Question
Hey all,
I've been reading through this forum but still could use a little advice. Here's my issue. I have been carrying around an AA card for some 7 years now, but am soon moving back to D.C. and with the lack of AA options will likely be flying them quite a bit less. Additionally, I am not so enthused with UA or US that I am tempted to get their cards. Finally, unless when I graduate law school I get a job with alot of travel I do barely 25K miles on all carriers put together.
So what I would like:
A card that lets me earn points towards flights on any carrier, or a card with decent cash back that works better than saving points
No (or very low) annual fee.
So far what I have compared is the Cap1 No Hassle card and the Citi (I want to say premier pass....the one with the annoying commercials).
Thanks for any help!
Answer
hmmm... good cards have fees. Try Amex Delta. The no fee one.
Answer
Hey all,
I've been reading through this forum but still could use a little advice. Here's my issue. I have been carrying around an AA card for some 7 years now, but am soon moving back to D.C. and with the lack of AA options will likely be flying them quite a bit less. Additionally, I am not so enthused with UA or US that I am tempted to get their cards. Finally, unless when I graduate law school I get a job with alot of travel I do barely 25K miles on all carriers put together.
So what I would like:
A card that lets me earn points towards flights on any carrier, or a card with decent cash back that works better than saving points
No (or very low) annual fee.
So far what I have compared is the Cap1 No Hassle card and the Citi (I want to say premier pass....the one with the annoying commercials).
Thanks for any help!
Citi Premier Pass is a good card. You will earn up to 2 points per $. (If you earn flight points, you will get 1 purchase point plus one flight point for every $ spent.) Citi Premier Pass Elite gives you up to 4 points per $. (There is a bonus for gas/drug/grocery spending.) This is a very good (point) earning rate.
Also consider the following cards:
1. Starwood Preferred Guest AMEX - Allows point transfers to many airlines. (If you transfer alot of points, you get a bonus, i.e. 1 SPG point to 1.25 airline points transfer rate.)
2. Diners Club - Allows point transfers to many airlines. Works with more rewards programs than SPG AMEX. However the transfer rate is not as good. Also, this is a charge card, not a credit card. It also has an annual fee.
3. As Dr. Bond mentioned the Delta card is a good card. It provides $2 points per $ on everyday spending.
4. Merrill+
IMHO the order of preference is:
1. Citi Oremier Pass Elite: If you will spend more than $2500 per year on grocery/drug/gas AND fly more than you spend the PP Elite card overtake the PP card. Use the following assumptions: 2 bonus points per $ for select spending, additional 2 flight points per $ in matching, $0.015 per point, and $75 annual fee.
2. Citi Premier Pass : If you will fly more than you spend, you will earn 2 points per $ on all spending.
Note: Citi AA can easily be converted to Citi PP and PP Elite. This will allow you to keep your oldest credit card account on your credit report, which is important for credit history. Also you can earn additional points by banking with Citibank. (Their interest rates for deposits and loans are excellent. However, I am not fond of their investment services. Once you have $100,000 on balance with them, you get your PP Elite for free. )
3. SPG AMEX - Up to 1.25 airline miles per $. Simple program, plus you get a discount hotel coupon once per year. (This may be useful if you take a trip. I asssume that you have not accumulated many hotel points. I may be wrong.)
4. Delta AMEX - Has an annual fee. However, you earn 2 points per $ in everyday spending. This is a superior earning to your AA card. However, you cannot earn lifetime status with your Delta card. (You can earn qualifying miles for high-spending on the Delta Platinum AMEX. However, this carries a $100+ annual fee and a substantial spending requirement.)
4. Merrill+ - You can purchase tickets on AA or DL with points from this card. It only earns 1 point per $. It has very good benefits which improve when you spend $20,000+ per year. I used my credit card for CREDIT (not just spending) when I was in college and graduate school. This card has an excellent interest rate. If you carry a balance. This card moves from #4 to #1 in my opinion.
5. Diners Club - You earn 1 point per $. Unless you have a lot of hotel/airline memberships and can take advantage of the primary rental car insurance you are better suited for the cards above.
Of the above, I carry a Citi Chairman Card (which is a higher end Citi Premier Pass elite), Merrill+, and Diners Club.
Answer
Thanks for the opinions. I do not carry a balance and have decided to go with Citi elite to keep my credit line and record with Citi intact + all of the other benefits. Thanks again!
Answer
:d :d
Answer
:d, ;), :D
Answer
Thanks for the opinions. I do not carry a balance and have decided to go with Citi elite to keep my credit line and record with Citi intact + all of the other benefits. Thanks again!
DCStudent...Glad to be of assistance. Call Citi and ask them to convert your AA card. This keeps your credit history intact. Alternately you can get a new card and earn bonus points. (However this will impact your credit with a new inquiry and a new account.)
Dr. Bond... Are you mocking me :) ... I may be forced to defenestrate someone.
Answer
DCStudent...Glad to be of assistance. Call Citi and ask them to convert your AA card. This keeps your credit history intact. Alternately you can get a new card and earn bonus points. (However this will impact your credit with a new inquiry and a new account.)
Dr. Bond... Are you mocking me :) ... I may be forced to defenestrate someone.
I knew you would know the answer to that one, just had it in my guts that you would.
Now about that window...... are we talking airplane.... and how high?
Answer
I use AT&T universal card for grocery and premier pass for anything else. Miss the promotion of 3 months 5 points for every dollar from my AT&T earlier this year, actually it was 9 points for every dollar on grocery and 5 points for everything else.
Citi Premier Pass is a good card. You will earn up to 2 points per $. (If you earn flight points, you will get 1 purchase point plus one flight point for every $ spent.) Citi Premier Pass Elite gives you up to 4 points per $. (There is a bonus for gas/drug/grocery spending.) This is a very good (point) earning rate.
Also consider the following cards:
1. Starwood Preferred Guest AMEX - Allows point transfers to many airlines. (If you transfer alot of points, you get a bonus, i.e. 1 SPG point to 1.25 airline points transfer rate.)
2. Diners Club - Allows point transfers to many airlines. Works with more rewards programs than SPG AMEX. However the transfer rate is not as good. Also, this is a charge card, not a credit card. It also has an annual fee.
3. As Dr. Bond mentioned the Delta card is a good card. It provides $2 points per $ on everyday spending.
4. Merrill+
IMHO the order of preference is:
1. Citi Oremier Pass Elite: If you will spend more than $2500 per year on grocery/drug/gas AND fly more than you spend the PP Elite card overtake the PP card. Use the following assumptions: 2 bonus points per $ for select spending, additional 2 flight points per $ in matching, $0.015 per point, and $75 annual fee.
2. Citi Premier Pass : If you will fly more than you spend, you will earn 2 points per $ on all spending.
Note: Citi AA can easily be converted to Citi PP and PP Elite. This will allow you to keep your oldest credit card account on your credit report, which is important for credit history. Also you can earn additional points by banking with Citibank. (Their interest rates for deposits and loans are excellent. However, I am not fond of their investment services. Once you have $100,000 on balance with them, you get your PP Elite for free. )
3. SPG AMEX - Up to 1.25 airline miles per $. Simple program, plus you get a discount hotel coupon once per year. (This may be useful if you take a trip. I asssume that you have not accumulated many hotel points. I may be wrong.)
4. Delta AMEX - Has an annual fee. However, you earn 2 points per $ in everyday spending. This is a superior earning to your AA card. However, you cannot earn lifetime status with your Delta card. (You can earn qualifying miles for high-spending on the Delta Platinum AMEX. However, this carries a $100+ annual fee and a substantial spending requirement.)
4. Merrill+ - You can purchase tickets on AA or DL with points from this card. It only earns 1 point per $. It has very good benefits which improve when you spend $20,000+ per year. I used my credit card for CREDIT (not just spending) when I was in college and graduate school. This card has an excellent interest rate. If you carry a balance. This card moves from #4 to #1 in my opinion.
5. Diners Club - You earn 1 point per $. Unless you have a lot of hotel/airline memberships and can take advantage of the primary rental car insurance you are better suited for the cards above.
Of the above, I carry a Citi Chairman Card (which is a higher end Citi Premier Pass elite), Merrill+, and Diners Club.
Answer
I use AT&T universal card for grocery and premier pass for anything else. Miss the promotion of 3 months 5 points for every dollar from my AT&T earlier this year, actually it was 9 points for every dollar on grocery and 5 points for everything else.
AT&T Universal now only offers 5 pts per $ on AT&T spending. Everything else is 1 pt per $. Promotions may change this, but this is what they have to offer new card holders for now.
Answer
I switched my AT&T cashback card to earn thankyou points two years ago, they still give me 5pts per dollar on everyday shopping now, but I noted that "charter member" is printed on the new card they sent me. I usually get >1.8 cent value for 1 thankyou point, no card can beat it for everyday shopping.
AT&T Universal now only offers 5 pts per $ on AT&T spending. Everything else is 1 pt per $. Promotions may change this, but this is what they have to offer new card holders for now.