question from a newbie
Oct 7, 2011 | 4:40 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: DL GM; AA; UA; BA
Posts: 82
question from a newbie
I'm new here posting for the first time. I'm trying to figure out if I should eliminate some of my credit cards. I have the following:
AmEx Platinum
Delta Reserve
AmEx Starwood
Corporate Am Ex
Chase BA
Chase United
Citi AA
I only travel for business occassionally. I make 3 or 4 trips to Europe a year, one of which is usually an award ticket.
I shop alot.
I am currently Delta Gold. I got the DL Reserve to get the MQMs and make Gold this year up from Silver.
I have the Platinum because I like having the rewards that can transfer to various programs and the fact that it gives me Starwood Gold.
I like Starwood for the points and cash award and I generally get upgraded because of the gold status.
I'm thinking of getting rid of the Chase BA card because the surcharges for awards make them unattractive to me.
Any suggestions for an additional card keeping in mind that most of my points will come from shopping and not from hotel stays or flying (other than my trips to Europe which are generally on DL/AF/KLM.
Suggestions appreciated. Thank you.
AmEx Platinum
Delta Reserve
AmEx Starwood
Corporate Am Ex
Chase BA
Chase United
Citi AA
I only travel for business occassionally. I make 3 or 4 trips to Europe a year, one of which is usually an award ticket.
I shop alot.
I am currently Delta Gold. I got the DL Reserve to get the MQMs and make Gold this year up from Silver.
I have the Platinum because I like having the rewards that can transfer to various programs and the fact that it gives me Starwood Gold.
I like Starwood for the points and cash award and I generally get upgraded because of the gold status.
I'm thinking of getting rid of the Chase BA card because the surcharges for awards make them unattractive to me.
Any suggestions for an additional card keeping in mind that most of my points will come from shopping and not from hotel stays or flying (other than my trips to Europe which are generally on DL/AF/KLM.
Suggestions appreciated. Thank you.
Oct 7, 2011 | 4:56 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
I'm new here posting for the first time. I'm trying to figure out if I should eliminate some of my credit cards. I have the following:
AmEx Platinum - devalued with loss of United/Continental and it does not sound like you fly enough for the lounges - switch to Gold for lower fee and 2x for groceries.
Delta Reserve - seems a keeper as you fly their alliance
AmEx Starwood - A keeper
Corporate Am Ex - Assume this stays?
Chase BA - South America on LAN or AA Domestic is what it is good for
Chase United - Some nice low mileage flights premerger - now? and it doesn't play well with other cards now (its that Chase-AMEX thing)
Citi AA - not bad
Why not get a corporate Starwood?
I only travel for business occassionally. I make 3 or 4 trips to Europe a year, one of which is usually an award ticket.
I shop alot.
I am currently Delta Gold. I got the DL Reserve to get the MQMs and make Gold this year up from Silver.
I have the Platinum because I like having the rewards that can transfer to various programs and the fact that it gives me Starwood Gold.
I like Starwood for the points and cash award and I generally get upgraded because of the gold status.
I'm thinking of getting rid of the Chase BA card because the surcharges for awards make them unattractive to me.
Any suggestions for an additional card keeping in mind that most of my points will come from shopping and not from hotel stays or flying (other than my trips to Europe which are generally on DL/AF/KLM.
Suggestions appreciated. Thank you.
AmEx Platinum - devalued with loss of United/Continental and it does not sound like you fly enough for the lounges - switch to Gold for lower fee and 2x for groceries.
Delta Reserve - seems a keeper as you fly their alliance
AmEx Starwood - A keeper
Corporate Am Ex - Assume this stays?
Chase BA - South America on LAN or AA Domestic is what it is good for
Chase United - Some nice low mileage flights premerger - now? and it doesn't play well with other cards now (its that Chase-AMEX thing)
Citi AA - not bad
Why not get a corporate Starwood?
I only travel for business occassionally. I make 3 or 4 trips to Europe a year, one of which is usually an award ticket.
I shop alot.
I am currently Delta Gold. I got the DL Reserve to get the MQMs and make Gold this year up from Silver.
I have the Platinum because I like having the rewards that can transfer to various programs and the fact that it gives me Starwood Gold.
I like Starwood for the points and cash award and I generally get upgraded because of the gold status.
I'm thinking of getting rid of the Chase BA card because the surcharges for awards make them unattractive to me.
Any suggestions for an additional card keeping in mind that most of my points will come from shopping and not from hotel stays or flying (other than my trips to Europe which are generally on DL/AF/KLM.
Suggestions appreciated. Thank you.
Oct 7, 2011 | 5:09 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: GGG, DFW, IAH
Posts: 284
My personal opinion is that keeping Platinum only for 2 reasons above is not a great value - Starwood Gold in my personal experience is of little value and as far as getting flexible miles AmEx SPG fits the bill better (you can get 1.25 miles for every dollar spend if you transfer them in bulks of 20,000 miles).
Oct 7, 2011 | 5:48 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: DL GM; AA; UA; BA
Posts: 82
My personal opinion is that keeping Platinum only for 2 reasons above is not a great value - Starwood Gold in my personal experience is of little value and as far as getting flexible miles AmEx SPG fits the bill better (you can get 1.25 miles for every dollar spend if you transfer them in bulks of 20,000 miles).
I know I get that with the Chase BA, but that is the program I use the least.
The value I feel I get from the Starwood gold that comes with the Plat. is that I have actually received room upgrades for every Starwood stay. It seemed to me that when I use cash and points (8000 pts and $150/night) at the Luxury Collection and then am upgraded to what is usually at least a concierge type level, that I have recouped my yearly fee for Platinum, but maybe I'm wrong.
Oct 7, 2011 | 8:36 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
Programs: Amex Plat, AA, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Choice Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,860
I should have added that I like the no conversion fees with the AmEx platinum as well.
I know I get that with the Chase BA, but that is the program I use the least.
The value I feel I get from the Starwood gold that comes with the Plat. is that I have actually received room upgrades for every Starwood stay. It seemed to me that when I use cash and points (8000 pts and $150/night) at the Luxury Collection and then am upgraded to what is usually at least a concierge type level, that I have recouped my yearly fee for Platinum, but maybe I'm wrong.
I know I get that with the Chase BA, but that is the program I use the least.
The value I feel I get from the Starwood gold that comes with the Plat. is that I have actually received room upgrades for every Starwood stay. It seemed to me that when I use cash and points (8000 pts and $150/night) at the Luxury Collection and then am upgraded to what is usually at least a concierge type level, that I have recouped my yearly fee for Platinum, but maybe I'm wrong.