Card selection assistance
 

I seem to go after the wrong cards when I do this on my own so let me try this:

Currently have:

• SPG Amex (95%)
• Citi PP (regular level) MC. (only when Amex is not accepted)

My Profile
Spend $3k-$4k/month (in declining order)

• Hotels (mostly Hilton or Choice)
• Rental cars (Always Avis)
• Big Box Stores (Walmart or Target)
• Restaurants
• Utilities, Phone, cable
• Gas
• Groceries

I do not pay my own airfare unless I travel for personal reasons (which is why I know the Citi Premier Pass is completely the wrong card for me).

Goal: Flexible points. I want to have an international vacation and want the flexibility for hotel or airfare.

I like the SPG Amex, but I don't stay at many *wood properties so all my points are from spend.

I'm not a churner so I would like cards that I can stick with. And I would like to only use 1 Amex and 1 Visa/MC.

Really need a Visa/MC to replace my Citi, but I do very little volume on it.
I'm thinking: Citi Professional TYP or HHonors

Should I stay with the SPG Amex since I can transfer those points to United (at 2:1, but still possible) or should I get the Amex Platinum (do i even qualify?) for lounge access since i'm flying Skyteam a lot more and they would probably be better for flexibility of point transfers to other hotel programs.

1. Getting an AMEX Platinum is purely a decision of whether or not you need the benefits. It is relatively common for people to have an AMEX Platinum for benefits and use a different AMEX for their spending: AMEX SPG, HHonors, or Delta. This has nothing to do with Churning. Churners keep acquiring card just for bonus points.

2. Now lets focus on your MC situation. There are several cards to consider. Also, be aware that you should probably carry a MC and a Visa especially if you are travelling overseas. Some companies take one but not the other. Use different card providers. Sometimes Citi will shut off your spending if they think something is wrong. I keep an extra Visa/MC in my briefcase, just in case something strange happens.

I didn't imply that getting a platinum amex was churning. I meant that I am not a churner so I want a card that is good for consistent usage, not just for sign on bonuses.
I hate AA. AA hates me. Although AA lounge access is what makes me consider getting the Amex Platinum now (versus just a delta lounge membership), AA perks do little for me. My spend doesn't put me at the $50k threshold. I don't have a British Airways account right now so I don't have any orphan points there that need a transfer from a credit card.

If you apply for the Citi Pro, do the following:

a. Turn off pop-up blocker
b. Go to www.citicards.com
c. When you see the Citi Pro, click on it.
d. Click "Apply Now".
e. Then close the window.
f. A second window should open that offers a 15,000 point bonus

Instead of AMEX Platinum, consider the Citi Platinum AMEX. It is $99 per year. Offers 3+ pts per $ for the first 24 months. It also provides a priority pass membership. Priority pass will get you into all DL lounges and some CO/NW/UA lounges, but very very few AA lounges. However it is $24 per visit and per guest. If you visit alone you would get 14 visits for the price of an AMEX platinum:

( Citi Platinum AMEX $99 + $24 x 14 visits ~ $450 AMEX Platinum )

I calculate 18 visits for $459

$099 Annual fee
$000 3 free visits
$360 15 paid visits @ $24 each
$459 18 total visits

...but I don't think the Citi Platinum American Express fits into a two card solution unless gj83 chooses to give up on airline miles entirely in favor of Thank You points.

I tend to exclude one-time bonuses from calcs. You could also exclude the first year annual fee, since it is waived.

Three no-charge visits are a recurring annual benefit.

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showpost....1&postcount=55

MIA, where did you find that language? It is different from Citicards.com

You want me to reveal my sources? ;)

Go here...

https://www.citicards.com/cards/wv/c...o?screenID=927

Scroll down, click Additional Disclosures

You should be here...

https://www.citicards.com/cards/wv/c...?screenID=1224

A day pass to Delta is just $25.
I like flexibility b/c I flirt with Delta, United, and US Air. I accumulate miles on Delta and United and would like a bank of points that I can either use to push me over the edge in one program or another or to get a hotel on the trip. I want to stick to as few cards as possible or have flexibility with transfers/redemptions because my spend overall is low compared to many FTers and I accumulate a lot of points in actual programs from my travels. I've never been able to amass enough TYPs to actually get a plane ticket. I have mainly used them for gift cards, but with the last devaluation AMEX's Membership rewards is better for that. Amex, however, does not have Amazon gift cards and that is usually what I would get with my TY points.

I travel every week for work so I could easily need more than 18 lounge visits between everyone not United/US air.

On the 40,000 bonus offers, you must spend $750 in 4 months and $10,000 in first year for 10,000 extra miles to get total of 30,000. If $10,750 is spent in first two weeks, will the bonus miles be posted on next billing cycle?

You have created constraints that cannot be solved.

a. Point flexibility
b. High reward rate
c. Only one AMEX and Only one Visa/MC
d. Low or no annual fee on one card
e. Airline club access

You have to pick the scenario that works best for you. It seems that every solution that the board offers you have 10 reasons for it not working... Here are a list of solutions for you to consider.

FYI: Delta Crown Room = $25 per visit; some other clubs are $40-50 per visit


SOLUTION 1:
- SPG AMEX - $30; point flexibility; higher pt accumulation
- Diners Club MC - $95; point flexibility

- Upside - Flexibility, reward rate on SPG AMEX
- Downside - Very very limited airline club access with Diners Club (not even worth mentioning in the US); high annual fee on Diners Club


SOLUTION 2:
- AMEX Platinum - $450; airline club access; moderate pt flexibility
- Diners Club MC - $95; point flexibility

- Downside - High annual fee on AMEX and Diners Club
- Upside - Flexibility; moderate airline club access with AMEX


SOLUTION 3:
- AMEX Platinum - $450; airline club access; moderate pt flexibility
- Citi TY Pro MC - highest pt accumulation; limited pt flexibility

- Downside - High annual fee on AMEX
- Upside - Flexibility; moderate airline club access with AMEX; high pt accumulation on Citi TY Pro MC


SOLUTION 4:
- SPG AMEX - $30; point flexibility; higher pt accumulation
- Citi TY Pro MC - higher pt accumulation; limited pt flexibility

- Upside - Flexibility; high pt accumulation on Citi TY Pro MC and SPG AMEX; low fees
- Downside - No airline club access

SOLUTION 5:
- Citi AMEX Platinum - $99; higher pt accumulation for 2 years; limited pt flexibility; airline club access
- Diners Club MC - $95; point flexibility

- Upside - Flexibility; high pt accumulation on Citi AMEX Platinum for two years; airline club access
- Downside - High annual fees on both cards plus access fees on airline clubs

SOLUTION 6:
- Citi AMEX Platinum - $99; higher pt accumulation; limited pt flexibility; airline club access
- Citi TY Pro MC - higher pt accumulation; limited pt flexibility

- Upside - high pt accumulation; only one annual fee
- Downside - Both cards are with one bank; limited flexibility

ALTERNATIVES
- Go with a cash back Visa/MasterCard like Fidelity Visa Signature (1.5% cash back)
- Pick a Credit Union card that offers 1% cash back, but very low exchange fees.

Thanks, will do
Thank you awake. I think this is the best solution for me since it keeps me in programs i'm already in, but gets me in the correct card for me as far as TYPs go. After I accumulate enough of them to cash out of the Thank You program I might consider the Diner's MC b/c that does seem like a pretty good program.

I think i'd probably be better off just buying a delta Crown room club membership or the prestige membership to priority pass since the platinum amex doesn't seem to give me any status that i need that i can't get on my own and SPG amex does have a much better transfer rate to many airlines (and will transfer to United while AMEX MR will not).

You might also consider the 2-card combination of BP Rewards Visa (2% at all hotels) and Citi Professional.

If you're willing to manage 3 cards, then the trio of BP Rewards, Citi Professional (3% cash), and Chase Freedom (3.75% in 3 highest categories) would probably serve you well. At $3500 per month for your categorical spending profile, you're probably looking at over $1000 in cash rebate per year.

And dollars are the ultimately flexible point scheme (and you can invest them as you earn them).

UA makes this impractical. Only the Chase Mileage Plus cards offer $1 = 1 mile. Every other USA-issued card has been eliminated or crippled to protect Chase from competition. Starwood comes closest, but it's only $20000:12500 miles. I don't know anything about the nitty gritty of Star Alliance status or award availability, but you would have increased transfer flexibility if you credited your UA flying to US (or another Star carrier).