At 3/24.....what to get next?

[Anonymous]

Need some opinions from people smarter than me basically. Currently at 3/24...Citi DC, Chase SP, and Amex Gold. My intention was to build out a good travel rewards setup of no more than a few cards with either MR or UR...and maybe a hotel card.

Originally I was going to go with Chase trifecta, but then got the Gold when Amex made the changes as a ton of my spend is on dining. 

So now I've got a toe in both rewards programs, but unure of which to commit to.  Was thinking of grabbing a catch all card for non bonus spend for MR...BBP, and also UR...Ink Unlimited.

Leaving me at 5/24...and gardening I guess with the basics of both UR and MR covered.

But I seem to do most of my spend on my Gold, so was thinking of maybe just gettting the BBP, and leaving that last slot open for a hotel card, or in case Chase counters Amex with an amazing new SUB for one of their cards in the future.

I frequent Hilton, Marriot and SPG properties...and fly out of San Francisco...so I think both programs work for my needs. 

Any advice would be much appreciated. 

[jdbkiang]

BBP and Ink unlimited are both business cards and therefore won’t add to your 3/24 count. If you want to be safe, simply apply for the Chase cards first, then go for Amex after you’ve filled out 5/24.

[Anonymous]

Really?   TPG and a few other sources seem to indicate the Ink cards do count toward 5/24.

[jdbkiang]

They definitely do not. You can’t get the Ink cards past 5/24, but they don’t add to your 5/24. Neither do most business cards. They usually don’t show up on your personal report, that’s why they don’t count towards 5/24.

[Anonymous]

i recommend the marriott card though that bars you from the SPG cards on AMEX side, on the SUB anyway.  Or go for the chase trifecta since you may be locked out of it after 5/24. 

[Anonymous]

Thank you jdbkiang. Did not know that. I'll definitely go for the business cards then. 

And I was thinking of the Marriott card or spg as well as both offer a free night on anniversary. Guess I'll get both business cards, then shoot for the Marriot or SPG. 

[jdbkiang]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Thank you jdbkiang. Did not know that. I'll definitely go for the business cards then. 

And I was thinking of the Marriott card or spg as well as both offer a free night on anniversary. Guess I'll get both business cards, then shoot for the Marriot or SPG. 

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If you're considering the Marriott/SPG cards, think about taking the business versions of those cards too, since they won't affect your 5/24 status either. 

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Thank you jdbkiang. Did not know that. I'll definitely go for the business cards then. 

And I was thinking of the Marriott card or spg as well as both offer a free night on anniversary. Guess I'll get both business cards, then shoot for the Marriot or SPG. 

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Note that there are now multiple cross checks in place for Marriott and SPG cards, you can look up the complicated rules themselves, but basically they make most attempts of 'double dipping' not possible/not useful. 

For your original question, I'd get the Chase trifecta as planned (first).

Since the gold card is NOT under 5/24 and is a charge card (i.e. the credit profile bar needed to get approved is lower than credit cards). You can easily get the gold card after getting the chase cards and decide for yourself which to close after 'test driving' them for one year. However, doing this in the other order (gold card first) will be much harder for you.

[Anonymous]

if you can get business cards then I would suggest getting the AmEx blue business plus as well as a Chase Ink cash and a Chase Freedom. the ink cash and freedom tied together with a sapphire preferred will offer a great return with the 5x categories and meanwhile the AmEx gold and blue business plus will still see good used because using the AmEx gold doesn't really cost you much in terms of what you would otherwise get from UR points (2x on dining from the sapphire) and the blue business plus will make a great non category card to further earn MR points.

this is actually what I have except I have the AmEx Platinum rather than be gold because the Platinum makes a lot of sense for me since I fly out of an airport with a centurion Lounge. But honestly even if you don't utilize the Centurion Lounge that much the credits will offset the annual fee for the card for several years (if you value the credits at full value) because you should actually get $765 in credit in Year One while in every subsequent year the deficit of the annual fee after the credits is $50 meaning that after the first year you are up about $200 so just from those credits the card is essentially paid for for the first four years and that doesn't even include the sign on bonus. but unless you can really utilize the Centurion lounges then it probably doesn't make so much sense to get the platinum card but I do encourage you to check it out especially since currently the 100K offer is available for some people

[Anonymous]

All very good advice so far, so thank you.

I suppose I want a basic setup in UR and MR I think. Since they seem to swing back and forth on who is offering more perks at any given time.

I should be able to qualify for a business card I think. No EIN, but I do have a few investment properties that I collect income from, and do repairs and pay a few utilities..taxes etc on. Would think that would qualify me. 

So I suppose ideally....For UR...CSP, Ink Unlimited, maybe a freedom.  For MR...Gold, and then the BBP.    I'll likely add the Platinum next year at some point too. I do fly out of SFO which does have a lounge. But no trips planned for the next 6 months, so I'll wait on that.

So logically, get the two business cards next (doing a lot of spend right on non category items). Which still leaves me the option for 2 other chase cards later?