But once you do, simply make a qualifying purchase still this year, again next, and right away in 2027 for the opportunity to get 3x the value out of them. 

 

Chase Sapphire Reserve® 

Amex might have pioneered the “coupon book” model – but Chase took it to a whole new level when it refreshed its flagship Sapphire Reserve® card back in June. Instead of offering at least some credits that run for the full year, Chase broke them all up into semi-annual and monthly increments, making them even harder to use.

Here's a look at what you get with this card: 

  • $500 hotel credit: Get up to $250 in statement credits semi-annually for prepaid bookings (two-night minimum stay required) made with The Edit℠. 
  • $300 SubHub credit: Get up to $150 in statement credits semi-annually (up to $300 per year) for StubHub and viagogo purchases through Dec. 31, 2027.
  • $300 dining credit: Get up to $150 in statement credits semi-annually (up to $300 per year) when you dine at restaurants part of the Sapphire Exclusive Tables program on OpenTable.

 

Chase Sapphire Reserve with Passport and Coffee

 

On top of these three credits, you'll also get monthly credits with Lyft, Peloton, and DoorDash, to help you squeeze out even more value from the card. Add it all up, and you could (theoretically) get over $2,500 in value out of the Sapphire Reserve in your first year with the card.

And keep in mind, that's all in addition to the card's easy-to-use annual $300 travel credit: Simply spend up to $300 on travel (any travel) with the Sapphire Reserve, and Chase will credit your account up to $300. Since this benefit is based on your cardmember year, there is the chance that you could double dip… but no way to complete the coveted triple-dip.

 

Mystery Card 

Not to be outdone, the newest premium card on the market comes with a few statement credits of its own. 

Here's a look at the credits you'll get with our “mystery card.” 

  • $300 hotel credit: Each calendar year, enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of two nights or more when booked through the bank's travel portal. 
  • $200 Splurge credit: Every calendar year, earn up to $200 in statement credits on your choice of up to two of the following brands: 1stDibs, American Airlines (exclusions apply), Best Buy, Future Personal Training, and Live Nation (exclusions apply).
  • $200 Blacklane credit: Every calendar year, earn up to $200 in statement credits (up to $100 semi-annually) when you book with Blacklane, a premium global chauffeur service. 

While this list of credits isn't nearly as robust as the previous two cards, there's still the possibility to get nearly $2,000 in value out of them while paying a single annual fee … and it's annual fee clocks in $200 (or even $300) lower than its competitors, too. 

You'll also get four American Airlines Admirals Club lounge passes each year with this card. If you're flying AA still this year, you could get a free meal along the way, use them all up again next year, and potentially even again right at the start of 2027. It's hard to put an exact value on that, but it's certainly not nothing. 

 

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

I'll keep this brief: The Capital One Venture X doesn't offer the opportunity to double- or triple-dip statement credits, but that's a good thing. 

At just $395 per year, it costs half (or nearly half) as much as its biggest competitors and comes with just one credit you need to use: an annual $300 Capital One Travel Credit. Since this credit is tied to your cardmember year (not the calendar year), there's no way to use it two or three times in the first year and change. 

But considering you get a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus, lounge access, top-tier travel protections, rental car elite status, and more, this is likely a card you'll want to keep for the long haul anyway. 

While it lacks the opportunity to triple-dip on statement credits in year one, it still delivers premium perks and outsized value … without all the hassle.

Related reading: Sick of Annual Fees & ‘Coupons’? Get the Capital One Venture X

 

Spending Season

Remember those big welcome offers I mentioned earlier? None of those points mean a thing if you have to spend beyond your means to earn them. However many bonus points the banks are offering aren't worth a mountain of credit card debt. 

But thankfully(?), this is a time of year when many travelers are already spending more than normal. Whether you're checking names off your holiday shopping list, planning your next big trip, or even getting ready to pay Uncle Sam, responsibly spending enough to earn these big welcome offers might be easier than you think

Here are a few of our favorite ways to meet a new card spending requirement, without spending recklessly: 

  • Put all your purchases on your new card: Skip the category bonuses on your old cards and make your new card your go-to for everything – whether that be holiday shopping, dining out, gas, groceries, you name it. 
  • Big purchases: Time it right, and you can use your new card to pay for an upcoming vacation, college tuition, home renovation, new furniture, or even medical bills.
  • Paying taxes: If you owe the government money, you can pay your taxes with a credit card! There is a small fee, so this might not be the best option in normal times, but it can be a great way to hit your minimum spend on a new card.
  • Pre-pay your bills: Paying in advance for things like your car insurance, utilities, or cell phone bill can be a great way to meet the minimum spending requirement on a new card without spending money unnecessarily.

These are just a few of the ways we like to meet a new card's minimum spending requirement (responsibly). Even if these eye-popping welcome offers look out of reach, this is likely the best time of year to go for it! 

Read more: How to Hit the Minimum Spend (& Earn That Bonus) Responsibly on Credit Cards

 

Bottom Line

With huge, limited-time welcome offers and the chance to triple-dip valuable statement credits, the end of the year is the ideal time to pick up a new premium travel card. Holiday spending and upcoming tax bills make meeting big minimum-spend requirements easier, allowing travelers to stockpile points for future trips.

Just be sure to spend responsibly and take full advantage of these once-a-year opportunities to maximize your new card's value.