Called to check on my application - it was pending. I asked if we could expedite it, he reviewed it then and there. The question asked and answered above came up (thanks to the previous poster - forewarned is forarmed).

Q You've taken out an ungodly number of credit cards in the last several months. Can you tell me why?
A Next year is my 30th anniversary, they are all miles cards and we want to go around the world.

Well he didn't use the word "ungodly", but he did talk about the "velocity" of my new card application rate.

It came down to I would have to cancel a credit card with Chase to get a new one. I only have two cards with them (Marriott and Continental). I had already cancelled United a while ago and British recently (got asked why and enlightened him on YQ).

Quite a lengthy process, but no question, these are thinking folks with decision making authority (contrary to Chase's home equity people).

I wound up canceling the Continental card. I would have rather had that then the Mariott card except for the fact that I need the 15 nights towards elite status. Got the Sapphire approved on the spot as a result.

Sorry for the length of the post, but thought it might be useful to others.