Airline Card Welcome Offers: How to Judge a 100,000-Mile Bonus

A large mileage bonus is only valuable if you can meet the spending requirement and redeem the miles for something you want. Recent reports say United refreshed its card welcome offers with bonuses of up to 100,000 miles. Offers change often, so treat any headline number as a starting point and read the issuer's terms.

Check the requirements first

• Minimum spend: how much, and in how many months? Never overspend or carry a balance to hit it.
• Annual fee: including whether it is waived the first year.
• Eligibility rules: issuers often exclude people who recently held the card or earned its bonus.

Estimate what the miles are worth

Airline miles are worth different amounts depending on how you redeem them. A realistic estimate based on the flights you would book keeps you from overvaluing a bonus. Check availability for your routes, since saver-level award seats can be limited.

Weigh the ongoing value

After the bonus, ask whether the card still earns its place:

• Free checked bags or priority boarding you would use.
• Lounge or companion benefits, if they fit your travel.
• Earn rates on everyday categories.

Understand the credit impact

Applying creates a hard inquiry, and a new account lowers your average account age for a while. If you are planning a mortgage or auto loan soon, time the application carefully. Some issuers also limit approvals when you have opened many accounts recently.

A quick checklist

• Can I earn the bonus with spending I already do?
• Do I fly this airline enough to redeem the miles?
• Is the first-year value clearly higher than the fee?
• Will I pay the balance in full every month?

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This article is general information, not personalized financial advice. Rates, offers and terms change often, so confirm current details with the lender or issuer before you decide.