Check Your Credit Cards for Annual Fee Refunds, Retention Offers and New Category Bonuses

The economy is in a definite downturn due to COVID-19, and many people are doing far less traveling and less travel-related spending than normal.

In response, credit card companies are working hard to entice people to keep their credit cards rather than close their accounts.

Many of the big card issuers have proactively issued statement credits or other bonuses, or added temporarily enhanced benefits for all customers of certain cards.

For other card issuers or other credit cards, customers need to call and ask about offers to see what they may be targeted to receive.

Many cards are offering additional bonuses in categories in which those cards historically have not offered bonuses.  This is to encourage customers to use the card more.  For example, Chase is offering 5 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on grocery store purchases for the new few months.  Similarly, American Express is offering 4 Delta Sky Miles per dollar on grocery store purchases with their Delta co-branded cards.

Another benefit is that the travel credit on certain cards can be triggered for spending that is not travel-related.  For example, the Citi Prestige card $250 travel credit can be used at supermarkets and restaurants.

This post is a heads-up, not a comprehensive roundup of all the changes on the major cards.

In light of recent changes, it behooves all of us to check our credit card portfolio and figure out which cards make the most sense for certain types of spending.

Sample articles with more details:

The Points Guy - temporary perks on Amex cards

Marketwatch - annual fee partial rebates on certain cards

Frequent Miler - COVID-related Credit Card Benefit Enhancements - Ultimate Guide 

Last Day for Increased Delta Amex Credit Card Signup Bonuses

Weds April 3rd - today - is the last day to get higher-than-normal signup bonuses for several Delta-branded American Express credit cards.

The increased bonuses for new customers are available only via referral from existing cardholders.  Please click my link if you are interested in any of the offers below.

http://refer.amex.us/JASONW2rUF?XLINK=MYCP 

After clicking the link, click the View all Cards with a Referral Offer to see the other Delta Amex personal credit cards.  To see the Delta Amex business credit cards, click the Looking for a Business Card? link

Recap of Current Signup Bonuses - Delta Amex Personal Credit Cards

• Gold Delta SkyMiles card:  60,000 SkyMiles + $50 statement credit after $2,000 spend in first 3 months.  Annual fee waived first year, then $95/yr
• Platinum Delta SkyMiles card:  75,000 SkyMiles + 5,000 MQMs (toward elite status earning) + $100 statement credit after $3,000 spend in first 3 mos.  $195 annual fee (NOT waived first year)
• Delta Reserve card:  75,000 SkyMiles + 5,000 MQMs after $5,000 spend in 3 mos.  $450 annual fee (NOT waived first year)
• Blue Delta SkyMiles card - this is NOT a good card.  Signup bonus is only 10,000 miles after $500 spend in first 3 mos.  No annual fee.  Earning rate is only 1/2 SkyMile per $1 on most purchases except Delta purchases - terrible

Recap of Current Signup Bonuses - Delta Amex Business Credit Cards

The business cards have signup bonuses that are in some cases better than the personal cards, although not everyone may be comfortable applying for a business credit card.  For some reason, the increased signup bonuses are not working via referral link, but they are still publicly available.  Click the Frequent Miler article below for links to the application pages

• Gold Delta SkyMiles Business card:  70,000 SkyMiles + $50 statement credit after $4,000 spend in 3 mos.  Annual fee $95/yr waived first year
• Platinum Delta SkyMiles Business card:  80,000 SkyMiles + 5,000 MQMs + $100 statement credit after $6,000 spend in 3 mos.  $195 annual fee (NOT waived first year)

Background reading

https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/increased-referral-offers-on-delta-personal-cards/
https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/inceased-delta-biz-offers-now-too/

Best Cash Back Credit Cards - late Dec 2018

Cash back credit cards are a dime a dozen.  With so many out there, which one is best?  In response to a friend asking about the best cash back credit card for a small business, today I did some research and came up with what I think are the best cash back credit cards worth signing up for right now.

Referral Links

The Chase Ink Business Preferred is the only card in this post for which I have a referral link.  If you decide to apply for this card, please use my link, as I'll earn 20,000 Chase points when you are approved!  The signup bonus via referral is 80,000 points - same as the public offer on the Chase website.

Chase Ink Business Preferred - referral link

General Comments

• Personal credit cards can be used for business expenses, and vice versa
• Business cards usually have larger signup bonuses than personal cards
• Signup bonuses on cash back credit cards are generally smaller than the signup bonuses on travel points credit cards
• Some cards allow their 'travel points' to be redeemed for cash back (usually at 1 cent per point)...these can be very flexible cards, but not ideal if you plan / want cash back as your rewards currency.  Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Ink Business Preferred are two great examples of this rare type of card that's flexible enough to provide the best of both worlds.
• Category bonuses can make a significant difference in the amount of rewards earned via card spend.  Many cards offer 5% cash back in certain categories. If you have expenses that may fall in dining, travel, gasoline, office supply, utilities, grocery...these categories often have category bonuses from various cards.  Some category bonuses are capped on a fairly low amount of quarterly or annual spend.
• How much annual spend do you anticipate?  Some cards have huge signup bonuses based on high initial spend requirements - e.g. Capital One Spark Cash.
• 2% cash back is the best flat rate out there for all spend (regardless of category).  1.5% cash back cards are much more common.
• More than 2% cash back overall is possible, by leveraging category bonuses (which rotate quarterly for some cards, vs. cardholder can choose desired categories for other cards) -- but the spend you'll have may not fit any of these categories.
• Will you need numerous authorized user cards for employees, or just one main card or maybe a second one?  Many business cards offer free employee cards, but some charge for that.

Bottom-Line Advice

• My personal strategy for anyone is to get a new card every year or two.
• The signup bonus from a new cash back card can be as much or nearly as much as the cash back earnings from a year's worth of spend on a card.  E.g. spend $30k a year, earn $450-600 at 1.5%-2% cash back.  A few cash back cards have $400-600 signup bonuses.
• Why not sign up for a new card every year or two, if this strategy could mean earning twice as much cash back as using the same card for several years?

Resources

• CardRatings.com best cash back cards - very good roundup of cash back cards, focused mostly on the good ones
• CompareCards.com Cash Back Cards List - good roundup of cash back cards, though many listed are not great choices
• Doctor of Credit best credit cards for various situations - great page with lists of good cards for people with spending focused in certain categories and other situations
• Frequent Miler best credit card signup offers - one of my favorite travel and credit card blogs.  This page requires some drill-down to find the cash back cards, though.
• CardMatch tool - see if you are targeted for potentially better offers than publicly available offers.    No credit pull.

Recommendations

These are in order, from best to least-best

1. Capital One Spark Cash - 2% cash back on everything.  Huge signup bonus if you can do huge spend.  $500 cash back bonus after $5k in first 3 months.  Additional $1,500 bonus after additional $45k ($50k total) in first 6 months.  Total cash back will be $3k ($2k bonus plus 2% from normal cash back earnings on the $50k spend).  Note, the similar Capital One Spark Miles has similar signup bonus.  $59 annual fee, waived first year.  Capital One Spark Cash - Doctor of Credit    Capital One Spark Cash - Frequent Miler
2. Chase Ink Business Preferred - huge $800 (80,000 Chase UR points, worth 1 cent each if cashed out) cash back sign-up bonus.  Flexibility to use rewards as Chase UR points.  $95 annual fee. Chase Ink Business Preferred - CardRatings.com
3. Discover it cash back - 1% cash back plus 5% rotating quarterly cash back categories.  Cash back in first year is doubled, so 2+% depending whether one earns any cash back from 5% categories.  Only 1% cash back after first year, though.  No annual fee. Discover it cash back - Frequent Miler (Possible to get $50 signup bonus via referral - check this Doctor of Credit page here.)
4. Citi Double Cash.  2% cash back on everything, no annual fee.  No signup bonus.  Good long term card due to flat 2% cash back and no annual fee, but compared with a card that has a $500+ signup bonus, it will take a while to 'break even' with this card instead. Citi Double Cash - Doctor of Credit
5. Capital One Savor Cash Rewards - $500 signup bonus.  Only 1% cash back on most stuff, but 4% on dining and entertainment, 2% grocery.  $95 annual fee waived first year.  Decent card for the signup bonus, but not a great long term card unless spending quite a bit on dining & entertainment.  Savor Cash Rewards - Frequent Miler
6. Chase Freedom Unlimited - 1.5% cash back.  No annual fee.  $200 signup bonus after $500 spend.  Best thing about this card is, if you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred, Ink Plus, or Reserve, you can use the earnings from Freedom Unlimited to convert into 1.5 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spend.  Chase UR points are great, flexible travel points generally considered to be worth about 2 cents each. Chase Freedom Unlimited - Frequent Miler
7. Capital One Spark Cash Select - no annual fee.  1.5% cash back on everything.  $200 cash back bonus after $3k spend in first 3 months.  Capital One Spark Cash Select - Frequent Miler
8. U.S. Bank Cash+ card - interesting twist - cardholder can select the desired bonus categories.  No annual fee.  $150 signup bonus.  5% back on $2,000 worth of combined purchases in two categories that you select quarterly; 2% back in one "everyday" category you select quarterly, such as gas or groceries; 1% back on everything else.  U.S. Bank Cash+ card - Value Penguin
9. U.S. Bank Cash 365 American Express card - $150 cash back after $500 spend in first 90 days.  1.5% unlimited cash back on everything.  No annual fee.  Good first-year card, especially for lower spenders.  E.g. spend $10k in first year.  Total cash back $300, i.e. 3%. U.S. Bank Cash 365 Amex card

100,000 Point Signup Bonus for No Annual Fee Hilton Amex Card

The Deal

Earn 100,000 Hilton points after you spend $1,000 on the Hilton Honors American Express card within the first 3 months.  No annual fee.  (Apply via referral link:  http://refer.amex.us/JASONWjy0r?xl=cp15 )

Bottom Line

• This is one of the better sign-up bonuses you will see for a card with no annual fee.  100,000 Hilton points can yield 2-4 nights at nicer Hilton properties, depending on when and where.  It is possible to find lower tier Hilton properties (Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, DoubleTree, etc) for 20,000 points per night in certain U.S. areas and thereby get as many as 5 free nights from the signup bonus.  Hilton properties in some overseas countries are as cheap as 7k-10k points per night.  Award Mapper is a useful site to view hotel locations by brand, and the points price per night, for properties all over the world.

To get the 100,000 point offer:

The 100,000 point offer is no longer available as a public offer; it is available only via referral link.  Click my Amex referral link to open in a web browser:  
http://refer.amex.us/JASONWjy0r?xl=cp15

then find the offer for the no annual fee Hilton Amex card:

1. Click the View All Cards with a Referral Offer link near the top of the page
2. Click the Looking for a Personal Card? link
3. Click the Continue to Card Details blue button for the Hilton Honors Card (or the Aspire or Ascend care if interested in those other cards)
4. Click Apply Now
5. Complete the application page

(My referral link will show you a Delta Amex credit card first, but you can apply for any Amex card that has a referral offer.  I will get a referral bonus, and you will get the signup bonus listed.)

This post is focused on the no annual fee Hilton Honors credit card as a great 'starter card' for people who are newer to the points and miles hobby.

If you are interested in the other Hilton American Express cards, feel free to apply for one of those instead.  All four Hilton co-branded Amex cards are offering their best-ever signup bonuses (only via referral, as the public offers have been reduced) at this time:

• Hilton Honors American Express Ascend - 150,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after $3,000 spend in first 3 months.  $95 annual fee
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire - 150,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after $3,000 spend in first 3 months.  $450 annual fee
• Hilton Honors Business card - 125,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after $3,000 spend in first 3 months.  $95 annual fee
• Hilton Honors card - 100,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after $1,000 spend in first 3 months.  No annual fee

Card Benefits

Many of these benefits are fairly common for credit cards, but this is a pretty solid benefit suite for a no annual fee card.

• No Annual Fee and No Annual Fee for Additional Cards
• Earn 7 Hilton Honors bonus points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio.‡
• Earn 5 Hilton Honors bonus points per dollar spent at restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations in the USA
• Earn 3 Hilton Honors bonus points per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
• No Foreign Transaction Fee - Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad
• Complimentary Silver Status - Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status with your Card.  Earn Gold status thru the end of the next calendar year after $20,000 spend on the card in a calendar year.  Silver status isn't worth much, but it's better than nothing.  Gold status is fairly useful (e.g. free continental breakfast for 2 people per room.)
• Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance - Use the card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver at the rental car counter to be covered if the car is damaged or stolen. (Coverage not available for vehicles rented in Australia, Italy, and New Zealand. Coverage is secondary, not primary, and does not include liability coverage.)
• Extended Manufacturer Warranty Coverage - Items purchased with the card may get up to two extra years added to original manufacturer's warranty.  (Applies to warranties of 5 years or less. Coverage varies depending on cardholder's location.)
• Phone Damage and Theft Coverage - On eligible purchases, theft and accidental damage to cell phone can be covered by Purchase Protection up to 120 days and $1,000 per occurrence, $50,000 per calendar year.
• 90-day Return Protection - Return Protection coverage may provide a refund within 90 days of eligible item purchase, even if the merchant will not accept the item for return. (Limited to $300 per item and $1,000 per calendar year. Purchases must be made in the U.S. and its territories.)
• Shoprunner - Free 2-day shipping on eligible items at 140+ online stores with free ShopRunner enrollment. (Minimum purchase may be required.)
• Travel Accident Insurance - This can provide coverage for accidental death and dismemberment while traveling on a Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when entire fare was charged to the card
• Global Assist Hotline - 24/7 access to medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services, including medical and legal referrals, assistance with cash wires, passport replacement, missing luggage and more. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers
• Entertainment Access - Get exclusive access to ticket presales and Card Member-only events in nearby cities.  Broadway shows and concert tours, family and sporting events, and more
• Pay It Plan It - Two different options to pay down balance. Pay It option - pay small purchase amounts or Plan It - split up large purchases with a fixed fee
• Additional Cards - additional cards are free for anyone age 13+.  Points earnings at same rate and accrue to the primary cardmember's Hilton Honors account.  Adding a child as an authorized user can be a great way to start building positive credit history for a child.
• Fraud Protection - No liability for fraudulent charges made with your American Express Card.  No deductible
• Year-End Summary - Year-End Summary of charges for reviewing annual spending

Public Offer is Not as Good

The current public offer for the Hilton Honors American Express card is 75,000 point signup bonus after $1,000 spend in first 3 months.  LINK.  Use my referral link at top of this post to get the better 100k offer.

70k SkyMiles + 1 year Delta Sky Club access + 10k MQMs for $450

[This offer was previously 40,000 miles, and in the past has been as low as 10,000 miles, but is offered now at 70,000 miles which is by far the best offer ever on this card.]

American Express is offering a signup bonus of 70,000 Delta SkyMiles plus 10,000 MQMs on the Amex Delta Reserve business credit card.  Signup bonus requires $5,000 spend within first 3 months.

Below is my referral URL for the Business version of the Amex Delta Reserve Card.

http://refer.amex.us/JASONWXtbm?XLINK=MYCP

If you apply, I'd appreciate you using my referral link as I'll earn some free SkyMiles.  The offer via referral is the same as the publicly available offer, so you don't lose anything by using the link.  Referral offer on business version of the card ends on 11/07/2018.

Card also provides free Delta Sky Club access for cardholder when traveling on same-day Delta flight.

This is the first time so many SkyMiles  are included in the sign-up bonus for the Reserve card.  (The *personal* Reserve card signup bonus is still 40,000 SkyMiles.)  in the past, the bonus has fluctuated between 10k and 40k SkyMiles, plus the 10k Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs, aka Delta elite status qualifying miles).

The business version of the card is great because most business credit cards do NOT hit your personal credit report or affect your credit inquiries or credit score.  Anyone can apply for a business credit card; you do NOT need an incorporated business or a company Tax ID number to be approved for a business credit card.  All you need is a legitimate small business or side business with a history of decent amount of revenue and a good amount of expected expenses.

Annual fee on this card is $450, which is steep, but still cheaper than buying a Sky Club membership separately.  Delta Diamond members can choose free individual Sky Club membership (costs one of the member's three Choice Benefits) or an executive Sky Club membership (costs two Choice Benefits).  Diamond elites who have complimentary Sky Club access via credit card such as the Reserve personal or business card, also can choose a Delta Sky Club Guest Pass.  This costs one Choice Benefit and allows two guests to join the member in the Sky Club free.  This is a smarter way to go; get individual SkyClub access by paying $450 annual fee for the Reserve card, and in exchange you free up an additional Choice Benefit instead of using TWO Choice Benefits for the Executive Membership.

Personally, I'd rather choose the 4 global or 8 regional upgrade certificates, or gift Gold status to another person (or use all 3 Choice benefits to gift Gold status to 3 people), and pay for the Sky Club via the Reserve card annual fee instead rather than waste a Diamond Choice Benefit on Sky Club membership.

Basics

• Earn 70,000 Delta SkyMiles and 10,000 MQMs after $5,000 spend within first 3 months of card membership
• Must apply via referral link by November 7, 2018, to be eligible for sign-up bonus
• Earn 1 SkyMile per dollar on all purchases.  Earn 2x per dollar on Delta spending (in-flight purchases, airfare, etc)
• Welcome bonus offer not available to applicants who have or have had this product before
• $450 annual fee

How Good is This Deal?

• Outstanding...for $450, signing up for this card is an absolute no-brainer.
• 70k SkyMiles can be used for:
• Award flights (get $800-1,500 value depending on what/when you book); OR
• Revenue flights - cardholders receive the ability to use miles at 1 cent per mile toward paid/revenue flights - Delta calls this feature "Pay With Miles."  The 70k bonus miles are worth $700 toward paid Delta travel - this easily offsets the $450 annual fee in first year
• SkyClub individual membership alone is well worth the annual fee for the card.  Also provides a discounted rate for up to 2 guests per visit
• 10k Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) after meeting the minimum initial spend
• Earn up to 30k additional MQMs and 30k additional SkyMiles per year - Earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) and 15,000 bonus SkyMiles after $30,000 spend on the card in a calendar year. Earn an additional 15,000 MQMs and an additional 15,000 bonus SkyMiles after $60,000 spend on the card in a calendar year.  So it is possible to earn 40k MQMs in the first year holding this card.
• If you spend right around $30k or $60k per year on the card, you will earn right around 1.5 SkyMiles per dollar
• MQMs with Delta are valuable particularly because any earned beyond a status level MQMs roll over to the following year
• This year, Delta offered a third MQM bonus spend threshold - another 15k MQMs after $90k annual spend
• Companion Certificate - main cabin or first class companion certificate each year on card renewal
• Upgrade tiebreaker - Cardmembership is one of the factors in determining the upgrade list on each flight, so holding this card slightly improves one's chances of first class upgrade on domestic flights.  Specifically, the Reserve card is the upgrade tiebreaker when two passengers have the same Medallion status and booked in same fare class.

Other Card Benefits

• 24/7 Concierge
• 20% off in-flight Delta purchases paid with the card
• First checked bag free on every flight
• Priority boarding (Zone 1) on Delta flights
• Purchase protection, baggage protection, Global Assist hotline, premium roadside assistance, car rental loss and damage insurance, extended warranty - typical benefit suite for many higher-end credit cards

1 year Delta Sky Club access + 40k SkyMiles + 10k MQMs for $450

American Express is again offering 40,000 Delta SkyMiles plus 10,000 MQMs on the Amex Delta Reserve personal and business credit cards.  Requires $3,000 spend within first 3 months.

Below is my referral URL for the Business version of the Amex Delta Reserve Card.

http://refer.amex.us/JASONWHjUT


If you apply, I'd appreciate you using my referral link as I'll earn some free SkyMiles.  The offer via referral is the same as the publicly available offer, so you don't lose anything by using the link.  Referral offer on business version of the card ends on 1/31/2018.

Card also provides free Delta Sky Club access for cardholder when traveling on same-day Delta flight.

Although this offer has been around a few months, it is the first time so many SkyMiles  are included in the sign-up bonus for the Reserve cards.  Typically the bonus has been 10k SkyMiles, or as low as 5k SkyMiles, plus the 10k Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs, aka elite status qualifying miles).

The business version of the card is great because most business credit cards do NOT hit your personal credit report or affect your credit inquiries or credit score.  Anyone can apply for a business credit card; you do NOT need an incorporated business or a company Tax ID number to be approved for a business credit card.  All you need is a legitimate small business or side business with a history of decent amount of revenue and a good amount of expected expenses.

Annual fee on this card is $450, which is steep, but still cheaper than buying a Sky Club membership separately.  Delta Diamond members can choose free individual Sky Club membership (costs one of the member's three Choice Benefits) or an executive Sky Club membership (costs two Choice Benefits).  Diamond elites who have complimentary Sky Club access via credit card such as the Reserve personal or business card, also can choose a Delta Sky Club Guest Pass.  This costs one Choice Benefit and allows two guests to join the member in the Sky Club free.  This is a smarter way to go; get individual SkyClub access by paying $450 annual fee for the Reserve card, and in exchange you free up an additional Choice Benefit instead of using TWO Choice Benefits for the Executive Membership.

Personally, I'd rather choose the 4 global or 8 regional upgrade certificates, or gift Gold status to another person (or use all 3 Choice benefits to gift Gold status to 3 people), and pay for the Sky Club via the Reserve card annual fee instead rather than waste a Diamond Choice Benefit on Sky Club membership.

Basics

• Earn 40,000 Delta SkyMiles and 10,000 MQMs after $3,000 spend within first 3 months of card membership
• Must apply via referral link by April 24, 2019 to be eligible for sign-up bonus
• Earn 1 SkyMile per dollar on all purchases.  Earn 2x per dollar on Delta spending (in-flight purchases, airfare, etc)
• Welcome bonus offer not available to applicants who have or have had this product before
• $450 annual fee

How Good is This Deal?

• Excellent...for $450, signing up for this card is an absolute no-brainer.
• 40k SkyMiles can be used for:
• Award flights (get $500-700 value depending on what/when you book); OR
• Revenue flights - cardholders receive the ability to use miles at 1 cent per mile toward paid/revenue flights - Delta calls this feature "Pay With Miles."  The 40k bonus miles are worth $400 toward paid Delta travel - this basically offsets the $450 annual fee in first year
• SkyClub individual membership alone is well worth the annual fee for the card.  Also provides a discounted rate for up to 2 guests per visit
• 10k Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) after meeting the minimum initial spend
• Earn up to 30k additional MQMs and 30k additional SkyMiles per year - Earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) and 15,000 bonus SkyMiles after $30,000 spend on the card in a calendar year. Earn an additional 15,000 MQMs and an additional 15,000 bonus SkyMiles after $60,000 spend on the card in a calendar year.  So it is possible to earn 40k MQMs in the first year holding this card.
• If you spend right around $30k or $60k per year on the card, you will earn right around 1.5 SkyMiles per dollar
• MQMs with Delta are valuable particularly because any earned beyond a status level MQMs roll over to the following year
• Companion Certificate - main cabin or first class companion certificate each year on card renewal
• Upgrade tiebreaker - Cardmembership is one of the factors in determining the upgrade list on each flight, so holding this card slightly improves one's chances of first class upgrade on domestic flights.  Specifically, the Reserve card is the upgrade tiebreaker when two passengers have the same Medallion status and booked in same fare class.

Other Card Benefits

• 24/7 Concierge
• 20% off in-flight Delta purchases paid with the card
• First checked bag free on every flight
• Priority boarding (Zone 1) on Delta flights
• Purchase protection, baggage protection, Global Assist hotline, premium roadside assistance, car rental loss and damage insurance, extended warranty - typical benefit suite for many higher-end credit cards

Amex Delta Reserve Business (and Personal) Card - 40k SkyMiles + 10k MQM Sign-up Bonus

American Express is offering a 40,000 Delta SkyMile plus 10,000 MQMs for the Amex Delta Reserve personal or business credit card.  Requires $3,000 spend within first 3 months.

Card also provides free Delta SkyClub access for cardholder when traveling on same-day Delta flight and 

Although this offer has been around a few months, it is the first time so many SkyMiles  are included in the sign-up bonus for the Reserve cards.  Typically the bonus has been 10k SkyMiles, or as low as 5k SkyMiles, plus the 10k Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs, aka elite status qualifying miles).

Below is my referral URL for the Business version of the Amex Delta Reserve Card.

http://refer.amex.us/JASONWHjUT

If you apply, I'd appreciate you using my referral link as I'll earn some free SkyMiles.  The offer via referral is the same as the publicly available offer, so you don't lose anything by using the link.

The business version of the card is great because most business credit cards do NOT hit your personal credit report or affect your credit inquiries or credit score.  Anyone can apply for a business credit card; you do NOT need an incorporated business or a company Tax ID number to be approved for a business credit card.  All you need is a legitimate small business or side business with a history of decent amount of revenue and a good amount of expected expenses.

Annual fee on this card is $450, which is steep, but still cheaper than buying a Sky Club membership separately.  Delta Diamond members can choose free individual Sky Club membership (costs one of the member's three Choice Benefits) or an executive Sky Club membership (costs two Choice Benefits).  Diamond elites who have complimentary Sky Club access via credit card such as the Reserve personal or business card, also can choose a Delta Sky Club Guest Pass.  This costs one Choice Benefit and allows two guests to join the member in the Sky Club free.  This is a smarter way to go; pay $450 annual fee for the card, and in exchange you free up an additional Choice Benefit instead of using TWO Choice Benefits for the Executive Membership.

Personally, I'd rather choose the 4 global or 8 regional upgrade certificates, or gift Gold status to another person (or use all 3 Choice benefits to gift Gold status to 3 people), and pay for the Sky Club via the Reserve card annual fee instead rather than waste a Diamond Choice Benefit on Sky Club membership.

Basics

• Earn 40,000 Delta SkyMiles and 10,000 MQMs after $3,000 spend within first 3 months of card membership
• Must apply via referral link by April 24, 2019 to be eligible for sign-up bonus
• Earn 1 SkyMile per dollar on all purchases.  Earn 2x per dollar on Delta spending (in-flight purchases, airfare, etc)
• Welcome bonus offer not available to applicants who have or have had this product before
• $450 annual fee

How Good is This Deal?

• Very good...
• 40k SkyMiles can be used for:
• Award flights (get $500-700 value depending on what/when you book); OR
• Revenue flights - cardholders receive the ability to use miles at 1 cent per mile toward paid/revenue flights - Delta calls this feature "Pay With Miles."  Bonus miles are worth $400 toward paid Delta travel - this basically offsets the annual fee in first year
• SkyClub individual membership alone is well worth the annual fee for the card.  Discounted rate for up to 2 guests per visit
• Earn up to 30k additional MQMs per year - Earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) and 15,000 bonus SkyMiles after $30,000 spend on the card in a calendar year. Earn an additional 15,000 MQMs and an additional 15,000 bonus SkyMiles after $60,000 spend on the card in a calendar year.  So it is possible to earn 40k MQMs in the first year holding this card.
• If you spend right around $30k or $60k per year on the card, you will earn right around 1.5 SkyMiles per dollar
• MQMs with Delta are valuable particularly because any earned beyond a status level MQMs roll over to the following year
• Companion Certificate - main cabin or first class companion certificate each year on card renewal
• Cardmembership is one of the factors in determining the upgrade list on each flight, so holding this card slightly improves one's chances of first class upgrade on domestic flights.  Specifically, the Reserve card is the upgrade tiebreaker when two passengers have same Medallion status and booked in same fare class.

Other Card Benefits

• 24/7 Concierge
• 20% off in-flight Delta purchases paid with the card
• First checked bag free on every flight
• Priority boarding (Zone 1) on Delta flights
• Purchase protection, baggage protection, Global Assist hotline, premium roadside assistance, car rental loss and damage insurance, extended warranty - typical benefit suite for many higher-end credit cards

Amex Surpass - 125,000 Hilton HHonors Points Sign-up Bonus

American Express is offering a 125,000 point bonus for the Amex Surpass personal credit card.  Requires $4,000 spend ($3k within first 3 months, $1k within first 6 months).  This is the highest public bonus offer ever offered on this card and matches the highest bonus offer ever (same 125k bonus was offered previously thru a targeted link).

Link to Offer (may need to sign in to your current Amex account before filling out the application) 

Basics

• Earn 100,000 bonus points after $3,000 spend within first 3 months of card membership
• Earn 25,000 additional bonus points after additional $1,000 spend within first 6 months
• Offer ends Jan 17, 2018
• $95 annual fee ($75 if application received before Jan 18, 2018)
• Welcome bonus offer not available to applicants who have or have had this product before
• Earn 3x points for all eligible purchases, 6x at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations; 12x points at participating Hilton properties
• Complimentary Hilton Gold status as long as you are a cardholder.
• Diamond status thru the end of the next calendar after $40,000 spend in a calendar year
• 10 free Priority Pass lounge passes (lounges available at certain domestic and international airports)  (Doctor of Credit article mentions this benefit, but not stated on Amex application page)

How Good is This Deal?

• Good but not great...assuming some spend on restaurants/supermarkets/gas stations and none at Hilton properties, you'll have at least 140,000 points after making the $4k minimum spend and earning the sign-up bonus.  140k points are worth around $560 of hotel stays, but it is possible to get much more value than that.  One could get 5-7 free nights if booking properties at 20-30k points per night.
• Gold status provides free breakfast for two people per room, which is a great benefit.  Diamond status can provide frequent upgrades on top of the Gold benefits