Originally Posted by
cinnamon121
I need to change my card selection to maximize reward points. I know my current card selection is not delivering. Here is what I have:
1. Fidelity Amex Plat: I’ve had the Fidelity Gold for many years using it as my primary card and just recently upgraded. Annual fee is $320, and I going to see if I can make the $$ back through FHR, lounge access, and complimentary domestic companion tix. I see this as a kind of one year test, so if I don’t like it, I will just go back to Gold. I am also thinking that I don't need to make this my primary card anymore.
2. JetBlue Amex: $40 annual fee, and worth it for me. I have family in JB cities where flights are cheap and the TrueBlue points add up quickly. For example, I am flying to BUF next month on tix that are $39 each way. And if I didn’t have the card, points would expire after 1 year. I aim for one free RT Award flight every 12 –18mos, which I try to spend on JFK – SAN over the holidays (~$700 value for a non-stop with Direct TV). However, I don’t like to put a lot of regular spending on this card because I don’t think the points add up as quickly ($1 = 1 Award Dollar; 200 Award Dollars = 1 True Blue Point; 200 TB Points = 1 RT flight).
3. Corp Amex: My company requires that we use this. I’ve linked this to my MR account. Right now I have about 72K MR points.
4. Citi Diamond Preferred MC: This is my non-AX backup card and it is doing NOTHING for me. No rewards and I pay off my balance in full each month. I have just been lazy about doing the due diligence of finding a different card.
Ok, my issue now is that I am thinking that I don’t have a good card for maximizing rewards with the exception of trying for that 1 free JB flight each year. I’d like my rewards to help me towards a nice vacation (don’t know where yet). I’ve used the Gold for MR for years and there just don’t seem to be many double point promotions. I figure I should just count on the Corp Amex to contribute to my MR balance from now on and look to another card as my primary. Here are some cards I have been wondering about adding:
1. Amex SPG – points add up and airline transfer flexibitily. also, good promo now.
2. HH Amex – I hear the points add up quickly and no annual fee
3. Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards – No annual fee
Sorry for the long post, and thanks so much to anyone with advice!
1. Make AMEX MR your primary program. Consider:
- You must use your corp AMEX
- You have Fidelity AMEX Platinum (a great value at $320 btw)
- Choose AMEX "The Knot" or "The Nest" card to earn 10,000 MR bonus points when you spend $15k in a year
2. Choose a MasterCard/Visa that has a decent reward rate, but does not create a separate commitment to a reward program:
- Diners Club - $95 per year, transfers to most programs, primary rental insurance
- Marriott Premier Visa Sigature - $65 per year, 15 nights toward status each yr, one free night each year
- Hilton Visa Signature - No annual fee, 6 pts per $ at Hilton Family hotels
OR
3. Choose a MasterCard/Visa that provides cash back
- Fidelity Visa Signature - 1.5% deposited directly to your fidelity account
- Chase Freem Visa Signature - 3% on everyday spending