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Citi Strata Premier® Credit Card
Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.
Bonus Offer
Earn 70,000 bonus ThankYou® points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening
Transfer ThankYou Points to Wyndham Rewards and receive a 20% Bonus in Wyndham Rewards points. Offer is valid for Point Transfers to Wyndham Rewards completed by 11:59 PM ET November 16, 2024.
That means that Citi Strata Premier and Citi Prestige cardholders get a 1,200 Wyndham points for 1,000 Citi while Citi ThankYou® Preferred, Citi Rewards+®, Sears Mastercard, Citi Double Cash®, AT&T Universal Rewards World, AT&T Universal Savings and Rewards, AT&T Universal Rewards, AT&T Points PlusSM Card from Citi or AT&T Access Card Cardmembers get 960 Wyndham points for every 1,000 Citi points transferred.
(Wyndham is one of the few programs the no fee ThankYou cards can transfer to without having a Premier or Prestige, but note the lackluster transfer ratio.)
Also note that Citi ran the same transfer bonus this summer.
Wyndham isn’t a super popular program on its own, but there is value to be found if you hunt hard enough. That said, I don’t think this transfer is for 99% of people, and DEFINITELY not for the cards that transfer at less than 1:1.
Wyndham points are generally worth about a penny each. Here are some ways you can potentially get more value:
- You can book not just Wyndham brand hotels but also Caesars Rewards properties. Wyndham does have some very nice properties but you do have to hunt. The Dolce Collection is one.
- You can book Vacassa vacation rentals (however, only by phone, at 15,000 points per bedroom if the per bedroom equivalent price is under $250 or 30,000 points per night if the rate is over $250 and under $500). All rates are inclusive of any taxes and fees. You’re getting 1.67 cents per point if perfectly maxed out and with this 20 percent bonus you would be getting 2 cents per ThankYou point in value. Not bad.
- You can transfer points directly to Caesars Rewards (the better way to book Caesars since if you are Diamond and book directly, you won’t pay resort fees). This would give you 1.2 cents each. And if your Wyndham points are close to expiration, this could be a good move since they hard expire after 4 years (cannot be extended), but a transfer would reset that.
Transfer ThankYou Points to Virgin Flying Club or Virgin Red and receive a 30% Bonus in Virgin Points. Offer is valid for Point Transfers to Virgin Points completed by 11:59 PM ET November 16, 2024.
Note that there is currently a 40% transfer bonus from Chase to Virgin Atlantic until Nov 30,. 2024.
CAVEAT: Beginning October 30th, 2024, Virgin Flying Club will move to a dynamic pricing for awards. Historically this has never been good news as higher priced times that you would get higher value from awards become more expensive with points. If you are transferring during the first two weeks of this bonus, you have time before the switch. We aren’t 100% sure if the dynamic pricing will apply only to Virgin metal awards or a wider swath of awards.
Virgin Atlantic transfer bonuses are fairly frequent between various programs. See historical transfer bonuses to Virgin Atlantic here. Excluding Bilt’s one-day 100% bonus on Sept 1st, other bonuses this year have been 30% except for the current 40% bonus from Chase.
Best Uses of Virgin Flying Club points:
Two great uses are domestically on Delta within the US or US-Mexico/Canada and for economy flights to/from Europe that are as few as 12,000 miles each way on partners such as KLM or Delta.
Another great use is on ITA Airways to/from Italy for 75,000 miles in Business Class. Surcharges are low; even FCO to JFK has only $55 in fees. And if you could actually find a Delta One award FROM Europe to the US, it would be just 50,000 points. Availability is a unicorn. Unfortunately, awards TO Europe on Delta now cost more and have $1,000 + surcharges)
The other, well known, “best use” is to book ANA First and Business class awards.
- First Class to/from Japan from West Coast: 145,000 points Round Trip
- First Class to/from Japan from East Coast: 170,000 points Round Trip
- Business Class to/from Japan from West Coast: 105,000 points Round Trip
- Business Class to/from Japan from East Coast: 120,000 points Round Trip
Bonus points for spend in the following bonus categories:
- Earn triple points from five distinct spending categories from air travel and hotels to restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations
- Take advantage of World Elite Mastercard perks, like Lyft and DoorDash perks and extended warranty protection
- Citi ThankYou® points are extremely flexible, with the ability to utilize an array of more than 15 airline and two hotel transfer partners to get the most bang for your buck on travel
Pros
- The $95 annual fee can be completely offset by the $100 hotel credit
- Redeem Citi ThankYou® points for a variety of travel, including the ability to transfer points to more than 15 airline and hotel programs
- Trip Protection benefits
Cons
- Citi ThankYou® points can only be transferred to airline programs (no hotels) and of them, the partners are more obscure international airlines
- Weaker on travel perks, with no airport lounge access or TSA PreCheck/Global Entry reimbursement
- No domestic airline transfer partners
If you have a Citi Strata Premier® card or a legacy Citi Prestige card, you can transfer your points to Citi's full range of airline and hotel partners. Other ThankYou points-earning cards can be pooled with your Premier or Prestige to unlock airline and hotel program transfers. We calculate that you can get an average of 1.6 cents per point when redeeming this way. If you have any other Citi ThankYou point cards and do not have a Strata Premier or Prestige, then your ThankYou points are worth 1 cent each.
Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.
Chase Aeroplan® Credit Card
Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.
Bonus Offer
Earn 75,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, you can earn 25,000 points after spending $20,000 in the first 12 months from account opening.
Bonus points for spend in the following bonus categories:
Applies to travel booked directly with Air Canada. Other airfare earns 1X miles per dollar.
Includes takeout and delivery
- Eltie status for the first year of card membership and the following full year - with the option to retain Aeroplan elite status or upgrade to the next tier by meeting qualifying spend requirements
- Earn 3x bonus points per $1 spent on purchases made through Air Canada directly, grocery stores, restaurants; and 1x point on all other purchases
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS application reimbursement every four years
Pros
- Automatic 25k Aeroplan elite status for benefits like 20 eUpgrade credits to premium cabins on Air Canada flights, two passes to Maple Leaf lounges and more
- Use Pay Yourself Back to redeem Aeroplan points for a statement credit towards any travel purchases at a favorable rate of 1.25 cents per point
- Important travel and purchase coverage, such as trip delay reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, cell phone insurance and more
Cons
- Aeroplan points aren't as flexible as transferrable currencies such as Chase Ultimate Rewards
- $95 annual fee
- Hefty spend requirement to retain or upgrade your Aeroplan elite status level
Aeroplan does not pass along any fuel surcharges, making this a great program for Star Alliance flights. Two huge additional benefits are a stopover on your trip for just 5,000 miles and a lap infant (under 2) is just $25 CAD. One small negative is that they do have fees for cancelling an award ticket.
Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.
American Express® Gold Card
Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.
Bonus Offer
There is no bonus offer at this time
We have seen past bonuses from Chase and American Express of up to 70%, so while 35% seems like a large bonus, it’s in the midrange of historical bonuses. (See historical transfer bonuses to Marriott Bonvoy).
This is almost never a good transfer unless you are topping off for an award you are ready to book. Keep in mind that we value a Membership Rewards point at almost 3X the value of a Marriott Bonvoy point.
However, there are always exceptions and you might find a 5 night stay (5th night free) where the transfer makes sense so do the math – but you likely do not want to transfer speculatively unless you are a Bonvoy pro and believe you will exceed value you can get via other Amex partners.
This offer runs through the end of 2024, so no rush to decide.
I’m just going to come straight out and tell you not to do this unless you are an unbelievably experienced Avianca Lifemiles user and know exactly what you need more miles for. They also have transfer bonuses all the time, almost always more than 15%.
The transfer bonus is paltry at 15%, the Lifemiles program just did a major unannounced devaluation, and they are no longer the only option for avoiding surcharges on Star Alliance flights (hello Aeroplan).
Also see: Downsides of LifeMiles program.
This bonus is targeted by account. You may be offered 10% or 15% (or possibly no transfer bonus).
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles are very useful in the right circumstances. They used to “hard expire” regardless of activity, but no longer as you can reset expiration with activity every 18 months.
Best for booking Cathay Pacific metal long haul premium flights which may only be made available to its own members. Also great for booking long haul in a premium cabin with a short connection in a lower class of service which prices the entire trip lower than just the primary premium long haul segment. You can now book AA flights online as well.
I personally love Asia Miles for booking flights to Asia (either to or transiting Japan) as the booking window for Asia Miles is 360 days out which aligns with JAL’s giving you two chances to snag a First or Business Class seat right at the booking window.
Bonus points for spend in the following bonus categories:
4X Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on U.S. Supermarkets* (up to $25,000 a year; 1X thereafter)
At restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 a year; 1X thereafter)
Booked directly with the airline or via AmexTravel.com
- Amazing Membership Rewards earn rate for spend on dining and at supermarkets as well as airfare
- No Preset Spending Limit. No Preset Spending Limit means your spending limit is flexible. Unlike a traditional card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history.
- You can choose the traditional American Express Gold Card color or the unique Rose Gold or White Gold versions
Pros
- For a pure combination of spending on dining, groceries, and airfare, the American Express Gold card is unmatched
- Although the annual fee seems high, you can actually come out ahead by using available monthly statement credits
- Earns valuable American Express Membership rewards points and card membership includes the highly regarded American Express customer service
Cons
- The annual fee of $325, despite the statement credits that can offset it, is steep for some
- Bonus categories are limited to just three
- Car rental CDW coverage is secondary to your own auto insurance
Instant Transfers as well as solid transfer partners. The value would go up if they had any hotel partners with a fair exchange rate. ANA (an exception to instant transfers), Virgin, Air Canada and Avianca are top airline partners for maximizing your points. They can also transfer to Delta if you wish and while the rates aren't ideal, they can transfer to Marriott and Hilton as well. ANA provides almost unbeatable value for booking a Round the World flight all in Business Class. The stated value also assumes you will take advantage of transfer partners rather than book via their booking portal, where they are only worth between 1 and 1.5 cents. We've also created a Guide to American Express Membership Rewards.
Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.
Bonus Offer
Earn 3 Free Nights (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
Bonus points for spend in the following bonus categories:
Earn 6X when you book Marriott Bonvoy properties direct. Earn 2X on all other hotel bookings.
- Earn a free night award every year worth up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
- Earn an outstanding 6X points per dollar for stays at Marriott Bonvoy hotels and resorts.
- Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver elite status, with a pathway to Gold status every year by spending $35,000+ on the card
Pros
- The annual free night award on the card is worth around $210 based on our estimations - more than double the $95 annual fee
- The card is especially rewarding on Marriott purchases, with the ability to earn an excellent 6X multiplier at Marriott Bonvoy properties
- Great travel card all around, thanks to travel protections and no foreign transaction fees
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- Silver elite status doesn't provide many perks on its own, so it's worth it to achieve Gold status or upgrade to a higher-tier Marriott Bonvoy credit card
- Only earns 2x Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar after reaching the $6,000 cap on combined purchases on grocery stores, gas stations and dining
While Marriott Bonvoy dropped all award charts in favor of a dynamic pricing system, it hasn't gotten out of hand and the 5th night free on awards can still provide outsized value. It's also hard to beat the breadth of Marriott Bonvoy properties all over the world.
Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.
Hilton Honors Surpass® Credit Card
Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.
Bonus Offer
Earn 165,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of Card Membership (Terms apply).
Bonus points for spend in the following bonus categories:
At Hilton portfolio properties when you book direct with Hilton or the hotel. Otherwise, earn 3X points
U.S. gast stations
U.S. dining, including takeout and delivery
U.S. Supermarkets. * American Express defines a supermarket as offering a wide variety of food and household products such as meat, fresh produce, dairy, canned and packaged goods, household cleaners, pharmacy products and pet supplies. (Superstores, convenience stores and warehouse clubs are NOT considered supermarkets.)
U.S. Online Retail Shopping
- Very high earn rate for all spend at Hilton properties (12X)
- Comes with complimentary Hilton Gold elite status
- Offers the ability to earn a valuable Free Night Reward with $15,000 in spend in a calendar year
Pros
- If you stay at Hilton Hotels often, the 12X earn rate on Hilton Hotels will really add up.
- Includes mid-tier Hilton Gold status, a way to spend to Diamond status
- Spend your way to a Free Night Reward valid at almost any Hilton property in the world
Cons
- The card only earns Hilton Honors points, so you would not be able to redeem them for stays at other hotel chains.
- Earning a specific type of co-branded point, like Hilton Honors points, limits your redemption opportunities and your points balance may be worth less over time if the program changes how points are redeemed via a devaluation of the loyalty program.
- The Free Night Reward available with this card requires $15,000 in annual (calendar year) spend
Since Hilton moved to a variable pricing model, on average you'll be offered roughly a 0.5 cent value per point. What is nice is that although the pricing is mostly variable, they still cap the "standard" redemption rate on all properties. With the 5th night free on all award stays and resort fees waived on award stays, it's very possible to well exceed this value - even getting 1-2 cents per point - when used wisely.
Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.
Bonus Offer
Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms apply.
Bonus points for spend in the following bonus categories:
Multiplier only applies to flights booked on Delta, otherwise earn 1X
At restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
At U.S. Supermarkets. * American Express defines a supermarket as offering a wide variety of food and household products such as meat, fresh produce, dairy, canned and packaged goods, household cleaners, pharmacy products and pet supplies. (Superstores, convenience stores and warehouse clubs are NOT considered supermarkets.)
- The annual companion certificate can easily outweigh the $350 annual fee and can be used for round trip domestic flights on Delta Air Lines (Terms apply)
- Get $2,500 MQDs annually just for having the card plus you can spend your way towards Medallion Status with 1 MQD per $20 spent.
- Get a 15% discount off of Delta award flights
Pros
- $2,500 annual MQDs and the opportunity to spend your way towards Medallion Status (MQDs)
- Receive a Companion Certificate on Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. (Terms apply)
- Jam-packed with traveler's benefits, such as a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit, a first free checked bag when flying Delta Air Lines, trip delay coverage, baggage insurance and more
Cons
- $350 annual fee
- Doesn't offer Delta Sky Club access
- While the ability to spend your way towards Medallion status is helpful, it requires a hefty amount of spending
Delta uses a fully dynamic pricing model on most awards, with the program aiming to offer you about 1.1 to 1.2 cents per point. However, you can still occasionally get much more value, especially during SkyMiles Flash Sales. Note that while you can book SkyTeam alliance flights with Delta SkyMiles, you cannot book international First Class on any SkyMiles partner.
Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.
Bonus Offer
Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms apply.
Bonus points for spend in the following bonus categories:
Applies only to airfare booked directly with Delta Air Lines; otherwise earn 1X
At U.S. Supermarkets. * American Express defines a supermarket as offering a wide variety of food and household products such as meat, fresh produce, dairy, canned and packaged goods, household cleaners, pharmacy products and pet supplies. (Superstores, convenience stores and warehouse clubs are NOT considered supermarkets.)
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights -- a savings of $30 one-way, or $60 roundtrip!
- Save 15% when you use SkyMiles to book eligible Delta award flights
- Potential to earn a $200 Delta flight credit every year by spending at least $10,000 on the card in a calendar year -- recouping the ongoing $99 annual fee!
Pros
- You'll save 15% when you use SkyMiles to book eligible Delta award flights
- Free first checked bag and Main Cabin 1 boarding on Delta flights
- Earn a $200 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 in a calendar year
Cons
- While there's a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year of account opening, the Delta SkyMiles Gold charges a $150 annual fee thereafter.
- The card does not provide more than 2x miles on purchases, even on Delta flights
- You do not get Delta Sky Club access or elite-qualifying miles
Delta uses a fully dynamic pricing model on most awards, with the program aiming to offer you about 1.1 to 1.2 cents per point. However, you can still occasionally get much more value, especially during SkyMiles Flash Sales. Note that while you can book SkyTeam alliance flights with Delta SkyMiles, you cannot book international First Class on any SkyMiles partner.
Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card
Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.
Bonus Offer
Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms apply.
Bonus points for spend in the following bonus categories:
Earn 6X points when staying at a Marriott Bonvoy participating hotel booked directly through Marriott or the hotel; else earn 2X
U.S. Supermarkets only. * American Express defines a supermarket as offering a wide variety of food and household products such as meat, fresh produce, dairy, canned and packaged goods, household cleaners, pharmacy products and pet supplies. (Superstores, convenience stores and warehouse clubs are NOT considered supermarkets.)
- The card helps you earn Marriott Bonvoy points faster, with 6x points per dollar spend on the card at a Bonvoy property and 1,000 bonus points on every eligible Marriott stay
- Complimentary Gold elite status as well as 15 annual elite night credits to help you qualify for higher ranks
- Potential to earn a free night award upon spending $15,000+ on the card per calendar year, which is worth around $300, based on our valuation of Marriott Bonvoy points
Pros
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status just by holding the card
- On top of the 6x points earning rate at Marriott Bonvoy properties, you can earn 1,000 bonus points for every eligible Marriott Bonvoy stay
- Travel and purchase protections (See Card Details for benefits and disclosures)
Cons
- The Bevy free night award is not given automatically; you must spend at least $15,000 on the card per calendar year
- $250 annual fee is a bit steep, especially for the benefits provided in comparison to the Brilliant and the Boundless cards.
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status isn't as competitive as other hotel loyalty program benefits, considering that The Platinum Card® from American Express offers both complimentary Marriott Gold and Hilton Gold status upon enrollment
While Marriott Bonvoy dropped all award charts in favor of a dynamic pricing system, it hasn't gotten out of hand and the 5th night free on awards can still provide outsized value. It's also hard to beat the breadth of Marriott Bonvoy properties all over the world.
Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.
Hilton Honors American Express Card
Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.
Bonus Offer
Earn 100,000 Bonus Points after spending $2,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of Card Membership (Terms apply).
Bonus points for spend in the following bonus categories:
Applies to bookings at Hilton Honors properties booked directly with Hilton. Otherwise, earn 3X
At U.S. Gas Stations
At U.S. Restaurants. Take out and delivery included.
At U.S. Supermarkets. * American Express defines a supermarket as offering a wide variety of food and household products such as meat, fresh produce, dairy, canned and packaged goods, household cleaners, pharmacy products and pet supplies. (Superstores, convenience stores and warehouse clubs are NOT considered supermarkets.)
- No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- 7X points when staying at Hilton portfolio properties
- Comes with Silver Elite Status
Pros
- 7X points when staying at Hilton portfolio properties
- Comes with Silver Elite Status with the chance to earn Gold
- No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Silver status benefits are light compared to Gold status
- The earn rate on everyday spend is higher on other cards
- Lacks any high end benefits, but then again it's a no annual fee card
Since Hilton moved to a variable pricing model, on average you'll be offered roughly a 0.5 cent value per point. What is nice is that although the pricing is mostly variable, they still cap the "standard" redemption rate on all properties. With the 5th night free on all award stays and resort fees waived on award stays, it's very possible to well exceed this value - even getting 1-2 cents per point - when used wisely.
Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.
Bonus Offer
Earn 60,000 Points + 1 Free Night after spending $2,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. 1 Free Night valued up to 50,000 points. Certain hotels have resort fees.
Bonus points for spend in the following bonus categories:
Earn 3X at Marriott Bonvoy properties booked direct. Earn 2X on all other hotel bookings.
Select Streaming services
- Beginner-friendly travel card with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees to worry about
- Automatic Silver elite status with 15 annual elite night credits for holding the card
- Important travel and purchase coverages, including baggage delay insurance, trip delay reimbursement and purchase protection
Pros
- No annual fee
- Automatic Silver elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program and 15 elite night credits every year
- Earn 6X Bonvoy points at participating Marriott hotels
Cons
- Marriott Bonvoy Silver elite status won't get you much besides priority late checkout
- The card doesn't come with a Marriott free night award
- The earning rate on non-Marriott purchases is mediocre (2x points on travel purchases and 1x points on all other eligible purchases)
While Marriott Bonvoy dropped all award charts in favor of a dynamic pricing system, it hasn't gotten out of hand and the 5th night free on awards can still provide outsized value. It's also hard to beat the breadth of Marriott Bonvoy properties all over the world.
Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.
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