Merits and Demerits: The Best CC for Actual Spend

[AJK]

The way I see it, there are three main options:

AMEX PRG -  $195 AF
3x on flight
2x on *U.S.* Restaurants, Gas, Groceries
Random: $100 airline credit

Chase SP - $95 AF
2x on travel + dining
Random: Primary Rental Insurance

Citi Premier - $95 AF
3x on travel (incl. gas)
2x on restaurants

All things considered, if you could only have one of these cards, my vote is for the AMEX PRG.  Though you'd be foregoing primary CDW, and though you'd officially only get 2x on U.S. based purchases, the benefits are:

--Effective $95 AF like the others
--2x on groceries (which no other card offers, and is better than the 1.5x possible with fee-free AMEX Everyday)
--MR > TY (even though Citi Premier offers 3x on travel including gas which *is* pretty amazing)
--AMEX has moved to a single bonus per lifetime, so no signup bonus advantage to churning.
--AMEX offers/SBS
--Amex protections
--MR Bonuses

Agree? Disagree?

[Marco Polo]

Agreed.

[AJK]

As I wrote this, I realized that one could simply keep churning *all* of these cards, including the PRG (without the sign up bonus), and never pay the AF on *any* of them, but for someone who wasn't interested in repeatedly churning a card for which he or she would not receive a signup bonus, it may make sense to keep the PRG, especially with AUs. 

All things considered, actually, I think the single most compelling thing about AmEx cards are AMEX Offers and SBS.

I think I've convinced myself PRG is the way to go.

[Marco Polo]

Can also factor in retention offers.

[Dan]

Why is EDP not part of the discussion?

[yoruel]

For the People who are not traveling(not renting cars either) that often and don't go to restaurants, do you see it the same value?

[3yummyboys]

What about Ink?

[AJK]

Why is EDP not part of the discussion?

It can be, but I don't think it's as compelling as PRG.

EDP has forex fees, which, if this is your only card, is a huge deal breaker.
EDP offers up to 4.5x on groceries, but only up to $6,000.

True, EDP offers up to 3x on gas, which is better than all other cards, and 1.5x on all spend (which is *very* nice) but all in all I don't think that beats out the lack of forex fees, 1.5x extra on airfare, .5x extra on restaurants.

Disagree?

[deal_rider]

--2x on groceries (which no other card offers, and is better than the 1.5x possible with fee-free AMEX Everyday)

is n't the free Blue Cash Everyday better? 3% back?

[Dan]

It can be, but I don't think it's as compelling as PRG.

EDP has forex fees, which, if this is your only card, is a huge deal breaker.
EDP offers up to 4.5x on groceries, but only up to $6,000.

True, EDP offers up to 3x on gas, which is better than all other cards, and 1.5x on all spend (which is *very* nice) but all in all I don't think that beats out the lack of forex fees, 1.5x extra on airfare, .5x extra on restaurants.

Disagree?

Depends on your spend mix and travel patterns.  1.5x everywhere is big.

I think a better question would be which 2 cards are ideal for spending.  Limiting to 1 card will be hard to optimize anything.

[AJK]

is n't the free Blue Cash Everyday better? 3% back?

When I say "no other card" I simply mean within the world of cards we're discussing.

I don't think the Blue Cash Everyday can compete with any of the cards mentioned as being the best CC for actual spend. Do you disagree?

[AJK]

Depends on your spend mix and travel patterns.  1.5x everywhere is big.

I think a better question would be which 2 cards are ideal for spending.  Limiting to 1 card will be hard to optimize anything.

Correct, we certainly can amend the question to the two best. In fact, originally, I had typed this with the caveat that a complement of 2 or more cards would likely result in a better yield.

However, you're now going to be paying closer to $200 in annual fees with two cards, and I for one, am probably not prepared to spend an additional ~$13K per year only to *break even* to benefit from the 1.5x regular spend.

Thoughts on the best two?

[AJK]

For the People who are not traveling(not renting cars either) that often and don't go to restaurants, do you see it the same value?

For people who don't go to restaurants, don't travel, don't MS, and have no use for primary CDW, I think the calculus is entirely different.

In such a case, I'd probably suggest the EDP.

You imply a good point, though: these things are largely idiosyncratic... will likely be different for each person, but I wanted to engage in the exercise nonetheless.

[maxie m]

It can be, but I don't think it's as compelling as PRG.

EDP has forex fees, which, if this is your only card, is a huge deal breaker.
EDP offers up to 4.5x on groceries, but only up to $6,000.

True, EDP offers up to 3x on gas, which is better than all other cards, and 1.5x on all spend (which is *very* nice) but all in all I don't think that beats out the lack of forex fees, 1.5x extra on airfare, .5x extra on restaurants.

Disagree?

is this a new deal that prg has no forex

[Marco Polo]

is this a new deal that prg has no forex

New benefits starting 6/1.

[benjie1305]

Truth is that this is way too much of a theoretical discussion. There is no reason to limit yourself to 1 (or even 2) card(s). You can check out the benefits of them all and then go get yourself the cards that fit best into your given spending pattern.

[maxie m]

New benefits starting 6/1.

yeah didn't look familiar

[AJK]

Truth is that this is way too much of a theoretical discussion. There is no reason to limit yourself to 1 (or even 2) card(s). You can check out the benefits of them all and then go get yourself the cards that fit best into your given spending pattern.

You see, that's exactly the result this thread strives to avoid.

The average person doesn't want 11 cards with post-it notes on each explaining where to use which.

Frankly, neither do I. I have my churning for sign up bonuses and then I'm curious to know the one (or two complimentary) best cards to use for spending.

And none of of this discussion forecloses use of, for example, the Chase Freedom when appropriate, as it's no fee.

[Marco Polo]

Truth is that this is way too much of a theoretical discussion. There is no reason to limit yourself to 1 (or even 2) card(s). You can check out the benefits of them all and then go get yourself the cards that fit best into your given spending pattern.

You can churn many cards, but knowing which ones are staying in your wallet and not the sock drawer, is what this thread is out to find out.

[ganizzy]

citi premiere doesnt have forex
im not sure about primary cdw
they also have lost baggage and trip cancellation benefits without an extra cost

another big benefit that no other card offers is that you can share points

they also waive the annual fee pretty easily.

the biggest drawback is the limited transfer partners of typ

i have had it for a number of years but didnt really use it much until recently bec of the 3x on gas