Dest

Generally I always try to follow the 91 day rule between credit cards (messed up once last year), but I really don't want to miss out on the 100k AA card because of it.

Me and my SO last cards for the past year are as follows:

1/4/13 SO - Barclay
3/21/13 Me - AmEx
3/21/13 Me - Barclay
10/14/13 Me - Chase
10/14/13 Me - Chase
12/14/13 SO - Chase
12/30/13 Me - Chase

We both have 760+ credit scores and no need for a great score any time soon. We own a home and are not in the market for a new car.

Could we both safely sign up for two cards right now?

My SO would sign up for the 80k IHG and the 40k Hilton. I would sign up for the 80k IHG and the 100k AA.

What do you guys think?

pointsaddict3326

I believe the 91 day "rule" is more of a guideline. I have a high credit score as well and don't need a great one anytime soon, and while I will frequently do 4-6 apps every few months, I will spring for a limited time offer if it comes up. I've never had an experience that makes me believe that you would be rejected. It's been 2.5 months since your SO got a Chase card, so you'll probably be okay there, and you haven't had any Citi applications in the past year either.

chasewalker

It's really YMMV. I've applied for several CC's and a car refinance within the last 2 months and haven't been denied for anything. I am done for a while though until the next great offer comes along. I won't hesitate to apply for it even if I am not at the "91" day mark. Here's my recent apps for reference:

1/1 Auto Refinance
1/1 DCU Visa $7.5K (was auto approved when I refinanced my Auto Loan)
1/17 Amex SPG $6.4K
1/21 SW Plus $9K
1/21 SW Premier $12K
2/08 AA Executive $13K
2/25 Chase IHG $3K
2/25 AA Executive $10.5K

Credit score on 1/1 was 722. Credit score as of 2/14: 751.

Dest

Thanks for the advice guys. I went for it and was approved for both the Citi AA card and the Chase IHG.

sdsearch

I've never even heard of a 91 day rule / guideline before. Perhaps it has more to do with AORs than one-at-a-time applying?

However, there are some bank-specific rules. The ones I know are the Citi ones: At least 8+ days between your first app and your second one, and at least 65+ days between your first app and your third one (ie, no more than 2 Citi apps in any 65-day period).

Then there are inquiry rules that are also bank-specific. The one I know is Citi's, where they typically will reject you if you have more than 6 hard pulls showing in the past 6 months on whichever bureau's report they happen to pull.

Please note that 91+91 days is essentially 6 months, so part of it may be to space AOR pulls far enough part to not upset banks who care only about the last 6 months of pulls. But obviously this would not matter if you're not AORing and only applying for a few cards every 6 months anyway.

AOR = App-o-Rama = applying for a bunch of cards at one time. Some people do an AOR, then take a rest, then do another AOR, then take a rest, etc. For them, because they're applying for some many cards at one time, the timing between AORs can be critical. For those who only apply for one card at a time and only a handful of cards in any 6 month period, most of these "rules" that AORer's come up with are irrelevant.

pointsaddict3326

Congrats!

maddie5218

You should probably be fine. Citi seems to be giving those cards out like candy.

CrediPig

Citi disapproved me for too many inquiries and too many recent accounts. 785 FICO

skibum7732

I typically wait 90+ days between AOR's, but when a deal like the 100k AA comes along then that goes out the window and I apply. I will just push back my next AOR a little bit now. From your dates I do not not see you following it at all, as only once was there a 90+ day window with no apps. The # of apps you have applied for likely does not matter anyway. Wife and I each do 15+/- apps per year, but with only 5 and 2 apps in a year I see no reason to worry about it

flyer4512

How did refinancing a car and applying for 4 credit cards in 6 week period increase your credit score 29 points ?

Is that your FICO score ?

drminn

Maybe they saw your FT name

pricesquire

I've never stuck to the 91 day rule. I apply when I see a good deal, that's it. Only been denied for a card twice.

skrisskris

Congrats. ^

ChrisFlyer66

What is the actual reason why people think an AOR is a good idea? Is it the perception that the credit inquiry will not show the inquiries from other credit card applications if they happened within the last few hours? I don't think that is the case, but I don't really know.

Or is it something else that makes AORs at regular intervals a great strategy? I've done a few AORs, but mostly just because the bloggers suggest it, and I don't really know why. I know some people that do one credit application per month, and they do fine. If I was a bank, and the application for my credit card was someone's fifth or sixth that day, I'd surely reject it.

405#Club

I'm in the same boat as well. My "91 days" is approaching this Friday, 3/7/14. My challenge is the SWA card promo expires this Wednesday, and I don't want to miss out on the 50k offer. Here's my history:

Me

12/6/13 - Citi AA Plat, $15.5k
12/2/13 - Barclay Arrival, $17.5k
11/5/13 - WF Rewards Visa, $13k
11/5/13 - WF Line of Credit, $15k

Wife

12/6/13 - Citi AA Plat, $8k
12/6/13 - Amex SPG, $10k
12/6/13 - CSP, $20k


March AOR

Me

3/??/14 - Amex Plat, 100k (targeted)
3/??/14 - Citi Exec 100k
3/??/14 - Chase SWA Plus, 50k
3/??/14 - BoA Alaska Air, 30k

Wife

3/??/14 - Barclay Arrival, 40k
3/??/14 - Amex Blue (old)
3/??/14 - Chase SWA Plus, 50k
3/??/14 - BoA Alaska Air, 30k