WELCOME TO THE
GAME OF MILES
WELCOME TO THE
GAME OF MILES
What is the Game of Miles?
Start here to learn how you can earn free travel through normal, everyday spend.
Getting started with the Game of Miles
There are some important considerations when choosing which credit cards to go after. Here are my recommendations.
Why pay annual fees for credit cards?
Don’t let credit card annual fees scare you away from earning free travel. Many cards offer excellent value for the annual fees that they charge.
FEATURED POSTS
Latest Posts
Review: Lufthansa first class Chicago to Munich
August 27, 2023
Why the Venture X is my favorite credit card
June 6, 2023
Flying first class to Dubai for the price of economy
January 2, 2023
REFERRAL LINKS
If you find the information on this blog helpful and see a card you would like to sign up for, I would appreciate if you used my referral links. However, please make sure to compare the public offers before doing so. You may be able to find a public offer with a larger sign up bonus.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Annual fee: $95
Sign up bonus: 60,000 UR points
Spend requirement: $4,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: $50 annual hotel credit, transferrable points, 10% of total purchases each year awarded as bonus points
Sign up bonus: 60,000 UR points
Spend requirement: $4,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: $50 annual hotel credit, transferrable points, 10% of total purchases each year awarded as bonus points
Capital One Venture X
Annual fee: $395
Sign up bonus: 75,000 miles
Spend requirement: $4,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: $300 annual travel credit, 10,000 miles anniversary bonus, transferrable points, complimentary airport lounge access, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, 10x miles on hotels, 5x miles on flights, 2x miles on all other purchases
Sign up bonus: 75,000 miles
Spend requirement: $4,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: $300 annual travel credit, 10,000 miles anniversary bonus, transferrable points, complimentary airport lounge access, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, 10x miles on hotels, 5x miles on flights, 2x miles on all other purchases
Capital One Venture One
Annual fee: $0
Sign up bonus: 20,000 miles
Spend requirement: $500 in 3 months
Card highlights: transferrable miles, 1.25x miles on all purchases
Sign up bonus: 20,000 miles
Spend requirement: $500 in 3 months
Card highlights: transferrable miles, 1.25x miles on all purchases
Chase Freedom Flex
Annual fee: $0
Sign up bonus: 20,000 UR points
Spend requirement: $500 in 3 months
Card highlights: 5x points on groceries for first year, 5x points on quarterly rotating categories
Sign up bonus: 20,000 UR points
Spend requirement: $500 in 3 months
Card highlights: 5x points on groceries for first year, 5x points on quarterly rotating categories
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Annual fee: none
Sign up bonus: 20,000 UR points
Spend requirement: $500 in 3 months
Card highlights: unlimited 1.5x points on all purchases
Sign up bonus: 20,000 UR points
Spend requirement: $500 in 3 months
Card highlights: unlimited 1.5x points on all purchases
AMEX Gold Card
Annual fee: $250
Sign up bonus: 60,000 MR points plus $200 statement credit
Spend requirement: $4,000 in 6 months
Card highlights: $120 annual dining credit split up monthly, $120 annual Uber Cash split up monthly, points transferrable to airline and hotel partners
Sign up bonus: 60,000 MR points plus $200 statement credit
Spend requirement: $4,000 in 6 months
Card highlights: $120 annual dining credit split up monthly, $120 annual Uber Cash split up monthly, points transferrable to airline and hotel partners
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
Annual fee: $95
Sign up bonus: 3 free night awards
Spend requirement: $3,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: free night award every anniversary, one-year complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership
Sign up bonus: 3 free night awards
Spend requirement: $3,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: free night award every anniversary, one-year complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership
British Airways Visa Signature
Annual fee: $95
Sign up bonus: 75,000 Avios
Spend requirement: $5,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: 10% off BA flights starting in US, up to $600 reward flight statement credits
Sign up bonus: 75,000 Avios
Spend requirement: $5,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: 10% off BA flights starting in US, up to $600 reward flight statement credits
AMEX Hilton Aspire
Annual fee: $450
Sign up bonus: 150,000 Hilton points
Spend requirement: $4,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: annual free night award, complimentary Diamond status, $250 annual Hilton Resort credit, $250 annual airline fee credit, complimentary airport lounge access
Sign up bonus: 150,000 Hilton points
Spend requirement: $4,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: annual free night award, complimentary Diamond status, $250 annual Hilton Resort credit, $250 annual airline fee credit, complimentary airport lounge access
AMEX Hilton Surpass
Annual fee: $95
Sign up bonus: 130,000 Hilton points
Spend requirement: $2,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: complimentary Gold status, 10 complimentary airport lounge visits per year
Sign up bonus: 130,000 Hilton points
Spend requirement: $2,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: complimentary Gold status, 10 complimentary airport lounge visits per year
AMEX Hilton Honors Card
Annual fee: $0
Sign up bonus: 80,000 Hilton points
Spend requirement: $1,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: 7x points on purchases at Hilton properties, 5x points on retaraunt and grocery purchases, no foreign transaction fees
Sign up bonus: 80,000 Hilton points
Spend requirement: $1,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: 7x points on purchases at Hilton properties, 5x points on retaraunt and grocery purchases, no foreign transaction fees
AMEX EveryDay Preferred
Annual fee: $95
Sign up bonus: 15,000 MR points
Spend requirement: $2,000 in 6 months
Card highlights: transferrable points, 3x MR points on groceries, 2x MR points on gas, 50% bonus points if card used 30 times in a billing period
Sign up bonus: 15,000 MR points
Spend requirement: $2,000 in 6 months
Card highlights: transferrable points, 3x MR points on groceries, 2x MR points on gas, 50% bonus points if card used 30 times in a billing period
AMEX Delta Branded cards
4 Delta cards to choose from with varying annual fees, spend requirements, bonuses, and benefits. Choose the one that is right for you.
Referral Links
If you find the information on this blog helpful and see a card you would like to sign up for, I would appreciate if you used my referral links. However, please make sure to compare the public offers before doing so. You may be able to find a public offer with a larger sign up bonus.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Annual fee: $95
Sign up bonus: 60,000 UR points
Spend requirement: $4,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: $50 annual hotel credit, transferrable points, 10% of total purchases each year awarded as bonus points
Sign up bonus: 60,000 UR points
Spend requirement: $4,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: $50 annual hotel credit, transferrable points, 10% of total purchases each year awarded as bonus points
Capital One Venture X
Annual fee: $395
Sign up bonus: 75,000 miles
Spend requirement: $4,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: $300 annual travel credit, 10,000 miles anniversary bonus, transferrable points, complimentary airport lounge access, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, 10x miles on hotels, 5x miles on flights, 2x miles on all other purchases
Sign up bonus: 75,000 miles
Spend requirement: $4,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: $300 annual travel credit, 10,000 miles anniversary bonus, transferrable points, complimentary airport lounge access, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, 10x miles on hotels, 5x miles on flights, 2x miles on all other purchases
Capital One Venture One
Annual fee: $0
Sign up bonus: 20,000 miles
Spend requirement: $500 in 3 months
Card highlights: transferrable miles, 1.25x miles on all purchases
Sign up bonus: 20,000 miles
Spend requirement: $500 in 3 months
Card highlights: transferrable miles, 1.25x miles on all purchases
Chase Freedom Flex
Annual fee: $0
Sign up bonus: 20,000 UR points
Spend requirement: $500 in 3 months
Card highlights: 5x points on groceries for first year, 5x points on quarterly rotating categories
Sign up bonus: 20,000 UR points
Spend requirement: $500 in 3 months
Card highlights: 5x points on groceries for first year, 5x points on quarterly rotating categories
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Annual fee: none
Sign up bonus: 20,000 UR points
Spend requirement: $500 in 3 months
Card highlights: unlimited 1.5x points on all purchases
Sign up bonus: 20,000 UR points
Spend requirement: $500 in 3 months
Card highlights: unlimited 1.5x points on all purchases
AMEX Gold Card
Annual fee: $250
Sign up bonus: 75,000 MR points
Spend requirement: $4,000 in 6 months
Card highlights: $120 annual dining credit split up monthly, $120 annual Uber Cash split up monthly, points transferrable to airline and hotel partners
Sign up bonus: 75,000 MR points
Spend requirement: $4,000 in 6 months
Card highlights: $120 annual dining credit split up monthly, $120 annual Uber Cash split up monthly, points transferrable to airline and hotel partners
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
Annual fee: $95
Sign up bonus: 3 free night awards
Spend requirement: $3,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: free night award every anniversary, one-year complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership
Sign up bonus: 3 free night awards
Spend requirement: $3,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: free night award every anniversary, one-year complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership
British Airways Visa Signature
Annual fee: $95
Sign up bonus: 75,000 Avios
Spend requirement: $5,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: 10% off BA flights starting in US, up to $600 reward flight statement credits
Sign up bonus: 75,000 Avios
Spend requirement: $5,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: 10% off BA flights starting in US, up to $600 reward flight statement credits
AMEX Hilton Aspire
Annual fee: $450
Sign up bonus: 150,000 Hilton points
Spend requirement: $4,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: annual free night award, complimentary Diamond status, $250 annual Hilton Resort credit, $250 annual airline fee credit, complimentary airport lounge access
Sign up bonus: 150,000 Hilton points
Spend requirement: $4,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: annual free night award, complimentary Diamond status, $250 annual Hilton Resort credit, $250 annual airline fee credit, complimentary airport lounge access
AMEX Hilton Surpass
Annual fee: $95
Sign up bonus: 150,000 Hilton points
Spend requirement: $2,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: complimentary Gold status, 10 complimentary airport lounge visits per year
Sign up bonus: 150,000 Hilton points
Spend requirement: $2,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: complimentary Gold status, 10 complimentary airport lounge visits per year
AMEX Hilton Honors Card
Annual fee: $0
Sign up bonus: 80,000 Hilton points
Spend requirement: $1,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: 7x points on purchases at Hilton properties, 5x points on retaraunt and grocery purchases, no foreign transaction fees
Sign up bonus: 80,000 Hilton points
Spend requirement: $1,000 in 3 months
Card highlights: 7x points on purchases at Hilton properties, 5x points on retaraunt and grocery purchases, no foreign transaction fees
AMEX EveryDay Preferred
Annual fee: $95
Sign up bonus: 15,000 MR points
Spend requirement: $2,000 in 6 months
Card highlights: transferrable points, 3x MR points on groceries, 2x MR points on gas, 50% bonus points if card used 30 times in a billing period
Sign up bonus: 15,000 MR points
Spend requirement: $2,000 in 6 months
Card highlights: transferrable points, 3x MR points on groceries, 2x MR points on gas, 50% bonus points if card used 30 times in a billing period
AMEX Delta Branded cards
4 Delta cards to choose from with varying annual fees, spend requirements, bonuses, and benefits. Choose the one that is right for you.
