Trying to decide on card portfolio

[MrsPurchase]

I’m going round in circles a bit on which fee-incurring card, if any, might be the best for me and I’m hoping someone might be able to help me make sense of things and point me in the right direction…

My partner lives in the US and I usually fly with Aer Lingus to see him. I like AL because they’re significantly cheaper than BA, pre-clearing US customs and immigration at Dublin airport is almost a pleasant experience compared with doing it Stateside, and I don’t mind adding on a few extra hours to my journey. I usually go London-Seattle via Dublin.

I started collecting points via the Amex gold card as the reviews suggested that it was a good one for a noob (hi!). I cleared the minimum spend and have locked in the SUB. I have also just acquired a Barclaycard avios plus mastercard, because again I should be able to clear the minimum spend in the stipulated period with relative ease.

I like Amex because of the flexibility that comes with the rewards points. If my relationship goes south (which it shouldn’t, but you never know), it’s useful to have the possibility of spending the points on Eurotunnel, Eurostar, exchanging to Nectar points via BAEC, etc. So I’m going to want to keep one Amex card in my portfolio. I also want to keep a Mastercard for those times when Amex isn’t a feasible payment method.

AL do avios reward flights for fewer points (I think) than BA, and AL’s business class seems to be pretty comparable to BA’s first class (seats that can be laid flat, for example), for 62,500 points one way to Seattle from Dublin off peak; 16,250 for the same flight in economy. (A side note: I do like the ease and transparency that AL show points needed for reward flights.)

This context is provided for the actual question: am I likely to do better with a BA Amex premium plus card and the 2-4-1 voucher, as this can be redeemed on AL (I don’t mind which class), or the Barclaycard avios plus mastercard with the ‘upgrade’ voucher? I should be able to meet the minimum spend to trigger the voucher, but only on one of them. I don’t know whether BA actually provides better value in terms of avios redemption if flying direct from London-Seattle once a year with them. Whichever one I went with (if either: I don’t know whether my situation would make it worth paying for a card), I’d be looking to retain a free version of the other (Amex rewards or Barclaycard avios mastercard).

I’m sorry for the long-winded post, but this is all relatively new to me. It’s possible I’m asking a redundant question, in which case I apologise for fundamentally misunderstanding everything!

[cmcp]

Welcome to the points club! I’m sure by now all your purchases look like points through your eyes.

Some useful articles here https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-m&sxsrf=APwXEde84yNNnVILtcOS9gqkue-NAteYFA%3A1685570418178&q=Is+the+Barclays+Upgrade+Voucher+or+the+American+Express+Companion+Voucher+better+for+solo+travellers%3F&oq=Is+the+Barclays+Upgrade+Voucher+or+the+American+Express+Companion+Voucher+better+for+solo+travellers%3F&aqs=heirloom-srp..

I’ve got both BA Amex Premium and Barclaycard Avios Plus and they’re great companions to one another. When somewhere doesn’t take Amex I use Barclaycard, and / or I alternate spend to run towards whichever needs a reward trigger.

Based on what you’re saying, if I were you I’d ditch the Gold and invest in the other two fully paid.

[MrsPurchase]

Ah, thanks! I can’t justify paying for the privilege of two cards, so the BA Amex looks much better for my needs. I can’t use Amex in Curve either, so I’ll downgrade to the Barclaycard avios MasterCard once I’ve banked the SUB on the plus version, and use that when I can’t use Amex or when I’m abroad via Curve.

Is it worth holding onto Gold for the rest of the fee-free year?

[Peter K]

Hello 🤗

A few points.
The short form of Aer Lingus is not AL (not important on this thread as you’ve made it clear what you mean – just in case you ask a question on another thread).

Aer Lingus business is roughly the same as BA club. First has larger seats, more attentive staff etc

The best use of Avios is what works best for you. I agree that the BA premium Amex seems best as the voucher can be used on Aer Lingus.

The only reason to cancel the good card before the end of the few period is if you want to apply for the platinum amex in 2yrs for the sign-up bonus. Remember, when your cancel the good your can’t keep the MR points you have earned, you need to transfer them out or lose them.

[zapato1060]

Welcome to the points game from a slightly green user. The flex of being able to use the 241 on Aer or Iberia was a game changer for me. Especially the 68k business class returns in IB from MAD and £200 in taxes. The lack of Aer Lingus availability even in Y (Eco) has been a bit worry to me when I have searched so keep that in mind. Good luck.

[zapato1060]

@MrsPurchase, actually I was wrong. EI availability is high on economy from DUB especially to NYC/IAD. Enjoy.

[Guernsey Globetrotter]

One thing about going for the BAPP option – as you have said you like the flexibility of Amex MRs – remember you do end up with Avios rather than points for your spend… you’ll have to convert your MRs to Avios before closing the Gold or you lose them, so you may want to downgrade to the free Amex Rewards Credit Card (ARCC) or alternatively retain Gold in order to keep your current points alive.

I know you said you can’t justify paying for two cards but with the Gold card if you use the Deliveroo credits and the lounge access etc. then you are getting value for money https://www.headforpoints.com/2022/05/15/five-reasons-why-you-should-keep-amex-gold/.

If you downgrade/cancel then no need to do so until the end of the free year and you may be able to use the benefits above (and get some cashback offers that seem plentiful on the Gold card). Finally, if you do decide to go for the ARCC then it may be best to make a new application rather than downgrade as there seems to be a relatively good sign-up offer at present (Earn 10k MRs with a £2k spend in your first 3 months, so only £667 a month spend needed to get a good chunk of points). Get the Gold and ARCC accounts linked for MR purposes and then you can cancel the Gold and retain the accrued points. Simples! 😉

[BuildBackBetter]

Guernsey Globetrotter wrote:

Finally, if you do decide to go for the ARCC then it may be best to make a new application rather than downgrade as there seems to be a relatively good sign-up offer at present (Earn 10k MRs with a £2k spend in your first 3 months,

As OP already has Gold, she wont be eligible for any sign up bonus other than BAPP.

My 2p: either one of the combos: a BAPP + Barclaycard free card or the free BA Amex card + Barclaycard paid one could work for you. I’d personally prefer the BAPP as it also comes up with offers, better reward availability (in case if you decide to go with BA), better customer service etc.

[MrsPurchase]

Thanks, all. It’s all a little bewildering, to be honest! Obviously, I can’t earn reward points with BAPP, but if all else fails I can always convert avios to Nectar points,I guess. The trouble with EI (hope I have that right now!) is that I have absolutely no idea what taxes, fees and surcharges might be payable on a rewards flight (or a avios and cash redemption): it seems that on the EI website you actually need to have the avios in the bank to show what the additional payment is going to be, and I don’t want to transfer out all my membership reward points out just now. Does anyone know how one might go about calculating what the fees and taxes might be? Either BA or EI. Trying to find reward flights seems like an exercise in existential terror, to be honest, so I’m wondering now whether just earning membership reward points might be the way to go, and then use them in a mixed avios and cash situation, although I’m aware that this might not be making best use of the avios in terms of value. So confused 🙁

[MrsPurchase]

Sorry, just realised I can check availability and taxes via avios.com. It doesn’t give the option of anything but economy, though. Does that mean that no reward seats are available in other classes, or just that you have to find out another way? I’m not planning on travelling in the lap of luxury very often, but it would be useful to know.

[CyberMan]

You also have the option of using the BAPP until you hit the target spend and get your 241, then downgrade that to the free card. At the same time, Amex have the gold to platinum upgrade offer floating around, where you can get 20k MR points for 4k spend (I did this at the start of this year and I think my offer was 25k MR for 3k spend so it might vary).

This way you would get to keep the Amex points to be able to transfer to multiple partners, get the hotel membership levels, travel insurance, dining credit, Harvey Nichols credit etc, and keep the avios earning card for free, with the ability to earn additional 241s if you hit the 20k spend yearly.

At the end of the day it’s all different strokes for different folks, and all depends on what sort of fees you’re comfortable paying for a card, if you are at all