by: P. LYPosted on:

My 25 Best Points Rewards and Cash Back Credit Cards & Why

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Living the Points Life, we all tend to have several credit cards in our processions. Sometimes, I am quite amazed on how the points community is being able to keep track of those credit card accounts and still have outstanding credit score. There are some individuals that do not only responsibly manage their own credit card accounts, but also their significant other’s or family’s account. Kudos to you if you are among those individuals.

I personally hold a total of 25 both personal and business credit cards in my inventory. In this post, I will be honest with you on each points rewards and cash back credit card that I have and the annual fees that I pay each year for the card, as we as the reasons why I keep the card based on each card’s benefits. As you go through the list, keep in mind that a single reason why I have these cards in the first place is because of the good sign-up bonus and whether I decide to keep the card after a year or not, that’ll depend on the “why.”

Japan Airlines First Class
Photo Credit: Points Life

Credit Cards

Annual Fee

Why?

American Express
Amex EveryDay Credit Card $0
  • No annual fee.
  • Earns MR points transferable to loyalty programs.
  • Combines with another MR points card.
  • Keeps MR points alive if other MR points cards are cancelled. 
  • Amex offers. 
Amex Business Platinum Card  $595
  • Earns MR points transferable to loyalty programs.
  • Earns 1.5x points on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more.
  • Access to airport lounges: Amex Centurion Lounges, Amex Global Lounge Collection, Delta SkyClub and Priority Pass Select (no restaurants).
  • $200 Airline fee credit. 
  • $200 Dell statement credits. 
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✔
  • 35% MR points back on business and first class tickets through Amex Travel.
  • Access to Fine Hotels & Resorts Program.
  • Hotel elite status: Marriott Gold and Hilton Gold.
Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant $450
  • Earns 6x Marriott points per $1 at Marriott properties. 
  • $300 Marriott statement credit. 
  • Annual Free Night Award Certificate worth up to 50,000 points properties. 
  • $100 property credit for at least paid 2-night stays at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis.
  • 15 elite night credits.
  • Marriott Gold Elite status. 
Amex Marriott Bonvoy Card  $95
  • Not open to new applicants. 
  • Earns 6x Marriott points per $1 at Marriott properties. 
  • Annual Free Night Award Certificate worth up to 35,000 points properties. 
  • 15 elite night credits.
Amex Marriott Bonvoy Business $125
  • Earns 6x Marriott points per $1 at Marriott properties. 
  • Annual Free Night Award Certificate worth up to 35,000 points properties. 
  • 15 elite night credits.
  • Silver Elite status. 
Amex Hilton Honors Aspire Card $450
Amex Hilton Honors Business Card $95
  • Had great sign-up bonus. Will cancel after 1 year. 
  • Earn 12x Hilton points per $1 at Hilton properties.
  • Hilton Gold Elite status. 
  • 10 Priority Pass Select Lounge visits. 

Bank of America
Bank of America Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card $75
  • Retain good old credit history.
  • Earns 3 miles per $1 on Alaska airlines purchases. 
  • Annual companion fare.
  • Free checked bag. 
  • 50% off day passes at Alaska Lounge
  • 20% back on ingflight purchases. 
Bank of America Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card $75
  • Wanted sign-up bonus miles and stayed under Chase 5/24. 
  • Earns 3 miles per $1 on Alaska airlines purchases. 
  • Annual companion fare.
  • Free checked bag. 
  • 50% off day passes at Alaska Lounge
  • 20% back on in-flight purchases.

Barclay
Barclaycard Arrival World Mastercard $0
  • No annual fee, downgraded from the annual fee Arrival Plus card to keep good credit history. 
  • Earns miles by posting travel stories to Barclay Travel Community. 
  • 10% miles back on redeeming travel expenses as statement credits. 
Barclay AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard $95
  • Good sign-up bonus miles to boost AA account and stayed under Chase 5/24. Will cancel. 
  • 2 miles per $1 on AA purchases.
  • First checked bag free. 
  • Preferred boarding. 
  • Annual 5% AA miles bonus.
  • 25% off in-flight purchases. 
  • AA reduced miles award benefit. 
Barclay Hawaiian Airlines Business Mastercard $99

Chase
Chase Freedom $0
  • No annual fee. 
  • Combines with UR earning card can transfer to loyalty programs.
  • 5% back on rotating category each quarter. 
Chase Sapphire Reserved $550
  • $300 annual travel credit. 
  • Flexible points card. 
  • Earns points transferable to loyalty programs.
  • 3x points per $1 on travel and restaurants. 
  • 50% more in travel redemption. 
  • Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ Fee Credit
  • Priority Pass Select Lounges membership, including restaurants. 
  • Earns 10x points per $1 on Lyft rides through March 2022.
  • Complimentary Lyft Pink membership receiving 15% off every car ride. 
  • Free delivery fees with DoorDash.
  • Up to $120 statement credits on DoorDash purchases. 
Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card $0
  • No annual fee. 
  • 5% cash back on purchases at office supply stores, streaming services, internet, cable and phone services. 
  • Combines with UR earning card can transfer to loyalty programs.
Chase World of Hyatt Credit Card $95
  • Earns 4x points per $1 at Hyatt properties. 
  • Annual 1 Free Night Award for Category 1-4 Hyatt properties. 
  • Automatic Hyatt Discoverist status. 
Chase IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card $89
  • Earns 25x points per $1 at IHG properties. 
  • Automatic Platinum Elite status.
  • 1 night free on 4th reward nights redemption. 
  • Anniversary Free Night Certificate up to 40,000 points properties. 
Chase IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card $49
  • Not open to new applicants. 
  • Low annual fee. 
  • Automatic Platinum Elite status. 
  • 1 night free on 4th reward nights redemption. 
  • Anniversary Free Night Certificate up to 40,000 points properties. 
Chase Marriott Bonvoy Premier Plus Business Credit Card $99
  • Not open to new applicants. 
  • Earns 6x Marriott points per $1 at Marriott properties. 
  • Annual Free Night Award Certificate worth up to 35,000 points properties. 
  • 15 elite night credits.
Chase Ritz-Carlton Credit Card $450
  • Not open to new applicants. 
  • Earns 6x Marriott points per $1 at Marriott properties. 
  • $300 annual travel credit. 
  • Annual Free Night Award Certificate worth up to 50,000 points properties. 
  • 15 elite night credits.
  • Automatic Gold Elite status. 
  • Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ Fee Credit
  • Priority Pass Select Lounge membership and unlimited guests. The same with authorized users. 
  • $100 property credit for at least paid 2-night stays at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis.

Citi
Citi Rewards+ Card $0
  • No annual fee.
  • Great combination with ThankYou points card that can transfer to loyalty programs.
  • 10% Points Back for the first 100,000 ThankYou points redeemed per year.
  • Automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase. 
  • Keep ThankYou points alive if other TYP cards are cancelled. 
Citi Premier Card $95
  • Flexible points card. 
  • Earns points that can transfer to loyalty programs.
  • Great combination with no annual fee Citi Rewards+ card for points redemption. 
Citi Business AAdvantage Platinum Select World Mastercard $99
  • Good sign-up bonus miles and annual fee was waived for the first year. Stayed under Chase 5/24
  • 2 miles per $1 on AA purchases.
  • First checked bag free. 
  • Preferred boarding. 
  • 25% off in-flight purchases. 
  • AA reduced miles award benefit. 

U.S. Bank
U.S. Bank Radisson Rewards Business Visa Card $60
  • 10x points per $1 at Radisson and 5x points per $1 on all other purchases.
  • Annual 40,000 bonus points. 
  • Earns up to three free nights: Earn one Free Night E-Cert for each $10,000 in spend, up to $30,000.
  • Automatic Gold Elite status. 

Wellsfargo
Wellsfargo Platinum Rewards Card $0
  • No annual fee.
  • Has very old credit age and history. My first ever credit card. 
Best 185,000 Bonus Offer: Marriott Brilliant Card
Earn 185,000 Bonus Marriott Points after you make $6,000 in eligible purchases on your card within the first 6 months of account opening. The offer ends on October 2, 2024.
Learn More

Final Thoughts

As you can see, I have a total of 25 points and cash back credit cards. I spend a total of $3,740 on some of these credit cards’ annual fees each year, but you have to keep in mind that I love traveling and these points rewards credit cards provides me substantial benefits in terms of annual benefits and redemption such as premium class flights, airport lounges, five-star hotels and resorts, free nights, statement credits, etc. every year to justify the annual fees. If I am not traveling, these cards will not do any good for me. Traveling with points is not a free traveling. Ultimately, points help leveraging traveling experiences and in return you are also able to save some money to vacation.

P. LY
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Best 185,000 Bonus Offer: Marriott Brilliant Card
Earn 185,000 Bonus Marriott Points after you make $6,000 in eligible purchases on your card within the first 6 months of account opening. The offer ends on October 2, 2024.
Learn More

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