re: Credit Card Rewards and Points Discussion

Applied over phone for the FU first. Rep said "10 days". Checked on phone line and it said 7-10 days.

Said F it and went forward with Ink online. On the phone line, it says my first app is 2 weeks and my second is 7-10 days. i assume it put the ink first for whatever reason.

The ink was on a personal SSN versus a company EIN, so i'm not surprised it went pending. Will keep you guys posted on what goes down.

Ok, MT, which cards to keep when the AF comes up later this year and early next year?

Prestige - I really like but don't need the 4th night free. Used the Global Entry and $400 credits already. I will miss the Priority Pass. I'm going to try to use the golf soon.

Red Aviator - I do fly AA the most for going to NOLA. However, I am beyond chapped at their deval recently. I just paid 50,000 miles to fly first/business to Rome. It is now 70k for the same flight on Saver. Asia went up pretty big too and I'm so close from Hawaii

Citi AA - Think I'll cancel this next year as they just gave me a free AF. I don't need 2 AA cards other than maybe getting another bonus before canceling this one.

Ink+ - I think this card is a no brainer and I wish I would've gotten it sooner.

SPG Biz - Just getting it and will not need 2 biz cards with 2 AF's. But I really do like SPG and the points are so valuable. I have a year to think it over.

United - I kept it past the first free year because they gave me a $60 credit so it was only $30. I'll keep it again if free or close to free AF.

SW Prem - Will definitely cancel unless free AF. No real need for SW for me and I messed up getting this one as I was hoping to use the points for a flight. So now I have like 60k points sitting around.

Alaska - Think I'm just going to get this one a couple more times for the points. Probably won't keep for the next AF though unless I decide to drop AA as my main carrier and go to AS. Sucks they don't do the priority boarding like AA with the card.

IHG - For $50 this is a no brainer with the free night.

So for sure I am keeping Ink+, IHG, and likely the Aviator unless I switch to AS. So that's $95+$49+$95 = $239 in AF's and they more than pay for themselves. Any other suggestions?

I got an offer in the mail with no annual fee for the first year so I used that. Sorry!

No worries, I don't blame you. I wish I would've gotten the free AF.

Prestige - You need 1 free night worth $200 to make all the other benefits "free." Also, don't forget, with Prestige comes the opportunity to redeem TYP @ 1.6c per point for AA flights.

Red Aviator - Get rid unless fee waived and you don't have another 10% rebate on AA miles card.

Citi AA - Get rid

SPG Biz - Get rid unless you use Sheraton Club enough to justify fee.

Ink+ -

United - Get rid

SW Prem - Get rid. Maybe use points for LAX-MSY flights. Those are cheap. Plus you can get to LAX on a much cheaper flight from HNL.

Alaska - Get rid. Imo, should be your primary carrier.

IHG - Keep forever

The only thing I would suggest on your cc portfolio is getting a sapphire preferred and downgrading your ink plus to a no fee ink cash. Same net annual fee and you'll pick up 2x on restaurants and airfare.

Or better yet, you could apply for an ink cash to get the sign up bonus and close your ink plus. Between the CSP and the ink cash you could bag 75k ur points. You wouldn't really need the United card either then.

Lastly, aviator has been very good about waiving the annual fee. I got mine waived and they even offered 15k bonus points for spending $500/mo for 3 months to keep it open. I also like Barclays' chip+pin feature for when traveling abroad and buying rail/subway tickets from kiosks.

Hah. I know. Sucks!

Can y'all give advice/recommendations on my credit card situation:

Current Credit Cards:
Chase Freedom: $1600 credit line, no annual fee, 1-5% cash back, no annual fee
Southwest Rewards CC: $8500 credit limit, $99 annual fee, 1 pt per dollar
Citi Double Cash: $6600 credit limit, no annual fee, 2% cash back

I'm 26 and a half, not married but dating. I currently put as much as I can on the Citi card for 2% cash back, and use the chase freedom for 5% cash back on the quarterly categories. So I don't use my southwest card much anymore but I have to pay the $99 annual fee. I am considering getting the american express blue cash preferred with 6% on groceries and 3% on gas with only a $75 annual fee. I would use this card exclusively on these categories. How much would it hurt my credit score if I canceled my southwest card (750 credit score right now per Capital One credit tracker)? I also have a few more years paying off a car loan.

ETA: I pay off all credit card statements completely each month

I don't know exactly how long I've had each, but I've had the chase freedom since college, southwest for about 3 years, and I just got the citi card last fall. I also have about $2000 credit each with Best Buy and Macy's, so that would reduce the impact of dropping southwest right?

What would you recommend besides the AMEX preferred cash ($75 annual fee)? I don't keep up with this thread. I'm looking for cash back more instead of airline miles.

Thanks

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elleshoo9

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First thing: Do not pay another $$ as AF on the SW card. Call in to cancel and tell them you want to move your CL over to your Freedom. Freedom is the card you will keep forever. Not only is it your first card, but also a great card which will soon no longer be available. Hard to beat for quarterly CB.

Second: Cancel Macy's and Best Buy if you don't use them. Unless they're old. If they are over 2-3 years, throw them in your sock drawer. Remember - The Departmental store category on you freedom will include both these stores. So try to do your shopping there in that quarter.

Recommendations:

Depending on how much you spend on groceries go for the AmEx Blue Cash EveryDay (3% cb upto $6000 at grocery stores, 2% at department stores and gas stations, 1% everywhere else) or Blue Cash EveryDay Preferred (6% upto $6k on groceries, 3% at gas stations and department stores, 1% everywhere else). The regular has no AF, the Preferred has $75 AF. You need to do the math to see if your total spending will cover the marginal AF. (If you spend $2,500 on groceries every year, the Preferred is a no brainer. But remember: Walmart, Target, Costco, Sam's club don't count as groceries for AmEx. Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Fresh Market etc. are good).

The highest offers floating around on these is $250 Bonus after spending $1K in 3 months. Make sure you apply with that. Try to google "amex blue cash" in an incognito window after clearing your cookies and browser history. If you don't see the offer. Just say something here and I can give you a couple more things to try.

ETA: Also, these cards will earn 10% cash back on cellphone/cable bills upto $200 for first 3 months.