App Advice
 

Hey guys,

I'm considering adding to my collection of cards and wanted some advice. This started because I was thinking about jumping onto the Amex Gold 50k card match offer and then started thinking that I might want to just do a little app-o-rama while I'm at it.

Reasons I want the cards -- domestic econ where it makes sense, intentional business/first awards, help out with hotel stays if possible.

Cards I have/had recently:
Citi Dividend (don't use, but my oldest card)
Chase Sapphire Preferred (dining/travel)
Barclaycard Arrival (misc spend)
BoA Cashback (used to be Schwab 2% cash back, now it's the Americard... still no international or annual fees)
Chase United Mileage Plus (got the 50k bonus, recently xfered credit line to the CSP and closed it before the annual fee hit)

Cards I'm considering:
Amex Gold (50k signup, don't have any other Amex)
Starwood Amex (30k signup?, don't really stay at Starwood properties much, but the starpoints are valuable)
Chase Southwest Card (50k signup?, about to take a new job in San Diego so southwest points would help getting to see family back east)
Chase Freedom (10k signup? plays well with the CSP -- should I hold out for a better signup?)
Chase IHG Rewards (80k signup? Lots of IHG hotels around the world, help out with stays)
Citi AA (50k signup? I'm not a huge AA flyer (mostly United), but given the UA devaluation and the fact that I don't have many Citi cards, might be worth it?)

I'm not going to apply for everything on the "considerations" list, but I'd consider applying for several of them. I think the Amex Gold is a definite with the 50k points, but almost all of the others I'm on the fence about. Most of them I'd probably cancel before the annual fee hits. I'm not sure how many Chase cards I should carry...

Thoughts? Advice? Thanks!

App Advice
 

Personally I have found the Ultimate Rewards as more valuable than Membership Rewards. We also love our SPG cards because there are lots of low redemption hotels and the cash & points option. Lastly, I love my Southwest card because of low flight redemptions.

1. Convert that BOA cash rewards to the one that gets you 25$ quarterly statement credits.
2. Apply for the freedom, you should have this card and spend the categories. 1500 x 4 x 5% = 30,000 UR points. Try to max each category out, at the very least gas. Buy gift cards if need be to shift spending.
3. IHG is nice and you will never close the card for the free annual night. May jump on this for easy spend to.
4. Southwest I would plan if you can swing 2 cards for companion pass, i made the mistake when i first started of not doing it...
5. After the freedom and IHG (consider hyatt?) at the same time try another bank like citi or amex. It will really depend on your monthly spend to see what you can do.
6 Don't forget about the us airways card, 0 spend needed (I put 15$...)
7. Hawaiian airlines cards are not a bad way to get miles for partners and Hilton. What are your 1-2 year travel goals (even if they aren't solid plans you should always have a goal...)
8. I need to get on the starwood one personally but with limited monthly spend and I am not a crazy MSer as some people I need to dedicate a good chunk for this. If you can go for it.



hyatt card make sure you have a specific redemption in mind before applying. Same with some Hilton cards.

Thanks for the tips.

I don't really want to convert the BoA card to anything right now because I'm grandfathered in with 0% foreign transaction fee and I'd rather not lose that if I alter it.

Does the freedom ever have better signup offers that are worth holding out for? More than the 10k?

I won't be able to swing a companion pass with the Southwest card, so that's a downside. Is there a concern if I go for the Southwest & IHG cards (in addition to the CSP, and potentially the Freedom)? How much can I push Chase at once?

I'm interested in the Citi AA card to help diversify me away from just having United points. Plus I'm hoping to get back to South America soon and AA is much better for that than UA.

The freedom does 15,000 and 20,000 signups sometimes.

you have a CSP, holding onto the boa for foreign transaction is worthless. Its a waste of a card. So many have no foreign fees, the southwest doesn't have it either. Make some money off of it...

Chase is alright for doing two different ones. I wouldn't push 3 though right away. Freedom is more versatile since you have the CSP.

AA isn't a bad idea. They have some decent rewards options (flying them first class to Hawaii for my honeymoon in September, costing me 75,000 miles for 2 people 1 way. That would be worth over $5-6,000)

The southwest card is always having the 50k offer, and will have it again next year in the fall I bet. I would go with IHG which is normally 60k but is at 80k right now.

Get the AA card since the IHG and freedom take very little spend.

What kind of monthly spend are you looking at anyway? Some amex ones have some pretty high spend but can be nice to have diversity. Always be on the look out for another 100k public platinum card offer.

As far as pushing chase 5 cards is usually comfortable with them. I have always had 4 and moving to 5 soon. Some people have even more than 5, but that is up to you. All of their offers are so tempting it is tough to choose...

If I were you (guessing on your spending here):
Freedom
IHG
Us Airways
AA (60k offer? idn what the highest is atm)
Hilton amex (very low spend card)

Might want to consider also the citi hilton visa card is very churnable for 50k points atm. Realize Hilton was devalued but it is the most churnable card and mine as well jump on that while you still can. But you need to space out with AA app wise. read the wikis

Bill -- thanks for the comments.

I can do 2.5k+/month spend w/o any trouble. Right now I'm leaning Amex Gold, Chase IHG, and Citi AA. I kind of want to wait on the Chase Freedom and hope for a 15k or 20k offer if it's out there.

IHG & USAIR For Sure
 

I would go for both of these cards. Get in on the USAIR cards before the merger for extra AA miles in the future. Barclay usually allows you to get 2 cards too.

IHG is one of my favorite cards. AF is very reasonable and the free nights more than make up for it. Plus you get the highest status which can be pretty nice.