Best bonus route after starting from scratch/24 months break?

[B_itchingtotravel]

I’m starting from scratch after a 2 year hiatus…. I’ve read the HFP article which states:

If you have not had ANY personal American Express cards in the last 24 months, the best route to optimise the number of sign-up bonuses you can get is:

start with either a Marriott Bonvoy, Nectar or one of the Amex cashback cards
follow up with either The Platinum Card or British Airways Premium Plus

When the 30,000 Gold Preferred Rewards points offer came along, Rob kindly said to still do the above…..

I’m obviously being dumb, so someone needs to spell it out for me….. What am I missing? Where does PR Gold fall into it and why wouldn’t I start with that one, when it offers more points?

[Reney]

if you get the gold MR card, then you start there and go to the BAPP. As having any Amex disqualify you from the bonus for gold MR so that must be your first one after the break.

Getting the gold disqualify you for the nectar, marriott and plat bonus so the only one left is BAPP.

Are you sure Rob was not answering a very specific question where the person has no interest in Plat or won’t qualify for them. As from a total bonus perspective starting at Gold and missing out on future Plat bonus is not the best if your aim is to max bonus without regard for fees.

[B_itchingtotravel]

Thanks for the reply. Actually, I’m not interested in Platinum, but I didn’t mention that in my original post to Rob.

[Tezza1978]

On a slight side note if anyone knows – are you eligible for the BAPP bonus sign up Avios if you already have Plat (and have received an upgrade MR points bonus from going from Gold) . I know you are still eligible if only have Gold from Rob’s article.

[B_itchingtotravel]

Still really unclear why Rob would suggest Nectar over Gold. Would it be the nectar earning rate?

Why wouldn’t I choose 30,000 MR points to convert into 30,000 AVIOS over 20,000 nectar points that convert to less avios?
I can then get BAPP bonus regardless,

[aq.1988]

B_itchingtotravel wrote:

Still really unclear why Rob would suggest Nectar over Gold. Would it be the nectar earning rate?

Why wouldn’t I choose 30,000 MR points to convert into 30,000 AVIOS over 20,000 nectar points that convert to less avios?
I can then get BAPP bonus regardless,

If you start with Nectar/Marriott, then you get can 3 SUB’s (Nectar/Marriott, then BAPP/Platinum, then Platinum/BAPP).

If you start with Gold, you can only get 2 SUB’s (Gold, then BAPP).

Personally, I would go for Platinum (whilst the SUB is 100k), then BAPP, when there’s an enhanced bonus, but appreciate not everyone would want to spend £650 on a credit card (most friends I’ve referred have taken the Gold to start with). I’d skip Nectar/Marriott entirely tbh, although there would be an extra bonus available, I wouldn’t want to risk my acceptance for the Platinum or BAPP.

[B_itchingtotravel]

aq.1988 wrote:

B_itchingtotravel wrote:

Still really unclear why Rob would suggest Nectar over Gold. Would it be the nectar earning rate?

Why wouldn’t I choose 30,000 MR points to convert into 30,000 AVIOS over 20,000 nectar points that convert to less avios?
I can then get BAPP bonus regardless,

If you start with Nectar/Marriott, then you get can 3 SUB’s (Nectar/Marriott, then BAPP/Platinum, then Platinum/BAPP).

If you start with Gold, you can only get 2 SUB’s (Gold, then BAPP).

Personally, I would go for Platinum (whilst the SUB is 100k), then BAPP, when there’s an enhanced bonus, but appreciate not everyone would want to spend £650 on a credit card (most friends I’ve referred have taken the Gold to start with). I’d skip Nectar/Marriott entirely tbh, although there would be an extra bonus available, I wouldn’t want to risk my acceptance for the Platinum or BAPP.

Thanks so much, that clarifies it for me. I have no interest at this point in Platinum, so I’ll start with Gold.