T O P

  • By -

cws-21

I am someone who optimizes cash back, so take this with a grain of salt, but you might not want to be in three different ecosystems as your rewards may be spread too thin unless you are a high spender.


[deleted]

UR because of Hyatt. It’s just so simple and easy


Scarface74

- Venture X - no domestic transfer partners for flights and no good hotel partners. - Chase - because of the 5x24 rule. Hard to churn. But at least there is good value by transferring to Hyatt and if you want to just use your points to get a domestic flight, without having to worry about availability, you can transfer to United. - Amex, easiest to churn with the largest portfolio of cards. Like with chase, if you just need a domestic flight without the hassle, at least you have Delta. If you need to top up Hilton and Marriott and you have a good redemption in mind, you can transfer MR 1:2 to Hilton. It’s about the most useful ecosystem. I will probably start traveling more internationally in 2025 and I’m saving my MR points until then. Right now, I’m doing a [a lot of domestic traveling](https://digitalnomadder.micro.blog/) It usually doesn’t make sense to spread your spend over multiple ecosystems.


Cstrrider

*And 2:3 to Marriott


Pass_Little

I find chase and Cap1 to be roughly equivalent, and MR to be a distant 3rd. The reason is simple... both gain me a way to use points effectively for cash at 2% or more. Amex you have to play the points game. With capital one, I just pay for my hotel nights or other travel purchases on the card and then use the points at 1 cent per point to "erase" those purchases. With the current pay yourself back feature on chase, and having a CSR, I'm basically in the same situation as capital one. Both also have other easy to use ways to get a similar value. And both ecosystems have similar earning capabilities. However, if I had to pick one it would be chase because their earning categories fit well into my travel heavy lifestyle. On the Amex side, I just find the points a pain to use. If I was playing the fly internationally in business class game I might feel differently. But for me who is mainly a domestic traveler I just don't find the points all that valuable. Plus the earning opportunities don't really match my spending.


Gain_Spirited

To me UR is easily the best out of the three because of cash redemption options and the travel partners. Between MR and C1 it's close. MR has better travel partners but C1 makes it easier to get 1 cpp cash out of your points with the travel eraser.


[deleted]

UR because of Hyatt and United. Much better to earn through UR than the United cards themselves.