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- Banks have added limited-time bonuses for credit card spending in quarantine-friendly categories.
- Some cards are offering bonus rewards on food delivery, gas stations, and drugstores.
- Others, like the
Chase Freedom Flex℠ , earn 5x rewards in quarterly rotating bonus categories. - Read Insider’s guide to the best rewards credit cards.
Throughout the pandemic, banks have introduced new ways to earn and redeem rewards and added valuable benefits and perks to keep their credit cards at the top of customers’ minds (and wallets). Issuers have also periodically increased rewards earnings in common quarantine spending categories, including grocery stores, streaming services, and food delivery.
As a result, many of us are earning more credit card points than ever, even if we’ve had to curb our spending and stay close to home. This is especially true for those who already make the most of cards with rotating quarterly bonus categories, like the
Because these credit card spending bonuses eventually expire, and new offers pop up all the time to meet changing customer needs, it can be hard to keep track and maximize your rewards. To help, we’ve put together a list of the latest limited-time bonuses in the most popular categories, so you can choose the right credit card for your purchases.
Should you take advantage of credit card spending bonuses?
Limited-time credit card spending bonuses can be lucrative – especially if you’re already making lots of purchases in these categories. But before you switch your spending to a card with a new category bonus, it’s wise to compare the boosted earning rate – and the value of the rewards you’d receive – to what you’d otherwise earn by using one of the best rewards credit cards instead.
You might also skip an increased category bonus if the rewards currency doesn’t appeal to you or if you’re focused on saving a different type of points or miles for a specific redemption.
Bonuses for meeting spending thresholds
The Chase offers below are targeted and you’ll need to activate the offer through the email you receive from Chase, or enter your card details here to see if you qualify.
Chase co-branded cards – earn bonus points
If you have a Chase co-branded card, like the
If you’re eligible, you may receive an offer such as:
- Earn 5 points or miles per dollar you spend on up to $1,500 in purchases from April 1 to June 30, 2021
- Earn 6,000 points or miles when you spend $6,000 or more on purchases from April 1 to June 30, 2021
- Earn 5,000 points or miles when you spend $3,000 or more on purchases from April 1 to June 30, 2021
The offers vary by card and not all cardholders qualify. I entered my card details on the Chase MyBonus page and got offers on my
Select Amex business accounts – $25 statement credit for purchases of $500 or more
Some American Express small-business cards, including
Activation is required, and your account must have been opened by November 1, 2020. (Eligibility for these offers is limited. Enrollment is required in the Amex Offers section of your account before redeeming).
JetBlue Plus card – earn Mosaic elite status
Big spenders can unlock JetBlue Mosaic elite status – which comes with two free checked bags, priority boarding, free inflight drinks, and access to upgrades – by spending $30,000 or more on the
Normally, this card awards Mosaic status to those who spend $50,000 or more per year, but due to the pandemic, JetBlue has lowered the requirements for 2021.
Bonuses on travel
There’s a new bonus for targeted Chase co-branded cardholders to earn 5x on travel and at gas stations on up to $1,500 in combined purchases between May 15, 2021 and August 15, 2021. Check your email to see if you’ve been targeted and enroll through the link provided.
I was targeted on my
Grocery store bonuses
New Amex Platinum cardholders – 10x at US supermarkets
Combined with valuable perks like up to $30 per month in PayPal statement credits from January to June (Eligibility for this offer is limited. Enrollment is required in the Amex Offers section of your account before redeeming), up to $100 in Saks credits per year**, and up to $200 per year in Uber Cash credits**, the grocery bonus makes the
Select Chase co-branded cards – 5x on groceries
Check your email to see if you’re targeted for a bonus on your Chase co-branded credit card. This is similar to the spending bonuses on Chase co-branded cards mentioned earlier, and your best bet is to check the Chase MyBonus page to see if you’re eligible.
If you qualify for this offer, you’ll earn 5x points or miles on up to $1,500 in combined purchases at grocery stores, gas stations, and drugstores (or grocery stores and gas stations only) from April 1 to June 30, 2021. This offer is targeted, and you’ll need to activate it through the link you get in your email or on the Chase MyBonus page – it’s not automatic.
Bonuses at gas stations
Chase Freedom Flex Q2 rotating category bonus – 5% back or 5x points at gas stations
Both the
Read more: Chase Freedom Flex versus the Chase Freedom Unlimited: Which cash-back card is right for you?
From April through June, the Chase Freedom bonus categories are gas stations and home improvement stores. You’ll have to activate the bonus by June 14 to get in on the deal, but once you activate, you’ll receive the bonus on eligible spending all the way back to the first day of the quarter.
Discover it Q2 rotating category bonus – 5% back at gas stations
For the second quarter of 2021, the
New Amex Platinum cardholders – 10x at US gas stations
Along with US grocery stores, new
Select Chase co-branded cards – 5x at gas stations
Combined with the travel bonus offer mentioned earlier, targeted Chase co-branded cardholders can earn 5x at gas stations (and on travel) on up to $1,500 in combined purchases between May 15, 2021, and August 15, 2021. Enrollment is required through the link you receive in your email.
Also, included with the grocery bonus mentioned above, select co-branded Chase cardholders can earn 5x points or miles on up to $1,500 in combined purchases through June 30, 2021.
Amex Business Platinum – 5x at US gas stations
There’s a new Amex Offer for eligible cardholders with
Bonuses on streaming services
Discover it Q2 rotating category bonus – 5% back on streaming
Both the
From April through June, the Discover 5% bonus categories are streaming services, wholesale clubs, and gas stations.
Dining and restaurant bonuses
It’s hard to beat the transferable bonus points you’d earn with some of the best cards for dining, like 4x American Express Membership Rewards points with the recently refreshed
Chase Sapphire cards – earn 10x points on Chase Dining purchases
Through June 30, 2021,
Through Chase’s partnership with Tock, cardholders can order takeout and delivery and make reservations at fine-dining establishments through their Chase Ultimate Rewards online account.
There are also Virtual Dining Experiences offered occasionally, including cooking demonstrations from well-known chefs and culinary gift sets with ingredients. Keep in mind the 10x bonus only applies through purchases through Chase Dining, and not directly with restaurants or the Tock platform.
Amex Delta, Hilton, and Marriott personal cards – up to $20 per month in dining credits
Eligible cardholders with American Express Delta, Hilton, or Marriott personal cards can activate an Amex Offer to earn up to $20 per month in statement credits toward dining purchases through the end of 2021 (Eligibility for these offers is limited. Enrollment is required in the Amex Offers section of your account before redeeming).
The amount of the monthly credit varies depending on the card; for example, the
Bonuses on wireless purchases
Amex Delta, Hilton, and Marriott business cards – up to $20 per month in wireless credits
Similar to the new dining credits for co-branded cards, Amex has added up to $20 per month in wireless credits for eligible Delta, Hilton, and Marriott small-business cardholders who had open accounts as of January 1, 2021.
These are also Amex Offers that require activation, and the amount of the monthly credit varies by card. For instance,
Drugstore bonuses
If you don’t have the
Select Chase co-branded cards – 5x at drugstores
Combined with the targeted grocery and gas bonus mentioned above, select co-branded Chase cardholders can earn 5x points or miles on up to $1,500 in purchases across these categories from April 1 to June 30, 2021.
Jasmin Baron is an associate editor at Personal Finance Insider, where she helps readers maximize rewards and find the best credit cards to fit their lifestyles. She has covered credit cards, points and miles, and loyalty programs for over seven years, and she’s a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF).
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