Chase cards are mediocre imo, but the Ink bonuses serve to add teeth to the 5/24 paper tiger. Great question - subscribed👍🏾

It's not a marketing strategy per se because it's not even publicly broadcasted by Chase. The only people who talk about the rule are credit card point community people, and Chase doesn't even really like or care about that crowd.

5/24 is such a big deal, because of the Ink cards. Simple as that. You can open one every 3 months and get at least 75,000 UR points. Even more in 2-player mode. You destroy yourself with opportunity cost, if you go over 5/24.

Thanks for sharing your point of view. My family and i fly once a year to the Philippines so status on airlines right now isn’t priority but hotel status seems a bit more fun especially when the credit card has a free night certificate. Take care!

Im over 12/24 and chase gave me Marriott card. I don’t really care about 5/24, screw that

Yeah. Amex seems to be rather loose.

It’s just a metric for tracking your ability to get cards. Not even at Chase but generally. If you are pushing 5/24+ you are also not very likely to get a Citi or Wells card. It’s the first rule that was documented and it stuck like Kleenex vs tissues. Only Amex doesn’t seem to care as much about 5/24 status.

People don’t talk about Citi because Citi doesn’t give referral bonuses and KZbinrs are all about that referral money.💯💯💯

SOOOO much truth here sir!

Who the hell has the time to parse out the "benefits"? Offerings are intentionally restrictive and work intensive

Do you know how long you have to wait between applications? I just met minimum spend on Strata and want to get a Custom Cash. I've read about 8/60 but not seen many recent data points. LoL, i don't want a hard inquiry with nothing to show for it!

Citibank is absent in the luxury travel card category. The people who still have the Citi Prestige say it's their favorite card, but as I wrote under another video, these Credit Card KZbinrs are college kids, so they weren't around when Citi Prestige was available. Things will ramp up when the Strata Elite is released. It's already has a trademark so it's coming.

what they don't tell u is these credit promoters, they get "paid" to promote the cards. They are directly working with the sales/marketing department just like how PC components are being plastered by a certain GPU maker to point they make GPU with $1000 cards (Linustechtips) or make dual GPU computers for their kids (under 5 years old) etc...Then turn around and sell those GPUs for cash. Heck a credit influencer told us directly these credit cards have these NDAAs they aren't allowed to promote X or Y cards directly in their vids. That's why they dont' promote discover or citi cards, cuz it don't pay them enough to. Noticed how obsure credit youtubers promot 100+ different cards, while the main ones only promote 3-4 brands?

U don't have unique lounge access. I don't even spend that much money on cruises or hotels or gas or get that much in earnings. No referral low SUB. Only good thing is AA mile card, it's a one time thing.

Citi can d you have to wait a year to use it

You basically already nailed it, Prestige is gone, and those who hold it, there’s no travel protection. Travel protection is more than health insurance, over the last three years, I had to claim insurance twice from credit card, neither is fixable even with airline status (especially one time with a foreign airline and no way I will have enough flies for status). When citi brings back a revamped version of the prestige, with travel protection, then there will be more talk. Custom cash is good earning card, but if I have to earn with four cards like you said, it makes more sense to get four sign up bonus, it’s going to take years for custom cash to catch the amount of cash back. Citi really competes with WF now, both has no referral, but Wells Fargo gets a lot of talk about. Citi’s combination is simply not strong enough, sign up bonus not as good as Chase and Amex, rules are to follow, and approval odd is inconsistent (almost like Barclays). When comes to earning, the latest Wells Fargo line ups kill Citi, the only card that still stand a chance is Prestige with a few 5X, but it’s no longer available. Back to the citi custom cash, there is one thing they can learn from Discover and this will sure make it much better, offer different face design, and also make sure apple wallet can recognize those designs. Those people with only one custom cash, that card is normally their third card to catch what’s missing from CFF and Discover It. Those want to dive into the citi eco-system with multiple multiple custom cash, need to carry all of them physically with stickers or mark to differentiate them, wallet doesn’t work since all they all look the same. Citi simply didn’t know what they should do with their credit card line up, and who they are targeting.

Citi rewards + lowers the amount you can borrow.

I just found your channel - great videos! Personally, I prefer airline status to hotel status and have one airline card (Delta Platinum) and no hotel cards. I don't stay at any particular hotel brand enough to accumulate status - I just go with whichever hotel is most convenient and has the best price. Since all three of the legacy airlines will get me where I need to go, I (somewhat arbitrarily) chose to concentrate my efforts on Delta status.

People do talk about the Citibank cards. The Citi Double Cash and Citi Custom cash always show up on the list for Best Cash Back Cards, or Best No Annual Fee Cards, or Best Beginner Cards. The Citi Double Cash is considered the standard catch-all card. Both Travel and Cash Back KZbinrs use the Citi Custom Cash for 5% on gas. A KZbinr called RSquared Travel Rewards made a video of how he uses 3 Citi Custom Cash cards. A KZbinr called Mark Reese made a video of he uses the Citi Trifecta as his main setup and he only uses Amex and Chase for the hotel cards. Everyone is talking about the revised Citi Strata Premier card right now even though it's the same card.

I am waiting for this card to refresh. The Dell credits, Indeed credits and Adobe credits expire in December 2024. So I look forward to the refresh.

Citi needs Air Canada and I’d be in. Why did you get rid of your Altitude Reserve?

The new AMEX Delta Platinum + Reserve are tops IMO. I would also rank the Chase United Club card in S Tier for all the perks that come with Premier Access. It's basically a lighter version of Premier Silver with lounge access IMO Thanks for the info + video!

I am new to "the game" I wasted credit card spend without points for years. I have an odd set up but since I like Delta I got the Delta Gold and Amex Gold. Amex earns the points then I book with those points transferred to Delta to use the 15% off when I pay the taxes and fees with my Delta card and get a free checked bag. I did get the Chase Saph Perf. so I can transfer to Hyatt for hotel stays and their rental car primary insurance perk. I need to look into more on transfer partners it is kind of intimidating that I'll mess up with a carrier I have never heard of .

One key perk of the United Club card that you forgot to mention - which makes it way more valuable: It pays 4x points on United flights and other United purchases. None of the other United cards offer that. When combined with the unlimited lounge access, the 4x return on points, Premier Access for check-in/boarding/security and the IHG Hotel status/$75 statement credit - those are the reasons the card has serious value. I think you’ve underrated it.

One key perk of the United Club card that you forgot to mention - which makes it way more valuable: It pays 4x points on United flights and other United purchases. None of the other United cards offer that. When combined with the unlimited lounge access, the 4x return on points, Premier Access for check-in/boarding/security and the IHG Hotel status/$75 statement credit - those are the reasons the card has serious value. I think you’ve underrated it.

I imagine that Citi doesn't get much love in the YT creator space, is because they don't offer referrals. No doubt, the earnings on the Citi Strata are excellent and very comprehensive with a single card.

Yes, referral points are a major driving force behind which cards are talked about/promoted, especially when the Credit Card KZbinrs are receiving 10k Amex points and 40k Chase points per referral. Also, many of them are college kids; and I haven't seen any of them show a CPA or Finance Degree. So what kind of content do you expect from a college kid with no financial qualifications or expertise?!? I concluded a long time ago that the Credit Card KZbinrs are amateurs teaching other amateurs and the videos they make are for entertainment purposes so they can collect points from referrals.

Alaska Airlines?

I think this is a demographics problem. If you're going to produce content to gather views, you're just simply going to get more engagement if you go to the younger beginners in this space particularly on KZbin. It took FrequentMiler years before they added a KZbin component to what they do, and really it's just the video of their podcast.

Nice content! Next, hotels?

Depends near 100% on travel style. Flying overseas to family and staying in family house makes hotels irrelevant for this type of trip. On the other hand, spending time in a resort hotel would make the flight much less important. Don’t think there is a general answer for everyone. For me personally, airline status is a lot more important than hotel status. And I think AA has the best status program at this time, assuming that AA serves one’s region/airport.

This depends on the type of redemptions which one wants to do in the next 6 to 12 months. Past experience can help. I would keep 300k points in total across two or three issuers as a threshold for an international business class flight for two people, but fewer points may be very fine for other people who do domestic travels. Obviously, family size will enter into this equation. Plus points for hotel stays, if one goes for this option. Great video!

Agree, unfortunately. Some Chanel’s provide more advanced content than others. And if one does your own research to get a specific card and rewards goal strategy, some of the card specific reviews are really helpful. However, many of the videos are glorified sales videos with content which is solidly geared towards beginners. For example, very few people talk about the order of banks to apply to, or the general goals of travel. Everyone is free to watch different channels, and yours is quite realistic and helpful.

I clicked on something else and I was brought here a big Corporation credit card in a corporate Hotel people are very Bitchie I want to know corporate hotel for 30 years

Gut feeling says keep about 100,000 points each in city and Chase. For two people, that should mostly do what you need and it’s a nice round figure. 😎 Also, if you have points coming out your ears, would you consider the Wells Fargo autograph journey? 5X on any hotel, 4X on any airline paid directly. Flexibility to transfer or take cash with no haircut.

I agree with you. My situation is very different though. Since I only fly 3 to 5 times a year, my focus goes on hotels. 🎉 Good video!

I hear what you are saying and largely agree with you, but for myself, I live in an aspirational travel destination. Many people from throughout the country come here many of which have status. Flights are usually overbooked so in my honestly limited foray into airline status (United Silver), it just did nothing for me. If I have hotel status, at least I can get food and beverage credits with Hilton. If the status was functional I’d go airline but with where I live now it’s hotel.

Its always good to have some points in as many transferable currencies to be prepared for transfer bonuses. I transfer speculatively to airlines for flights I know I will be taking in the next 12-24 month during transfer bonuses especially from Citi and Capital One, because these points can only be cashed out at 1.1CPP or 1 CPP. If you are going to cash out surplus points it's best to cash out the ones that maximize CPP for cashback. Booking refundable flights through the portals is a great way to cash out. The beauty of it is that since you will not be flying these bookings and you will be cancelling the refundable booking, none of the annoyances of booking through the portals apply. So you don't have to take the hit with AMEX, or even settle for the 1.1 CPP of the Charles Schwab. You can cash out in big chunks - MR @1.54 CPP with the AMEX Biz Plat and @ UR at 1.5 CPP with the CSR.

I think 75k is a good backup, though you might want to go higher if it's not just topping off. I'm curious what your Citi setup is, I'm just dipping my toe in for the first time with Strata Premier but have thought that plus a few Custom Cash would be a good setup to build points.

I understand I have 43 cards - end game for me for sure Amex has me in pop up jail etc Many of the channels do recycle the Same information I barely watch some creators who I watched religiously in the past Do enjoy the game however

hmm I don't really have a good solution for this, but my first thought was, what about taking an average of the amount of points you redeemed in those ecosystems in the past few years, minus an estimated amount you expect to earn before you have the aforementioned vacation time

Another alternative to combine the envelope system with credit cards is using Ramsey's own EveryDollar. The premium version syncs your credit card expenses, which you can then allocate to different envelopes.

I'd love to hear your thoughts about cash back. We all know that you can redeem points for high CPP values, which leads most to conclude that miles > cash back. However, people forget that you can also buy points. Let's say that I have a 4% cash-back card. For every $100 spent I get $4, which I can then use to buy 2.10 Hyatt points when on sale. In other words, a 4% cash-back card is a 2.1 Hyatt card as well.

For the C1VX you pay 395 in year one and get 300 credit through the portal. Don't you have to pay the 395 for year 2 before you get the 10k miles or is it automatically added? I've heard around the KZbins that it takes some time to get that 10k so you cant really cancel it. So by the second year its 395x2 or 790 in fees. 300x2 or 600 in credits for a net fee of 195. Then about $100 in miles back (10k) for about 95 in net AF over that time. I guess you can value each mile at 1.8 so its really 180 in miles through transfer partners but not totally free.

I think you nailed it

Great idea! A follow up video with step by step demonstration would be great!

Awesome

facts

Thank you for your insightful videos. I really enjoyed your positive net annual fee card video the other day which was a unique take on cards I hadn't seen before. My main motivation for getting points is to cut down on airline costs flying back home to Europe once or twice a year. What I've seen so far, it seems that searching for award flights to one destination really limits the flights available, as well as questionable scheduling with worse layovers than if I just paid for a flight through the airlines or a portal. On top of all that, it seems the redemption values are not great. Do you have any thoughts on how I could optimize? I unfortunately don't have the option to just pick another destination :) For some additional context, I am still early in the game, about a month ago I received my first big welcome bonus for the Amex Gold (90k)

If you are placing a value ($50) on lounge passes for the United card, why aren't you assigning a value to the free checked bags with the AA Platinum?