2012 Personal Game Plan (Advice)
Jan 23, 2012 | 11:03 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: fauxfive55
Posts: 13
2012 Personal Game Plan (Advice)
Howdy folks.
I am a complete novice when it comes to most of the topics discussed in this forum with respect to airline/hotel point accumulation. Since scouring the web and reading the various award travel success stories on the blogs, I've decided to jump head first into the game. But first, before setting myself loose on the credit card companies and award programs, I'd like to develop some sort of plan so that I'm not just going about it willy-nilly (and destroying my credit in the process). Currently I have an excellent credit score, charge a considerable amount monthly and pay off my statement balances, in full, each month.
Here's a bit of my background and my travel goals. In 2004 I met my now wife in Vietnam. We have a three year old daughter and one more on the way. We return to Vietnam once a year, usually during the lunar New Year, however, in future, I'm going to try to get my wife to be a little more flexible and perhaps travel during less busy times of the year (increasing our travel/award options). Right now it's costing roughly $4,000+ USD to book a trip to Vietnam for the airfare alone.
We've been flying mainly EVA, but have also flown JAL and Cathay. We've booked award upgrades with EVA infrequently in the past using miles accrued from in-seat miles however, EVA's FF program is very inflexible making it hard to top off miles through purchases or combine them.
If concentrating on flying to Vietnam (via Taiwan, Tokyo, Hong Kong or Seoul), which airline/FF program do you think it's best to concentrate on? I'd rather not dilute my miles by focusing on too many programs at once. I think my options are limited to flying with Cathay, Asiana, Korean Air, JAL, EVA or their respective partners.
What about hotel programs? I know there's a Park Hyatt in Saigon (my wife is from the South) and there's also the Intercontinental Asiana. We usually stay at the Caravelle Hotel in Saigon for a few nights (I think it's a member of "World Hotels" and they have their own loyalty program) and we also stay in a Novotel (A|Club, Accor hotels) in my wife's home town (Phan Thiet).
What current credit card offers would be most advantageous in my situation? Thus far I've recently applied for a Chase Sapphire Preferred a few months ago which I've been using alongside my Chase Freedom card. I also own a small business which I can leverage credit card offers from as well. Additionally, I plan to get my wife to apply for some credit cards this year, although her credit score was in the 750 range when I last checked her TU report, she has a pretty thin file since she's never had her own line of credit - rather since 2008 been an AU on 4-5 of my accounts. Should she be applying for any of the big bonus cards yet or shall we work on establishing more of an independent credit history for her?
If someone can help me put together a road map and get me started in the right direction, we would really appreciate it and a big thanks for reading my story!
I am a complete novice when it comes to most of the topics discussed in this forum with respect to airline/hotel point accumulation. Since scouring the web and reading the various award travel success stories on the blogs, I've decided to jump head first into the game. But first, before setting myself loose on the credit card companies and award programs, I'd like to develop some sort of plan so that I'm not just going about it willy-nilly (and destroying my credit in the process). Currently I have an excellent credit score, charge a considerable amount monthly and pay off my statement balances, in full, each month.
Here's a bit of my background and my travel goals. In 2004 I met my now wife in Vietnam. We have a three year old daughter and one more on the way. We return to Vietnam once a year, usually during the lunar New Year, however, in future, I'm going to try to get my wife to be a little more flexible and perhaps travel during less busy times of the year (increasing our travel/award options). Right now it's costing roughly $4,000+ USD to book a trip to Vietnam for the airfare alone.
We've been flying mainly EVA, but have also flown JAL and Cathay. We've booked award upgrades with EVA infrequently in the past using miles accrued from in-seat miles however, EVA's FF program is very inflexible making it hard to top off miles through purchases or combine them.
If concentrating on flying to Vietnam (via Taiwan, Tokyo, Hong Kong or Seoul), which airline/FF program do you think it's best to concentrate on? I'd rather not dilute my miles by focusing on too many programs at once. I think my options are limited to flying with Cathay, Asiana, Korean Air, JAL, EVA or their respective partners.
What about hotel programs? I know there's a Park Hyatt in Saigon (my wife is from the South) and there's also the Intercontinental Asiana. We usually stay at the Caravelle Hotel in Saigon for a few nights (I think it's a member of "World Hotels" and they have their own loyalty program) and we also stay in a Novotel (A|Club, Accor hotels) in my wife's home town (Phan Thiet).
What current credit card offers would be most advantageous in my situation? Thus far I've recently applied for a Chase Sapphire Preferred a few months ago which I've been using alongside my Chase Freedom card. I also own a small business which I can leverage credit card offers from as well. Additionally, I plan to get my wife to apply for some credit cards this year, although her credit score was in the 750 range when I last checked her TU report, she has a pretty thin file since she's never had her own line of credit - rather since 2008 been an AU on 4-5 of my accounts. Should she be applying for any of the big bonus cards yet or shall we work on establishing more of an independent credit history for her?
If someone can help me put together a road map and get me started in the right direction, we would really appreciate it and a big thanks for reading my story!
Jan 24, 2012 | 1:35 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Brooklyn, NY, United States
Programs: AA, BA, UA, Spirit, Delta, PC Plat, SPG Gold, HHonors Diamond, Club Carlson Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,735
Howdy folks.
I am a complete novice when it comes to most of the topics discussed in this forum with respect to airline/hotel point accumulation. Since scouring the web and reading the various award travel success stories on the blogs, I've decided to jump head first into the game. But first, before setting myself loose on the credit card companies and award programs, I'd like to develop some sort of plan so that I'm not just going about it willy-nilly (and destroying my credit in the process). Currently I have an excellent credit score, charge a considerable amount monthly and pay off my statement balances, in full, each month.
Here's a bit of my background and my travel goals. In 2004 I met my now wife in Vietnam. We have a three year old daughter and one more on the way. We return to Vietnam once a year, usually during the lunar New Year, however, in future, I'm going to try to get my wife to be a little more flexible and perhaps travel during less busy times of the year (increasing our travel/award options). Right now it's costing roughly $4,000+ USD to book a trip to Vietnam for the airfare alone.
We've been flying mainly EVA, but have also flown JAL and Cathay. We've booked award upgrades with EVA infrequently in the past using miles accrued from in-seat miles however, EVA's FF program is very inflexible making it hard to top off miles through purchases or combine them.
If concentrating on flying to Vietnam (via Taiwan, Tokyo, Hong Kong or Seoul), which airline/FF program do you think it's best to concentrate on? I'd rather not dilute my miles by focusing on too many programs at once. I think my options are limited to flying with Cathay, Asiana, Korean Air, JAL, EVA or their respective partners.
What about hotel programs? I know there's a Park Hyatt in Saigon (my wife is from the South) and there's also the Intercontinental Asiana. We usually stay at the Caravelle Hotel in Saigon for a few nights (I think it's a member of "World Hotels" and they have their own loyalty program) and we also stay in a Novotel (A|Club, Accor hotels) in my wife's home town (Phan Thiet).
What current credit card offers would be most advantageous in my situation? Thus far I've recently applied for a Chase Sapphire Preferred a few months ago which I've been using alongside my Chase Freedom card. I also own a small business which I can leverage credit card offers from as well. Additionally, I plan to get my wife to apply for some credit cards this year, although her credit score was in the 750 range when I last checked her TU report, she has a pretty thin file since she's never had her own line of credit - rather since 2008 been an AU on 4-5 of my accounts. Should she be applying for any of the big bonus cards yet or shall we work on establishing more of an independent credit history for her?
If someone can help me put together a road map and get me started in the right direction, we would really appreciate it and a big thanks for reading my story!
I am a complete novice when it comes to most of the topics discussed in this forum with respect to airline/hotel point accumulation. Since scouring the web and reading the various award travel success stories on the blogs, I've decided to jump head first into the game. But first, before setting myself loose on the credit card companies and award programs, I'd like to develop some sort of plan so that I'm not just going about it willy-nilly (and destroying my credit in the process). Currently I have an excellent credit score, charge a considerable amount monthly and pay off my statement balances, in full, each month.
Here's a bit of my background and my travel goals. In 2004 I met my now wife in Vietnam. We have a three year old daughter and one more on the way. We return to Vietnam once a year, usually during the lunar New Year, however, in future, I'm going to try to get my wife to be a little more flexible and perhaps travel during less busy times of the year (increasing our travel/award options). Right now it's costing roughly $4,000+ USD to book a trip to Vietnam for the airfare alone.
We've been flying mainly EVA, but have also flown JAL and Cathay. We've booked award upgrades with EVA infrequently in the past using miles accrued from in-seat miles however, EVA's FF program is very inflexible making it hard to top off miles through purchases or combine them.
If concentrating on flying to Vietnam (via Taiwan, Tokyo, Hong Kong or Seoul), which airline/FF program do you think it's best to concentrate on? I'd rather not dilute my miles by focusing on too many programs at once. I think my options are limited to flying with Cathay, Asiana, Korean Air, JAL, EVA or their respective partners.
What about hotel programs? I know there's a Park Hyatt in Saigon (my wife is from the South) and there's also the Intercontinental Asiana. We usually stay at the Caravelle Hotel in Saigon for a few nights (I think it's a member of "World Hotels" and they have their own loyalty program) and we also stay in a Novotel (A|Club, Accor hotels) in my wife's home town (Phan Thiet).
What current credit card offers would be most advantageous in my situation? Thus far I've recently applied for a Chase Sapphire Preferred a few months ago which I've been using alongside my Chase Freedom card. I also own a small business which I can leverage credit card offers from as well. Additionally, I plan to get my wife to apply for some credit cards this year, although her credit score was in the 750 range when I last checked her TU report, she has a pretty thin file since she's never had her own line of credit - rather since 2008 been an AU on 4-5 of my accounts. Should she be applying for any of the big bonus cards yet or shall we work on establishing more of an independent credit history for her?
If someone can help me put together a road map and get me started in the right direction, we would really appreciate it and a big thanks for reading my story!