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Easier to apply for mid-tier credit card than top-tier credit card?
Is it easier to apply for mid-tier cards like the AMEX Hilton Surpass and Citi Premier than AMEX Hilton Aspire and Citi Prestige? I seem to be having trouble getting approved for the Hilton Aspire and the Citi Prestige even though my credit score is decent at the moment (in the 780 range across all 3 bureaus). When I got started in this hobby, I didn't planned well and I got a lot of new personal and business trade lines over the past couple of years. I haven't churned anything yet. I recognize that banks are tightening up their lending due to COVID-19. I'm starting to wonder if I'm better off applying for the Surpass and another Premier (already got one, but will probably upgrade to the Prestige at the end of the year) and then upgrade after a year? Any data points on the Hilton Surpass being easier for approval since it have less benefits than the Aspire? I also read that AMEX often have upgrade offers for the Surpass to the Aspire, but is that close enough to be a guaranteed? I know that if I upgrade without an offer, I won't be eligible for a SUB going forward. Comments?
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Originally Posted by lsquare
(Post 32468300)
Is it easier to apply for mid-tier cards like the AMEX Hilton Surpass and Citi Premier than AMEX Hilton Aspire and Citi Prestige? I seem to be having trouble getting approved for the Hilton Aspire and the Citi Prestige even though my credit score is decent at the moment (in the 780 range across all 3 bureaus). When I got started in this hobby, I didn't planned well and I got a lot of new personal and business trade lines over the past couple of years. I haven't churned anything yet. I recognize that banks are tightening up their lending due to COVID-19. I'm starting to wonder if I'm better off applying for the Surpass and another Premier (already got one, but will probably upgrade to the Prestige at the end of the year) and then upgrade after a year? Any data points on the Hilton Surpass being easier for approval since it have less benefits than the Aspire? I also read that AMEX often have upgrade offers for the Surpass to the Aspire, but is that close enough to be a guaranteed? I know that if I upgrade without an offer, I won't be eligible for a SUB going forward. Comments?
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Originally Posted by travelinmanS
(Post 32468769)
I believe you’ll find the effort you expend when applying for a mid tier card will be exactly the same as when applying for a top tier card. 😋
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Originally Posted by lsquare
(Post 32468300)
Is it easier to apply for mid-tier cards like the AMEX Hilton Surpass and Citi Premier than AMEX Hilton Aspire and Citi Prestige? I seem to be having trouble getting approved for the Hilton Aspire and the Citi Prestige ...
From my experience and what I've seen, there's no discernable difference in underwriting criteria between mid and higher fee cards, and think about it from the banks perspective, they would probably rather sell you a higher fee card, all else being equal. The only real exception to this is with Visa cards in that Visa Infinite level cards, like the CSR, United Club card, USB AR require an initial credit limit of at least $10k while most Visas have lower minimums of $5k (Visa Signature) or lower. Amex and MasterCard have no such rules. |
I suspect this is more about Amex limiting new card issuance due to anticipated defaults than anything else.
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Is there any well defined income level that is required and scales up with the card? Given a credit score of 800ish, would someone be denied the premium card without a particular income level? Or possibly some liquid wealth requirement?
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Originally Posted by xooz
(Post 32469327)
Is there any well defined income level that is required and scales up with the card? Given a credit score of 800ish, would someone be denied the premium card without a particular income level? Or possibly some liquid wealth requirement?
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I ended up with the Aspire this May after starting out with the no AF Hilton AMEX card, and skipped the Surpass (for now), and my credit isn't amazing, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Goal is to have one card available for upgrade path, no- AF->Surpass->Aspire and to collect all three card bonuses via signup AND the two card upgrade bonuses, but I am willing to be patient about it to stop the dreaded popup. I might settle on any of no-AF/Surpass/Aspire once the dust settles and I know how I will use them the next couple of years. I look at the people doing a million in MS on Hilton Aspire/Surpass because of 12 bonuses and basically... don't want to go there (I want a long term card relationship with AMEX as long as the deal on offer is reasonable for both of us, not to burn them for SUBs and MS). Pigs get fed, hogs get slaughtered, etc. |
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