Please help me pick a travel card for the summer

Anonymous · ‎02-28-2019

Hi, here's my profile:

Age: 21

Income: $85k household (I also have a $105k job offer but start is in June, so I don't think I can use it)

Assets: $45k

FICO: 752 TU, 775 EXP

Open Accounts:

Disco Student IT ($5k limit, 2% util, 8 months old)

BoA Authorized User ($7.5k limit, 7% util, 16 years old)

NFCU Credit Builder Loan ($3k but paid down to 8% util, 3 months old)

I am currently looking for cards to gain travel perks for the summer, but not necessarily to pay for the flights since I need to book soon. I was hoping to get a combo of Global Entry and no foreign transaction fee, but I would love lounge access. My largest expense categories are Dining, Flights, and Amazon. I am in the middle of a year of a lot of domestic flying for work/school. I have three trips in May/June that are international.

I am pre-approved for the Chase Sapphire Preferred, both Freedom cards, and the Slate. This surprised me because I don't have a year of independent user history. I do have a banking relationship (checking and savings) with Chase that is about a year old now.

Amex preapprovals are for the Amex Gold, Amex Platinum , and some airline cards.

The Sapphire Reserve seems to fit my needs best, but unfortunately I don't think I'll get approved without another $10k limit card. I am considering trying for the CSP and then picking up a Navy Fed Flagship, Amex Platinum, or similar with a Global Entry credit. I just hate to drop $550 on the Platinum when I think the CSR would fit my spending better in 6 months.

Thanks for your advice and help!

Anonymous · ‎02-28-2019

@Anonymous wrote:
Hi, here's my profile:

Age: 21
Income: $85k household (I also have a $105k job offer but start is in June, so I don't think I can use it)
Assets: $45k
FICO: 752 TU, 775 EXP
Open Accounts:
Disco Student IT ($5k limit, 2% util, 8 months old)
BoA Authorized User ($7.5k limit, 7% util, 16 years old)
NFCU Credit Builder Loan ($3k but paid down to 8% util, 3 months old)

I am currently looking for cards to gain travel perks for the summer, but not necessarily to pay for the flights since I need to book soon. I was hoping to get a combo of Global Entry and no foreign transaction fee, but I would love lounge access. My largest expense categories are Dining, Flights, and Amazon. I am in the middle of a year of a lot of domestic flying for work/school. I have three trips in May/June that are international.

I am pre-approved for the Chase Sapphire Preferred, both Freedom cards, and the Slate. This surprised me because I don't have a year of independent user history. I do have a banking relationship (checking and savings) with Chase that is about a year old now.

Amex preapprovals are for the Amex Gold, Amex Platinum , and some airline cards.

The Sapphire Reserve seems to fit my needs best, but unfortunately I don't think I'll get approved without another $10k limit card. I am considering trying for the CSP and then picking up a Navy Fed Flagship, Amex Platinum, or similar with a Global Entry credit. I just hate to drop $550 on the Platinum when I think the CSR would fit my spending better in 6 months.

Thanks for your advice and help!

Can you clarify what you mean by "household income?"

Anonymous · ‎02-28-2019

@Anonymous wrote:
Can you clarify what you mean by "household income?"

I got curious myself. Thanks for asking ahead

Anonymous · ‎02-28-2019

So the "household income" is a combination of my income (work and investments) and a portion of my parents income (basically its the portion of their income that they would be capable of spending if they were an authorized user on my card). I came up with that number after asking my Chase banker what that box on their application meant. I've also been told on the forums not to just straight up combine incomes.

The $105k is the salary of the job I'll start after graduation. Sorry for the confusion.