Amex, Chase or Capital One

[mlj01]

I have been looking around at some cards recently as one thing Credit Karma and other related sites tell me is hurting is AAoA which is 1 year 10months, and total accounts which is at 9(most being Fed student loans). I am still in college. 

I currently have 1 credit card: Discover It Student at $3000.00 credit line. I have had it since July 2013 and the CL was increased last in Febuary. I also have 1 auto loan since November 2012 with about $4500 left on it.

I have recieved quite a few pre-qualified mailings from AMEX and Capital One, while also seeing pre-qualified on Chase's website.

Amex mailed me a prequalified Blue Cash Everyday $250 after $1,000 spend in 3 months; Their website lists as prequalified Gold Card(15k pts after $1000 spend in 3 months); and Everday(15k pts after $1k spend in 3 mo)

Chase prequalified online shows: Freedom ($200 bonus, and 0 intro apr & AF); Slate; and Sapphire Preferred(40k Pts after spend $4k in 3 months). 

Capital One prequalified online shows: Quicksilver Rewards($100 on $500 spend in first 3 mo); Venture(40k Pts after $3k spend in first 3 months); and Platinum Prestige.

Most of my spending is at Walmart/Sams Club, Gas Stations, Restaurants/Fast Food and occasionally on Amazon and at Target or other grocery stores.

I am getting married in August 2016 and honeymoon looks like it will be going to Niagra Falls area(Buffalo,Toronto) and going into Canada by then I will be looking for a no FTF card that is widely accepted in Toronto (Discover has 0 FTF but i hear it is not accepted much in Toronto). Being as that is over a year away I know I don't have to have that as a major factor in my decision yet.

I don't have any flights currently planned, but have taken two trips over the last year on Southwest Airlines(airline of choice due to free bags, and value).

Scores

Transunion Vanatage: 781

Discover FICO:  746(Online) ; 726 (5/27 Statement)

Credit Karma: T- 718 EQ - 748

Credit Sesame: 718.

I was thinking:

This month: Apply for a Amex, Possibly BCE for the $250 offer. I'm not sure how well the gold 15k pt offer is with my limited travel in the next 12 months, is that able to be PC to a non-AF card?

Between September-January: Either

1. Chase cards: CSP and/or Freedom. I was reconmended on another thread to try Back to back to get only 1 pull, and then before the year is up to combine the CL into the Freedom. From my understanding I will rant to redeem my points before doing that correct? Also opening after August will allow me to possibly save the points for the honeymoon in August 2016. Freedom 5x categories may match my Discover iT. 

 2. Cap 1: Venture and/or Quicksilver. Do they pull twice if you apply back to back within minutes? I read that you can PC Venture to VentureOne to avoid the AF, I don't believe they allow a PC to QS later on do they? I need to do some more research on the point differences between Venture and VentureOne, but I would have Venture for atleast 11 months before AF time. I also saw a thread where it sounds like Cap1 may be allowing cards to be combined in the near future.

Between April 2016-July 2016: Option that wasn't choosen above.

Any suggestions on timelines, and what cards I should do?

Should I look at Sallie Mae Mastercard? And with how low my AAOA is now, how much will opening 2 cards at once (Chase or Cap1 Back to Back hurt?) and then later combining what I can, or should I convert AF cards Venture to VentureOne and CSP to CS?

[OmarGB9]

How many inquiries do you have on each bureau? The reason I ask I because of Chase tends to be very inquiry sensitive and if you have more than 5 inquiries in the last 2 years they may flat out deny you even with good scores from what I've read.

As far as AAoA, mines at around 1 year and I just added two new cards, but it probably won't change mine much since I have a fairly short credit history to begin with (oldest TL is 2.4 years).

[mlj01]

Credit Karma tells me 3 at Transunion and 0 at Equifax. I was at 4 at TU in Febuary, so one must of fallen off, and I been at atleast three since atleast June 2014, I assume they may have been from prior CLI at Discover and Apartment Management.

Credit Sesame has me at 1 inquiry. I will try to track down the third Bureau because I belive CK and CS use the same.

[Anonymous]

Good to ask questions and plan your "minimal app spree" in advance. You'll have more success in all likelihood. For Cap One, while many have stated you can do a "2 for 1 HP", it appears lately, most have been receiving 2 HP's x 3 CA's for 6 total INQ's. So keep that in mind. If your choosing between Venture and Venture 1, most will strongly recommend Venture based on the 2x points and significant CL's Cap One has been offering on this card.
As for the Chase, the CSP has a 4K spend requirement vs $500.00 on the Freedom. If you think you can run thru alot of money on all these cards over the next 90 day's, than by all means, go for it. But don't go too crazy if your unsure. The last thing you want to do is either not reach the requirements and lose the awards, or feel forced to spend more money just to reach these requirements. I'd say Freedom for sure, CSP maybe wait.
As for AAOA, your scores will take a hit to start, but they'll quickly come back. Definitely worth it in the long term. I'd app only cards you require and/or really want/need. Don't app just to app or get approved. You'll end up with cards you don't use, like, or want. Amex is great. I love all my Amex cards. There some of my favorites. I'd definitely recommend getting in with Amex. But go with the PRG Gold, not the standard Gold. You can go "incognito" on Chrome and get the 50K points with 1K spend. That blows away the standard Gold Card. Don't waste your money on the standard. But get the 50K PRG offer. Also go for the BCE back to back, right after the PRG. You'll get 1 EX HP for both in all likelihood.

[OmarGB9]

If it helps, I believe Experian's site offers a free 7 day trial of their services so you can pull up your report as well as your EX score really quick for free essentially. Just be sure to cancel the trial before it expires, otherwise they'll start charging you.

[Anonymous]

Chase is pretty strict with their new policy.  But if you have a pre qualify, you should get in.  I would go for all 3.  Chase, Amex & Cap One. 

[mlj01]

I will take a look at PRG Gold, do you belive I may have a shot at that card? I do see evey now and then specials for AMEX users on some deals that are on sites such as slickdeals so they always catch my attention.

I believe I would spread them out, and hope some of the bonuses stick around, so I can attempt to get them all. I believe it sounds like CSP has had the 40k bonus for over  a year. Sometimes up to 50k. And a 5k bonus for adding a AU which I have been looking at adding my Fiance to help her credit. I also would spread most out to allow for my spending to meet the requirements. I spend around $1k-1.5k average every month. 

Would you reconmend the Cap 1 or Amex now and then the travel cards later on to attempt to take advantage of the bonus point next August and then be able to Combine/PC to a non AF card?

Is it a good idea to add a Store Card to my portfolio? I  assume Amazon, Kohls, or JCP would be best of those as Kohls and JCP would get me additional discounts occasionally. Amazon has $70 bonus for CC or $40 for their Store card. I believe Sams club only has in Store Credit Lines for business and not for personal.

[mlj01]

Im planning on doing all 3 I believe but spread out. I know this will hurt my AAOA short term, but allow me to possibly max out on bonuses. Would this be a good idea?

[Anonymous]

I was kinda in your same position a few days ago 

I had my BofA rewards card for about 1yr 2mo before I decide to apply for a few cards 

I went with Chase freedom approved for 4.5k 

next I applied for Amex blue but denied due to limited credit history 

I then went with cap one venture approved for 5k 

happy with my little spree I will take a break for a while before going for Amex again  

[mlj01]

4.5k so possibly missed Visa Signature by $500. I hope for Signature but doubt I will get it. 

I wonder if AMEX BCE for $250 and Chase Freedom for $200 bonuses now will be good. Since they have low spending requirements. Then I will have them avaiable later on to combine CL if decide to in the future after I attempt to get a CSP and C1: Venture. As i believe they would be better to hold off on.

Should I wait till after the 27th and as discover statement will post and FICO will update?