What if you could only have ONE Annual Fee Credit Card?
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- Опубликовано: 18 сен 2024
- In this video I answer the question: If I could only have no credit card with an annual fee, which would it be?
Comment below what your answer would be!!!
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Luke partied so much that he forgot Aunt Connie in Louisiana
As far as the topic goes, it's tough. CSR travel credit is simple and doordash is cheaper on delivery than uber. Plat brings me way more QOL
I have to say the Venture X is my option for that free AU and the simplicity with the pairing with the Savor one. It seems to be a great minimalist set up. Great topic, sir.
@@ntrlbrnpnoi thanks for watching!!
Thumbs up, I would keep my Amex Platinum for only annual fee card
Can’t blame you. Id love to go platinum + cash back!!
Great question...I’ve actually thought about this too and I agree the CSR is the way to go. For me, the difference maker is that the CSR has already been aged while the VX is still new and exciting and vulnerable to downgrades. I just don't trust Capital One to be competitive long term the way Chase has. Also, with being this limited, I might focus more on domestic travel anyway, which lends itself to really using that 1.5x in the portal.
Good points
I’m keeping my Citi Prestige. 5x Airfare 5x Dining and the best Priority Pass. Good video!
Such a great card.
I have the Citi Trifecta right now with the Premier card and just waiting for them to come out with a top tier card again. Would be perfect
I agree the Ink line from Chase makes that ecosystem hard to beat but for me it has to be the Venture X for the value I get from its credits and other perks. Great video!
@@beautyandtheberners can’t argue with the VX!!
Okay, I will be the odd ball here based on my personal spend and pick the Amex Gold. 😂 Love your work Uncle Luke!
I knew someone would pick the gold. It’s an earner for sure! Just no travel perks at all.
Groceries and dining are just too big of categories to ignore.
I agree. I have the gold and I can’t let it go lol
Super solid video as always Luke! Loved your decision despite how hard the competition was down to the last two cards! You really can’t go wrong with either!
You’re right! Good thing we can get all the good cards!!
I agree with you on the CSR.
Though I think before the BILT card got nerfed, it was a decent power house to accumulate points to transfer to Hyatt. You could have combined it with the Venture X.
Love your videos! Great points made to think about re-optimizing your card set up!
@@DecayedMushroom thank you for the kind words.
The VX and the CSR complement each well. 3x on dining / travel + 2x on everything else is a hard to beat setup. Both C1 and Chase lounges are good, and their guest policy is significantly better than the Centurion lounges.
If you only want to use a 1 card setup, the VX will work, but otherwise the whole Chase UR ecosystem outshines C1. With Chase, you can get the CFF, CIU, and CIC to get a ton of 5x categories. Also, Chase has Hyatt for hotel value, and they are the only bank with transfer bonuses to Aeroplan for all *A flights.
Hello again sir. If I were stuck with one, it'd be the CSR. It just comes down to the transfer partners and flexibility. Not an earner card, but there's plenty of ways to generate UR points and fill some gaps with cash back cards.
It’s easy. Has to be the CSR, CSP, or CIP. gotta have there transfer partners over pretty much anything else.
I think I could live with any issuers partners. I use the same common 5
Luke this was really good - and provocative! If forced to choose 1 of the 3 (VX, CSR, Platinum), it would be the CSR. It's simply more well-rounded and functional than the Platinum or the VX. It's a better points earner than the Platinum by far, especially in the int'l space. Fortunately, I'm lucky to have all 3 for their respective strengths, lounge access, statuses, and perks😊 My 2nd choice would be my CS Platinum for my travel preferences.
Yes sir! It’s nice to have all 3!!!
Being new to the travel card game I went with Capitol one.thats because I was denied a Chase card and qualified for a Savor one. I’m glad it worked out that way.
@@rank1839 welcome to the game
@@LukesPointsandMiles Thanks
Chase and Ink train captive here, so CSR all the way. Good video, Luke.
Thanks for watching!!
Hard to say, but I’d say either AmEx Gold or AmEx Platinum. The travel perks and return protection alone pay for it…
Then again, the AmEx Business Platinum, in conjunction with my AmEx Business Checking, gives me 1:1 cash out…
Excellent video Luke! A very interesting thought experiment. I think Chase is the only way to go. The Sapphire Reserve would be my premium travel card. The Freedom Flex, Ink Cash, and Ink Unlimited would be the complementary UR cards. But then you still have no annual fee co-branded cards. I would have the Marriott Bonvoy Bold for the SUB, elevated earning rate at Marriott for cash stays, and as an anchor for the program. I would have the IHG One Rewards Traveler for the same reasons. Oh, and of course the Amazon Prime Visa.
@@devlin76 Amazon prime visa is a must!!!
As I don’t mind shuffling around no annual fee cards for cash back… I’d be team platinum.
Having NO Amex/Delta lounge access and no loyalty with Hilton or marriot would make traveling a nightmare. Add that to the card is net zero of my normal way of life and I’m good 😂
Very cool! Love the platinum benefits.
Agreed man, the CSR and Venture X is a close call. I would still choose the Venture X. Easy AF to justify and a great combo with the Savor. The CSR having the 50% boost is tempting but I like the simple two card set up Cap1 offers.
Love the Cap1 duo! If that’s all I had, I’d be good.
We just left the Aspire Transborder lounge YYC. My wife tried to get in with Priority Pass (Chase Ritz-Carlton). I used the Amex Platinum. Guess who got in and who was on the waitlist. AX Plat plus BBP is awesome. I had the CSR for 8 years then swapped it for the Preferred, now using the CRC (Chase Ritz Carlton) for Sapphire Lounges and Priority Pass. My wife has the VX for C1 lounge access (DEN next week).
Why did platinum get in when the Chase card didn’t?
I probably agree with the CSR.
I would pick my CSP
I think the csr. If you know how to use the support cards right ( both businesses and consumer) as well as if you use the portal for booking like i do you'll earn mad points with ease. Also it makes for good cash back if you want to purchase points from IHG or Hilton effectively making it a 1 to 2 transfer like the citi to choice transfer.
I always buy Hilton and ihg points! Thanks for watching !!
this is a hard one for me. I feel the platinum is way over rated for most people. my current setup has the gold card and the BBP that I use for my business, and honestly the BBP is crushing it right now. but as of late I'm doing a lot of portal hotel bookings though C1. there for I'd go VX. I like the idea that you can pretty much do away with the AF with the travel credit and the 10k anniversary credit. however, the C1 business cards are just... bad. so maybe the CSP (Citi).. this is a hard one Luke. the more I think about it, the more I come up with different combos.
@@Boxerexp good thing we really don’t have to pick just one!
I love thinking about questions like this! Hope you stay healthy, but if you find yourself bedridden again, feel free to share more speculating with us.
Thanks for watching!!
I'd keep the Amex Platinum mostly because of lounge access.
Can’t blame you there!!
Was great to meet u Luke, glad ur feeling better.
My one AF card would be the yet to be released Wells Fargo premium card (at least I hope so)
Oh you’re a gambler!!
@@LukesPointsandMiles i didnt lose all that money at Ceasars in New Orleans being a wimp!!! LOL
@@PhilMo78 🤣
I caught the flu too. Get better Luke. I’d probably take cap1 venture x. The 2x catch all makes it simple esp for p2
Can’t argue your choice. VX is a great card
I’m a nerd and have pondered this before and also decided on the CSR for the same reasons. Then I would have an Amex BBP for 2 x and so I can earn MR’s with Rakuten. This would mean giving up Hilton Gold status though that I get with my Biz Plat & Surpass so that would
be a bummer.
I thought about Amex platinum with the BBP + Rakuten and I thought that would still really earn plus all the perks
Annual fee or not if I could only have one card, for me its the US Bank Reserve. I just got it a month ago and wow it makes things so simple. It has plenty of travel benefits especially for an occasional traveler. And I estimate the shopping cash back deals to erase the $75 effective AF in a years time. 3x (4.5x) on almost everything with mobile wallet??!! Ill take it!!! Good video Luke!!
It’s become probably the most popular card at the moment!
I think I'd go with the Venture X. Id get the no annual fee savor and I am all set.
@@druiz012 tough to beat that.
Maybe too underwhelming on the lounge side, but I'd at least consider USBAR and the smartly visa signature (assuming it's no annual fee) as a viable alternative to the chase setup. Heavy earners and low EAF. Not sexy, but effective.
I can see that but I’m going to say the USBAR is insanely overrated. If you can use mobile pay you can hope to redeem purchases at 4.5x but a simple 5% cash back card can do even better. I just struggle to understand.
I want to say Platinum for the lounge access and the Hilton/Marriott status and I am going to be traveling a lot next year. Yet in a normal year my biggest category would be food/restaurants so I would have to say Gold normally. I would then have to use my no fee Chase Freedom card and other cards to get multipliers for places that don't take AMEX or especially outside the US when they don't take AMEX. If this was a question of you could only have 1 card period it would have to be the CSR. They have the most transfer partners and seem to be expanding their lounges faster than C1.
@@jeffreybacot remember if you use Chase freedom cards overseas, you’ll be charged a foreign transaction fee.
CSR going away . . . Chase cards are easy to use, have good partners and have good options to earn points. I think too many people want the perfect card. When it comes to credit cards you're going to make compromises . . . so its important to know what you need, know what you want, and pick the card that ticks the MOST IMPORTANT BOXES and call it good. Love the channel.
Thanks for watching. Csr just kills it with the protections and instances and that is the silent killer.
I don’t have it, but my wife does and I would say the Venture X seems like the best choice for me. I love my Sapphire Reserve, it is awesome, but the Venture X is the way to go. She racks up so many points on everything plus the annual 10K.
@@airbornebackpacker6840 yes sir!!
All though i run a primarily capital one set up, since i am hybrid cash back and points and miles, i will choose charles Schwab platinum and use my other non amex cards to cover my other categories. Especially since i travel a lot and my airport has a delta sky club for its only lounge
@@mr.laceduppp7944 Amex platinum is such a monster card for benefits
As usual, I preface this by saying I am not a traveler, so I don't usually consider annual fee cards but the BofA PR was the first thing to come to mind
$95 AF with $200 Credits ($100 Airline Incidental | $100 GE/TSA)
Strong Insurances
no FTX
in the endgame it becomes a 3.5x travel and 2.62x catch all
I am gonna sit right next to Adams kids with some headphones on
Ahahaha. Right on!
Altitude Reserve, video over next question.
@@Rhaegar7504 very tough to travel, especially overseas without transfer partners.
Would have to go Chase Sapphire Reserve
US bank altitude reserve 4.5 return almost everything and with all travel benefits
Nice move.
It's a great floor for value, but transfer partners unlock a much higher ceiling.
My pick would be the platinum because comes with Hilton Gold, and Marriott Gold. I feel like the annual fee hotel cards are not that great.
@@candiceabr hotel status is nice!!
I have the American Airlines credit card $99 annual fee. The rest are no annual fees. Great job on RUclips ♥️
@@vickiarnold7300 thanks, Vickie!!
Was a close one for me too but going with the VX. Though definitely would like to revisit this question in 1-2 years' time, hopefully after a long awaited refresh of the CSR. Also speculating that the VX will be incrementally nerfed over time but hope I'm as wrong as can be with that one.
I honestly don’t think the VX gets nerfed. I think they’ve trimmed the fat and the AF has stayed the same. Capital one seems to change a lot less than other issuers
@@LukesPointsandMiles True that CO doesn't change as much. Certainly hope you're right on this point!
Hilton is my primary hotel chain and I'm hub-captive to Delta, has to be Amex Plat for me, for better or worse.
Ok - I can get behind that logic!
This one is interesting
I like the Venture X Savor one combo a lot. The lounges sound amazing. I live near a capital one cafe. There are a lot of headwinds for capital one right now.
USB Altitude Reserve is a great contender. I really like the features and the mobile wallet earning and real time rewards boost.
Chase and Amex for some reason have that magic touch. I don't know if it is 5/24. I always feel that I get great customer service from chase. Maybe it is just emotion but I personally would probably choose the Chase trifecta of CSR, CFF, CFU.
Wells Fargo's new lineup objectively looks competitive. Just emotionally I can't get myself to trust Wells Fargo. I would only ever consider the Bilt card because it is such a no brainer.
I’m curious with Wells, do you realize almost every bank has greater sins than Wells Fargo? Are the sins in of chase forgotten, ignored or just not a la widely publicized?
@@LukesPointsandMiles You're probably right. I guess it is mostly just the headlines I have seen over the last 15 years. I have just heard the usual they open 10 accounts for you, charge you fees, and do shady stuff.
I don't really trust any big bank as much as I trust my local credit union or navy federal. But credit card offerings are more enticing at the big banks so I use them for that only.
I got into the credit card game in 2019 when the go to advise at the early stages was get chase cards and build the chase trifecta. Now I am interested in churning sign up bonuses such as the IHG 5 nights recently. The wells earning categories in theory are compelling. But when I already have the freedoms an extra 1% in an earning category isn't enough to get me excited to sign up for a new bank.
I also just reached 9 credit cards. So cards in the same bank are becoming more valuable to me than opening new relationships. There are lots of cards in chase I want and being able to manage them in one portal makes it easier.
I'd be more interested to start a relationship with Amex in the late game because I am already interested in the platinum, Delta, Hilton, and Marriott cards.
But for discussion sake of the topic of the video I would probably choose a CSR or Amex Platinum over Wells. Mainly because things like Amex's customer service or Chase's car rental protections seem like useful perks that punch above an extra 1% cash back. I haven't heard of a compelling perk of banking with Wells Fargo outside of earning categories. Even Capital One is becoming attractive for the lounge access alone.
@@thomaslautenberger6447 agreed!!
CSR, great insurances, easy to use travel credit and its a points generator at Disney world 😂
Does it all code as dining and travel? I thought savor was the king cause of entertainment and dining
@@Julias1337 if you’re staying on site and charge everything to your magic band, everything you buy with your magic band will get charged to your room which will then get charged as travel
I think there’s a good argument for the Venture X with the Autograph card. You’d be completely covered for foreign travel plus whatever 5% cards you wanted to add for domestic. I’ll argue all night that the Autograph is a better card than the Journey because of better travel & transit. The problem is of course Wells Fargo. I’d buy my flights thru the C1 Portal.
I don’t even think wells is a negative anymore. At some point holding a grudge is unproductive.
I'd keep Capitol One because personally use my points internationally for economy flights to get my most bang for buck and you can do that with Capital One. I don't mind purchasing airbnbs or hotels so Chase having Hyatt doesn't matter to me I'm just interested in which one can make me the most points and I feel capital and can do that Plus if you spend a decent amount of time outside the United States only one cards going to give you 2x on your purchases overseas and that's Capital One venturex
@@Cryptid71 agreed
For me, my 1 annual fee credit card would be the gold American Express card. I do not travel much, so this card with all the points I earn for groceries and restaurants works well. I can also use the $7 dollar per month Dunkin credit to get a single scoop sundae and a donut once per month. There is a Baskin Robbins / Dunkin shop near my house. Also, there is a resy restaurant nearby where I can use the $100 worth of credits every year. Of course, the answer to this question is very subjective.
Ok I have to ask: why are we collecting Amex Mr points if we don’t travel?
Nice to have yea back!
Hopefully I’ll be 100% soon!!!
I think i would have to agree with you. I actually have both CSR wnd VX. The main reason i have VX is for the lounge at DFW. I personally think it's the best there (at least for now). With the travel credit and bonus it doesn't really cost me to carry it so I automatically get positive value. At the end of the day rhe CSR is my personal heavy weight. I for paid $450 dollars for travel delay cost and yes i do use Hyatt..... I do wish Chase had lifemiles though. Juat book another Portugal trip to visit family 4 business class tickets at 39K a piece (Thanks for the tip!!).
Love the lifemiles. And I can’t wait to visit Portugal. 🇵🇹
In my opinion, the CSR tbh is the only right answer. You can still technically get your other categories covered in points (including a 2x catch all) considering how the C1 Venture One and WF Autograph are No AF and still have transfer partners.
Yeah plenty of great no annual fee options nowadays
I think I would go with the Altitude Reserve, but I admit the Sapphire Reserve is probably the better choice.
USBAR is a great choice.
Amex Platinum FTW.
@@bobv5806 nice move!!
CS PLAT - the 80k welcome offer is a turn off though
@@carlosleshawn man I remember when it was 60k and we loved it!!
No contest…. Venture X
@@glenardonia Dino!!!!
CSR or VX. If its one it needs to be well rounded.
@@kingsamvisuals I agree
For me the VX/S1 duo plus the Bilt, WF autograph, WF attune, USB Altitude Connect (PP restaurants and gigsky) for my 9m foreign and 3m domestic use would be great.
Nice!
1.5x on the FU is acceptable assuming you're transferring. 1.5x multiplied by cpp is the best way to evaluate it. 1.5 x 1.33cpp equals roughly a 2% return, same as 2% cash back card. Hyatt and Aeroplan alone are easily able to hit that cpp value, its frankly difficult to find a Hyatt redemption that low. The FU only makes sense in a Chase setup though, if you aren't using it to transfer its a completely obsolete card.
1.5 will always be unacceptable for me
I'd have to choose between CSR or Venture X. Tough one though. Thanks for the info + video!
@@jimmyjames6492 thanks for watching, Jimmy!!
If I had to pick only 1 AF card, it'll be the Venture X. I love the USBAR, but my parents (Free AU) can't be bothered to use apple pay or anything close to that. Venture X still gives the 2% and it's just easier to just book a flight via their website. So there, at least for me... the Venture X just wins out
I think that’s a fine choice
Well shit 🤣. With our current spend categories, I'll have to go with the Capital One Savor card. It's mainly because we spend $13k (4x) on MLS season tickets, plus probably about $25k (3x)on groceries and another $15k (4x) dining out. I know I lose the 2x and additional benefits of the Venture X. I use the Citi Custom Cash for gas, and that's the largest outside of the Savor card.
I can get Sky Club as one of my choice benefits, so that's covered.
Makes sense and you can pair it with a no annual fee venture for partners. Just not really a great “just one annual fee card”. I think VX with a savor one does much better.
Chase CSR of course
CSR is my only….
This is a tough choice but maybe easier in 2 player mode
2 player opens up some options for sure!!
Do you have a link for the Chase Freedom Flex?
I dont at the moment. My P2 does but I don’t want to wake her up. She has the super flu now.
Amex is all I need
Nice!!
I would keep the Green card and downgrade the Blue Cash Preferred to the Blue Cash Everyday as I don't cross the $6k cap grocery or gas cap.
Impressively low spend!!
Venture X
Great choice!!
Remember Carlos is not getting into the lounge for free. You also need an authorized user. Going with the VX...
I get two guests at the Chase lounges I think.
@LukesPointsandMiles Yeah but you have other kids too. And the wife needs her access to lounges too. 😁
@@czrs85 VX is a great card. Can’t go wrong with it.
@@LukesPointsandMiles I love my CSR though.
I'm probably in a tiny minority that uses CS Platinum, a travel card, for its 1.1 CSP for cash back 😆 in tandem with the Amex Gold for those sweet 4X points!
@@theclown888 yeah that’s a tough game to play. Cash back starting at -$1000!!
@@LukesPointsandMiles If you don't count the credits. I wouldn't touch an annual fee card if not for them!
@@theclown888 very true.
If it could only be one then I’m torn between csr and Amex plat
I can see that!
Thinking about the meet up for next year. Where’s it gonna be?
Cesar is planning it. Puerto Rico Veterans Day weekend.
My answer is same for both: USBAR. Not perfect (and US bank is even further from ideal!). But it’s easy to get (outsized?) value from.
Tho it could be a tie with the plat in an only 1 af cc. Which even at several hundred $$ still punches up and provides outsized value.
I’m curious how the USAR ever gets “outsized” value? I peaks at 4.5 cpp which is lower than dozens of no annual fee cards. 💳
@@LukesPointsandMiles basically domestic travel is my thing….until I move to NL or Portugal, where tap to pay is even on toilets, govt offices.. everywhere. Won’t be much need for plane travel then either, but will be Getting 1.5 cpp back redeeming bus, train, and ferry passes.
@@newagain9964 it’s almost as good as a 5% cash back card!!!
@@LukesPointsandMiles lol. Aren’t many 5% cb cards and then u gotta mange them all and deal with caps and retailer prohibitions and still hope they code correctly and u don’t get the benefits and protections of a visa infinite. And the question wasn’t usbar or cb cards, so I can still have cb cards.
Admit, it’s aunt Connie’s fav card. 🤌
@@LukesPointsandMiles aren’t many 5% cb cc. And with cb u have to deal with managing them all and their redundancies and be aware of prohibitions on certain merchants and caps and ftf and cash redemptions def less than 1.5 and mediocre benefits and perks.
CSP all day!
Ooof!!
You're forgetting that Capital One is getting two more new cards in November and I guarantee you they're gonna blow everybody out of the water
Bold statement. I can’t wait to see what they come up with!!
Would it be crazy to say the ritz card? 😂
Not at all. People love that card even though it doesn’t earn. I mean who wants to earn Marriott points? Haha
Why do people keep ignoring the CSR travel insurance benefits? Easily wins.
I think that’s what keeps the card alive. Otherwise it would be really bad.
@@LukesPointsandMiles , in certain situations, it is pretty much as valuable as an Allianz annual policy. That's worth a lot. Doesn't work perfectly for me because of how they define family members.
@@charliedurham4248 nothing is perfect but I think most folks will agree the CSR has that category locked down
There u are. I thought maybe u quit the game to work on a shrimp boat. Not sure I get ur throw plat out reasoning. U can earn transferable pts from $0 af cards from WF, Chase etc. 🤷♂️
I’d like to see you earn transferable points from chase cards with no annual fee cards! But you’re right, amex plat isn’t a terrible option.
@@LukesPointsandMiles Chase was a bad example (but points out why I don’t have anything beyond inks). I wrote it while cooling down from run.
@@newagain9964 I understand!