Apporama Advice
 

Hi again flyertalk members, it has been awhile since my last post here.
Things have changed, and I need some new advice. Here are the highlights of my previous post for reference:

Since the time of my last post, I've applied only for my 3rd allowable citi card (sometime in october), the AA business gold. I also closed my barclays NFL (see previous Barclays denial)and SW business (annual fee hit).

Here is my new list of current cards:
Chase Freedom (Mastercard!)
CS
CSP
Southwest plus personal
Amex Blue Student
Chase Marriott
Chase Priority Club
Citibank AA Gold
Citibank AA Plat
Citibank AA Business
Nordstrom Bank CC

My miles and points are as follows:
Chase UR: 60k
Southwest: 40k
American Airlines: 135k
Marriot: 70k
Priority Club: 5k
HHonors: 10k

I can hit any spend required up to about $5000 a month including manufactured spend.

My goals are to maximize my points, cash back and miles earned. I don't really have any solid travel plans at this point. The only place I know I'll travel to 2-3 times this year is Vegas. I don't generally use my points there.

Here is list of cards I want, from most wanted to least wanted:
Capital One Venture: spend $3000 in 3 months to get $500 in travel or GC
Barclay Arrival: spend $1000 in 1 month to get $400 in travel
Barclay Frontier Airlines: $500 spend for 40000 miles (Will they approve both barclay cards due to my history with them? NFL card for $400 after 1k spend, then never used again and closed in Q4 2013)
Chase Freedom Visa: spend $500 to get $200 (Iffy, I have the Freedom Mastercard and I really think I've maxed out how many Chase cards they'll give me. Also deal is expired.)
Ink Bold: spend $5000 in 5 months to get 50k UR (Maybe?)
Amex SPG: Spend $5000 in 6 months for 25k points
What else do you guys recommend? Should I lay off Chase this time around?
Amex?? (They have high annual fees and often not waived.)

I am trying to avoid annual fees (unless it is worth it ex: CSP, Priority club) and financial reviews.

Thanks!

For people to be more helpful, you should specify more your travel goals (ie, want to take my wife on a honeymoon to Tahiti in business class or go skiing in Colorado with my friends next year and staying at the Westin).

In general, though you seem to be missing the Starwood Amex (personal and business cards) which can be transferred to many different airlines or used for SPG hotels.

Ok thanks for the advice. I'll update my first post.

Barclays almost always denies multiple apps close together. I would pick one and wait on the other

Consider:
AMEX Premier Rewards Gold if you have a 50K offer at cardmatch.com, no fee first year.
Starwood personal and/or business, no fee first year. Or wait for a likely 30K offer in September. Always use private browsing for all AMEX apps, and multiple apps within a short time may be kicked out as duplicate but can be approved by calling recon.
Bank of America Alaska with $100 statement credit, $75 fee.

Last but certainly not least: Travel plans. Those points are not doing you any good sitting there :)

FYI, I'm pretty sure the Chase Freedom 20k points bonus is done and gone. I haven't found a recent link for it.

Is "CS" Chase Sapphire (non-preferred)? That's possibly something you could purge to open up a Chase slot (via reconsideration call; don't close it proactively).

Chase definitely has some manner of maxxes and limits in place. Not sure what, specifically. I currently have 7 (4 personal & 3 biz), and had to reallocate some credit to get the BA card approved in December. This, with a 801 FICO.

I'd suggest going into a branch and trying for the United Explorer w/ the 50k miles bonus.

If your MS is up to snuff, take a hard look at the Amex Blue Cash (the "old" card that is currently a hot topic). No AF, and 5% CB once you hit the threshold... which people on here could do in one casual week ;).

I'm a big fan of the Club Carlson card... but it's much better for int'l travel... so maybe not your cup of tea.

Otherwise, I'd say hold off and keep an eye out for some particularly lucrative offerings and cherry-pick those in an off-timetable AOR.

Any reason why you would suggest the United card for 50k over the Ink cards? CSP can transfer 1:1 to United anyways right? Or do you suggest both?

My MS isnt that high, and I want to use it for signup bonuses. Club Carlson is a no for me. I might have to do the cherry picking you suggest.

Thanks!

I'd be very careful MS'ing on the Blue Cash... Amex is the only bank I know of that does financial reviews and will shut down your cards if you're found to be MS'ing past your annual income...

I suggested the United card because it is/has been a "dying" offer for some time, whereas the Chase Ink 50k offers are always there, and in fact last summer increased slightly. Plus, there are a number of perks on United that come with the card (namely baggage and boarding). Oh yeah, you also get 5k United miles for adding an authorized user. So it's really a 55k bonus.

Don't get me wrong, I have two Chase Inks and utilitize the 5x and 2x at gas stations all the time. They're great. But they'll still be available for your next AOR.

Hi guys,

I've applied and have been insta-approved for the following:
Capital One Venture
Barclays Arrival

As a side note, how much are United miles worth? Is it enough for a RT to europe in economy/coach?
Also, is 135000 AA miles enough to take me anywhere in the world in first class RT?

Thanks

A United card can get you 56K of the 60K required for a roundtrip or two one-ways to Europe. The upcoming UA devaluation is mild to nothing in coach depending on where you want to go.

For traditional awards, both UA and AA have an award chart on their websites. That's the best place to look, as it will be the most up-to-date.

Also note that AA has what is called an "Explorer" award that is distance based, which might get you everywhere in the world you want to go on one ticket, especially if many stops are close to each other.

See: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...er-awards.html