Bonuses to get first - Revision history

Editor: /* Before you hit the Chase 5/24 limit */

2021-10-27T21:42:46Z

‎Before you hit the Chase 5/24 limit

Editor: /* Before you hit the Chase 5/24 limit */

2021-10-27T21:38:33Z

‎Before you hit the Chase 5/24 limit

Editor: /* Right after hitting 5/24 */

2021-08-12T21:19:36Z

‎Right after hitting 5/24

Editor: /* Right after you hit 5/24 */

2021-08-12T21:18:46Z

‎Right after you hit 5/24

Editor: /* General guidelines */

2021-08-12T21:16:32Z

‎General guidelines

Editor at 04:26, 12 August 2021

2021-08-12T04:26:46Z

Editor at 18:47, 20 July 2021

2021-07-20T18:47:23Z

Editor at 18:46, 20 July 2021

2021-07-20T18:46:46Z

Editor at 21:10, 5 July 2021

2021-07-05T21:10:52Z

Editor at 21:29, 27 April 2021

2021-04-27T21:29:17Z

@@ Line 155: / Line 155: @@
 {{CardItem|InkCash}}
-After that, your next most valuable offers are probably from the '''{{Card|InkCash|only}}''' or '''{{Card|InkUnlimited|only}}''', which both have typical signup offers of 50,000 Ultimate Rewards points. You may be able to get multiple versions of each of these cards, so feel free to try for additional copies.
+After that, your next most valuable offers are probably from the '''{{Card|InkCash|only}}''' or '''{{Card|InkUnlimited|only}}''', which both have typical signup offers of 50,000 - 75,000 Ultimate Rewards points. You may be able to get multiple versions of each of these cards, so feel free to try for additional copies.
 {{CardItem|SWAPerformBiz}}

@@ Line 134: / Line 134: @@
 {{CardItem|Hyatt}}
-The '''{{Card|Hyatt|only}}''' gives you 5 elite night credits each year, plus 2 more credits for every $5,000 you spend. If you stay at Hyatt frequently enough that these extra credits might get you to the next status level (at least in some years), you'll want to make sure to get the Hyatt Card while you still can. Even if not, it is still a pretty good choice because of its annual free night certificate and valuable signup bonus. It is only available as a personal card.
+The '''{{Card|Hyatt|only}}''' gives you 5 elite night credits each year, plus 2 more credits for every $5,000 you spend. If you stay at Hyatt frequently enough that these extra credits might get you to the next status level (at least in some years), you'll want to make sure to get the Hyatt Card while you still can. Even if not, it is still a pretty good choice because of its annual free night certificate and valuable signup bonus. Only the personal version of the card gives you a free night certificate each year (and lets you earn a second with $15,000 of spend).
 {{CardItem|Altitude}}

@@ Line 352: / Line 352: @@
 <li>'''Sign up for a few other cards that are hard to get later'''. Capital One is stingy about approving anyone who is collecting credit cards. In addition, Capital One doesn't like customers who have good credit and pay their bills every month. So, there is a good chance you can't get approved for their cards. But now is the most likely time (at least till you eventually start slowing down). The longer you wait, the harder it will get.</li>
 {{List|Card}}
 {{CardItem|Venture}}
 The '''{{Card|Venture|only}}''' has a valuable signup bonus, the ability to transfer your points to airline partners, and is hard to get approved for once you've started signing up for credit cards.
 <li>'''Get any remaining cards that you want for their ongoing travel benefits'''. If you held up getting these cards while you were under 5/24 (so that you could get fit in more Chase cards), you don't need to wait any longer. However, you may want to postpone getting some Amex cards you want or at least start by getting the less attractive versions of the cards in the same family. Amex limits you to a total of 5 credit cards at any time. To keep a good relationship with Amex, you'll need to keep each new card for at least year. Therefore, each card you hold onto uses up a slot you could have used to collect an additional Amex signup bonus per year. </li>

@@ Line 206: / Line 206: @@
 {{CardItem|Spark}}
 Some of the '''[//www.capitalone.com/small-business/credit-cards/ Spark business cards]''' often have the most valuable signup bonuses of any of the Capital One cards. Even though they are business cards, they will show up on your personal credit report, so don't get them until after you've hit the Chase and BOA limits. The "miles" version is better than the "cash" version, but if you get approved, you can try to apply for the other one about six months later.
 <li>'''Consider any remaining cards that you want for their ongoing travel benefits'''. The two likeliest candidates are both Amex cards. Since you are limited to a total of 5 Amex credit cards at a time, getting these cards will reduce the number of slots you have for collecting Amex signup bonuses. You may want to postpone getting them until later or getting them for a year, cancelling them, and then getting them again once you've collected most of the other signup bonuses. {{Link|Amex Limits}}.</li>

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 <li>'''Many other banks don't have firm rules, but often won't approve you if you've recently gotten "too many" cards'''. Usually they are focused on the number of cards you've gotten in the last 6 or 12 months. For example, once you've started collecting cards, it gets harder to get approved for Barclays, Capital One, and the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve.</li>
-<li>'''American Express and Citibank are much more lenient''', as are many smaller credit card companies. While they still care about your credit worthiness, they generally don't care if you've been getting a lot of other cards.</li>
+<li>'''American Express is much more lenient''', as is Citibank (usually) and many smaller credit card companies. While they still care about your credit worthiness, they generally don't care if you've been getting a lot of other cards. Recently Citibank has been stingier about approving you for their Premier Card unless you haven't gotten new cards in the past several months.</li>
 <li>'''While you are still under the limits, any card you get from another bank reduces the number of Chase and Bank of America cards you can get'''. For example, if you sign up early for the American Express Delta Gold card for its free baggage benefit, that will count as one card against Chase's 5/24 limit. That means you'll have one less "slot" for getting a Chase card. Even if you have enough slots to get the Chase cards that are most important to you, you could have used the extra slot to apply for one of the other Chase cards (simply for its signup bonus).</li>

@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 <li>'''While Chase's small business cards don't count against their limit, once you've hit 5/24, you won't be able to get them'''. This can be confusing. Chase's business cards aren't counted as part of Chase's 5 card limit or Bank of America's 3 or 7 card limit, but once you've hit Chase's limit, they won't approve you for ANY cards, not even their small business cards. With Bank of America, you can still apply for business cards regardless of how many cards you've gotten.</li>
-<li>'''Many other banks don't have firm rules, but often won't approve you if you've recently gotten "too many" cards'''. Usually they are focused on the number of cards you've gotten in the last 6 or 12 months. For example, once you've started collecting cards, it gets harder to get approved for Barclays, Capital One, and Wells Fargo cards and the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve.</li>
+<li>'''Many other banks don't have firm rules, but often won't approve you if you've recently gotten "too many" cards'''. Usually they are focused on the number of cards you've gotten in the last 6 or 12 months. For example, once you've started collecting cards, it gets harder to get approved for Barclays, Capital One, and the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve.</li>
 <li>'''American Express and Citibank are much more lenient''', as are many smaller credit card companies. While they still care about your credit worthiness, they generally don't care if you've been getting a lot of other cards.</li>
@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 Depending on the timing of your previous cards, new slots might be opening up soon, and you may get more room to open additional cards before you hit the limits.
-<li>'''Prioritize which affected cards to get'''. You need to decide the best use of your remaining slots. You usually want to focus on getting the most important Chase and Bank of America cards. You'll also want to prioritize any absolutely critical cards (if any) from Barclays, Capital One, Wells Fargo, and U.S. Bank. You may be able to get those cards after you've hit the Chase 5/24 limit, but you may not.</li>
+<li>'''Prioritize which affected cards to get'''. You need to decide the best use of your remaining slots. You usually want to focus on getting the most important Chase and Bank of America cards. You'll also want to prioritize any absolutely critical cards (if any) from Barclays, Capital One, and U.S. Bank. You may be able to get those cards after you've hit the Chase 5/24 limit, but you may not.</li>
 '''Feel free to "waste" a slot on an important card from another bank'''. Because you can only sign up for cards so quickly, it may take many months before you hit Chase's 5/24 or Bank of America's 7/12 limit. If you don't want to wait that long to start taking advantage of a card's benefits or if you really need a certain type of points for an upcoming trip, you don't absolutely need to wait. It just means getting some other potentially slightly less valuable signup offer instead of one from Chase or Bank of America.
@@ Line 198: / Line 198: @@
 <li>'''If you have a Bank of America account and postponed getting their cards, you'll need to get them before you hit 7/12'''.</li>
-<li>'''Sign up for a few other cards that are hard to get later'''. Capital One and Wells Fargo are stingy about approving anyone who is collecting credit cards. In addition, Capital One doesn't like customers who have good credit and pay their bills every month. So, there is a good chance you can't get approved for their cards. But now is the most likely time (at least till you eventually start slowing down). The longer you wait, the harder it will get.</li>
+<li>'''Sign up for a few other cards that are hard to get later'''. Capital One is stingy about approving anyone who is collecting credit cards. In addition, Capital One doesn't like customers who have good credit and pay their bills every month. So, there is a good chance you can't get approved for their cards. But now is the most likely time (at least till you eventually start slowing down). The longer you wait, the harder it will get.</li>
 {{List|Card}}
@@ Line 205: / Line 205: @@
 {{CardItem|Spark}}
-Some of the '''[//www.capitalone.com/small-business/credit-cards/ Spark business cards]''' often have the most valuable signup bonuses of any of the Capital One and Wells Fargo cards. Even though they are business cards, they will show up on your personal credit report, so don't get them until after you've hit the Chase and BOA limits. The "miles" version is better than the "cash" version, but if you get approved, you can try to apply for the other one about six months later.
+Some of the '''[//www.capitalone.com/small-business/credit-cards/ Spark business cards]''' often have the most valuable signup bonuses of any of the Capital One cards. Even though they are business cards, they will show up on your personal credit report, so don't get them until after you've hit the Chase and BOA limits. The "miles" version is better than the "cash" version, but if you get approved, you can try to apply for the other one about six months later.
 <li>'''Consider any remaining cards that you want for their ongoing travel benefits'''. The two likeliest candidates are both Amex cards. Since you are limited to a total of 5 Amex credit cards at a time, getting these cards will reduce the number of slots you have for collecting Amex signup bonuses. You may want to postpone getting them until later or getting them for a year, cancelling them, and then getting them again once you've collected most of the other signup bonuses. {{Link|Amex Limits}}.</li>
@@ Line 353: / Line 349: @@
 <li>'''If you have a Bank of America account and postponed getting their cards, you'll need to get them before you hit 7/12'''.</li>
-<li>'''Sign up for a few other cards that are hard to get later'''. Capital One and Wells Fargo are stingy about approving anyone who is collecting credit cards. In addition, Capital One doesn't like customers who have good credit and pay their bills every month. So, there is a good chance you can't get approved for their cards. But now is the most likely time (at least till you eventually start slowing down). The longer you wait, the harder it will get.</li>
+<li>'''Sign up for a few other cards that are hard to get later'''. Capital One is stingy about approving anyone who is collecting credit cards. In addition, Capital One doesn't like customers who have good credit and pay their bills every month. So, there is a good chance you can't get approved for their cards. But now is the most likely time (at least till you eventually start slowing down). The longer you wait, the harder it will get.</li>
 {{List|Card}}
@@ Line 360: / Line 356: @@
 The '''{{Card|Venture|only}}''' has a valuable signup bonus, the ability to transfer your points to airline partners, and is hard to get approved for once you've started signing up for credit cards.
 <li>'''Get any remaining cards that you want for their ongoing travel benefits'''. If you held up getting these cards while you were under 5/24 (so that you could get fit in more Chase cards), you don't need to wait any longer. However, you may want to postpone getting some Amex cards you want or at least start by getting the less attractive versions of the cards in the same family. Amex limits you to a total of 5 credit cards at any time. To keep a good relationship with Amex, you'll need to keep each new card for at least year. Therefore, each card you hold onto uses up a slot you could have used to collect an additional Amex signup bonus per year. </li>

@@ Line 113: / Line 113: @@
 {{CardItem|BOAPremium}}
-If there is a chance you want to eventually use the '''{{Card|BOAUnlimited|only''', '''{{Card|BOAPremium|only}}''', or '''{{Card|BOATravel|only}}''' as your general purpose card (to earn up to 2.625% cashback on every purchase through the Premium Rewards program), you'll want to make sure to maintain that option by getting the Premium Rewards Card while you still can. It has a much more attractive signup bonus than the other BOA cards. After the first year, you can downgrade the card to the no-annual-fee Unlimited Cash or Travel Rewards Card (if you want). You'll always have the option of converting back again.
+If there is a chance you want to eventually use the '''{{Card|BOAUnlimited|only}}''', '''{{Card|BOAPremium|only}}''', or '''{{Card|BOATravel|only}}''' as your general purpose card (to earn up to 2.625% cashback on every purchase through the Premium Rewards program), you'll want to make sure to maintain that option by getting the Premium Rewards Card while you still can. It has a much more attractive signup bonus than the other BOA cards. After the first year, you can downgrade the card to the no-annual-fee Unlimited Cash or Travel Rewards Card (if you want). You'll always have the option of converting back again.
 {{CardItem|Alaska}}
@@ Line 280: / Line 280: @@
 {{CardItem|BOAPremium}}
-If there is a chance you want to eventually use the '''{{Card|BOAUnlimited|only''', '''{{Card|BOAPremium|only}}''', or '''{{Card|BOATravel|only}}''' as your general purpose card (to earn up to 2.625% cashback on every purchase through the Premium Rewards program), you'll want to make sure to maintain that option by getting the Premium Rewards Card while you still can. It has a much more attractive signup bonus than the other BOA cards. After the first year, you can downgrade the card to the no-annual-fee Unlimited Cash or Travel Rewards Card (if you want). You'll always have the option of converting back again.
+If there is a chance you want to eventually use the '''{{Card|BOAUnlimited|only}}''', '''{{Card|BOAPremium|only}}''', or '''{{Card|BOATravel|only}}''' as your general purpose card (to earn up to 2.625% cashback on every purchase through the Premium Rewards program), you'll want to make sure to maintain that option by getting the Premium Rewards Card while you still can. It has a much more attractive signup bonus than the other BOA cards. After the first year, you can downgrade the card to the no-annual-fee Unlimited Cash or Travel Rewards Card (if you want). You'll always have the option of converting back again.
 {{CardItem|Spirit}}

@@ Line 161: / Line 161: @@
 {{CardItem|CitiPremier}}
-If you will have a personal slot leftover, another way to optimize your signup bonuses is to get one of the '''ThankYou rewards cards''' early in the process. You can only receive one bonus from these cards every 24 months and applying early starts the clock to qualifying for another bonus. You may be giving up the opportunity to get an additional Chase signup bonus, but you might squeeze in an extra ThankYou points bonus.
+If you will have a personal slot leftover, another way to optimize your signup bonuses is to get the '''{{Card|CitiPremier|only}}''' early in the process. You can only receive one bonus from this card every 24 months and applying early starts the clock to qualifying for another bonus. You may be giving up the opportunity to get an additional Chase signup bonus, but you might squeeze in an extra ThankYou points bonus.
 {{/List|Card}}
@@ Line 184: / Line 184: @@
 <li>If you want the Altitude Reserve, get that as one of your first cards. We'd sign up for a Chase card first and get the Altitude Reserve as your next card. This lets you spread out your Chase applications a little, while still letting you apply for the Altitude Reserve before you get too many other cards. It also gives you a little time to open a U.S. Bank checking account (if necessary) to qualify for the card.</li>
-<li>Get the cards that have the most valuable ongoing benefits early, so you can start taking advantage of those benefits. If you are planning to use one of your slots on a Citi ThankYou card, try to get that early to start Citibank's 24-month clock.</li>
+<li>Get the cards that have the most valuable ongoing benefits early, so you can start taking advantage of those benefits. If you are planning to use one of your slots on a Citi Premier Card, try to get it early to start Citibank's 24-month clock.</li>
 <li>Get the Chase cards that are most important to you, before you focus on the ones with the best signup offers. If you start out just focusing on collecting the most valuable bonuses, there is a small risk that Chase will stop approving new applications before you get all the Chase cards that you really want. You should be able to lower credit limits or close some existing cards, but there really isn't a reason not to just prioritize your highest-priority cards first.</li>
@@ Line 225: / Line 225: @@
 {{List|Card}}
 {{CardItem|CitiPremier}}
-You can only get the signup bonus for one Citibank ThankYou card every 24 months. If you didn't already get one while you were under 5/24, get whichever of the '''ThankYou rewards cards''' that currently has the best signup bonus and start the clock until you can pick up your next bonus.
+If you didn't already get one while you were under 5/24, get the '''{{Card|CitiPremier|only}}'''  and start the clock until you can reapply and get another bonus.
 {{CardItem|HiltonAspire}}
@@ Line 247: / Line 247: @@
 <ul>
-<li>Get a new '''Citi Thankyou card''' every two years. You can convert older unwanted versions of these cards to the Rewards+ card, rather than cancelling them, so they won't reset your clock.</li>
+<li>Get a new '''{{Card|CitiPremier|only}}''' every two years. You can convert older unwanted versions of these cards to the Rewards+ card, rather than cancelling them, so they won't reset your clock.</li>
-<li>Get the '''{{Card|AA|Only}}'''. You are only eligible for the bonus on the personal once every four years. Unlike the ThankYou cards, cancelling this card won't reset the clock for earning another bonus. The '''{{Card|AABiz|only}}''' version is on its own four year clock. If you want the checked bag benefit, spread out your applications. If you just want the miles, you can sign up for both at around the same time.</li>
+<li>Get the '''{{Card|AA|Only}}'''. You are only eligible for the bonus on the personal once every four years. The '''{{Card|AABiz|only}}''' version is on its own four year clock. If you want the checked bag benefit, spread out your applications. If you just want the miles, you can sign up for both at around the same time.</li>
 <li>Sign up for the '''{{Card|Aviator|only}}''' and consider some of the other Barclays cards, such as the '''{{Card|JetBlue|only}}'''.</li>
@@ Line 390: / Line 390: @@
 <ul>
-<li>You can only get the signup bonus for one Citibank ThankYou card every 24 months. Get whichever of the '''ThankYou rewards cards''' that currently has the best signup bonus and start the clock until you can pick up your next bonus.</li>
+<li>If you didn't already get one while you were under 5/24, get the '''{{Card|CitiPremier|only}}'''  and start the clock until you can reapply and get another bonus.</li>
 <li>'''American Express''' will only allow you to have a total of five credit cards at a time and wants you to keep each card for at least of year. That effectively limits you to a maximum of five Amex signup bonuses per year. The Amex Platinum, Gold, and Green cards are "charge" cards and don't count against the five-card limit. If you want to hold onto a few Amex credit cards for the long run, you'll be limited to even fewer signup bonuses per year. You'll need to spread your Amex credit card applications out over a few years. Now is a good time to get a couple of one-year-only Amex cards. {{Link|Amex Limits}}.</li>
@@ Line 410: / Line 410: @@
 <ul>
-<li>Get a new '''[[Citi Prestige and Premier Cards|Citi Thankyou card]]''' every two years. You can convert older unwanted versions of these cards to the Rewards+ card, rather than cancelling them, so they won't reset your clock.</li>
+<li>Get a new '''{{Card|CitiPremier|only}}''' every two years. You can convert older unwanted versions of these cards to the Rewards+ card, rather than cancelling them, so they won't reset your clock.</li>
 <li>Get the '''{{Card|AA|Only}}'''. You are only eligible for the bonus once every four years. Unlike the ThankYou cards, cancelling this card won't reset the clock for earning another bonus.</li>

@@ Line 94: / Line 94: @@
 If you don't already have the discontinued Chase Marriott business card and you need the extra 15 Marriott elite night credits each year, you should get Amex's '''{{Card|SPGBiz|only}}'''. This also starts the clock towards getting a Marriott free night certificate each year. Getting this card will block you from getting the regular Chase Marriott card for two years (and vice versa), but you can get  the {{Card|SPGLuxury|only}} at any time to get a total of 30 elite night credits per year (but you'll probably want to wait until your over 5/24).
-If you aren't going to get benefit from the extra elite night credits, you should probably postpone getting this card. Amex only allows you to have a total of 4 credit cards at any one time and requires you to keep each new card for at least a year. You want to leave slots open to collect signup bonuses or get more valuable cards. {{Link|Amex Limits}}.
+If you aren't going to get benefit from the extra elite night credits, you should probably postpone getting this card. Amex only allows you to have a total of 5 credit cards at any one time and requires you to keep each new card for at least a year. You want to leave slots open to collect signup bonuses or get more valuable cards. {{Link|Amex Limits}}.
 {{/List|Card}}
@@ Line 211: / Line 211: @@
 {{/List|Card}}
-<li>'''Consider any remaining cards that you want for their ongoing travel benefits'''. The two likeliest candidates are both Amex cards. Since you are limited to a total of 4 Amex credit cards at a time, getting these cards will reduce the number of slots you have for collecting Amex signup bonuses. You may want to postpone getting them until later or getting them for a year, cancelling them, and then getting them again once you've collected most of the other signup bonuses. {{Link|Amex Limits}}.</li>
+<li>'''Consider any remaining cards that you want for their ongoing travel benefits'''. The two likeliest candidates are both Amex cards. Since you are limited to a total of 5 Amex credit cards at a time, getting these cards will reduce the number of slots you have for collecting Amex signup bonuses. You may want to postpone getting them until later or getting them for a year, cancelling them, and then getting them again once you've collected most of the other signup bonuses. {{Link|Amex Limits}}.</li>
 {{List|Card}}
@@ Line 218: / Line 218: @@
 {{CardItem|SPGLuxury}}
-If you didn't get the Chase Marriott card when you were under 5/24 and you really want the 15 elite night credits and free night certificate, you probably want to get the '''{{Card|SPGluxury|only}}'''.  Like the Hilton Aspire, it has a high annual fee, but the $300 Marriott hotel credit is extremely easy to use to use. Also, like the Hilton Aspire, it will take up one of your 4 available Amex slots.
+If you didn't get the Chase Marriott card when you were under 5/24 and you really want the 15 elite night credits and free night certificate, you probably want to get the '''{{Card|SPGluxury|only}}'''.  Like the Hilton Aspire, it has a high annual fee, but the $300 Marriott hotel credit is extremely easy to use to use. Also, like the Hilton Aspire, it will take up one of your 5 available Amex slots.
 {{/List|Card}}
@@ Line 228: / Line 228: @@
 {{CardItem|HiltonAspire}}
-American Express will only allow you to have a total of four credit cards at a time and wants you to keep each card for at least of year. That effectively limits you to four credit cards a year. The Amex Platinum, Gold, and Green cards are "charge" cards and don't count against the four-card limit.  If you want to hold onto a few Amex credit cards for the long run, you'll be limited to even fewer signup bonuses per year. You'll need to spread your Amex credit card applications out over a few years. Now is a good time to get a couple of one-year-only Amex cards and start the process. {{Link|Amex Limits}}.
+American Express will only allow you to have a total of five credit cards at a time and wants you to keep each card for at least of year. That effectively limits you to five credit cards a year. The Amex Platinum, Gold, and Green cards are "charge" cards and don't count against the five-card limit.  If you want to hold onto a few Amex credit cards for the long run, you'll be limited to even fewer signup bonuses per year. You'll need to spread your Amex credit card applications out over a few years. Now is a good time to get a couple of one-year-only Amex cards and start the process. {{Link|Amex Limits}}.
 {{/List|Card}}
@@ Line 256: / Line 256: @@
 <li>'''You can still apply for Bank of America business cards''' even if you are over their 3/12 or 7/12 limits.</li>
-<li>'''Slowly work through the many different Amex cards'''. Amex is relatively indifferent to the total number of cards you have or applied for. Since you can only receive each American Express bonus once per lifetime, there is no rush to work your way through all their different offers. But if a great promotional offer is available or one of their cards is being discontinued, you'll want to fit it into your plans, rather than waiting. On the other hand, because the speed at which you can collect signup bonuses is affected by Amex's 4 credit card limit (discussed above), it can be helpful to start working your way their signup bonuses. {{Link|Amex Limits}}.</li>
+<li>'''Slowly work through the many different Amex cards'''. Amex is relatively indifferent to the total number of cards you have or applied for. Since you can only receive each American Express bonus once per lifetime, there is no rush to work your way through all their different offers. But if a great promotional offer is available or one of their cards is being discontinued, you'll want to fit it into your plans, rather than waiting. On the other hand, because the speed at which you can collect signup bonuses is affected by Amex's 5 credit card limit (discussed above), it can be helpful to start working your way their signup bonuses. {{Link|Amex Limits}}.</li>
 <li>'''Don't forget about the valuable cards that come from the smaller companies''', like the '''{{Card|Avianca|only}}''' and '''{{Card|Cathay|only}}'''.</li>
@@ Line 335: / Line 335: @@
 {{CardItem|Marriott}}
-The situation with the '''{{Card|Marriott|only}}''' is more complicated. Some people will want to make sure to have a Marriott card in order to get an extra 15 elite night credits every year towards Marriott Platinum status. You could always get the {{Card|SPGLuxury|only}}, but holding onto that card will take up one of four Amex credit card slots (which may eventually hold you back from maximizing your Amex signup opportunities or getting other Amex cards you want) and you'll need to make sure you are able to use the bill credit each year to offset the annual fee.
+The situation with the '''{{Card|Marriott|only}}''' is more complicated. Some people will want to make sure to have a Marriott card in order to get an extra 15 elite night credits every year towards Marriott Platinum status. You could always get the {{Card|SPGLuxury|only}}, but holding onto that card will take up one of five Amex credit card slots (which may eventually hold you back from maximizing your Amex signup opportunities or getting other Amex cards you want) and you'll need to make sure you are able to use the bill credit each year to offset the annual fee.
 If the elite night credits and free night certificate appeal to you and you have room, we would recommend getting the Chase card, even though you will be giving up another worthwhile Chase signup bonus. It provides more flexibility with American Express down the road. If there are other Chase cards you really want, skip it. You'll still be able to get a Marriott card from Amex.
@@ Line 364: / Line 364: @@
 {{/List|Card}}
-<li>'''Get any remaining cards that you want for their ongoing travel benefits'''. If you held up getting these cards while you were under 5/24 (so that you could get fit in more Chase cards), you don't need to wait any longer. However, you may want to postpone getting some Amex cards you want or at least start by getting the less attractive versions of the cards in the same family. Amex limits you to a total of 4 credit cards at any time. To keep a good relationship with Amex, you'll need to keep each new card for at least year. Therefore, each card you hold onto uses up a slot you could have used to collect an additional Amex signup bonus per year. </li>
+<li>'''Get any remaining cards that you want for their ongoing travel benefits'''. If you held up getting these cards while you were under 5/24 (so that you could get fit in more Chase cards), you don't need to wait any longer. However, you may want to postpone getting some Amex cards you want or at least start by getting the less attractive versions of the cards in the same family. Amex limits you to a total of 5 credit cards at any time. To keep a good relationship with Amex, you'll need to keep each new card for at least year. Therefore, each card you hold onto uses up a slot you could have used to collect an additional Amex signup bonus per year. </li>
 Fortunately, many of Amex's most lucrative signup bonuses are part of families. So, you can gradually collect the bonuses from each one, while maintaining access to their desirable benefits. {{Link|Amex Limits}}.
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 <li>You can only get the signup bonus for one Citibank ThankYou card every 24 months. Get whichever of the '''ThankYou rewards cards''' that currently has the best signup bonus and start the clock until you can pick up your next bonus.</li>
-<li>'''American Express''' will only allow you to have a total of four credit cards at a time and wants you to keep each card for at least of year. That effectively limits you to a maximum of four Amex signup bonuses per year. The Amex Platinum, Gold, and Green cards are "charge" cards and don't count against the five-card limit. If you want to hold onto a few Amex credit cards for the long run, you'll be limited to even fewer signup bonuses per year. You'll need to spread your Amex credit card applications out over a few years. Now is a good time to get a couple of one-year-only Amex cards. {{Link|Amex Limits}}.</li>
+<li>'''American Express''' will only allow you to have a total of five credit cards at a time and wants you to keep each card for at least of year. That effectively limits you to a maximum of five Amex signup bonuses per year. The Amex Platinum, Gold, and Green cards are "charge" cards and don't count against the five-card limit. If you want to hold onto a few Amex credit cards for the long run, you'll be limited to even fewer signup bonuses per year. You'll need to spread your Amex credit card applications out over a few years. Now is a good time to get a couple of one-year-only Amex cards. {{Link|Amex Limits}}.</li>
 </ul>
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 </ul>
-<li>'''Slowly work through the many different Amex cards'''. Amex is relatively indifferent to the total number of cards you have or applied for. Since you can only receive each American Express bonus once per lifetime, there is no rush to work your way through all their different offers. But if a great promotional offer is available or one of their cards is being discontinued, you'll want to fit it into your plans, rather than waiting. On the other hand, because the speed at which you can collect signup bonuses is affected by Amex's 4 credit card limit (discussed above), it can be helpful to start working your way their signup bonuses. {{Link|Amex Limits}}.</li>
+<li>'''Slowly work through the many different Amex cards'''. Amex is relatively indifferent to the total number of cards you have or applied for. Since you can only receive each American Express bonus once per lifetime, there is no rush to work your way through all their different offers. But if a great promotional offer is available or one of their cards is being discontinued, you'll want to fit it into your plans, rather than waiting. On the other hand, because the speed at which you can collect signup bonuses is affected by Amex's 5 credit card limit (discussed above), it can be helpful to start working your way their signup bonuses. {{Link|Amex Limits}}.</li>
 <li>'''Don't forget about the valuable cards that come from the smaller companies''', like the '''{{Card|Avianca|only}}''' and '''{{Card|Cathay|only}}'''.</li>