Need help on which card to get next!
Apr 16, 2015 | 12:58 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 68
Need help on which card to get next!
Noob here needing some advice. I've read every wiki and online blog about churning but I can figure out my next card. I want to venture out beyond Chase but not sure who to go with.
Credit Score (CK): TU: 727 EQ: 729
Current Cards:
BofA Cash Rewards (12/2013)
Freedom (2/11/15)
CSP (4/8/15)
My target it to rack up enough points to use from a year from now using regular expenses ($2500/month and MS (I have 2 RedBirds)). Im looking for 1 or 2 cards to add on within the next 3 months but Im not sure if I should go with. I can wait for a good AMEX bonus to start getting MR with PRG or Everyday or just go with the SPG since everything Ive read about that card is great but I don't get any targeted offers from AMEX yet.
I'm also thinking about the Barclays Arrival Plus or the Venture.
Any other recommendations for me on what to add on within the 3-6 months would be appreciated too! I just need someone to help steer me in the right direction.
Current points: 18K UR and Im Ill be done with my spending requirement for my CSP by the end of the month.
Airport: TUS or PHX
My Goals:
Drive to San Diego with my SO and our 2yo next March and stay in a high category hotel.
Fly to Europe (Spain and France) and/or Hawaii with my SO within 1-2 years from now with hotel stay.
Fly to SFO/SJC and SJU is also a possibility.
Thank you!
Credit Score (CK): TU: 727 EQ: 729
Current Cards:
BofA Cash Rewards (12/2013)
Freedom (2/11/15)
CSP (4/8/15)
My target it to rack up enough points to use from a year from now using regular expenses ($2500/month and MS (I have 2 RedBirds)). Im looking for 1 or 2 cards to add on within the next 3 months but Im not sure if I should go with. I can wait for a good AMEX bonus to start getting MR with PRG or Everyday or just go with the SPG since everything Ive read about that card is great but I don't get any targeted offers from AMEX yet.
I'm also thinking about the Barclays Arrival Plus or the Venture.
Any other recommendations for me on what to add on within the 3-6 months would be appreciated too! I just need someone to help steer me in the right direction.
Current points: 18K UR and Im Ill be done with my spending requirement for my CSP by the end of the month.
Airport: TUS or PHX
My Goals:
Drive to San Diego with my SO and our 2yo next March and stay in a high category hotel.
Fly to Europe (Spain and France) and/or Hawaii with my SO within 1-2 years from now with hotel stay.
Fly to SFO/SJC and SJU is also a possibility.
Thank you!
Apr 17, 2015 | 7:55 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SMF
Posts: 1,251
Based on your travel goals, have you considered the British Airways card? The current 50k sign up bonus is enough for 2 r/t tickets from the west coast. Southwest could also be a good bet with the 60k offer floating around out there. In regards to the SPG amex, I think it's overrated by all the blogs. It's definitely a good card, I've had mine for several years now, but it's really better for day to day spending than for the sign up bonus. if you know exactly what you'd spend the points on then it will be easy to calculate how much the bonus is worth and if that's worth it to you, but you usually don't get very good redemption values with spg in hawaii.
Apr 17, 2015 | 9:21 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 68
Thank you for the reply. Wouldn't it be not so good to have applied for 4 Chase cards in a row? Since I just got the Freedom and CSP. Maybe I could add the AMEX PRG and Everyday in between the British Airway and SW?
Apr 17, 2015 | 9:37 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CLT
Programs: AA, AS, UA, BA, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,075
Sounds like you should focus on BA Avios (for domestic including Hawaii) and United. So CSP takes care of both of those, but you can get BA Avios faster with several cards:
Chase BA (50K, 1 mile per $1)
Amex Everyday Preferred (15K, 1.5 miles per $1 if you > 30 transactions per cycle)
Amex SPG (30K including transfer bonus, 1.25 miles per $1)
Amex PRG (25K, 1 mile per $1)
For hotels, look into the ones that offer free nights with sign up:
Citi Hilton Reserve (2 weekend nights)
Chase Hyatt (2 nights)
And, of course, as you mentioned, fixed value travel rewards cards such as Arrival are good for plugging in holes where you don't have points or want an independent hotel / accommodation.
I would get the EDP or SPG now and maybe do the BA later in the year if needed to space out your apps.
Chase BA (50K, 1 mile per $1)
Amex Everyday Preferred (15K, 1.5 miles per $1 if you > 30 transactions per cycle)
Amex SPG (30K including transfer bonus, 1.25 miles per $1)
Amex PRG (25K, 1 mile per $1)
For hotels, look into the ones that offer free nights with sign up:
Citi Hilton Reserve (2 weekend nights)
Chase Hyatt (2 nights)
And, of course, as you mentioned, fixed value travel rewards cards such as Arrival are good for plugging in holes where you don't have points or want an independent hotel / accommodation.
I would get the EDP or SPG now and maybe do the BA later in the year if needed to space out your apps.
Apr 17, 2015 | 10:34 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 139
Chase has some of the best cards out there, but I think you're wise to space out your apps.
Thanks for so clearly stating your goals and nearby airports, that makes it so much easier to offer advice.
I'd give my vote to SPG AX and Barclay's Arrival+ based on your goals.
SPG has Nights and Flights packages that you should look into. The nice thing about that is for 60,000 pts (Cat. 3) or 70,000 pts. (Cat.4), 50,000 of the redeemed points go to any of Starwood's airline 1:1 partners (e.g. BA, AA, many others) and you get 5 nights at a Cat. 3 or 4 Starwood property. It has a $65 annual fee, but with AMEX Offers I recoup that fee easily. The Cat. 3 and 4 properties may not be as high end as Hyatt but you'd have another Chase card if you apply for the Hyatt CC.
Barclay's Arrival+ MC is a great card, especially if you're looking at foreign travel since it is a chip + PIN card (not chip + signature) which is widely accepted worldwide and there's no foreign transaction fee. The annual fee at $89 is a little steep, though the sign up bonus covers that for a few years.
I too am looking at which card I should apply for next. Decisions, decisions.
Thanks for so clearly stating your goals and nearby airports, that makes it so much easier to offer advice.
I'd give my vote to SPG AX and Barclay's Arrival+ based on your goals.
SPG has Nights and Flights packages that you should look into. The nice thing about that is for 60,000 pts (Cat. 3) or 70,000 pts. (Cat.4), 50,000 of the redeemed points go to any of Starwood's airline 1:1 partners (e.g. BA, AA, many others) and you get 5 nights at a Cat. 3 or 4 Starwood property. It has a $65 annual fee, but with AMEX Offers I recoup that fee easily. The Cat. 3 and 4 properties may not be as high end as Hyatt but you'd have another Chase card if you apply for the Hyatt CC.
Barclay's Arrival+ MC is a great card, especially if you're looking at foreign travel since it is a chip + PIN card (not chip + signature) which is widely accepted worldwide and there's no foreign transaction fee. The annual fee at $89 is a little steep, though the sign up bonus covers that for a few years.
I too am looking at which card I should apply for next. Decisions, decisions.
Apr 17, 2015 | 10:53 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 68
Thank you dukerau!
This was the quality reply that I've been patiently wait for the last two days!
I think I have an idea of my next plan.
Right when I'm about to hit my min spend for CSP I will apply for:
AMEX PRG (hopefully 50k bonus will still show up)
AMEX EDP (immediately after PRG so it'll count as one pull)
Then MS as much UR and MR that I can for a few months.
3-9 months from now apply for:
Chase BA
AMEX SPG
Barclays Arrival Plus
I know I'm a beginner but I pay a lot of attention to detail so I think this hobby will suit me well for my family and I. All I need is someone that's been in the game to guide me in the right direction to maximize hard pulls and bonuses.
This was the quality reply that I've been patiently wait for the last two days!
I think I have an idea of my next plan.
Right when I'm about to hit my min spend for CSP I will apply for:
AMEX PRG (hopefully 50k bonus will still show up)
AMEX EDP (immediately after PRG so it'll count as one pull)
Then MS as much UR and MR that I can for a few months.
3-9 months from now apply for:
Chase BA
AMEX SPG
Barclays Arrival Plus
I know I'm a beginner but I pay a lot of attention to detail so I think this hobby will suit me well for my family and I. All I need is someone that's been in the game to guide me in the right direction to maximize hard pulls and bonuses.
Apr 17, 2015 | 11:01 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 68
SPG has Nights and Flights packages that you should look into. The nice thing about that is for 60,000 pts (Cat. 3) or 70,000 pts. (Cat.4), 50,000 of the redeemed points go to any of Starwood's airline 1:1 partners (e.g. BA, AA, many others) and you get 5 nights at a Cat. 3 or 4 Starwood property. It has a $65 annual fee, but with AMEX Offers I recoup that fee easily. The Cat. 3 and 4 properties may not be as high end as Hyatt but you'd have another Chase card if you apply for the Hyatt CC.
