Laurawill
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2011
Looking for advice again
P1 last 24 mos:
11/2020-Chase Sapphire Preferred
04/2021-Chase Ink Unlimited
P2 last 24 mos:
11/2020-Chase Sapphire Preferred (authorized user-I know better now)
06/2021-Chase Sapphire Preferred
Current monthly spend=$2500-$3000, paid in full monthly
P1 has a side hustle business; P2 doesn't have and won't have a business
Airports: We live an hour and a half from 4 major airports, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland; we are open to flying out of any of them
No FF pref-United or Alaska can get us non-stop to MCO, Southwest we can get companion pass, Delta and/or American are good for flights to help ailing father, basically I want all the points
No hotel rewards program preference
Current Rewards Include
-Around 150k UR's
-60k Hyatt points (plus 60k that are currently reserving a couple nights for our anniversary at Alila Ventana in Big Sur)
-24k RR's
-6k Hilton points
Churning/travel goals for the next few years:
-Party of 4 travel to Disneyland in January 2022 (not planning on using points to pay for this trip, it will just be an opportunity for some extra spend, lol)
-Party of 4 to travel to Disneyworld in January 2023, considering a stay at Swan or Dolphin or SDReserve if Extended Evening Hours are still a thing and seem to have reasonably lower crowds
-Still deciding between Hawaii land trip or Alaska Cruise for 2 adults & maybe 2 teens-sometime in the next 1-2 years
-My dad has a health issue that could require regular travel to help him, best airlines that serve his area are Delta and American, I can pay for tickets if I need to, but I do prefer the flexibility of using points to pay when I can
Cards I have been recently considering are:
American Express Platinum with 125k SUB and 15x for dining and small business spend ($6k MSR, $695 annual fee)
American Express Bonvoy Business 125k Marriott point SUB + 2 free night certs ($5k MSR, $125 annual fee--Could go to pay for DW for January 2023)
Chase United Quest or Explorer
Or 2 new SW business cards to get the CP and a nice stash of RR's again,
I haven't jumped into the Amex game yet. I am hesitant because I don't know how much of my spend accepts American Express and I am nervous when I hear about needing to keep my spending up to maintain my relationships with them. I am also not sure I am ready to spend for the premium card yet, but the 15x has me . I am also a little hesitant because my business is small (i.e. annual revenue under the MSR type small) and I am a little worried if that will affect my business card ongoing eligibility for Chase or AE. I just know I need a MSR to be working on! What would your next move be???
P1 last 24 mos:
11/2020-Chase Sapphire Preferred
04/2021-Chase Ink Unlimited
P2 last 24 mos:
11/2020-Chase Sapphire Preferred (authorized user-I know better now)
06/2021-Chase Sapphire Preferred
Current monthly spend=$2500-$3000, paid in full monthly
P1 has a side hustle business; P2 doesn't have and won't have a business
Airports: We live an hour and a half from 4 major airports, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland; we are open to flying out of any of them
No FF pref-United or Alaska can get us non-stop to MCO, Southwest we can get companion pass, Delta and/or American are good for flights to help ailing father, basically I want all the points
No hotel rewards program preference
Current Rewards Include
-Around 150k UR's
-60k Hyatt points (plus 60k that are currently reserving a couple nights for our anniversary at Alila Ventana in Big Sur)
-24k RR's
-6k Hilton points
Churning/travel goals for the next few years:
-Party of 4 travel to Disneyland in January 2022 (not planning on using points to pay for this trip, it will just be an opportunity for some extra spend, lol)
-Party of 4 to travel to Disneyworld in January 2023, considering a stay at Swan or Dolphin or SDReserve if Extended Evening Hours are still a thing and seem to have reasonably lower crowds
-Still deciding between Hawaii land trip or Alaska Cruise for 2 adults & maybe 2 teens-sometime in the next 1-2 years
-My dad has a health issue that could require regular travel to help him, best airlines that serve his area are Delta and American, I can pay for tickets if I need to, but I do prefer the flexibility of using points to pay when I can
Cards I have been recently considering are:
American Express Platinum with 125k SUB and 15x for dining and small business spend ($6k MSR, $695 annual fee)
American Express Bonvoy Business 125k Marriott point SUB + 2 free night certs ($5k MSR, $125 annual fee--Could go to pay for DW for January 2023)
Chase United Quest or Explorer
Or 2 new SW business cards to get the CP and a nice stash of RR's again,
I haven't jumped into the Amex game yet. I am hesitant because I don't know how much of my spend accepts American Express and I am nervous when I hear about needing to keep my spending up to maintain my relationships with them. I am also not sure I am ready to spend for the premium card yet, but the 15x has me . I am also a little hesitant because my business is small (i.e. annual revenue under the MSR type small) and I am a little worried if that will affect my business card ongoing eligibility for Chase or AE. I just know I need a MSR to be working on! What would your next move be???