8
Feb
Reader Diane S. writes:
I am a rather faithful United/Star Alliance flyer for international travel. I have just booked a trip to South Africa with them and also a BA internal flight. I currently have a UA MC, Visa and Business Visa. I also have a Chase SW card that I’m thinking of dumping.
I would like to apply for a few cards to get bonus miles. I was targeted for a BA card after booking my flight (40,000), am interested in Chase Sapphire for the bonus and the card benefits, but wonder if I should grab the Continental Onepass since I’d get the 25,000 and maybe get switched to the Explorer card after the merger. I know I would need to do this soon. I don’t want to miss out on the Sapphire and bonus and am not sure Chase will tolerate my several apps since I already have several of their cards. My credit is good. I’d appreciate any advise.
First, Diane, congratulations! Premium cabin awards to Africa are most always a great value, not to mention a great time. While British Airways award availability is excellent, the awards are expensive both in terms of miles and fuel surcharges. Star Alliance offers great options – via London, Zurich, Munich, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Lisbon, Cairo to name just some fo the options. Having South African Airways, Lufthansa, Swiss, Brussels Airlines, Turkish, EgyptAir and TAP Air Portugal providing service is a real plus. And I’ve even had good luck planning about 10 months out and getting those South African direct flights from New York and DC.
And with the caveat that the which mileage program you choose depends on the destination you want to fly to on your award, there’s some pretty straightforward advice I think that I can offer you.
You’ve hit those United signup bonuses nice and hard, and while it’s generally true that Chase will only give you the signup bonus on a given card only one time and that the Continental Onepass Plus card is going away making that a tempting offer, I’d generally skip a 25,000 mile signup bonus. Especially with Chase since they are also persnickety about approving folks for too many cards.
What I’d do is go for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card — 40,000 points after $3000 in spending within 3 months and no fee the first year – that’s double the points as the Continental card, the points are especially flexible (transferring not just to United/Continental but also to Hyatt, British Airways, Marriott, Southwest, Priority Club, Amtrak, and Korean Airlines).
No foreign currency transaction fees, access to the Ultimate Rewards mall (often the most lucrative points-earning shopping portal), 7% annual bonus on all points earning. This is the card every points fan should probably have and the double points on all travel and restaurant spend make it appeal to actually use, and not just churn.
You say you’re thinking of dumping the Southwest Visa. Don’t. Apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred. You may get approved right away, you may not, but if you aren’t you want to still have that Southwest Visa since you can always call up Chase and offer to trade the credit that’s available to you on the Southwest card in order to get approved on the Sapphire Preferred.
I don’t like cancelling Chase cards, I like holding onto them and trading them in for new cards, it makes approvals that much easier. Here’s my longer discussion of what cards to cancel and when.
Now, two reasons other than the signup bonus that you might want to get the Continental card now — primary collision damage waiver coverage when renting a car (the coverage pays before your own insurance, not just whatever your insurance doesn’t cover, subject to its terms and conditions of course) and also because it’s a Mastercard and my most recent understanding is that when they convert Onepass Plus cards to Explorer cards they will leave you with a Mastercard. So if you want a Mastercard instead of a United Explorer Visa, this is a good way to get it.
Beyond that though I’d certainly do the Sapphire Preferred card and not focus on a 25,000 mile signup bonus from Continental.
Got other questions? Ask away!
Mike said,
The link to “what cards wo cancel and when” isnt there anymore
Mike said,
As well as the “which miles to use…….”
Steelsnow said,
I know there was some chatter about it a month ago’ but does the Sapphire Preferred World MC option provide primary coverage for vehicle rentals? I never saw a clear answer on that question…
Andrew T said,
I already got the 60K United card a couple months ago but just received a targeted offer for a 60K Continental card. The CO card doesn’t say anything in the T&C about not being able to get the bonus if you already have the Untied card (like the United T&C say), so I’m wondering if I should make the gamble and get the CO card…? Would I even still get the points this late in the game if the new MileagePlus program is starting March 1?
James said,
@Steelsnow: The [Chase Sapphire Preferred] World MasterCard only offers secondary car rental coverage. However, the thing that World and World Elite MasterCards’ have over everyone else is their ability to get any sort of car rental coverage in countries that Visa, American Express, and Discover exclude, including Israel, Ireland, Jamaica, and where it is not permitted by law.
Hope this helps clarify things.
ron said,
I find the primary rental car insurance with the Continental Mastercard to be a valuable card benefit. Are there any competing VISA cards (ie. Capital One Venture) with a similar benefit? Thanks.
Gary said,
@ron I have a similar benefit from my Diners Club card (a Mastercard)
Dan said,
@Andrew T
Yeah, I’d get the Continental card if there is no fine print stating you won’t get the bonus. After all, it *is* targeted, and you qualified.
Golfingboy said,
Quick question about Korean Air… You mentioned that Korean Air is an Ultimate Rewards transfer partner. Is the transfer ratio 1:1 or better? You do not have to be an elite to book the sleeper F seat award on KE like what FlyingBlue does?
If it all checks out, then I think I have a new award redemption goal
Steelsnow said,
@ James: Thanks for the clarification. Are you aware of any other cards with primary coverage other than the Diner’s MC (no longer available) and the Continental MC (soon to be extinct)?
Gary said,
@Golfingboy it’s 1:1 but they do add fuel surcharges and the redemption pricing can be high on some routes.
Gary said,
@Steelsnow the United Explorer card retain the Continental Onepass Plus’ primary collision damage waiver
susmaryosep said,
I have the Continental Onepass Mastercard and indeed the Benefits Summary that was sent with the card says it has primary collision damage waiver. However, Happy from Flyertalk advised me that upon calling Mastercard customer service, they did not confirm this benefit. I called to validate this and was told that the primary coverage is only for rentals outside of the US. For domestic rentals, this is still secondary to your personal auto insurance.
Joe Jones said,
Could you post your referral links again, please? I didn’t see them the first 99,000 times.
chris said,
“Could you post your referral links again, please? I didn’t see them the first 99,000 times.”
A little touchy there?
Actually I count 2 links for each of the 2 cards which from my calculations comes to 4 total. Not sure how you arrived at “99,000″ but I guess you’re just rounding up.
Andy said,
When I called to get a Chase Sapphire Preferred, the CSR said my other card (a Chase Marriott card) had too high a limit, and offered to halve the limit on that card so I can get my Chase Sapphire Preferred. I agreed (25k limit cut in half, so each of mine chase card has 12.5k limit on it, plenty for me)
I love my Chase sapphire preferred card.. still debating if I am going to keep it after the one year is up and I have to pay an annual fee.
Andy said,
I just got the United Explorer card and it has primary collision insurance too. There is a new program out for United Mileage members.. 50k miles after first purchase, no minimum spend – 10k additional miles for annual bonus – no annual fee first year. I got the mailer two days after getting the card (I called them and they confirmed that I am in the program)
James said,
@Steelsnow and @Gary: I believe the Discover Escape also provides primary, although it is a bit wanting compared to the United/Continental cards.
Also, for $24.95, AMEX allows cardholders to purchase primary protection.
RakSiam said,
BA awards don’t have to be expensive. I just used 9000 Avios plus $37 for a business class award TPE-HKG on CX (all-cash price would have been about $550). If I wanted to use Avios for HKG-BKK I could do that for a small cost as well…7500 for economy, 15000 for business plus a small amount of cash. Likewise shorthaul flights in the US can be had for as few as 4500 Avios one way plus taxes. I will agree that BA awards can be expensive, especially for premium classes going via LHR. But that’s not their only use.
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