I got three Chase cards, all opened within the last four months. Last time, I had to call the re-consideration line to close one of my accounts. Now, I am thinking of getting the Southwest card. It has been over 30 days since my last Chase application. I got some expenses to pay this month, but charges will still be under 30% per card. I am using only one Chase card now. Should I charge the expenses to my Chase card first before applying for another one to show big spending? Will that increase my chances of getting another Chase card?

Data point - I have had cards with Chase for many years, closed all of them a year ago or so. Received Chase Marriott and Continental in the last 4 months (solid spending on the latter, a bit on the former). A few weeks ago applied for Chase Sapphire - denied due to too many requests for credit, presumably not because of any credit problems. Called the recon line, the rep said they want to see how I use the credit for at least 6 months. My guess is the spending won't make much difference.

I have heard conflicting opinions on this one, but in my personal experience have some heavy spending on other Chase cards helps. When my wife applied for a BA card last May she was denied for too many recently opened Chase cards. Two phone calls to Chase reconsideration and talking to four different people (two reps and two supervisors) didn't help a bit - still denied for still the same reason. So as a last hope resort she substantially increased spending on her Chase CO card and wrote a hard copy letter stating among other things that she could bring substantial amount of new business to Chase should it approve that credit card (citing increased spending on a CO card as an example). She also mentioned that this additional spending is currently with another bank and getting it to Chase is conditional on getting the card approved. Chase called three days later and approved this credit card.

For the sake of full disclosure there were a couple of other arguments listed in the reconsideration letter that may very well worked while additional spending didn't play much role in turning Chase's decision around, but I'm more inclined to say that spending played other than minor role.

FWIW, I have two Chase cards that haven't been used in over 6 months. They still approved me for a Southwest Visa recently with a generous credit limit, one that was somewhere around the other two cards combined. It wasn't an instant approval, but I never had to call to ask for a recon.