As I look back over my history of applying for credit cards, you may be surprised at the number of cards I’ve actually held as my go-to card. I don’t just apply for cards for the sign-up bonuses. As my lifestyle, home airport, and travel interest change so do my go-to cards.
Here is my card history since starting in the late 1980′s or early 90′s.
- The US Bank Northwest Airlines card. Northwest was the biggest airline in Traverse City and I heard about the card at my local watering hole. I was so naive I thought a mile earned on the card was a mile I could fly on the airplane. My how things have changed. I eventually earned 1.3 million miles flying and buying with Northwest Airlines. It didn’t do me much good with the Delta merger. I’m fighting for status every year.
- I fell in love with Citicards and the CitiAAdvantage Mastercard because I could apply every 60 to 90 days and get a new sign-up bonus. This was my start to my 2 million miles Lifetime Platinum status with AA. Combined with funding new checking accounts with my AA credit card and having that initial funding treated as a purchase, I was well on my way to the goal. Of course those days are over for the most part, but I spent many years with Citi AA.
- The Citi Thank You points cards included the Drivers Edge card, Premier Rewards card, ATT Universal card, and there was another card for dining bonuses as well. This was the heyday of my credit card earning. I learned the benefits of this program from Nathan at the Ann Arbor Art Fair DO. (my first Flyertalk DO). We were dealing with cards that offered bonus categories and, combined with the Drivers Edge card, were earning 10-12 points per dollar. I was using my Thank You point cards to buy money orders from my local grocery store and earning six points per dollar. The points were piling up. The real winning part of this program was that we could redeem these TY points for US to India Business Class tickets for 90,000 points. The booking engine allowed us to buy the ticket at any price. I could redeem my 90K in points for a ticket that sold for $5000 or $15,000. Citi was just buying the ticket for us. If we had a non-refundable segment in that itinerary when we cancelled the ticket, they could not charge it back to Citi’s travel partner ( I think it was Expedia) so they gave us a travel voucher in our name for the value of the initial ticket. Many of us loaded up by following the rules established by Citi Thank You points and Expedia. I used those vouchers to fly for free for five years. Ah, the Good Old Days!
- Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express is still in my wallet for everyday spending. I’ve used it for the last five years as my primary card, but it’s losing its prominence to the Chase Sapphire SM Preferred Card. The Chase card took a bump up in my use with the double points offer they just announced.
- My future card wishes are the Citi Forward and Preferred Cards with a decent sign-up bonus. When they pump up the sign-up bonus they will become my go-to cards for gas, grocery, and drugstores and the other one for dining. Each of the cards offers five points per dollar in their bonus categories for the first year of card ownership. The drawback to these cards is that the increased points per dollar is only good for one year.
As you can see from just my example, I have had numerous go-to cards. I am looking for the best card for me and my circumstances. I spent a couple days with Brian the Pointsguy this past week and we did the “show me your cards game.” As expected, we had different cards in our pockets and there was no right or wrong answer. Brian is a big American Express Membership Rewards guy because he flies Delta and can transfer there during bonus transfer offers. He really understands Membership Rewards well. In fact, he will talk about them during the Chicago Seminars this October. I fly United so Membership Rewards transfers are not as important to me with the negative transfer ratio. I need hotel points, therefore the SPG card is for me.
And Now the Contest
Let’s do a random drawing from the comments today on What’s in My Wallet. To be eligible to win $300 of Marriott gift cards, just post your first name and last name initial along with the two “go to cards” you are currently using. Only those entries that list two cards and a first name and last initial will be eligible to win. Comments that are registered up to midnight tonight in my website’s time zone (Eastern) will count. Those that double dipped will be disqualified.
We’ll use random.org to pick the winner. Only one entry per individual. Good luck to all. I can’t wait to see What’s in Your Wallet.
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