Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Amex SPG - Which Card Do You Reach For First?

[Dan]

If I get the exact formulas I could try to throw something together when I've got a few minutes...

The basics are:
-Chase Freedom, no annual fee (with Chase consumer or business checking): 1.1 UR per dollar+10 UR per transaction
-Chase Ink Bold, 1 year free then $95 (with Chase consumer or business checking): 1.2 UR per dollar.
-Chase Sapphire Preferred, 1 year free then $95: 1.07 UR per dollar.
-Chase Ink Classic, no annual fee (with Chase consumer or business checking): Unknown if this gives 1 or 1.2 UR per dollar spent.
-SPG, 1 year free then $65: 1 SPG per dollar.
-AMEX PRG, 1 year free then $175: 1 MR per dollar.
-AMEX Business Gold Rewards, 1 year free then $175:  1 MR per dollar


Then comes the hairy stuff. 
How to value points?  Ideally user defined, but you could also use 1.8 MR/1.9 UR/2.3 SPG but those can definitely vary.  On the low side you could also say 1.6 MR/1.7 UR/2.1 SPG.

-Freedom has 5 UR points per dollar rotating categories for spending up to $1,500 per quarter. For 2011 these were:
Q1: Grocery Stores, Drugstores
Q2: Home Improvement, Lawn and Garden, Home Furnishings
Q3: Gas, Hotels, Airlines
Q4: Dining, Department Stores, Movies, Charity
-Freedom charges 3% forex.

-Ink Bold gives threshold bonuses for spending in a 12 month period (Each 12 month period resets on your enrollment date).  7,500 UR for $25K (for an average of 1.5 UR per dollar), another 15K UR for spending $50K (for an average of 1.65 UR per dollar), another 25K UR for spending $100K (for an average of 1.675 UR per dollar).
-Ink Bold gives 2 UR points per dollar spent on travel booked on the Chase booking tool.
-Ink Bold charges 3% forex.

-Sapphire Preferred has 2.14 UR points per dollar on flights, hotels, car rentals, dining, charges made in airports, with travel agencies, at caterers, and on timeshares, trains, buses, taxis/limos, ferries, bridges, tolls, and parking.
-Sapphire Preferred 3.21 UR points per dollar on travel booked on the Chase booking tool.
-The Sapphire .07/.14/.21 bonuses only post in January or February.  The Freedom and Ink Bold bonuses post monthly.
-Sapphire Preferred has 0% forex.

-Ink Classic gives 5 UR points per dollar spent on Wireless, Landline, Cable, and office supplies.
-Ink Classic gives 2 UR points per dollar spent on gas and hotels.
-Ink Classic charges 3% forex.

-SPG Business has open savings for 5-10% off certain merchants.
-SPG consumer and business has better warranty/return/dispute protections.
-SPG consumer and business has 2 SPG per dollar at SPG hotels.
-SPG consumer and business charges 2.7% forex.

-AMEX PRG gives 3 MR per dollar on airfare
-AMEX PRG gives 2 MR per dollar on gas and groceries.
-AMEX PRG gives a threshold bonus of 15K MR for spending $30K in a calendar year.
-AMEX PRG charges 2.7% forex.

-AMEX Business Gold Rewards gives 3 MR per dollar on airfare
-AMEX Business Gold Rewards gives 2 MR per dollar on gas, advertising, and shipping.
-AMEX Business Gold Rewards has open savings for 5-10% off certain merchants.
-AMEX Business Gold Rewards charges 2.7% forex.

[bubbles]

anything wrong with the formulas i made up? If you're making an app you prob need to figure out a more efficient way of the 5% categories to update automatically. and I think you'll have a much harder time adding in the cheshbon for the warranty coverage unless you want to put a price on it.

[smurf]

anything wrong with the formulas i made up? If you're making an app you prob need to figure out a more efficient way of the 5% categories to update automatically. and I think you'll have a much harder time adding in the cheshbon for the warranty coverage unless you want to put a price on it.

there is no price on the warranty coverage. If it's an item that you want coverage for just use an amex no calculations needed. as for the rotating categories again no need to include that in the app as it's almost always the most rewarding option.
The app would most come in handy with the nitty gritty details of where to use what for how much..

[Dan]

there is no price on the warranty coverage. If it's an item that you want coverage for just use an amex no calculations needed. as for the rotating categories again no need to include that in the app as it's almost always the most rewarding option.
The app would most come in handy with the nitty gritty details of where to use what for how much..

An app should remind you about return/warranty/dispute when comparing the value of using each card.

An app should remind you of the current rotating categories.

[Jkhein]

Dan, I remember once reading somewhere here that there is a difference if its a refurbished item that amex gives no coverage just SP. Could you just clarify that quick please? About to make a purchase!

[bubbles]

An app should remind you about return/warranty/dispute when comparing the value of using each card.

An app should remind you of the current rotating categories.

I don't think its so necessary for it to remind you of the warranty every time you buy something. I do think it has to calculate the rotating categories though because the people who would prob get the most use out of such an app are those that have multiple cards with differing rotating categories.

[bubbles]

Are there any other commonly used cards to add to chart besides for the spg, freedom, sp, ib and citi dividend?

[bubbles]

I actually see that there is some sort of app for this already. It's called card reward in the iTunes app store. Has anyone tried it? It costs $2 and I'm not paying that and I don't see it on cydia

[shmooz]

-Sapphire Preferred 3.21 UR points per dollar on travel booked on the Chase booking tool.

If you buy UA/CO tickets do you get any more?

[lechaim2life]

I'm planning my trip to Hawaii (Kauai) in January and because I am new to DDF my trip won't be entirely free. Since I have accumulated a few cards since August, I wanted to know which card I should spend for the expenses I still need to pay for. I currently have an Amex Platinum, Sapphire Preferred, Chase Hyatt, and Citi AAdvantage. Here is what I still need to pay for:

3 nights at Grand Hyatt Kauai
Flight from LAX to LIH (could be any airline)
Rental Car in Kauai
Activities in Kauai

Let me know what you think (and why). Thanks!

[Hudi]

If you're trying to collect points, use your Sapphire for anything travel related (double points on anything travel related including tolls and parking.) If you're collecting hyatt points then use your Hyatt card for the Hyatt reservation (3 points per $1.)

[lechaim2life]

Besides points, some of the cards offer upgrades/special benefits when using them. For example, my friend booked GHK with his Amex Platinum and got free breakfast, resort credit etc. Is there any advantage to using that card over my Hyatt card?

What about flights and car rentals?

[jack12]

on the subject of which card to use, I am buying an expensive electronic piece of equipment. I have a citi aadvantage and a chase freedom. which one extends the warranty of what i'm buying?

[smurf]

we should make this a "which card to use master thread" where people can post all the cards they have available and what they want to use it for

[bubbles]

we should make this a "which card to use master thread" where people can post all the cards they have available and what they want to use it for

let me know what you think so far. there are still some problems and i haven't added a bunch of cards yet

[bubbles]

let me know what you think so far. there are still some problems and i haven't added a bunch of cards yet

no feedback? not sure if you can work in spending thresholds it would have to be on a purchase by purchase basis

[Dan]

no feedback? not sure if you can work in spending thresholds it would have to be on a purchase by purchase basis

If I knew how to work it I might be able to provide feedback

[westman812]

Besides points, some of the cards offer upgrades/special benefits when using them. For example, my friend booked GHK with his Amex Platinum and got free breakfast, resort credit etc. Is there any advantage to using that card over my Hyatt card?

What about flights and car rentals?

I say, book with Amex for the 1st night, so you get the perks(hotel credit, free breakfast etc), then make a separate reservation using your Hyatt card(for 3x points), and just link the reservations. Anyone think that could work?

[Dan]

The AMEX Plat FHR rate is often higher than a .com or AAA rate.

[bubbles]

If I knew how to work it I might be able to provide feedback

lol thought it was simple enough. just type in how much you value each point at next to where it says "points value" then mark each card you have with an "x" under where it says "mark your cards with an x" then type in a transaction amount underneath the correct category