[QUOTE=erethizon;33407491 The most important thing is that I spend $500 to get the first 20k rewards points. It would be a huge waste if I only spent $400 on non-gift card purchases over the next 3 months and didn’t get the 20k because the gift cards didn’t count.
.[/QUOTE]

Gift cards will count towards required spend for the 20k bonus.

Since you're most concerned about this point you can find out easily and quickly.

In the first week after you receive the new card make about 5 or 6 charges for anything anywhere. Then since you mention Vons, go there and buy a single $20-$500 variable load Visa gift card, (NOT at Target or Walmart). This card will cost you a $5.95 load fee but you can simply use the money on the card quickly anywhere Visa is accepted, (utility bills, insurance, etc,,, etc,, anywhere), forget the $5.95 fee because you're going to get 9x UR's = 4,554 UR's.

Since you're concerned about possible appearances just don't buy a $500 load card, (total charge $505.95), add a few groceries to make the total purchase $512.xx or whatever. Or, if you wish, just load the card with any number you like, for example $373.57, or $458.61, etc,, etc.. Since you're not going to play the MS* game and liquidate this gift card to a money order the amount doesn't really matter. You just want to have an amount on the card you can track as you spend this money for routine expenses.

As soon as $500 in charges post to your new Flex you'll see the 20k bonus included in "Points earning next statement" on the first page of the UR portal of your Chase login, (and the 24,554+ points WILL post on your first statement). Since this is your only Chase account it will probably say $245.54+ Cash back available, (but they're actually UR's unless you actually redeem them for cash).

You mention many comments about Chase not liking people buying gift cards. But keep in mind there's a lot of people who believe if you buy a single gift card Chase will shut you down, (simply not true).

I'm NOT suggesting you go crazy with gift cards with this or any other credit card. Since you have a full year of 5X @ Grocery, (plus an extra 4X up to $1,500 this quarter), This card should easily net you 86K UR's just from grocery.