Now that you’ve spent your big sign-up bonus on a luxury vacation, all your friends and family want to know how they can do it too. Thanks to refer-a-friend bonuses, your travel rewards credit card can help you keep accruing tons of points and miles for your next vacation.
Major banks including American Express, Capital One, and Chase offer substantial bonuses when you refer a friend to an eligible credit card. You simply send them your referral link. Once they get approved, you can earn up to 20,000 bonus points per referral.
It’s important to note that referrals are capped every year, so you can’t earn unlimited rewards through this avenue. However, if you have lots of friends and family interested in applying for a rewards credit card that happens to be in your wallet, you can benefit from it.
Below is a breakdown of credit cards that reward you when you refer a friend or family member (or perfect stranger, for that matter):
American Express
American Express offers refer-a-friend bonuses on a wide array of rewards credit cards. Whether you have a card that earns Membership Rewards, hotel points or airline miles, chances are you can rack up lots of referral bonus rewards.
To find out whether you’re eligible to earn points for referring a friend, simply head over to the American Express referral portal and login to your account.
If you’re specifically looking to apply for credit cards that offer referral programs, below is a list of AmEx cards along with their current referral bonuses:
- American Express® Business Gold Card: 20,000 to 25,000 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 55,000 points per year
- American Express® Gold Card: Up to 30,000 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 55,000 points per year
- American Express® Green Card: 7,500 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 55,000 points per year
- The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card: 7,500 to 12,500 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 55,000 points per year
- The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card: 10,000 to 15,000 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 55,000 points per year
- The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express: 10,000 to 15,000 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 55,000 points per year
- Business Green Rewards Card from American Express: 7,500 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 55,000 points per year
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: 15,000 to 20,000 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 55,000 points per year
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: 5,000 SkyMiles per referral with a maximum bonus of 55,000 SkyMiles per year
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: 7,500 SkyMiles per referral with a maximum bonus of 55,000 SkyMiles per year
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: 10,000 SkyMiles per referral with a maximum bonus of 55,000 SkyMiles per year
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: 10,000 SkyMiles per referral with a maximum bonus of 55,000 SkyMiles per year
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: 15,000 SkyMiles per referral with a maximum bonus of 55,000 SkyMiles per year
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: 15,000 SkyMiles per referral with a maximum bonus of 55,000 SkyMiles per year
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: 20,000 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 55,000 points per year
- The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: 20,000 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 55,000 points per year
- Hilton Honors American Express Card: 20,000 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 55,000 points per year
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: 20,000 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 55,000 points per year
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: 15,000 to 20,000 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 55,000 points per year
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: 15,000 to 20,000 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 55,000 points per year
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: 15,000 to 20,000 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 55,000 points per year
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: Up to 45,000 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 55,000 points per year
Capital One
Capital One offers a selection of travel cards with referral bonuses, making it a strong contender for those looking to maximize their rewards:
- Capital One Spark Miles for Business: 10,000 to 20,000 miles per referral with a maximum bonus of 50,000 miles per year
- Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business: 10,000 to 20,000 miles per referral with a maximum bonus of 50,000 miles per year
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: 10,000 to 20,000 miles per referral with a maximum bonus of 50,000 miles per year
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: 25,000 miles per referral with a maximum bonus of 100,000 miles per year
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: 10,000 to 20,000 miles per referral with a maximum bonus of 50,000 miles per year
Chase
Chase offers referral bonuses on ten of their most popular rewards credit cards. These include cash back and point-earning cards, catering to a wide variety of customers. Depending on the card you refer your friends to, you can earn up to 20,000 Ultimate Rewards points per year.
Transfer that bonus to Hyatt and you’ve got enough points for a free night at a Category 5 hotel like the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar.
Below is the complete list of Chase cards that earn referral bonuses, separated by points and cash back rewards:
- British Airways Visa Signature® Card: 10,000 Avios per referral with a maximum bonus of 50,000 Avios per year
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: 15,000 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 75,000 points per year
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®: 10,000 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 50,000 points per year
- IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card: 10,000 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 50,000 points per year
- IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card: 10,000 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 50,000 points per year
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: 40,000 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 200,000 points per year
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: 40,000 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 200,000 points per year
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card: 20,000 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 100,000 points per year
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: 20,000 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 100,000 points per year
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card: 20,000 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 100,000 points per year
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: 20,000 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 100,000 points per year
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: 20,000 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 100,000 points per year
- United Club℠ Business Card: 20,000 miles per referral with a maximum bonus of 100,000 miles per year
- United Club℠ Infinite Card: 20,000 miles per referral with a maximum bonus of 100,000 miles per year
- United Quest℠ Card: 20,000 miles per referral with a maximum bonus of 100,000 miles per year
- United℠ Business Card: 20,000 miles per referral with a maximum bonus of 100,000 miles per year
- United℠ Explorer Card: 20,000 miles per referral with a maximum bonus of 100,000 miles per year
- United℠ TravelBank Card: 20,000 miles per referral with a maximum bonus of 100,000 miles per year
- World of Hyatt Business Credit Card: 5,000 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 25,000 points per year
- The World of Hyatt Credit Card: 5,000 points per referral with a maximum bonus of 25,000 points per year
Comparing Travel Cards: Rewards Structures and Additional Perks
To help you decide which travel card is best for you or your referrals, let’s compare the rewards structures and additional perks of some popular travel cards.
American Express® Gold Card
Rewards Structure:
- 4X Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- 4X points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1X)
- 3X points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Additional Perks:
- $120 annual dining credit at select restaurants and partners
- $100 annual airline fee credit
- No foreign transaction fees
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Rewards Structure:
- 5X Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year)
- 5X points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Additional Perks:
- Access to more than 1,200 airport lounges worldwide
- Up to $200 annual airline fee credit
- Up to $200 annual Uber credit
- Up to $100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit
- No foreign transaction fees
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Rewards Structure:
- 2X miles per dollar spent on all purchases, with no category restrictions or caps
Additional Perks:
- Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Travel accident insurance and 24-hour travel assistance services
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Rewards Structure:
- 5X points per dollar spent on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 3X points per dollar spent on dining, including eligible delivery services and takeout
- 3X points per dollar spent on select streaming services
- 3X points per dollar spent on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points per dollar spent on all other travel purchases
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Additional Perks:
- 25% more value when redeeming points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Primary car rental insurance
- No foreign transaction fees
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Rewards Structure:
- 10X points per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 10X points per dollar spent on Chase Dining purchases (including prepaid reservations and prepaid takeout)
- 5X points per dollar spent on air travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 3X points per dollar spent on all other travel and dining purchases
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Additional Perks:
- $300 annual travel credit
- Access to more than 1,000 airport lounges worldwide
- 50% more value when redeeming points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Primary car rental insurance
- No foreign transaction fees
When comparing travel cards, consider factors such as the rewards earning potential, redemption options, and additional perks. The best card for you or your referrals will depend on individual spending habits, travel preferences, and the value placed on specific card benefits.
Tips for Maximizing Referral Bonuses
To make the most of credit card referral bonuses, follow these tips:
1. Share your referral link strategically
- Share your referral link with friends and family members who are interested in travel rewards and would likely use the card to its full potential.
- Use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to reach a wider audience. You can post about your card’s benefits and how it’s helped you save money on your travels.
- If you have a blog, website, or YouTube channel, consider writing a review or creating a video discussing your experience with the card and include your referral link.
2. Keep track of referral bonus limits
- Be aware of the maximum credit card referral bonuses you can earn per year for each card, and monitor your progress to ensure you’re maximizing your potential earnings.
- If you have multiple cards with referral programs, try to distribute your referral efforts evenly across them to make the most of each card’s referral bonus limit.
3. Stay informed about current offers
- Keep an eye on current promotions and referral bonus offers. Sometimes credit card issuers may increase referral bonuses temporarily, providing you with an opportunity to earn more.
- Subscribe to newsletters or follow social media accounts of your card issuer to stay updated on any changes in credit card referral bonus offers.
4. Refer friends to the most suitable card
- When recommending a travel card to friends or family, make sure to suggest the card that best suits their needs and travel preferences. This way, they’re more likely to appreciate the recommendation and apply for the card through your referral link.
- Take the time to explain the benefits and features of each card to help them make an informed decision.
5. Educate your referrals about the card’s benefits
- Make sure your referrals are aware of the card’s perks and how to use them effectively. This could include maximizing reward points, redeeming points for travel, or leveraging additional card benefits.
- By providing valuable information, you increase the chances of them applying for the card, which in turn helps you earn more referral bonuses.
6. Follow up with potential referrals
- If you’ve shared your referral link with someone who has shown interest in a travel card but hasn’t applied yet, consider following up with them. They may have questions or need additional information before making a decision.
- Be respectful and don’t push too hard, as being overly aggressive may deter them from applying.
7. Keep your credit in good standing
- To maintain your eligibility for referral bonuses, ensure that your account is in good standing. This means paying your bills on time, managing your credit utilization, and avoiding late fees or penalties.
- If your account is closed or suspended, you may lose any referral bonuses you’ve earned, so it’s essential to keep your credit in good shape.
Final Thoughts
Getting a credit card referral bonus is an easy way to earn extra points, especially if you’ve already spent your welcome bonus and want to boost your rewards balance. While most of these participating banks limit referral bonuses, the earning potential is still pretty great. Especially if you refer friends to multiple cards and they get approved.
So don’t leave any points on the table. Let your friends and family know how much you love your rewards card and how much they can benefit from it as well. Chances are, they’ll apply for one of these cards at some point. If they’re aware of your participation in a referral program, they’ll likely reach out to you when they’re ready to pull the trigger.
