What Card to Apply?

[ZxMarsxZ]

Hello all!!

I'm new to the game and also new here. I'm planning to travel abroad for a couple months in Feb 2020, so I'm trying to earn as much points and miles as possible from now until then. However, due to the fact that I did not pay much attention to establishing a thick credit history when I was younger, I'm now in a bit of a situation. I recently applied for the Citi and Barclay AAdvantage, both of which were turned down. My Chase Freedom app is in 30-day pending due to address verification since I just moved. I expect this app to go through tho. I don't know what to go from here to maximize the number of points for my travels next year. I would really appreciate some recommendations from you guys. Some stats about my current history:
Score ~750, 3 inquries with 1 in last 6 months from all 3 bureaus.
BoA CC 2013, 3k
Chase Freedom AU 2014, 5k
Chase SW Priority 2016 AU, 6.5k
BoA CC 2013 AU, 8k
Auto loan 2018, 15k/21k
Student loan 2018 paid off last month in one payment.

My oldest is over 5 years and just one under my own name, so it's not like a typical thin file. Yet it is still thin. Thank you for your advice.

[pinkandgrey]

Have you checked Capital One’s prequal site? The Venture has a good SUB and is a favored travel card.

[Anonymous]

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@ZxMarsxZ wrote:

Score ~750, 3 inquries with 1 in last 6 months from all 3 bureaus.
BoA CC 2013, 3k - SP CLI since 5/2018, if you haven't asked for one it's a good idea to go ahead now
Chase Freedom AU 2014, 5k
Chase SW Priority 2016 AU, 6.5k
BoA CC 2013 AU, 8k
Auto loan 2018, 15k/21k
Student loan 2018 paid off last month in one payment.

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W/ a 750 you're primed for approvals.  The biggest players are going to be Chase and Amex.  When you take away the AU accounts you only have 1 CC through BOA.

I would figure out which Amex and Chase cards make sense from the standpoint of points vs AF and go for 1 of each.

From there I would potentially check out other lenders for potential matches.  If you fly AA Citi and Barclays have cards with them.  Personally I would stay agnostic though for a particular airline as you can earn the same amount of points through either MR or UR and then transfer them as needed.

[ZxMarsxZ]

Looks like I'm prequal for the Venture. But I wanna save the slot for Chase with 5/24 and all. The triple pull also discourages me for that card. Maybe some time next year.

[ZxMarsxZ]

I signed up for the AA cards just because of the good SUB. I figured I could transfer the points to their partners. But Citi denied me even after recon. Just called Barclay, they said they needed verification docs unlike the online app status checker saying "Currently we are unable to offer you a credit card issued by Barclays Bank Delaware." So fingers crossed. I guess I'd wait for the Freedom and Barclay AA to pan out. After a month or two, I'd probably apply for the Amex Gold (saw it as prequalified when I checked) to get a foot in Amex's door. 

[KLEXH25]

Chase 5/24 is number of new accounts, not number of inquiries. I don’t think Venture would get in the way of that. Wait to see how Chase pans out first, since they’re sensitive to new accounts before AND after applying with them. But if you’re not getting a lot of offers, it’s worth considering Venture. What was Citi’s reason for denial?

[Brian_Earl_Spilner]

Chase will filter out your AU accounts. You're still thin in their eyes, but at least it's over 1 year old on your actual card.

[xaximus]

I think with just one card being your own, even though it's over a year old, that's still a pretty thin file. I would look into the BoA Travel Rewards card, since you already have BoA, they may extend you that card as well. With your current denials and possible denials, I would go with BoA since you have an existing relationship with them.

[ZxMarsxZ]

Thank you you all for your helpful comments.

I guess my game plan now would be to wait/recon for Chase and Barclay. If I get approved then I'd go on with the Amex Gold.

If the Freedom doesn't pan out so well, I will apply for the BoA Premium Rewards card since I've had the BoA Cash Rewards along with their checking for 5 6 years now, so BoA probably will approve me. I'll also try for the Freedom again after a couple months. My goal is to get the CSR at the end of the year.

[KLEXH25]

I don’t think getting the CSR by the end of the year is realistic. Starting limits start at $10,000. They’ll probably want to see you already have experience at that credit level with other cards. I’m just basing it on what I’ve read around here, so someone else with firsthand knowledge might want to chime in.