Results: 3 Credit Card Applications In April And How I Verified Bonus Qualification

by The Weekly Flyer

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Signing up for credit card offers in April is likely on a few folks radar given the rumored changes coming on May 1st. I first narrowed down my strategy to 4 cards from many but then applied to only 3 cards. After applying for all three of them yesterday, I’ve captured the results below.

How I Verified Bonus Qualification

Card Application Results

1. Personal And Business Starwood Preferred® Guest Cards

The first card I applied for was the SPG personal card and I received an approval within minutes. But because of rumored changes on May 1st, and the fact I’ve had the card in the past, I was careful to capture the details of the offer I applied and was approved for.

I first verified the terms during the application process and then grabbed a screen print. You can clearly see that the offer qualifies me for the up to 25,000 bonus points after meeting minimum spending.

SPG Amex Offer Terms

Then I captured the approval for the exact offer.

SPG Amex Card Offer Approval

So based on my experience in having the SPG card over 11 months ago, applying for the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express offer, I’ll receive the 25,000 bonus points after I meet the required spending threshold. This is important, because after May 1st, a certain card provider is rumored to be limiting the number of times one can receive a signup bonus to only once.

2. TARGETED OFFER: Business Platinum Card® from American Express

The next card offer I applied for was the TARGETED Business Platinum Card® from American Express. This offer is a Limited Time (Targeted) Offer valid through April 19, 2014 for select members who receive this offer. I applied for this card with a business of ours and was instantly approved.

  • Targeted Offer
  • Earning potential: Up to 150,000 Membership Rewards Points

150000 Business Platinum Card Offer Details

3. Citi® Hilton HHonors™ Reserve Card

The last card in my April Strategy was with Hilton to round out my hotel point balance.

With the Citi® Hilton HHonors™ Reserve Card I’ll earn TWO WEEKEND NIGHT certificates, each good for one weekend night after I meet minimum spending requirements for the offer. The card also comes with complimentary upgrades, so I can enjoy complimentary space available upgrades and welcome amenity (which can include free breakfast at certain Hilton hotel types – like main Hilton hotels).

Bottom Line

I was able to document my application terms and they clearly show I qualified for the offers. In the end I’ll receive up to 175,000 points, two free weekend night certificates at select Hilton properties and complimentary gold status at Hilton just from credit card applications. My current plan is to go for the extra 50,000 Membership Rewards points even though the 100,000 targeted offer is the better deal.

Have you applied for any cards in April and what is your strategy to make sure you get the bonus if you’ve had the card in the past.

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About The Weekly Flyer

The Weekly Flyer writes about travel from a business traveler perspective. He travels the world every week accumulating points and miles along the way.

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Comments

  1. While you’ll probably get the bonus, I noticed that the Offer Terms for the SPG AMEX card had this language when I clicked on the link:

    OFFER TERMS

    If we identify you as currently having an American Express® Card account, you may not be eligible for this welcome bonus offer. This offer is also not available to applicants who have or have had this product.

    What’s the chance it will be enforced? I guess it’s still worth an application if it will go away anyhow in May.

  2. Hi David – I just happened to clear my browser history and cache before making the application so didn’t see that message. Not sure on the enforce-ability though.

  4. I was able to get the targeted Marriott Premier one for 70k points with 1k spending. Pretty good deal for a waived annual fee. I was thinking of the Amex MB plat one for the 50k points but..still on the fence on that one lol

  5. I recently applied for my 2nd SPG card. Previous one had been closed for a year, maybe 2. I got the first purchase bonus for the card. We’ll see about the 15K for $5K in spend. For the record, I got the “may not be eligible” language when I applied.

  7. I see you didn’t mention if you have had the Citi Reserve card before and when you last applied for or cancelled it. I know it is not from the other financial institution, but I’d be interested in when one can likely get this card again after having had it before.

  8. Any update on this? I got the first purchase 10K, but don’t want to put the full $5K spend on it if I don’t get the 15K bonus.

    Has any new (but repeat) cardholders gotten the full sign-on bonus after the $5K spend?

    (I was approved despite having the card previously, I believe less than 12 months ago.)

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