2013 App-O-Rama (AOR) and Churn Advice Archive
#1066
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: whatever comes with CCs
Posts: 1,082
Critique my upcoming AoR
It's been almost 6 months since my last round of apps. Any feedback on my upcoming churn would be appreciated. I've picked up quite a few cards so I couldn't go for the usual suspects. Objective this time is to balance cashback with miles earning & manufacturing spend. Not applying to Chase this time.
FICO scorewatch gave me 747 EQ. CK is 750. My history is only 6 yr 8 mo though so I'm trying to be extra careful. I've tried to limit inquiries by freezing EXP for last year. Only 1 card is reporting balance with $782 on $3000 CL
Inquiries (6mo/1yr/2yr)Cards I'd like to get
I may do these because I maybe able to make money on the 0% rate by putting money elsewhere. I welcome other suggestions
US Bank and Citi have pulled EQ fo rme in the past, so I'm hoping they do the same again. Amex has pulled EXP and I don't mind that since I have 0 INQs in last 12 mo.
Any order in which I should do my apps to limit inquiries and increase chances of approval?
I thought this:
Other cards
2012
2011
Chase Freedom
2006
1st Credit union card
FICO scorewatch gave me 747 EQ. CK is 750. My history is only 6 yr 8 mo though so I'm trying to be extra careful. I've tried to limit inquiries by freezing EXP for last year. Only 1 card is reporting balance with $782 on $3000 CL
Inquiries (6mo/1yr/2yr)
- EXP: 0/0/13
- EQ: 0/4/7
- TU: 0/2/5
- US Bank Flexperks ( ~$300, ~4% grocery, EQ)
- Barclays Travelocity (10% travel bookings, 4% grocery, TU)
- Barclays Arrival ($440, 2.2% everywhere, TU)
- Amex BCP ($250, 6% grocery, EX)
- Citi AA 50k (mainly for 50k bonus, EQ)
I may do these because I maybe able to make money on the 0% rate by putting money elsewhere. I welcome other suggestions
- Discover IT (rotating 5% , Cashback portal, 0% BT for 18mo)
- Alliant CU for 0% intro/BT, EQ from
US Bank and Citi have pulled EQ fo rme in the past, so I'm hoping they do the same again. Amex has pulled EXP and I don't mind that since I have 0 INQs in last 12 mo.
Any order in which I should do my apps to limit inquiries and increase chances of approval?
I thought this:
- Freeze EQ/EX
- apply travelocity
- if instant apply arrival
- unlock EX and lock TU
- apply Amex BCP
- unlock EQ and lock EX
- apply Flexperks
- apply Citi AA
- apply Alliant
Other cards
2012
Dec: Ink
Dec: Priority Club
Dec: Club Carlson
Dec: US Air 2nd ($6k spend so far)
Apr: BoH Hawaii (closed)
Apr: BoA Hawaii (converted to travel rewards)
Apr: US Air ($5k spend so far)
Jan: CSP
Dec: Priority Club
Dec: Club Carlson
Dec: US Air 2nd ($6k spend so far)
Apr: BoH Hawaii (closed)
Apr: BoA Hawaii (converted to travel rewards)
Apr: US Air ($5k spend so far)
Jan: CSP
2011
Dec: Macy's
Nov: Marriott
Oct: Southwest
Oct: Citi Plat (0% intro, paid off now)
2008Nov: Marriott
Oct: Southwest
Oct: Citi Plat (0% intro, paid off now)
Chase Freedom
2006
1st Credit union card
#1067
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: AA PLT 2MM
Posts: 2,026
reviving this thread ...........
anyone have experience getting the TD Bank 5% cashback card?
http://www.tdbank.com/personalcredit...wardscard.html
anyone have experience getting the TD Bank 5% cashback card?
http://www.tdbank.com/personalcredit...wardscard.html
#1068
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MKE
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Hilton Gold, Club Carlson Gold,
Posts: 639
#1070
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 747
My credit score is around ~770, with my average account age is just shy of 5 years, some student loan debt, and a first mortgage within the last 4 months. Have 4 open CC other than the ones just opened, with hard pulls going 4 - 3 - 3 before applying. I'll run my report here after my statements close at the first of the month and let you know what kind of inquiries I got and how it affected my scores.
Last edited by nrdk; Jun 27, 2013 at 3:58 pm
#1071
Join Date: May 2009
Location: USA
Programs: Marriott Titanium -> United Silver
Posts: 936
Any advice would be appreciated. I want to apply for a few cards in July but don't want to do manufactured spend. What are the best 3 or 4 sign-up offers with low (~$1K or less) spend requirements? I'm thinking Club Carlson and Citi AA, any others?
#1072
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LAX/SNA
Programs: AA, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,887
It's been almost 6 months since my last round of apps. Any feedback on my upcoming churn would be appreciated. I've picked up quite a few cards so I couldn't go for the usual suspects. Objective this time is to balance cashback with miles earning & manufacturing spend. Not applying to Chase this time.
Locking and unlocking bureaus during an AoR is going to be time consuming and annoying, at least IMO.
What is your goal, do you have a trip in mind? Have you looked at the UA card?
#1073
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: whatever comes with CCs
Posts: 1,082
I saw the UA 55k offer. I plan on getting it early next year. I'm cooling off with chase as I have 6 cards with them already. I redeemed 400k UA miles in last year and have low UA balance. I want to liquidate my AA balance (15k) and use cash back type programs to buy paid tickets (hate searching for award availability). With cards I'm getting, I will manufacture spend for revenue tickets with reward points.
I plan to get to the Citi TYP combos later when sign ups are better (Premier, Preferred, Forward etc)
Thanks for the bureau info.. what I realized is they see inquiries within minutes so last time even though I did apps quickly (<15 min total), Amex denied me for too many inquiries. I will have wife helping me with the lock unlock and submitting same bureau apps together. Not sure how it will work but it will take a lot of coordination. Hopefully the banks won't see other bureas and I can finish this off in 2 hours. I'll report how it goes
#1074
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LAX/SNA
Programs: AA, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,887
My current travel plans are to visit NYC in Fall (paid Y tickets, staying with a friend), Hawaii in Winter (HA miles, UR->Hyatt), Japan in May (US DM, club carlson), Alaska in July'14 (AA miles on alaska). My plan for hotels is manufacturing spend on club carlson and free nights from cards and promos (marriott, priority club).
I saw the UA 55k offer. I plan on getting it early next year. I'm cooling off with chase as I have 6 cards with them already. I redeemed 400k UA miles in last year and have low UA balance. I want to liquidate my AA balance (15k) and use cash back type programs to buy paid tickets (hate searching for award availability). With cards I'm getting, I will manufacture spend for revenue tickets with reward points.
I plan to get to the Citi TYP combos later when sign ups are better (Premier, Preferred, Forward etc)
Thanks for the bureau info.. what I realized is they see inquiries within minutes so last time even though I did apps quickly (<15 min total), Amex denied me for too many inquiries. I will have wife helping me with the lock unlock and submitting same bureau apps together. Not sure how it will work but it will take a lot of coordination. Hopefully the banks won't see other bureas and I can finish this off in 2 hours. I'll report how it goes
I saw the UA 55k offer. I plan on getting it early next year. I'm cooling off with chase as I have 6 cards with them already. I redeemed 400k UA miles in last year and have low UA balance. I want to liquidate my AA balance (15k) and use cash back type programs to buy paid tickets (hate searching for award availability). With cards I'm getting, I will manufacture spend for revenue tickets with reward points.
I plan to get to the Citi TYP combos later when sign ups are better (Premier, Preferred, Forward etc)
Thanks for the bureau info.. what I realized is they see inquiries within minutes so last time even though I did apps quickly (<15 min total), Amex denied me for too many inquiries. I will have wife helping me with the lock unlock and submitting same bureau apps together. Not sure how it will work but it will take a lot of coordination. Hopefully the banks won't see other bureas and I can finish this off in 2 hours. I'll report how it goes
As an example, you can do LAX-HNL for 20k RT on HA using Elevate points, 40k RT to SYD. All in Y, but usually Y redemptions are double that on legacy carriers.
#1075
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: whatever comes with CCs
Posts: 1,082
Once the VX card comes back, it might be worth a look, I would research their redemptions now while their card is in limbo to a new provider. Their redemptions on their own flights aren't amazing, but their partner redemptions are pretty good.
As an example, you can do LAX-HNL for 20k RT on HA using Elevate points, 40k RT to SYD. All in Y, but usually Y redemptions are double that on legacy carriers.
As an example, you can do LAX-HNL for 20k RT on HA using Elevate points, 40k RT to SYD. All in Y, but usually Y redemptions are double that on legacy carriers.
#1076
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LAX/SNA
Programs: AA, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,887
If they do I'll be dropping their card. Wells Fargo doesn't do co-branded cards, at least not yet.
#1077
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,449
Where are you finding a 50K citi AA link that works?
#1078
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: whatever comes with CCs
Posts: 1,082
Email from AA. Same link without landing page is also discussed in this thread.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credi...ost-first.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credi...ost-first.html
#1079
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,449
Email from AA. Same link without landing page is also discussed in this thread.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credi...ost-first.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credi...ost-first.html
#1080
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 23
Churn Results: My first decline
Here are my results from my churn about two weeks ago:
Chase Ink Bold: Approved after quick call to reconsideration (no credit swaps, no closing of cards!) - 60K UR Points
Citi AAdvantage World: Approved after quick online chat session: 40K AA Miles
Hilton AMEX: Instant Approval. 40K Hilton Points.
Barclays World Arrival: Declined. Called reconsideration. They asked lots of questions and then told me I had too many inquires over the past 12 months (Including both the NFL Card and US Airways - although I hadn't had any inquiries since Jan 1). I was polite, thanked them and hung up. I called back 4 hours later, and the first thing the agent said was: "I see you called this morning." I think at this point it's not going to happen.
After a successful 17 CC Apps in a row, this was the first one I don't think I will be able to move to the "approved" column!
Chase Ink Bold: Approved after quick call to reconsideration (no credit swaps, no closing of cards!) - 60K UR Points
Citi AAdvantage World: Approved after quick online chat session: 40K AA Miles
Hilton AMEX: Instant Approval. 40K Hilton Points.
Barclays World Arrival: Declined. Called reconsideration. They asked lots of questions and then told me I had too many inquires over the past 12 months (Including both the NFL Card and US Airways - although I hadn't had any inquiries since Jan 1). I was polite, thanked them and hung up. I called back 4 hours later, and the first thing the agent said was: "I see you called this morning." I think at this point it's not going to happen.
After a successful 17 CC Apps in a row, this was the first one I don't think I will be able to move to the "approved" column!