Next chase cards?

[jo552006]

Hi all,

My spouse and I are working on racking up chase points at the moment.  We're just starting with travel miles and are currently working through the Chase cards with an emphasis on keeping things as simple as humanly possible.

So far, my spouse has earned the bonus on the Saphhire Reserve (since work pays most of the annual fee).  We would have loved to just get the Preferred bonus and then switched but she needs it for work travel imminently and if we waited we'd miss out on work paying the annual fee this year.  I have earned on the Sapphire Preferred bonus.  I'd like to get another couple Ultimate Rewards cards for us that can then ultimately be pooled into my SO's Sapphire Reserve account.  Then the plan is that I can close some of my cards so that we'll be ready for future Chase offers.

I realize there are a lot of cards out there, and if our current strategy of starting by stacking Ultimate rewards to start things out is mistaken perhaps somebody can point us in the right direction.  I estimate that by the year end we'll easily have 200 to 250k UR miles which I think is a good start since we aren't really planning any big travel for a year or two.

[jo552006]

A little more research on our former CC through Chase revealed that we had Chase ink business card opened around October of 2017 and was closed August 2018.

We have a business (though it does no real sales) that we pay to keep open every year and plan to do some home renovation projects through.  It appears that since we have not received any bonus for a Chase Ink card in the past 24 months we qualify again.  Am I missing something, or would opening another ink business card (if approved) be the next best step?

[bacchi]

A little more research on our former CC through Chase revealed that we had Chase ink business card opened around October of 2017 and was closed August 2018.

We have a business (though it does no real sales) that we pay to keep open every year and plan to do some home renovation projects through.  It appears that since we have not received any bonus for a Chase Ink card in the past 24 months we qualify again.  Am I missing something, or would opening another ink business card (if approved) be the next best step?

Yes. Though Chase always checks 5/24, business cards don't count against 5/24. Business cards always go first with Chase.


Eta: Also, after transferring the points to your CSR, you can use them for home improvement store purchases at 1.5x.

[mckaylabaloney]

Starting by focusing on Chase is the right thing to do, or at least certainly is not a bad thing to do. UR points are the best there is IMO.

For sure get whatever version of the Ink card currently has the best signup bonus. It doesn't count toward 5/24, but you (probably) need to be under 5/24 to be approved for it. If you can swing other business cards (like the United business card), I would do those too, although you might have a tough time getting approved for more than one if your business has little income. I had no trouble getting the Ink Preferred based on absolutely minimal side hustle income (~$200/year), but they wouldn't give me a second business card (...reasonable).

Then, I would get the Freedom Unlimited (and familiarize yourself with the concept of the Chase trifecta). After that, if you still have 5/24 slots, I would turn to other Chase-issued travel cards, depending on your travel priorities -- aka United, Southwest, Marriott.

[Duke03]

Since you have a Reserve card in the family. I'd recommend hitting chase business cards as hard as possible.  Business cards are the gift that keeps on giving, but don't hamstring your self into thinking chase is the only game in town when it comes to business cards.  Do some research and you will find that some business cards don't even report to your personal credit report so those are very 5/24 friendly.  We like to sprinkle these in between chase cards.  Always and Always keep at least one 5/24 spot open in the family because you never knew when a juicy offer will come around.  Case in point my wife just the got the Preferred card with the 100k sign up bonus, $50 grocery credit, and no annual fee since she signed up in the branch.  If you need help walking through how to get and maximize chase business cards just send me a pm.  In the last 5 years between my wife and I we have opened and closed over 30 chase business cards and each one has been automatic approval....I've never been denied or had to even call retention to push an application through...

Also I highly recommend you or the wife plan on getting a Southwest companion pass for next year.  You can start planning today and put the applications in towards the end of October so your Companion pass starts in Jan and last 23 months...

[jo552006]

Can anybody verify that we will in fact qualify for the chase sign on bonus again for the business Ink since it's been more than 24 months since we last earned it?  Verifying that we will actually qualify for the bonus is the only thing keeping me from grabbing that as my next card.

[mckaylabaloney]

There are (I think) 3 different Chase Ink business cards; I assume you're asking about the Ink Preferred since it has the best signup bonus. I don't believe there's any restriction, 24 months or otherwise, on eligibility to earn that signup bonus. If you go to the Ink Preferred page and click on "offer details" it doesn't specify limits on eligibility. Compare with the offer details for the Sapphire Preferred, which immediately specifies that you can't get the signup bonus if you received a Sapphire signup bonus within the last 48 months.

Is there a particular reason you think 24 months is a milestone for these cards? I may be missing some information that's laid out elsewhere, but if it's just because of the 5/24 rule, that's not relevant to this question. Chase sets eligibility to earn a signup bonus separately from eligibility to be approved for the card. For example, if you got a Sapphire bonus 2 years ago, and at some point cancelled your Sapphire card, you might get approved for a new Sapphire card now (assuming you are within 5/24, but you still wouldn't receive the Sapphire signup bonus.

All that said, you can just call Chase and ask if you would be eligible to receive the bonus before you apply.

[FLBiker]

I haven't done it for a little while (we moved to Canada last year) but I definitely got the Chase Business Ink bonus multiple times (waiting 24 months between applications).  I love Ultimate Rewards.  The other one that I really like (but it is definitely dependent on your specific air travel) is the Southwest Companion Pass.  If you do a personal and a business card with them, it's easy to get one, and if you routinely travel Southwest as a couple, it's great.

[jo552006]

Wow time has flown from when I first started looking into all this.

Chase UR cards are pretty much played out for us at the moment.  We've Each done a chase Sapphire and business card, as well as a freedom flex mixed in for good measure.  Where should I be looking to focus my energy next?  American Express Membership Rewards was where I figured I'd look after the initial Chase push but I'm open to other suggestions.

Is there a good (updated) thread or resource for current CC offers?
Chase UR seem amazing.  So far there hasn't been much I've wanted to do but couldn't.  Are there other programs that are as good and the points don't expire as well?

[mckaylabaloney]

Check out the Capital One Venture X, which is a new card. There's a $395 annual fee, but a $300 annual travel credit. It's not as flexible as the Sapphire Reserve travel credit, as you have to book through the Capital One travel portal to get it, but the travel portal seems to be perfectly fine and the credit should be easy to use as long as you're willing to book at least $300 of your annual flights or hotels on the portal (it's similar to Chase's -- you can book flights or lodging with either dollars or points). There's also a 100,000 point signup bonus currently (worth $1,000 in travel) and 10,000 bonus miles on every card anniversary (which accounts for the rest of the annual fee that isn't covered by the travel credit). There's also, temporarily, a $200 vacation rental credit for your first year of card ownership (meaning you'll get a $200 credit for booking with Airbnb, VRBO, etc.).

Like Chase, you can use Capital One points to book directly through the bank's own travel portal, or you can transfer your points to certain airlines and hotels. The Venture X also offers 2x miles on all purchases, which is 2% back on everything--really good for a card of this kind.

[jnw]

I got denied Chase Sapphire card recently because they said I had the same card within the last 4 years.  I closed the account just over 2 years ago.  So I'll wait another couple years and try again.

[Catbert]

Wow time has flown from when I first started looking into all this.

Chase UR cards are pretty much played out for us at the moment.  We've Each done a chase Sapphire and business card, as well as a freedom flex mixed in for good measure.  Where should I be looking to focus my energy next?  American Express Membership Rewards was where I figured I'd look after the initial Chase push but I'm open to other suggestions.

Is there a good (updated) thread or resource for current CC offers?
Chase UR seem amazing.  So far there hasn't been much I've wanted to do but couldn't.  Are there other programs that are as good and the points don't expire as well?

If you want to stay in the UR universe maybe a Freedom Unlimited (1.5% on everything).   Or Southwest card...they are offering Companion Pass through 2023 along with the card.