Unofficial Official Credit Card Optimization Thread
Apr 1, 2007 | 6:07 pm
#16
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 3,948
Well I will be glad to tell you:
Every purchase I make is made with a credit card or I pretty much don't make it. I never carry cash. I have found that two cards do what I need for purchases. I carry many others but I will keep it to the ones that I use. At the beginning of each year I spend $50,001.00 on Merrill+ and then I get my AC membership and sometimes pull of a dual on CRC as well. I then switch all of my purchases to DL AX or AA MC where AX is not accepted. I maintain a Platinum for DL, CO & NW club access and Chairman for PP access and Centurion for what benefits are left. If I am in Europe I use a MC issued on a European bank and in the UK I use a credit card issued in the UK. For those other countries and some large purchases I use a Credit Union credit card for the 1% foreign fee. So there you have it in order.
1. MC Merrill+ to > $50k then
2. AX Delta Skymiles for all purchases
3. MC AAdvantage where AX is not accepted and I rotate annually to avoid the fee.
4. Maintain a Chairman for PP access.
5. Maintain a Centurion for benefits.
6. Maintain a AX Platinum for DL, CO & NW club access.
7. Euro Credit Card for countries using the Euro.
8. UK Credit Card for the UK.
9. A Credit Union Credit Card for any other country.
Just a note, I maintain many AX cards. DL Skymiles Gold, DL Skymiles Plat, DL Skymiles Business Gold, DL Skymiles Plat and several accounts of each so that I can rotate spending based on who is offering triple rewards.
Every purchase I make is made with a credit card or I pretty much don't make it. I never carry cash. I have found that two cards do what I need for purchases. I carry many others but I will keep it to the ones that I use. At the beginning of each year I spend $50,001.00 on Merrill+ and then I get my AC membership and sometimes pull of a dual on CRC as well. I then switch all of my purchases to DL AX or AA MC where AX is not accepted. I maintain a Platinum for DL, CO & NW club access and Chairman for PP access and Centurion for what benefits are left. If I am in Europe I use a MC issued on a European bank and in the UK I use a credit card issued in the UK. For those other countries and some large purchases I use a Credit Union credit card for the 1% foreign fee. So there you have it in order.
1. MC Merrill+ to > $50k then
2. AX Delta Skymiles for all purchases
3. MC AAdvantage where AX is not accepted and I rotate annually to avoid the fee.
4. Maintain a Chairman for PP access.
5. Maintain a Centurion for benefits.
6. Maintain a AX Platinum for DL, CO & NW club access.
7. Euro Credit Card for countries using the Euro.
8. UK Credit Card for the UK.
9. A Credit Union Credit Card for any other country.
Just a note, I maintain many AX cards. DL Skymiles Gold, DL Skymiles Plat, DL Skymiles Business Gold, DL Skymiles Plat and several accounts of each so that I can rotate spending based on who is offering triple rewards.
Can you please let me know how to get a credit card issued on a European or UK bank?
Apr 1, 2007 | 8:21 pm
#17
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Alabama / Georgia
Programs: DL, HHonors, AA, US, Aloha Pass, BA, CO, HawaiianMiles, Chairman, Centurion, AXP, MR, MHC Gold
Posts: 3,467
Move to the country of choice for a short period of time, establish a residence (rental of course) deposit funds into a local bank account. Have your letter from your long term banker recommending you along with 6 months of statements on your checking and credit card showing an excellent pay history and a copy of your US utility bill and your local utility bill and a passport and you are in business. If this doesn't work for you then the Isle of Mann is open to US Citizens without living there.
Apr 2, 2007 | 1:57 pm
#18
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List Preferred, CLEAR+, Covid-19, NK Gold
Posts: 5,272
Apr 2, 2007 | 2:09 pm
#19
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Leesburg, VA AA EXP, 2MM lifetime
Programs: SPG PLT, Hyatt Diamond, 10% progress towards lifetime Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 2,347
Must just be a YMMV thing. I have two Costcos near me. One can sometimes have a line, but the other one is always "in and out", and at least a dime cheaper than the cheapest gas in town.
Apr 2, 2007 | 2:30 pm
#20
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: HY
Programs: AA-EXP (3.3MM), AAirpass, SQ-PPS Solitaire, DL-PM (.777MM), SPG-Plat, HH-D
Posts: 2,307
I really don't feel this is a FT related thread. It seems that for it to be FT related it should have some bearing on either Flying or Travelling not getting cash. Don't get me wrong, I love information of all kinds, I just don't feel this meets the relm of FT. Am I the only one that feels this way?
Thanks for this thread, who knows, maybe miles/points is not the way to go anymore?
Apr 2, 2007 | 2:36 pm
#21
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: HY
Programs: AA-EXP (3.3MM), AAirpass, SQ-PPS Solitaire, DL-PM (.777MM), SPG-Plat, HH-D
Posts: 2,307
Move to the country of choice for a short period of time, establish a residence (rental of course) deposit funds into a local bank account. Have your letter from your long term banker recommending you along with 6 months of statements on your checking and credit card showing an excellent pay history and a copy of your US utility bill and your local utility bill and a passport and you are in business.
All you need is a proof of residency in most European countries to get a credit card, depends by country and their credit verification systems.
Apr 2, 2007 | 3:28 pm
#22
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 211
Apparently! ... i applied for a Amex Dollar card, and that is what they asked for. My permanent recidency is not here so that was easy. All they need is proof of your income ... most of them are worried about your income than credit ratings.
Apr 2, 2007 | 3:32 pm
#23
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Riverside, CA
Posts: 19
This one is based around earning thankyou points. Would like to know what others are doing to max out thankyou points.
Here's what I do:
Restaurants:
Citi MtvU. 5 points per dollar.
Travel:
Citi PPE: 1 point per dollar + 1 point per mile flown = 2 points per dollar. Works for buying other flyer tickets.
Gas & Groceries:
Citi Driver's Edge: 6 points per dollar (for first year) + 1 point per mile driven = 12 points per dollar.
Movies & Books:
Citi MtvU. 5 points per dollar.
Everything Else:
Citi PPE: 1 point per dollar + 1 point per mile flown = 2 points per dollar.
Here's what I do:
Restaurants:
Citi MtvU. 5 points per dollar.
Travel:
Citi PPE: 1 point per dollar + 1 point per mile flown = 2 points per dollar. Works for buying other flyer tickets.
Gas & Groceries:
Citi Driver's Edge: 6 points per dollar (for first year) + 1 point per mile driven = 12 points per dollar.
Movies & Books:
Citi MtvU. 5 points per dollar.
Everything Else:
Citi PPE: 1 point per dollar + 1 point per mile flown = 2 points per dollar.
Apr 2, 2007 | 3:40 pm
#24
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 211
I really don't feel this is a FT related thread. It seems that for it to be FT related it should have some bearing on either Flying or Travelling not getting cash. Don't get me wrong, I love information of all kinds, I just don't feel this meets the relm of FT. Am I the only one that feels this way?
Apr 2, 2007 | 3:51 pm
#25
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold, AMEX Plat, Merrill+, Citi AMEX Chairman
Posts: 463
1. Frequent posters seeking basic information that they easily get from the card issuers website
2. Constant bickering
3. Repeated questions that equate to "what is the best credit card in the whole wide world?"
There are a zillion cash back cards from banks, credit unions, etc. If the thread is not tied back to travel, then why is it on FlyerTalk at all?
A more interesting topic would be cash back vs. points. That is at least related to travel. However, it would essentially amount to calculating the value of your travel related rewards card and comparing to the value of the cash card.
Apr 2, 2007 | 4:08 pm
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: SFO, SJC, OAK, LVK AA Lifetime Plat 2MM, LUV A-List, Hyatt Gold, SPG Lifetime Gold, Commercial Pilot (not employed by airlines)
Posts: 1,531
As the OP, here's my reasoning. Having credit card use relate to travel does not necessarily mean getting FF and hotel points. It's also about what purchase decisions are made while traveling. When I am traveling I buy air tickets, rent cars, stay in hotels, pump gas, and go to restaurants. While making these purchases I like to optimize the activity. Few can argue that it is not a pleasing experience to stay at a hotel for a few days, walk away with a $1000 hotel bill you can expense along with $70 in cash rebates to put in your pocket--money you can use to take the family out for dinner (while getting yet another rebate) to catch up on some of the lost time away from them when you were traveling.
Sometimes (usually) I go after the cash. Sometimes I go after the miles. It all depends on the value I perceive the FF miles or points to have vs. cash at a particular moment, however, in many cases these decisions are made while traveling. The travel related points is simply another aspect to it all.
Separately, this thread is also a fork from this thread about the Amex Simply Cash Card in which a few of the posters commented that it would be nice to have a thread about optimizing travel spending.
So there you have it--my reasoning for starting a CC use (while traveling implied since this is a travel site) optimization thread.
Sometimes (usually) I go after the cash. Sometimes I go after the miles. It all depends on the value I perceive the FF miles or points to have vs. cash at a particular moment, however, in many cases these decisions are made while traveling. The travel related points is simply another aspect to it all.
Separately, this thread is also a fork from this thread about the Amex Simply Cash Card in which a few of the posters commented that it would be nice to have a thread about optimizing travel spending.
So there you have it--my reasoning for starting a CC use (while traveling implied since this is a travel site) optimization thread.
Last edited by pushback; Apr 2, 2007 at 4:37 pm
Apr 2, 2007 | 4:35 pm
#27
Flyertalk Posting Legend Moderator: Credit Card Programs, American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Diners Club, Eco Travel, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA, IHG & Marriott Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 51,886
American Express International Currency Cards are not representative of the requirements for obtaining a bank-issued European credit card, which require evidence of residency.
If your income is earned in dollars an International Dollar Card will not help you avoid foreign transaction fees, in fact the IDC charges more to convert to dollars than do USA issued American Express cards. An International Euro Currency Card will help avoid fees on transactions denominated in Euros (but not Pounds), provided you have a way to pay the bill in Euros.
If your income is earned in dollars an International Dollar Card will not help you avoid foreign transaction fees, in fact the IDC charges more to convert to dollars than do USA issued American Express cards. An International Euro Currency Card will help avoid fees on transactions denominated in Euros (but not Pounds), provided you have a way to pay the bill in Euros.
Last edited by mia; Apr 2, 2007 at 5:23 pm Reason: Precision
Apr 2, 2007 | 4:47 pm
#28
Flyertalk Posting Legend Moderator: Credit Card Programs, American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Diners Club, Eco Travel, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA, IHG & Marriott Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 51,886
I think the other sources of degredation that you mentioned will be resolved now that we have active moderators ^ .
In another section you mentioned that your wallet containing ten cards had been stolen. I think that would be relevant to this topic, because it illustrates one of the tradeoffs when "optimizing" by using multiple cards.
Apr 2, 2007 | 5:55 pm
#29
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: ELP
Programs: AA EXP/LT PLAT, Marriott Titanium/LT PLAT
Posts: 4,140
wow...you guys sure do keep a lot of cards in your wallet....
All Personal Spending -- Chairman Card -- earned 4.5pts per $ spent 1st qtr alone....
All Business Spending -- CitiBusiness PremierPass card for the flight points of course...
I then carry:
Chase Priority Club Card -- free version -- to earn 3pts/$ at all PC hotels
Getting soon:
B of A Premeir Signature Visa -- just to have a SIG VISA for the benefits....
I do not know how you guys jugglle all those payment deadlines...I have enough headaches of my own than to worry about those issues...
All Personal Spending -- Chairman Card -- earned 4.5pts per $ spent 1st qtr alone....
All Business Spending -- CitiBusiness PremierPass card for the flight points of course...
I then carry:
Chase Priority Club Card -- free version -- to earn 3pts/$ at all PC hotels
Getting soon:
B of A Premeir Signature Visa -- just to have a SIG VISA for the benefits....
I do not know how you guys jugglle all those payment deadlines...I have enough headaches of my own than to worry about those issues...
Apr 2, 2007 | 6:08 pm
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: SFO, SJC, OAK, LVK AA Lifetime Plat 2MM, LUV A-List, Hyatt Gold, SPG Lifetime Gold, Commercial Pilot (not employed by airlines)
Posts: 1,531
Pretty much every issuer now has the ability to change your billing/due date. All mine are set to be due the same time of the month my mortgage is due. No juggling.