Newbie needs help deciding which cards
Jan 6, 2013 | 1:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 48
Newbie needs help deciding which cards
Hi all. I'm very excited about putting to work what I've been learning on here. Here is my situation:
Me-
American miles - 56,000
Delta - 25,000
United - 6,000
Wife-
Delta - 30,000
We fly out of PHX. We would like to go to europe this summer on miles. We also do volunteer work in Africa and would like to build miles for that.
I have good credit, so my question is which cards should I go for right now?ve done alot of reading through these threads and am a little overwhelmed at the choices; especially about which cards you can have/apply for together.
I was thinking of going for the two at one time for AA miles and then maybe the United or Delta cards. Any suggestions would be welcomed. Thanks!
Me-
American miles - 56,000
Delta - 25,000
United - 6,000
Wife-
Delta - 30,000
We fly out of PHX. We would like to go to europe this summer on miles. We also do volunteer work in Africa and would like to build miles for that.
I have good credit, so my question is which cards should I go for right now?ve done alot of reading through these threads and am a little overwhelmed at the choices; especially about which cards you can have/apply for together.
I was thinking of going for the two at one time for AA miles and then maybe the United or Delta cards. Any suggestions would be welcomed. Thanks!
Jan 6, 2013 | 2:21 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 197
i'd suggest getting both citi aa cards (amex and visa) and some chase cards (sapphire preferred, ink business cards), which give UR points that can transfer to ua/*A
ua and partners have excellent connections in europe
aa doesn't have as good connections in europe/africa; you can use aa points for partner awards, but comfy partners like ba have high surcharges (i don't know about other partners like ib)
delta miles are hard to redeem for low awards. but if you think your credit capacity can take some more cards, then might as well get a delta card or two, too
ua and partners have excellent connections in europe
aa doesn't have as good connections in europe/africa; you can use aa points for partner awards, but comfy partners like ba have high surcharges (i don't know about other partners like ib)
delta miles are hard to redeem for low awards. but if you think your credit capacity can take some more cards, then might as well get a delta card or two, too
Jan 6, 2013 | 2:40 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 48
Thanks for the fast reply GraceC.
And thanks moderator for moving my thread to the appropriate Forum, told you I was a Newbie!
Any reason to wait on the AA cards for a better deal that might be coming later or go ahead and pull the trigger on this one?
Also, what do you think about the UA Mileage Explorer card to go along with the other chase cards (Sapphire, Ink Card). Would that work?
And thanks moderator for moving my thread to the appropriate Forum, told you I was a Newbie!
Any reason to wait on the AA cards for a better deal that might be coming later or go ahead and pull the trigger on this one?
Also, what do you think about the UA Mileage Explorer card to go along with the other chase cards (Sapphire, Ink Card). Would that work?
Jan 6, 2013 | 7:31 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Traveling some where hopefully
Programs: AS, AA Gold, and Hilton
Posts: 1,953
Thanks for the fast reply GraceC.
And thanks moderator for moving my thread to the appropriate Forum, told you I was a Newbie!
Any reason to wait on the AA cards for a better deal that might be coming later or go ahead and pull the trigger on this one?
Also, what do you think about the UA Mileage Explorer card to go along with the other chase cards (Sapphire, Ink Card). Would that work?
And thanks moderator for moving my thread to the appropriate Forum, told you I was a Newbie!
Any reason to wait on the AA cards for a better deal that might be coming later or go ahead and pull the trigger on this one?
Also, what do you think about the UA Mileage Explorer card to go along with the other chase cards (Sapphire, Ink Card). Would that work?
Jan 7, 2013 | 2:57 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA, UA, DL, SPG gold, PC Plat, CC gold
Posts: 196
Thanks for the fast reply GraceC.
And thanks moderator for moving my thread to the appropriate Forum, told you I was a Newbie!
Any reason to wait on the AA cards for a better deal that might be coming later or go ahead and pull the trigger on this one?
Also, what do you think about the UA Mileage Explorer card to go along with the other chase cards (Sapphire, Ink Card). Would that work?
And thanks moderator for moving my thread to the appropriate Forum, told you I was a Newbie!
Any reason to wait on the AA cards for a better deal that might be coming later or go ahead and pull the trigger on this one?
Also, what do you think about the UA Mileage Explorer card to go along with the other chase cards (Sapphire, Ink Card). Would that work?
Last edited by ayya; Jan 8, 2013 at 10:41 pm
Jan 7, 2013 | 9:13 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 48
Thanks everyone. Good tips. To do this, with the ink bold and explorer with chase, do I need to use the two browser trick to only get one inquiry? Or just apply for both in the same day?
Jan 8, 2013 | 10:37 am
#8
Moderator: Chase Ultimate Rewards
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 2P, MR LT Plat, IHG Plat, BW Dia, HH Au, Avis PC
Posts: 5,664
Has this been the case for anyone? It would seem like a Chase business card and a Chase personal card would pull from different departments, and thus not combine. (Please support your assertion.)
Jan 8, 2013 | 11:56 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 48
Just jumped on the Amex Plat 100,000 pt offer for me and my wife this morning about 3:00am. Glad I did because the deal was gone when I woke up this morning.
So, now I've got my very first rewards card! Hope its a good one.
So, now I've got my very first rewards card! Hope its a good one.
Jan 8, 2013 | 11:58 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 48
Here is what I am looking at adding:
Citi AA Amex
Citi AA Visa
Chase Ink Bold
Chase UA Mileage Exploredr
US Airways Card
Delta Amex
Any thoughts? Is it better to stagger these apps out over a few months so the credit hits aren't all at once? I keep reading about these app-o-rama's where people apply for a bunch at the same time, is there a reason why that is good?
Citi AA Amex
Citi AA Visa
Chase Ink Bold
Chase UA Mileage Exploredr
US Airways Card
Delta Amex
Any thoughts? Is it better to stagger these apps out over a few months so the credit hits aren't all at once? I keep reading about these app-o-rama's where people apply for a bunch at the same time, is there a reason why that is good?
Jan 8, 2013 | 12:19 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 221
Welcome OP from a fellow PHX flyer (albeit after drive down mountain) and fellow overseas short term missionary. That is why I got into this game-to save on missions trips.
Only longhaul option out of PHX is British Airways PHX-LHR. Great for paid fares but really bad for Avios redemptions due to insane fuel surcharges.
To really help with credit card advice:
-how much do you typically spend per month on credit cards?
-what cards do you currently have?
-rough idea of your credit score/report?
Blanket statement: general consensus is apply for multiple cards on same day every 95ish days.
Only longhaul option out of PHX is British Airways PHX-LHR. Great for paid fares but really bad for Avios redemptions due to insane fuel surcharges.
To really help with credit card advice:
-how much do you typically spend per month on credit cards?
-what cards do you currently have?
-rough idea of your credit score/report?
Blanket statement: general consensus is apply for multiple cards on same day every 95ish days.
Jan 8, 2013 | 12:23 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 757
Can you handle the spend from your aor?
The benefits are mostly two-fold:
1. Inquiries are pretty much instant, but the new tradelines won't post to your credit for a few days, so one bank won't see your average age of accounts drop, or ask why so many cards recently.
2. Grouping the cards can be handy if you want inquiries to fall off your report in concert in the future (hurdle dates at one year and two years out - at one year they seem less important to an analyst but still listed, at two years they drop off). So people who do apps on a 3,4, or 6 month schedule may be doing it at x months + 1-5 days, so the prior batches may fall off.
Its pretty minor if you have a long credit history.
The benefits are mostly two-fold:
1. Inquiries are pretty much instant, but the new tradelines won't post to your credit for a few days, so one bank won't see your average age of accounts drop, or ask why so many cards recently.
2. Grouping the cards can be handy if you want inquiries to fall off your report in concert in the future (hurdle dates at one year and two years out - at one year they seem less important to an analyst but still listed, at two years they drop off). So people who do apps on a 3,4, or 6 month schedule may be doing it at x months + 1-5 days, so the prior batches may fall off.
Its pretty minor if you have a long credit history.
Jan 8, 2013 | 12:29 pm
#13
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: whatever comes with CCs
Posts: 1,089
Recently applied for Ink Plus and Priority Club within minutes of each other. I am in California and my experian was frozen. Chase pulled equifax for PC and transunion for Ink. I saw this on the reference letters. Got approved after calling reconsideration.
Jan 8, 2013 | 1:20 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 48
Welcome OP from a fellow PHX flyer (albeit after drive down mountain) and fellow overseas short term missionary. That is why I got into this game-to save on missions trips.
Only longhaul option out of PHX is British Airways PHX-LHR. Great for paid fares but really bad for Avios redemptions due to insane fuel surcharges.
To really help with credit card advice:
-how much do you typically spend per month on credit cards?
-what cards do you currently have?
-rough idea of your credit score/report?
Blanket statement: general consensus is apply for multiple cards on same day every 95ish days.
Only longhaul option out of PHX is British Airways PHX-LHR. Great for paid fares but really bad for Avios redemptions due to insane fuel surcharges.
To really help with credit card advice:
-how much do you typically spend per month on credit cards?
-what cards do you currently have?
-rough idea of your credit score/report?
Blanket statement: general consensus is apply for multiple cards on same day every 95ish days.
To answer your questions:
-Typically spend $1,000-1,500 per month on cards, but plan on using some tricks i'm learning on here to make up the difference
-I have a capitol one that I have had for a while, no annual fee. I just applied for and was approved for the Amex Plat card for me and wife, gives 100k MR pts after $3000 in 3 months
-I pulled my vantage score and it is 857
Other question since you fly out of PHX. What's the best option for flights to Europe for us?
Jan 8, 2013 | 1:45 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 48
Can you handle the spend from your aor?
The benefits are mostly two-fold:
1. Inquiries are pretty much instant, but the new tradelines won't post to your credit for a few days, so one bank won't see your average age of accounts drop, or ask why so many cards recently.
2. Grouping the cards can be handy if you want inquiries to fall off your report in concert in the future (hurdle dates at one year and two years out - at one year they seem less important to an analyst but still listed, at two years they drop off). So people who do apps on a 3,4, or 6 month schedule may be doing it at x months + 1-5 days, so the prior batches may fall off.
Its pretty minor if you have a long credit history.
The benefits are mostly two-fold:
1. Inquiries are pretty much instant, but the new tradelines won't post to your credit for a few days, so one bank won't see your average age of accounts drop, or ask why so many cards recently.
2. Grouping the cards can be handy if you want inquiries to fall off your report in concert in the future (hurdle dates at one year and two years out - at one year they seem less important to an analyst but still listed, at two years they drop off). So people who do apps on a 3,4, or 6 month schedule may be doing it at x months + 1-5 days, so the prior batches may fall off.
Its pretty minor if you have a long credit history.