Credit Cards
Rankings
T0: UAR
T0.5: CSP, Amex Gold
T1: Ritz, Citi Premier, HSBC Elite
T1.5: CFF, CFU, Citi DC, Citi CC, Chase Marriot
T2: Amex Plat, CSR, Bilt, Hilton Aspire
T3: Aero Cards and Hotel Cards
T4: Citi Costco, Apple Cards
Tier 0: Take advantage of every opportunity.
US Bank Altitude Reserve (UAR)
4.5 % on everything? Too good to be true.
Tier 0.5: Everyone should have
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (CSP)
The CSP is the core of the Chase trilogy and the UR (Chase Ultimate Rewards) system. The UR system has point transfer partner like Hyatt, which makes UR more valuable and available than other reward systems.
To put it simply, CSP is a mid-level card you'll obtain early on. It's a Visa card, and you are likely to keep it forever, it deserves a slot in your small wallet.
American Express Gold Card (Amex Gold)
With 4x points on dining and grocery purchases (capped at $25,000 per year), free additional cards, and AMEX's exceptional service, this card is truly excellent. And it's easy to get.
Don't forget its return protection, purchase protection and Extended Warranty.
I will consider using this credit card when I purchase expensive electronic products like MacBook Pro or regular items on Amazon or TEMU. For all "entities", I will put the expenses on this card, as well as dining and grocery. Note that second-hand, open box and refurbished items are not covered by warranty.
Cathy Pacific is a good point transfer partner for AMEX as I will annually fly and return from China.
Sometimes you can open Gold for multiple times.
Tier 1: Worth holding for the long term.
Chase Ritz-Carlton Credit Card (Ritz)
The Ritz card offers travel insurance the same to the Chase Sapphire Reserve. I'll use this card to rent a car and book a flight.
The main insurance coverage of a credit card includes:
- Trip Delay Insurance (delay 6h), need to use Ritz to buy the ticket
- Baggage Guarantee (6h)
- Travel Accident Insurance (include medical)
- Car Rental Insurance (Secondary, CDW/LDW, Roadside Assistance)
Moreover, it also offers PPS.
Citi Strata Premier
When you've maxed out the $25,000 cap on your Amex, you'll need four such cards.
Tier 1.5: Inevitable Path
No Annual Fee Functional Card
- Chase Freedom Flex
- Discover
- Citi Custom Cash & Citi Double Cash
- Chase Freedom Unlimited
These cards are only used for a few days a year.
Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
A critical dependency to Ritz. Usually have high SUBs.
HSBC Elite
5x for all travel? Too good to be true.
Tier 2:
AmEx Platinum
Chase Sapphire Reserved
Bilt
Amex Hilton Aspire
Tier 3
Aero Cards
Unless you live near a hub.
AmEx Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
Chase IHG Premier
Chase World of Hyatt
Tier 4: shit cards
- Citi Costco
- Apple Card
Canarypwn