Palladium

[Anonymous]

I don't have status right now, I just travel not enough to automatically get it, but enough that it would be nice to have.

Ultimately I want to leverage my work travel to gain more points to use for a vacation with my wife

[CreditScholar]

---

@Anonymous wrote:
I don't have status right now, I just travel not enough to automatically get it, but enough that it would be nice to have.

Ultimately I want to leverage my work travel to gain more points to use for a vacation with my wife

---

You'll want to think carefully about which chains you want status with, and also to see if they have hotels that fit your travel patterns.

The Ritz card will get you Ritz & Marriott gold after 10k in annual spend every year. The Palladium will give you GHA Black status, and there are other cards out there for other chains (SPG, Hilton, IHG, etc.). If you're looking for airline status, that is much more difficult to come by and options are VERY limited.

You should do some research on what suits your needs better. However at this point, I don't think you honestly know what you're looking for other than the palladium card.

[Anonymous]

Fair enough, maybe some more information would help - truthfully I don't know what's best I'm in a mixed boat of points right now.

I have 20K UR points on Chase, which is really why I wanted the Palladium. A lot of the perks I used to get with my Amex platinum, plus the additional earning power of my CSP/CF combination (and the flexibility of UR points, just like MR points on Amazon). Not to mention it's just convenient to do all my banking in one place.

Between my wife and I we have about 80K delta sky miles,  2K United, 20K HHonors Points,  1K IHG Points, 5K SPG Points (and I still have gold from when I previously was an Amex Platinum member). 

With my current point allocations it really seems like I should stick with Amex.

For future work Travel I can stay about anywhere as long as its in the 100-150 price range. For personal travel we'll usually stay at the Hampton if it's domestic, but some of our bucket list places include New Zeland, Ireland, the Carribean, and hopefully back to Tahiti. I don't know the lay of the land for hotels in those places well enough to determine where it would be best to actually have points.

Definately would love some opinons.  

[Open123]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

Definately would love some opinons.  

---

Unless you're planning to travel in the distant future or planning to spend a high amount, it's better to focus on one or two rewards programs.  More points in fewer programs will always be better than the same amount of points spread through too many.

To narrow on which is best would depend on your preferred Airline and Hotel.  For example, you may want to find cards to consolidate into your Delta program, since you already have a large amount.  However, this will be prudent, only if it's the carrier most convenient for you.  Out in the west coast, you can have all the Delta miles in the world, but it'll be of limited use, when compared to UA.  So, if you found SPG properties convenient, then you can focus on the two.  Since SPG as crossover rewards with Delta, and their points can transfer with a 20% bonus.

The above is just one example.  Once you and your wife can narrow which works best of you, then you can find the rewards which not only work best for your type and amount of spending, but will also compliment each other.

[Anonymous]

We live in the Michigan/Ohio areas, so there is plenty of Delta to go around, and I am a little leary of United as well since they don't seem to be in the best financial situation so Delta probably is the right choice. And we have no American/US Air points at all so that definately wouldn't make sense.

The bigger question is Hotel programs, I don't know much about them. We have a fair amount of Hilton points already, but I've hear Marriot's are a slightly better deal. Although it seems like Hilton has more vacation resorts than Marriot, although Mariot wouldn't be a terrible place to put my UR points (unless I just cashed them out instead).

[Anonymous]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

We live in the Michigan/Ohio areas, so there is plenty of Delta to go around, and I am a little leary of United as well since they don't seem to be in the best financial situation so Delta probably is the right choice. And we have no American/US Air points at all so that definately wouldn't make sense.

The bigger question is Hotel programs, I don't know much about them. We have a fair amount of Hilton points already, but I've hear Marriot's are a slightly better deal. Although it seems like Hilton has more vacation resorts than Marriot, although Mariot wouldn't be a terrible place to put my UR points (unless I just cashed them out instead).

---

Marriott and Hilton points are both worth less than 1ccp in most cases.

Do not transfer your UR to Marriott. You are better off redeeming them as cashback and then using that to pay for the hotel directly most of the time. 

Hyatt has one of the best values for hotel points, but with your hotel budget being 100-150 per night, the hotel chain isn't going to work out well for you since most of their properties cost more than that per night.

Like Open said, you're better off accumulating points into 2-3 programs (just for diversity, in case of AA, and also flexibility) if you want to achieve status. One way to do it is to spend on a general travel card, such as the CSP, where you get 2x UR on travel expenses. You might be getting "less" if you were to charge it on a specific card, such as the Hilton card, but if you don't plan to stay at Hiltons a lot, then it doesn't really matter anyways.

---

@Anonymous wrote:

Speaking of, it looks like you have tons of annual fees. You must spend much more than I do. 

I've had great luck with Chase and American Express, I just really would like to leverge my UR points. I've tried working some relationships at Chase no luck. :-) Is the Ritz Carlton card made out of the same material as the CSP? I love my CSP card I just want some of the extra insurance/perks the Palladium has.

I'd agree my experience with Citi has been lack-luster. I would close that card but I have a 15K limit on it and it's my oldest card.

If I got the Amex Platinum though I'd probably need to get the PRG as well to earn points fast enough to make it worth-while - which is way more cards than I need.

---

Some of my cards are still within their first year period.

I'll be cancelling some before the AF hits. Right now my plan is to cancel the Barclays Arrival, Citi Prestige, and possibly Amex Platinum, if the program continues to deteriorate. The Ritz card is thicker and heavier than the CSP. If I am not wrong it is the same weight as the Palladium, though it lacks some of the fancier features such as laser engraving, etc.  

My experience with the Citi Prestige has been pretty mediocre. Supposedly it's their highest end card, but CSRs seems to be as equally clueless at times. In terms of benefits and perks, it's a lot more restrictive compared to Amex Platinum and Ritz Carlton. The flight miles feature however will work out very well for you if you happen to travel a lot, or long distances, in general. I buy air tickets for my family to come to the US at least twice each year, and that easily add up to quite a number of miles. You do need to spend as much to match the miles you travelled, but if you spend a lot on entertainment / dining, you're essentially getting 4TYP per dollar then. However, compared to UR and MR, TYP aren't worth as much.

My CSP still gets most of my spending, especially since US Bank has now implemented 2k caps for their 5% categories. I use the other cards mostly for their specific rewards, or if the spending happens to be in the 'right' category for the card. Sometimes I'll use my Amex cards for some purchases even though I may get more rewards using other cards, especially if I think I'll need to use their benefits (extended warranty, etc), or if I am shopping on ebay (in case of dubious merchants....). That being said, Citi isn't too bad with their claims as well either. It's just that their CSRs doesn't seem to even know what they're doing sometimes and it's frustrating having to teach / explain what they're supposed to do. 

[Anonymous]

I have the Palladium card and app'd for it November or December of last year (2013.) I DID NOT NEED TO TO OPEN A CPC ACCOUNT OR ANYTHING. The only history I have with them are Credit cards, don't even have a checking or savings with them.

The Cards I did have with them before I received the Paladium were:

CSP $50,000

Ritz-Carlton: $50,000

United MileagePlus Club Card: $50,000

Slate: $30,000

Now, bear in mind that I had to walk into the Chase Branch, speak to the CPC to get the application. There is no other way around that. The CPC has to put in their employee ID number and the credit analyst do check this. If the CPC sends it out themselves then ok, but if you get the application and submit yourself, they'll call you, ask who you spoke to, and shoot them an e-mail/ phone call to follow-up in order to process.

This is how I obtained my Palladium card:

Walked in, talked to the CPC, just small talk/chit chat, obtained a copy for myself. Tried to submit it via the fax number, received a phone call from the Executive line about the app and was told that it is missing the CPC employee validation code. They asked me questions about what town I am in, and listed off name of local CPC and inquired who I spoke to so they can reach out to them and complete the application. I told them the name of the CPC specialist that gave me the app.

Next day, the CPC person called me and asked me to come in so she can do the whole sales pitch; upon completion of hearing about what CPC has to offer, she resubmitted the app. FROM HER MOUTH----"you do not need to actually open a CPC account, it is not a requirement for the card, but it does help immensely."

Now, fast forward---called the back door number/ recon line, the credit analyst I spoke to had to transfer me to the Palladium accounts department. Only thing the Analyst from palladium accounts asked me was why was I looking for a 5th Chase Card. I told her that I was looking to close the slate card and move the credit line over to the palladium. She said ok and approved me for $20,000---closed the Slate card and now have the palladium card line at $50,000. I am thinking of closing the United card however as my new fiance has the card as well, so was probably going to combine limits again.

Now, the Palladium card does not have any hotel elite status. GHA Black membership is only for the first year, after that you need to meet the night stay requirement or it will go back to gold status (free upon sign-up.)

You do get United Club membership upon request though, and they stopped offering Delta club memberships.

So you just really need to find a very nice CPC person that you can schmooze into giving you an app with their validation numbers. Otherwise, open a CPC account.

[Anonymous]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

This is a long shot, but I figured why not ask.

I really would like to get the Chase Palladium card. I'm travling a lot for work and I either can get the Amex Platinum (new card), convert my Citi ThankYou Preferred card to a Citi Prestige Card, or get the Chase Palladium card.

Realistically I feel that the Plat has had some really bad devaluation lately (I'd love to see Amex fix that) - but it's not a bad option because it still has Delta and Hilton which is the airline and hotels I prefer. 

The prestige card wouldn't require me to apply for a new card, I could just convert - but I don't hink the benefits are as good as the platinum or the palladium card.

So that leaves the Palladium card which appears to have most the benefits of the platinum, and the added benefit that I can use it with the UR points I get from CSP/CF already.

Now truth be told, I'm just shy of what I'd need to become a CPC member (not bad for being less than 30 and having kids), but right now I do all my investments with Vanguard and don't really want to move them over to Chase just to get a credit card and pay fee's.

So is it possible to just have a CPC banker put the app through if I suck up to them enough? Or does anyone on Chase read these forums that may be able to hook me up ;-). Or is there any other way to do it that folks know of? Otherwise I'll have to settle for one of the other options. :-(

---

The best advice anybody can you give you is this:

Hear it from the Horses mouth! Walk into a chase branch and ask!

[CreditUnionFan]

Several Amex cards offer Primary LDW as a fee you pay $20 per rental period ($20 once whether it's a day, a week, up to ~28 days)...  I've used it a couple of times; once you opt in for the feature, a rental agreement will trigger the fee automatically placed on the card for any rental car agencies.

For the few times I rent cars, I just use that additional coverage and pay when I use it, rather than an annual fee.

Is the Palladium that much better than the CSP (Chase Sapphier Preferred)?

[Anonymous]

---

@CreditUnionFan wrote:

Is the Palladium that much better than the CSP (Chase Sapphier Preferred)?

---

Entirely different cards. CSP is a rewards cards. Palladium is a benefits/perks card.

Palladium gives you a superior concierge, full United Club membership (includes access to Amtrak lounges), Lounge Club (with free guests), GHA/Omni hotels black status, 3 different hotel programs (with free upgrades, spa credits, etc.), primary CDW, roadside assistance (with a $50 credit), no cash advance/late fees, hidden TL, and 35k bonus points after $100k spend.