CSP

[Open123]

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@DigitalArk wrote:

I have CSP/Freedom combo and arrival. To me, arrival works better.

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Arrival works better if you'd rather redeem for travel statement credits, especially with the 10% rebate on redemption.  Conversely, the CSP/Freedom combination works better when transferred for redemption through UR partners, i.e., UA, Hyatt.

For international non FTF spending, the main contenders seem to be CSP, Arrival, and Venture.  

Each is best in class for a particular scenario, as follows:

1)  CSP - to transfer and redeem through UR travel partners, or when spending is primarily restaurant/travel related.

2)  Venture - when majority of int'l spending in other than travel/restaurant related categories.

3)  Arrival - when majority of spending is in misc categories (like the Venture) but in amounts high enough for the 10% rebate to offest the higher fee.

Each having a similar sign-up bonus and fee structure is an indication they were offered to compete for the same market.  

[Anonymous]

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@DigitalArk wrote:

I have CSP/Freedom combo and arrival. To me, arrival works better.

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At the risk of repeating myself... I don't really think this needs a whole lot of analysis.   Unless nearly ALL  of your CSP spending is in the 2x category, supplmented with heavy spend from Freedom (although as said that caps out at 33K) you are going to earn more "points" with Arrival.  Unless you transfer in way that increases value enough, Arrival will win.   If you can do the high value transfers, CSP will usually win.

So if you don't intend to travel premium cabin or use luxury hotels, Arrival is almost certainly going to be better.  With BA transfer, some domestic flights might also be cheaper with CSP, but probably not enough to offset the higher earning rate of the arrival.

Edit: Or just read Open123's response!

[red259]

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@Open123 wrote:

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@DigitalArk wrote:

I have CSP/Freedom combo and arrival. To me, arrival works better.

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Arrival works better if you'd rather redeem for travel statement credits, especially with the 10% rebate on redemption.  Conversely, the CSP/Freedom combination works better when transferred for redemption through UR partners, i.e., UA, Hyatt.

For international non FTF spending, the main contenders seem to be CSP, Arrival, and Venture.  

Each is best in class for a particular scenario, as follows:

1)  CSP - to transfer and redeem through UR travel partners, or when spending is primarily restaurant/travel related.

2)  Venture - when majority of int'l spending in other than travel/restaurant related categories.

3)  Arrival - when majority of spending is in misc categories (like the Venture) but in amounts high enough for the 10% rebate to offest the higher fee.

Each having a similar sign-up bonus and fee structure is an indication they were offered to compete for the same market.  

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A good rule of thumb for when to go Venture and when to go Arrival in terms of rewards earning. If your spending less than 15k the venture is better, if your spending more on the card in a year then the Arrival wins out. 

[Open123]

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@red259 wrote:

A good rule of thumb for when to go Venture and when to go Arrival in terms of rewards earning. If your spending less than 15k the venture is better, if your spending more on the card in a year then the Arrival wins out. 

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Right, for this group the Venture is best in class.  

The only exception would be if, as is often the case, the majority of foreign spending occurs in the restaurant and travel related categories.  In this case, the CSP may be better, if redeeming with travel partners.

In my estimation, if one spends primarily in restaurants and travel related services (which is often the case for me), the CSP is better, since I will have the option to (1) transfer to rewards partners, and (2) redeem at 1c per point without having to be restricted to applying credit to only what Cap One or Barclay deems as "elegible" travel expenses.

In general, I place lesser value on restricted statement credits and/or thresholds (at least 5,000 points).  

[Open123]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Time for my equivalent rant:  I don't believe in reward credit cards.  Or indeed credit cards.  The fees paid increase the costs to consumers and so are bad for the general good.  Please close your cards today.

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Sadly, this is absolutely true.  

It's a transfer of wealth primarily to the issuers and crumbs to the users (or, a larger piece to the MSers) all subsidized by those paying cash or using non rewards cards, with the higher prices Merchants are forced to charge to finance these rewards.

Those most uninformed and least likely to afford it are ultimately paying the price.  

[stlsme]

I'm glad we got past the other issues as the last six posts are what I needed. I do have a lot of misc. spending to go along with daily and auto payments for utilities ect.... Mainly just looking for the most bang for my reward buck. I don't want a bunch of cards that are useless for my needs. I have that already and am looking to move on to stretch my entertainment $$$$$$

[CreditScholar]

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@Open123 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

Time for my equivalent rant:  I don't believe in reward credit cards.  Or indeed credit cards.  The fees paid increase the costs to consumers and so are bad for the general good.  Please close your cards today.

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Sadly, this is absolutely true.  

It's a transfer of wealth primarily to the issuers and crumbs to the users (or, a larger piece to the MSers) all subsidized by those paying cash or using non rewards cards, with the higher prices Merchants are forced to charge to finance these rewards.

Those most uninformed and least likely to afford it are ultimately paying the price.  

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+1. Isn't that how society works in general?

[DigitalArk]

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@CreditScholar wrote:

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@Open123 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

Time for my equivalent rant:  I don't believe in reward credit cards.  Or indeed credit cards.  The fees paid increase the costs to consumers and so are bad for the general good.  Please close your cards today.

---

Sadly, this is absolutely true.  

It's a transfer of wealth primarily to the issuers and crumbs to the users (or, a larger piece to the MSers) all subsidized by those paying cash or using non rewards cards, with the higher prices Merchants are forced to charge to finance these rewards.

Those most uninformed and least likely to afford it are ultimately paying the price.  

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+1. Isn't that how society works in general?

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+2

Unfortunately - yes

[Anonymous]

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@DigitalArk wrote:

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@CreditScholar wrote:

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@Open123 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

Time for my equivalent rant:  I don't believe in reward credit cards.  Or indeed credit cards.  The fees paid increase the costs to consumers and so are bad for the general good.  Please close your cards today.

---

Sadly, this is absolutely true.  

It's a transfer of wealth primarily to the issuers and crumbs to the users (or, a larger piece to the MSers) all subsidized by those paying cash or using non rewards cards, with the higher prices Merchants are forced to charge to finance these rewards.

Those most uninformed and least likely to afford it are ultimately paying the price.  

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+1. Isn't that how society works in general?

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+2

Unfortunately - yes

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So.... you've all closed your cards, right?   Oh, neither have I!  Self-interest wins.

[CreditScholar]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@DigitalArk wrote:

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@CreditScholar wrote:

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@Open123 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

Time for my equivalent rant:  I don't believe in reward credit cards.  Or indeed credit cards.  The fees paid increase the costs to consumers and so are bad for the general good.  Please close your cards today.

---

Sadly, this is absolutely true.  

It's a transfer of wealth primarily to the issuers and crumbs to the users (or, a larger piece to the MSers) all subsidized by those paying cash or using non rewards cards, with the higher prices Merchants are forced to charge to finance these rewards.

Those most uninformed and least likely to afford it are ultimately paying the price.  

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+1. Isn't that how society works in general?

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+2

Unfortunately - yes

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So.... you've all closed your cards, right?   Oh, neither have I!  Self-interest wins.

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LOL. If this is the way the system is setup (unfair as it might be), you may as well make the most of it.