VISA/MC Complement to my SPG AmEx?
May 7, 2010 | 9:18 pm
#16
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA LT PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,567
For annual spending of $1000, an airline, or hotel or any other points/miles card doesnt make much sense, much less so for any such card that has an annual fee. 1% (or 2%) CB is meaningless somewhat meaningless as well ... you're talking about $10-$20 back a year.
IMO, its better to go with a card that has some other benefit... such as 0% BT, or $0.00 foreign exchange fee as someone else above mentioned if the OP does international travel.
Now, for someone who is going to put $100k spend on a card, an airline card to complement their SPG AMEX is a great route to go. If your primary airline is AA, get their AA MC or Visa card, or if you fly UA or CO, get one of their cards. $100k spend a year will get you some nice reward travel.
IMO, its better to go with a card that has some other benefit... such as 0% BT, or $0.00 foreign exchange fee as someone else above mentioned if the OP does international travel.
Now, for someone who is going to put $100k spend on a card, an airline card to complement their SPG AMEX is a great route to go. If your primary airline is AA, get their AA MC or Visa card, or if you fly UA or CO, get one of their cards. $100k spend a year will get you some nice reward travel.
May 7, 2010 | 10:11 pm
#17
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May 8, 2010 | 7:49 am
#18
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The 5% category is somewhat larger than just dining:
you will earn five ThankYou Points for every dollar you spend on purchases at (1) book stores, (2) record stores, (3) restaurants, including fast food restaurants, (4) motion picture theaters, and (5) video entertainment rental stores
May 8, 2010 | 9:04 am
#19
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA LT PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,567
Wouldn't both you and work2fly have been better off with the Schwab Visa? It's offers twice the cash back of Capital One and also has no foreign transaction fees. What advantages does the Capital One card offer?
May 8, 2010 | 9:19 am
#20
Flyertalk Posting Legend Moderator: Credit Card Programs, American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Diners Club, Eco Travel, Signatures
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http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other...rship-fee.html
However, if the objective is to convert to airline miles, there is no hotel card other than SPG which is attractive, because hotel chains typically convert 5:1 to miles and you will not average 5 point per dollar with any hotel credit card.
May 8, 2010 | 10:48 am
#21
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA LT PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,567
Pretty much every hotel chain other than Starwood offers a Mastercard or VISA affinity card, and many are free. See, for example, see post 5 in this thread in Other Credit Cards:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other...rship-fee.html
However, if the objective is to convert to airline miles, there is no hotel card other than SPG which is attractive, because hotel chains typically convert 5:1 to miles and you will not average 5 point per dollar with any hotel credit card.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other...rship-fee.html
However, if the objective is to convert to airline miles, there is no hotel card other than SPG which is attractive, because hotel chains typically convert 5:1 to miles and you will not average 5 point per dollar with any hotel credit card.
May 8, 2010 | 11:29 am
#22
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: MA
Programs: AA Lifetime Platinum, SPG Gold
Posts: 174
You're correct, but I believe the Schwab VISA is no longer offered to new applicants.
May 8, 2010 | 2:43 pm
#23
Flyertalk Posting Legend Moderator: Credit Card Programs, American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Diners Club, Eco Travel, Signatures
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Some other cards issued by Chase earn points which can be transferred to a subset of their airline and hotel affinity partners. For example, Chase heavily advertises the Sapphire VISA, but they are coy about the transfer options which are two airlines (BA, CO) and two hotel chains (IHG, Marriott) mentioned here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other...l#post11864826
The smaller hotel chains tend to offer cards with no annual fee, as mentioned in the thread linked in my previous message. I suggest the place to start is thinking about the type of hotels where you tend to stay, rather than the credit card. A free night in an unsatisfactory room is no bargain.
Last edited by mia; May 8, 2010 at 4:20 pm
May 8, 2010 | 4:28 pm
#24
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA LT PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,567
To my knowledge Hilton is the only chain to offer both an American Express and a VISA affinity card. Marriott, Hyatt and Intercontinental Hotel Group are all tied to Chase (VISA). I am not up to date on Marriott's program, but I know there is more than one version of the card, and the program seems competitive with the other multi-national chains. The Hyatt card is not yet available. The IHG card is weak, aside from the signup bonus and spending at the hotels.
Some other cards issued by Chase earn points which can be transferred to a subset of their airline and hotel affinity partners. For example, Chase heavily advertises the Sapphire VISA, but they are coy about the transfer options which are two airlines (BA, CO) and two hotel chains (IHG, Marriott) mentioned here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other...l#post11864826
The smaller hotel chains tend to offer cards with no annual fee, as mentioned in the thread linked in my previous message. I suggest the place to start is thinking about the type of hotels where you tend to stay, rather than the credit card. A free night in an unsatisfactory room is no bargain.
Some other cards issued by Chase earn points which can be transferred to a subset of their airline and hotel affinity partners. For example, Chase heavily advertises the Sapphire VISA, but they are coy about the transfer options which are two airlines (BA, CO) and two hotel chains (IHG, Marriott) mentioned here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other...l#post11864826
The smaller hotel chains tend to offer cards with no annual fee, as mentioned in the thread linked in my previous message. I suggest the place to start is thinking about the type of hotels where you tend to stay, rather than the credit card. A free night in an unsatisfactory room is no bargain.