Originally Posted by
jalm1
True, i was looking at it from the benefits of the premium access (SFO security, etc) but the bonus is likely worth more, even if the club card in free the first year.
The Club Card has some great perks, it's true. Specific to SFO security, though, I haven't used the Premier checkpoint in a long time. It's rarely the fastest since they installed the scanners. So personally, I don't see that as much of a perk. Priority boarding, on the other hand, can have a measurable impact, since it means you'll actually get overhead space, and both cards have the boarding benefit. If you have enough paid miles, though, you'll hit elite status fast enough to make this academic.
Which likely means that the 5%+ category spend (e.g. dining) would be better done in cash on the US Bank card rather than the forward card paired with the premier. Thanks.
US Bank had published early in the launch of that card that the bonus categories available are subject to change. The literature now implies that they won't change but I still see it as a possibility that suddenly one quarter the restaurants bonus won't be there. If you have a legitimate 1:1 redemption option available with TYP (such as student loan or mortgage payment) I'd lean slightly in that direction, as the Forward earning has been stable for a while now. (Plus you have the option to use those TYP with the Premier card for 1.33:1 paid flight redemption, should you need it.)