@Absolution16 wrote:I am anticipating to spend about $3K for some dental procedures overseas. Seeing as it is a relatively moderate amount of spending that does not fall into normal everyday expense, I have been contemplating about putting that overseas dental expense to good use by earning some rewards with a new card at the same time.
I admit I avoid applying for a credit card just for SUB. If I were to apply for something, it always had to have a long-term goal, in the interest of actually keeping it long term. But this time, it is surely going to be "JUST for SUB" only, if I decide to do this. Is this smart?
The card obviously has to be a No-FTF card. If I were to stick to something that I would like to keep long term and actually use it from time to time, a cashback card would be a better choice, but I am having trouble finding one that is worth the effort. $200 SUB is available in plenty of card products if I choose to persue any for normal everyday use, so I don't find those worth the effort. Above that amount, I am not really seeing much. Cap1 Savor comes to mind, but I don't want triple HP, and I don't really need the categories it covers.
So I was looking at United Mileage Plus. AF waived the 1st year, then $95. If I choose not to really use it anymore but keep the account open in the interest of utilization padding and keeping history, there is the No-AF United Gateway card that I can PC into? I would most certainly have no problem meeting the SUB requirement. I am also "already approved" with a predetermined APR (but not CL), indicated by one of those green stars. United is one of my favorite airlines, and I could always use those extra miles.
Speaking of miles, the SUB offered via the Chase website gives 50K miles, but this link offers an upgraded SUB to 60K miles. I am not sure if it would be more advantageous in being approved by going through the Chase's "already approved" site, or not. If it makes no difference, then I'd definitely use the 60K option.
I put my travel expenses on CSP. I don't really "need" a co-branded airlines card. It is not like as if I fly exclusively on United, either. But, seeing as I am going to be spending the $3K anyway, I thought... maybe... I could get some use out of that? And surely, 50K/60K United miles put to good use would certainly be more valuable than the common SUB of $200 that is floating around?
I'd like some advice and feedback from all you seasoned veterans out there. Much appreciated, in advance.
I wouldn't do it unless it's a card that's a long term keeper for you.
Do NOT apply for a card only for SUB. It is not a good strategy. Apply for a card that you would use it for a long term or it would be feasible to PC it to another card, after its first year.
Having said that, you might review BOA Premium Rewards card. It has a hefty SUB and there is no FTF. It is a good tarvel card to have with effectively -5$ AF (95$ AF, 100$ airline credit) and it covers Global Entry (100$/4 years).
Fico8: EX~EQ~TU~840 (12 month goal~850).
@wasCB14 wrote:
@SouthJamaica wrote:I wouldn't do it unless it's a card that's a long term keeper for you.
But how do you know a card will actually be a long-term keeper?
Card earn rates change. Available transfer partners, award charts, and booking policies change. Protections change.
And that's all without actual changes to consumer lifestyles
- On the earning side, how much you spend and on what
- On the redeeming side, travel vs. cash back, how often you travel, where you go, basic vs. luxury, and who you go with
I almost always start with a decent SUB on a card. (And @Absolution16, I got 70k for United Explorer a few months ago, but I had to spend $6k).
When you start with a great SUB, you're in a good position to endure nerfs or other changes.
Of course you can't know whether it will change or not. For a specific definition of what I meant by "long-term keeper" : a card which you will enjoy and benefit from using on a regular basis, without regard to the signup bonus, based on its present terms.
@Absolution16 wrote:
I appreciate the feedback from all you guys. Normally, I wouldn't even have thought about applying just for SUB. And my small collection of cards all do serve a purpose and I plan on keeping them too.
United Explorer is kind of a dead end once it fulfills its purpose of collecting SUB. Like I said, I don't really "need" a co-branded airlines card and I have CSP for my travel needs. Even if I were to downgrade to No-AF Gateway, it would still end up a SD card. Not ideal long term.
So as advised, I looked around some more to see if there are any other cards with significant amount of SUB, with a possibility of PCing into something that I would eventually use. Would either of these 2 cards work?
1. USBank Altitude Connect --> Cash+
2. Citi Premier --> Custom Cash
I have and like the Citi Premier card.
The Cash+ or the Custom Cash are on my very short list of desired cards in the near future. If those can be obtained via PC from either the AC or the Premier, I wouldn't mind missing out on the $200 SUB for those cashback cards, since the SUB for the AC/Premier are equivalent to $500/$600 respectively. That is, assuming that TYP and the USBank points can be redeemed easily at 1cpp.
I have read that Citi started allowing straight up cashback redemption on the Premier?
That's true. The Thank You points are now redeemable 1:1 for cash. In fact, I haven't been traveling lately, so that's what I've been doing. Of course they're even more valuable when used with travel partners, so when I start traveling more frequently I will start going that route again.
USBank I know they let you at 1cpp with $25 minimum to statement credit. The categories covered differ slightly, though the AC waives the $95 AF the first year, with lower spending requirement at only $2K in 4 months, compared to Premier's $4K in 3 months.
I have no experiences with either of these banks.
Would this be a better route than the United Explorer route, assuming PC is readily doable with these 2 cards?
As a side note, the Altitude Reserve looks like a good card as a keeper; it may even work out as a total replacement to CSP in that the travel/dining annual credit alone covers $325 out of the $400 AF, as well as the TSA credit and 3x in mobile wallet purchases which look really attractive. Can an AC be PCed into AR? Spending requirement of $4,500 in 90 days is a bit steep for my taste, but the actual number of points in SUB is the same 50K.
@Absolution16 wrote:
1. USBank Altitude Connect --> Cash+
2. Citi Premier --> Custom Cash
Both should work. I have done the first one and several users could do the second one.