Note: My apologies for any voice echo. I moved into a new apartment recently and am figuring out the sound issues. Have ordered new equipment to help with that, but sound quality may not be 100% for a couple weeks while I figure it out. Appreciate all of your support regardless!
1) You can’t use all the credits and benefits. 2) Your location and travel style isn’t the right fit. 3) You’re not earning points in an ecosystem that makes sense for you. 4) A lower annual fee card could give you comparable benefits. 5) The multipliers don’t fit with your normal spending.
Location is a huge factor that doesn't get talked about enough when choosing credit cards! With no Sapphire or Capital One Lounges in my home state, I'm holding off on the Venture X and Sapphire Reserved for now. Great advice Matt!
It's great that we have so many different travel cards to choose from but it's down to the individual to pick the one(s) that offer the highest organic value. Great tips Matt!
This is awesome because you’re talking about stuff that’s not working. Seems weird but credit cards feel like it’s marketing for the best of all worlds. So many cards are great on paper but collapse in practice. So these CC negatives you talk about are actually positives
Thanks so much Elliott! Yeah it's one thing to see what the benefits look like on paper but like you said another to see how they actually work in real-life.
for #2 its definitely clutch to have CLEAR access at LAX for whenever I travel. It's a small touch but has made a difference a few times. HNL does NOT have CLEAR. RIP
Thanks so much Buck! Yeah super important to work backwards in a way and take a look at what travel partners make the most sense first and then adapt what Credit Cards have access to those partners.
I also live in Seattle Washington and recently switched to Team Hybrid from Cash Back. Which travel CCs would be good for me besides AMEX (I actually don't like AMEX and am a low spender). I know I'm only sticking to flexible currency like Chase Ulti-Points and TY Points, so co-branded cards are out. Plan on flying more to East Coast, California, and Europe.
Chicago airport lounges are all ass-it’s embarrassing. Any card whose main perk is lounge access is significantly devalued here, and it’s usually only worth getting a mid-tier $95 travel card.
When it comes to credit card perks having the wrong set up just for the flex can be a hefty hit. I don’t know why Amex is automatically linked to rich status have several friends that have a the plat and gold and they don’t know 10% of what it offers. I stopped being in the Amex eco system cause Chase fits me way better
Totally agree with this! Credit Cards should never be a flex and instead should work best just based on your own spending/travel preferences. Appreciate you watching!
