Which credit card bonuses and transfer deals are best right now?

If you can handle the spend, the new Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business card offer is a standout: 200,000 bonus miles after $20,000 in six months. That's the highest miles amount American Express has ever put on that card, and it's available to all approved applicants, not just a select few. For a lower spend threshold, the personal Delta SkyMiles Reserve card offers two round-trip Delta Comfort flight certificates plus 50,000 bonus miles after $10,000 in six months — a strong option if you value confirmed seats over maximum mileage.

For those with transferable points, Bilt's September Rent Day promotion offers up to a 100% bonus when moving points to Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Red, depending on your status tier and whether you use $200 in Bilt Cash for a buy-up. The cap is 150,000 Bilt points, which is 50% higher than recent months. This can supercharge redemptions on Virgin Atlantic flights or partner awards, but note the buy-up option appears limited to Platinum members.

If you already hold an Amex Platinum or Gold card, check your account for elevated referral bonuses — some cardholders are seeing up to 45,000 Membership Rewards points per referral. That's a significant bump from the usual 10,000–15,000. Each referral can earn you that bonus up to five times per calendar year, and your friend doesn't have to sign up for the same card you hold.

Finally, if you have Southwest Rapid Rewards points, a flash sale running through August 31 is offering redemption values as high as 4 cents per point on select routes — well above the typical 1.1–1.3 cents. The travel window runs through March 2027, but availability is limited and blackout dates apply. It's worth a quick search if you have a stash to burn.