Credit Card Pairings to Maximize Loyalty Program Rewards and Benefits

June 17, 2023

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Our experts answer readers’ credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess credit cards). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.

Pairing credit cards strategically is a great way to supercharge your rewards.
Combining cards from the same program, like Chase Ultimate Rewards®, can boost your earnings.
The key is to pick cards in the same family with different perks and bonus earning categories.
Read Insider’s guide to the best rewards credit cards.

One of the best ways to ensure you have an effective points strategy in place is to diversify the types of rewards you earn. You should try to rack up airline miles, hotel points, cash back, and transferable points if possible so that you can use your rewards in a variety of ways when the time comes.

On the other hand, it can pay to concentrate your loyalty with a few key programs to ensure that you accumulate enough points for meaningful rewards. For that reason, it might make sense to carry two or more of the best credit cards that are co-branded with a particular airline, hotel, or credit card issuer rewards program. Doing so can boost your bonus earning opportunities and confer other valuable perks like statement credits and elite status.

Insider’s Featured Rewards Credit Cards

Here are some of the reasons you might want to double up on rewards credit cards from the same loyalty program — and a few examples where this makes sense.

We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

Why Get Multiple Credit Cards From the Same Rewards Program?

You might think to yourself, “Why get two cards with the same rewards program when I could play the field?”

That certainly makes sense for a lot of folks who only have one or two rewards credit cards. But if you’re a frequent traveler, or simply someone who puts a lot of (responsible) spending on your credit cards, you can begin reaping a lot more points and lucrative benefits from certain credit card pairings.

One major caveat: Credit card companies have rules that can be strict and confusing about who is eligible for which cards, how many cards a person can apply for or have open, and other hoops to jump through. Before you start applying for cards, read the fine print and make sure you won’t be precluded from any particular offers you’re interested in.

These are three big factors to consider if you’re looking to open multiple credit cards in the same program.

1. Having more credit cards opens up your options

While you might think of each credit card offered by an issuer as an individual product, the truth is, these cards are often part of more complex ecosystems.

For instance, with the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card, you can earn a bonus of 1.5% cash back in addition to regular earning on everything you buy up to $20,000 spent in the first year (worth up to $300 cash back).

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® also has a great return rate:

5% back on Chase travel purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
3% back on drugstore purchases and at restaurants
1.5% back on everything else

However, if you also have an annual fee-incurring Chase Ultimate Rewards card, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® you can transfer the points you earn on the Chase Freedom Unlimited® to your Sapphire card. You’ll then have more valuable options for redeeming your Ultimate Rewards points, including transfers to Chase’s airline and hotel partners. If you redeem your points specifically for travel through the Chase portal, they’re worth 25% (Sapphire Preferred) or 50% (Sapphire Reserve) more.

A similar scenario also plays out with some of the best Citi credit cards that earn ThankYou Rewards points, such as combining the Citi Premier® Card with the Citi® Double Cash Card or the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card. Citi’s newest card, the AT&T Points Plus℠ Card
, also earns ThankYou points.

2. You can earn bonus rewards in more categories

Each individual product has its own specific earning rates, benefits, and drawbacks. Even cards from the same issuer and within the same loyalty program can vary significantly enough from one another to make carrying more than one of them worthwhile. One of the areas where this is especially true is bonus earning categories.

For example, The Platinum Card® from American Express
earns:

5 points per dollar for flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year)
5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel
1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases

That’s why you might also want to carry the American Express® Gold Card
, which has significantly more useful bonus categories, including 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x) and 4 points per dollar at restaurants, including takeout.

By holding both, you could earn 5 points per dollar on flights and hotels and 4 points per dollar on groceries and dining. That’s a pretty lucrative equation.

3. Carrying more cards means leveraging more benefits

By carrying both a better-earning basic card and a more benefits-rich premium credit card, you can expect a better yield of both points and perks.

For example, the United Gateway℠ Card has an annual fee of $0 and offers 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open. The card earns:

2 miles per dollar spent on United purchases, at gas stations, and on local transit and commuting
1 mile per dollar on everything else.

Cardholders also get 25% back on United inflight purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi — but not much else by way of day-of travel perks.

For more perks, you might also want to consider the United Club℠ Infinite Card. Its annual fee is $525, and it comes with an elevated welcome bonus offer of 80,000 bonus miles plus 1,000 Premier qualifying points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open. The card earns:

4 miles per dollar on United purchases
2 miles per dollar for all other travel, as well as on dining (including delivery services)
1 mile per dollar for everything else

That’s already a good earning combination.

The United Club℠ Infinite Card is also one of the best cards for United Airlines frequent flyers since it includes United Club airport lounge membership, two free checked bags for the cardmember and a companion on United flights, Premier Access including priority boarding and check-in, and Premier upgrades on award tickets. Cardholders can also count on a statement credit of up to $100 every four years toward the Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee.

So you can keep the United Gateway℠ Card with no annual fee year after year and use it for gas and transit purchases, but enjoy airport perks and alternate earning categories from the United Club℠ Infinite Card to make the most of your loyalty to United.

Perfect potential credit card pairings

With the main ideas of boosting your earning and enhancing your perks without taking on too many credit cards or annual fees, here are some examples of great card combinations with several major rewards programs that you might want to consider.

Credit card rewards

Let’s start with the rewards offered directly by credit card issuers like Amex and Chase, which run the gamut from cash back to transferable points.

American Express Membership Rewards: The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express

4.4/5

Intro offer

80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 on purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership

Rewards

Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year. Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 1 point per dollar on other purchases.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

4.4/5

Intro offer

80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 on purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership

Rewards

On American Express’s website

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Details

Rewards

Annual Fee

$695

See Rates and Fees

Intro offer

80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 on purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership

Recommended Credit

Good to Excellent

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

See Pay Over Time APR

Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

N/A

Editor’s Rating

4.4/5

Our editor’s ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available.

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Walmart+ members enjoy shopping perks – both online and in-store – at Walmart. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive a statement credit that covers the full cost each month. $12.95 plus applicable taxes. Plus Up Benefits not eligible.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Card.
$200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Benefit renews annually.
$300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back per calendar year on an Equinox+ subscription, or any Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Learn more.
$189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR® Plus at 45+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per year on your membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®.
$100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue on your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required.
$300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction, and an Equinox+ subscription is required.
Add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile on the Resy app or website and unlock Global Dining Access by Resy to exclusive tables and events.
$695 annual fee.
Terms Apply.

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

4/5

Intro offer

15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the card within your first 3 months of card membership

Rewards

Earn 2x Membership Rewards® Points on everyday eligible business purchases (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on all other purchases.

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

4/5

Intro offer

15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the card within your first 3 months of card membership

Rewards

Earn 2x Membership Rewards® Points on everyday eligible business purchases (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on all other purchases.

On American Express’s website

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Details

Rewards

Earn 2x Membership Rewards® Points on everyday eligible business purchases (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on all other purchases.

Intro offer

15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the card within your first 3 months of card membership

Recommended Credit

Good to Excellent

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

18.24% – 26.24% Variable

Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months from account opening

American Express is unique in the sheer number of cards it fields that participate in its proprietary Amex Membership Rewards program. More options mean more ways to rack up points, though, and more nuances to master so you get the perfect set of cards for the perks you prefer. We won’t get exhaustive — instead, consider this powerful pairing.

The Platinum Card® from American Express is currently offering 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 on purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership. Again, this card earns:

5 points per dollar for flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year)
5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel
1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases

But where this card truly excels is in its value-added benefits, including up to $200 in annual airline incidental fee credits**, up to $200 in annual Uber credits**, up to $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue credits** each year, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee reimbursements, automatic Hilton and Marriott Gold elite status**, and access to Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges**, and Delta Sky Clubs, among others. The card’s annual fee is $695.

Those bonuses and benefits are reason enough to apply for the Amex Platinum, but consider combining it with a lower-cost option like The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express. With a $0 annual fee, the card earns a flat 2 points per dollar on purchases (up to $50,000 per year, then 1 point per dollar). So simply use it for everything you don’t put on the Platinum Card, and you’ll be earning a decent return on your spending no matter what you buy.

Chase Ultimate Rewards: Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

4.4/5

Intro offer

60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

Rewards

Earn 5x points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

4.4/5

Intro offer

60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

Rewards

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Details

Rewards

Intro offer

60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

Recommended Credit

Good to Excellent

Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

22.24% – 29.24% Variable

Editor’s Rating

4.4/5

Our editor’s ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

4.35/5

Intro offer

1.5% cash back in addition to regular earning on everything you buy up to $20,000 spent in the first year (worth up to $300 cash back)

Rewards

Earn 5% cash back on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

4.35/5

Intro offer

1.5% cash back in addition to regular earning on everything you buy up to $20,000 spent in the first year (worth up to $300 cash back)

Rewards

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Details

Rewards

Intro offer

1.5% cash back in addition to regular earning on everything you buy up to $20,000 spent in the first year (worth up to $300 cash back)

Recommended Credit

Good to Excellent

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

20.24% – 28.99% Variable

Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months

Chase Ultimate Rewards are some of the most useful loyalty points out there thanks to the fact that you can redeem them for travel, cash back, gift cards, and more. The reason it pays to hold a couple of cards with Chase is that when you hold at least one Ultimate Rewards travel card, you’ll unlock more redemption options like transferring points to Chase’s airline and hotel partners.

If you just have the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, your points are worth 1 cent each toward travel, cash back, or gift cards.

By pairing the Chase Freedom Unlimited® with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and moving all of your points to your Reserve account, your points are worth 1.5 cents apiece (thereby improving your return on spending by 50%) toward travel booked through Chase. You can also transfer them to airline programs like United MileagePlus and Southwest Rapid Rewards as well as Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt, among other options.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve®, meanwhile, comes with benefits that can more than make up for the $550 annual fee, including up to $300 in annual travel credits, Priority Pass Select membership, and up to $100 once every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS applications. It offers a bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

If you prefer a card that doesn’t cost as much, the same principle applies to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — except your points are worth 1.25 cents apiece instead of 1.5 cents toward the redemptions mentioned above.

By having both cards, you can rake in rewards on tons of purchases and enjoy a plethora of travel benefits to boot.

Citi ThankYou Rewards: Citi Premier® Card and Citi® Double Cash Card

Citi Premier® Card

4.1/5

Intro offer

60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening, plus earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per dollar on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2024

Rewards

Earn 3x ThankYou® points on restaurant, supermarket, gas station, air travel, and hotel purchases. Earn 1x ThankYou® points on all other purchases.

Citi Premier® Card

4.1/5

Intro offer

Rewards

Earn 3x ThankYou® points on restaurant, supermarket, gas station, air travel, and hotel purchases. Earn 1x ThankYou® points on all other purchases.

Citi Premier® Card

Details

Rewards

Earn 3x ThankYou® points on restaurant, supermarket, gas station, air travel, and hotel purchases. Earn 1x ThankYou® points on all other purchases.

Intro offer

Recommended Credit

Good to Excellent

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

20.99% – 28.99% Variable

Editor’s Rating

4.1/5

Our editor’s ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available.

Citi® Double Cash Card

3.65/5

Intro offer

0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then 18.99% – 28.99% variable APR

Rewards

Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.

Citi® Double Cash Card

3.65/5

Intro offer

0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then 18.99% – 28.99% variable APR

Rewards

Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.

Apply online at Citibank’s website.

Citi® Double Cash Card

Details

Rewards

Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.

Intro offer

0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then 18.99% – 28.99% variable APR

Recommended Credit

Excellent, Good, Fair

Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

18.99% – 28.99% Variable

Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months

Editor’s Rating

3.65/5

Our editor’s ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available.

This is a terrific high-low combo, as you can carry a no-fee credit card for everyday expenses, then multiply its usefulness thanks to the benefits of its more expensive sibling.

The Citi® Double Cash Card isn’t flashy, but it’s well worth investigating. It also has a $0 annual fee.

The card effectively accrues 2x points per dollar on all purchases: You’ll earn 1% back when you make a purchase and another 1% back when you pay off that purchase. The Citi ThankYou points you earn with this card are worth 1 cent apiece toward cash back, gift cards, travel through Citi, and more. You can also convert your rewards to JetBlue TrueBlue points at a 5:4 ratio (1,000 Citi points become 800 JetBlue points), or to points with hotel partners Wyndham (5:4 ratio) and Choice Privileges (2:3 ratio).

Meanwhile, the $95-annual-fee Citi Premier® Card offers 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening, plus earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per dollar on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2024. And its earning rate is excellent:

3 points per dollar at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and for air travel and hotel stays
1 point per dollar on everything else

Once per calendar year, cardholders also get $100 off a hotel stay of $500 or more (before taxes and fees) when they book through the Citi ThankYou travel portal.

When you have both cards, you can combine the points you earn with the Citi® Double Cash Card with those from the Citi Premier® Card so that they become ThankYou Rewards that you can transfer to Citi’s full range of airline and hotel partners (including more favorable ratios to JetBlue, Wyndham, and Choice).

Airline frequent flyer programs

While it’s probably a good idea to diversify your mileage earnings across several airlines so that you can take advantage of their various route networks and partners, doubling down with individual programs also has its upsides.

Namely, to carry one card that earns bonus miles on a lot of different categories but still charges a low or no annual fee, and to get a higher-end counterpart that confers benefits like lounge access, priority treatment at the airport, and even a better shot at elite status and upgrades.

American Airlines AAdvantage: Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
and American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

3.8/5

Intro offer

50,000 bonus miles after making $5,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening

Rewards

Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

3.8/5

Intro offer

50,000 bonus miles after making $5,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening

Rewards

Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

This is a terrific card for frequent American Airlines flyers who can take advantage of its included Admirals Club membership and other day-of-travel perks to offset the high annual fee. Authorized users also get Admirals Club access, so there’s extra value to be had there, too. However, it’s not the best card for earning AA miles on everyday spending, and the lack of travel protections isn’t ideal for an airline credit card.

Details

Rewards

Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases

Intro offer

50,000 bonus miles after making $5,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening

Recommended Credit

Excellent

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

20.99% – 29.99% Variable

American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®

3.25/5

Intro offer

10,000 American Airlines miles and a $50 statement credit after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening

Rewards

Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent at grocery stores. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases.

American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®

3.25/5

Intro offer

10,000 American Airlines miles and a $50 statement credit after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening

Rewards

Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent at grocery stores. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases.

Read our complete card review

American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®

Details

Rewards

Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent at grocery stores. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases.

Intro offer

10,000 American Airlines miles and a $50 statement credit after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening

Recommended Credit

Excellent

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

20.99% – 29.99% Variable

This one-two punch opens up excellent earning opportunities as well as Admirals Club membership for frequent flyers. The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® is currently offering 10,000 American Airlines miles and a $50 statement credit after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

For an American Airlines credit card with no annual fee, it’s a strong earner:

2 miles per dollar on American Airlines purchases and at grocery stores
1 mile per dollar on everything else

One downside: Its sole day-of-travel perk is 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases on American Airlines flights.

That’s why you might also want to open the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®. It carries a $450 annual fee, but for that, you get full Admirals Club membership, which normally starts at $650 per year. The card is packed with other perks, too, such as a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application reimbursement once every five years, priority check-in, airport screening, and boarding, as well as a first checked bag free for the cardholder and up to eight companions on the same reservation on domestic AA itineraries.

The card isn’t great for regular spending. Its only bonus category is 2 miles per dollar for American Airlines purchases. Everything else earns an unremarkable 1 mile per dollar. This is why you might want the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® to, well, up your miles. New cardholders can earn 50,000 bonus miles after making $5,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening.

In addition to earning redeemable miles, both of these cards earn 1 Loyalty Point per dollar spent. Earning Loyalty Points is the method for reaching elite status with American Airlines, and there’s an extra perk for Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® cardholders: If you spend $40,000 on purchases with the card in a qualifying status year, you receive 10,000 additional Loyalty Points, which is a nice step-up for status.

Delta SkyMiles: Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

4.1/5

$0 intro for the first year, then $99

Annual Fee

Intro offer

65,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership

Rewards

Earn 2x Miles on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 2x Miles on groceries at U.S supermarkets. Earn 2x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

4.1/5

$0 intro for the first year, then $99

Annual Fee

Intro offer

65,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership

Rewards

On American Express’s website

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

This card is a great pick for frequent and occasional Delta flyers who want elite-like perks without paying an exorbitant annual fee. Cardholders receive a free checked bag, priority boarding, and inflight discounts on Delta flights, but if you’re looking for upscale benefits like airport lounge access, you’ll want to look at Delta’s premium cards instead.

Details

Rewards

Annual Fee

$0 intro for the first year, then $99

Intro offer

65,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership

Recommended Credit

Good to Excellent

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

20.74% – 29.74% Variable

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

4.1/5

Intro offer

85,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership

Rewards

Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

4.1/5

Intro offer

85,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership

Rewards

Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.

On American Express’s website

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Details

Rewards

Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.

Intro offer

85,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership

Recommended Credit

Good to Excellent

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

20.74% – 29.74% Variable

If you’re a SkyMiles member, you might consider a Delta credit card combination that includes a strong earner with one that offers excellent day-of-travel benefits.

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card earns the following:

2 miles per dollar on dining and at restaurants worldwide
2 miles per dollar for takeout and delivery within the U.S.
2 miles per dollar on groceries at U.S. supermarkets
2 miles per dollar for Delta purchases made directly with Delta
1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases

That makes it a good one to carry if you want to stash some SkyMiles for your next trip. On top of that, you enjoy travel benefits like a first checked bag free for the cardholder and up to eight companions as well as priority boarding, 15% off Delta award flights with the TakeOff 15 benefit, plus 20% back on inflight purchases of food, beverages, and audio headsets.

When you spend $10,000 on the card in a calendar year, you receive a $100 Delta flight credit, too. Through August 2, 2023, the card is offering an increased welcome bonus of 65,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership, and it has an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $99.

Pair that with the premium Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, which has a $550 annual fee — but for that, cardholders get access to Delta Sky Clubs and Amex Centurion Lounges when flying Delta. Carrying this card also bumps you to the head of the pack with upgrade priority over other Medallion elite members in your same fare class without the card. And for those without Medallion status, you still have a shot at complimentary upgrades.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card members and up to eight companions on the same reservation can check a bag for free and count on priority check-in and boarding. Cardholders receive a complimentary annual companion certificate good toward one round-trip itinerary in the continental US (with some exceptions) in first class, Comfort+, or Main Cabin, which can be worth hundreds of dollars in value, and they are also eligible for a statement credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck after they apply through any authorized Enrollment Provider once every four or 4.5 years, respectively. Here’s what you’ll get for spending:

3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases made directly with Delta
1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases

In short, you should use it for Delta purchases and the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card for everything else.

Big-spending Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card holders receive 15,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) toward elite status after spending $30,000 in purchases in a calendar year, up to 60,000 MQMs and $120,000 spend total. When you hit $25,000 in spending the Medallion® Qualification Dollar requirement for Silver, Gold, or Platinum Medallion status is waived. Right now, the card is also offering a limited-time welcome bonus: 85,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership.

Southwest Rapid Rewards: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card and Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

3.75/5

Intro offer

60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

Rewards

Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2 points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

3.75/5

Intro offer

60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

Rewards

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Details

Rewards

Intro offer

60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

Recommended Credit

Good to Excellent

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

20.99% – 27.99% Variable

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

4/5

Intro offer

80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months

Rewards

Earn 4X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners. Earn 2X points on rideshare. Earn 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services and 1X points on all other purchases.

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

4/5

Intro offer

80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months

Rewards

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

Details

Rewards

Intro offer

80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months

Recommended Credit

Good to Excellent

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

20.99% – 27.99% Variable

Carrying both a business and personal airline credit card can be a winning combination, as is the case with the Chase Southwest credit cards.

Each charges a sizeable annual fee — $199 for the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card and $149 for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card – but they also have benefits to help offset that. First things first, though: the bonuses: The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is currently offering 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

All three Southwest personal credit cards, including the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card, are now offering a limited-time elevated bonus of 60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card earns:

4 points per dollar on Southwest purchases
3 points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and car partners
2 points per dollar on rideshare purchases and on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services
1 point per dollar on everything else

Cardholders also receive 9,000 bonus points after renewing each year, four upgraded boardings per year, up to 365 inflight Wi-Fi credits per year, and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit once every four years.

For its part, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card offers 7,500 anniversary bonus points, four upgraded boardings per year, 25% off inflight drinks and Wi-Fi, and a $75 annual Southwest travel credit, which can save you money consistently and make paying the annual fee well worth it.

United MileagePlus: United Club℠ Infinite Card and United℠ Business Card

United Club℠ Infinite Card

4.4/5

Intro offer

80,000 bonus miles plus 1,000 Premier qualifying points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open

Rewards

Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases including tickets, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges. Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel. Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining including eligible delivery services. Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.

United Club℠ Infinite Card

4.4/5

Intro offer

80,000 bonus miles plus 1,000 Premier qualifying points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open

Rewards

United Club℠ Infinite Card

Details

Rewards

Intro offer

80,000 bonus miles plus 1,000 Premier qualifying points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open

Recommended Credit

Excellent

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

21.49% – 28.49% Variable

United℠ Business Card

4.2/5

$0 intro for the first year, then $99

Annual Fee

Intro offer

50,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open

Rewards

Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, dining (including eligible delivery services), at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting. Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.

United℠ Business Card

4.2/5

$0 intro for the first year, then $99

Annual Fee

Intro offer

50,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open

Rewards

United℠ Business Card

Details

Rewards

Annual Fee

$0 intro for the first year, then $99

Intro offer

50,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open

Recommended Credit

Good to Excellent

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

21.49% – 28.49% Variable

As an alternative to the pairing of the United Club℠ Infinite Card with the United Gateway℠ Card mentioned above, consider adding the United℠ Business Card into the mix instead.

You get access to United Club airport lounges and flight benefits like priority boarding and free checked bags with the United Club℠ Infinite Card, plus an elevated limited-time welcome bonus offer of 80,000 bonus miles plus 1,000 Premier qualifying points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open.

And with the United℠ Business Card, you can earn a welcome bonus offer of 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open. Then, you can use the card’s earning power to your benefit as you rack up miles at the following rates:

2 miles per dollar on United purchases
2 miles per dollar on dining (including eligible delivery services), at gas stations, office supply stores, and local transit and commuting
1 mile per dollar on everything else

Hotel loyalty programs

Like airlines, hotel chains have multiplied the number of credit cards they offer exponentially in recent years. While price point (i.e. annual fee) is probably the deciding factor for most folks, look beyond the dollar signs to the value of each card’s welcome bonus offer and travel benefits as you determine whether it’s worth opening an additional account.

Hilton Honors: The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
and the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

4.8/5

Intro offer

150,000 points after spending at least $4,000 in the first three months of account opening

Rewards

Earn 14x Points on hotels & resorts at eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Earn 7x Points on select travel including flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies. Earn 7x Points on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 3X Points on all other purchases.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

4.8/5

Intro offer

150,000 points after spending at least $4,000 in the first three months of account opening

Rewards

On American Express’s website

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Details

Rewards

Intro offer

150,000 points after spending at least $4,000 in the first three months of account opening

Recommended Credit

Good to Excellent

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

15.74% to 24.74% variable APR on purchases

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

4.45/5

Intro offer

130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points and one Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 in purchases in your first three months of card membership

Rewards

Earn 12x Points on hotels & resorts at eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Earn 6x Points on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 6x Points on groceries at U.S. supermarkets. Earn 6x Points on gas at U.S. gas stations. Earn 3X Points on all other purchases

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

4.45/5

Intro offer

130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points and one Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 in purchases in your first three months of card membership

Rewards

On American Express’s website

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

This card is a terrific choice if you stay with Hilton, even occasionally. It balances excellent benefits, including Gold elite status and 10 airport lounge visits per year, with a modest annual fee. And while it doesn’t come with an automatic free night certificate on your account anniversary, you can earn one by spending $15,000 on the card in a year.

Details

Rewards

Intro offer

130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points and one Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 in purchases in your first three months of card membership

Recommended Credit

Good to Excellent

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

20.74% – 29.74% Variable

Carrying these two Hilton credit cards will cost you, but it could still well be worth it.

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is one of the best hotel credit cards out there. It is currently offering 150,000 points after spending at least $4,000 in the first three months of account opening and comes with automatic top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status.

This card earns:

14 points per dollar at Hilton hotels
7 points per dollar on select travel, including flights booked directly with airlines or via Amex Travel and rental cars booked directly
7 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S.
3 points per dollar for all other eligible purchases

Cardholders also get a free reward night each year plus up to $250 in annual statement credits at Hilton Resorts. That’s in addition to up to $250 per year in airline incidental fee credits**, up to $100 in on-property credits during eligible stays of two nights or more at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties, plus a Priority Pass Select membership. The annual fee is $450 per year.

Meanwhile, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is offering an increased limited-time bonus of 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points and one Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 in purchases in your first three months of card membership. You won’t care about the Gold status it extends if you have the Hilton Honors Aspire Card, too. But this card earns more points in categories that the Aspire does not:

12 points per dollar at Hilton hotels
6 points per dollar for groceries at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations
6 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S.
3 points per dollar for all other eligible purchases

It’s not automatic on renewal, but if you spend $15,000 or more on the card in a calendar year, you can earn a free reward night – which makes this a notable compliment to the Hilton Honors Aspire Card. This card charges a $95 annual fee.

Marriott Bonvoy: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

4.3/5

Intro offer

150,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after spending $6,000 in purchases on the card within the first six months and earn 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you stay 6 eligible paid nights at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy through 1/31/24 (offer ends 8/9/23)

Rewards

Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program. Earn 3 points at Worldwide Restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. Earn 2 points on all other eligible purchases.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

4.3/5

Intro offer

Rewards

On American Express’s website

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

Details

Rewards

Intro offer

Recommended Credit

Good to Excellent

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

20.74% – 29.74% Variable

Earn 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you stay 6 eligible paid nights at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy through 1/31/24. Offer ends 8/9/2023.
$300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each Card renewal year, get up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide.
With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® program. 3 points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
Marriott Brilliant Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases made on their Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, Card Members are eligible to select an Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
$100 Luxury Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy® member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
Enroll in Priority Pass(™) Select, which offers unlimited access to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
You can be reimbursed for your costs to repair or replace your damaged or Stolen cell phone for a maximum of $800 per claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month’s wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Additional terms and conditions apply.
$650 Annual Fee.
Terms Apply.

Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card

4.25/5

Intro offer

75,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after making $3,000 in purchases within the first three months of card membership

Rewards

Earn 6x Marriott Bonvoy points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program. Earn 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. Earn 2x points on all other eligible purchases.

Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card

4.25/5

Intro offer

75,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after making $3,000 in purchases within the first three months of card membership

Rewards

On American Express’s website

Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card

Details

Rewards

Intro offer

75,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after making $3,000 in purchases within the first three months of card membership

Recommended Credit

Good to Excellent

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

20.74% – 29.74% Variable

Though Chase also offers Marriott Bonvoy credit cards, you might be better off sticking with the Amex entrants. This particular pairing is quite powerful.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, with a $650 annual fee, currently comes with a terrific elevated welcome bonus offer: 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after spending $6,000 in purchases on the card within the first six months and earn 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you stay 6 eligible paid nights at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy through 1/31/24 (offer ends 8/9/23)

This card earns:

6 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar for Marriott purchases
3 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines
2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases

The card also comes with up to $300 in dining statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, an annual free night award worth up to 85,000 points, and 25 elite night credits per calendar year. There’s also Priority Pass Select lounge access** and statement credits toward either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® to look forward to.

For its part, the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card also has a compelling welcome bonus offer: 75,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after making $3,000 in purchases within the first three months of card membership. It has a $125 annual fee.

This card earns:

6 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar for Marriott purchases
4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. providers, and on U.S. purchases for shipping
2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases

Cardholders also get a free night award worth up to 35,000 points each year, and 15 elite night credits.

Why might you want both of these cards? Well, first for the bonus points and the diversity of earning categories. Secondly, for the free-night awards — one worth 85,000 points and the other worth 35,000 points. Finally, you’ll be guaranteed complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum elite status with both of these cards — and you’ll need just 35 nights to reach Titanium.

What to know about credit card combinations

While there’s a lot to be said for diversifying your points portfolio and spreading your loyalty across a few programs, it can also make sense to focus your strategy on one or two types of rewards in the short term to rack up points, miles, and perks even faster. This is an even better strategy if you are truly loyal to one particular airline or hotel and can leverage its co-branded cards’ benefits to your advantage.

As with any rewards credit card, just make sure that if you do open multiple ones with a particular program you get enough value from each to justify meeting any minimum spending requirements or paying its annual fee. If that’s not an issue, though, you can reap double the rewards by doubling down on a single program.

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Eric Rosen is a travel and credit card expert who has been helping readers reap the rewards of loyalty programs for over a decade.Eric is based in Los Angeles, though you’ll often find him globetrotting to destinations like Australia, Kenya, and Laos on assignment for publications including National Geographic Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Bloomberg, and AFAR, among others.
He covers a mix of award travel, aviation, luxury, food, wine, and wellness. He also recently launched a podcast called Conscious Traveler where he discusses the latest in sustainability, conservation, culture, and community, and how they can inform us to make more meaningful choices when we travel.