Emily and I are committed to making sure our readers get the best available credit card deals. We earn a commission from some offers, and we’re grateful when you use our links!
But sometimes there are offers that earn more miles & points than the links that earn us a commission. And we will always tell you about the higher offer.
And we hope that by doing so, we’re helping you achieve your travel goals sooner. And that you’ll share your experiences and success stories with us!
We love our Million Mile Secrets family! So we’re also grateful when y’all bring better offers to our attention!
We Want This to Be You! That’s Why We’ll Always Tell You About the Best Offers – Even When They Don’t Earn Us a Thing!
Here are the top 10 cards that currently do NOT earn us a commission but DO earn you Big Travel with Small Money!
This Is Why We Tell You About the Best Offers
Link: Hot Deals
Back when we started the blog, I said I’d always let you know if I found a better public offer for any credit card, even if it means giving up our commission on the card.
We earn a commission on cards that have an image of the card under the card’s name on the Hot Deals page. But if you only see a link with the card’s name, and no card image beneath, that means Emily and I get nothing if you apply.
Yes, but Why?
Because it’s the right thing to do.
And we won’t ever stop doing it!
We prefer you get the most miles, points, or cash back. Even if there’s a lesser offer that would earn us a commission.
Thank you for reading our blog all these years. We truly have the best readers!
The Top 10 Deals That Earn Us Nothing!
I’ll show you the best public offers on 10 top cards – that currently earn us nothing if you apply!
1. Chase Ink Plus
Link: Chase Ink Plus
When you sign-up for the Chase Ink Plus small business card and spend $5,000 on purchases within the 1st 3 months of opening your account, you’ll earn 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points.
That’s worth:
- $600 in cash back
- $750 in travel with NO blackout dates through the Chase Travel Portal
- Big Travel when you transfer points to partners like United Airlines and Hyatt
Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to British Airways and Use Them for Flights to Europe on oneworld Partners Like Air Berlin
Chase Ultimate Rewards is my favorite award program because the points you earn are so flexible. You can use points toward paid travel at a terrific rate, or transfer to airline and hotel partners like Hyatt, Southwest, British Airways, or United Airlines.
Here’s my review of the Chase Ink Plus card.
2. Chase Southwest Cards
Link: Chase Southwest Premier (Personal)
Link: Chase Southwest Premier (Business)
Y’all know Emily and I LUV Southwest! Everyone gets 2 free checked bags and there are never any change or cancellation fees.
Southwest Is Our Favorite Airline for Domestic Travel – Because Everyone Gets 2 Free Checked Bags and They Don’t Charge Cancellation Fees!
You’ll earn 50,000 Southwest points when you meet the minimum spending requirements on the Chase Southwest Premier or Premier small business card.
This is an easy way to boost your Southwest points balance to earn the Southwest Companion Pass! With the Southwest Companion Pass, a friend or family member can fly with you almost free on paid and award tickets for up to 2 years!
But be mindful of these 3 mistakes that won’t get you a Companion Pass!
3. Chase Hyatt
Link: Chase Hyatt
You’ll earn 2 free nights at ANY Hyatt (even their top resorts) with the Chase Hyatt card after spending $1,000 on purchases in the 1st 3 months of opening your account.
Emily and I stay at Hyatts often because of their incredible service and beautiful locations. Check out our reviews of the Park Hyatt Vendome Paris, Grand Hyatt Kauai, Park Hyatt Goa, and Park Hyatt Milan.
You can even use your free nights at their most expensive hotels, like the Park Hyatt New York, where standard rooms can cost over $1,000 per night!
Treat Yourself to a Luxury Stay at the Park Hyatt New York With 2 Free Hyatt Nights, and Save Over ~$2,000!
Many folks pay the $75 annual fee on this card year after year, because you get a free night certificate each year you’re a cardmember for a stay at a Hyatt Category 1 through 4 hotel.
4. Citi Prestige
Link: Citi Prestige
With the Citi Prestige, you’ll earn 50,000 Citi ThankYou points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the 1st 3 months of opening your account.
That’s worth ~$800 in paid American Airlines or international partner flights. And if you transfer the points to airline partners like Singapore Airlines, they could be worth even more!
Singapore Airlines A380 First Class Suite on Your Bucket List? The Citi Prestige Card Can Help You Get There!
The $450 annual fee on this card isn’t waived, but you can more than offset it with a $250 yearly airfare credit, 4th night free on hotel stays, airport lounge access, and other fantastic perks!
5. Citi American Airlines Cards
Link: Citi AAdvantage Executive
Link: Citi Platinum Select AAdvantage
Link: CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select
American Airlines miles are easy to earn! You can earn 50,000 American Airlines miles with the Citi AAdvantage Executive, Citi Platinum Select AAdvantage, or CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select cards when you meet the minimum spending requirements.
And we don’t earn a thing from any of them!
Citi Executive AAdvantage Cardholders (and Authorized Users) Get Admirals Club Lounge Access – but the $450 Annual Fee Is NOT Waived
Emily and I both enjoy the free Admirals Club lounge access from the Citi Executive card.
And we’ve used American Airlines miles for amazing flights on partner airlines like Etihad and Cathay Pacific.
Here’s my series on how to book American Airlines award flights like a pro!
6. Chase Fairmont
Link: Chase Fairmont
Do you already have a lot of Chase hotel cards but thinking about getting another before their application rules change?
You can earn 2 complimentary nights at any Fairmont hotel after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the 1st 3 months of opening a Chase Fairmont account.
And the $95 annual fee is waived the 1st year. Plus, the card comes with automatic Fairmont Premier elite status (room upgrades, dining credits, and free nights).
Be a King or Queen for a Weekend at the Iconic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies
Fairmont is a smaller hotel chain, but they have some amazing hotels in gorgeous locations. Because they’re an upscale brand, many of their hotels are pricey!
At some locations, you could get a stay worth $1,000+ with the Chase Fairmont sign-up bonus!
7. Bank of America Alaska Airlines Card
Link: Bank of America Alaska Airlines
Even if you’re not near a city Alaska Airlines serves, the Bank of America Alaska Airlines is still a good pick. That’s because they have terrific airline partners, including Air France / KLM, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, and Icelandair.
Think Outside the Box! Alaska Airlines Miles Are Good for Travel to Europe, Asia, and Beyond!
With the Bank of America Alaska Airlines card, you’ll earn 25,000 Alaska Airlines miles after your 1st purchase. And you’ll earn a $100 statement credit after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the 1st 90 days of opening your account.
Check out these ideas on how to use Alaska Airlines miles for Big Travel!
8. Chase Ink Cash
Link: Chase Ink Cash
The Chase Ink Cash card is an terrific deal for small business owners who like earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points for cash back or Big Travel, with no annual fee.
With the Chase Ink Cash, you’ll earn 20,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points ($200 cash back) when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the 1st 3 months of opening your account.
You’ll also get:
- 5 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per $1 you spend (5% cash back) on the 1st $25,000 spent per year at office supply stores and on cell phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services
- 2 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per $1 you spend (2% cash back) on the 1st $25,000 spent per year at restaurants and gas stations combined
- 1 point per $1 you spend (1% cash back) on everything else
- Primary auto rental insurance (CDW) when renting for business purposes, plus purchase and extended warranty protection
- No annual fee
Redeem Your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points for Cash Back! Or If You Have Certain Other Cards, Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to Airline and Hotel Partners for Big Travel
This card is an even better deal if you also have the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Ink Plus, or Chase Ink Bold (no longer offered) card.
You can transfer points earned from the Chase Ink Cash to one of these cards, then to travel partners like British Airways and Hyatt!
9. Chase United Explorer Card
Link: Chase United Explorer
If you fly United Airlines frequently, the Chase United Explorer is a good pick!
That’s because when you have this card, you’ll get access to even more award seats. And if you use your card to pay for your ticket, you’ll get your 1st checked bag free!
You’ll also get priority boarding on United Airlines flights.
You’ll earn 30,000 United Airlines miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the 1st 3 months of opening your account. And a $50 statement credit after your 1st purchase.
To find this deal, search for a flight on United.com and you’ll see an ad for the card. The regular offer doesn’t have a $50 statement credit, so apply for the better offer!
Use United Airlines Miles for Award Flights on United Airlines – or on Their Star Alliance Partners Like Emily Did on Lufthansa
United Airlines miles are great to collect! That’s because:
- They have more airline partners than any other US airline
- They never add fuel surcharges to award tickets
- It’s easy to search for award flights
- You can instantly transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United Airlines
Keep in mind, the sign-up bonus on this card has been as high as 50,000 United Airlines miles, so if you’re not in a hurry to earn United Airlines miles, you might consider waiting for that offer to return.
10. Barclaycard Wyndham Rewards
Link: Barclaycard Wyndham Rewards
You’ll earn up to 3 free nights at any Wyndham hotel when you sign-up for the the Barclaycard Wyndham Rewards cards and complete the minimum spending.
You could use the free nights for over $1,000 in Big Travel! Even at some of Wyndham’s all-inclusive resorts.
Any Wyndham Hotel Costs 15,000 Points per Night – Even All-Inclusives Like the Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach
The sign-up bonus on the premium version of the card with a $69 annual fee is currently 45,000 Wyndham points. Because a night at ANY Wyndham hotel costs only 15,000 Wyndham points, you’ll have enough for 3 free nights at Wyndham’s top hotels and all-inclusive resorts!
Bottom Line
We’re grateful to our readers for reading the blog all these years! And for trusting us to show you the best credit card deals!
We’ll always tell you about the best public offers we’re aware of, even if they don’t earn us a commission. And these 10 cards don’t earn us a thing!
Any offer you see in Hot Deals that does NOT have an image of the credit card, does NOT earn us a commission. But we share these with you because it’s the right thing to do!
We love it when you share your Big Travel stories with us! If you’d like to be considered for our reader success story series, please drop me a line!
* If you liked this post, why don’t you join the 20,000+ readers who have signed-up to receive free blog posts via email (only 1 email per day!) or in an RSS reader …because then you’ll never miss another update!
