For the average American, the single best way to maximize travel rewards is to make sure you’re applying for the best credit cards, and using the right credit cards for your daily spending.
Continue reading: The Credit Cards I Use For Each Major Spending Bonus Category, And Why
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Here we go again with another post about using credit cards for organic spend...as if it really moves the needle much.
FM is a master at this sort of post, whose real purpose is to promote affiliate links.
Just curious, if you are using your Platinum for the flights and your chase for the hotel, how are you getting the trip protection from the Platinum card (or why are you mentioning it) if your hotel expenses wouldn't be protected anyways because you are using a different card?
Ben, this is a great list and good strategy. Thank you for putting it out there, succinctly, both for newbies and for old timers alike. This is the way.
@Lucky. The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card gives you 5 points/$ spent on hotels.
I love this kind of post, helps me compare to see if I am using my cards best.
Yep! And 3x on 'other travel' is nice for the Expedia bookings, trains, etc. that one sometimes has to make.
It’s not that complicated. And the OP, Frankie is correct. Doesn’t move needle much. Certainly questionable spreading your spend across 5+ programs. Obviously if u have a ton of spend, spreading isn’t as consequential as someone who has less spend.
This article is mostly to get you to eventually apply for the cards using his links.
You can setup your AA card with Shell Fuel Rewards and get gas bonus that way.
Of value are the groceries, gas and dining bonus categories with 5x-7x point earnings at Chase. These seem to cycle quarterly been the various Chase co-branded cards. For most quarters, at least one bonus offer is available among my cards.
I wonder if he just doesn't write about it since nobody can sign up anymore. But for those who have it, 5x on restaurants is the best!
Still curious about your Prestige!
My lineup:
Airfare – Amex Platinum
Hotels via Portal – Amex Platinum, Venture X
Hotels Direct – Amex Green, World of Hyatt
Dining & Groceries – Amex Gold
Transit – Amex Green
Phone – Ink Preferred
Everyday, Housing – Bilt Palladium
I'd like to add:
Citi Strata Premier for EV charging
Atmos Summit for int’l
Well, this website is free and contains lots of airline news and opinion. In exchange, he makes his income from affiliate links. He's open about that. Seems pretty fair.
Can you talk about which card you use to pay taxes? You probably don't make much by just writing this goofy blog, but I assume you still pay some tax.
"Aside from airfare and hotels, my go-to card for purchases abroad is the Atmos Rewards Summit Card (review), given that it offers 3x Alaska Atmos Rewards points per dollar spent, which I value at a 4.5% return, all with no foreign transaction fees."
Well, in respect to full disclosure, Ben, the above statement is not quite accurate. While I have no doubt that they don't charge you for using it abroad, this does NOT consider that more and more restaurants and merchants are putting surcharges on each transactions, whether for foreigners(foreign issued) to the host country, or on all VISA/MC transactions. I have experienced experienced both multiple times in past few months. Additionally, some merchants are considering refusal of high merchant charge cards.
All is not so rosy.
Interesting that there is still enough value for the CSR card and that you have not downgraded to the Sapphire. There are other cards worth considering but are hardly ever mentioned here depending on your purchase habits but does provide a good return.