I need a card to cover minor expenses during business travel when AMEX is not accepted (my employer wants me to use the corp AMEX card first).

Prior to posting this I *did* search the boards quite a bit and did not find threads that seemed to match my specific scenario -- the ones I found were brand newbies...

parameters:

--I will hit UA PGold (is that P1 or P2?) first week in December on segs, currently only 35,869 miles.
--I earn status on segs, and figured out next year, under current trends, by adding one seg each trip I can hit 1K.
--My annual travel is not enough to spread among other liners...so pretty loyal to United in order to max my status -- mid-level traveler.
--Heaviest travel tends to be Q1 with a steady flow the rest of the year.
--Almost all travel regional NE. Usually UA with a smattering of US due to schedule/price.
--Purchases with this card will be minimal -- as described, to cover meals/work purchases when AMEX is not accepted.
--I've never done a club/lounge -- usually no time to mess with it...and when I do have extra time I just hang at the pub for maybe an hour max...Am I really missing anything for my style of travel?
--I guess my ultimate goal is to max points since I earn status on segs, but open to a new way of thinking about this.

Questions (I have answers in mind but want to see what others say to confirm or refute my suppositions):

1--Will I be better served by the UA or US specific cards, or should I be looking at the 'non'captive' cards (Citi, Chase, etc).
2 -- Visa or MC more widely accepted?
3 -- The cards I have seen have a purchase requirement to get the big initial bang...am I missing any that drop a nice chunk just for opening?
4 -- (related to #3): Seems to me if the initial points add is still short of the 75k for PPLat, then should I do this just after first of year?
5--What impact, if any, can I have on the *A program? (or am I pretty much where I'm going to be already?)

Long post, thanks for bearing with me.

When you fly on US do you credit the flights to UA, or do you also accumulate US miles?

Do you stay in hotels for leisure travel? Do have status with any hotel chains?

I put all points to UA when I fly US (no 500 min = bummer).

Currently Marriott Gold but dropping to silver for 2012...didn't get nearly enough nights in 2011, at 19,848 pts righ tnow (enough for 1 night at a L3). I occasionally stay for leisure at hotels. Example, this year hit the Spring Mega Bonus early and stayed at a brand new Residence on points and reward certs for three nights in Crystal City (DC)... regular price was ~@$300/night. But usually for leisure either stay at a Fairfield or HIX (Secondary is Priority Club when I cant get a Marriott when I'm going.)...when traveling we usually stay with friends/family and the inlaws have a couple beach condos...so if I have to i just pay the $80-100 for a room for a night...

Also ~ 14k pts with IHG right now.

Im also Hilton blue right now b/c did a couple conferences this year and had to stay with my peeps...currently 5 nights, 2 stays, 11,270. A trip in December will yield me the 2 more nights/stays to make HH silver for 2012 if I choose to do that.

As a side, also been researching the forum and considering moving to HH in 2012 due to 1) the huge jump at Marriott from silver to gold, and 2) I do the points/miles combo w/ HH.

Just off the top of my head without researching, I would suggest you look at 2 no fee cards.
# Citi Hilton Visa, 40k Hilton points and Silver status.
#2 Capital One Cash Master Card. 1.5% cash back plus $100 to start. www.capitalonecash.com

IHG says current status = platinum and also "You have reached Platinum status for the next year", but I have only stayed at IHG a few times this year...surely that staus will drop for 2012, right?

I see no reason to consider a US Airways affiliated credit card.

Possibilities:

Chase Sapphire Preferred is available as either MasterCard or VISA, and earn points transferable to United Airlines, Marriott or Intercontinental Hotel Group (also to Amtrak, British Airways, Hyatt, Korean Air). Points can also be redeemed for giftcards, etc. Annual fee is waived for first year, $95 thereafter. This is a good match for your existing program relationships, but be sure to apply for the Preferred version if you want the ability to transfer to those airline and hotel programs.

If the amount of spending you would put on this card does not justify $95 fee -and- if you decide to move your hotel affiliation to Hilton, you could choose the HHonors VISA issued by Citibank. It's free.


Not necessarily. IHG Platinum status is very easy to earn because all points which pass through your account are considered, and only 60,000 are required.

Would this card be limited solely to the minor business expenses when AMEX isn't accepted? What about putting your regular daily personal spending on the same card? I'm assuming this will be a personal card that you apply for, and then would get reimbursed personally from the company. AMEX is probably going to be accepted most places you go, so the spend on your other card will probably be very small and not justify an annual fee. However if you decided to transfer over all of your regular personal spending to that card, it opens up more options where a card with a higher annual fee might be the best choice.

Much thanks Mia and bigbuy!

Rok: Good point and I am considering this. The spend would be quite small as you correctly pointed out, *if* I only use it for those specific reimbursable expenses. Thanks for confirming that point re annual fee for me.

Some cards earn the bonus on the first purchase, while others earn the bonus after some amount of minimum spend (in the first few months, generally, but the specific amount of time varies from card offer to card offer). Figure out what's the least you expect to spend, and then compare that to the spend requirements on any card offers which need more than just first purchase to get the bonus, to see if it will work for you.