What's the best 100,000 miles credit card?

The best 100,000 miles credit card is the British Airways Credit Card. You’ll earn 50,000 miles when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months. And you’ll get two more batches of 25,000 miles for spending $10,000 and $20,000 total in the first year. The Aer Lingus Visa Signature has an identical bonus miles structure to the British Airways card. Aer Lingus miles can be used to book British Airways flights and vice versa.

A 100,000 miles credit card is not all that common. A 100,000 points credit card is another story though. For example, the Hilton Honors Ascend card offers 125,000 bonus points when you spend $2,000 in the first 3 months. That bonus is worth around $700, on average, when redeemed for Hilton reservations.

The Hilton Honors American Express Business card also gives 125,000 bonus points, but you’ll have to spend $3,000 in the first 3 months to get them.

Sometimes, fewer than 100,000 points or miles can actually have as much value, if not more – when you get them from the right credit card. For example, the Chase Ink Business Preferred card offers 80,000 points when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months. But each point is worth 1.25 cents toward travel, bringing the value to $1,000.

Miles and points are similar and function much the same way. But in some cases, miles can only be redeemed for airfare, and points for hotel reservations.

Here are the best 100,000 miles credit cards (and points options):

• British Airways Credit Card: Earn 50,000 bonus miles when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months. Get 25,000 more miles when you spend a total of $10,000 in the first year, and another 25,000 points at $20,000. 3 points per $1 spent on British Airways, OpenSkies, Aer Lingus and Iberia Airlines purchases. Complimentary companion ticket (good for two years) when you spend $30,000 in a calendar year. $95 annual fee. Good credit required.
• Aer Lingus Visa Signature: Earn 50,000 bonus miles when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months. Get 25,000 more miles when you spend a total of $10,000 in the first year, and another 25,000 points at $20,000. 3 points per $1 spent on Aer Lingus, British Airways, OpenSkies, and Iberia Airlines purchases. Complimentary economy companion ticket (good for one year) when you spend $30,000 in a calendar year. $95 annual fee. Good credit required.
• Hilton Honors American Express Ascend: Earn 125,000 bonus points when you spend $2,000 in the first 3 months. 12 points per $1 spent at Hilton hotels; 6 at restaurants, gas stations, and supermarkets; and 1 on all other purchases. Earn a free weekend night stay when you spend $15,000 in a calendar year, every year. $95 annual fee. Good credit required.
• Hilton Honors American Express Business: Earn 125,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in the first three months. 12 points per $1 spent at Hilton hotels; 6 points on select business and travel purchases; 3 points on all other purchases. Earn a free weekend night stay when you spend $15,000 in a calendar year; a second for spending an additional $45,000 in the same calendar year. Automatic complimentary Gold status; increases number of points earned by 25%. $95 annual fee. Good credit required.
• Chase Ink Business Preferred: Earn 80,000 bonus points when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months. Points worth 1.25 cents each toward travel, bringing the bonus to $1,000. 3 points per $1 on travel and select business categories. 1 per $1 on everything else. $95 annual fee. Good credit required.

A 100,000 miles credit card is a worthwhile investment if your objective is to maximize rewards earned with a specific airline rewards program. If you’d rather not be restricted to a single airline, consider forgoing some bonus miles or points in favor of more redemption options.

Capital One Venture has a smaller bonus at 50,000 miles when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months. But the card gives 2 miles per $1 on all travel purchases, and you can redeem your miles for just about any kind of travel expense, either before or after you travel.