Deciding which cards to keep
Apr 1, 2021 | 8:58 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Mass
Programs: Independent
Posts: 4,863
Deciding which cards to keep
After a rough year I am finally getting my life back in order. Outside of my mortgage, I am finally going to be done with my debt. I am really bad when it comes to budgeting and credit, and I need to drop some of my credit cards.Right now I have: DCU, Capital One, Aviator Red, Citi AA, and Delta American Express Gold and Platinum.
I actually have very specific life/flying goals. I want to get on an A380 business, I want to fly in a suite, and I want to get to Singapore. Logically that sounds like a Singapore A380, assuming they keep them around, but I am not tied to Singapore airlines by any means.
So, what those things in mind, do you think I would be better off dropping most/all of my current cards and get something that is more likely to get me points I can use for my flying goals, or would I be better off just keeping 2 or 3 of my current cards and focusing on saving enough cash to just outright by tickets? I don't fly for work, most of my flying is domestic on AA/DL/B6, and I don't have any business spending to earn a ton of Credit Card miles. At the same time, I know I have to sue credit cards, and I hate to just let all that spending go to waste.
Dilemmas, dilemmas.
I actually have very specific life/flying goals. I want to get on an A380 business, I want to fly in a suite, and I want to get to Singapore. Logically that sounds like a Singapore A380, assuming they keep them around, but I am not tied to Singapore airlines by any means.
So, what those things in mind, do you think I would be better off dropping most/all of my current cards and get something that is more likely to get me points I can use for my flying goals, or would I be better off just keeping 2 or 3 of my current cards and focusing on saving enough cash to just outright by tickets? I don't fly for work, most of my flying is domestic on AA/DL/B6, and I don't have any business spending to earn a ton of Credit Card miles. At the same time, I know I have to sue credit cards, and I hate to just let all that spending go to waste.
Dilemmas, dilemmas.
Apr 1, 2021 | 10:00 pm
#2
Flyertalk Posting Legend Moderator: Credit Card Programs, American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Diners Club, Eco Travel, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
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2. Are both of your American Express cards co-branded Skymiles cards? If yes, why do you need both? If not, please clarify so that we understand which cards you have.
Apr 2, 2021 | 8:30 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Mass
Programs: Independent
Posts: 4,863
I got them a couple of years ago to get the sign-up bonus miles. I don't need both - and that is one of the reasons I want to drop some. I will kind of have an opportunity after paying off some debt and a few other issues that is going tobalance out the hit on my credit score I will take for closing out some credit cards, which is why I want to do that now.
Apr 3, 2021 | 11:16 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Flyover Country
Posts: 232
Congrats on getting rid of your non-mortgage debt! Permit me to put on my Captain Obvious cap and encourage you to avoid new debt on credit cards as you pursue this.
If you choose the obvious goal of Singapore Airlines, you will need KrisFlyer miles. These are easy to earn, nearly all the major flexible points cards can transfer to them. The bad news is that I understand Singapore doesnt release a lot of the luxury seats for award travel. That was before the pandemic, I assume things wont change, but dont have actual knowledge.
If you choose to go with Singapore as your target airline, most any of the good flexible point cards will do. Because the annual fee is low, and the earning rates are good, I personally am a fan of the Citi Premier combined with the Citi Double Cash, but there are many options. You could collect bonuses from other flexible point cards as well of course. You mention debt and turmoil, if that shows up in your credit rating youll want to get whatever you decide will be your key card(s) first and verify that your credit rating is good enough before applying. Unless you are using your airline cards extensively for boarding and luggage privileges, they may not be much help. Before canceling all of them, think about how shrinking your amount of total credit can hurt your credit rating if it causes your utilization percentage to go up.
if you want to shoot for one of the other airlines still flying the 380, you may have a slightly different path, but whichever you choose, you run the risk of the airline joining the crowd and grounding the big airliners. Flexible point cards would definitely lower the risk. It may be worth researching which flexible point systems are most oriented towards the airlines still flying the big metal.
If you choose the obvious goal of Singapore Airlines, you will need KrisFlyer miles. These are easy to earn, nearly all the major flexible points cards can transfer to them. The bad news is that I understand Singapore doesnt release a lot of the luxury seats for award travel. That was before the pandemic, I assume things wont change, but dont have actual knowledge.
If you choose to go with Singapore as your target airline, most any of the good flexible point cards will do. Because the annual fee is low, and the earning rates are good, I personally am a fan of the Citi Premier combined with the Citi Double Cash, but there are many options. You could collect bonuses from other flexible point cards as well of course. You mention debt and turmoil, if that shows up in your credit rating youll want to get whatever you decide will be your key card(s) first and verify that your credit rating is good enough before applying. Unless you are using your airline cards extensively for boarding and luggage privileges, they may not be much help. Before canceling all of them, think about how shrinking your amount of total credit can hurt your credit rating if it causes your utilization percentage to go up.
if you want to shoot for one of the other airlines still flying the 380, you may have a slightly different path, but whichever you choose, you run the risk of the airline joining the crowd and grounding the big airliners. Flexible point cards would definitely lower the risk. It may be worth researching which flexible point systems are most oriented towards the airlines still flying the big metal.
Apr 4, 2021 | 12:08 am
#5
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
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Sadly, the ideal (IMHO) solution would have been to fly Hi Fly's A380 that they kept in original Singapore configuration, alas Coronavirus apparently ended that.
It would have offered a true SQ suite at an affordable price (it was my plan to fly in one prior to pandemic) and then an opportunity to fly any Biz class to Singapore using miles.
I've flown TG's A380 in their First Class just prior to UA jacking up Int'l FC mile requirement (many, many moons ago), but strongly suspect that SQ in Biz would have been a more amazing experience on A380 (not so much on intra Asia Biz, that left me somewhat underwhelmed). At least I got to drink Dom Perignon on my TG flight
It would have offered a true SQ suite at an affordable price (it was my plan to fly in one prior to pandemic) and then an opportunity to fly any Biz class to Singapore using miles.
I've flown TG's A380 in their First Class just prior to UA jacking up Int'l FC mile requirement (many, many moons ago), but strongly suspect that SQ in Biz would have been a more amazing experience on A380 (not so much on intra Asia Biz, that left me somewhat underwhelmed). At least I got to drink Dom Perignon on my TG flight