Working up to Travel Credit Cards

[Anonymous]

Hello, I am 21 years old and super new to the credit card world. I just got mt first credit card a month ago (super late I know, but my parents don't use credit cards and I am just now learning of their benefits). It's just a visa platinum credit card and I've been using it for things like groceries, gas, etc., and paying it off right away. I don't have a ton of income (about $20k) as I am a college student. However, I do make two big spends a year when I pay my college tuition, which I can eventually use to meet minimum spends. My main goal for credit cards is to use them for travel. I know the highly prized travel cards like the CSR and Amex Plat are far out in my future, but is there any travel cards (or even other cards in general), that would be helpful for me to get within the next year? Say a Citi card or a Capitol One card with a low or no annual fee? I know I won't be eligible for much, but I'd like to use my tuition payments and smaller payments to get some reward (hopefully in travel form, but if not it's okay), rather than using the plain old visa I have now. Any advice/tips is greatly appreciated, I'm trying to learn as much as I can!! Thank you!!

[Anonymous]

I think you will have half a chance at being approved for an Amex EveryDay card or their Gold card after your first card gets to be 6 months old and then you can start saving up your points.. (you might even be able to get 2?) read https://thepointsguy.com/guide/credit-card-application-restrictions/

Even the platnum isn't really that hard to get.. 

After you get your first AMEX it's only a soft pull to apply for another AMEX, so if you are denied it won't hurt you. 

Chase cards on the other hand are much harder to get individually and have the 5/24 rule to worry about, especially getting the "trifecta". Getting the "Trifecta" with AMEX is much easier and AMEX is even pulling ahead of Chase as far as AMEX MR point system return value surpassing and continuing to pull ahead of the Chase UR points program.

I am not really a travel rewards fan and less of a Chase fan. 

Don't feel bad about getting started just now. I didn't get started until I was 28..

[mongstradamus]

Citi DC or Cap one QS are decent cash back cards. Cap one QS also has no FTF which is a nice perk if you do any travel. Also while not a travel card per se , but the amex ED is a good option to get you started accruing Membership rewards points for when you ever do decide on getting amex plat. Also its the only card that i know of that can transfer to airline/hotel partners that has on AF.  

[Anonymous]

I would suggest a standard cash back card. The CITI double cash. The Uber Visa has been great as well. Technically up to 5k spend a year is essentially 2% back because of the $50 subscription credit.
The AMEX ED is great too to get started on learning the MR points but might be slow to earn.

[Remedios]

OP got their first card a month ago. It's going to take another five months to generate a score.

I dont think Citi, Barclay and Amex are going to happen right now. 

OP, you might have a chance with Discover if any of their cards would work for you, or student cards if you want to go that route. Cap One Platinum is another option, there is no annual fee and it's easy to PC to QS after only a few months. 

Otherwise, I'd wait till your scores are generated and build payment history while you wait .  You'll have better options at later time. 

[coldfusion]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

After you get your first AMEX it's only a soft pull to apply for another AMEX,

---

Most of the time.  Definitely not always.