Which card to go with?
Feb 1, 2011 | 9:55 am
#16
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: mountains of western NC
Programs: Life, Love and Laughter
Posts: 9,811
OK first shot AA. Applied online for Visa - still waiting for reply and over the phone for Amex which got approved immediately.
Hoping that after they will send me targeted offer for the checking account which would add additional 30-40k as other flyers report.
Also thinking about Continental 50k and UA 30k which, as I read, would merge once the merger process is completed. Is this true?
The only concern I have is applying for cards in the same bank (both are from Chase).
Should I be worried about this?
Also thinking about SPG Amex, but here the $15k spend is my concern.
What about 45k Delta Amex? (considering this because already have ~19k with Delta).
Hoping that after they will send me targeted offer for the checking account which would add additional 30-40k as other flyers report.
Also thinking about Continental 50k and UA 30k which, as I read, would merge once the merger process is completed. Is this true?
The only concern I have is applying for cards in the same bank (both are from Chase).
Should I be worried about this?
Also thinking about SPG Amex, but here the $15k spend is my concern.
What about 45k Delta Amex? (considering this because already have ~19k with Delta).
Be sure to read about the Citibank checking promos carefully before you sign on. There are usually a lot of hassles when dealing with Citibank with their checking accounts.
You need to leave some time between United and Continental card offers. Chase will not give you both at the same time. Continental is offering 50,000 now, so I would go for that one first. And yes, the miles will be combined into one program in about a year.
45000 mile Delta deal expired a month ago.
Good luck.
Feb 1, 2011 | 11:10 am
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: SFO/SJC/OAK
Programs: AA, SPG
Posts: 88
Some thoughts for you:
Be sure to read about the Citibank checking promos carefully before you sign on. There are usually a lot of hassles when dealing with Citibank with their checking accounts.
You need to leave some time between United and Continental card offers. Chase will not give you both at the same time. Continental is offering 50,000 now, so I would go for that one first. And yes, the miles will be combined into one program in about a year.
45000 mile Delta deal expired a month ago.
Good luck.
Be sure to read about the Citibank checking promos carefully before you sign on. There are usually a lot of hassles when dealing with Citibank with their checking accounts.
You need to leave some time between United and Continental card offers. Chase will not give you both at the same time. Continental is offering 50,000 now, so I would go for that one first. And yes, the miles will be combined into one program in about a year.
45000 mile Delta deal expired a month ago.
Good luck.
Does the fact that I got approved for Citi Amex matter when I'd like to apply for SPG? - not sure which bank hosts this offer.
Feb 2, 2011 | 9:44 pm
#20
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 4
Also shopping for a new airmiles card
Most of our existing miles are with United, and we've had the United Visa from Chase for a long while.
However, a recent overseas trip revealed a 3% fee for international transactions, which I don't like. My job now will have more international travel--good for racking up the miles, but I'd like to avoid that fee. Time for a new card?
A financial website recommended the Capital One Venture Rewards Visa, reporting that Money magazine called it "'Best Rewards Card if you aim to rack up airline miles." Hmm.
However, a recent overseas trip revealed a 3% fee for international transactions, which I don't like. My job now will have more international travel--good for racking up the miles, but I'd like to avoid that fee. Time for a new card?
A financial website recommended the Capital One Venture Rewards Visa, reporting that Money magazine called it "'Best Rewards Card if you aim to rack up airline miles." Hmm.
Feb 3, 2011 | 8:35 am
#21
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 275
I figured I'd somewhat piggy back on this thread...
I signed up for 3 CitiAA cards, got all 3 approved, my wife had 2 and both approved. Still working on the business card that's 100K because of the spend requirement for the bonus.
I use these cards to order coins, but I know SPG would get me that mileage bonus amount every time I redeemed to AA. I also have some money in BankDirect getting some extra miles a month and am waiting for the Citibank offer to clear.
Should I be signing up for credit cards over different airlines in order to get the bonuses and just work on those airline miles? Or should I just stick with AA and try to get status?
I'm out of MCO, so the options are pretty big... and I do like Southwest so I'm debating signing up for that card (just got a reward flight from a lot of free credits + some flights from them as well).... but it just doesn't look as great of a bonus as the CitiAA cards and don't want to jeopardize a great deal on a CC down the road. I'm also looking at purchasing a card in a year or 2, so also would like a high credit score since mine is currently sitting around 747...
seems like an appropriate smiley 
I signed up for 3 CitiAA cards, got all 3 approved, my wife had 2 and both approved. Still working on the business card that's 100K because of the spend requirement for the bonus.
I use these cards to order coins, but I know SPG would get me that mileage bonus amount every time I redeemed to AA. I also have some money in BankDirect getting some extra miles a month and am waiting for the Citibank offer to clear.
Should I be signing up for credit cards over different airlines in order to get the bonuses and just work on those airline miles? Or should I just stick with AA and try to get status?
I'm out of MCO, so the options are pretty big... and I do like Southwest so I'm debating signing up for that card (just got a reward flight from a lot of free credits + some flights from them as well).... but it just doesn't look as great of a bonus as the CitiAA cards and don't want to jeopardize a great deal on a CC down the road. I'm also looking at purchasing a card in a year or 2, so also would like a high credit score since mine is currently sitting around 747...
seems like an appropriate smiley
Feb 3, 2011 | 9:40 am
#22
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: AA Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, Avis Chairman's Club
Posts: 168
What's the general consensus on Chase applications? I currently have a Chase SW RR card that I got in the fall. I'm very interested in the busines version of the SW RR card (16 credits gets me very close to CP.) But I'm also interested in snagging the Continental 50k miles offer. Do I need to space these applications out? Apply minutes apart on the same day? Does Chase even care between SW and CO? I know they can be picky...
Feb 3, 2011 | 9:56 am
#23
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: mountains of western NC
Programs: Life, Love and Laughter
Posts: 9,811
What's the general consensus on Chase applications? I currently have a Chase SW RR card that I got in the fall. I'm very interested in the busines version of the SW RR card (16 credits gets me very close to CP.) But I'm also interested in snagging the Continental 50k miles offer. Do I need to space these applications out? Apply minutes apart on the same day? Does Chase even care between SW and CO? I know they can be picky...
Feb 3, 2011 | 9:56 am
#24
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: AA Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, Avis Chairman's Club
Posts: 168
What's the general consensus on Chase applications? I currently have a Chase SW RR card that I got in the fall. I'm very interested in the busines version of the SW RR card (16 credits gets me very close to CP.) But I'm also interested in snagging the Continental 50k miles offer. Do I need to space these applications out? Apply minutes apart on the same day? Does Chase even care between SW and CO? I know they can be picky...
Mar 16, 2011 | 11:01 pm
#25
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1
Thanks to the OP for posting this, this is a very timely msg since I've been an Alaska Airlines Visa card holder for years, but have been second guessing my choice recently. I'm in Seattle and fly:
- 6-10 times a year domestically for work and pleasure
- 1-2 times internationally for work
- 1-2 times internationally for pleasure
I hesitate to get an Amex since it's not universally accepted but I can deal with it given all the great stories about flexbility and easy conversion to other programs.
Are there any good signup bonus offers other than the default one of "with first purchase get 10k points"?
- 6-10 times a year domestically for work and pleasure
- 1-2 times internationally for work
- 1-2 times internationally for pleasure
I hesitate to get an Amex since it's not universally accepted but I can deal with it given all the great stories about flexbility and easy conversion to other programs.
Are there any good signup bonus offers other than the default one of "with first purchase get 10k points"?