dailynewsnblog
With so many credit cards on the market offering valuable benefits and rewards, it can be challenging to decide which one deserves an application.
Here at TPG, we understand this firsthand, as our staff often take inventory of their own setups and weigh whether to add a new card to their wallets. With multiple considerations at play, the decision is not always straightforward.
From lucrative welcome bonuses to refreshed perks, many factors can influence your decision. Here’s a snapshot of the cards TPG staffers are applying for right now and why.
American Express Gold Card
Welcome offer: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.)
Annual fee: $325 (see rates and fees)
TPG’s principal spokesperson Clint Henderson and TPG director of UX research Mindy Pastrovich were both targeted for a 60,000-point welcome bonus on the American Express® Gold Card. (Welcome offers vary.)
Clint said he’s always wanted the Amex Gold for its high earning rates on U.S. groceries and restaurants worldwide. The Amex Gold earns:
- 4 points per dollar spent in purchases at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent)
- 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent)
Clint was also intrigued by the card’s up to $100 in Resy statement credits. These are split into two up to $50 semiannual statement credits (up to $50 from January through June and up to $50 from July through December) that can be used at U.S. Resy restaurants.
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Clint also called out the Amex Gold’s up to $10 in Uber Cash* each month. This can be used on food orders on Uber Eats and rides with Uber in the U.S.
*Uber Cash will only be deposited into one Uber account when you add the Amex Gold as a payment method and redeem with any Amex card.
To learn more, read our full review of the Amex Gold.
Apply here: American Express Gold Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $395
TPG senior email analyst Fianeli Arvelo added the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card as a catch-all card for earning 2 miles per dollar spent on everyday purchases.
Since Fianeli already has the Amex Gold and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees), she plans to use her Venture X on purchases other than groceries and restaurants.
She said she’s also looking forward to using the Venture X card’s statement credit of up to $120 for her TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee and $300 statement credit for travel purchases made through Capital One Travel.
To learn more, read our full review of the Venture X.
Learn more: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Chase Freedom Flex
Welcome offer: Earn $200 bonus cash back after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $0
TPG senior analyst Priyan Desilva got the Chase Freedom Flex® (see rates and fees) to maximize one of its bonus categories for Q3.
This quarter, Priyan plans to use the Freedom Flex to get 5% cash back* on gas station purchases.
To learn more, read our full review of the Freedom Flex.
*5% on up to the first $1,500 spent on rotating categories each quarter (activation required)
Apply here: Chase Freedom Flex
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Welcome offer: Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $95
TPG analyst Patrick Leary applied for the Chase Sapphire Preferred to earn its solid 100,000-point bonus offer.
Plus, since the Sapphire Preferred has doubled its annual hotel credit to up to $100 each anniversary year for prepaid hotel bookings made through Chase Travel℠, this card’s $95 annual fee is effectively offset by one benefit.
To learn more, read our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Welcome offer: Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $795
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) has been popular among TPG’s staff, thanks in part to a previous elevated offer of 150,000 bonus points. (This offer is no longer available.)
Allison Corn, TPG’s senior video producer, applied for that 150,000-point offer because of the heightened bonus and the Sapphire Reserve’s travel perks. TPG travel writer Rachel Craft saw the 150,000-point Sapphire Reserve bonus as “just too good to pass up,” so she decided to apply for it too.
Olivia Odell, TPG’s senior product designer, applied for the Sapphire Reserve to gain access to Chase Sapphire airport lounges.
TPG credit cards writer Stephanie Stevens recently applied for the Sapphire Reserve to retain access to the 1:1 World of Hyatt transfer ratio, since her Sapphire Preferred’s transfer ratio is dropping from 1:1 to 4:3**.
**For existing cardholders, this change will go into effect on Oct. 1, while new cardholders who applied on or after June 15 will see it take effect immediately.
Once Stephanie earns the bonus, she’s planning to transfer the points to her favorite hotel and airline partners (United MileagePlus and Hyatt) for upcoming trips to Europe later this year.
To learn more, read our full review of the Sapphire Reserve.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
Welcome offer: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $7,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $595
Drew DuBois, an analyst at TPG, applied for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees) for American Airlines Admirals Club lounge access and its 70,000-mile bonus.
Drew was considering the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (see rates and fees), but he opted for the AAdvantage card instead because he is a frequent American Airlines flyer.
To learn more, read our full review of the Citi / AAdvantage Executive.
Apply here: Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
United Club Card
Welcome offer: Earn up to 90,000 bonus miles: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles after adding an authorized user in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $695
TPG senior editor for loyalty programs Christine Gallipeau applied for the United Club℠ Card (see rates and fees) and the previously mentioned Sapphire Reserve because she knew she’d meet the minimum spending requirements for both cards.
Christine said she has made some major purchases for kitchen and living room remodeling projects, which helped her hit both minimum spend requirements and earn the welcome bonuses. She said she redeemed the rewards she earned from both cards for business-class flights to and from Santiago, Chile, to go to Easter Island in March 2027.
To learn more, read our full review of the United Club Card.
Apply here: United Club Card
Bottom line
TPG staffers approach each new card strategically. They consider their existing cards, upcoming trips and where new perks will add the most value.
There’s no single best strategy, but by reviewing your cards and goals, you can build a setup that supports your travel ambitions — just like our experts.
Related: How to choose the best credit card for you
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold, click here.
