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[@craigmargolies7335]

You hit the nail on the head I have Amex gold and business plus and just got the altitude reserve, after realizing the point redemptions on domestic flights and Marriott I realized i will be ahead the game with the reserve

[@SpartanOfFinance]

This is my setup too. Works great.

[@jakemercure]

thats awesome, I really think USB AR would be a great domestic flights card.

[@dylanschang6386]

honestly this card combos well with the Chase Trifecta with CSP. You can still get the juicy Hyatt transfers and those are easy to do! No back end weird stuff you have to do with airlines to get transfers for domestic travel, just transfer to Hyatt and use. Flights and other hotel stays? Just book through the US Bank portal. Honestly you talked me down from the CSR ledge, I think I'll go CSP for now and get the altitude reserve a little later

[@daynester]

I’m still going to keep some category cards since mobile wallet isn’t available everywhere, yet. Besides that, sign-up bonuses are still the best way to get paid back for moderate spenders like me.

[@jakemercure]

True, although I havent had to use a chip card in a while. Could be a move to use mobile only. SUBs are the best, my spend barely generates anything on multipliers

[@MrHawaiiboy510]

Domestic travel underrated. So much to see in the US

[@De_Guatemala]

I am on an Alaskan flight now, flying back from Fairbanks. Travel is my focus, not credit cards, but credit cards support my travel...72 countries and counting.

[@jakemercure]

Woah thats insane, I hope to lean my perspective toward seeing new things and less about getting best value. I wanna go where I wanna go, not what is best deal in points

[@benchoflemons398]

I get the SUBs but if you’re not using the centurion lounge a lot then I don’t see plat making sense long term.

[@jakemercure]

Def agree, that lounge could generate a lot of value for those who use it a lot, Id say at least once per month or maybe more would be worth it.

[@eightysevenhtx]

The credit card game is like playing chess. You gotta know the strength of each piece|card and how to use them. The queen is our credit score, we must protect it. My goal is to build a strong arsenal in my wallet. Can it change, yes, will I change, not anytime soon.

[@jakemercure]

Its exactly like chess, love how the score is like our queen, gotta protect her haha. I got a bishop, (Marriott bonvoy boundless) Knights (CSR, Venture X), pawns CFU, Discover IT (captured) and a king (Platty) idk if this makes sense

[@newagain9964]

Nah. King is credit score (largely static but rules the game). Queen is number accounts you’ve opened last 6-12 mos,certainly 24. Dynamic & under intense scrutiny.

[@MontyTheCardNerd]

I totally see the Altitude Reserve card in my future once I slow down my travels and find less use in transferrable points. Though I read that US Bank's pretty inquiry sensitive so I'll definitely have to garden my hard inquiries before applying. Great stuff Jake!

[@jakemercure]

USB AR is def the move for the end game. We're all tired of monthly credits, the game is SUBs or USB AR for me going forward. Im so screwed on hard inquires tho, gonna be like 1.5 years till i get USB AR lol

[@fogrunr5075]

My AMX Platinum paid for itself in the first 30 days. And that's just because it's a 5X direct booking card, encouraging me to book directly with Turkish Airlines. $1000 saved in 1 premium economy round trip booking. It was so good I didn't even bother to use points.

[@MikeMaye]

The credit card game does draw you in and even though we like to think we're spending organically, there maybe times we spend just to meet a welcome offer. I love my Amex and Centurion lounge too, but my Plat is on the fence and I may switch to CSR...Great vid as always 💥

[@jakemercure]

Thank you Mr Mike, Centurion is just too good to beat. CSR is pretty good too but I can feel its not as good as platty so far.

[@newagain9964]

That’s why u really really should budget all required spending in excel. And BEFORE u get a new card. it prevents unnecessary spending.

[@newagain9964]

Oh. And gotta disagree. CSR can’t compete with Plat rn. In fact I’ll take VX over CSR.

[@MikeMaye]

@@newagain9964 Thanks

[@BruceLeeCredit]

​@@newagain9964yep. As much as I don't care for Capital One; I would take the Venture X over the CSR all day.

[@johanochoa396]

I spent thousands of dollars last year for my dog’s vet bills, and I wish I had the Altitude Reserve since I could have paid with Apple Pay, and make an effective 4.5cpp instead of 2x with my Venture X 😢

[@jakemercure]

Dang, that would have helped a ton. 2x isnt that bad though!

[@WhatsThePoints1]

Oh and the math is even better than that because you also get points on the $325 travel credit purchases, so the true effective AF is $60, so $2400/yr is the break even vs 2% which is not hard to do when you have the freedom to finally only have to use one card! I’ll still keep my CSR but this way I can save UR points for transfers and do AR for economy travel. Oh and with RTRs you never need to use a travel portal

[@jakemercure]

Ah true good point. AR is good for economy. can you get 1.5 CPP with RTRs if you book with airline?

[@WhatsThePoints1]

@@jakemercureabsolutely, any travel coded purchase will trigger the 1.5X RTR

[@PackRat0331]

Wouldn’t $1,300 would be break even since points are 1.5 cpp

[@WhatsThePoints1]

@@PackRat0331already factored that in- difference between 2 and 4.5% is 2.5% which / $60 = $2400

[@fogrunr5075]

How many AMX cardholders know who the AMX CEO is? But I'll bet you many of you know who the CEO of Chase is: Jamie Dimon. He is so noticeable that when the Citi CEO sat next to him at a congressional hearing, it made an impression on me. And I think he made an impression on her. The Chase Sapphire cards are the only cards that I chose not to go after the welcome bonus on. Because I wanted to demonstrate respect for myself and them. At last in January of 2025 I will shift my two Chase cards so I can go for a Sapphire welcome bonus.

[@jakemercure]

Lol the CEO could be chill, im not on that level yet

[@newagain9964]

Dimon been there forever tho.and oversaw huge M&A. And scandals. lol. Amex keeps to itself in its corner of the credit and now banking market.

[@fogrunr5075]

@@newagain9964 AMX abstaining from pitching in during the housing crash reminds me of the USA abstaining when the Europe was in trouble with Hitler, and we didn't pitch in until we were directly attacked. Kudos to Jamie Dimon!

[@newagain9964]

@@fogrunr5075 Amex wasn’t reckless tho. Their assss wasn’t out in wind. They just garden and mine their valuable little patch of the sector.

[@BruceLeeCredit]

​@@fogrunr5075wasn't Amex's problem. Chase and others helped knowingly or unkowingly facilitate the 2008 crisis. They better have "cleaned" up their own mess. Or rather the American tax payer cleaned it up.

[@newagain9964]

Forget Maldives. Sure redemption is great but flights are expensive and LOOONNG. I’m only doing SUBs to offer/pay for ski trips. Skiing is a $$$$ hobby.

[@jakemercure]

Skiing is sick, points and miles helps a ton, I agree with you

[@TheZombaslaya]

Honestly I've been thinking a lot about eventually getting the Altitude Reserve if I get tired of my VX Gold setup. The only thing though is I like Capital One's price matching which I don't think any other company offers, plus transfer partners. I haven't seen the "altitude reserves center" but it would be nice to see if they jack up prices or not, and what selection there is.

[@jakemercure]

Is Cap 1 price matching that good tho? I feel like I dont book enough cash portal travel to even warrant any value there. I hope USB AR doesnt jack up the price, that would be frickin annoying. Im NGL tho, I really havent seen chase jack up the price that much in portal and ive made over like 8 flight redemptions so far. Idk maybe Im not checking against google flights each time lol..

[@TheZombaslaya]

@@jakemercure I haven't priced matched anything but from reading reddit it's pretty easy, you book a flight, and within 24 hours if you find the same itinerary they're selling cheaper on another website, they'll give you a credit for the difference. I haven't needed to yet because every price i've found on the C1 portal is as cheap as I could find elsewhere if not even cheaper.

[@steverhodes82]

This man DGAF. He just be talking what's on his mind. 😂🦾

[@jakemercure]

Gotta do what I gotta do man, let em know

[@chrisv4920]

For me this will be the year I need to decide if to upgrade to the CSR or USAR 🤔🤔🤔

[@jakemercure]

Both are so good, I only have CSR because I get insane value from lyft. Otherwise Id garden for the USB AR

[@Xavier_ID.]

I think once I get sick of all the credits and all the high annual fee cards this will be my go to 😂 I like the simplicity of it. Do they have a card you can pair with it for elevated rewards for the occasional place that doesn’t accept tap to pay/Apple Pay?

[@jakemercure]

I agree its a great card. Yes I would use a catch all like Venture X or CFU. If its dining, CSR or Amex Gold. I will cut a few of these cards out and maybe just use the BILT mastercard for 3x on dining. I use appel pay liek 90% of time now tho so not a big deal even

[@Xavier_ID.]

@@jakemercure same. I had the FNBO Evergreen for 2% cashback in the off chance Apple Pay wasn’t accepted when I was using a cashback set up. It was nice to have but only used every once and awhile.

[@WhatsThePoints1]

It’s about time the USB AR got its due. Of course until they have referral links I don’t expect the radio silence to end 😒

[@jakemercure]

Bro so true, the referrals def influence which content gets produced... USB AR has no referral program and is an insanely good card

[@WealthOfOpportunity]

Are you getting referrals from these cards? Possible to look at it as an investment considering you're already recommending them and linking with refs in addition to the actual benefits.

[@jakemercure]

Yes, it def is a business, Ill make it more clear to everyone, I think I would cancel a few cards if they didn't bring in referrals at this point. Like Amex gold, kinda just good for the SUB imo

[@BruceLeeCredit]

​@@jakemercuresacrilege!! Doth thou not have respect for the King of Amex cards??? 🙆‍♂️😤

[@ninjanick84]

Lo key this video is dope. Great work

[@falf9003]

I'd use the platinum if I had to use just one card. or the costco card ...haha

[@jakemercure]

Platty is awesome, costco, needs a bit of work but used to be good

[@base64d]

You work in cybersecurity don't you

[@jakemercure]

Yep, kinda, Im more like a solutions architect

[@newagain9964]

⁠@@jakemercurehmm. I never heard anyone talking about this trade b4. I watched a few IT jobs vids last winter and they all basically divided IT into 3-4 cats. Does it fail under policy & planning? I was thinking of studying IT auditing or policy & planning. What’s ur opinion on them?

[@Xavier_ID.]

Sometimes simpler is just better 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@jakemercure]

absolutely

[@CreditOneSux]

Maybe that's why @Barryzedzero left the game 🤷

[@jakemercure]

We need an interview with this man, he prolly has a good story

[@averageperson2659]

First!

[@Charlesmarcel-ee4ke]

If you making 400k a year and your credit score is over 800 you living in a different world 🏦🗂📕💳✏️

[@jakemercure]

that makes sense, I spend like $3800 a month including rent. Seems like a lot for me but it doesn't really make a dent with multiplier rewards.

[@newagain9964]

@@jakemercure​​⁠don’t feel bad tho. Better to have low spend/simple life (b sure to save/invest SOMETHING), vs $65k annual spend, barely making it..with CC balances, like most of US!