Used almost all my points...credit card strategy advice?
Sep 10, 2017, 5:57 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 2
Used almost all my points...credit card strategy advice?
Through about 2 years of signup bonuses and spending with the Citi Aadvantage Card, Amex SPG, Chase Sapphire, Barclay Aviator, and United Card I have been able to book 2 pretty nice vacations for my family (4 people). However, I am down to about 5,000 points on American Airlines and 20,000 on United. I seem to have all the cards that have offered the large sign-up bonuses. My wife also has several of these cards and she has been accumulating points but not enough for family-of-4 vacations. I was looking for advice for next steps and where I should go from here in order to re-up my miles?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Sep 10, 2017, 9:07 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 401
It seems like your only options at this point would be MS or organic spend. The good thing is that you did this over 2 years, so Citi's 2-year rule and 5/24 from Chase should hopefully be up soon so you could receive those signup bonuses again.
Sep 10, 2017, 9:59 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Oregon
Programs: Nothing spectacular
Posts: 34
Just make sure your spending on all your cards in the most efficient way possible. 2+ miles for every dollar on pretty much everything. Also, make sure to utilize any and all bonus categories, dining and shopping portals, quarterly spend bonuses, etc. It will be slow from hereon out, but at least it will be sure.
Sep 11, 2017, 3:37 am
#4
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
FWIW - welcoming bonuses are not supposed to pay for travel of multiple persons. While you are successful in doing so, it also means you exhaust most of the available avenues.
Sep 11, 2017, 8:21 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 2
I suspected this. To receive these cards again, would I have to cancel them or is downgrading them OK? Any recommendations on downgrades to cards without AF?
Sep 11, 2017, 8:52 am
#7
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 401
Sep 11, 2017, 9:31 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Traveling some where hopefully
Programs: AS, AA Gold, and Hilton
Posts: 1,954
A very good idea, you may burn a lot of bridges with multiple banks that you may need later in life. Sorry but most Banks catch on over time. The other option is buy tickets.
Sep 12, 2017, 6:31 pm
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
I'm not in the same situation, but I do seem to be out of credit card options. My current incentive is on a AAdvantage Platinum Select, which I can only do because I haven't opened or closed one of those in 24 months.
Exhausted options:
Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select - just got, need to spend $1000, easy.
Chase British Airways - 50,000 Avios for me, 50,000 Avios for spouse, recently finished
Chase Sapphire Preferred - got the bonus the last year, not sure I need this card anymore.
Chase Ink Business Plus - got the bonus the last year, I use this card a lot.
Citi AAdvantage Gold - my oldest credit card, don't want to cancel it
CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select - been there, done that
Amex SPG - recently finished the 25,000 + 25,000 SPG points for self and spouse.
Barclaycard Aviator - done within last 24 months (me and spouse)
United Explorer - done recently
Not done:
Citi AAdvantage Executive - fee $450 for 75,000 miles, spend $7500, which I can do.
I have just over 900,000 miles in the bank split as follows:
United 60,000
AA 675,000
BA 400
Ultimate Rewards Points 170,000
the SPG points were transferred to AA, The BA points were spent on business class tickets to Europe, with a minor augmentation via Ultimate Rewards points.
I seldom travel and when I do it's using award tickets to Europe in Business Class. All of my miles are generated through credit card bonuses and spending.
I'm not sure what I can do next. I just applied for the new Chase Ink Business Preferred but expect to be turned down because of too many new Chase cards within the last 2 years.
I'm not seeing a good card for me at this point. I would love suggestions.
My only option I'm seeing is Chase Sapphire Preferred for spouse, or United Explorer for spouse...
Help?
Exhausted options:
Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select - just got, need to spend $1000, easy.
Chase British Airways - 50,000 Avios for me, 50,000 Avios for spouse, recently finished
Chase Sapphire Preferred - got the bonus the last year, not sure I need this card anymore.
Chase Ink Business Plus - got the bonus the last year, I use this card a lot.
Citi AAdvantage Gold - my oldest credit card, don't want to cancel it
CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select - been there, done that
Amex SPG - recently finished the 25,000 + 25,000 SPG points for self and spouse.
Barclaycard Aviator - done within last 24 months (me and spouse)
United Explorer - done recently
Not done:
Citi AAdvantage Executive - fee $450 for 75,000 miles, spend $7500, which I can do.
I have just over 900,000 miles in the bank split as follows:
United 60,000
AA 675,000
BA 400
Ultimate Rewards Points 170,000
the SPG points were transferred to AA, The BA points were spent on business class tickets to Europe, with a minor augmentation via Ultimate Rewards points.
I seldom travel and when I do it's using award tickets to Europe in Business Class. All of my miles are generated through credit card bonuses and spending.
I'm not sure what I can do next. I just applied for the new Chase Ink Business Preferred but expect to be turned down because of too many new Chase cards within the last 2 years.
I'm not seeing a good card for me at this point. I would love suggestions.
My only option I'm seeing is Chase Sapphire Preferred for spouse, or United Explorer for spouse...
Help?
Sep 12, 2017, 10:10 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,066
I'm not in the same situation, but I do seem to be out of credit card options. My current incentive is on a AAdvantage Platinum Select, which I can only do because I haven't opened or closed one of those in 24 months.
Exhausted options:
Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select - just got, need to spend $1000, easy.
Chase British Airways - 50,000 Avios for me, 50,000 Avios for spouse, recently finished
Chase Sapphire Preferred - got the bonus the last year, not sure I need this card anymore.
Chase Ink Business Plus - got the bonus the last year, I use this card a lot.
Citi AAdvantage Gold - my oldest credit card, don't want to cancel it
CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select - been there, done that
Amex SPG - recently finished the 25,000 + 25,000 SPG points for self and spouse.
Barclaycard Aviator - done within last 24 months (me and spouse)
United Explorer - done recently
Not done:
Citi AAdvantage Executive - fee $450 for 75,000 miles, spend $7500, which I can do.
I have just over 900,000 miles in the bank split as follows:
United 60,000
AA 675,000
BA 400
Ultimate Rewards Points 170,000
the SPG points were transferred to AA, The BA points were spent on business class tickets to Europe, with a minor augmentation via Ultimate Rewards points.
I seldom travel and when I do it's using award tickets to Europe in Business Class. All of my miles are generated through credit card bonuses and spending.
I'm not sure what I can do next. I just applied for the new Chase Ink Business Preferred but expect to be turned down because of too many new Chase cards within the last 2 years.
I'm not seeing a good card for me at this point. I would love suggestions.
My only option I'm seeing is Chase Sapphire Preferred for spouse, or United Explorer for spouse...
Help?
Exhausted options:
Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select - just got, need to spend $1000, easy.
Chase British Airways - 50,000 Avios for me, 50,000 Avios for spouse, recently finished
Chase Sapphire Preferred - got the bonus the last year, not sure I need this card anymore.
Chase Ink Business Plus - got the bonus the last year, I use this card a lot.
Citi AAdvantage Gold - my oldest credit card, don't want to cancel it
CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select - been there, done that
Amex SPG - recently finished the 25,000 + 25,000 SPG points for self and spouse.
Barclaycard Aviator - done within last 24 months (me and spouse)
United Explorer - done recently
Not done:
Citi AAdvantage Executive - fee $450 for 75,000 miles, spend $7500, which I can do.
I have just over 900,000 miles in the bank split as follows:
United 60,000
AA 675,000
BA 400
Ultimate Rewards Points 170,000
the SPG points were transferred to AA, The BA points were spent on business class tickets to Europe, with a minor augmentation via Ultimate Rewards points.
I seldom travel and when I do it's using award tickets to Europe in Business Class. All of my miles are generated through credit card bonuses and spending.
I'm not sure what I can do next. I just applied for the new Chase Ink Business Preferred but expect to be turned down because of too many new Chase cards within the last 2 years.
I'm not seeing a good card for me at this point. I would love suggestions.
My only option I'm seeing is Chase Sapphire Preferred for spouse, or United Explorer for spouse...
Help?
BofA Alaska Airlines for 30K - not a big sign up bonus but most awards on Alaska cost less miles.
Sep 13, 2017, 4:47 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811