Usually I suggest that you open a tradeline as soon as possible if you want it, but in this case I'm not certain I see the draw.

As I understand it, you're going to take a HP to join; you're going to take a HP to open the card; you're going to take a HP to get any CLI's in the future.

It won't matter long term but if you're doing this for limit chasing in addition to the FICO score, I think you're better waiting to make your report as pretty as possible.  If you just want the FICO score and the limit is irrelevant, then apply on opening.

Edit: April looks good from a tradeline perspective if you can pay down by then, take the 6 months seasoning on half your cards for a likely FICO bonus.

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Starting Score: EQ 561, TU 567, EX 599* (12/30/11, EX lender pull 12/29/11)
Current Score: EQ 660, Wally TU 697, EX unknown (05/13/13)
Goal Score: 680 in all three (01/01/14)

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