@Vash1 wrote:Do you pay more than 1k in annual fees a year? And what's your ROI each year? I ask because I pay $945 but just from the card benefits I get over 1k back. I want to add the CSR for a visa infinite card but it may cross over with my platinum card. I may drop the gold after hitting the SUB and redeeming.
Currently at $5,442 in annual fees. I've redeemed points and miles for a little over $55,000 in combined airfare and hotels just over the past 11 months so I would say I'm coming out slightly ahead.
I'm curious as to why Gold with its great 4x earnings would not make sense for you to keep if you plan to keep Platinum?
Im likely going to go up to above that $1k number but at least for the Hilton Aspire, the statement credits and FNC completely cover the Annual Fee.
Im going to likely PC my United Gateway to the Club in a few weeks. My other AF cards are getting closed cause they dont make sense to me. Amex Plat i can only really get $200 out of value in the credits since the airline one is the only one I can realistically use, Gold has 0 credits I can use, they wyndham i just never used, and the BoA card is getting closed cause BoA sucks if its not your main bank.
@Vash1 wrote:
@K-in-Boston wrote:
@Vash1 wrote:Do you pay more than 1k in annual fees a year? And what's your ROI each year? I ask because I pay $945 but just from the card benefits I get over 1k back. I want to add the CSR for a visa infinite card but it may cross over with my platinum card. I may drop the gold after hitting the SUB and redeeming.
Currently at $5,442 in annual fees. I've redeemed points and miles for a little over $55,000 in combined airfare and hotels just over the past 11 months so I would say I'm coming out slightly ahead.
I'm curious as to why Gold with its great 4x earnings would not make sense for you to keep if you plan to keep Platinum?
Wow. You've come out more than slightly ahead with that ROI in under a year lol. To answer your question I have the Platinum, Gold, and BBP which all fit so perfectly with my natural spend (and my wife) it's insane and the AF is just $50 just accounting for the card perks (or plus $350 when I can take advantage of the airline and hotel credit on the Platnium). I just always wanted the CSR and working through the math the only way I can think to justify is to drop the Gold since the grubhub credit isn't top of mind to redeem as easy as it is with the Uber Eats credit. I was thinking of product changing it to the Marriot Bonvoy Briliant as the eating credit is so flexible and the free night credit eliminates the rest of the AF (and I love Marriot hotels).
Doing that though I would primarily use CSR and CFU for spend and use the credit book for Platnium and Brilliant. Assuming UR point minimum redemption of 2.5cpp and MR at 2cpp I lose about $400 in net rewards. Typing it out it doesnt make sense but I just always wanted the CSR. Maybe it'll make more sense to PC the Platnium to the Brilliant? Or maybe just keep my current line up? Still trying to decide.
You cannot PC a Amex charge to a Amex CC, you can only PC/downgrade to another Amex Charge, for example plat or gold to green.
Personal Cards: Amex Plat | Amex Delta Res | CSR | Citi AA Exec Business Cards: Ink+ | Amex BGR
@longtimelurker wrote:
@JoeRockhead wrote:It should go without saying that if an AF card doesn't benefit someone positively, (including just breaking even) they should avoid/close those cards.
Right, except breaking even on the fee shouldn't be considered good enough! The spend you put on to recoup the fee could have been on say a free flat 2% card. (The exception being when no spend is needed to break even or better, as in some hotel cards with free nights)
That's my view as well. I have to consider the opportunity cost of not putting the spend on my Citi Double Cash. That's why the Amex Platinum coupon book credits work so well for me. The credits are far in excess of any lost 1% in rewards. I also take advantage of the freebies from my United Explorer card (free checked bags and lounge passes, plus better award access). The other two AF cards that I have generate enough additional rewards for me to easily surpass a 2% card.
