Timing matters when applying for credit cards. If you get the timing right, you can get even more value out of your credit cards. In Which Credit Cards Should You Apply for at Year-End? [2017 Edition], ymlulu introduced various cards that are good to apply for at the end of the year. Today, OneMoreDay will categorize the cards that are well suited for applications at the beginning of the year, and hopefully this will be helpful for your card application plans.
OneMoreDay already mentioned a similar idea in Three Reasons to Apply for the Delta Platinum Credit Card at the Beginning of the Year. These cards all have corresponding annual spending bonuses, and those bonuses are calculated by calendar year (January 1 to December 31). If you apply at the beginning of the year, your spending toward the welcome bonus can also help you make progress toward those annual thresholds.
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AMEX Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card
The AMEX Delta Platinum Credit Card currently offers 70,000 Delta miles + 10,000 MQMs (which can be used toward Delta elite status) + $100 after spending $3,000 in three months. This is our application link. This is a limited-time all-time-high offer ending on 1/31.
For each calendar year, spending $25,000 earns an extra 10,000 Delta miles + 10,000 MQMs, and spending $50,000 earns another 10,000 Delta miles + 10,000 MQMs.
After completing the welcome bonus requirement, you would only need an additional $22,000 in spending during 2018 to reach 105,000 Delta miles + 20,000 MQMs. That is enough to easily get Silver status with some domestic travel in the U.S. (free upgrades, Comfort+ selection, etc.). If you are a heavy spender/MS user and can spend $47,000 beyond the welcome bonus requirement, you can get 140,000 Delta miles + 30,000 MQMs, automatically earn Silver status, and with one trip back home plus one vacation, you could likely reach Gold status and enjoy benefits such as free same-day flight changes.
Chase United MileagePlus Explorer Credit Card
The Chase United co-branded credit card offers an extra 10,000 UA miles for spending $25,000 in a calendar year. The current offer is 55,000 UA miles, and some targeted users may see a higher offer after logging in. This is the 55,000 offer link: earn 50,000 UA miles after spending $3,000 in three months, plus 5,000 more for adding an authorized user, with the first-year annual fee waived.
After completing the welcome bonus requirement, you would only need an additional $22,000 in spending during 2018 to have 93,000 UA miles, which is more than enough for a one-way business class award ticket back home.
This card is subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule, so if you have applied for a lot of cards recently, you may want to wait before applying.
AMEX Hilton Ascend Credit Card
The AMEX Hilton Ascend Credit Card offers one free weekend night certificate each calendar year after spending $15,000, valid at Hilton hotels and resorts worldwide. The current welcome offer is 75,000 Hilton points after spending $2,000 in three months, plus an additional 25,000 Hilton points after spending another $1,000 in six months, for a total of 100,000 points. This is our application link.
After completing the welcome bonus requirement, you would only need an additional $12,000 in spending during 2018 to earn one Hilton free weekend night certificate.
Chase Southwest Premier Credit Card + Chase Southwest Plus Credit Card
Right now, both the Chase Southwest Premier Credit Card and the Chase Southwest Plus Credit Card have limited-time elevated welcome offers of 50,000 Southwest points after spending $2,000 in three months, compared with the usual 30,000 points. As long as you earn 110,000 Southwest points in a calendar year, you can get a Companion Pass. Points earned from credit card welcome bonuses and spending both count toward that 110,000 total. The beginning of the year is the best time to apply for these two cards, because a Companion Pass earned in early 2018 can remain valid through the end of 2019. The Companion Pass can effectively double the value of those 110,000 points, and if you can use it, it is an excellent option for two-person travel. For more details, see Introduction and Analysis of the Southwest Companion Pass.
After completing the welcome bonus requirements, you would only need an additional $6,000 in spending during 2018 to earn a Companion Pass valid through the end of 2019.
Both of these cards are subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule, so if you have applied for a lot of cards recently, you may want to wait before applying.