Looking for advice on future CC spending / programs
 

I currently have three main spending credit cards (Citi AA Platinum, Amex HHonors, Chase Sapphire Preferred), and it is these three that I ran the numbers on. I didn't include other cards and their sign up bonuses because that would have skewed the results. My reason for comparison is the Bank of America Travel Rewards card, which offers me 2.625 cents per dollar of statement credit. That's a lot, and I wanted to see what the best move for me is for 2016.

These numbers are from the most recent 8 months. I'm actually pretty upset at myself. I just spent 150k AA miles and 620k HHonors points on a 2 week trip for my parents, first class airfare and some expensive NYC hotel rooms. I didn't remember to check the $ cost of these bookings, so I have no basis of what value I got for those points

*Summary*

Combined CC spend - $79,696.21
Combined value of points, estimated low end - $1409.76
Combined value of points, estimated high end - $2124.70
True cash Value of BoA rewards @ 2.625% - $2092.03 (+$190 in annual fees not spent = $2282.03)

I travel a ton for work and have very minimal desire to use points on personal travel. Over the last year I have given, or very cheaply sold, award flights and hotels to family to the tune of 1.5mm points. I'm leaning towards utilizing the BoA Travel Rewards plan and just putting the cash in my pocket.

Thoughts?

You seem to valuing the points relatively highly in the comparisons. If it was cash, would you have still spent the money on those trips? If yes, then points come close. Another reason to get points is that I've found family is more accepting of point gifts than money gifts.

Otherwise, cash seems like a much better value.

You might also mix up the spend. It sounds like the 1.5mm was low value redemptions and the 800k for your parents might have been high value.

Finally, you might have a decent shot at annual fee waivers.

IMHO - You used the wrong approach.

Airlines and hotels provide award based on their excess capacities. So the true value of the redemption is always an unknown.

If you truly worry about how much you can earn, you should stick with cash back cards like Chase Freedom.

For redemption value, you are always your own judge if it is worth it.