Earlier this week I recapped my credit card holdings and was able to reconfirm about 24 open cards (Experian says 27?) and scores in the 777 range. It was also interesting to find my oldest card is 17 years old and my average account age is a little over 6 years and still “never been late with a payment.”
How things have changed
We have really cut back on international travel, with our last out-of-country trip being to New Zealand this past spring. Due to Katy’s increasing problems with her neck and shoulders, we are in the processing of switching our winter vacations from the Grand Hyatt in Kauai to the Park Hyatt in St Kitts.
The shoulder problems and the massive increase in AAdvantage miles required for business class travel to Hawaii sped this decision along for us several years sooner than we had anticipated.
55,000+ miles one way in lie-flat seats means 220,000 for the two of us to get comfortably to Hawaii. And my lack of diversification in mileage is my own shortcoming that I did not properly prepare
Our Ultimate Rewards balance of about 400,000 points may be our saving grace for diversification as we can fly United with them. I also need to learn this Turkish Airways sweet spot stuff.
There is a good possibility we will make one last trip to Hawaii in 2020 with the grandkids and it just ticks me off that AA increased their award chart so much. I need another avenue and those Ultimate Rewards points may be the answer.
Citi Thanks Rewards are at about 60,000 and we cash in our Amex Membership Rewards each month into our Schwab account for a few extra bucks CASH.
I guess we can call this dilemma a first world problem but I just keep having this nagging feeling I should have spread the love around a little more.
I’m open to your thoughts, suggestions and revelations about your own stash of miles. Is there something I can easily accumulate that will take that nagging “all in one basket feeling away”? All three major carriers service our local airport (No Southwest).
And lastly, is your pile more diverse? Do you have all the hotel programs? All the airlines and how big do you let each pile get?
Thanks for sharing your input.
I would look to United, Staples is doing promos on #20 Visa, limit 10 so walking out with 10k using my INK,
Bring a friend and double the offer..
Bill
Doesn’t the ad say limit 1? How did you get them to allow 10?
Usually carry >8 figure balance across multiple programs to have flexibility – too many changes in this hobby to concentrate on just a few programs. Vast majority of my spend (~90%) is directed to cashback as I generate more points than I use -.
Ron, I’m in the same situation. The “hobby” has been good to us
Yeah, the hobby….sure Rick. Why don’t you disclose to your readers how the “hobby” was really a business you sold to Internet Brands (way too early by the way, FACT!) for a lot more money than what the hobby has been worth to you.
And get it together dude. Start pumping your readers, come on, you are wasting all this effort for ridiculous affiliate links. Get the credit cards affiliate links, what is taking so long? We know you are prepping the ground, you know, gain the trust of fellow “hobbyists” in it for the love of the miles and points when real love is the money you are after again.
Remember, when you used to say “your credit is your most important asset”. When the money started rolling in from the banks, you stopped and started saying “apply for seven cards in the same day, hurry!”.
How come you have not posted your crazy trolling in my blog lately? Is it because you are now blogging again and you don’t want your target market to see the crazy crap you were unleashing in my blog every single day? Payback time amigo…
Have a good weekend 🙂
Oh George the readers know I wrote for four years before ever getting credit card links, and yes I made a lot of money because I got in early, made plenty and sold for more than I could ever imagine or need. Not like late comers who do nothing but whine almost 8 years later and are jealous they had lousy timing and are stuck selling Amazon diaper links and charging their “clients” .8% for picking out a few index funds.
This blog belongs to Ariana and she makes all the marketing decisions. I’m just hear to write a couple posts a week. But keep spreading your manure. I quit posting on your site when it became apparent you would say anything regardless if it’s true or not.. it’s almost like you have IDS? Ingy Derangement Syndrome along with your severe case of TDS and love for the Clown News Network.
PS Ariana’s blog readers could easily read your blog IF they wanted too.
So you’re mad if he does promote links and you’re mad when he doesn’t. I think you should make like Elsa and let it go.
I hope he doesn’t let it go. I love seeing him self destruct. His obsession is a true entertainment here.
Elsa? Don’t you mean he should Marie Kondo his obsession? (Actually I think KonMarie is the proper phrase).
Ron
How did you accumulate tens of millions of points in multiple programs? That’s awesome!!
Rick, how did you achieve Lifetime Platinum status with AA?
2 million miles earned from “all sources” including cc sign up bonuses which was most of my miles. Those days are long gone
I’m not worthy…….
What about the Reserve Card? I wish I had all of those American miles instead of nearly a half million Chase points mainly because I like the partners of American better. But it is easy to get those 3 X points.
I get 4x on Amex gold for dining, use miles for travel and cut back again to preferred. I’ve got more airline credits than I need
Elaine, I will gladly trade with you! UR points are great and I can never have enough of them.
I started in this hobby last February and I am building my credit story with Chase first. I am 0/24 with two Ink cards. I would refinance my home this fall and I am gardening and stacking up UR points for next summer. If you are starting like I am the best strategy is going first for Chase cards.
We really get good use from our Barclay Arrival+. Just two weeks ago today, we checked in, along with our daughter and her family, at an adorable trullo in the heart of Puglia. With easy access to amazing ancient towns, and both the Adriatic and Ionian seas, we had a wonderful time, and, of course, both our car rental and the AirBnB are paid with points.
We’ve stayed in great places in Costa Rica, multiple times at our favorite place in Zihuatanejo, and in Jamaica, too, using Barclay points.
I think the Arrival Plus is a great card too. Be careful with the MS on this card. Pay your bill 1x per month and not several, and keep the MS spend less than your stated income. I did not do these things and Barclay not only closed the Arrival Plus, but every card my wife and I had with them.
Rick, wondering why you aren’t utilizing the 3% cash back for the first yr from discover.
Impatience and lack of trust. I don’t trust I’ll get my match with the ms I do
Has there been issues with discover in the past?
Mai, I’m not sure but not willing to take the risk
I agree! I don’t trust I’ll get matched either. In fact I think they’ll dump me before my year is up and I’m not even doing that much ms on it. I’ve had to call in 3 times the past two months to their fraud department to unlock my account. One guy told me the gift card buying is viewed as suspicious activity.
Kirk thanks for the heads up, this makes me think twice about opening an account
AA miles is the one currency I covet but only have about 70k. I prefer to ms for Alaska and Korean miles but always find myself wanting more AA. Can’t get any more of their ccs. But can’t bring myself to give up the opportunity miles and forgo Alaska/Korean for AA.
Wish they had one of the big three mileage transfers available. Because Citi does not transfer to them, I’ve all but given up on TYPs.
SW flights to Hawaii from SJC under $200. Buy 3 seats!
The one airline I am not interested in is Delta. Their awards have just priced them beyond other airlines. We are also working on our United miles. Those are not easy to come by and we have found booking cruises through United cruises is a good way to pad the United account.