Originally Posted by
EverywhereHome
What I can't figure out, however, is how anything can be better than a flat 2% back (excluding the "5% if you can buy all of your gas in Q1 and all of your diapers in Q3" cards).
Travel cards, especially those with AF, are usually better than cash back cards by:
1. Benefits (i.e. protection)
2. No FTF
If you only travel domestically, then Citi Double Cash is a good everyday spending card as these benefits may not work for you.
Originally Posted by
EverywhereHome
Is there any real value anymore to having an airline-specific card? How much does that answer depend on what airline I fly?
1. Yes only if you have a card that has better grandfathered benefits.
2. It actually depends on more where you are located. Since you are SFO/OAK/SJC based, a card from UA/WN/VX makes more sense than AA/DL unless you know what you want to do.
Originally Posted by
EverywhereHome
Are cards really so different that having two primary cards is worthwhile, or is the ideal situation a main card and one backup?
I am not sure what you mean by main or backup.
In my case, my wallet has 2 AMEX (Platinum and Costco), 1 Citi Visa (Forward), and Citibank ATM card. The rest of my active accounts are at my home.
Originally Posted by
EverywhereHome
I keep reading about the AmEx SPG card, but I can't believe that carrying an AmEx card is really useful compared to VISA or MC. Is it?
As of this moment, unless you want to use debit cards, AMEX is still the only credit card that Costco accepts.
Beside, it is my personal bias that AMEX generally provides better service and protections.
Originally Posted by
EverywhereHome
- Chase Sapphire Preferred (seems to be good for travel)
- Barclay Arrival Plus (seems to be trumped by Chase Sapphire Preferred)
- Citi Double Cash (how could anything be better than 2% cash?)
- AmEx Starwood Preferred Guest (everyone swears by this card but I can't figure out why)
- United MileagePlus Explorer Card (this seems to be the only US airline card that might be worth it, since I won't fly Delta)
Pick M+ Explorer (if you fly UA mostly) or CSP. You don't really need both as many benefits overlap. CSP works better than Arrival+ (as you can transfer UR into miles).
Citi Double Cash is definitly a good card to supplement.
Even I am loyal to AMEX, I have no comment about SPG as you did not say why you need it.