What's in my wallet?
/Reader Winston has asked what credit cards I personally carry, which I think is a great way to keep a travel blogger honest. Of course, it's slightly more relevant for bloggers who pepper their posts with affiliate links, but what's good for the goose, etc.
US Bank
US Bank is quietly a powerhouse of lucrative credit cards. I carry three cards they issue, and put spend on all three each month:
- Cash+. 2% cash back at drugstores, with no minimum redemption;
- Flexperks Travel. Double Flexpoints at gas stations, worth up to 4% cash back in redemptions for paid airline travel;
- Club Carlson Business. 5 Gold Points per dollar spent everywhere.
Chase
Lots of old standbys here. The Freedom is actually the result of a product change from Chase's great Slate product, which I got back when I carried balances:
- Freedom. Rotating 5x categories;
- Sapphire Preferred. Transferability of Ultimate Rewards points;
- Marriott Rewards Premier. Signup bonus, annual free night;
- British Airways. Signup bonus.
Bank of America
My oldest credit card, which I put spend on once a year or so:
- Cash Rewards. 3% cash back on up to $1,500 on gas stations quarterly.
American Express
Three great cards:
- Delta Platinum Business. One of the best values in the business;
- Hilton HHonors Surpass. 6 HHonors points per dollar at gas stations and grocery stores;
- "Old" Blue Cash. 5% cash back at drugstores, gas stations, and grocery stores after spending $6,500 on the card per membership year.
Barclaycard
The Arrival has a $89 annual fee, so if I can't have that waived in April I'll be closing it. Lucrative, though:
- Arrival World MasterCard. 2.22% cash back everywhere, when redeemed against travel purchases;
- US Airways. Signup bonus.
Citi
Citi's a slum: you only visit when they have something you need. I'm actually waiting to receive the Dividend Platinum Select, which I product changed my formerly 5% cash back ThankYou Preferred card to a few weeks ago:
- Platinum Select AAdvantage MasterCard. Signup bonus;
- Dividend Platinum Select. Rotating 5% cash back categories.
Discover
Fidelity
- Investment Rewards American Express. 2% cash back everywhere.
And now my cards are on the table.
