Credit Card reward programs

clubbyjones · Nov 29, 2010

As far as miles go, the Chase Southwest Visa is your best bet. 19,200 for a flight; 2400 free points every year, free roundtrip on first purchase. The best part about it? 99.3% of flights are available at any time with the Southwest card. I have hundreds of thousands of Continental miles and end up having to spend 50k a flight because they never have enough seats for reward travel.

MetroStyles · Nov 29, 2010

Originally Posted by Arrogant Bastard

Nah. I don't travel on overnight trips often enough to warrant a hotel rewards card.

Will have Centurion next year, so females and betas can start preemptively bowing down now.

The Centurion card sucks. It's perks are largely outweighed by its $7,500 initiation fee.

NaTionS · Nov 29, 2010

I'm looking to get a new card as well. Just got a mail a few days ago saying I'm pre-approved for the Chase Sapphire card which is kinda odd since it's supposedly for "high income individuals" and I'm a full time student.

Don Carlos · Nov 29, 2010

Originally Posted by MetroStyles

The Centurion card sucks. It's perks are largely outweighed by its $7,500 initiation fee.

It is a high-end ***** magnet par excellence. Plus, if I use it to buy big-ticket ****, I can end up with free vacations or flights or ****.

I know what you're going to say: a true alpha doesn't need bling to get *****. And you'd be right. But it's a great shortcut for one-night-stand kind of poontang, especially in a city as superficial as LA. It also gets you treated really, really ******* well at bars and clubs. Free bottles and ****, sent over just to keep you happy and earn back your business.

MetroStyles · Nov 29, 2010

Originally Posted by Arrogant Bastard

It is a high-end ***** magnet par excellence. Plus, if I use it to buy big-ticket ****, I can end up with free vacations or flights or ****.

I know what you're going to say: a true alpha doesn't need bling to get *****. And you'd be right. But it's a great shortcut for one-night-stand kind of poontang, especially in a city as superficial as LA. It also gets you treated really, really ******* well at bars and clubs. Free bottles and ****, sent over just to keep you happy and earn back your business.

So, how do you spend $250K+ a year without traveling for work?

EL72 · Nov 29, 2010

Originally Posted by MetroStyles

Those cash back rewards seem pretty competitive.

As a consultant, I've spent a lot of time thinking about credit card rewards programs, since I get to spend someone else's dime quite a bit throughout the year but keep the rewards for myself.

The Costco card has been popular with those people that prefer cash back.

I've always stuck with the Starwood Preferred Guest Amex. This is for several reasons:

1) Each point earned (1 point per dollar) is worth about 2-3 cents (when you look at how much hotels usually cost). Given that this spending is largely limited to travel expenses, you could say the fungible dollar equivalent is 1% instead of 2-3%.

2) I enjoy racking up hotel points more than dollars (given roughly equal value) because it gives me something to look forward to...how to use my hoard of free hotel nights. Also as a platinum SPG member, I get suite upgrades in most hotels. This means that the 2-3 cents per dollar really becomes a lot more (but only for people who travel a lot).

3) You can convert Starwood points to most airlines at a 5:4 conversion rate. This is the best conversion in the business and makes the points VERY flexible if you like traveling.

4) I prefer Amex in general just for the purchase protection.

Honestly, you should visit flyertalk.com since it has tons of threads on this topic and is a better audience for the question.

SPG is by far the best rewards pgm anywhere (though I'm only gold status now

).
Starpoints > cash ---> SPG Amex rules!

MetroStyles · Nov 29, 2010

Originally Posted by EL72

SPG is by far the best rewards pgm anywhere (though I'm only gold status now

).
Starpoints > cash ---> SPG Amex rules!

If you have never been platinum for SPG, they do a status match from any major competitor. FYI.

calispec · Nov 29, 2010

Originally Posted by EL72

SPG is by far the best rewards pgm anywhere (though I'm only gold status now

).
Starpoints > cash ---> SPG Amex rules!

I was going to say this.

I've had many different hotel/airline CC's and my SPG Amex is the only one I've stuck with.

The points are worth much more than say, Marriott.

Don Carlos · Nov 29, 2010

Originally Posted by MetroStyles

So, how do you spend $250K+ a year without traveling for work?

99% of my work trips are day trips or one-night trips. Annoying as ****, especially between NY and LA.

intent · Nov 30, 2010

Originally Posted by Arrogant Bastard

99% of my work trips are day trips or one-night trips. Annoying as ****, especially between NY and LA.
How do you have so much time for SF?

MetroStyles · Nov 30, 2010

Originally Posted by intent

How do you have so much time for SF?

Most airlines have internet on NYC - California flights. I believe the most common vendor is called "Gogo Inflight Internet".

indesertum · Nov 30, 2010

what's a good one for students? i basically spend all my money on food, books, random household goods on amazon, alcohol at local stores, and clothes on b&s. what's a good cash back program? not particularly interested in travel related points.

Rambo · Nov 30, 2010

Originally Posted by indesertum

what's a good one for students? i basically spend all my money on food, books, random household goods on amazon, alcohol at local stores, and clothes on b&s. what's a good cash back program? not particularly interested in travel related points.
Amazon Visa maybe?

Don Carlos · Nov 30, 2010

Originally Posted by intent

How do you have so much time for SF?
I don't. If you look through my posting history, you notice that the vast majority take place at or around 4am my time. Such as now. Or else later in the evening. The volume of posts disguises the infrequency of the clusters.

gdl203 · Nov 30, 2010

Amex rewards is a no brainer for me as I can use the same rewards account across several cards (personal and corp)

Credit Card reward programs

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