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Thinking about a credit card for miles to travel more. Worth it?

Posted on 6/6/21 at 4:21 pm
Posted by pwejr88
Red Stick
Member since Apr 2007
36177 posts
Posted on 6/6/21 at 4:21 pm
Is a card like this worth it?
We like to travel but don’t much and would like to do more. I only have one credit card and I’ve had it for years, Cap One. No rewards.



Something like this? A different one?
Posted by gobuxgo5
Member since Nov 2012
10026 posts
Posted on 6/6/21 at 4:28 pm to
I like this one:
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card


Current Offer
100,000 points
Our best offer ever! Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,250 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Annual fee
$95
Bonus value*
$2,000
Posted by tduecen
Member since Nov 2006
161244 posts
Posted on 6/6/21 at 5:12 pm to
I have this card
Posted by Weekend Warrior79
Member since Aug 2014
16369 posts
Posted on 6/7/21 at 8:45 am to
quote:

Cap One. No rewards.

You may be able to talk to them about changing your card to a card that offers rewards with no application, no credit report hit, and no additional cards. I believe the Venture card has 2% rewards on a all purchases.

As someone else posted, the Chase Sapphire is a great card if you can justify the annual fee. I found I just wasn't using mine enough to justify the fee and had Chase transfer my card to the chase Freedom. 5% on travel purchases, 3% on dining/restaurants, 1.5% on everything else.
This post was edited on 6/7/21 at 8:48 am
Posted by TheChiefHasArrived
Member since Dec 2011
686 posts
Posted on 6/7/21 at 9:51 am to
100%, the Sapphire Preferred has an all-time high bonus worth a minimum of $1250 even if you don't know how to maximize it. A no-brainer assuming you're able to meet the $4000 in 3 month spend requirement. In a year, upgrade it to the Sapphire Reserve for some more high-end benefits depending on how often you travel.

Depending on your needs, you can get really into the hobby and get a minimum of 5% off everything you buy and fly in business class, only stay in 5* etc, but it takes some time to learn the ropes. Discover is fine but it's no frills and won't really take you anywhere you weren't already going with Capital One after the first year with double cash back.

PS: Credit cards are only profitable if you're able to pay off the entire balance every month. Otherwise, the interest will outweigh any benefits you're going to get.
This post was edited on 6/7/21 at 10:07 am
Posted by gobuxgo5
Member since Nov 2012
10026 posts
Posted on 6/7/21 at 10:46 am to
quote:

PS: Credit cards are only profitable if you're able to pay off the entire balance every month. Otherwise, the interest will outweigh any benefits you're going to get.


Half true. They are only profitable if you maintain the same spending amount as you would with cash. If you spend 20% more per year on food and stuff because you didn’t feel the “pain” of handing over your cash, you could end up spending $6-7k more than you were. Even if you pay it off each month, the kick backs doesn’t account for the extra spending and impulse purchases you may not have made with cash.
Posted by Esquire
Chiraq
Member since Apr 2014
11591 posts
Posted on 6/7/21 at 5:34 pm to
quote:

As someone else posted, the Chase Sapphire is a great card if you can justify the annual fee. I found I just wasn't using mine enough to justify the fee and had Chase transfer my card to the chase Freedom.


Did the same thing. The Dash Pass got a lot of use during covid, but I couldn’t justify the increase to a $550 annual fee.
Posted by TheChiefHasArrived
Member since Dec 2011
686 posts
Posted on 6/16/21 at 4:58 pm to
Mine just renewed and they credited me $100 so it was $450 still (so $150 after the travel credit), I'll re-evaluate next year. If I was eligible for the Preferred bonus I'd do that in a heartbeat.
Posted by TigerintheNO
New Orleans
Member since Jan 2004
41182 posts
Posted on 6/16/21 at 7:47 pm to
It depends on what type of travel.

United Mileage Plus is great if you live by one of their US hubs or want to travel internationally. It is really easy to accumulate miles and 30K can get you a one way flight to Europe/Australia.

Southwest Rapid Rewards is perfect if you travel as a couple, they will offer a promotion where you spend x in the first 3 months & you get 30K miles and the companion pass for a year. I signed up for this one in February and have booked round trips flights for the UCLA game and Kentucky games and a family reunion on points. Wife flies free on the companion pass. I basically booked 12 one way flights and only pay $5 govt fee.
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