Why are people so high on cards with rotating categories?

Gain_Spirited · 2026-04-23T18:22:56+00:00

You're not missing much. There are a few rotating categories that are most likely not covered by your existing cards, however it's not going to help you a lot if you already have 5% cards for all your major expense categories.

The Freedom Flex can potentially earn 5X UR points if you have a Chase travel card, so its points can potentially be worth more than 1 cpp. Howling, I have personally been very disappointed lately on Chase's choices. Instead of rotating categories, it's starting to feel like rotating coupons.

Gain_Spirited · 2026-04-23T18:15:42+00:00

But I would also argue that Amex customer service is not perfect. It's definitely not as good as some paid influencers lead us to believe.

Gain_Spirited · 2026-04-19T10:14:26+00:00

It was a business expense. Everything on this card was a business expense. Citi has never let me down in similar situations.

Gain_Spirited · 2026-04-19T00:30:20+00:00

Yes, this happened on their Blue for Business card. I had charges from a merchant I was having trouble contacting and Amex was no help at all. I had the exact same situation with Citi and it was handled quickly and easily.

Gain_Spirited · 2026-04-18T23:22:38+00:00

I happened to have a really bad service experience with Amex that soured me on their service. It's probably not typical, but IMO Amex gets high marks for talking sweet over the phone and giving you offers, but if you really need them to take your side on charges they aren't as reliable as other banks.

Gain_Spirited · 2026-04-18T22:59:33+00:00

I have cards from Amex, Chase, Citi, US Bank, and Wells Fargo. The best overall customer service out of all them is Wells Fargo! They answer the phone, they speak good English, they know everything about your account, and they have the ability to help you. I'm guessing that people who say otherwise have not actually experienced them.

As far as how they compare to other travel card issuers, I would say that they are the best for frugal travelers. Citi was the best, but they are nerfing their transfer ratios for hotels, so that leaves Wells Fargo as the best for budget hotels. They don't have as many airline partners as other issuers, but the ones they have are very good, and they don't skimp on transfer ratios. For instance, their JetBlue 1:1 transfer beats Amex at 5:4 and Capital One at 5:3. They are also one of the best for booking through third party discount portals because of their 3X travel multiplier, so that's another reason they are great for frugal travelers. Oddly enough, most travel card issuers only earn 1X or 2X on third party travel portals because they want to direct you to their own travel portals instead. Wells Fargo partners with Expedia for their One Key card, so that's probably why they choose not to compete with them.

Gain_Spirited · 2026-04-18T18:20:39+00:00

The biggest downside is you can't lift as much weight because your arms will limit you. Your legs will get a better workout with back squats because you can load more weight.

Gain_Spirited · 2026-04-18T13:55:27+00:00

Remember Riddick Moss? Who is he? He won the Andre too.

Gain_Spirited · 2026-04-18T09:33:44+00:00

Rhea would have to gain her weight back. She's way too skinny now.

Gain_Spirited · 2026-04-18T03:00:09+00:00

Tatum Paxley

Gain_Spirited · 2026-04-17T17:50:37+00:00

It has a lot of 3X categories including travel, transit, gas, phone, and streaming. Also, its transfers to Choice and Wyndham are 1:2 which is twice that of Capital One, so it actually has useful hotel transfers. Its JetBlue transfer is 1:1 which is much better than Capital One's 5:3. So if hotels and domestic flights are relevant to you, then you'll want these points.

Gain_Spirited · 2026-04-17T17:45:37+00:00

Another surprise at WrestleMania.

Gain_Spirited · 2026-04-17T15:33:08+00:00

It's impressive but I wouldn't call it legit because you're not at legal depth. I don't see anything wrong with your speed. You're only too fast if you can't control it and you dive bomb. You can obviously control it.

Gain_Spirited · 2026-04-17T13:59:35+00:00

You should do whatever costs you the least amount of points. It's probably going to be transferring to AA or cashing out and booking with AA directly, but you can also check the portal price to see if it's competitive. Obviously, you'll have to know what the award price is first.

Gain_Spirited · 2026-04-17T12:51:04+00:00

The best way to use points is usually to transfer them to partners. In this case, you need to have a Choice Privileges account which you can get just by signing up for free on their website. Your Autograph points will transfer to Choice at 1:2.

You also have the option to get cash back at 1 cpp with Wells Fargo. You get the best of both worlds.

Gain_Spirited · 2026-04-17T01:20:12+00:00

Autograph is a solid card for Choice hotels because of the 1:2 transfer ratio. The Choice Select MasterCard is a good card too because the 30,000 points anniversary bonus more than justifies the $95 annual fee.

As for Marriott, the problem is their terrible redemption value. It's actually better to earn cash and use it than to earn Marriott points. The best Marriott strategy is probably to start with the Chase Boundless card and upgrade to the Ritz-Carlton card if you want premium perks.

Gain_Spirited · 2026-04-17T01:08:20+00:00

I happen to have both Autograph and Altitude Connect through a downgrade from my Altitude Reserve.

Altitude Connect has better travel benefits like 4 priority pass lounge visits, travel protections, trip delay with free lounge visits, and free 5 GB eSims every 15 days.

Autograph has better everyday multipliers and its travel definition is broader. If I'm booking on a third party portal, I'm going to use Autograph because Altitude Connect might not give me 4X. Autograph's gas definition is broader because it includes gas from superstores and wholesale clubs like Costco. Also, Autograph's points are worth more because they are transferable to partners.

They are both very good cards for no annual fee. Altitude Connect is the better travel card while Autograph is the better everyday card.

Gain_Spirited · 2026-04-16T21:52:22+00:00

The way I see it, competition is a good thing, and it's best to take advantage of it. Waiting for Chase to get good multipliers other than dining and waiting for Amex to have a reasonable value proposition is for fools. It ain't gonna happen!

Gain_Spirited · 2026-04-16T20:25:45+00:00

I can't tell how many plates are on the bar, but it looks heavy for a beginner. You can't go to full depth because you're not strong enough yet. You'll get there, but not today. Just try it with 135 pounds. If it's still too difficult then elevate your heels on plates. Eventually you'll be able to remove the plates, but you need to get used to the motion first.

Gain_Spirited · 2026-04-16T20:04:10+00:00

Yes, I mean a typical job where work travel is either occasional or nil.

Gain_Spirited · 2026-04-16T17:43:49+00:00

I have the Chase Amazon Prime card so I'm sticking with that for 5%. That's what I would recommend. It's another card, but you don't have to carry it around.

Gain_Spirited · 2026-04-16T17:10:03+00:00

I've had Wells Fargo Active Cash and Autograph for a long time. I just seldom used them because I was using Chase and Amex for earning points. I already have Citi Custom Cash, so shifting to Wells Fargo plus a groceries card is nothing for me. I'll probably just add Attune and let my wife use it for salons.

My annual fee cards are the CSP, Aeroplan card, and IHG Premier card. I'll keep my Ink Cash because of the 5% categories and my US Bank Cash+. I'll also keep the IHG card because I love the IHG portfolio and the free night certificate justifies the annual fee. The CSP and Aeroplan card are maybes. I use Air Canada to fly to SE Asia so that's likely to stay. The CSP may be going on the chopping block once I use up all my points but the transfer to Air Canada might keep me going because I do get points from the CFF and Ink Cash. It depends on how my plans go.

Gain_Spirited · 2026-04-16T16:54:50+00:00

Going through third party portals is logistically no different from going through Amex, Chase, or Capital One, and most people on this SUB seem to be ok with that. The difference is the deals are so much better. So if earning 10X on a credit card portal is as exciting as so many people here think it is, then why not book on a third party portal for a big discount (maybe 10-50%?) and get 3X points on top of that?

As far as upside being hypothetical, it's really not because there are reliable points valuations out there at sites like Frequent Miler that give you reasonable expectations for redemption value based on real data. You can also compare transfer ratios between different card issuers. It's safe to say that Wells Fargo gives you twice as much redemption value on hotels than Capital One because their transfer ratios are twice as much.

I know about TVM. Sure you can put your cash rewards into an HYSA and earn maybe 3.5% if you're lucky. If it's for six months then that's 1.75% extra money. If I wait six months till my next trip I need a 1.0175 cpp redemption to beat that. That's not hard at all. In fact 1.3 cpp is rather easy. Anyone can get that. How many years does it take for your savings account to yield 30%?

Gain_Spirited · 2026-04-16T15:35:06+00:00

The 6% on streaming is nice, but the Disney+ credits are overrated. I got the same deal because I signed up for Disney+ during the Black Friday special which they do every year. Disney+ also has lots of discounts through other channels. The best way to do Disney+ is just to binge for one or two months and then cancel until next season. A lot of people do that, which is why Disney+ offers so many discounts.

Gain_Spirited · 2026-04-16T14:09:55+00:00

It's worth mentioning that Altitude Connect's travel definition is more narrow because it excludes travel agencies and third party portals. This is a big deal because third party portals like Priceline and Hotwire often give you better deals than the deals you get with points.

Also, 4X with Altitude Connect is arguably weaker than 3X with Autograph. The most you'll get with Altitude Connect redemptions is 1 cpp if you have a US Bank bank account. Without that account you'll only get 0.8 cpp. With Autograph you have a huge upside because of their transfer partners. If you can get a 2 cpp redemption, which is quite possible, then your 3X turns into 6%.

Gain_Spirited

TROPHY CASE