The best thing about a travel rewards credit card is their big welcome bonus that gets you closer to your next award travels. However, be warned, you might need some patience to do so. The time it takes for points or miles to hit your account will depend on the bank you’re with.
Check out our list of the best credit card bonuses here.
There are some issuers that will pay out your bonus the day after your statement closes. Others will wait until the next billing cycle. Read below for more information on how long points and miles take to post onto your account.
Welcome Bonus. Chase says that they will pay out your welcome bonus in 6-8 weeks after you’ve met the minimum spending requirement. However, the bank will delay posting to your account if you meet the spend requirement too close to your statement closing date.
If you’re counting on these bonus points, don’t wait until the last minute to meet the spending requirements.
Regular Spend. You can track all of your points on your Ultimate Rewards Activity Dashboard. Your rewards are “pending” points until the statement closes. They will go into your Chase Ultimate Rewards account the day after the statement closes.
Editor’s Pick for Best Chase Credit Card:
 The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. You'll earn: • 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM • 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries • 2x on all other travel purchases • 1x on all other purchases • $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027. Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase TravelSM This card carries a $95 annual fee. |
Welcome Bonus. Amex states that they will pay your welcome bonus 8-12 weeks after you’ve met their minimum spending requirement. However, from what we’ve seen, the bank pays out bonuses on all their cards – both American Express Membership Rewards cards and cobranded ones in a few days.
If Amex thinks you’re “gaming” their cards, they will withhold your welcome bonus for a few months. Gaming refers to getting large amounts of gift cards or other cash equivalents to get the minimum purchase requirement.
Regular Spend. For Membership Rewards cards, your points will go into a “pending” state for a month before they post to your account when the statement closes. In other words, the points you earned before the statement closing on January 30 won’t go into your account until the end of February.
Additionally, if you don’t pay your bill on time, you’ll forfeit the points you’ve earned. It will cost you $35 to reinstate them. Furthermore, you can push back your statement close date as well.
If you have a co-branded card, airline miles, or hotel points are paid out at the statement close date.
Editor’s Pick for Best AMEX card:
 The Platinum Card® from American Express offers 125,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. You'll 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. • 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(R) or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card(R). The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay. • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required. • With American Express Global Lounge Collection you can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion Lounge, Unlimited Delta Sky Club® Access when flying an eligible Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges subject to visit limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder. • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month. • $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 Platinum Card. • $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. • $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues. • Receive either a $120 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 $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required. This card comes with a $695 annual fee.¤ (See Rates & Fees), but you cardholders can enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member and Additional Centurion Cards only. Terms Apply. |
Welcome Bonus & Regular Spend. Officially, Capital One pays out their welcome bonuses in 2 billing cycles of meeting the minimum spending requirement. Usually, in most cases, the bonus and your regular spending rewards are paid out the day after the statement closes, or soon after.
Editor’s Pick for Best Capital One Card:
 The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a one-time bonus of 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, plus receive a one-time $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year – that’s equal to $1,000 in travel. You're able to earn: • 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. • 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection This card does come with a $95 annual fee. Enjoy no foreign transaction fees and receive up to $120 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✔®. |
Welcome Bonus. Citi states that they will pay the welcome bonus 8-10 weeks after you meet purchase requirements. But, many people get their bonuses for both Citi ThankYou Rewards Cards and cobranded ones about 2 days after statement closing.
Regular Spend. The points you earn will hit your ThankYou account the day after your statement closes.
Editor’s Pick for Best Citi Credit Card:
The Citi Prestige® Card has a 50,000 bonus points offer. Spend $4,000 within 3 months of account opening to qualify. These 50k bonus points are worth $500 in travel.
For the most value out of your points, redeem for flights through Citi, where your bonus will be worth 1.33 cents per point. This is another card that competes in the premium travel category, and the annual fee will signify that at $495.
In effect, this card is only a good option for frequent travelers who can take advantage of the premium benefits : 5X points on air travel & restaurants, 3X points on hotels & cruise lines, $250 Air Travel Credit annually, and free access to 1,300+ airport lounges with Priority Pass Select. For those in this niche market, this card will provide high perceived value.
Welcome Bonus. Bank of America states welcome bonuses are paid out in around 6-8 weeks after you meet the minimum spending requirement. But, most people see their bonuses posted right after the statement close date.
Regular Spend. Your points or miles will immediately show up as “pending” and will hit your account in the next billing cycle.
Editor’s Pick for Best Bank of America Card:
Check out the Premium Rewards Card
Welcome Bonus & Regular Spend. According to the U.S. Bank, your points will go into your account in around 6-8 weeks. However, rewards are paid out when the monthly statement closes.
Welcome Bonus. Wells Fargo will pay out your welcome bonuses in 1-2 billing periods after you meet the spending requirement.
Regular Spend. Your rewards will appear as “pending” in your account until the day after your billing cycle ends. So points earned before January 15 for a billing cycle ending January 30 will be available on January 31.
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Conclusion
Overall, you know what type of cards to get to earn these rewards for your account. Additionally, you can plan your earning and burning rate much better with this guide. So, the next time you sign up for a new credit card with a welcome bonus, make sure you remember this post for reference.
