Travel card Chase predicament

[Anonymous]

So I'm at 4/24 right now and another drops off in September or October. Stupidly when it was not a good fit I applied and earned the bonus about exactly two years ago on a preferred. Now with the 48 mo language I'm not eligible for a bonus. I've researched all the high end travel cards and the CSR fits well with the credits, points system, and protections, unlike the others except possibly the Altitude, but I don't want to go through the hoops to get it. I've already booked my flights with skymiles and have been using Hilton some lately so I booked some reward and spend rooms as well for a vacation this year. Long story short I'm considering going the ink route now, or decide on the Ink in the fall or next year and getting the Freedom unlimited NOW and just bank points for either the ink and then CSR or just wait on the CSR. Two years is an eternity in the credit world as well. Plus I've heard talk about congress capping interest and that would kill the reward game as well IMO. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

SUB or not to SUB.... you can always upgrade if it's worth that much to you NOW vs waiting.

[Anonymous]

Oh I don't have the card anymore. Haven't since year and half ago. I got the sub two years ago.

[Anonymous]

So, the 48 month exclusion is simply for the bonus.  

This product is available to you if you do not have any Sapphire card and have not received a new cardmember bonus for any Sapphire card in the past 48 months.

So, if you get a denial there is always the option of PC another card to it is what I was getting to.

Maybe I'm missing something other than wanting the 50K points.

[wasCB14]

While it wouldn't offer everything CSR does, you might consider an AF cobrand card like Hyatt, Marriott, or United for some of the same benefits.

[Anonymous]

You could pc your csp to a csr. Pretty straightforward.

As to Congress and rate caps...that seems highly unlikely at this point.

[Anonymous]

As another option, have you looked very closely at the AmEx Plat? If you're a Delta/Hilton person with an AmEx Gold already, the Plat would seem to be a better fit. You can transfer MR to both of those programs, get Delta lounge access, pool your MR with your existing Gold, and get Hilton elite status that would save you some money by letting you downgrade your Ascend to a no fee Hilton card, none of which the CSR will do.

Downsides would be foreign travel, the more complex fee waivers, and the narrower travel bonus category.

My apologies if you have dug into this, it just seems to make a bit more sense for your specific needs, and you could get the MR bonus there.

[Anonymous]

Yes I looked into that. I don't have to have all that status and everything the Platinum offers and my patterns wouldn't get enough benefit from it. Thanks for all the answers. I think I'll just do nothing for now or open the CIP or Freedom unlimited to bank those points now and then open the other in October when I become under 5/24 again if I do something now and then PC from regular freedom or apply for the CSR at that time.