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My Latest Credit Card Application Results – 3 Cards 165,000 Miles and Points

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3 cards 165,000 miles and points Traveling Well For Less

165,000 miles can get you 4 round-trip tickets to paradise

Update: The credit card offer in this post is no longer available. Check our credit card page for the latest offers.

Two months ago I applied for 3 new credit cards and got 165,000 miles and points and a $200 statement credit.

I haven’t applied for any new credit cards for over a year because I don’t follow the “90 to 120 day rule.”

The “90 to 120 rule” is where you apply for new credit cards every 90 to 120 days.  Limiting your new credit card applications to every 90 days allows your credit score to rebound after the temporary hit from the new application hard pull.

Applying for credit cards is one of the fastest way to earn a lot of miles and points.  But I’ve found other equally fast ways to earn miles and points without a hard pull on my credit report.

I had several large upcoming purchases and wanted to take advantage of some credit card bonuses before they ended.

My Latest Credit Card Application Results – 3 Cards 165,000 Miles and Points

1.  Barclays Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard

My Latest Credit Card Application Results - 3 Cards 165,000 Miles and Points Barclays Arrival Traveling Well For Less

You get double miles on all purchases

I applied for the Barclays Arrival card because I didn’t want to lose out on the 40,000 mile bonus if it replaced the Bank of America Hawaiian Airlines credit card.  As it turns out, the Barclays Arrival card didn’t replace the Hawaiian Airlines card.  Instead, Barclays now issues the Hawaiian Airlines card.

My 40,000 mile bonus after completing the minimum spending posted quickly.

I’m looking forward to trying out the benefits of this card such as:

  • 2X miles on all purchases
  • 10% of your miles back when redeeming for travel
  • Free membership to TripItPro
  • No foreign transaction fees

Having another no foreign transaction fee card also makes it easier when traveling.

The $89 annual fee is waived the first year.

2.  Citibank American Airlines Executive Card

My Latest Credit Card Application Results - 3 Cards 165,000 Miles and Points Citi American Airlines Executive Card Traveling Well For Less

One of the fastest ways to 100,000 American Airlines miles

I love American Airlines. You can never have enough American Airlines miles.

I held off applying for the Citibank American Airlines Executive card earlier because I have an Admirals Club membership.  So the $450 annual fee seemed like a waste of money.

But when the bonus increased to 100,000 American Airlines miles and a $200 statement credit, reducing the annual fee to $250, I figured I could live with that.

Citibank sent an email after I completed my minimum spending.  The 100,000 American Airlines miles bonus posted after my statement closed.

With the Citibank American Airlines Executive card you get:

  • 80,000 miles after spending $5,500 on purchases in the first 3 months
  • Limited time offer: 4 miles for every $1 spent on American Airlines through December 31, 2022, then 2 miles per $1
  • 1 mile for every $1 spent everywhere else
  • American Airlines Admirals Club membership (up to $500 value)
  • 10,000 elite qualifying miles after spending $40,000 a year
  • Priority boarding
  • First checked bag free
  • 25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases
  • No foreign transaction fees

As an Executive Platinum member, I already get priority boarding, free checked bags, and free snacks and alcohol when flying in coach so I won’t need to use those benefits.  But I will look forward to earning 10,000 elite qualifying miles after spending $40,000 a year.

Although, I don’t plan on counting on those miles to requalify because a friend did and it took American Airlines almost 4 months to acknowledge her Executive Platinum status and post her 8 system wide upgrades.

The $450 annual fee is not waived and charged on your first statement.  But you get a $200 statement credit so that softens the blow.

3.  American Express Starwood Preferred Guest Business (learn more)

My Latest Credit Card Application Results - 3 Cards 165,000 Miles and Points American Express Starwood Preferred Guest Business Traveling Well For Less

You can use Starwood points for hotel stays or airline tickets

I have the personal version of the American Express Starwood Preferred Guest (learn more) card, and decided it was time to get the American Express Starwood Preferred Guest business (learn more) card.

I considered waiting until the fall when they typically offer a 30,000 Starwood point welcome offer/bonus instead of the normal 25,000 Starwood point bonus but decided that waiting months for 5,000 Starwood points wasn’t worth it.

You get a lot of flexibility with Starwood points.  You can transfer your Starwood points to certain airlines.  When you transfer 20,000 Starwood points you get a 5,000 mile bonus.  So the 25,000 Starwood point welcome offer/bonus becomes 30,000 miles.

By having both the personal version of the American Express Starwood Preferred Guest (learn more) card and the American Express Starwood Preferred Guest business (learn more) card, you get 10 nights and 4 stays (5 nights and 2 stays per credit card) towards elite status with Starwood.

American Express Starwood Preferred Guest business (learn more) card gives you:

  • 2 Starwood points for every $1 spent at Starwood hotels
  • 1 Starwood point for every $1 spent everywhere else

There are Starwood hotels everywhere but you should only use American Express Starwood Preferred Guest (learn more) card and American Express Starwood Preferred Guest business (learn more) card in the US because you pay a foreign transaction fee.

The $65 annual fee is waived the first year.

Required Minimum Spending

I had to spend $18,000 in 6 months to get the 165,000 miles and points and $200 statement credit.

If you can’t meet a high minimum spending requirement, there are 14 cards with no minimum spending requirement.

What credit cards have you applied for recently?

Disclosure: The credit card links are provided as a courtesy. I do not receive a commission on credit cards.
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Traveling Well For Less has partnered with Your Best Credit Cards for our coverage of credit card products. Traveling Well For Less and YBCC may receive a commission from card issuers.


Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best card to get started in the world of miles and points. It is the first card you should get to start traveling for free because the welcome offer is 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.
 
My favorite perks about this card are earning 5X points on travel when booked through the Chase portal (2X if direct purchase), 3X points on dining, $50 yearly credit on hotels booked through the Chase portal, no foreign transaction fees, and transferring points to 13 airline and hotel partners like Hyatt, United, and Southwest.
 

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is one of my favorite cards for earning cash back card and travel rewards. It offers a welcome offer of an additional 1.5% cash back on all your purchases up to $20,000 your first year.
 
My favorite perks about this card are earning 5% cash back on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal, 3% cash back at drugstores and restaurants (including delivery and takeout), 1.5% cash back on all other purchases and no annual fee. When paired with cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card or Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, you can use your points to travel for free.
 

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GETITON

Tuesday 27th of May 2014

Congrats

Traveling Well For Less

Friday 30th of May 2014

Hi GETITON,

Thanks. Although, I know that's a pittance compared to some of your apps. :)

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