CSP or AMEX?
 

I'm looking to add a new card soon and I'm interested in travel rewards with high point value. I have 750+ credit and looking for $5,000 or less min spend. I currently have Capital One Venture, SPG and Serve. I don't have a particular trip in mind - but I'd like to travel somewhere in Asia or SA in the next 6 months.

I'd likely gear these points towards airline travel. Since I do most of my traveling out of ATL, I'm wondering if there is any advantage to getting a delta skymiles card - but I hear that the point value is pretty weak. On the other hand, I can use the Serve to hit high minimums if the deal is right.

Or is something like CSP the best card to get? I can see the flexibility being advantageous because I wouldnt be confined to Delta and the card generally gets high marks.

Is there something I'm overlooking? General advice? Thanks!

You already have flexibility with the Starwood Preferred Guest program. You can transfer to about 34 airlines, including Delta.

American Express Membership Rewards transfers to 16 airlines (including Delta), 4 hotel programs.

Citi ThankYou Rewards transfers to 11 airlines (not Delta), 1 hotel program.

Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to 6 airlines (not Delta), 3 hotel programs, and Amtrak (which might leave soon). The value at Chase is not flexibility, their program is disappointing in that regard, it's primarily access to United Airlines and Hyatt Hotels.

If you fly on Delta and live in ATL I can't believe you don't have a skymiles card already. The benefits are real, companion ticket, free bags, can get into skyclub for reduced amount. Think you get a break on shopping and drinks on board (20% off?), combine with skymiles dining for more miles.

The miles can be hard to spend for airfare but if you book early enough you won't have a problem. I too my kids to London for 60k miles each round trip and that was on Virgin Altantic which is better service than Delta. I'm looking to go to europe again and I see that I can get a one way trip to some cities for 30k miles, I'd fly standby coming back if I did that.

I see your point. Is there a specific card you recommend?

Do you fly enough to earn Medallion status on Delta? Do you fly an amount that brings you "close" to a Medallion level which you don't quite reach? If yes, look at the SkyMiles Platinum Credit Card. Otherwise, Gold is probably the place to start.

It's true that the Delta card can be worth it for the benefits, but it's never worth putting any spend on it more than required to reap the benefits. If you want Delta miles, you're much better off with Amex Everyday (1.2 miles per $1 if you do >= 20 transactions per month, no annual fee) or Amex Everyday Preferred (1.5 miles per $1 if you do >= 30 transactions per month, $95 annual fee). The added bonus is that the Everyday cards earn Membership Rewards, which can be kept as flexible currency until award flights are located. Then you can transfer to whichever program necessary, Delta included.

That's a high risk play - flying standby for Europe-US flights. Especially with multiple travelers. Not a recommended strategy. If I were ever to travel without return flights already secured, I'd feel much more comfortable sitting on a bank of flexible point currency (Amex MR, Chase UR) ready to pounce on an available return flight than flying standby.

Since you have only a couple cards, I assume there's a chance you're pretty new to this hobby. If you think you might like the benefits of CSP, and you plan on applying to more than just a few cards in the next year or two, you should get the CSP before you get anything else due to Chase's 5 app rule for UR earning cards. Though Chase has less transfer options, they are good options - especially United to use for free stopover at hub airports, which United's Star Alliance has a handful of in Asia.

I never saw too much value in the Delta CCs or program...only in the signup bonuses when they go up to 50k. If you plan to definitely use Delta for a majority of your travels then it makes sense, but with no award chart and low value points, it's a crapshoot how much any flight you look for may cost though.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

As of yesterday (August 12), Amex was offering 50K MR points with only $1K spend for their Premier Rewards Gold personal card. Offer was available at www.americanexpress.com via Internet Explorer. (Different, inferior offer coming up with other browsers.)

That may be but you're missing two or three nice benefits on Delta choosing those cards over a Delta branded card. With Delta skymiles card you get a companion certificate annually, free bags, and access to skylounge. And following Guv's advice, you get 50k miles after $1000 spend. That almost gets you to europe alone.

Of course there is a cost to get those companion certs. The free companion cert has a $195 annual fee (skymiles platinum), the $99 companion cert comes with a $95 annual fee I think (Gold). So you only make money if flying coast to coast with a companion cert.