Advertiser Disclosure: The Rewards Mom has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. The Rewards Mom and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

The Rules Changed

I thought I had my premium card setup figured out. I go-to cards for everyday spending, a clear favorite for lounge access, and a system for rotating through welcome offers on a regular schedule. But a recent change from one of the biggest banks in the points and miles world just shifted the landscape, and it’s made me pause and rethink what my “keeper” cards actually are.

Here’s what changed: This bank has always had a rule where you could earn a welcome offer once every 48 months on certain cards. That rule made it easy to plan your card strategy over time. You just set up a rotation strategy for every 48 months.

But now? That predictable window is gone.

They’ve introduced a new “pop-up” model that checks your eligibility before you submit your application. If the system decides you’re not eligible based on your history, even if it’s been over four years, you may not get the bonus. And that changes everything.

If you’re just getting started with points and find regular vs. premium cards confusing, my Beginner’s Guide is a great place to start.

Why This Shifts My Strategy

If you’ve been relying on that 48-month cycle to keep earning welcome offers from this bank, this change is a big deal. Without that predictability, the cards I already hold just became a lot more valuable. If new bonuses aren’t guaranteed, it’s even more important to make sure any high annual fee premium card is truly worth it for the long haul.

When evaluating the best premium credit cards for travel in 2025, I’m now thinking much more about long-term earning potential, not just short-term bonuses.

At the same time, other banks are offering ways to double dip, letting you earn points from shopping portals along with your regular card rewards. That kind of flexibility adds up fast, especially when you’re earning points for family travel. So, when a new premium card launches with the highest annual fee of them all, but no portal to double dip through, it raises the question: is it worth it? The only way to find out is to put it to the test with your actual spending.

Want to go deeper? I compare shopping portals in this post.

How I’m Ranking My Premium Cards Now

Going forward we need to consider:

• A premium card that earns flexible points and pairs with a shopping portal so I can double dip.
• A card with lounge access and simple travel credits that are easy to use without jumping through hoops, effectively erasing the annual fee.
• This bank’s premium business or personal card, valuable with the new earning boosts, but only worth keeping long term if the value outweighs the fee.

As I rethink the best premium credit cards for travel in 2025, I’m looking for options that give me more flexibility and fewer hoops to jump through. This change doesn’t mean I’m ditching anything right away, but it does mean I’m prioritizing premium cards that give me more options for earning.

This is my current list of favorite premium cards. I’ve ranked them based on how valuable they’ve been long term, especially now that I can’t count on reapplying for the same cards every 48 months. These are the cards I’m most likely to keep for the perks, lounge access, and most importantly—for their enhanced earning.

Final Thoughts

This shift may seem small, but it changes how I look at long-term earning potential. If I can’t count on getting a new welcome offer from this bank every few years, I need to be sure the cards I do hold are earning enough to justify their place in my wallet.

When it comes to the best premium credit cards for travel 2025, the key question is, “what value will this card give me year after year?”

These cards might become the ones I’m leaning on most, but I’ll reevaluate at the year mark and report back. I’m not ready to cancel anything yet, but the order of importance has shifted. Flexibility and long-term earning potential matter more than ever.

Want more help figuring out your strategy? Browse my top premium card picks here.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

Advertiser Disclosure:The Rewards Mom has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. The Rewards Mom and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.