Does that apply here? The new card is a different product AFAIK

thanks for that 24-month language. I wasn't aware of the rule but rang a bell. anyway, with 5/24 I haven't been going for any Chase. They were the cards I kind of attacked early on when I started (~5-6 years ago, time flies ). I can probably open anyone again with a bonus . I may have to keep the Sapphire in mind again.

I am about to hit a $25 redemption on my US bank business rewards. I never use the card but the 3% year round on cellular/gas/office supply isn't a bad perk. Anyway, I am looking to max phone/internet/cable year round. I have chase freedom that has 5% rotating, also have Discover IT, but what are the best cards for monthly spend on the aforementioned three categories?

Chase Ink probably yields 5x on some of those not? I was denied that once in the past

Yes, INK is the best option for utilities.
There also seem to be quite a few amex offers and even bankamerideals for utility providers covering a decent chunk of the year as well.

Good point. The name is very similar, but it looks like it will probably be considered a different card. Should be good to go if you're under 5/24 with Chase then. Not sure it's worth burning a 5/24 spot though if you are...

If you stay at Marriotts a lot this + the Biz card + SPGs from Amex before they devalue can give you quite a lot of points/nights/credits.

I stay wherever the points are available and the best value, but I've definitely been able to get lots of value out of Marriott + SPG, so I'll definitely keep an eye on the situation as new cards are released.

I've got some reading to do on churning but lmk if I've got the jist:

Open a card, easily collect bonus, close card, wait (two years?) rinse repeat.

or are there just so many CC's, and new offerings popping up all the time that you just never run out?


If it's the first one it seems insane that they would allow it, then again Party and skins gave many of us $500+ a month for a couple years, so who knows.


I started playing around with this a couple months ago and now I'm trying to map out the next few years.

there are tons of cards. Each bank offers a handful or more, so, ya, it's quite easy to always scoop a bonus or some points. Personally, I like to knock out small bonuses often, like spend $500, get $150 back. That's 30% off whatever I want to spend on. With a fam(toddlers), flying isn't something I look forward to, so this has mostly been my route lately. Closing and reopening is an option but maybe not with all cards. I believe every Amex cc bonus can only be received once, it varies bank to bank probably but I believe AMEX to be the stingiest in that regard.

Also, one thing to note: App-O-Rama!!!!! Basically, open three internet tabs(three cc applications), fill out apps, and then submit them all at the same time. Doing so kind of lumps the hard pulls, at least in some instances. If you do that app-o-rama with the same bank it could be even better, I don't know, and I know what I said may not be perfectly clear. But if u can get some hard pulls lumped together that is better for you, the consumer, because it appears you are not applying for as much credit(hard pulls over a two-year span are a factor).

You've pretty much got it. There are lots of banks and lots of credit cards, so the choices can be a bit overwhelming at first. Take it slow and do a lot of reading before applying for your first card. Some great resources are doctorofcredit.com
and here's a great starting resource:
https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/start-here/

Before applying for cards, learn the bank rules such as the Chase 5/24 and Amex once per lifetime rule. If you have any specific questions, ask away and we will do what we can to help! Personally I fade in and out of the churning hobby as I have less or more free time and different goals in life. When I first started, it was all about cash, while now I try and maximize nice hotel stays, travel, and travel benefits. Plenty of options!

Good info, thanks guys

best way to monetize my AMEX points? I see I can xfer to Hilton Honors for 1k = 2k there, not bad?? haven't looked into the details though. Ideally, I like getting my points to cash or something of the equivalent (somewhere I frequent or plan on spending - gift cards), any suggestions?

1c for statement credit or giftcards. 1.25 with the investment one? Schwab I think.

1:2 Hilton is atrocious.

Partner airlines are the best but if you want cash do statement credit. Or take the risk of selling them to a buyer, typically you can get 1.3 that way.

Anyone try upgrading their Chase Marriott card yet? I have both personal and business and wondering if they are offering an upgrade bonus. I also tried hitting up Amex for an SPg retention bonus before I paid those fees. Got nowhere on either personal or business so I shut my wife's done and kept mine for the "free" night. That gives me 4 to play with going forward to see if they are worth keeping.



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ask for a supervisor on the spg, plenty of reports of 5k or 7.5k points with spending req "retention"

The only way I would trade for Hilton is if I needed to top off my account for a redemption I had in mind.

I think you only get .6 cents per point if cashing out for a statement credit, so I wouldn't do that. If you have a lot of MR or consistently earn them, the Schwab 1.25 cents/point transfer into the brokerage is the best "cash" deal.

In the past Amex has run specials where you can get Walmart at 1cent/point (not currently available) and I consider Walmart gift cards good as cash. Home Depot is currently showing for me at 1 cent/point.

The best "Value" is to transfer them to different airlines where you can find some pretty sweet redemptions, but if you don't value business/first class flights this wouldn't be appealing.

I'm at 4/24 with no Chase accounts. I'm getting ready to light this candle so I don't foresee being under 5/24 at any other point in the next few years. The reason I mention this is because I want the best possible Chase card as it's likely the only one I'll be getting. I was thinking Marriott for the 100K bonus, but it looks like I'd have to make some EV sacrifices just to put $5K-$10K a year on this after the bonus, and at that it probably wouldn't even be worth keeping open and paying the AF. If not for 5/24 I'd churn this and close it before the the next AF, but then I'd be shut out at Chase going forward, which I don't want and the point of this post.


I don't yet understand the point systems for most of these airline and hotel cards and it hasn't been a problem as I've stuck with opening (and doing most of my research on) cash back cards.


So I'm looking for suggestions for my one and only Chase card.

some data points;

- High 700's, but thinish file

- Cash back is great, but I do spend 4+ weeks in Florida every winter, so some kind of travel/hotel card with easy to figure out EV could be better.

- I don't currently have a 2% on everything card, but I get 2%+ on most purchases with my cats. also, 2% isn't a big deal because I'll likely get the 2% Citi card soon and possibly others. So like I'd rather have a 2.1% travel card that suits me than a 2% cash.

Losing All, I envy you! Chase currently has some amazing bonuses. If you're up for applying for a Business card, the Ink Preferred has a 100k bonus (worth anywhere from $1k to $2k in value). I'm pretty sure that Chase Business card don't count towards your 5/24 status. I would have to look over Chase rules, but you should be able to apply for two cards in one day in order to get two cards before going over 5/24 as well. If you and a SO fly Southwest, or would like to, getting two SW cards and a Companion Pass could give you incredible value. The Reserve has an ongoing 60k pts as well, so you could combine that with the Ink and have 160k points that you could transfer to partners.

It all depends what you're looking for!

thanks for the replies. looked at Amex points beforehand and didn't love the value but it's reasonable. I can be patient for awhile.

FYI went to downgrade / product change my Amex SPG and got a 7k point retention offer. Figured it was worth the $95

Screw Amex. Tried to do that with my card and my wife's. "Nothing we can do" was there response. Shame as I could use some extra SPG points right now.

I got the same 7k retention despite more or less only using the card to clear the bonus

this seems insane to me? The fee is currently $550

$200 in free uber rides
$200 free southwest gift card (Not sure what other airlines you can use this for)

free lounge access (Saves me around $750 per year)

free mobile wifi - I don't really know i honestly don't use the boingo network much

free HHonors gold, SPG Gold Elite, Marriot Gold Elite, Ritz Carlton gold elite (the earning bonus aside, 4pm checkouts and room upgrades worth at least $100 per stay. tag on some free breakfast on your stays hotel dependant)

free roadside assistance 4x per year- idk, $50?

upgrade to national emerald executive saves around $60 per rental day when you take the upgrade

Im leaving some stuff out but Platinum seems easily worth it you travel only once per year

I don't want to break your head or anything, but look into the ameriprise version...

If someone only travels once per year, then there isn't enough to be gained from AXP Plat. However, traveling at least one time a month on average, especially if there are any rental cars needed, makes it worthwhile. The airline credit is not what it once was...used to cover things like upgrades.

The fact that the Uber credit works with Eats makes it worthwhile for those who would not otherwise be using the service.

Real value for me is the Lounge access...especially now that they cut down on the ability of people to bring in their rugrats to run around unsupervised and un-medicated.

maybe I'm dumb, but half the stuff I mentioned isn't listed on the Ameriprise page of benefits.

Is the upside just the lower fee? I travel a ton, so the lounges/hotel earning / rental car upgrade is well worth it for me

It's exactly the same benefits as a normal platinum, $0 AF 1st year, and 3 free AUs...

https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...s/ep-apf-002#/

The no fee AU's are just like the AF- comped only for the first year. They are unlikely to waive beyond that point...