Don’t Wait for That Elevated Welcome Offer
One of the questions I get when people start to travel for almost free with credit card points and miles is if they should wait for an elevated welcome offer before signing up for a new card. While I love elevated welcome offers I almost never recommend waiting for one!
Should You Wait for an Elevated Credit Card Welcome Offer?
One of the most common questions we get is whether you should wait for an elevated welcome offer before signing up for a new credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Ink Business Cash® Credit Card. While elevated offers are great, waiting for one can actually slow down your points and miles strategy. Here’s why we recommend not waiting and getting started now.
Often waiting feels like the correct move because you don't want to experience FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) when there's a new elevated offer that you can't get because you already have that card. Put this common feeling aside and know taking action NOW instead of LATER is better 99.9% of the time.
There’s No Way to Predict Elevated Offers
We’d love to have a crystal ball to tell us when the next big welcome offer will drop, but the reality is—there’s no way to know. Some months are packed with great deals, while others are slow. If you hold off too long, you could be missing out on valuable points that could already be earning you free travel.
New Welcome Offers Always Come Around
The truth is, you win some, you lose some in this hobby. Sometimes you’ll sign up at the perfect time, and other times, a better offer will pop up later. But if you’re consistently opening new credit cards and earning points, those small differences won’t matter in the long run. There’s always another great welcome offer around the corner!
Referral Bonuses Can Make Up the Difference
Even if you miss a higher welcome offer, many credit cards offer referral bonuses that can help you make up for it. If you sign up now and refer a friend or family member later, you could still earn valuable bonus points that offset what you may have missed.
You Can Ask to Be Matched
If you sign up for a card and an elevated offer appears shortly after, you may be able to ask the bank to match it. It’s not guaranteed, but many people have had success calling the issuer and requesting the higher offer.
Delaying Costs You More Than You Think
Let’s say you’re holding off on getting the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card while waiting for an elevated offer. Six months later, a higher bonus appears—but in that time, you could have already earned the points, taken a trip, and moved on to your next card. Instead, you’re now six months behind in your points and miles journey.
The Wrap Up
While an increased welcome offer is always exciting, don’t wait too long. The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll be earning points and miles for free travel. Instead of trying to time the market, focus on consistent earning—your future vacations will thank you!
We recommend starting today if you haven't yet with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. Have that card already? Check out our post 3 Credit Card Beginner Strategy or head to our best offers page!
All information about Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Ink Business Cash® Credit Card has been collected independently by Plan Pack Go. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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