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Which card(s) to use for high spend or large purchases? [Consolidated]

Old Jan 2, 2017, 9:16 am
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Last edit by: yugi
Ways to get high rewards or bonus on credit card spending:

1. sign-on bonus, miles, UR or MR points, free nights and cash rewards
2. on-going rewards, points or cashback
3. spending bonus for extra points/$ or status, like spending $10,000 to get extra 20k points etc.

Cards with large spending bonus: (alphabetical)

AmEx Delta Skymiles Gold: $25,000 MQD waived for elite status
AmEx HH Ascend: $40,000 to Diamond
Barclay Aviator Red: $25,000 for $3,000 EQD
BofA Merrill +: $50,000 for additional $200 travel credit
Chase Ritz Carlton: $10,000 to renew Gold status. Subject to change from 8/1/2018
Chase United MileagePlus Explorer: $25,000 for 10,000 United miles
A lot more to list...

Cards that earn better than 1 airline mile (or points convertible 1:1 to airline miles) per dollar: (alphabetical)

Amex Blue Business Plus - 2x MRs on up to $50k per year. No AF, FTF.
Amex Blue for Business - 1.3x MRs (Another card needed in order to transfer, such as Amex ED/EDP/PRG/BGR/Plat etc). No AF, FTF. Discontinued, replaced by BBP.
Amex Business Platinum - 1.5x for charges over $5,000 up to 1M extra points ($2M spend) AF $450, no FTF. Many other perks.
Amex EveryDay - 1.2x if you make 20+ charges per cycle. No AF, FTF.
Amex EveryDay Preferred - 1.5x if you make 30+ charges per cycle. AF $95, FTF.
Bank of America Virgin Atlantic MasterCard - 1.5x VS miles, 2x if you spend $15k per year, 2.1x if you spend $25k per year. AF $90, no FTF.
Bank of America Air France KLM Mastercard - 1.5x AF miles. AF $89, no FTF.
Barclaycard Arrival Premier - 1.43x for all partners except JAL, AC (1.18x). You will get 2.14x on all partners except JAL, AC (1.76x), if you spend $15k or $25k per year. AF $150, FYF, no FTF. Discontinued.
Capital One Venture X Visa - 2x on all partners, except Accor and EVA. AF $395, no FTF, many other perks.
Capital One Spark Miles Business Visa - 2x on all partners, except Accor and EVA. AF $95, FYF, no FTF.
Capital One Venture Visa - 2x on all partners, except Accor and EVA. AF $95, FYF, no FTF.
Capital One Venture One Visa - 1.25x on all partners, except Accor and EVA. no AF, no FTF.
Capital One Spark Miles Select Business Visa - 1.5x on all partners, except Accor and EVA. No AF, no FTF.
Chase Freedom Unlimited Visa - 1.5x URs (Another card needed in order to transfer, such as CSR/CSP/Ink Plus/Ink Bold/Ink Preferred). No AF, FTF.
Chase Ink Unlimited Business Visa - 1.5x URs, Same as Freedom Unlimited
Citi Double Cash MC - 2x TYP. You need a premium Citi card, (Premier, Prestige or Chairman) to transfer to partners other than JetBlue at 1:1 ratio. No AF, FTF.


Cards that earn hotel points

Amex Hilton Honors - 3x HH points, no AF, no FTF
Amex Hilton Honors Surpass - 3x HH points, AF $95, no FTF, some perks
Amex Hilton Honors Business - 3x HH points, AF $95, no FTF, some perks
Amex Hilton Honors Aspire - 3x HH points, AF $450, no FTF, lots of perks.
Amex Bonvoy - 2x Marriott points. AF $95, FYF, no FTF. Discontinued.
Amex Bonvoy Business - same as Amex Bonvoy. AF $125, no FTF.
Amex Bonvoy Brilliant - same as Amex Bonvoy. AF $450
Barclaycard Choice Privileges Visa - 2x on everything. No AF, FTF.
Barclaycard Wyndham Rewards Visa - 2x (grandfathered versions 2x on everything). AF $69/$0, FTF.
Chase Bonvoy Boundless Visa - same as Amex Bonvoy.
Chase IHG Traveler MC - 2x on everything. No AF, no FTF.
Chase IHG Premier/Premier Business MC - 3x on everything. AF $99, no FTF.
Chase Ritz-Carlton Visa Infinite - same as Amex Bonvoy. AF $450, no FTF. Discontinued, but can be obtained via PC from another Chase Bonvoy card.
FNBO Best Western Rewards Premium MC - 2x BW points. AF $59, no FTF
FNBO Best Western Rewards MC - 2x BW points. No AF, no FTF

2%+ Cashback Cards: (by % amount)

US Bank Altitude Reserve Visa - 4.5% towards travel (cashout possible), if you use Android Pay, Samsung Pay, Apple Pay or LG Pay for in-person, in-app or online purchases. AF $400, no FTF, many other perks.
Barclaycard Priceline Rewards Visa (grandfathered 2x/5x version) - 3.33% if redeemed against Priceline or travel purchases, 2% if redeemed for everything else. No AF, no FTF.
AOD CU Visa Signature - 3% on everything. No AF, no FTF. Discontinued.
Synchrony Paypal Cashback Mastercard - 3% if paid with Paypal, 2% everywhere else, no AF, FTF.
Barclaycard Arrival Premier MC - 3% if you spend exactly $15k or $25k, 2%, if you spend less than $15k. AF $150, FYF, no FTF, some perks. Discontinued.
Bank of America Travel Rewards Visa (with Platinum (Honors) Preferred Rewards) - 2.25/2.625%. No AF, no FTF.
Bank of America Premium Rewards Visa (with Platinum (Honors) Preferred Rewards) - 2.25/2.625%. AF $95, no FTF, some perks.
Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Visa (with Platinum (Honors) Preferred Rewards) - 2.25/2.625%. AF $550, no FTF, many other perks.
USAA Limitless Cashback Rewards Visa - 2.5% (must be USAA member, with $1k direct deposit per month). no AF. Discontinued.
Alliant Cashback Visa Signature - 2.5% up to $10k per cycle, if you have $1k on your checking account. No AF, no FTF.
Barclaycard Arrival Plus MasterCard - 2.1% if you redeem for travel purchases. AF $89, no FTF. Discontinued.
Discover it Miles - 3% (first year only, 1.5% after that). No AF, no FTF.

Exactly 2% Cashback Cards: (alphabetical)

Amex Blue Business Cash - 2% on up to $50k per year. No AF, FTF.
BBVA Compass Rewards Visa - 2%, if you receive $1000 in direct deposits per month to checking account. No AF.
Blispay Visa - 2%. No AF.
Citi Double Cash MasterCard - 2%. No AF, FTF.
Capital One Spark Cash Business Visa - 2%. AF $95, FYF, no FTF.
Capital One Spark Miles Business Visa - 2% if redeemed for travel. AF $95, FYF, no FTF.
Capital One Venture Visa - 2% if you redeem for travel purchases. AF $95, FYF, no FTF.
Capital One Venture X Visa - 2% if you redeem for travel purchases. AF $395, no FTF, many other perks.
Fidelity Rewards Visa - 2%. No AF.
PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa (with Honors Advantage) - 2%. No AF, no FTF.
PNC Premier Traveler Visa - 2% if you redeem for travel purchases. AF $85, FYF, no FTF.
State Department Federal CU Premium Cashback+ Visa - 2%, no AF, no FTF.
Synchrony Paypal Cashback MC - 2% for non-PayPal purchases, no AF, FTF.
Too many to list.













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Which card(s) to use for high spend or large purchases? [Consolidated]

Old Apr 17, 2014, 4:02 pm
  #46  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,575
Originally Posted by savekenny
So you're saying the diamond merchant sold you something for a ~40% discount? What a bargain! And what a moron he is!

I guess you know very little about the incredible mark up on Jewelry. 40% off is NOTHING !

http://jewelrymarkup.blogspot.com/

When you think about how much you have spent on your jewelry, have you thought about how much it was really worth? The average retail markup is 100% and higher. [2] Sometimes the mark up could go up to 1000% but the standard markup on a diamond is 300%. [3] Pinkfrued-ga says that "the estimates on markups are broad and rather vague, but most of the reliable sources I've seen indicate that 300% is not an unusual markup." [4] Lets say that you bought a ring that weighed 15 grams and did the math of how much the gold cost, it would be $13,452.30. But if we add a little bit of labour for the jeweler, lets say it was $15,000.00 altogether to make the ring. If you mark it up 100% it would be close to $27,000.00. The jeweler would make an insane profit! But that was just gold! If we added a diamond to it and added a 300% markup the price would sky rocket.

.
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Old Apr 17, 2014, 4:08 pm
  #47  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,575
Originally Posted by 747FC
I received a 25% discount when I offered cash for diamond earrings for my wife. Of course, it has to be a reasonable offer made to a responsible person at the right store. On this occasion, I merely said "I can pay X in cash right now if you would accept it for those earrings."
Bingo ! I'm talking about NYC here, do people really think they even claim a cash sale for income tax purposes ? It''s not just the 3% card fee, it's MUCH more. We got 20% off the credit card price.

People don't realize pawned Diamonds are bought at 10-15 cents on the dollar and polished and resold as new. Plenty of room for a 100% profit while "giving the customer a 50% discount", lol

Originally Posted by hoosierg35
First off, THANKS to everyone for the congratulations and the advice. I already have the diamond/ring picked out and have made a down payment, so I don't really have the option of going elsewhere / buying off blue nile. I did email the jeweler today and asked about a cash discount. If their merchant fees are ~3%, that's $450, which I might want to take instead of miles and points.
Unless it's custom made ring your down payment should be fully refundable. Sounds like you are buying from a Jewelry chain store.

Originally Posted by hoosierg35
How would I be able to sign up for 2 cards? Do you just mean one in my name, and one in hers? (She doesn't know I've bought it yet!)

Also, is it fairly easy to have the miles posted and cancel the card before the annual fee is posted? I've never tried this before. Thanks!

I have never tried it but it seems far from easy. The card can be churned so you can get 2 cards but if it's like other Citi cards you have to wait ~9 days between apps so you would have to get one card and pay $10K then apply for a 2nd card and pay $5K and then spend $5k more within days to have time to avoid the AF.

Seems like an easy way to end up with $900 in Annual fees IMO which you will have to pay and at best get refunded.

Getting around the $450 annual fee: Some have been able to meet the spending requirement before the first statement posts and then cancel and have the fee refunded after the miles post. Details and datapoints include starting at post 74. T&C state that the card must be cancelled within 30 days of the fee posting to get it refunded. Potential problems with this plans include a very short (1 week or less) first "month" as well as delays in miles posting which have been reported by several FTers here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credi...ost-first.html. If paying $250-$450 for a year's access to Admirals Clubs and the 60K-100K miles is a deal breaker, this card may not be for you.

Last edited by flyer4512; Apr 17, 2014 at 5:19 pm
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Old Apr 18, 2014, 2:50 am
  #48  
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 530
Originally Posted by flyer4512
Quote:





Originally Posted by savekenny


So you're saying the diamond merchant sold you something for a ~40% discount? What a bargain! And what a moron he is!





I guess you know very little about the incredible mark up on Jewelry. 40% off is NOTHING !

http://jewelrymarkup.blogspot.com/

When you think about how much you have spent on your jewelry, have you thought about how much it was really worth? The average retail markup is 100% and higher. [2] Sometimes the mark up could go up to 1000% but the standard markup on a diamond is 300%. [3] Pinkfrued-ga says that "the estimates on markups are broad and rather vague, but most of the reliable sources I've seen indicate that 300% is not an unusual markup." [4] Lets say that you bought a ring that weighed 15 grams and did the math of how much the gold cost, it would be $13,452.30. But if we add a little bit of labour for the jeweler, lets say it was $15,000.00 altogether to make the ring. If you mark it up 100% it would be close to $27,000.00. The jeweler would make an insane profit! But that was just gold! If we added a diamond to it and added a 300% markup the price would sky rocket.

.
This has nothing to do with jewelry. I'll buy something for $7,500 if I could sell it for $12,000 as the other poster implied, any day, all day, every day. What I'm saying is, what he paid $7,500 for could no way be worth $12,000 "appraisal" value. It could be worth $12,000 sucker value, though.
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Old Apr 18, 2014, 6:06 pm
  #49  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,575
Originally Posted by savekenny
This has nothing to do with jewelry. I'll buy something for $7,500 if I could sell it for $12,000 as the other poster implied, any day, all day, every day. What I'm saying is, what he paid $7,500 for could no way be worth $12,000 "appraisal" value. It could be worth $12,000 sucker value, though.

A mall Jeweler like Zales or Jared sells that ring close to $12K. I know this for a fact as I priced them and then a friend of mine who owns a pawn shop took me to the Diamond District, the ring I bought actually had a better cut and clarity than the ring at Zales.

If you want the cash price, buy it, appraise it and lose it. Insurance pays appraised value as I have a schedule on that ring for close to $25K today.

Shopping at a jewelry chain store in a mall is equivalent to paying sticker price for a car IMO. Somebody pays that stores $75 K plus a month rent, guess who ?

I bought my son a new loaded 2013 Maxima that stickered for $41K for $ 29K a few months ago. I'm sure some people paid MSRP for that car.

The art of negotiation and finding deals.
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Old May 28, 2014, 7:58 am
  #50  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Scottsdale, Berlin, Wherever
Programs: Marriott titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, AS, UA, AA, TWA, PAN AM, PSA
Posts: 556
Best card for big spenders?

I used to tell anyone who would listen that the Chase Club card was the best card out there but with the recent hike by United for Saver 1st class tickets to Europe and the fact that it's now very difficult finding available Saver 1st class tickets on United, I'm wondering if the Club card is still worth $400 per year. Any suggestions on a replacement Visa or M/C? I charge a couple of million per year for my business on my cards. Already have the Marrriott Visa, Starwood AMEX, Chase INK, and Citi AA Executive card. Looking for a card that will get me into lounges and 1st class tickets to Europe for charging $150k or less. No AMEX as I already have the Starwood card and most of my vendors don't accept AMEX.
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Old May 28, 2014, 8:02 am
  #51  
mia
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
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Most recent discussion:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credi...lars-year.html
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Old May 28, 2014, 7:51 pm
  #52  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 87
I am in a similar situation to the OP. I also use the Chase Club, but the partner airline issue has had me looking around. Alaska Airlines is one that I am trying as I like Cathay Pacific, BA, Emirates, Quantas...it is only a 1x1 spend but it is BofA they allowed a high credit limit right away and it is a Visa.

SPG would be perfect, but too many problems with AMEX.

Chase Club was the best before the devaluation.
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Old May 30, 2014, 4:15 am
  #53  
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Globalist, M life Gold, IHG Spire
Posts: 918
Add me too, another person who thinks that Ultimate Rewards took a punch to the gut because of UA's devaluation.

To the OP: your criteria seems to be that you want a reward that good for airlines, airport lounge access and not American Express. Well, Chase UR, AmEx MR and SPG Starpoints are the 3 main transferable programs, and you've eliminated them.

What else is there? Have you looked a the Citi Prestige Card? Depending on your usage, it may or may not be better than the AA Executive card, but it does fit your criteria.

Citi Thankyou Prestige Card
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Old May 30, 2014, 9:15 am
  #54  
mia
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,881
Originally Posted by Uh Clem
... Looking for a card that will get me into lounges and 1st class tickets to Europe for charging $150k or less....
Originally Posted by jn in ca
...Citi Prestige Card...
If you buy enough airline tickets to generate sufficient Flight Points $150,000 spending would generate 300,000 ThankYou Points. Flight Points are based on distance, you would need to buy tickets travelling 150,000 miles. The tickets don't need to be for you, but must be paid for with the Prestige Card. There are some other ways to earn more than one TYP per dollar, but none scale up to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars spending, unless you need to buy many longhaul revenue tickets.

300,000 TYP is worth $3,990 if redeem for airfare, or $4,800 if redeemed for AA/US flights. This isn't sufficient to buy transatlantic first class tickets, but it should cover business class.
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Old May 30, 2014, 11:47 am
  #55  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Scottsdale, Berlin, Wherever
Programs: Marriott titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, AS, UA, AA, TWA, PAN AM, PSA
Posts: 556
Originally Posted by jn in ca

What else is there? Have you looked a the Citi Prestige Card? Depending on your usage, it may or may not be better than the AA Executive card, but it does fit your criteria.

Citi Thankyou Prestige Card
Thanks for the advice. I recently got the Citi Advantage Executive card which is the same yearly cost as the prestige card and looks like the same benefits. Maybe it's the same card. They had a 100k bonus for getting the new card.
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Old May 30, 2014, 11:54 am
  #56  
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,522
Originally Posted by Uh Clem
Thanks for the advice. I recently got the Citi Advantage Executive card which is the same yearly cost as the prestige card and looks like the same benefits. Maybe it's the same card. They had a 100k bonus for getting the new card.
It is not the same card.
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Old May 30, 2014, 11:57 am
  #57  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Scottsdale, Berlin, Wherever
Programs: Marriott titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, AS, UA, AA, TWA, PAN AM, PSA
Posts: 556
Originally Posted by mia
If you buy enough airline tickets to generate sufficient Flight Points $150,000 spending would generate 300,000 ThankYou Points. Flight Points are based on distance, you would need to buy tickets travelling 150,000 miles. The tickets don't need to be for you, but must be paid for with the Prestige Card. There are some other ways to earn more than one TYP per dollar, but none scale up to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars spending, unless you need to buy many longhaul revenue tickets.

300,000 TYP is worth $3,990 if redeem for airfare, or $4,800 if redeemed for AA/US flights. This isn't sufficient to buy transatlantic first class tickets, but it should cover business class.
Thanks but I rarely use my credit cards to purchase airline tickets so the majority of my points earned will be 1 to 1 with the exception of my United Club card where I get 1.5 miles for every dollar spent. There are exceptions like office supplies, gas, and restaurants where I get additional points on some of my cards but they only account for a fraction of my spending.

I've looked into the programs where you transfer your points for airline tickets on various airlines but have never found one that matches the Airline card programs for saver 1st class awards.
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Old Jun 2, 2014, 7:06 pm
  #58  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 87
I have thought about Miles and More for Europe and getting a Singapore Airlines card for Asia. The problem is more cards... I do not like having a lot of cards. Another issue is the taxes that you pay on Miles and More flights out of Europe.

I use my miles for long-haul flights First Class and I have been using United for hotels as well. They have had really good deals, especially last minute.

The ultimate would be one card for Air Travel, one card for hotels, but I just do not see that option out there right now.
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Old Jun 5, 2014, 11:41 am
  #59  
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 145
Credit Card recommendations for $150k+ / year spending

I currently spend over $150k a year on my credit cards. I typically break it down in this way:

$50k on Barclays US Airways MC
$75k on SPG AMEX
$25k on Capital One 2% cashback Visa

Barclays is basically killing its card (at least, all the good benefits) so I am looking to replace that spending elsewhere. I could shift it all to my SPG Amex. My Capital One card has a bizarrely low limit though, so $25k is about the max I can put on it in a year.

I am open to ditching all 3 cards and shifting all my expenses elsewhere if there's a particularly valuable card for people spending that much. I have no preference for points vs. dollars, just trying to get the most bang for the buck. My preferred airport is DCA and I mostly travel to the west coast (SFO and LAS), Florida, and the Caribbean. I have high status on US Airways but also as part of the merger, may be giving that up for other airlines -- all of which may be relevant for potential airline card tie-ins. (Basically, I'm a free agent -- what should I do)?
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Old Jun 7, 2014, 9:25 am
  #60  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Scottsdale, Berlin, Wherever
Programs: Marriott titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, AS, UA, AA, TWA, PAN AM, PSA
Posts: 556
Originally Posted by DCAAA
I currently spend over $150k a year on my credit cards. I typically break it down in this way:

$50k on Barclays US Airways MC
$75k on SPG AMEX
$25k on Capital One 2% cashback Visa

Barclays is basically killing its card (at least, all the good benefits) so I am looking to replace that spending elsewhere. I could shift it all to my SPG Amex. My Capital One card has a bizarrely low limit though, so $25k is about the max I can put on it in a year.

I am open to ditching all 3 cards and shifting all my expenses elsewhere if there's a particularly valuable card for people spending that much. I have no preference for points vs. dollars, just trying to get the most bang for the buck. My preferred airport is DCA and I mostly travel to the west coast (SFO and LAS), Florida, and the Caribbean. I have high status on US Airways but also as part of the merger, may be giving that up for other airlines -- all of which may be relevant for potential airline card tie-ins. (Basically, I'm a free agent -- what should I do)?
I would keep the SPG AMEX and if you're a business owner, check out the Chase INK card. You can transfer your points 1 to 1 for airline and hotel programs plus they give you five points for every dollar spent for cell phone, cable and office supply stores. With the office supply stores, you can purchase gift cards to use on non office supply purchases. Last month I purchased $1,000 worth of Home Depot gift cards from OfficeMax that got me 5k in points instead of the 1k in points that I would have received had I charged the order using my card at Home Depot. You can go online to Staples and OfficeMax and see what gift cards they carry.
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