 TITLE: Are 100,000-Point Intro Bonus Offers Worth It? CONTENT: What Are 100,000 Points Worth?\n------------------------------\nAt first glance, 100,000 points might sound like a lot. However, what 100,000 points are worth can vary dramatically depending on the type of points and even the specific credit card you carry.\n*   **Some points have fixed values.** Some credit card rewards have a fixed value, meaning each point is worth a set amount. For instance, Ultimate Rewards points earned with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card are worth 1.25 cents apiece when redeemed for travel through Chase. So you'd get $1,250 worth of travel through Chase with 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points.\n*   **The value of points can depend on how you redeem them.** Even with points that are redeemable at fixed rates, including Capital One miles and Chase Ultimate Rewards points, those fixed values can change based on how you redeem them. You can transfer both Capital One miles and Chase Ultimate Rewards points to various airline and hotel partners. You can also opt for statement credits toward non-travel purchases and your value will vary.\n*   **Airline miles should be worth about 1 cent each.** Although airline frequent-flier miles can be worth vastly different dollar amounts depending on how you redeem them, you should aim to get around 1 cent per mile in value. A credit card intro bonus of 100,000 miles, such as the one sometimes available with the British Airways Visa Signature® Card (earn 100,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening), should net you something like $1,000 in value.\n*   **Hotel points are generally worth less than 1 cent each.** Hotel credit cards extend intro bonuses of 100,000 or more points more frequently than other types of rewards cards. Unfortunately, hotel points also tend to be worth less than 1 cent apiece these days. To take a quick example, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is currently offering 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. That's more points than this card has ever offered before. But considering Hilton Honors points are typically worth around half a cent each toward award nights, 130,000 of them would only be worth around $650. Terms apply to American Express offers.\n*   **Take advantage of limited-time offers.** Many 100,000-point credit card intro bonuses are only available for a limited time, so you should apply while you can if there's one you find appealing. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has previously offered new cardholders 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. However, its intro bonus is currently 100,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months—and those additional 40,000 points would be worth an extra $500 toward travel. For its part, the Platinum Card® from American Express previously offered 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. For a limited time, though, new cardmembers can earn 100,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first 6 months (terms apply). Not only do you have twice as long to complete just a little more spending, but you could earn a full 40,000 more points than usual, which Amex's points calculator values anywhere from $200 to $400.\nEarning 100,000 points as part of a credit card intro bonus can be a great way to boost your rewards. But just how much value you can get from those 100,000 points will depend on the card you apply for and how you redeem those rewards. END