topic Re: Which should I apply for? CSP or Palladium? in Credit Cards

Which should I apply for? CSP or Palladium?

pinipig523 — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:32:40 GMT

Now that I've even done more research between the 2 - I wasn't thinking of applying for both because of some overlap of benefits... right?

I like the concierge service of the Palladium - but I don't think it offers better reward points than the CSP... am I correct in that assumption?

If I get both, then I get to have both feed into UR, right? I get to also utilize CSP initially because of the 40,000 bonus points after first $3K spending. The Palladium, on the other hand, requires 100K spending to get 35,000 points - I don't spend that much per year so that's a moot point for me.

Plus, CSP has no annual fee the first year...

Not sure if this is a viable option of applying for both - but if I were to apply to only one, would you go for the Palladium or the CSP?

Thanks!

Re: Which should I apply for? CSP or Palladium?

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:40:52 GMT

If you don't spend $100k+ per year, I don't think the palladium is for you.

Re: Which should I apply for? CSP or Palladium?

09Lexie — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:46:07 GMT

OP, I'm not sure what is best for you - you need to decide based on your spending habits. Also you might want to read some of the responses fom your previous posts

Whichever card you decide- GL

Re: Which should I apply for? CSP or Palladium?

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 06:31:24 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
If you don't spend $100k+ per year, I don't think the palladium is for you.

Agreed.

What would be the purpose of the Palladium card for you? Do you fly internationally in premium cabins frequently (if not, but it is your goal, you'll get there faster with CSP+Freedom+Ink or Bold...you can open chase checking as well to get further bonus UR points)? Do you fly privately often? What exclusive experiences are you looking to book via concierge? Do you fly BA in full-fare J often? Are you in an industry which legitimately requires you to impress clients by pulling out a card made of palladium?

If the answer to the majority of those questions was no (and since you charge less than 100K a year, I'm going to guess thats the case), then you're better off with CSP, Freedom, Ink or Bold, and checking. You definitely don't need both CSP and Palladium.

Re: Which should I apply for? CSP or Palladium?

boomhower — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:56:29 GMT

It sounds like the CSP is certainly the card that works better for you. The Palladium is a fine card but geared towards upper end spenders that doesn't sound like you've gotten to that level yet. (not picking, your way ahead of me!)

Re: Which should I apply for? CSP or Palladium?

a3quit4s — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:24:44 GMT

Plus, as heavily debated here, you can't just apply for Palladium. You need to have a private banking relationship and your private banker faxes the app in for you

Re: Which should I apply for? CSP or Palladium?

pinipig523 — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:49:45 GMT

Thanks guys - I read everything on my other thread... but the other thread did not discuss CSP.

The one thing I like about the Palladium is that it has concierge services for reservations and I like that I can go into private lounges at airports. We do quite a bit of domestic (and Maui) travelling, but not so much international. We do not fly private jets. Our expenses probably hit around $50-60K a year on credit cards alone... but not $100K to hit the 35,000 point bonus. I can stomach the $595 AF, but prefer a smaller fee of course.

I'm just not sure what the Palladium offers on top of the CSP other than the concierge and lobby access/united access.... aside from the flash of the Palladium card itself.

@a3quit4s wrote:
Plus, as heavily debated here, you can't just apply for Palladium. You need to have a private banking relationship and your private banker faxes the app in for you

Yes, I know that already - I am a Private Client at Chase.

Re: Which should I apply for? CSP or Palladium?

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:54:32 GMT

The concierge benefits aren't that great, most of the time I just pick up the phone and do it myself. I asked for assistance with booking a hotel stay and by the time I got a response I had already booked my room.

In terms of the lounge access, it gives Lounge Club access. The United Club is not a published benefit and is not guaranteed. It's by request only, not sure if people are having success getting it now.

By default the CSP is the better of the two again unless you put more than 100k on the card.

Re: Which should I apply for? CSP or Palladium?

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:56:43 GMT

CSP is cheaper and gives you a better rewards system. Plus it has a metallic card so that takes away some of the "wow" factor from the Palladium card...

Re: Which should I apply for? CSP or Palladium?

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:45:24 GMT

Regarding lounge access, if you redeem your ultimate rewards for premium cabins (which is the best, most valuable use of your points. International business or first will get you the highest redemption value, but if you go to Hawaii regularly, that would be a good redemption as well), you will have lounge access anyways.

Re: Which should I apply for? CSP or Palladium?

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 02:45:04 GMT

My vote:

AMEX Plat (AF $450) & US Bank Flexperks (AF $49)

That combination is much better for domestic travel. Spending goes on the US Bank card and the AMEX plat gets you travel benefits.

Both cards have decent concierge. The combination will yield better rewards and benefits, but at a discount AF wise.

Re: Which should I apply for? CSP or Palladium?

pinipig523 — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 04:20:44 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Regarding lounge access, if you redeem your ultimate rewards for premium cabins (which is the best, most valuable use of your points. International business or first will get you the highest redemption value, but if you go to Hawaii regularly, that would be a good redemption as well), you will have lounge access anyways.

So if I use UR to book a flight for a premium class - I get lounge access as a perk?

Re: Which should I apply for? CSP or Palladium?

CreditScholar — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 04:27:55 GMT

@pinipig523 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Regarding lounge access, if you redeem your ultimate rewards for premium cabins (which is the best, most valuable use of your points. International business or first will get you the highest redemption value, but if you go to Hawaii regularly, that would be a good redemption as well), you will have lounge access anyways.
So if I use UR to book a flight for a premium class - I get lounge access as a perk?

J and F tickets should get you lounge access regardless of whether you have an actual lounge membership or not. They'll issue you single-use passes when you get your boarding card.

I've thought about the palladium card a fair bit in the past year or so, and from a simple cost-benefit analysis it doesn't provide enough for the AF. Other than the "plunk factor", you can get roughly equivalent (or superior) benefits for less. This is doubly true if you don't spend 100k per year for the 35k bonus.

As someone who does charge over 100k per year, I've found that the CSP + United Club + JPM Ritz offers better benefits for the same AF. As it currently stands, I simply can't justify moving over 250k to CPC just for a credit card.

Re: Which should I apply for? CSP or Palladium?

pinipig523 — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 04:30:51 GMT

@CreditScholar wrote:
@pinipig523 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Regarding lounge access, if you redeem your ultimate rewards for premium cabins (which is the best, most valuable use of your points. International business or first will get you the highest redemption value, but if you go to Hawaii regularly, that would be a good redemption as well), you will have lounge access anyways.
So if I use UR to book a flight for a premium class - I get lounge access as a perk?
J and F tickets should get you lounge access regardless of whether you have an actual lounge membership or not. They'll issue you single-use passes when you get your boarding card.

I've thought about the palladium card a fair bit in the past year or so, and from a simple cost-benefit analysis it doesn't provide enough for the AF. Other than the "plunk factor", you can get roughly equivalent (or superior) benefits for less. This is doubly true if you don't spend 100k per year for the 35k bonus.

As someone who does charge over 100k per year, I've found that the CSP + United Club + JPM Ritz offers better benefits for the same AF. As it currently stands, I simply can't justify moving over 250k to CPC just for a credit card.

Thanks for the response... I'm already CPC so I wonder if this is just natural progression to get the Palladium. But I think you're right about the CSP.

Re: Which should I apply for? CSP or Palladium?

CreditScholar — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 04:39:09 GMT

@pinipig523 wrote:
@CreditScholar wrote:
@pinipig523 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Regarding lounge access, if you redeem your ultimate rewards for premium cabins (which is the best, most valuable use of your points. International business or first will get you the highest redemption value, but if you go to Hawaii regularly, that would be a good redemption as well), you will have lounge access anyways.
So if I use UR to book a flight for a premium class - I get lounge access as a perk?
J and F tickets should get you lounge access regardless of whether you have an actual lounge membership or not. They'll issue you single-use passes when you get your boarding card.

I've thought about the palladium card a fair bit in the past year or so, and from a simple cost-benefit analysis it doesn't provide enough for the AF. Other than the "plunk factor", you can get roughly equivalent (or superior) benefits for less. This is doubly true if you don't spend 100k per year for the 35k bonus.

As someone who does charge over 100k per year, I've found that the CSP + United Club + JPM Ritz offers better benefits for the same AF. As it currently stands, I simply can't justify moving over 250k to CPC just for a credit card.
Thanks for the response... I'm already CPC so I wonder if this is just natural progression to get the Palladium. But I think you're right about the CSP.

I don't know if there's anything "natural" about it perse, because either it fits your needs or it doesn't. If something else fits better and costs the same (or less), it's fairly clear-cut IMO.

Re: Which should I apply for? CSP or Palladium?

pinipig523 — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 05:04:13 GMT

@CreditScholar wrote:
I don't know if there's anything "natural" about it perse, because either it fits your needs or it doesn't. If something else fits better and costs the same (or less), it's fairly clear-cut IMO.

By "natural" I meant that if I have the "opportunity" to apply and possibly get approved for the Palladium, then maybe I should take advantage of this opportunity.

But I think I see, CSP is just as good for my spending pattern.

Re: Which should I apply for? CSP or Palladium?

FinStar — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 05:12:44 GMT

@CreditScholar wrote:
@pinipig523 wrote:
@CreditScholar wrote:
@pinipig523 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Regarding lounge access, if you redeem your ultimate rewards for premium cabins (which is the best, most valuable use of your points. International business or first will get you the highest redemption value, but if you go to Hawaii regularly, that would be a good redemption as well), you will have lounge access anyways.
So if I use UR to book a flight for a premium class - I get lounge access as a perk?
J and F tickets should get you lounge access regardless of whether you have an actual lounge membership or not. They'll issue you single-use passes when you get your boarding card.

I've thought about the palladium card a fair bit in the past year or so, and from a simple cost-benefit analysis it doesn't provide enough for the AF. Other than the "plunk factor", you can get roughly equivalent (or superior) benefits for less. This is doubly true if you don't spend 100k per year for the 35k bonus.

As someone who does charge over 100k per year, I've found that the CSP + United Club + JPM Ritz offers better benefits for the same AF. As it currently stands, I simply can't justify moving over 250k to CPC just for a credit card.
Thanks for the response... I'm already CPC so I wonder if this is just natural progression to get the Palladium. But I think you're right about the CSP.
I don't know if there's anything "natural" about it perse, because either it fits your needs or it doesn't. If something else fits better and costs the same (or less), it's fairly clear-cut IMO.

Re: Which should I apply for? CSP or Palladium?

indiolatino61 — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 06:55:25 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
If you don't spend $100k+ per year, I don't think the palladium is for you.

Re: Which should I apply for? CSP or Palladium?

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:27:21 GMT

Yes, if you are flying in F or J, you will have lounge access.

Re: Which should I apply for? CSP or Palladium?

LS2982 — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:30:10 GMT

I agree with others here if your not a real big spender I would leave palladium alone and go for CSP.