Updated List of Free Credit Card Mile Promotions

Written by nickel - 6 Comments

Are you looking to jump start your frequent flyer account, round out a ticket, or earn an upgrade? Then check out the following list of credit card bonus miles promotions. There are offers from a wide variety of card issuers and airlines, and in some cases you get a free ticket in one fell swoop.

Up first are eight cards with signup bonuses and either no annual fee, or an annual fee that is waived for the first year. I’ve listed them by the size of the bonus, starting with an AmEx card that gets you a free ticket in one fell swoop:

» AmEx Business Gold Rewards Card

Airline: Good for any airline
Bonus: 25k points (enough for a free ticket!)
Annual Fee: None for first year; $125 thereafter
Notes: Can also be redeemed for store gift cards or cash

» Delta SkyMiles Gold Credit Card

Airline: Delta
Bonus: 15k miles (17.5k with 2nd card member)
Annual Fee: None for first year; $85 thereafter
Notes: n/a

» Gold Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card

Airline: Delta
Bonus: 15k miles(17.5k with 2nd card member)
Annual Fee: None for first year; $85 thereafter
Notes: n/a

» Citi Platinum Select/AAdvantage® World MasterCard

Airline: American
Bonus: 25k miles after after $750 in purchases w/in 1st 4 mos
Annual Fee: None for first year; $85 thereafter
Notes: n/a

» Citi Gold/AAdvantage® World MasterCard

Airline: American
Bonus: 15k miles after after $750 in purchases w/in 1st 4 mos
Annual Fee: None for first year; $50 thereafter
Notes: n/a

» Miles Card from Discover Card

Airline: Good for any airline
Bonus: 12k miles
Annual Fee: $0
Notes: n/a

» Citi PremierPass Card

Airline: Good for any airline
Bonus: 10k points after $300 in purchases w/in 1st 3 mos
Annual Fee: $0
Notes: n/a

» Citi Bronze/AAdvantage® World MasterCard

Airline: American
Bonus: 5k miles
Annual Fee: $0
Notes: n/a

And here are five more cards (sorted by airline; the first one is good on any airline) that offer signup bonuses, but which have an annual fee. Keep in mind, however, that the bonus miles are often considerably more valuable than the annual fee. Thus, it still might be worth cashing in on the bonus.

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Comments (scroll down to add your own):

Thanks for the update! I always like to keep up-to-date on what rewards programs are out there.
Comment by Xias — Oct 2nd 2007 @ 3:38 pm
Just a slight correction…

You’ve got the CitiBusiness/AAdvantage MasterCard listed as being part of United’s program.
Comment by Ben — Oct 2nd 2007 @ 6:35 pm
Ben: Nice catch. Fixed.

Comment by nickel — Oct 4th 2007 @ 7:55 am
Citi PremierPass Card is listed as having no annual fee, but the small print on the site stipulates: “Annual fee applies”.

Wtf? Seems like bait and switch to me.

Edit to add: See Comment #5, below.
Comment by anonymouscoworker — Oct 4th 2007 @ 10:52 am
The Citi Premier Pass Elite card has an annual fee, but the regular Premier Pass card does not have an annual fee. Look at the application page again.

Also note that I have these cards listed in different sections based on the presence/absence of an annual fee.

Comment by nickel — Oct 4th 2007 @ 12:17 pm