Thinking Through My Next App Party.

Posted by Noob Master on Aug 15, 2012 in American Express, Amex, App-Party, Bank of America, business credit cards, Chase Bank, Citi Bank, Credit Cards, Hilton Honors, Miles, Starwood Preferred Guest, Ultimate Rewards, Uncategorized | 4 comments

It’s that time again. App Partayy! What’s that? It’s a glorious day I experience every 90-95 days. Read here for more details.

Only apply for credit cards if your credit is in good condition and you’re responsible with your spending. If you’re applying for a mortgage, don’t apply for any cards 6-9 months before you apply for a loan. This is just to be safe- you don’t want to pay a higher interest rate if you don’t have to.

Here are the cards I’m thinking about applying for this time around.

Citi® Hilton HHonors™ Reserve Card

I was pumped when Citi and Hilton released this card! I’m planning some upcoming Hilton stays next year, and having Gold Status will give me free breakfast (that’s big savings) and free internet. Although having free wi-fi could get me in trouble with the wife, I’ll be able to get some work done on trips. Plus, you get two free weekend nights certificates! I plan on using my two free weekend nights either to kick off or end an epic vaca using Hilton HHonors points.

Other cool benefits are:

• Earn 10 HHonors Bonus Points per $1 spent on hotel stays within the Hilton HHonors portfolio*
• Earn 5 HHonors Bonus Points per $1 spent on airline and car rental purchases*
• Earn 3 HHonors Bonus Points per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases*
• Enjoy the benefits of HHonors Gold status as long as you are a cardmember*
• No foreign transaction fees on purchases*
• Travel with ease and enjoy global acceptance with your Citi chip credit card
• Earn an anniversary bonus of 1 weekend night certificate at select hotels and resorts within the Hilton HHonors portfolio each cardmembership year with qualifying purchases*

Here’s my full review on the Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve Card. 

Apply: Citi® Hilton HHonors™ Reserve Card

Virgin Atlantic Amex from Bank of America

This card comes with 25,000 Flying Club points on first spend and 25,000 more when you spend $2,500 in 90 days. I plan on transferring my 50,000 Flying Club points into Hilton HHonors, because they will transfer into Hilton at a 1:2 ratio. That’s 100,000 HHonors points!

This card offer comes and goes, and there are reports of it being “churnable.” Do any of you have any experience getting the Virgin Atlantic card multiple times?

Other details for the Virgin Atlantic:

• 20,000 bonus Flying Club miles after 1st purchase with Bank of America Virgin Atlantic card
• 25,000 additional bonus miles after spending $2,500 within 90 days (3 months)
• 5,000 additional miles for adding 2 authorized users to your account
• $90 annual fee not waived for the first year

Here’s my full review of the Virgin Atlantic Card. 

Apply Now:  Virgin Atlantic Amex from Bank of America

Ink Plus Business Card

I’m pumped about Chase bringing back the Ink Plus business credit card. Why? Because it’s another option to earn Ultimate Rewards. DRRR. I’ve already exhausted my Ultimate Rewards points I earned with my Sapphire Preferred and Ink Bold and now I need more. Gimmmeee.

The Ink Plus is just like the Ink Bold, but it’s a credit card and comes with 0% interest for 6 months. The signup bonus is 50,000 Ultimate Rewards after you meet the minimum spend of $5,000 in 3 months.

The Ink Plus gives you 5x earning opportunities galore. You will earn 5x points on office supplies, cable, phone services, and internet. You can even earn 5x points on Visa gift cards bought at Office Depot. Boom. You can get these gift cards in increments of $500. I wouldn’t do more than $2,000 in a month and I wouldn’t have these be my only purchases on my Ink Plus.

The Ink Plus also gives you 2x points on travel and gas. And it has no foreign transaction fee, but isn’t a chip and pin card.

Here’s my full review of the Ink Plus. 

Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card 

If you’re a regular Noob reader, you know that American Express has raised the sign-up bonus on the SPG cards to 30,000. I already have the personal card, but that’s not keeping me from getting in on the fun. I’m applying for the business Starwood Preferred Guest Card.

I love using my Starpoints on some of the lavish SPG hotels with their cash and points method. I can stretch out my Starpoints and stay at killa properties in the process.

Here are the full details:

• Starpoints® bonus: earn up to 25,000 bonus points: 10,000 after your first purchase and another 15,000 after you spend $5,000 within the first 6 months of Cardmembership
• That’s enough for a weekend getaway to a Category 4 Hotel like the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa, or six free nights at a Category 2 Hotel
• Earn up to 5 Starpoints® for each dollar of eligible purchases at participating SPG hotels and resorts – that’s 2 Starpoints for using the Card in addition to the Starpoints you earn as an SPG member. Earn 1 Starpoint for all other purchases.
• Free Hotel Nights: redeem Starpoints at over 1,100 hotels in nearly 100 countries worldwide – with no blackout dates
• Free Flights: redeem Starpoints on over 350 airlines with SPG Flights – with no blackout dates
• Get 5,000 bonus Starpoints after you transfer 20,000 Starpoints to a frequent flyer program with more than 30 airlines
• No limits on the number of Starpoints you can earn
• $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $65
• Terms and Restrictions apply.

Check out my full review of the Starwood Preferred Guest cards. 

Apply Now: Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card 

The Bounty

This is my plan for my app party next week. I may change it – you never know until you actually apply. But if I go through with these apps, I will earn close to 200,000 points and 2 free weekend night certificates. I will also earn other perks, like status and opportunities to earn more with the spending category bonuses. I may go crazy this party and throw in another app too. We will see.

I’ve picked cards over multiple banks, both personal and business cards, and always suggest that my readers do the same.

Again, only apply for rewards cards if your credit is in good condition. If you have any questions about an upcoming app party, don’t hesitate to email me.

— Noob Master