Amex BA CC plus need another

Thechiefy

Hi MoneySavers

After a long conversation with a relative recently he convinced me that I wasn't making best use of my spending on Credit Cards.

So to cut along story short I've opened a Amex BA Credit Card which I'll almost certainly spend £3k on in the first 3 months as well as £10k over the year to maximise the return in points, but

I also need another CC to use where merchants don't accept Amex, I did apply for an IHG Hotel CC because I'm already a platinum reward card holder with them, and this way it would increase my hotel reward points but I got declined with them, I'm guessing because my application was made directly after being accepted by AMEX.

Anyways I have wrote to them to appeal and fingers crossed they'll accept me, but in case they don't can anybody recommend which reward card option I should take to make maximum benefit?

I will pay both cards off in full each month.

Did wonder if the Tesco Clubcard option might be a good call because I can then transfer points to Avios but I don't shop with them, I shop with Sainsbury's.

Thoughts please??

Thanks!!!

Tixy

How much do you expect to pay on your second non amex card?
what typical types of places do you find you spend but the amex is not accepted?

reclusive46

Tixy wrote: »

How much do you expect to pay on your second non amex card?
what typical types of places do you find you spend but the amex is not accepted?

This. If the spend is minimal on non amex its probably not worth the effort. Avios earning rates on non-amex cards is usually pretty worthless.

Thechiefy

Minimal spend on the other card, I typically find local farm shops don't accept it and indeed stores like Mama's & Papa's.

I would suggest less than £500 per month

lr1277

If you can make the spend on the 2nd card an absolute minimum, would you not consider getting the 2nd card from your bank?


They know you and should give you a card.
Also as the spend will be an absolute minimum, maybe less cause to worry about cashback/rewards?

Thechiefy

lr1277 wrote: »

If you can make the spend on the 2nd card an absolute minimum, would you not consider getting the 2nd card from your bank?


They know you and should give you a card.
Also as the spend will be an absolute minimum, maybe less cause to worry about cashback/rewards?

Yeah good point, however I currently have a Barclaycard Initial with my bank with a very high APR on it, so need to get rid of that anyway.

Thoughts??

Tixy

If the high APR on your BC Initial is an issue does this mean you won't be pay off this secondary card in full each month?

If not, then the APR is going to be a much more important factor than any cashback/rewards. I'd be looking for a new card with 0% on purchases, or if you have a balance on the Initial already then one with 0% on balance transfers and on purchases.

mrchiggles

If you're serious about this sort of thing I suggest you spend some time on the head for points site - plenty of useful info on there about how to maximise travel reward schemes and the associated credit cards!

System

Probably just use your debit card if it's minimal or something like a Capital One Classic Extra - It's a MasterCard with a low limit but comes with cashback and no foreign loading.