Re: POLL: Absolute BEST Credit Cards for CASH REWARDS and AIRLINE MILES

Crashem · ‎01-26-2012

Single best cash cards (as only cash card): FIA 2% AMEX, JCB Maruki Premium 3% Cash card

Best cashback means using combo of cards and analyzing your main expenses: For your usual person, Pen Fed 5% gas, AMEX BCP for 6% grocery/3% department store, US Cash+ card for 2 5% categories.

Best airline card: Assuming not sure which airline/hotel, I think Chase Sapphire Preferred card. You get UR points which can be changed into variety of airlines and hotels. Most importantly, you get some bonus categories where more than 1 pt per dollar. Or, Amex PRG card is good in same way.

Amex Plat, Amex BCP 8k->24k (5/23/12), Amex TE 15k, CSP 25k, Chase Palladium 100k, Citibank AA 35k (AU), Firestone 1.8k->2.2k (8/20/12), HSBC 15k, JFCU Jloc 30k, PenFed Plat Rewards 30k, SF Fire 30k, US Bank Cash+ 25k

CreditScholar · ‎01-22-2012

I can't speak about cash back cards since I have no interest in them.

However for airline miles, it depends on which airlines you want to use. I'd suggest 3 though that are pretty good:

1. Chase Sapphire Preferred as mentioned by the previous poster.

2. Amex SPG (then transfer during bonuses, particularly good if you fly US and AA). With the last 50% transfer bonus, 20,000 Starpoints = 37,500 US miles. That's 1.875 miles per $1 spent.

3. Chase United MileagePlus Club Card - my personal favourite. 1.5 miles per $1 spent and $400 AF, but it's excellent if you spend a lot of money in non-bonus categories.

FICOs: EX: 800, EQ: 813, TU: 807

Bank of America Privileges with Travel Rewards Visa Signature (EMV) - $23,200 CL
Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa Signature - $12,700 CL
Chase United MileagePlus Club World Elite MasterCard - $25,000 CL
J.P. Morgan Ritz Carlton Visa Signature - $23,500 CL

Crashem · ‎01-26-2012

I agree that CreditScholar that Amex Starwood card is really nice. Starwood points are amazing because they can be transferred to many airlines on one to one basis. No bonus categories for this card however, but low AF.

Amex Plat, Amex BCP 8k->24k (5/23/12), Amex TE 15k, CSP 25k, Chase Palladium 100k, Citibank AA 35k (AU), Firestone 1.8k->2.2k (8/20/12), HSBC 15k, JFCU Jloc 30k, PenFed Plat Rewards 30k, SF Fire 30k, US Bank Cash+ 25k

MrCredit · ‎11-13-2008

I like the Fidelity Investments Amex Card. 2% on everything. No limits. No annual fee. You can redeem when you reach $50.

It is issued by FIA.

PSECU Visa $20,000, PSECU LOC $20,000, BOA Amex $18,500, Fidelity Rewards Amex $10,000, Fidelity Rewards Visa Sig $7,500, Sears MasterCard $5,000, Citi Diamond Preferred MC $8,300 USAA MC $9,800, Chase Slate $9,000 Lowes $10,000, Chase Sapphire Preferred $10,000, Amazon CC $2,500, Kohls Charge $1,000, Amex Gold PR,

Recently Cut Discover and HSBC loose due to low limits.

CS800 · ‎04-07-2008

I would say in order of my point of view:

1. PenFed - 5% Gas

2. AMEX 1-2-3 - 3% Gas

3. BCE - 3% gas

4. Discover/Chase Freedom for the 5% rotating rewards

I would say BCP but it was a $75 AF so one needs to spend a lot fo break even. I'll even throw in the US Bank cash card

crunching_numbers · ‎02-15-2012

BCP is by far the best out there. No spending cap like Discover More and Freedom.

6% on groceries

3% on Gas

3% on department stores

1% on everything else

Freedom has rotating 5% catagories, with 1% back on everything else. And if you have a Chase checking account you get an extra 10 points per swipe and 10% extra point bonus.

Starting Score: 693 TU FICO, 679 EQ FICO
Current Score: 748 TU(12/12), 771 TU98 , 824 TU08 FICO, 776 EQ FICO , 735 EX(9/12) FICO
Goal Score: 750+, but shooting for the 800's
my wallet: Hyatt Visa Sig ($23K), B&N World MC ($17.3K), Amex RP Gold (NPSL w/ S&T), Hilton Surpass (10K), Freedom Visa Sig ($8.6K), Discover It ($8K), Amex BCP ($9K), FNBO Visa (13.1K), Citi Dia Pref MC ($3.7K),Sam's D ($8.5K), Walmart D ($7.5K), JCP($5.3K), Dicks MC ($2K)

crunching_numbers · ‎02-15-2012

CS800 wrote:
I would say in order of my point of view:

1. PenFed - 5% Gas
2. AMEX 1-2-3 - 3% Gas
3. BCE - 3% gas
4. Discover/Chase Freedom for the 5% rotating rewards

I would say BCP but it was a $75 AF so one needs to spend a lot fo break even. I'll even throw in the US Bank cash card

If all you bought was groceries, as soon as you spent $1250 you will have broken even. That is $104 per month on groceries. Most families spend a heck of a lot more than that each month on food. Everything after that is 6% back in your pocket. You can also buy gift cards at 6% cash back at the grocery store.

Starting Score: 693 TU FICO, 679 EQ FICO
Current Score: 748 TU(12/12), 771 TU98 , 824 TU08 FICO, 776 EQ FICO , 735 EX(9/12) FICO
Goal Score: 750+, but shooting for the 800's
my wallet: Hyatt Visa Sig ($23K), B&N World MC ($17.3K), Amex RP Gold (NPSL w/ S&T), Hilton Surpass (10K), Freedom Visa Sig ($8.6K), Discover It ($8K), Amex BCP ($9K), FNBO Visa (13.1K), Citi Dia Pref MC ($3.7K),Sam's D ($8.5K), Walmart D ($7.5K), JCP($5.3K), Dicks MC ($2K)

FrugalRican · ‎02-02-2012

My mix of BCE/Discover/Freedom seem to have just about everything covered.

If you are a higher profile spender BCP > BCE for groceries.

Also, Freedom and CSP could cover your travel needs.

Follow my financial journey: http://www.frugalrican.com

EQ FICO (01/16/2012): 656 - EQ FICO (02/16/2012): 743 - EQ (02/24/2012): 760 - EX (04/28/2012): 739 - GOAL 2013: 800+

AMEX BCE (0/10K) --- BOA 1-2-3 (0/15.9K) --- Discover More (0/6K) --- Chase Freedom Visa (0/1.4K) -- Hyatt Visa Sign. (0/5.8K) -- Barclay's NFL Card (0/7.5K) -- Chase Sapphire Preferred (0/5K)

CS800 · ‎04-07-2008

crunching_numbers wrote:
CS800 wrote:
I would say in order of my point of view:

1. PenFed - 5% Gas
2. AMEX 1-2-3 - 3% Gas
3. BCE - 3% gas
4. Discover/Chase Freedom for the 5% rotating rewards

I would say BCP but it was a $75 AF so one needs to spend a lot fo break even. I'll even throw in the US Bank cash card
If all you bought was groceries, as soon as you spent $1250 you will have broken even. That is $104 per month on groceries. Most families spend a heck of a lot more than that each month on food. Everything after that is 6% back in your pocket. You can also buy gift cards at 6% cash back at the grocery store.

Great info about the gift card. So I go to Shaws and get a card like an AMEX gift card and I can use it anywhere else to buy things and since I bought the card at shaws it coults as grocery.

SoCalBound · ‎06-24-2012

CS800 wrote:
I would say in order of my point of view:

1. PenFed - 5% Gas
2. AMEX 1-2-3 - 3% Gas
3. BCE - 3% gas

If only the surrounding gas stations didnt charge more per gallon for the use of credit cards as opposed to cash....

I have question about pharmacies like Rite-Aid, CVS, Walgreens, under what catagory do they fall with Rewards cards.

Zync NPSL, BCP ($2000), Chase United ($2000) Chase Amazon ($1500), Chase Freedom ($3000), Discover More ($2000), Paypal Extras ($5000), Citi Forward ($2000), Orchard $2000, Amazon ($5000)
Pre-App Scores: TU98 779, TU04 797, EQ 682, EX 788 (Amex) 8/12