These days, most banks provide an instant – or near-instant – decision whether to approve or deny your application for a credit card. But even if you're instantly approved, it can still take days (or even weeks) to get that new card in the mail.
Whether you're making a big purchase soon, anxious to start working toward the minimum spend requirement to earn a big bonus, or just want to start using the card's travel perks, the delay can be frustrating. Thankfully, many banks have a solution: issuing virtual card numbers instantly. With these virtual numbers in hand, travelers can add a brand-new card to a digital wallet and start spending straight away.
That's particularly helpful if you need to make a big purchase as soon as possible – or if you've got a trip to book and want to use your new card's built-in travel protections. No matter the reason, the option to use a card immediately can be a big factor in deciding which card to apply for in the first place.
Let's take a closer look at which major travel credit cards can give you a card number to use instantly – and why it's so important.
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Why it Matters
There are lots of reasons for wanting access to your card number right away.
There's perhaps no greater reason than getting a jump start on meeting the card's minimum spending requirement. Most banks require new cardmembers to spend a few thousand dollars or more in the early months of opening a card in order to earn a big welcome offer bonus. And that clock starts from the moment you're approved for a card – not when it arrives in the mail.
If you have a sudden expense come up, like a home repair or medical bill, having access to a virtual card number can help you earn a new card welcome offer for your big purchase and take some of the sting out of spending a bunch of money unexpectedly.
Let's say you're stuck in an airport due to an unexpectedly long layover or a weather delay. If you've been eyeing a credit card with lounge access for a while and a card could get you into the lounge where you're stuck, applying for the card and instantly adding it your digital wallet might just be your ticket in.
Just be warned that this won't work with Priority Pass Lounge locations, as you'll need to separately apply for a Priority Pass Membership after getting approved for your new card – and that can take some time. However, it should work with bank-specific lounges like the Amex Centurion Lounges and Capital One Lounges.
American Express
American Express was one of the first card issuers to give travelers access to a virtual card number immediately upon approval. And that's great news, as the bank offers several of the best travel rewards credit cards currently on the market.
No matter if you're after one of the bank's flagship Membership Rewards-earning cards, or a co-branded card from the likes of Hilton, Delta, or Marriott, with most personal credit cards from American Express, you're likely to get offered a virtual card number upon approval.
What about small business cards?
It's no slam dunk, but many of American Express' business cards will also issue a virtual card number upon approval. There doesn't appear to be a rhyme or reason for who gets one and who doesn't, but we've heard from readers who were approved for the *biz gold* and *biz platinum* and received a virtual card number right away with both.
Here are some of the best options for getting an instant card number from American Express. Just keep in mind this isn't an exhaustive list: Almost every Amex card should be eligible for an instant card.
American Express Platinum Card®
The bank's top-tier card: the *amex platinum* is one such card that you'll get instant access to upon approval. This card comes packed with perks like unlimited access to American Express Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs® (up to 10 visits per year, when flying Delta) – which can be a game-changer for anyone trapped in the airport on a long layover.
Being able to get a card right away upon approval and use it to access one of those lounges can be a much cheaper option than buying a one-time pass or spending money on expensive airport food and drinks.
Read more: A Full Review of the American Express Platinum Card®
Learn more about the *amex platinum*.
The American Express Gold Card
The *amex gold* is one of the best cards for earning big rewards on everyday spending and maybe one of the best travel rewards cards, period. Even after Amex made it harder for some to earn a big welcome offer, we're still bullish on this card and think it's worthy of a spot in almost any traveler's wallet.
You earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per year, then 1x) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, then 1x), so it's a great option for piling up points in a hurry. We all have to eat, right?
The card also earns 3x Membership Rewards on airfare purchased directly from the airlines, or amextravel.com, and comes with up to $10 each month in statement credits for select dining purchases and up to $10 each month in Uber Cash.
Related reading: A Full Review of the American Express® Gold Card
Other Amex Cards That Offer Instant Card Numbers
Unless there's an issue with your application that requires additional verification, almost any Amex card on the market should be eligible to get a virtual card number instantly. Here are a few more worth highlighting:
- *delta skymiles gold card*
- *delta skymiles platinum card*
- *delta reserve card*
- *bonvoy brilliant*
- *Hilton Surpass*
- Hilton Honors Aspire Card (for full disclosure, this is our personal referral link)
All information about the Hilton Aspire Card has been collected independently by Thrifty Traveler and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
Chase
Like American Express, Chase also offers virtual card numbers upon approval for many of its top travel rewards credit cards.
With your new Chase card added to your digital wallet, you can use it both online and in-store to begin earning rewards right away after getting approved.
Just as with Amex, this isn't an exhaustive list: There may be others. But Chase explicitly says that Mastercard, Amazon, and business credit cards from Chase are not eligible. That means cards like the Chase Freedom Flex or the *Ink Cash* miss the cut here.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
One of our favorite travel rewards credit cards for beginners and experienced travelers alike is the *chase sapphire preferred*. It's been around for more than a decade and consistently holds its own as one of the best travel rewards credit cards, period.
That's due in large part to the welcome offer bonus: bonus_miles_full
While the card has a annual_fees annual fee, it offers a ton of value that easily outweighs that charge. Beyond the points, you get strong travel insurance coverage on flights booked using your Preferred Card as well as a rental car insurance policy that is second to none.
But the Chase Sapphire Preferred is also great because it's an introduction to the versatility of credit card points. You can transfer these points to more than a dozen different airline and hotel partners like United, Virgin Atlantic, Hyatt, and many others. Do it right, and you can unlock even more free travel this way.
Read more: A Full Review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred
Other Chase Cards That Offer Instant Card Numbers
Aside from the Chase Freedom Flex and small business credit cards, most Chase cards should be eligible for an instant card number. Here's a few more:
Capital One
Often overshadowed by banks like Chase and American Express, Capital One is gradually winning over more and more travelers thanks to the popularity of its Venture credit cards.
Whether you're picking up the tried-and-true *capital one venture card* or the souped-up *venture x* , you'll have the chance to get an instant use card upon approval – so long as you're an existing Capital One customer. This is a key distinction from other issuers: It seems only applicants who have an existing relationship with the bank can get immediate access to their new Capital One account number.
The Capital One Venture X Card
The Venture X is Capital One's premium travel rewards credit card – but compared to it's competitors, it comes with a much more budget-friendly price of $395 each year. While that might still seem like a lot, and be an immediate non-starter for some, once you do the math and consider all that comes with this card, it's almost as if Capital One is paying travelers to have it.
This card earns unlimited 2x Venture Miles on all purchases and comes with bonus earning of 10x on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel portal, as well as 5x on flights booked through the portal. You'll also get an annual $300 travel credit for Capital One Travel portal bookings, 10,000 Venture Miles each year on your account anniversary, a credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, and access to more than 1,300 airport lounges around the world.
This card could easily be worth having for anyone who travels with regularity – and maybe even the occasional traveler.
Check out our full review of the Capital One Venture X Card to see for yourself!
Learn more about the *venture x*.
Other Capital One Cards That Offer Instant Card Numbers
Bilt Rewards
Loyalty rewards program newcomer Bilt is another option for receiving a virtual card instantly upon approval. With Bilt, you'll only have one choice: It's the Bilt Mastercard® (for full disclosure, this is a personal referral link).
With the Bilt Rewards Card, you'll get a solid no annual fee travel card that earns transferrable points and comes with travel benefits normally reserved for cards in a higher price range. This card is an especially good value for renters as it allows them to charge rent to their card and earn 1x points (up to 100,000 points each year) without paying any additional transaction fees.
While the card doesn't offer an official welcome offer, it could be a great choice for anyone with a big upcoming purchase as many new card members report being targeted with an offer to earn 5x Bilt points on all purchase (up to 50,000 bonus points) for the first five days after receiving their card. It's no sure thing, but this could be another reason for considering the card, even if you're not a renter.
For full details on the Bilt Rewards Card, check out our full review!
Learn more about the Bilt Masterard® (for full disclosure, this is a personal referral link).
Bottom Line
Whether you're getting a head start on meeting your card's minimum spending requirement with an unexpected purchase or using the card's travel perks in a jam, being able to get a new card instantly upon approval can be a big factor in deciding just which card to apply for.
