Best NO AF or Net-Positive Cards - (S-tier)/Unicorn

[ptatohed]

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@Guyatthebeach wrote:

@Stephen_Credit,

The Amex Amazon card has a very impressive return policy, purchase protection, and solid extended warranty that is being discontinued.  With the BCP, you only have to spend $135 a month on groceries and/or streaming to recoup the AF. It's a no brainer in my situation.

With the Target MC, if you use their Target Circle, you will find prices cheaper than Walmart, and the 5% cash back is a bonus, in my opinion.

@NoMoreE46, I still have my OF Savor card and it's still metal.

Guyatthebeach

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It's not about "recouping" the AF, it's about exceeding the CB you could otherwise be getting with a no AF card.  

[Gregory1776]

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@salt_water_swimming wrote:

AmEx Hilton Aspire can net positive $250 per card per year without setting foot in a hotel lol. And if you do stay at Hiltons, it comes with Diamond status and a barely restricted free night certificate, on top of the usual "big bonus category for the hotel stays". And you can get 3 of them per person. And you can either ride that train, or you can downgrade to Surpass for gas/grocery/restaurant bonus categories and the ability to spend for an extra FNC. Wild card.

Ink Cash has been generating UR out of thin air for certain communities for years. 

Bilt and maybe Mesa, turning most people's biggest expense into a new category

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Aspire is something I'm looking at (awesome getting all those credits) or the Marriot Brillant, or getting an airline CC and using their portal for hotel stays and getting miles from that; like the Citi Executive, which a few here have loved, and would open you up to smaller local hotel stays which I would prefer - no chains. AA has a big base (HUB?) near me (PHL), but I dont think they fly to many of the places I'd want to go (West, rockies) Delta seems to connect to many of those out of St Paul. I'd prefer another AmEx (Bonuses on the delta cards rn), dont care too much for Citi. Lounge access & checked bag free would be nice, but as of now I don't fly enough to know what or where they are. plenty to learn and to actually make a couple trips to see what would be most beneficial. I don't want to open a new card until possibly next year, and would love a bonus. And I have to find somewhere to transfer all the points I accrue with the BILT with hopefully a redemption bonus.

I also feel like alot of these hotel chains are very cheap - just stayed at a Home2 and it felt like a community collage dorm. a bit "immature?," i know thats only one hotel brand. seemed strange. I wouldnt pay to stay there if there were other options. 

lots to learn and plenty of time.

[ElvisCaprice]

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@Stephen_Credit wrote:

I saw the NO AF CU Unicorn thread and thought why not make something similar for non-CUs. 

Pretty much the same concept. Explain why your choice(s) should be considered s-tier or a unicorn.

Here are mine:

Venture X: net positive year-over-year in spite of devaluations here and there, but still a good card to have for the avg person.

USB Altitude Connect: $0 AF + 4 visits to PP restaurants/lounges + Precheck credit + 5GB data roaming

Amex Gold: $325 AF but +  $400+ in credits (net positive AF if u hit the coupon book)

Bilt: Rent + Bilt Rewards

Honorable mention:

Savor: 3% categories + used to have 10% back on uber eats. So sad that didn't get extended 

Share yours!

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Interesting, none of your choices are the best options for my needs.