Chase Trifecta + Amex Plat + PRG = Overkill?

[mkhan1093]

Hi everyone,

Recently closed my PRG card because it was the start of year 2 and I think I had made over 20 different calls seeking a retention offer but to no avail. I know you have to spend enough to make it worthwhile for them to offer you anything, but I know people who have only spent for the SUB and maybe an Amex Offer here or there and they still received a retention offer worth more than the (net) AF.

I'm trying to see whether closing the PRG was a good move because it's early enough for me to maybe ask them to re-open. I do have the CFU, CF and CSR which would definitely eat up the dining category on the PRG; it's been my go-to gas card except when the CF's 5x category includes gas stations. I have the Platinum too, so the 3X on airfare is out the window. So that really leaves groceries, which maybe amounts to around $2k a year I spend, which wouldn't offset the AF.

Is it wise to re-open and bank on me being able to use Amex Offers/referrals to outweigh this fee? Or should I just save myself the trouble and just let it go? For those of you who have CSR, Plat and PRG - how do you make it worth it?

Thanks!

[wasCB14]

I get most gas and groceries from Costco, so I found PRG superfluous right after I got Platinum.

I only had a CSP, then...the CSR came later.

[K-in-Boston]

Other than the airline credit and Amex Offers that have offset the AF, the only reason I still have my PRG is its age (16 years).  I actually tried to close it last year and got a retention offer that made it worth keeping.  I put almost no spend on it last year (maybe $500), but I'm assuming the easily $500k+ that went on it in years past played into receiving the retention offer (the card was my daily driver for many years as a regular Gold Card).

I'm not sure that PRG would be a good fit to actually be much of a profitable card for you outside of Amex Offers and the airline credit.  I'd either stick to using the Platinum only where needed and for 5x categories, or consider pairing it with an ED or EDP instead (or Blue Business Plus).  With the right amount of swipes each month, the ED and EDP can add up.

If it helps, I only use my charge cards for Amex Offers and 5x airfare and the ED sits in the sock drawer except for Amex Offers.  I love earning MRs, but it's just not my primary rewards currency.

[simplynoir]

If you're running the Chase Trifecta to go with the AMEX Plat I think that's more than sufficent for just about anyone really. Really hard to justify keeping the PRG open with such little grocery spend when taking into account how much you value MR points.

[Anonymous]

If you have the Trifecta then I dont really see the value in PRG even for groceries. PRG gives 2 points for gas and groceries.  But when you use the Chase Freedom Unlimited that 1.5 points equates to 2.25% return at the very minimum.  You can technically make the argument that by transfering points to an airlines rewards program you could potentially get more value for those two points.  But that isnt guaranteed.   

[UpperNwGuy]

Pick Chase or Amex and focus on the one you pick.  Close the credit cards of the one you don't pick.  Everyone has a finite amount of spending to put on credit cards, and if that spending is spread across multiple point systems, it gets diluted, and the points never accumulate sufficiently to allow for a meaningful redemption.  The only exception might be a person who travels 2-3 weeks of every month for business.

[Anonymous]

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@UpperNwGuy wrote:

Pick Chase or Amex and focus on the one you pick.  Close the credit cards of the one you don't pick.  Everyone has a finite amount of spending to put on credit cards, and if that spending is spread across multiple point systems, it gets diluted, and the points never accumulate sufficiently to allow for a meaningful redemption.  The only exception might be a person who travels 2-3 weeks of every month for business.

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I agree with this completely. Sign-up bonuses are great for the short game, but once you're in it for the long haul, you really need to pick the card(s) with the reward program that best suits your needs and concentrate all of your spending there. If you spread it around to various lenders and programs, you'll have a little here and a little there and that won't be as beneficial to you when it comes time to book a trip. 

[wasCB14]

OP, which of your cards are from bonus chasing vs. ones you plan to keep?

[redpat]

I chose to keep my PRG because of a retention offers on my plat cards and MR offers that surpass the net AF.  In addition, my PRG statement cut-off is the 24-26 of the month which at times gives me some additional float w/ my EDP statement dates that I like sometimes.

I may have more flexibility than others because I don’t have to pay personally for business card AFs.