Originally Posted by
airshane
I had a conversation this weekend with a buddy of mine who decided to exit the game. He took a nice trip with his wife and then transferred the remaining points and pulled the plug on Amex, cancelling all three cards (Plat, Gold, Green). Now he just puts nearly everything on his Costco Visa and spreads the love around to a few other select cards that he kept (mostly hotel cards that give you a free night). We laughed at what a "First World Problem" it is to get back home and realized you used the wrong card, only earning 2x points instead of 4x points, or 2% instead of 5%. Honestly I've been considering the simplicity. Had I not received a retention bonus on the Plat it would be gone. This only my second year for Gold and I only got it because of the SUB (which I apparently got under the wire).
This route is quite tempting. Especially as Mrs B is frustrated by the continuous rotation of different cards into the mix for different bonus categories.
In some ways this makes Amex Gold the perfect choice as it covers her top 2 categories - groceries and dining - but of course only at restaurants that take Amex. Citi provides the same simplicity at 3x points and lower AF.
I know several guys who are quite savvy business people and they all have one card - Fidelity 2% or Chase WN - that they use for everything.
And I think this would make sense were it not for the SUBs and - as I noted above - the perks you can’t get elsewhere like 95k free nights (Bonvoy) Hyatt Cat 4 nights and waived airline fees / perks. Without the lounge access, Amex is a tough sell at a higher AF.