12 best elevated credit card offers to sign up for in March

MSN has partnered with The Points Guy for our coverage of credit card products. MSN and The Points Guy may receive a commission from card issuers.

Load Error

Please note: the offers mentioned below are subject to change at any time and may not be available.

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. 

Credit card sign-up bonuses and welcome offers are the quickest and easiest way to rake in lots of points and miles, so we regularly update the roundup of our favorite current offers in our best credit cards guide. But what if you put a priority on not missing any limited-time or elevated offers?

To help you in that situation, we’ve rounded up the best offers currently available — especially the ones that are worth an extra look right now before they disappear. This month, we’re seeing some especially enticing offers for some of the best travel credit cards, including cobranded hotel and airline credit cards.

Since many issuers have restrictions on how often you can earn a bonus on a card, it’s important to apply when there’s a good offer. Also, higher bonuses don’t always stick around for long, so if you’re considering one of these offers, you’ll want to hop on it sooner rather than later.

New to The Points Guy? Want to learn more about credit card points and miles? Sign up for our daily newsletter.

The best new elevated card offers in March

In This Post

Southwest credit cards

© Provided by The Points Guy
(Photo by John Gribben for The Points Guy)

Current sign-up bonus: The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card each offer a Companion Pass through 2/28/2022 plus 30,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

This bonus offer on this page is scheduled to end on March 10 at 6pm ET, so don’t delay if you want in on this one.

Bonus offer value*: $450

Annual fee: $69 – $149

Benefits: Perhaps the biggest benefit of the Southwest cobranded personal cards is that the sign-up bonus points and the points earned from everyday spending count toward earning the Southwest Companion Pass, which offers a year or more of flying with a designated travel companion. All of the cards also offer bonus points every year on your account anniversary — 3,000 points with the Plus card, 6,000 with the Premier and 7,500 with the Priority.

Carrying the highest annual fee, the Priority card offers the most benefits, including an annual $75 Southwest travel credit; 20{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} back on inflight drinks, Wi-Fi, messaging and movies; and four Upgraded Boardings in the A1–A15 position each year (worth up to $50 each). The credit on the Priority makes its annual fee $74, which is less than the Premier card — with better perks.

For a closer look at each of the cards, check out our comparison of the best Southwest Airlines credit cards.

APPLY HERE: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card 

© The Points Guy
(Photo by John Gribben for The Points Guy)

Current welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Welcome offer value*: $975

Annual fee: $525

Benefits: Earn 4x miles on United purchases, 2x on all other travel and dining purchases and 1x on everything else. (Through March 31, 2021, many Chase cobranded travel cards are eligible to earn up to 5x at places like grocery stores, gas stations and drugstores, up to $1,500 in combined purchases — check to see if your card is eligible here).

Premium benefits include a $100 Global Entry/TSA Precheck credit every four years, United Premier Access, 25{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} discount on inflight purchases and expanded award availability. The card also offers United Club membership, though many of those are temporarily closed due to the pandemicc.

Read our review of the United Club Infinite Card

APPLY HERE: United Club Infinite Card

Current welcome offer: Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open. Plus, an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.

Welcome offer value*: $845

Annual Fee: $95, waived the first year.

Benefits: Earn 2x on United purchases, hotel stays and restaurants; 1x on everything else. (Now through March 31, 2021, many Chase cobranded travel cards are eligible to earn up to 5x at places like grocery stores, gas stations and drugstores, up to $1,500 in combined purchases — check to see if your card is eligible here.).

Cardholders also get two annual United Club lounge passes, up to $100 Global Entry or TSA Precheck fee credit, 25{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} on inflight United purchases, priority boarding and the first checked bag free for you and a companion on the same reservation.

Read our review of the United Explorer Card

APPLY HERE: United Explorer Card

© Provided by The Points Guy
(Photo by John Gribben for The Points Guy)

Current welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open.

Bonus offer value*: $975

Annual fee: $99, waived the first year.

Benefits: Earn 2x on United purchases, local transit, commuting, restaurants, gas stations and office supply stores; 1x on everything else. You’ll also get two annual United Club passes and employee cards at no extra cost.

© Provided by The Points Guy
(Photo by John Gribben for The Points Guy)

Current welcome offer: Earn 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open.

Bonus offer value*: $260

Annual fee: $0

Benefits: The United Gateway card offers a lower bonus than the other United cards, but it’s still higher than the previous offer. Cardholders earn 3 miles per $1 spent on grocery purchases, up to $1,500 per month through 9/30/21. In addition, you’ll earn  2 miles per $1 on United purchases, gas stations, local transit and commuting and 1 mile on everything else.

The card also gets you 25{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} back on United in-flight purchases. With no annual fee, it’s easy to come out ahead with this card.

Read our review of the United Gateway Card

APPLY HERE: United Gateway Card

© The Points Guy
(Photo by The Points Guy)

Current welcome offer: New applicants earn a $300 statement credit after spending $3,000 in purchases within the first six months. The first-year annual fee is also waived.

Bonus offer value*: $300

Annual fee: $0 the first year and then $95 (see rates and fees)

Benefits: The card earns 6{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} cash back on select U.S. streaming services and 6{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} back at U.S. supermarkets (on the first $6,000 on U.S. supermarket purchases each calendar year; then 1{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}). You also get access to Amex Offers, which can save you hundreds of dollars on everyday purchases each year.

Read our review of the Blue Cash Preferred Card

APPLY HERE: Blue Cash Preferred Card

© The Points Guy
(Photo by Eric Helgas/The Points Guy)

Current welcome offer: 75,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. Plus, earn up to $150 back in statement credits on eligible purchases made on your new Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership

Bonus offer value*: $750

Annual fee: $125

Benefits: One of the card’s biggest perks is a free annual award night worth up to 35,000 points. You can earn a second free night worth up to 35,000 points by spending $60,000 in a calendar year on your card. Cardholders also get Silver status, with the ability to upgrade to Gold after $35,000 in annual spending on the card.

The card earns 6x points with Marriott and 4x at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. Plus, earn 2x points on all other eligible purchases.

Read our review of the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card

APPLY HERE: Marriott Bonvoy Business Card

© Provided by The Points Guy
(Photo by The Points Guy)

Current offer: 85,000 points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of account opening. Plus earn 5x points on eligible U.S. purchases on shipping, wireless telephone services, advertising in select media, office supplies and gas stations, with the card in the first three months, up to 80,000 bonus points per category.

Bonus offer value*: $1,700

Annual fee: $595 (see rates and fees)

Benefits: This business card stands out for its travel perks. It features a 5x bonus category for airfare and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel, along with a 1.5x earning rate for eligible purchases over $5,000 (up to 1 million additional points per calendar year).

Cardholders enjoy automatic Gold status in both the Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalty programs, along with numerous other benefits. Cardholders get access to more lounges at the airport than any other card offers, including Amex Centurion, Priority Pass and Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta). On top of that, the card comes with up to $200 in annual airline fee credits and a 35{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} points rebate for flights booked through Amex Travel in first or business class on any airline (up to 500,000 points back per calendar year), or in any class on the airline of your choice each year. Non-travel benefits include up to $200 in annual statement credits towards U.S. Dell purchases.

Read our review of the American Express Business Platinum Card.

APPLY HERE: The Business Platinum Card from American Express

© Provided by The Points Guy
(Photo by Eric Helgas/The Points Guy)

While these aren’t technically limited-time offers, you can often find elevated welcome offers through the CardMatch tool. For example, The Platinum Card® from American Express, with a $550 annual fee (see rates and fees), is currently offering a public welcome offer of 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first six months of account opening, but some new customers can earn a 100,000-point welcome offer after meeting the same minimum spend requirements via the CardMatch tool.

While the American Express Gold® Card, with a $250 annual fee (see rates and fees), offers a public welcome offer of 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months, some new customers can earn a 75,000-point welcome offer after meeting the same minimum spend requirements via the tool.

Please note: These elevated offers are targeted and subject to change at any time.

APPLY HERE: The Platinum Card® from American Express and American Express Gold® Card

*Bonus offer value based on TPG valuations and not provided by issuers. 

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Business Platinum Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Amex Gold card, please click here.

Featured photo by Hinterhaus Productions/Getty Images

This is The Points Guy’s permanent page with limited-time welcome offers to consider each month, so you can bookmark it and check back regularly for updates. 

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.