Getting ahead with travel credit cards is all about timing: Opening a card when the welcome bonus is at its highest is what it's all about. If you're in the market for a new travel credit card, this is the place to start.
Just as we do every month, we've assembled a list of the best currently available credit card offers for May 2025 – and everything you need to know if you are thinking about taking advantage.
But remember: Credit cards are serious business. You should never apply for a credit card if you're already in debt, and never charge more to a credit card than you can afford to pay off immediately. However many points and miles you can earn, they're not worth it.
For more information on the best current offers, be sure to head to our Top Credit Cards page.
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Current Offer
Chase just rolled out one of the biggest, limited-time offers we've ever seen on its popular *chase sapphire preferred*: You can currently earn 100,000 bonus points after $5,000 in purchases in your first three months from account opening.
While we don't know the exact end date yet, Chase has indicated its days are numbered. If you've been considering the card – and you should be – don't risk missing out!
Annual Fee: $95
Learn more about the *chase sapphire preferred*
Why This Offer Makes the List
This is the best offer we've seen on the Sapphire Preferred Card in over four years … but it won't be around much longer!
At a minimum, 100,000 Chase points are worth $1,250 toward flights, hotels, and other travel expenses booked through Chase Travel℠. But you might be able to do even better by leveraging Chase's transfer partners and sending those points to airlines like Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, British Airways Avios – or even a top-notch hotel partner like Hyatt – instead.
Even if you have, or have had, the Sapphire Preferred, you might still be eligible.
Simply put, this is one of the biggest and best welcome bonus offers ever – and not just on the Preferred Card, but on any travel credit card, period. Earning 100,000 points on a card with just a $95 annual fee is absolutely unbeatable.
Read more: Massive New Bonus: Get 100K Points on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card!
2. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Current Offer
Right now, you can earn bonus_miles_full. Offer ends on Tuesday, May 13!
Alternatively, you might be able to earn a 100,000-mile bonus after spending $5,000 in the first three months through a personal referral link.
Annual Fee: $95
Learn more about the *capital one venture card*
Why This Offer Makes the List
Considering Capital One miles can be used to cover nearly any travel purchase at a rate of 1 cent per mile, the current 75,000-mile bonus plus the $250 travel credit is worth a minimum of $1,000 towards travel. However, some travelers may find a different offer more valuable.
While you won't get all the perks that come with the premium *venture x* (more on that card next), you also won't be on the hook for a $395 annual fee each year. And you'll be earning the same unlimited 2x miles on every purchase, just like the Venture X. This means it'll be easy to keep racking up miles well after you earn the big bonus.
The Venture Card includes a credit of up to $120 every four years to cover the cost of a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership – making it one of the most cost-effective ways to get this benefit from a credit card.
With a huge, limited-time bonus offer like this, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better card for someone just getting started with points and miles. If you've been waiting to apply, now is the time: This bonus offer ends on Tuesday, May 13!
Read More: 75K Venture Miles & More Perks: All About the Capital One Venture Card
3. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Current Offer
The *capital one venture x* is currently offering 75,000 Venture Miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months. Considering you earn at least 2x miles for every dollar you spend on the Venture X Card, you'll have at least 83,000 Venture Miles (worth at least $830 towards travel) right off the bat.
Annual Fee: $395
Learn more about the *capital one venture x*
Why This Offer Makes the List
The Venture X is a souped-up version of the ever-popular *capital one venture card* that's chock full of extra benefits like access to Capital One Lounges, Priority Pass lounges. It also includes an annual $300 Capital One travel credit, a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, great travel and rental car protections, and more.
Sure, the card's $395 annual fee may immediately turn off some travelers, but in practice, the card is actually far cheaper. Consider this: You get an automatic $300 credit towards travel booked through the Capital One Travel portal each year – and then, starting in year two, you get a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus (worth a minimum of $100).
Are you the kind of person who plans to spend $400 a year or more on travel? If so, do the math, and you’ll see your real out-of-pocket cost isn't much. And it's an even better deal when you add in all the other perks and welcome bonus, which you can use to cover nearly any travel purchase.
Read More: Capital One Venture X Card Review: Get 75K Miles, Lounge Access & More
4. American Airlines AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard®
Current Offer
Earn 70,000 bonus miles after making a single purchase and paying the card's $99 annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days.
Annual Fee: $99
All information about the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Thrifty Traveler and has not been verified by the issuer.
Learn more about the American Airlines AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard® (for full disclosure, this is not an affiliate link)
Why This Offer Makes the List
There's no easier way to earn a huge welcome bonus than with the American Airlines AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard®: Forget spending a few thousand dollars, you can get 70,000 miles with one quick purchase … at least for now.
Yes, it's really that simple. All you need to do is make a single purchase within 90 days of opening the card (whether it's a cup of coffee or a new refrigerator), pay the $99 annual fee, and voila … you've got 70,000 AAdvantage miles. That's up from the standard 60,000-mile bonus that comes with this card.
But the opportunity to earn such an easy bonus won't be around much longer: Citi is set to become American's exclusive credit card partner next year, making this card a relic of the past.
If you've got a good use for American miles – and trust us, there are plenty – don't let this (potentially last-chance) offer pass you by. These are some of the easiest miles you'll ever earn!
Again, there's nothing in it for us: We don't get a dime if you get approved for this credit card. We just think this is an outstanding credit card offer that you should know about.
Read More: It's Back: Earn 70K AA Miles with One Swipe (While You Still Can)!
5. American Express® Gold Card
Current Offer
bonus_miles_full
Be sure to check if you're eligible for a 75,000-point offer via CardMatch!
Annual Fee: $325 (see rates & fees)
Learn more about the *amex gold*
Why This Offer Makes the List
The *amex gold card* is one of our favorite travel rewards cards, period.
Here's what you need to know: The real value of the Gold card goes far beyond that initial welcome offer – though a 60,000- to 90,000-point bonus sure doesn't hurt.
That's because the Gold Card earns 4x points for every dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 annually, then 1x) and 4x points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 annually, then 1x), making it arguably the best card to use for all your food purchases.
You'll also get up to $120 in dining credits each year (doled out in $10 monthly increments) to spend at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, or Five Guys, up to $84 in Dunkin' Credit each year (up to $7 per month), up to $100 in Resy Credit per year (up to $50 semi-annually), and $120 annually in Uber Cash ($10 per month) to use on both Uber and Uber Eats in the U.S. All of these credits are use-them-or-lose-them benefits, any unused amount won't roll over from month-to-month.
Maximizing these credits alone will cover all your $325 annual fee and then some. These credits and bonus categories are a big reason why we feel the card is easily worth the $325 annual fee.
Read our full review of the American Express Gold Card.
6. Chase Ink Business Cards
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Current Offer: The *chase ink preferred* is currently offering 90,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $8,000 in the first three months of card membership. These points are worth a minimum of $1,125 for future travel when redeemed through Chase TravelSM – if not much, much more by using Chase's transfer partners.
Annual Fee: $95
Learn more about the *chase ink preferred*
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Current Offer: With the *chase ink cash*, it's broken up into two tiers: You can earn $350 (or 35,000 points) after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 (or 40,000 points) after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months from account opening.
Annual Fee: $0
Learn more about the *Ink Cash*.
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Current Offer: With the *chase ink unlimited* you can earn $750 (or 75,000 points) after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual Fee: $0
Learn more about the *chase ink unlimited*.
Why These Offers Make the List
The *Ink Cash* and the *Ink Unlimited* are two no-annual fee cash back business cards that pack a huge punch.
Small business owners who already have a card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points like the *chase ink preferred*, the *chase sapphire preferred*, or even the *chase sapphire reserve* should give these two Ink Business cards a long, hard look. With one of those cards in your wallet, the cash back these cards earn can be turned into Ultimate Rewards points, making the rewards much more valuable – especially if your ultimate goal is travel.
Wondering if you are eligible to open a small business credit card to earn more travel rewards? You might be surprised by the answer. And trust us, it’s less intimidating than you may think.
If you're unsure which one to pick, Chase doesn’t restrict you from having both, so you might not have to choose. But while they offer some of the same benefits, there are other key differences to be aware of between the two.
Read More: Chase Ink Cash vs Ink Unlimited: Which Offers the Best Return for Your Business?
7. Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard®
Current Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months.
Annual Fee: $99
All information about the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Thrifty Traveler and has not been verified by the issuer.
Learn more about the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® (for full disclosure, this is not an affiliate link)
Why This Offer Makes the List
Considering you can instantly kick these miles over to Alaska, it makes this big bonus even better. The bonus might not do much with Hawaiian itself, but by sending those miles over to your Alaska account, they'll go a long way. What's more, if you know another traveler with a Hawaiian card, you can pool those miles together for free and then transfer them to Alaska.
There's nothing in it for us: We don't get a dime if you get approved for this credit card. We just think this is an outstanding credit card offer that you should know about.
But act fast. The ability to transfer miles between programs is only temporary, which means you've got a limited window to earn a big bonus on the Hawaiian co-branded card, then kick those miles over to Alaska.
Read more: Alaska Miles are Insanely Valuable & Easy to Earn … But Not For Long
8. Capital One Venture X Business
Current Offer
For a limited time, you can earn up to 350,000 bonus miles when meeting the *venture x business* card's tiered, minimum spending requirement.
Here's how it works:
- Earn 150,000 Capital One Miles once you spend $30,000 in the first three months from account opening.
- Earn an additional 200,000 Capital One Miles (for a total of 350,000 miles) once you spend $200,000 in the first six months from account opening.
For some small businesses, spending the $30,000 necessary to earn the first part of the bonus might seem daunting enough. But for many others – from restaurants to general contractors – spending $10,000 each month is commonplace … and even the thought of spending $200,000 in six months isn't out of the question.
Annual Fee: $395
Learn more about the *venture x business*.
Why This Offer Makes the List
Without question, the spending requirement to earn the big welcome offer bonus is huge. But if your business regularly has big expenses, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better business card offer right now. The key here is to not go out of your way to earn the bonus by spending money unnecessarily.
The bank essentially hit copy and paste on the personal *venture x* that's chock full of premium travel benefits: Access to Capital One Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, a $300 Capital One Travel credit, a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus (beginning in year two), a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and more.
Sure, the card's $395 annual fee may immediately turn off some business owners, but in practice, the card is actually far cheaper. Consider this: You get an automatic $300 credit towards travel booked through the Capital One Travel portal each year – and then, starting in year two, you get a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus (worth a minimum of $100).
Are you the kind of person who plans to spend $400 a year or more on travel? If so, do the math, and you’ll see your real out-of-pocket cost isn't much, if anything, at all. And it's an even better deal when you add in all the other perks and welcome bonus.
Not to mention, you'll earn 2x Venture Miles for every dollar your business spends – that can add up in a hurry.
Read our full review of the Venture X Business Card
9. The Platinum Card® from American Express
Current Offer
There is currently a targeted welcome offer available through creditcards.com's CardMatch tool to earn 175,000 points via CardMatch after spending $8,000 in the first six months
Not targeted through CardMatch? You can also try using an incognito window on your browser and apply directly with American Express. Or see if you can get a referral link for 175,000 points from a friend or family member.
At the very least, you'll earn a welcome offer of 80,000 American Express points after spending $8,000 within the first six months.
Annual Fee: $695 (see rates & fees)
Learn more about *amex platinum*.
Why This Offer Makes the List
*amex platinum* got a big refresh a few years ago, bringing on new benefits and an even bigger annual fee.
And while that big annual fee may be hard to stomach, you can still come out way ahead in your first year thanks in part to the record welcome offer currently available (from CardMatch or a personal referral link). That takes the cake for the best offer we have ever seen on the Platinum Card … and it's not even close.
Just know that if you don't already have an American Express Membership Rewards-earning card, it may be better to start at the bottom and work your way up. With recent changes to application rules, going straight to Amex's best card could cost you additional new card welcome offers down the road.
Check out some of the best ways to use your bonus from the Amex Platinum card!
Bottom Line
May is yet another big month in terms of elevated credit card offers. While there are plenty of cards and bonuses to choose from, we think these are the best travel rewards card offers currently available.
Be sure to check our Top Credit Cards Page, as offers are always changing.