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Help me decide on my next credit card(s)

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MySunrise271
Established Contributor

Help me decide on my next credit card(s)

Contemplating when to apply for my next 2 (no more than 3) credit cards...looking for a solid value-add travel card(s). I expect to be in the garden until April 2023

 

Current stats:

TU report I have 5 inquiries, 3 new credit card opened in 2021

Cap1 Willams Sonoma (3/2021)

Fidelity Rewards (11/2021)

FNBO Evergreen (11/2021)

AAoA 9yrs

EX report I have 3 inquiries, same 3 new credit cards.

Future stats:

9/23 TU inquiries will be 3, EX inquires will be 1

FICO info in siggy

 

To optimize my approval odds and capture a card(s)to round out my travel reward opportunities, should I:

 

space out applications, one or two in April and then one or two in September

(already have CFF, considering CSP, CFU or United Explorer) and/or contemplating Citi Premier (already have Citi CC, Citi DC) or Amex Gold (already have Amex EDP and Amex BCP).  Other thoughts???

Message 1 of 12
11 REPLIES 11
SouthernCredit
Frequent Contributor

Re: Help me decide on my next credit card(s)

Depends to a degree on the amount of travel and to where. Occaisional travel in region, and CSP is probably a solid choice. If your travels are more far-flung and frequent, I'd say look at a CSR or Amex Platinum; the perks on those are far better for increased travel. Amex Gold isn't really geared toward travel, but it does pair well with Platinum for increasing MR points. 

Message 2 of 12
wasCB14
Super Contributor

Re: Help me decide on my next credit card(s)

Other than United, what airlines/hotels do you use? Home airport(s)?

Personal spend: Amex Gold, Amex Schwab Plat., BofA PR+CCR(x2), Costco
Business use: Amex Bus. Plat., BBP, Lowes Amex AU, CFU AU
Perks: Delta Plat., United Explorer, IHG49, Hyatt, "Old SPG"
Mostly SD: Freedom Flex, Freedom, Arrival
Upgrade/Downgrade games: ED, BCE
SUB chasing: AA Platinum Select
Message 3 of 12
MySunrise271
Established Contributor

Re: Help me decide on my next credit card(s)


@wasCB14 wrote:

Other than United, what airlines/hotels do you use? Home airport(s)?


@wasCB14 home airport is Chicago O'Hare or Midway, so I have flown SW, AA and Delta...all to a lesser extent than United. I have the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Premier credit and loyalty card and also enjoyed stays at St Regis on the west coast and InterContenital Hotels in Europe.

Message 4 of 12
MasonK
Frequent Contributor

Re: Help me decide on my next credit card(s)


@SouthernCredit wrote:

Depends to a degree on the amount of travel and to where. Occaisional travel in region, and CSP is probably a solid choice. If your travels are more far-flung and frequent, I'd say look at a CSR or Amex Platinum; the perks on those are far better for increased travel. Amex Gold isn't really geared toward travel, but it does pair well with Platinum for increasing MR points. 


I'll second this. I got into the travel card game with the CSP in Dec. 2019 and then moved into Amex a year later once I realized that Amex was the proper solution to my personal needs since I'm located at a Delta hub. 

 

I would recommend looking at the CSP to get into the game because it's a low entry cost at $95. There are some good calculators out there that can help you understand where you'll derive the most benefit against your annual fees. When I started, I NEVER saw myself as wanting/needing the Amex Plat/Gold combo, but now it is my go-to pair for travel and dining because I get more points in my personal circumstance. I will through out the obligatory your mileage may vary.

1/1/16 FICO8 Scores: EX: 407, EQ: 403, TU: 455
4/1/24 FICO8 Scores: EX: 832, EQ: 820, TU: 834
FICO9 EX: 818
Total Revolving Limits: $152,300

Message 5 of 12
MySunrise271
Established Contributor

Re: Help me decide on my next credit card(s)


@MasonK wrote:

@SouthernCredit wrote:

Depends to a degree on the amount of travel and to where. Occaisional travel in region, and CSP is probably a solid choice. If your travels are more far-flung and frequent, I'd say look at a CSR or Amex Platinum; the perks on those are far better for increased travel. Amex Gold isn't really geared toward travel, but it does pair well with Platinum for increasing MR points. 


I'll second this. I got into the travel card game with the CSP in Dec. 2019 and then moved into Amex a year later once I realized that Amex was the proper solution to my personal needs since I'm located at a Delta hub. 

 

I would recommend looking at the CSP to get into the game because it's a low entry cost at $95. There are some good calculators out there that can help you understand where you'll derive the most benefit against your annual fees. When I started, I NEVER saw myself as wanting/needing the Amex Plat/Gold combo, but now it is my go-to pair for travel and dining because I get more points in my personal circumstance. I will through out the obligatory your mileage may vary.


Gotcha!🙂 I'm thinking for at least 2023-24 CSP would be my speed. AMEX Platinum appears to be the deep end of the pool of my current lifestyle🙃

Message 6 of 12
SouthernCredit
Frequent Contributor

Re: Help me decide on my next credit card(s)


@MySunrise271 wrote:


Gotcha!🙂 I'm thinking for at least 2023-24 CSP would be my speed. AMEX Platinum appears to be the deep end of the pool of my current lifestyle🙃


Your scores and profile appear to support a CSP now, if you're under 5/24. I'd say no need to wait if that's the case. 

Message 7 of 12
MasonK
Frequent Contributor

Re: Help me decide on my next credit card(s)


@MySunrise271 wrote:

Gotcha!🙂 I'm thinking for at least 2023-24 CSP would be my speed. AMEX Platinum appears to be the deep end of the pool of my current lifestyle🙃

That's EXACTLY what I said, but then I got a taste of the Centurion Lounge at McCarron and the suites at the Delano and I was hooked. I refer to the CSP as the gateway drug for travel cards because you go in for $95 with Chase and the next thing you know... you're into Amex for $1k a year in annual fees!

 

Best on luck and fortune on your journey. The trappings of travel cards is powerful!

1/1/16 FICO8 Scores: EX: 407, EQ: 403, TU: 455
4/1/24 FICO8 Scores: EX: 832, EQ: 820, TU: 834
FICO9 EX: 818
Total Revolving Limits: $152,300

Message 8 of 12
SouthernCredit
Frequent Contributor

Re: Help me decide on my next credit card(s)


@MasonK wrote:

@MySunrise271 wrote:

Gotcha!🙂 I'm thinking for at least 2023-24 CSP would be my speed. AMEX Platinum appears to be the deep end of the pool of my current lifestyle🙃

That's EXACTLY what I said, but then I got a taste of the Centurion Lounge at McCarron and the suites at the Delano and I was hooked. I refer to the CSP as the gateway drug for travel cards because you go in for $95 with Chase and the next thing you know... you're into Amex for $1k a year in annual fees!

 

Best on luck and fortune on your journey. The trappings of travel cards is powerful!


This is where I'm at. My kid travels all over hell and creation for club soccer, and when their club season starts back in the fall, I am all over the Platinum for the lounge access in many of our finer airports in the southeast. Amex can have that 1k.

Message 9 of 12
MySunrise271
Established Contributor

Re: Help me decide on my next credit card(s)


@SouthernCredit wrote:

@MySunrise271 wrote:


Gotcha!🙂 I'm thinking for at least 2023-24 CSP would be my speed. AMEX Platinum appears to be the deep end of the pool of my current lifestyle🙃


Your scores and profile appear to support a CSP now, if you're under 5/24. I'd say no need to wait if that's the case. 


I'm currently working on the Amex EDP upgrade offer I reciecved for 40k MR points/2k spend/3 months/prorated AF. So I'm fine for now and not in a rush, since logically I've already planned out travel for this year as a test run for how I want to expand reward opportunities 'responsibly' into the travel side 🙂 I have enough Marriott FNA certicates for a long Easter weekend road trip, and hopefully my MR points will transfer to an airline to Las Vegas later this summer.🤞🏽Would be cool to snag an upgrade😀

Message 10 of 12
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