@Anonymous wrote:option 1:
Amex Everyday card (sign up bonus and MR points so that my PRG / plat sign on bonus points don't disappear after closing)
Amex PRG or Plat (signup bonus and cancel after one year. PRG is 25k and AF $0 for y1, whereas Plat is 40k but $450 fee, but can utilize global entry + lounge benefits. also saw some flyertalk folks having success calling for 100k bonus)
This looks good. Keep in mind the MR transfer partner list is limited, unlike the SPG one.
option 2:
Barclay Arrival World MC (40k points)
British Airways card (50k after $1k) Remember these are Avios
Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards card
Chase United MP Explorer you can SM for 50k after 2k spend offer
Citi AA (50, 75, or 100k after various min spends)
These are all good options. I'd pick 4 or 5 and apply on the same day (This would be a proper AOR and not "mini"). You should be mindful of min spend (BCA is now 3k), as you will likely have to MS since your expenses are so low. Good luck!
@Anonymous wrote:if you were to go with option 1 or option 2 (or create your option 3 to cash in on those bonuses with 1.5k expenses per month, maybe push to 2k), which would you go with? Or if option 2, which cards would you prioritize (assuming I won't MS to get all)?
Tough question since you won't be doing MS. I would do BA, Southwest, and United (this is 4k spend). Also add Barclays US Air (40k after first purchase, $89 AF).
This is 4 cards and 4-5k spend over 3 months.
You next "AOR" could consist of Arrival or AA alone, since each is 3k/3 months.
@Anonymous wrote:Hey all,
For the record, im not much of a card churner or fanatic -- i prefer the peace of mind of having a few daily cards to accumulate the majority of my expenses and rewards. nevertheless, im definitely looking into applying for an extra card or two for the signup bonuses to faciliate my travel goals.
current lineup:
CSP (travel, restaurant, others)
Freedom (category expenses)
Sallie Mae WMC (gas, groceries, bookstores, Amazon)
monthly expenses on CC: $1k-1500
travel goals (from california):
Eurotrip 2014
Australia 2015
SEA 2015
Tokyo 2016
about 2 east coast trips as well as 2-3 trips to vegas annually
what i was thinking:
option 1:
Amex Everyday card (sign up bonus and MR points so that my PRG / plat sign on bonus points don't disappear after closing)
Amex PRG or Plat (signup bonus and cancel after one year. PRG is 25k and AF $0 for y1, whereas Plat is 40k but $450 fee, but can utilize global entry + lounge benefits. also saw some flyertalk folks having success calling for 100k bonus)
option 2:
Barclay Arrival World MC (40k points) along with 1 or 2 below:
British Airways card (50k after $1k)
Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards card (have code for 2 round trips after $1k)
Chase United MP Explorer (30k after $1k and would probably sync well with )
would also be open to other suggestions (other airline cards, potentially hotel cards but less so. im open to AA, but you just can't transfer chase UR points to AA to top it off)). these are also cards i would probably close after one year and utilizing the sign on bonus, as my CS is already above excellent and i prefer the peace of mind over any gained util (util is in good shape as it is as well).
any thoughts from the churning / reward redemption gurus here? thanks a ton in advance!
Since you are planning on your trip to Europe & Austraila first, I would lean more towards the cards from option 2, as more VI/MC are more accepted anywhere around the world than AMEX. It would definitely depend on where in Europe & Australia too, my assumption is that AMEX would not be accepted well in smaller businesses in smaller towns in Europe, so you would have to put this into consideration.
I would look into getting 1 AMEX + 1 VI/MC each.
@Anonymous wrote:Already got a visa sig, WMC, and discover covered. :] more concerned with finding ways to get the points that will get me there. good looking out though!
I had to read your original post once again, my sincere apologies for not reading thoroughly!
The Arrival is a good choice, and I would wait out on PRG or Plat as throughout the year they have better signup bous offers. For ED, since it's fairly new I don't know if they will offer a better signup bonus down the road this year. Same w/ United or SW, I believe there was an offer last year for 65k miles + $50 credit for UMP I don't know if they will offer anything similar this year. When is your planned Eurotrip this year?
Make sure you do all your apps on the same day since Barclays (if you get it) will report the new TL right away.
