How to Optimize Your Best Credit Card Strategy

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In this video, we take a deep dive into a viewer’s endgame setup consisting of the Amex Trifecta with a focus on Delta and Hilton for airline and hotel benefits. This viewer loves to go to F1 races in Miami and Las Vegas and wanted to know how his credit card setup could be improved.

I make several recommendations for his setup, including how to optimize his setup for air travel and hotel stays and some options to consider when looking at his core credit card setup.

This is a great in-depth analysis, and we cover a lot of intricate details when it comes to credit card issuers, benefits, and opportunities, so I hope that this strategy optimization gives you ideas to improve your own credit card setup!

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📚 Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:39 Initial Credit Card Setup
06:15 Part 1: Airline Optimization
11:18 Part 2: Hotel Optimization
14:08 Part 3: Core Setup Optimization
20:12 New Credit Card Setup

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Some of the products that appear on this website are from companies from which I will earn an affiliate commission or referral bonus. The content in this video is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available.

I am not a financial advisor, accountant, or lawyer and do not provide financial, tax, or legal advice. This video and any ideas presented in it are my opinions and are provided for entertainment purposes only. Please do your own research and consult your own financial, tax, or legal professional for specific advice.
 
#creditcard #creditcardtips #travelcreditcards

[thirtynine]

I really like your in-depth analysis of the commenter's set up. I hope this is a segment that you'll include in future livestreams.😊

[MontyTheCardNerd]

Love it Stan, it's really cool how you can build different setups to roughly achieve the same goals. You're spot on with your recommendations to tweak this specific setup ... who doesn't love lowering annual fees right!

[Rhaegar]

Hi Stan.

We got the delta platinum two years ago when we bought our dvc contract figuring we could use the companion pass annually to go to Disney.

Two years, every single time we tried to use the credit it was only one the worst flight. Either had a stop or was late at night. Completely useless (especially with kids).

Downgraded to the blue after a year and opened the delta gold for the sub and free bags.

[warrenescalona]

Hi. Can I have Delta Silver with 2 Platinum (Delta platinum)?

[jtravisdavid]

Stan, great video, as usual. I find your videos very balanced and objective. Keep up the good work.

[MattWelterOfficial]

Unfortunately missed this one, but great break-down here of Julia's setup! It sounds like there are a lot of different moving parts and a pretty hefty & sizable overall setup, but you really broke down all the components really nicely. Great video Stan!

[Todd-lkld]

Thanks for all the great vids. 1) Since I value Hotel and Airport lounges when available. 2) I've had very bad experience with Hilton as a Diamond (Aspire). 3) Concerned about AAA Daily is that is a Comenity Bank card. Therefore, I'm moving toward Marriott Brilliant (for Marriott), Amazon (for Amazon/WF), and Chase Sapphire Preferred (all else). I know its an atypical mosaic but it seems to meet my needs?

[johnathannelson]

A few points that weren’t mentioned regarding the Delta Amex cards. The Reserve card gets you Delta SkyClub Access and you get four guest passes per year. You also accumulate $1 MQD for every $10 with the Reserve card vs $1 MQD for every $20 with the Platinum card. Effectively, you are paying for a faster path to higher Medallion status with the Reserve IF you already have the Amex Platinum, which, for now, gets you into the Delta SkyClubs. If Medallion status and all that goes with that aren’t of value to the user, then maybe the Gold card is the right choice.

[Ravens]

I currently have delta reserve, Disney premier, and a Dillard's credit card. I'm going to add a Hilton card soon. Maybe when I have my second surgery so ill hit the spend easy. Oh and I'm contemplating on getting the Sam's club MasterCard for the gas cash back.

[jimmyjames]

Nice strategy! Thanks for the info + video!

[SpencerChewitt]

You’re great at breaking down what each card gives, and how prioritizing certain ones could be a lot better for less fees. Good stuff Stan!

[HowToCredit]

cool video stan! alot of people overlook certain steps when it comes to credit cards, you always shed light on the right things

[DeepDiveExplorer]

Awesome! Thank you for this. I have been looking to improve my strategy with my setup. I currently use the Southwest Priority, which I have had Companion for 4 years now. And I Have the Chase Sapphire Preferred which I have noticed I could get a lot more by having the Hilton Aspire and the Southwest Priority instead. I do prefer and book Hilton way more then other brands.

I will say my wife also has a Southwest Priority which we rarely use now. 👀

[thejokerspeaks]

100% agree on the Delta card. This is why I canceled my Delta Reserve, and applied for the Delta Business Gold.

[joshua.butler]

Great deep dive on this setup! Nice work Stan 🤑

[JRham]

Quick question, I am just getting into traveling and flying. You mentioned you don't fly Delta, What do you fly? My last flight was American Airlines. What airline is your favorite? Thanks

[magicalday]

A tip I would give to Julias is to take advantage of the curbside baggage check in at MCO. They are a tip service but saves a lot of time waiting in line to check bags.

[mcr]

stan, tyvm. always appreciate your work. i live in dfw, and own a business, with pretty big monthly spend, across amex, chase, citi, CapOne.. i am EP status with AA. as someone who flies 1-3 times a month on business and pleasure, do you think it would be valuable to have DElta Platinum or diamond status or British Airways gold status? i could do a pretty good amount of earning with cc to status, but i always wonder about just earning with the cards i referenced above to have more flexible points.