Uber Visa vs WF Propel vs AMEX Gold?

[Anonymous]

I'm currently a young adult/medical student with 3 cards, a CapOne QS, a Chase Freedom, and a WF Visa Plat (my first card). I'm looking to get a card that I can get better rewards from. The Visa Plat is all but useless, the Chase Freedom doesn't always line up with categories, and I think I can do better than the 1.5% of the QS. My biggest spending categories are currently groceries, dining, and then transportation (mainly public transport and uber/lyft. Though I may be getting a car next year). The AMEX looks interesting. I travel 2-3 times a year so I think I could use the 100$ incidentals, and I'm sure I could grubhub the $120 dining credit, but as my spending isn't rather high, I don't know if the AMEX would win out over a no AF card. The 50k MR points seem like a good SUB though. I'm just afraid because the AMEX can't really be downgraded if things change. Any help would be appreciated (or any better card recs you guys may have!). Thanks.

[Anonymous]

how much on dining, how much on grocery, how much on travel? Estimate will be helpful to determine if any AF card make sense.

Also, what is your fico score? any estimate?

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

how much on dining, how much on grocery, how much on travel? Estimate will be helpful to determine if any AF card make sense.

Also, what is your fico score? any estimate?

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My monthly spend isnt too high. Probably around $250 on groceries, a similar amount on dining out, $100 on public transport, $30-50 on uber/lyft, and the rest of my spending ($200 or so) on online shopping/general spending. My travel spend (flights, hotels, airbnbs) is around $3-4k yearly. I'm not sure if I should just settle for a 2% cashback card or try and think long-term with cards. My FICO is around 770.

[Anonymous]

Amex gold's dining credit is very limited, if you think you can use it all without elevating spending, then Amex'e effective AF is only 30. Now Amex's MR is pretty unimpressive unless you transfer the points to a partner airline for ticket, in which case it becomes very good. You may need to check to see if you fly the airline that can benifit from this point transfer (Delta, BA, Aeromexico, etc). If you can, then this may be your best option.

Uber card looks nice on paper, but I heard people complaining about its issuer. I don't have it, so I can't comment more.

Propel can be good if you pair it with a wells visa signature, in which case it will be 4.5% on travel and dining, when you redeem it for travel. If you can't use all the credit from amex gold, or your airline isn't a partner with Amex MR, I would go with Propel, then wait 6 monthes and get visa signature.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the response! I've heard the same thing about Uber, and the propel seems like it would generate me more cashback, as the travel category is more expansive than the Uber. I don't have the WF Signature yet, but I heard it was possible to receive an upgrade to Signature from Platinum. Do you know if this is true? Also does the Propel have access to the Earn More Mall like the other WF cards, since that could potentially bump up the cashback. I wasn't sure since its an Amex card. Does it also receive Amex offers?

I can easily use the dining credits for the AMEX, it's the travel credit that worries me a bit. I do fly Jet Blue/Delta occasionally, but I'm not sure if incidentals are really worth it. I rarely check bags or make in flight purchases.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Thanks for the response! I've heard the same thing about Uber, and the propel seems like it would generate me more cashback, as the travel category is more expansive than the Uber. I don't have the WF Signature yet, but I heard it was possible to receive an upgrade to Signature from Platinum. Do you know if this is true? Also does the Propel have access to the Earn More Mall like the other WF cards, since that could potentially bump up the cashback. I wasn't sure since its an Amex card. Does it also receive Amex offers?

I can easily use the dining credits for the AMEX, it's the travel credit that worries me a bit. I do fly Jet Blue/Delta occasionally, but I'm not sure if incidentals are really worth it. I rarely check bags or make in flight purchases.

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prople has access to earn more mall. If you want to upgrade platinum (which I don't know if you can, you can call to ask), I would wait until you get SUB from Prople before doing that.

Amex airline fee, can be e-gift card. You can buy 2x $50 delta gift cards (I am told you should buy 50 dollar gift cards) and they will be covered, then you can use the gift cards for ticket (strictly speaking, it doesn't fit the term, but in practice, this is being done, at least until now it still works, lol).

btw, Amex MR worth about 1.2cents per point if you transfer to delta skypesoes.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

Thanks for the response! I've heard the same thing about Uber, and the propel seems like it would generate me more cashback, as the travel category is more expansive than the Uber. I don't have the WF Signature yet, but I heard it was possible to receive an upgrade to Signature from Platinum. Do you know if this is true? Also does the Propel have access to the Earn More Mall like the other WF cards, since that could potentially bump up the cashback. I wasn't sure since its an Amex card. Does it also receive Amex offers?

I can easily use the dining credits for the AMEX, it's the travel credit that worries me a bit. I do fly Jet Blue/Delta occasionally, but I'm not sure if incidentals are really worth it. I rarely check bags or make in flight purchases.

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prople has access to earn more mall. If you want to upgrade platinum (which I don't know if you can, you can call to ask), I would wait until you get SUB from Prople before doing that.

Amex airline fee, can be e-gift card. You can buy 2x $50 delta gift cards (I am told you should buy 50 dollar gift cards) and they will be covered, then you can use the gift cards for ticket (strictly speaking, it doesn't fit the term, but in practice, this is being done, at least until now it still works, lol).

btw, Amex MR worth about 1.2cents per point if you transfer to delta skypesoes.

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Oh I didn't know the strategy with the giftcards, that's neat. I'm still not sure if my annual spend is high enough to justify the Amex Gold. But at the same time I want the rose gold card before it disappears...

With 50k SUB MR points it could be worth it, though the propel has a 30,000 points SUB itself.

[Anonymous]

if you can use all of the dining credit, with the airline fee credit, amex gold AF is not that bad, just 30 bucks.

[Anonymous]

If you are not going to put much spend on the card, I would go with the Propel I guess.

However, I’ve had the Propel since it was released and I’m not all that impressed with it. I just put it in my box of cards and out of my wallet for the first time today.

[staticvoidmain]

I have studied these cards. In your case, Amex Gold seems great, but an Amex, and has annual fee, and rewards that you probably won't use as easily as you could with your other two choices, unless you like to travel. Amex is amazing though, as a company. WF Propel is great, but it uses Amex network. Contrary to popular belief, Amex acceptance even in the US is not as ubiquitous as Visa or Mastercard based on my experience. If this does not bother you, this is probably my vote. Uber, seems the best choice for dining only, but it's Barclays. It's travel categories is also subpar. Of all these cards, I have the Uber.

What I would recommend? If you shop at Costco, the Citi Costco Visa. OR, get a general 2% card first (I recommend the PayPal MC, possible 3%). These are my recommendations if you must get one card. You can always get multiple cards for multiple purposes, like I do.