DINING Credit Card Strategy - CSR (3% current) vs UBER (4% w/no AF) vs AMEX Gold (4% w/AF)

[Anonymous]

I fly Southwest, So I will lean on Chase towards the end of the year for the CP bonuses.

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@redpat wrote:

CSR is basically SD’d right now except for international travel and chase’s shopping portal.

Amex now has overtaken my wallet Gold & EDP, Plat for 5x fights, biz plat for 1.5x over 5k, BGR 3x & 2x and Hilton for Hotel stays.

The main source of UR points are now from my ink+.

It’s been a good run Chase but Amex now leads the race of travel cards and rewards, IMO.

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[shiftomnimega]

I have the Uber and the Amex Gold now.  My thought process is I still need minimum spend on this Gold, but I can still get that 20% credit for the first few months.  I use a grandfathered Savor as a back up card to the gold now.  The physical Uber card is physically in the sock drawer, but I still use it for Lyft rides (take that), subscriptions, and cell phone bill.  

In the long term, I expect to keep the Gold in my pocket to build up MR points as I am traveling much more for personal reasons these days.  My intent is to use the MRs for more comfortable flights.

[Anonymous]

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@shiftomnimega wrote:

I have the Uber and the Amex Gold now.  My thought process is I still need minimum spend on this Gold, but I can still get that 20% credit for the first few months.  I use a grandfathered Savor as a back up card to the gold now.  The physical Uber card is physically in the sock drawer, but I still use it for Lyft rides (take that), subscriptions, and cell phone bill.  

In the long term, I expect to keep the Gold in my pocket to build up MR points as I am traveling much more for personal reasons these days.  My intent is to use the MRs for more comfortable flights.

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I too like the idea of the Gold being used for 2 more categories of spend for MR points to complement my Platinum

[UpperNwGuy]

The title of this thread is just plain wrong.  The CSR gives 4.5%, not 3%, for dining.

[redpat]

+1.  It’s points.

Right now the 40% MR Avios transfer bonus gives me more than 11% or better if you covert points on a percentage basis.

[Anonymous]

4.5pts only when redeemed for travel on Chase portal. But they are 3pts earned. (For anyone following). Each rewards program has sweet spots.

[UpperNwGuy]

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@Anonymous wrote:
4.5pts only when redeemed for travel on Chase portal. But they are 3pts earned. (For anyone following). Each rewards program has sweet spots.

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That's wrong, too!  Nearly all the point transfer options yield redemptions of 1.5% and often higher.  I am willing to guess that between 90 and 95 percent of cardholders redeem either through:  (a) the travel portal or (b) point transfers to airline and hotel partners.  All of them earn at least 4.5% for dining.

I can't imagine anyone getting this card and redeeming the points for cash at 1%.  That wouldn't cover the annual fee.

[Anonymous]

I'm only interested in cash back, so my GF no annual fee Savor at 4% fits my profile perfectly.

[Anonymous]

All good.

[wasCB14]

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@Anonymous wrote:

It's not 'wrong'. Go pick on someone else's thread. There is literally no reason to keep coming here and yelling about it. You and I value those points the same. That does not change how they are earned. 3pts/$1 Period. End of story. 4.5pts value when spent on certain categories. Just like the MR points count for more in % promos.

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If you want a meaningful discussion comparing three different rewards programs, it's important to get the basic facts right *and not to conflate "x" with "%"*.

As I mentioned in post #4, you're using one set of assumptions to value MRs and a conflicting set of assumptions to value URs. You say MRs are worth 1 cpp (requiring a flight redemption through Amex) and yet say URs are only worth 1 cpp (when they are worth 1.5 cpp on ANY travel booked through Chase).