topic Re: Which card to app for? in Credit Card Applications

Which card to app for?

A1Credit — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 19:03:49 GMT

I was preparing to app for the Citi American Airline card when I decided to try the prequalifier one last time. This time the Citi Thank You Premier card showed up in the pre-qualifier. Which card should I go for? Was orginally apping to get the $200 credit on some upcoming AA travel.

Re: Which card to app for?

jl4 — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 19:20:06 GMT

For what it's worth, the current SUB for the Premiere card is 50000 points afte rspending $4000 in 3 months (with a $95 AF mind you). If you can make that kind of spend happen, that's $625 dollars when you redeem the points for travel. Might be worth it?

Obviously nothing's for sure but I'd imagine that if they pre-qual you for the Premiere, you'd be approved for the AA card. If I was picking between these two, I'd go for the Premiere, personally.

Re: Which card to app for?

A1Credit — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 19:24:05 GMT

@jl4wrote:
For what it's worth, the current SUB for the Premiere card is 50000 points afte rspending $4000 in 3 months (with a $95 AF mind you). If you can make that kind of spend happen, that's $625 dollars when you redeem the points for travel. Might be worth it?

Obviously nothing's for sure but I'd imagine that if they pre-qual you for the Premiere, you'd be approved for the AA card. If I was picking between these two, I'd go for the Premiere, personally.

The AF is waived for the first year. As for the spend...I'm a little nervous about that. I can only make that spend if I am able to pay my mortgage and car note using the card. Is it a Mastercard or Visa?

Re: Which card to app for?

A1Credit — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 19:27:24 GMT

Also I'm wondering if it would be better to take the $200 now since I need to go ahead and purchase my airline ticket now since the flights seem to be selling quickly even though the travel is months away.

I suppose I can use the $625 on future travel but... argghhh! I don't know. I hate decisions LOL

Re: Which card to app for?

Gmood1 — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 20:52:20 GMT

No need to sweat the spend with the Citi cards. They are MasterCard and Plastiq accepts them with open arms.
You just have to weigh the fees against the spend bonus. And decide if it's worth it.

Re: Which card to app for?

A1Credit — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 20:55:55 GMT

@Gmood1wrote:
No need to sweat the spend with the Citi cards. They are MasterCard and Plastiq accepts them with open arms.
You just have to weigh the fees against the spend bonus. And decide if it's worth it.

@Thank you so much @Gmood1! I'm not good with determine the points and which card fares better. I like to think of long term use when I apply for a card and not just the instant reward. With that being said, in your professional opinion which card would yield the most rewards. One con against the TYP is omission of preferred boarding and free checked bag.

Re: Which card to app for?

Gmood1 — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 21:06:28 GMT

A1 I wish I was more of an expert when it comes to the points game. lol
That's something I'm still learning myself. We have some real experts here on that stuff. Hopefully some of them will chime in. Sorry I can't be more helpful in that area.

Re: Which card to app for?

A1Credit — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 21:08:56 GMT

@Gmood1wrote:
A1 I wish I was more of an expert when it comes to the points game. lol
That's something I'm still learning myself. We have some real experts here on that stuff. Hopefully some of them will chime in. Sorry I can't be more helpful in that area.

I understand Gmood1. Thank you for the help you have been able to provide.

Re: Which card to app for?

Meanmchine — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 02:41:13 GMT

My crystal ball says the AA card is the winner

Congrats

Re: Which card to app for?

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 02:44:09 GMT

My last card was the Citi AA Plat which I was approved for about 2 weeks ago with the 60k offer. My next card will be the Premier which I'll app for in about May so...yeah, both great cards. I think the Premier makes more sense long term, I'm getting the AA for the SUB and cuz I needed a card to PC to the Dividend. I'm PCing the Premier to the Prestige and backing it up with TY points from the Sears MasterCard.

Essentially, unless you really value those AA perks from the AAdvantage, it seems a bit lackluster to me for a $95 annual fee.

Re: Which card to app for?

A1Credit — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 02:44:30 GMT

@Meanmchinewrote:
My crystal ball says the AA card is the winner
Congrats

Well darn your crystal ball is right! LOL I'll be needing the power of your crystal ball in the future when I try for a Chase card . LMBO!!!

Re: Which card to app for?

A1Credit — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 02:48:35 GMT

@Anonymouswrote:
My last card was the Citi AA Plat which I was approved for about 2 weeks ago with the 60k offer. My next card will be the Premier which I'll app for in about May so...yeah, both great cards. I think the Premier makes more sense long term, I'm getting the AA for the SUB and cuz I needed a card to PC to the Dividend. I'm PCing the Premier to the Prestige and backing it up with TY points from the Sears MasterCard.

Essentially, unless you really value those AA perks from the AAdvantage, it seems a bit lackluster to me for a $95 annual fee.

I applied for the card for the $200 credit and points on upcoming family travel. I needed to purchase the tickets now and wouldn't have enough time to earn the points so I went with instant gratification. Although I had plans to keep the card, I would like to hear more about the Dividend card. What is that? I've never heard of it.

Yes, I thought the Premier would be ideal for long term as well and also liked the option that I could PC it down to the Prestige but it wouldn't help me now, which is what I needed. I do plan to apply for it maybe next year sometime when I am planning another big vacation and will need the miles to help offset the cost of airline tickets.

Re: Which card to app for?

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 05:51:28 GMT

The Dividend card is basically Citi's version of the Chase Freedom or Discover It: a 5% cash back card with quarterly rotating categories. Citi doesn't advertise the card anymore, nor do they take new applications for it. However, you can still PC another Citi card to it, so that's the only way to get it now aside from becoming an authorized user for someone else's account. Generally the categories aren't as good as the Freedom and It, but instead of a $1500 quarterly cap, it's a $6000 annual cap so you can use the entire cash back allowance under a single category if you like. It's a bit of a process to get, but if you're looking for a hefty SUB, then it's kind of a win-win cuz it gives you a justifiable, even desirable, downgrade option for a card that would otherwise become useless while also giving you a way to get the Dividend in the first place with a hefty SUB to boot.

To clarify, the Prestige is a PC *up* from the Premier. The Prestige is worthwhile for the 4th night free hotel stay, not to mention the 3 hour trip delay insurance and unlimited roadside use. If you go with either of these cards ultimately, I highly suggest you look into the Sears MasterCard. By default it earns Shop Your Way points, but you can call Citi and have them enroll it to earn Thank You points instead. Periodically offers will be sent out for 10x back on groceries/gas/restaurants - 10x that you would then earn as Thank You points! This is a fantastic way to rack em up.

Personally, when I'm done with Citi, my 3 Citi cards should be Dividend/Prestige/Sears MC (assuming I get approved for the last 2!)

Re: Which card to app for?

A1Credit — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 13:32:56 GMT

Wow @f4phantom2500! You really have a full understanding of how to maximize points. Can we be friends?! 😆 I don’t have this type of understanding of the point system or the patience.

Thank you for outlining the strategy. I will need to print this to keep and follow when I decide to apply. You have been very helpful!

Re: Which card to app for?

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 18:04:03 GMT

Haha, sure thing buddy! Feel free to PM me if you have a question or something. If you have questions about Chase or Amex or general cash back card strategy I can help with that too - even non-credit (debit and the like) products to earn cash back and interest. personally I've opened 7 cards since July and have 8 more in my queue.

Re: Which card to app for?

A1Credit — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 18:16:09 GMT

@Anonymouswrote:
Haha, sure thing buddy! Feel free to PM me if you have a question or something. If you have questions about Chase or Amex or general cash back card strategy I can help with that too - even non-credit (debit and the like) products to earn cash back and interest. personally I've opened 7 cards since July and have 8 more in my queue.

Thank you so much! I will definitely be in your PMs. 😆

I have plans for Chase but I need to get higher scores and under 5/24.

Re: Which card to app for?

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 18:41:51 GMT

Well right off the bat I'd suggest taking a look into self lender. Basically its a way to build your credit without taking a hard inquiry or opening a line of credit. You pay the monthly surcharge for a full year then at the end they give you like 90% of the money back but it boosts your credit along the way.

Re: Which card to app for?

A1Credit — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 19:01:52 GMT

@Anonymouswrote:
Well right off the bat I'd suggest taking a look into self lender. Basically its a way to build your credit without taking a hard inquiry or opening a line of credit. You pay the monthly surcharge for a full year then at the end they give you like 90% of the money back but it boosts your credit along the way.

Again I’ll have to look it up. I don’t know what is.