Been 2 years since I last apped for a card, and I feel the need to app for something new. Current cards and scores in sig.
Only inquiries in last 2 years are from auto purchases and mortgage (refi on one property, purchase on another).
Cards I'm thinking about:
Chase Amazon - I do a lot of Amazon spend.
Amex Hilton Aspire - I already have Diamond status at Hilton, but the SUB bonus points would be nice.
Amex Platinum (upgrade from Gold) - I do a good bit of regional travel, and some of the perks would be helpful.
Chase Sapphire Reserve (upgrade from Preferred) - same rational as Amex Platinum.
FNBO Getaway - I like the 3x bonuses on this one. Got preapproval (albeit for a lower limit than expected), so no problem there.
I do have preapproval for all of Amex's offerings, so I can dive into that water anytime. I don't think I would have an issue upgrading to Reserve. Apart from travel and Amazon, primary spend is other retail.
Just curious to hear if there is something I'm overlooking that should get my attention. X1 invite has not come yet.
@SouthernCredit you've got a good stable of cards already, so any new cards should have a goal in mind:
- Cash back? The AODFCU Visa Signature with its 3% cash back on all purchases is the gold standard for a daily driver with no thought involved. Plenty of other cards out there that earn 5% back on various categories (e.g. Citi Custom Cash, US Bank Cash+, Elan Max Cash Preferred, etc).
- Chase URs? The aforementioned Chase 'tri-fecta' or 'quad-fecta' of Sapphire Reserve or Preferred + Freedom Unlimited + Freedom Flex + Ink Cash would help you maximize UR earnings.
- Amex MRs? The Amex 'tri-fecta' of Platinum + Gold + Blue Business Plus would help you maximize MR earnings.
No right or wrong answer here, really depends on what you want to get back for your usual credit card spend. I will say that trying to maintain more than rewards points system (e.g. both Chase URs and Amex MRs simultaneously) is difficult without significant annual spend, so you may want to decide to focus on just one.
If you have a decent amount of restaurant and grocery spend that goes on Amex Gold, I would suggest a new application for Amex Platinum rather than an upgrade if the card makes sense for you. Plus the Welcome Offer for a new card is usually substantially better than upgrade offers (if you have one).
Sapphire Reserve would really come down to whether the 3x instead of 2x earnings and/or the 50% bonus instead of 25% bonus through Chase Travel will offset the substantially larger annual fee (minus travel credit).
Since you do a lot of Amazon shopping, either a Chase or Synchrony Amazon card is probably a very good addition to your stable.
As far as overlooked options, is your retail shopping mostly online or in-person? If it's online, perhaps consider the Rakuten card paired with using the Rakuten portal? It's 3% back on shopping portal purchases in addition to regular cash back earned for most online retailers outside of Amazon. If you choose to earn Membership Rewards instead of cash back, that's 3x MRs on top of the portal earnings. I rack up a LOT of MRs that way, and the Rakuten Visa card is one of my favorite "Amex cards." 😂
If your purchases are in-store, since you mentioned travel being a big purchase category, the US Bank Altitude Reserve could be a great option if you can pay with a mobile wallet as it earns 3x on mobile wallet purchases. Those can be redeemed for 1.5 cents per point for travel purchases (including things like direct airline purchases with Real Time Rewards) effectively making it 4.5% toward travel for mobile wallet purchases. It has a $400 annual fee but also a $325 annual travel (and now also dining) credit that is very simple to use.
@DJRobbieD wrote:@SouthernCredit you've got a good stable of cards already, so any new cards should have a goal in mind:
- Cash back? The AODFCU Visa Signature with its 3% cash back on all purchases is the gold standard for a daily driver with no thought involved. Plenty of other cards out there that earn 5% back on various categories (e.g. Citi Custom Cash, US Bank Cash+, Elan Max Cash Preferred, etc).
- Chase URs? The aforementioned Chase 'tri-fecta' or 'quad-fecta' of Sapphire Reserve or Preferred + Freedom Unlimited + Freedom Flex + Ink Cash would help you maximize UR earnings.
- Amex MRs? The Amex 'tri-fecta' of Platinum + Gold + Blue Business Plus would help you maximize MR earnings.
No right or wrong answer here, really depends on what you want to get back for your usual credit card spend. I will say that trying to maintain more than rewards points system (e.g. both Chase URs and Amex MRs simultaneously) is difficult without significant annual spend, so you may want to decide to focus on just one.
I don't think I am eligible for AOD unless there is a hack I'm not aware of. I looked at their membership requirements, and didn't see any I qualify under - but if I'm missing something, please let me know, because that does look inticing.
@K-in-Boston wrote:If you have a decent amount of restaurant and grocery spend that goes on Amex Gold, I would suggest a new application for Amex Platinum rather than an upgrade if the card makes sense for you. Plus the Welcome Offer for a new card is usually substantially better than upgrade offers (if you have one).
Sapphire Reserve would really come down to whether the 3x instead of 2x earnings and/or the 50% bonus instead of 25% bonus through Chase Travel will offset the substantially larger annual fee (minus travel credit).
Since you do a lot of Amazon shopping, either a Chase or Synchrony Amazon card is probably a very good addition to your stable.
As far as overlooked options, is your retail shopping mostly online or in-person? If it's online, perhaps consider the Rakuten card paired with using the Rakuten portal? It's 3% back on shopping portal purchases in addition to regular cash back earned for most online retailers outside of Amazon. If you choose to earn Membership Rewards instead of cash back, that's 3x MRs on top of the portal earnings. I rack up a LOT of MRs that way, and the Rakuten Visa card is one of my favorite "Amex cards." 😂
If your purchases are in-store, since you mentioned travel being a big purchase category, the US Bank Altitude Reserve could be a great option if you can pay with a mobile wallet as it earns 3x on mobile wallet purchases. Those can be redeemed for 1.5 cents per point for travel purchases (including things like direct airline purchases with Real Time Rewards) effectively making it 4.5% toward travel for mobile wallet purchases. It has a $400 annual fee but also a $325 annual travel (and now also dining) credit that is very simple to use.
Do you think the Platinum + Gold is really worth the almost $1000 in annual fees? I can certainly justify one or the other, but I'm having trouble wrapping my head around both. I get that the welcome offer would be better, but just wondering if the long term fee justifies it.
The Rakuten idea sounds promising - I'll have to investigate this more.
I've read numerous posts that suggest the Altitude reserve is not an entry card to USB. From what I've read, they are more a relationship bank and not prone to approve a Reserve for a new customer. Is that not correct?
I don't think I am eligible for AOD unless there is a hack I'm not aware of. I looked at their membership requirements, and didn't see any I qualify under - but if I'm missing something, please let me know, because that does look inticing.
@SouthernCredit I live in NY, but qualified for membership by first joining the Northeast Alabama Biking Assocaition (NEABA).