Breaking Points: Credit Card News

Barclays is targeting cardholders with several different spending offers on its various cards. We've seen different offers for different people and different cards, so your mileage may vary, but it's worth checking to see if you've been targeted. Here are a few offers we've seen: 5 additional points or miles per dollar on purchases, up to 2,500 bonus points; 2,500 bonus points or miles after making just five purchases; and 5,000 bonus points after making 10 purchases of at least $20 on a co-branded JetBlue card. Most of these offers require registration and run through October 31, 2026, although expiration dates can vary. Check the Offers section of each of your Barclays accounts to see if you're targeted, and take a screenshot of the terms before registering since the offer may disappear from your account afterward.

Amex is targeting certain cardholders with a new offer to earn 20,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $1,000 or more directly with Air France or KLM. You must book by September 30, 2026, and eligible flights must originate in the U.S., be charged in U.S. dollars, and be booked directly through Air France or KLM, but the actual travel can take place later. With the increase in taxes and fees on Air France and KLM awards, you could also trigger the bonus by paying $1,000 or more in taxes and fees on an award booking. If you happen to be targeted on an Amex Platinum card, you'll also earn 5X Membership Rewards on the airfare purchase as part of the card's benefits, bringing your total to at least 25,000 points on $1,000 in eligible spending.

British Airways is offering 90,000 miles after spending $5,000 in 3 months. That’s up 15,000 miles over their standard offer of 75,000 miles with the same spending requirement. The annual fee is $95. Offer expires 10/27/26.

September 9, 2026 update: Citi is also targeting some cardholders with an offer for $30 back after spending $250 or more with Avis, with up to two redemptions through October 31, 2026. Citi Offers and SimplyMiles offers generally do not stack reliably, so we'd recommend activating whichever offer you value more. The Citi Offer can still stack with other Avis discounts and card benefits, including the Citi AAdvantage Executive card's annual Avis/Budget credit.

SimplyMiles has a new offer for 1,395 American Airlines miles and 1,395 Loyalty Points when you spend $250 or more on an Avis rental. You must activate the offer before purchasing, it expires October 31, 2026, and it requires payment with a Mastercard linked to your SimplyMiles account. You do not have to link an American Airlines-branded card. Since SimplyMiles offers are card-linked, this can also stack with other Avis promotions or card benefits. If you have the Citi AAdvantage Executive card, one of its benefits offers up to $120 back annually on Avis or Budget rentals. Since it’s also a Mastercard, an eligible rental could trigger both the credit and the bonus miles and Loyalty Points. This probably isn't worth changing your rental plans for, but if you're already booking Avis, it's an easy way to pick up some extra AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points.

09/17/26 Update: While the public elevated offer is no longer available, referrals are still showing the elevated 100k point offer, so you still have time if you thought you waited too long.

09/10/26 Update: Chase just announced these elevated offers will end at 9am on September 17. If you've had your eye on these elevated bonuses, we suggest not waiting until the very last minute, as the offers sometimes get pulled a little earlier than the stated time.

The Chase Ink Business Cash and Ink Business Unlimited cards have had elevated 100,000-point signup bonus offers for most of the summer, but those offers are ending soon. Chase has not announced an official end date yet, but when we get the "ending soon" message, it usually means there are only a few weeks left. Chase typically follows with a firm end date rather than pulling the offers without warning, but if you’ve had your eye on either card, now would be a good time to apply. These are fantastic offers since neither card has an annual fee, and if you have an eligible Chase card that transfers to travel partners, you can combine your Ultimate Rewards points. If you’re playing two-player mode and one of you has never had a Chase Ink business card, the referral bonus is a stout 40,000 points, so make sure you take advantage of that as well for a potential 140,000-point haul from a no-annual-fee card.