Whether or not you are new to the world of factors and miles or simply on the lookout for the very best methods to stage up your present card portfolio, a strategic bank card pairing is without doubt one of the best methods to maximise your incomes potential.
You have probably heard of the preferred card groupings — the Chase Trifecta and the Amex Trifecta — however these are removed from the one methods to mix bank cards.
This information will stroll you thru a number of methods completely different bank cards work collectively to spice up your spending and incomes energy along with a few of our favourite card pairings right here at TPG.
What makes a great card pairing?
A number of elements could make a great card pairing, however most easily, a great card pair is one during which each playing cards earn the identical sort of rewards however have completely different bonus classes. This manner, you can maximize your earnings throughout a wider vary of purchases than you’d have the ability to with only one card.
Every card pairing under is a good instance of maximizing your earnings with two complementary playing cards.
The Platinum Card® from American Categorical and American Categorical® Gold Card
Amex Platinum: The Amex Platinum is nice for vacationers because it earns 5 Membership Rewards factors per greenback spent on flights booked instantly with the airline or by Amex Journey (on as much as $500,000 every calendar 12 months) and comes with intensive airport lounge entry, plus a slew of beneficial assertion credit.
Amex Gold: The Amex Gold is a foodie’s dream card, incomes 4 Membership Rewards factors per greenback spent at eating places and U.S. supermarkets (on as much as $25,000 in purchases every year, then 1 level per greenback). It additionally comes with as much as $240 in assertion credit every year that you should utilize for eating and takeout purchases.
Why they’re an amazing pair: These playing cards work nice collectively since you’ll earn extra on flights with the Platinum than you’d with the Gold alone (5 factors per greenback quite than 3) and extra at eating places and U.S. supermarkets with the Gold than you’d with the Platinum alone (4 factors per greenback quite than 1). Moreover, the playing cards’ advantages and assertion credit hardly overlap, which means you may get super worth from holding each playing cards. You possibly can then switch your Membership Rewards factors to any of Amex’s 20 resort and airline companions.
TPG senior bank cards editor Matt Moffitt loves this card pairing because it permits him to make the most of American Categorical’ beneficiant lounge entry advantages and excessive earnings on flights mixed with bonus earnings on his worldwide eating and U.S. grocery store purchases. He will get much more worth from his rewards by making the most of Amex’s frequent switch bonuses.
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For extra particulars, take a look at our full critiques of the Amex Platinum and the Amex Gold.
Official utility hyperlinks: The Platinum Card® from American Categorical and the American Categorical® Gold Card
Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card and Chase Freedom Limitless®
Chase Sapphire Most well-liked: The Chase Sapphire Most well-liked is one in every of our favourite journey rewards playing cards, incomes 3 Final Rewards factors per greenback spent on eating and drugstore purchases, 2 factors per greenback spent on all journey purchases and 1 level per greenback spent on all the things else. Moreover, it comes with some beneficial journey protections — all for a low $95 annual payment.
Chase Freedom Limitless: The Freedom Limitless is a good on a regular basis card. It has no annual payment and earns 3 factors per greenback spent on eating and drugstore purchases and 1.5 factors per greenback spent on all different purchases.
Why they’re an amazing pair: Each playing cards permit you to earn a formidable 3 factors per greenback spent on eating and drugstore purchases, however you may earn 25% extra in your journey spending with the Sapphire Most well-liked than with the Freedom Limitless. For all different purchases, you may earn 50% extra factors with the Freedom Limitless than with the Sapphire Most well-liked.
By itself, the Freedom Limitless earns cash-back rewards. Nevertheless, if you happen to additionally maintain the Sapphire Most well-liked, you’ll be able to mix your factors from the 2 playing cards and switch them to any of Chase’s 14 journey companions for max worth.
For extra particulars, take a look at our full critiques of the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked and the Chase Freedom Limitless.
Official utility hyperlinks: the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card and the Chase Freedom Limitless
Citi Premier® Card and Citi Rewards+® Card
Citi Premier: The Citi Premier (see charges and charges) is a good all-around journey rewards card with broad bonus classes. It earns 3 factors per greenback spent on resort, flight, restaurant, grocery store and fuel station purchases, in addition to 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases.
Citi Rewards+: The Citi Rewards+ (see charges and charges) usually earns at a decrease price than the Citi Premier: 2 factors per greenback spent at supermarkets and fuel stations for the primary $6,000 per 12 months, then 1 level per greenback and 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases. Nevertheless, purchases on this card robotically spherical as much as the closest 10, so a $1 buy will earn you 10 factors — greater than you’d earn with the Premier — making this an amazing card for small purchases that may rack up ThankYou rewards redeemable for journey and extra.
Why they’re an amazing pair: The Citi Premier earns bonus factors in a formidable variety of classes, however the rounding nature of the Rewards+ makes it a greater choice for small purchases that do not fall beneath any of the Premier’s bonus classes. Plus, by itself, the Rewards+ has restricted redemption choices, however holding the Premier means that you can switch the factors you earn to any of Citi’s 17 resort and airline companions, growing their redemption worth.
For extra particulars, take a look at our full critiques of the Citi Premier and the Citi Rewards+.
Official utility hyperlinks: The Citi Premier® Card and the Citi Rewards+® Card
Ink Enterprise Most well-liked® Credit score Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Ink Enterprise Most well-liked: The Ink Enterprise Most well-liked is one in every of our favourite enterprise playing cards, incomes 3 factors per greenback spent on the primary $150,000 in mixed spending on transport, web, cable, journey, telephone providers, promoting with social media websites and search engine purchases. It earns 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases.
Chase Sapphire Reserve: The Chase Sapphire Reserve is the extra premium sibling of the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card. It earns 3 factors per greenback spent on all journey, eating and drugstore purchases, in addition to 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases. With it, you may additionally get Precedence Cross lounge entry and a $300 journey credit score every year.
Why they’re an amazing pair: When you have loads of enterprise bills, pairing a enterprise card with a private card can work in your favor. With this mixture, use your Ink Enterprise Most well-liked for enterprise purchases and your Sapphire Reserve for journey, eating and drugstore purchases to maximise your 3 factors per greenback incomes alternatives throughout the board.
For extra particulars, take a look at our full critiques of the Ink Enterprise Most well-liked and the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Official utility hyperlinks: The Ink Enterprise Most well-liked Credit score Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve
Capital One SavorOne Money Rewards Credit score Card and Citi® Double Money Card
Capital One SavorOne: The Capital One SavorOne is a good choice for on a regular basis spending classes, incomes 3% money again on eating, leisure, grocery shops and in style streaming providers (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Goal®) and 1% again on all different purchases.
Citi Double Money: The Citi Double Money (see charges and charges) earns 2% money again on all purchases (1% while you purchase and 1% as you pay), making it an effective way to make sure you get a 2% return on any spending that does not fall in different playing cards’ bonus classes.
Why they’re an amazing pair: Use your SavorOne for purchases within the 3% bonus classes and your Double Money for all different purchases to earn 2% to three% again on all of your purchases.
For extra particulars, take a look at our full critiques of the SavorOne and the Double Money.
Official utility hyperlinks: The Capital One SavorOne Money Rewards Credit score Card and the Citi® Double Money Card
Different methods to pair playing cards
Add a cobranded card for one in every of your card’s journey companions
If you have already got a card that earns transferable rewards, pairing a card that earns rewards for one in every of its journey companions is a good choice.
As an example, I earn Chase Final Rewards factors with my Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card, so I made a decision to get the World of Hyatt Credit score Card to have Hyatt-specific advantages like elite standing and a free night time every year, in addition to the power to maximise my incomes with each playing cards’ bonus classes.
Diversify your rewards
Whereas most pairings focus on incomes comparable rewards, it is also a good suggestion to earn various kinds of rewards. You possibly can, for instance, pair the American Categorical Gold Card with the Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card.
On this state of affairs, you’d need to use your Amex Gold to earn bonus factors on flights, at eating places and U.S. grocery store purchases and your Enterprise X to your different purchases to earn 2 miles per greenback. With this feature, you’ll be able to make the most of each American Categorical and Capital One switch companions, providing you with much more flexibility in your reward redemptions.
Maximize bonus classes
For those who’re OK with incomes various kinds of rewards and need to be sure to’re maximizing all of your purchases, you’ll be able to arrange your card portfolio with playing cards that earn bonus factors within the classes you spend probably the most in.
For instance, you would possibly go for the Chase Sapphire Reserve to earn 3 factors per greenback in your journey, eating and drugstore purchases; the Citi Premier Card to earn 3 factors per greenback in your fuel station and grocery store purchases; and the Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card to earn 2 miles per greenback spent on all different purchases.
This mix would imply you are getting a 3.7% to six% return on all of your spending, based on TPG’s valuations.
Arrange your very best construction
In fact, completely different card pairings work effectively for various targets. Figuring out your bank card targets will enable you to determine which qualities to concentrate on while you select your subsequent card.
As an example, if you wish to reduce your annual charges whereas incomes journey rewards, your greatest card pairs could differ from these listed above. For that reason, TPG senior factors and miles author Katie Genter pairs her Ink Enterprise Most well-liked Credit score Card along with her Chase Freedom Limitless, because it permits her to maximise her Chase Final Rewards factors whereas solely paying one $95 annual payment.
Backside line
Many nice bank cards are even higher when paired with one other card. Earlier than deciding what your subsequent bank card will probably be, stock what you have already got in your pockets. Then, think about your spending habits and reward targets that can assist you decide which card will add probably the most worth to your present portfolio.
As soon as you’ve got acquired a plan in place, you may be effectively in your approach to incomes rewards and different perks you’ll be able to redeem for journey and extra.
Further reporting by Stella Shon, Chris Dong and Ethan Steinberg.
For charges and charges of the Amex Platinum, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Amex Gold, click on right here.
