Questions and Answers

Hi all,
I’m asking for your advice. Coming January, my wife and I are undergoing IVF treatments, which costs up to $20,000. We would like to travel to Asia too using miles afterwards, so I’m looking into a credit card with great signing bonus. I’ve looked into Alaska card (40K sign bonus + IVF cost can be transferred to Cathay flights) and Ink Business Preferred (80K sign bonus, transferred to SQ etc). Am I missing other cards, or can anyone recommend something else? We’ll assume I can pay off this IVF costs within 5 months. Thanks.

I would recommend to focus on personal cards, NOT business cards like the Chase Ink Business Preferred, since it might be difficult to justify IVF as “business expense” should you get audited.
As for those personal cards, if you look at Chase’s Ultimate Rewards-earning cards plus let’s say Chase’s United Airlines card, then should you wish to fly United or United’s many partner airlines, you can transfer those Ultimate Rewards points to United.
If you and you wife apply for those Ultimate Rewards-earning cards separately, your Ultimate Rewards points can be pooled, further maximizing their usefulness.

If you aren’t going to pay the balance off in full immediately, I’d suggest putting the bulk of the purchase on a card offering 0% interest on introductory purchases. The Freedom Unlimited would be a good choice — it has a small welcome bonus, but you could get that in conjunction with the Ink Preferred and combine the total points.

[QUOTE=”Turningleft, post: 67774, member: 6219″]Hi all,
I’m asking for your advice. Coming January, my wife and I are undergoing IVF treatments, which costs up to $20,000. We would like to travel to Asia too using miles afterwards, so I’m looking into a credit card with great signing bonus. I’ve looked into Alaska card (40K sign bonus + IVF cost can be transferred to Cathay flights) and Ink Business Preferred (80K sign bonus, transferred to SQ etc). Am I missing other cards, or can anyone recommend something else? We’ll assume I can pay off this IVF costs within 5 months. Thanks.[/QUOTE]

For $20k in spend, you should be able to get 4+ bonuses on personal cards – often the spend for a personal card bonus is $5k or less in 3 months. Get the Alaska card and 2 Chase cards (if there are bonuses available for 2).

I’d get the Citi Prestige Card + the Citi Double Cash card

You can meet the minimum spend of the prestige and then get double points on the rest on the Double Cash

Also if you apply and get the card before the end of the year you can double up on $250 airline credits, meaning you’ll have $500 of credits in January for only a $450 fee.

I strongly second what [USER=7]@Tiffany[/USER] said. If you are not planning to pay off your balance immediately the interest charges will usually destroy any point values that you earn. Get a 0% card that you can use to pay off your charges over time.

Good luck with the IVF. It can be a little bit of a roller coaster ride. I’d want to conserve my resources in case you need it for future rounds.

[QUOTE=”OCTinPHL, post: 67805, member: 4556″]For $20k in spend, you should be able to get 4+ bonuses on personal cards – often the spend for a personal card bonus is $5k or less in 3 months. Get the Alaska card and 2 Chase cards (if there are bonuses available for 2).[/QUOTE]
Thanks for the idea. I think I’m maxed out on the Chase cards. I’m thinking my wife and I can each open an Alaska card so we can each get 40K, and maybe the rest will be on the same Alaska cards.

[QUOTE=”Sam Z, post: 67807, member: 2928″]I’d get the Citi Prestige Card + the Citi Double Cash card

You can meet the minimum spend of the prestige and then get double points on the rest on the Double Cash

Also if you apply and get the card before the end of the year you can double up on $250 airline credits, meaning you’ll have $500 of credits in January for only a $450 fee.[/QUOTE]

Do you think it’s worth getting the Citi Prestige? And I live in the middle of nowhere and getting an airline credit is a pain.

[QUOTE=”Gaurav, post: 67828, member: 79″]I strongly second what [USER=7]@Tiffany[/USER] said. If you are not planning to pay off your balance immediately the interest charges will usually destroy any point values that you earn. Get a 0% card that you can use to pay off your charges over time.

Good luck with the IVF. It can be a little bit of a roller coaster ride. I’d want to conserve my resources in case you need it for future rounds.[/QUOTE]
Thanks Gaurav. We’re very nervous, but excited for the opportunity to earn miles 🙂

[QUOTE=”Turningleft, post: 67894, member: 6219″]Thanks for the idea. I think I’m maxed out on the Chase cards. I’m thinking my wife and I can each open an Alaska card so we can each get 40K, and maybe the rest will be on the same Alaska cards.[/QUOTE]

If you are thinking about transferring the AS miles to CX, why not also look at getting Cathay cards as well?

What about Amex cards? I think the Platinum earns 1.5x for single charges that are $5k and up. Their Everyday Preferred card earns 1.5x if you make at least 30 net charges per month