These Are The Credit Cards I Am Getting In 2017

2016 was a record year for the credit card game. New credit cards came out, and sign on bonuses ballooned to lucrative records. Perhaps the biggest story of the year was the release of the Chase Sapphire Reserve with its 100,000 point sign (apply for this asap) on bonus worth $1,500 in travel and the ability to earn 3x points on travel and dining. Certainly, I signed up for that card as soon as it came out, which helped me fly for free for yet another a year.

If you didn’t take advantage of 2016’s record year, 2017 is looking a continuation of 2016’s fruitfulness. I expect more competitions between the banks, especially as interest rates increase, to occupy a space in your wallet for 2017. Consumer debt will probably skyrocket as it always does in America, but it is key to never carry a balance when hustling credit cards. Here are the cards I will be looking to add to my repertoire this year:

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Current Inventory

Active Cards

Chase Freedom
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Chase Ink Plus
Citi Premier
Citi Prestige
Merrill+ Visa Signature
Delta Gold AMEX
Capital One Quicksilver rewards
Bank of America CashRewards
USBank (from college)

Canceled within last year:

Chase Sapphire Preferred
Citi AA Platinum Select Mastercard
Chase United Mileageplus

Will cancel in 2017:

Chase Ink Plus
Citi Prestige
Delta Gold AMEX

American Airlines Aviator

I had the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select mastercard for the past year as the 50k miles sign on bonus is lucrative. I canceled it before the annual fee hit as it’s a pretty worthless card for someone that does not regularly fly American. I did however, enjoy having group 1 boarding and free checked bags. Thankfully, Barclaycard has an almost identical card for American Airlines as Citi does.

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The annual fee is not waived but there is NO required spend like the Citi AAdvantage card. Therefore, with this card, you are paying $95 for 40,000 AA miles, a great deal in my opinion. Plus you still get group 1 boarding, free checked bags, and 10% back on your redeemed miles.

Estimated value of bonus: $500

Card Benefits
	40,000 AAdvantage miles Group 1 Boarding Free checked bag 10% miles back on redeemed miles $95 annual fee, NOT waived for first year

American Express Platinum

Chase really raised the bar with its Sapphire Reserve card and I expect other banks to play catch up, which means the consumer benefits. Specifically, I think AMEX will look to revamp their offerings, especially with their platinum cards. At the end of 2016, they changed their platinum cards to earn 5x points on Airfare booked directly with the airline. I expect more changes to come in 2017 as they respond to Chase’s Sapphire Reserve.

In my opinion, the AMEX Platinum is a card to have but not to use. Just by owning the card, it gives amazing perks like automatic gold status on Hilton and SGP, as well as Delta and Centurion lounge access. I’ve found myself flying Delta more often these days so having the option of Delta lounges would be nice. However, American Express points are not as valuable as Chase Ultimate Rewards points so my spending will always go to Chase.

Nevertheless, the current sign on bonus of 40k points is mediocre at best and I will wait until their bonus is increased to at least 75k before pulling the trigger.

Estimated value of bonus: $600

American Express Platinum Benefits
	40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in 3 months Access to Delta and Centurion Lounges, as well as Priority Pass Select Hilton and SGP Gold status Platinum Concierge $200 airline incindental credit 5x points on airfare $450 annuall fee

Chase Ink Preferred

I picked up the Chase Ink Plus literally days before it was discontinued and received a cool 70,000 point sign on bonus with no annual fee in the first year. The Chase Ink Preferred took its place and is offering an 80,000 points sign on bonus with no annual fee in the first year. It does come with a high spend requirement ($5k in 3 months) but if you can manage that, then this is totally worth it. Chase points are my favorite rewards structure. After getting this card and obtaining the sign on bonus, I will have near 400,000 total Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which is worth at least $6,000!

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Estimated value of bonus: $1,200

Chase Ink Preferred Card Benefits
	80,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in 3 months 3x points on travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services, and advertising on social media Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel purchases on Chase Ultimate Rewards $95 annual fee, waived for the first year

Chase Hyatt

The Hyatt card has probably one of the most lucrative sign on bonuses of any card. It offers two free nights at worldwide Hyatt hotels. This applies to all Hyatt hotels. This means the cash value of the bonus is dependent on the hotel you stay at.

You could stay at the at say the Grand Hyatt in Bangkok for $175 a night, giving you a cool $350 worth of rewards. OR, if you were me, you would book two nights at the Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa where rooms regularly go for over $1,000!

Estimated value of bonus: $1,500

The Park Hyatt Hadahaa. Who would like to stay here for free??

I’ll have my girlfriend get this card as well, and we will book a 4 night stay in the Park Hyatt Maldives using both of our bonuses which will save us at least $4,000!

Chase Hyatt Card Benefits
	2 free nights at Hyatt hotels worldwide after spending $2,000 within 3 months 5,000 points after adding authorized user and making a purchase 3x points per $1 spent at any Hyatt hotel 2x points on airfare purchases with the airline, and 2x points on airfare purchases with the airline, and restaurants $75 annual fee, NOT waived for first year

Jetblue Plus

I don’t get to fly Jetblue much but I firmly believe they are the best US based airline, which isn’t saying much when your main competition is Delta, American, and United. They offer ridiculous cheap flights to the Caribbean nowadays and at some point, I will want a quick fix of scuba diving. Their miles structure (Jetblue Trueblue points) is straight forward and largely based on the current ticket price in dollars, equateing to around ~1.6c to 1 trueblue point.

Estimated value of bonus: $480

Jetblue Plus Card Benefits
	30,000 TrueBlue Points after spending $1,000 in 3 months 6x points on JetBlue purchases 2x points at restaurants and grocery stores Free checked bag 10% of points back when redeeming rewards $99 annual fee, NOT waived for first year

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Delta Platinum AMEX

I’ve found myself flying Delta more often these days. Their Skymiles program has gotten a bad reputation, famously being called SkyPesos. It’s true. It’s not the best program in the world but I have found some very good redemptions especially on international flights to Europe, and South America.

At the end of 2016, I applied for the Delta Gold AMEX which offered 50k miles, and $100 Delta statement credit which I used for a domestic flight. The AMEX Delta Platinum offers more of the same, as well as 10,000 miles towards qualifying for elite status (Silver status is only 25,000 miles). The 70,000 delta miles is worth the upfront fee and the yearly companion ticket will more than pay for the annual fee.

Estimated value of bonus: $800

Delta AMEX Platinum Card Benefits
	70,000 Delta miles after spending $3,000 in 3 months 10,000 MQM (Medallion Qualifying Miles) towards Elite status Domestic main cabin round trip companion ticket each year Group 1 Boarding Free checked bag 10% miles back on redeemed miles $195 annual fee, not waived

Chase Marriott Premier

I haven’t been interested in hotel credit cards historically. I prefer to stay in Airbnbs normally, or I will travel to places with no hotels and stay in a guesthouse/dive resort. Every now and then, it is nice to experience the finer things in life and there is a plethora of credit cards out there that will let me do it for free. Marriott has recently merged with Starwood, creating the largest hotel network in the world. With the sign-on bonus on this card and depending on the hotel tier, I can stay many nights for free.

Estimated value of bonus: $800

Chase Marriot Card Benefits
	87,500 Marriott Rewards Points after spending $3,000 in 3 months 5x points for purchases at Marriott and SPG hotels 2x points on airfare purchases with the airline, and restaurants Free night stay at category 1-5 hotel each year $85 annual fee, NOT waived for first year

Hilton Citi Reserve

Similar to Chase Hyatt, the Hilton Reserve also gives TWO free weekend night certificates as its sign on bonus. These are redeemable for almost all Hilton properties in the world. It’s slightly less valuable than the Chase Hyatt since you can’t combine two bonus offers for one stay as there are only two nights in a weekend.

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conrad maldives underwater restaurant — The amazing underwater restaurant at the Conrad Maldives

Like the Chase Hyatt credit card, this includes their ultra luxurious Conrad Hilton and Hilton maldives properties. Two free weekend nights could easily net you a savings of over $2,000.

Estimated value of bonus: $1,500

Hilton Citi Reserve Card Benefits
	Two free weekend nights at almost all Hilton hotels after spending $2,500 within 4 months Earn 10x points on Hilton Hotel purchases Earn 5x on airline and car rental purchases Earn 3x on all other purchases Complimentary Hilton Gold status which includes 5th night free $95 annual fee, NOT waived for first year

Hilton HHonors AMEX

The last one is just because I can. The sign on bonus has been much higher in the past so I will wait until I see a sign on bonus of 75,000-100,000 before pulling the trigger. There is also no annual fee and small spend requirements so why not for a few free nights at a Hilton hotel?

Estimated value of bonus: $400

Hilton HHonors AMEX Card Benefits
	50,000 HHonors points after spending $750 in 3 months Earn 7x points on Hilton Hotel purchases Earn 5x on US supermarkets, US restaurants, and US gas stations Earn 3x points on all other purchases No annual fee