Overview

• Chase’s Sapphire Preferred card offers 75,000 bonus points after $5,000 spend with a $95 fee, while the refreshed Sapphire Reserve delivers its best-ever welcome bonus plus a $300 annual travel credit on its $795 fee.
• Capital One’s Venture X card features 75,000 miles after $4,000 spend, Priority Pass and Capital One Lounge access, a $300 annual travel credit, and up to $120 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck on a $395 fee.
• American Express Gold now awards up to 100,000 Membership Rewards points for $6,000 spend, earns 4x points on dining and groceries and includes over $400 in annual statement credits; Platinum offers up to 175,000 points for $8,000 spend, 5x on flights and prepaid hotels, extensive lounge access and elite status perks.
• Limited-time transfer bonuses of up to 50% on Chase Ultimate Rewards to Marriott Bonvoy, 30% on Amex to Hilton Honors, 15% on Capital One to Avianca LifeMiles, and 25% on Citi ThankYou to Leaders Club run through mid- to late-August.
• Cardholders can offset high annual fees by leveraging embedded statement credits—over $400 on Gold and more than $1,200 on Platinum—while timing applications and paying balances in full to ensure rewards exceed costs.