CC strategy to maximize miles/points
#16
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
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Without knowing the route (to judge award availability), and the cost of the tickets in money (to judge the number of points required) it isn't possible to give meaningful advice. Typically a single $5,000 ticket could consume 500,000 points when using a Pay-with-Points.
#18
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
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Posts: 14,413
I am impressed that OP was able to "buy" five Biz tickets - from what I read on FT that is exceptionally rare if on a single flight (perhaps I'm assuming too much).
#19
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 262
The Ink Plus has a different earning structure than the Ink Preferred; the Ink Cash most closely resemble Ink Plus. If you want the sign up bonus and not concern about the earning, then sign up for the Preferred. Why close the Plus?
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 542
correct, not concerned about the earning structure much.
#21
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: BART Platinum, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,157
Finally, given the large number of points you hope to rapidly generate, this thread seems relevant: Used almost all my points...credit card strategy advice?
#23
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Former UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 576
If you product change your Chase Sapphire Reserve to a freedom card, you will no longer have a no transaction fee card. The product change is fine if one of your new cards has no foreign transaction fees.
The Nordstrom card has no annual fee. There is no reason to close the account. In fact, there are reasons not to close it. The Nordstrom card adds to your credit age. It is not the time to close one of your older cards when you are about to open a lot of credit cards.
As you switch to earning cash bonus on your cards, do not disregard Chase's ultimate rewards. You can use your points at the travel portal at a 1.5 rate (80,000 points -> $1,200).
Getting the Chase ink Preferred sign up bonus is great. However, I would product change your existing business card to a no fee Chase Ink business card (Chase Ink Cash or Chase Ink Unlimited).
The Nordstrom card has no annual fee. There is no reason to close the account. In fact, there are reasons not to close it. The Nordstrom card adds to your credit age. It is not the time to close one of your older cards when you are about to open a lot of credit cards.
Getting the Chase ink Preferred sign up bonus is great. However, I would product change your existing business card to a no fee Chase Ink business card (Chase Ink Cash or Chase Ink Unlimited).
Last edited by EmailKid; Sep 5, 2018 at 5:08 pm
#24
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 262
#26
Join Date: May 2015
Location: LAX, BUR
Programs: AS,AA,JB, HH Gold, Starriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Explorist, Global Entry
Posts: 1,929
This is how people accumulate mid to high six figures of URs.
Looking at the SUB only is shortsighted.
#27
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Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
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I admit this advice is difficult to accept in reality. With all the offers nowadays, even earning for self-travel can be difficult. When you have 6 people to travel and only 2 people "earning", the chance is points/miles won't help you much, i.e. either you won't be able to finish enough award seats, and/or you will end up using your money to buy tickets somehow.
In that case - a cashback card is more practical.
#28
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Former UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 576
Airbnb is probably your best bet for rooms. However, hotel cards might be worth considering. In addition, you might picking up the Capital One Venture card. This has 10% cash back when booking at hotels.com plus 10% from hotels.com. I would downgrade to the no fee Venture One card in year 2.
#29
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Former UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 576
I would cash out the Bank of America Premium Rewards card as a statement credit. You could put the flights on your Chase Sapphire Reserve for both the travel protections and 3x points. You could also use the Chase business preferred. It also has 3x on travel. In fact, you could use the tickets to meet your spend requirement.
#30
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP , Delta Gold Medallion, "Credit Card" status for various hotels
Posts: 671
IMO your time frame is too short given where you want to go, the preferred cabin (J), and the number of people traveling. If one of these factors were to change, that could change the equation. However, given these constraints, Summer of 2020 might be a better timeframe to amass the points needed.