Originally Posted by rgAAFT

Diversify your strategy. Yes this is a nice trick, but I would not put all my spend on Citi card just because they except debit cards for payment. Use the knowlage of the citi trick as just another tool of many to increese your points totals to reach your end goal of free travel

As far as a solid card combo to have for everyday use + MS, may I suggest CSP+ INK/freedom. The only way you can travel more is to diversify, trust me

If you are an AA flyer for example, have chase and citi work together to put you on the flights you really want. Chase with the help of BA which is an excellent option for AA domestic travel or citi with its partnerships with AA directly for longhaul intl flights and Hilton for the free nights and the easy elite status Hope that helps

Originally Posted by farwest101

Exec/Plat are only 1x cards so not the most lucrative cards. Look for cards with bonus categories. PRG has 2x at grocery, which earn MRs, which can be transferred to a number of programs (AA isn't one of them). But they can transfer to British Air (Avios are great for short haul domestic) and Singapore among others. SPG gets 1.25 when transferred in exactly 20K blocks, so that can be better if you do more than a modest volume. Grocery is a good category as usually easy availability.

As rgAAFT suggested, diversification is good. But having 5K in a dozen programs does you no good - need to get 50K or more to be of much use. So if you've got limited time or low limits, you'd do better to concentrate on one or two programs - I'd recommend UR/MR/SPG as they transfer to a number of partners. Surpass 6x for HH is also useful.

Remember, none of this is "free". All of it costs time and money. Think of miles/points as offering discounted travel. And stop reading any pimp, er blogger who ever talks about "free" anything - that's marketing hype to get you to click on links to earn them fat commissions for pimping cards.