Last Updated: January 2026 | Reading Time: 9 minutes | Author: Amazing Miles Editorial Team
Looking at which credit cards you carry versus which ones you actually use reveals the honest truth about travel rewards strategy. Rather than focusing on ideal scenarios or maximizing every category, examining yearly spending patterns shows what really works in practice. This review breaks down the cards that saw the most use in 2025, organized by purpose, along with lessons learned that can help shape a more effective approach for the year ahead.
Yearly Spending Thresholds
Cards that reward you for hitting annual spending targets became the primary focus in 2025. These threshold-based cards offer concrete benefits like free night certificates or statement credits, making them natural choices for concentrated spending throughout the year.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
The Hilton Surpass remained the workhorse threshold card for the year. The goal is straightforward: spend $15,000 in a calendar year to earn a Free Night Reward valid at nearly any Hilton property. This card finished 2025 with approximately $16,500 in charges, largely from everyday errands and grocery purchases. The strategy requires minimal effort once the card becomes part of regular spending routines.
Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express
This card served a precise role in 2025: hit the $10,000 spending threshold to trigger a $200 Delta Flight Credit, then set it aside. The year ended at approximately $10,200 in spending, just enough to secure the benefit (essentially an additional 2% return on top of the miles earned). Once the threshold was met, this card returned to occasional use status.
World of Hyatt Card
The Hyatt card represented the other major threshold focus for the year. While the spending requirement matches the Hilton Surpass at $15,000, the extra free night comes with more restrictions, making it a secondary priority. Still, the card finished 2025 with about $15,900 in spending, securing the bonus night that can be combined with the card’s anniversary night for a convenient two-night stay.
Sign-Up Bonuses
New card openings picked up in 2025 compared to the previous year, and these cards naturally rose to prominence due to minimum spending requirements tied to welcome bonuses.
American Express Gold
Opening the Amex Gold established a new everyday points-earning engine while working toward the welcome bonus. With approximately $7,200 in annual spending, this became one of the most-used cards of 2025. The card fits naturally into weekly routines, making it easier to meet spending requirements without forcing purchases.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Sapphire Preferred served as a reset after cancelling a Sapphire Reserve, particularly attractive during a period when a 100,000-point sign-up bonus was available. Between meeting the welcome bonus requirements and using it for travel and dining purchases, this card accumulated about $6,500 in yearly spending. The card fits better into current spending patterns than some higher-fee premium options.
JetBlue Business Card
This was a straightforward bonus acquisition play. Spending was routed to this card specifically to complete the welcome bonus requirement, resulting in approximately $4,000 in charges to earn 60,000 points. An additional spending opportunity exists to earn 20,000 more points within the first year, which may push this card back into rotation.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus
Similar to the JetBlue card, the Southwest Plus appeared near the top of the spending list because it was new and required attention to meet minimum spending. With about $4,900 in annual charges, this card was primarily used to earn a limited-time Companion Pass benefit. After achieving that goal, usage dropped significantly, which is typical once the initial bonus objective is complete.
Everything Else
Once threshold-chasing and welcome bonus requirements are stripped away, this category reveals the cards that get used naturally in everyday situations.
The Ritz-Carlton Card
Even during a year dominated by threshold spending, the Ritz-Carlton card accumulated approximately $5,400 in charges. Nearly all of this spending fell into two categories: airfare and Marriott Bonvoy hotels. While the 6X earning rate on Marriott hotels is appealing, the 3X on airfare might seem less impressive. However, the card’s real value for airfare comes from coverage and benefits, not points accumulation. The airline fee credit reimburses costs like seat assignments, baggage fees, and Wi-Fi, with points earned as a secondary consideration.
Capital One Venture X
The Venture X didn’t dominate 2025 as it had in previous years, primarily because threshold cards absorbed significant spending. Still, it accumulated about $3,900 in charges, serving as a reliable fallback when simplicity matters more than category optimization. The card also handles cell phone bill payments due to its insurance coverage.
Discover, Citi Double Cash, and Fidelity Rewards+
These cards played supporting roles in 2025 without taking center stage. Discover gets used when rotating categories align with actual spending needs. The 2% cash-back cards like Double Cash or Fidelity Rewards+ fill gaps when not pursuing points, thresholds, or optimization beyond avoiding 1X earning rates.
What Would Work Better Next Time
Reviewing a full year of credit card usage reveals patterns that can improve future strategy. Three adjustments stand out as particularly valuable.
Stop Spending Past the Finish Line
Once a threshold is reached, continuing to use that card means missing opportunities elsewhere. Immediately redirecting spending to the next priority goal prevents wasted earning potential.
Reassign Everyday Spending More Quickly
The card that’s easiest to use consistently will always outperform the theoretically perfect card that stays at home. Convenience and habit matter more than marginal optimization in real-world spending.
Plan for Post-Bonus Life
If a card doesn’t serve a clear purpose after the welcome bonus is earned, it shouldn’t remain in heavy rotation. Knowing whether to keep using it, downgrade it, or set it aside should be decided before the bonus is even earned.
Key Takeaways from 2025
The year included three clear threshold goals across the Hilton Surpass, Delta Business, and World of Hyatt cards, and all three were successfully completed. New card openings naturally climbed the spending rankings because welcome bonuses demand attention and concentrated spending.
But the real insight comes from understanding why cards get used beyond optimization theories. Cards see action because someone already has them readily available, because they’re tied to a specific milestone, or because they’re simply easier to use consistently without turning every transaction into a calculation exercise.
The purpose of reviewing yearly credit card usage isn’t to prove maximum efficiency. It’s to ensure spending gets directed toward rewards that actually matter and align with real travel goals, not theoretical possibilities.
Amazing Miles Verdict
Analyzing which credit cards actually get used over a full year provides more honest guidance than listing wallet contents or chasing theoretical maximization. The cards that saw the most action in 2025 fell into three clear groups: threshold cards working toward annual bonuses, new cards meeting welcome offer requirements, and reliable everyday cards that fit naturally into spending patterns. The most valuable lesson is that successful credit card strategy balances intentional goal-setting with practical usability. Cards that align with specific objectives and fit seamlessly into daily routines will always outperform those chosen purely for their earning rates. For 2026, the focus should shift toward stopping spending immediately after thresholds are met, reassigning everyday purchases more quickly to the next priority card, and establishing clear roles for cards once welcome bonuses are earned.
