Long-time lurker, first-time poster here...
I haven't seen much discussion about the AMEX Blue Sky card, but I feel like it doesn't really get the attention it deserves. It's pretty easy to understand their point structure for this card ($1 = 1 point), but the kicker is that you can redeem 7,500 points as a $100 statement credit towards any travel purchase.
If you work this out, that's $100 for every $7,500 spent = $100/$7500 = 1.33%
Granted, you have to wait until 7,500 points are accumulated before redeeming, and you can only redeem the points in a month when you have made an air, cruise, hotel, rental car, etc. purchase, but if you make those purchases fairly often, it's not much of an inconvenience. You can even redeem the points on their website.
Of course, if you have the PenFed 1.25% Cash Back card, the marginal added Cash Back benefit might not be worth the additional hassle. But considering the excellent purchase and warranty protection, travel insurance, etc... it's really a great card.
Anybody else have any thoughts on this card?
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- okwiater
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Quick Summary is created and edited by users like you... Add FAQ's, Links and other Relevant Information by clicking the edit button in the lower right hand corner of this message.
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- mhesidence
- Cranky Member
What Credit Card Should I Get ? FAQ
Several general purpose cards that give better than 1.33% reward.
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- b534202
- Senior Member
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- okwiater
- Member
Thanks for the links guys...
BTW, I know you can get better than 1.33% if you carry multiple cards and use each card only for its particular "bonus" category such as gas, groceries, drugstores, office supplies, utilities, etc. That is what I do, but for purchases that don't fall into any of the "bonus" categories, I need an all-purpose card.
The AMEX Blue Cash with 1.5% after $6,500 is decent, but only if you spend a lot in non-bonus categories. The Fidelity is good if you have a Fidelity account, and the Emigrant card is good if you don't mind being locked into their savings account and minimum balance requirement.
Other than those few cards, I don't see anything offering more than 1.33%. My guess is a lot of people skip right over the Blue Sky figuring it is a "travel" card, but in reality, it's a pretty decent all-purpose card.
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- SUCKISSTAPLES
- Charter Member
okwiater said:Other than those few cards, I don't see anything offering more than 1.33%. My guess is a lot of people skip right over the Blue Sky figuring it is a "travel" card, but in reality, it's a pretty decent all-purpose card.you have ot make $7500 in charges before you get the rewards, that turns off lots of people..
Message edited by: SUCKISSTAPLES on 2007-06-12 14:32:33 CDT-
- ScootyPuffSr
- Senior Member - 2K
okwiater said:Thanks for the links guys...
BTW, I know you can get better than 1.33% if you carry multiple cards and use each card only for its particular "bonus" category such as gas, groceries, drugstores, office supplies, utilities, etc. That is what I do, but for purchases that don't fall into any of the "bonus" categories, I need an all-purpose card.
Fidelity 1.5% flat Cash Back. Not only is it 1.5%>1.33%, you can actually earn interest before you use the money. Of course you can use the money to buy airplane tickets but you can also spend it on anything you want or just invest it.
No minimums on the Fidelity account that goes with the card.
Steps...
1)sign up for Fidelity account and get $100 bonus
2) remove all but $1 from Fidelity account
3) sign up for Fidelity 1.5% card
4) if you really hate Fidelity, pull out the Cash Back as soon as it shows up
Seems like the $100 would make it worth your time and really doesn't tie up any of your money if you think Fidelity is that horrible.
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- Martian421
- Member
i'm thinking of signing up for Blue Sky. are there any promo's going on for signing up?
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- habibbijan
- Member
I don't know of any public promos for Blue Sky, but I received a targeted offer for it back in April. The sign-up bonus was for 30,000 bonus points after charging a total of $1,000 to the card. The 30,000 bonus points are equal to $400 worth of travel expenses.
I broke the $1,000 barrier back in May. Now I'm just waiting for my bonus points.
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- amandaw33
- Senior Member
I just got the 30,000 bonus points offer in the mail. $400 in free travel expenses seems too good to be true just for charging $1k!
Anyone have this card? Any experience if Priceline would show up under travel expenses?
Also, anyone know once you get the points, how long you have until they expire? Is there a max on the number of points you can redeem at once? Also, if I have 30,000 points to redeem ($400 credit virtually), if I book a hotel room for $200, can I only redeem some of my points and save the others?
Thanks!
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- b1st
- Member
habibbijan said:I don't know of any public promos for Blue Sky, but I received a targeted offer for it back in April. The sign-up bonus was for 30,000 bonus points after charging a total of $1,000 to the card. The 30,000 bonus points are equal to $400 worth of travel expenses.
I broke the $1,000 barrier back in May. Now I'm just waiting for my bonus points.
I also got this a few months ago. First time, I just threw it away thinking there had to be a terrible catch. The second time I actually read the terms and couldn't believe it. Then they sent me the exact same offer again a month after I signed up but don't think I can double dip.
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- amandaw33
- Senior Member
b1st,
the t&c say you can have more than one blue sky card but can only get one welcome bonus -- you may be eligible on the second card.
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- amandaw33
- Senior Member
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- amandaw33
- Senior Member
update, got my card today with a very very generous credit line, 0% until Dec.
When I activated the card the rep tried to get me to sign up for free travel insurance/no annual fee. However, basically they tack on $29 or something similar everytime you book airfare. I said no thanks, but make sure you listen to what they're pitching as free if you talk to them.
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- mteele
- New Member
5,000 Bonus points!!!!!
https://www201.AmericanExpress.com/cards/Applyfservlet?csi=7/16478/b/221
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- BudgetingMom
- Thrifty Member
amandaw33 said:
Also, anyone know once you get the points, how long you have until they expire? Is there a max on the number of points you can redeem at once? Also, if I have 30,000 points to redeem ($400 credit virtually), if I book a hotel room for $200, can I only redeem some of my points and save the others?
Thanks!
I got the mailing, too. It says the points NEVER expire. There's no max to the number of points you can get or use. I believe you can use some of the points and leave the others.
I think I'm interested....
Message edited by: BudgetingMom on 2007-07-07 00:30:51 CDT-
- amandaw33
- Senior Member
We've almost put $1000 on the card. I'll definitely post back when the points are credited to our account (they said 8-10 weeks or something crazy).
It's a HOT deal to get the free 30,000 points. It will definitely take a nice chunk out of our next vacation.
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- xoneinax
- Senior Member - 3K
okwiater said:But considering the excellent purchase and warranty protection, travel insurance, etc...IIRC this CC has the same travel insurance as any other fee-free AMEX. The additional no-annual fee $29 per booking travel insurance can also be added to any other AMEX if you ask; CSRs of other AMEX cards will pimp it once in a while if they are on the phone with you and see travel related purchases.
Can I redeem 7500 for a $100 statement credit if I have made $100 of gasoline purchases in the month ?
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- amandaw33
- Senior Member
The charges have to be in their travel spending category (airline, travel agent, rental car, hotel)
The card isn't for everyone, but if you get the offer for free $400 (30,000 points) in travel expenses I'd imagine most people could find a good way to put it to use
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- ls20
- Member
okwiater said:Thanks for the links guys...
BTW, I know you can get better than 1.33% if you carry multiple cards and use each card only for its particular "bonus" category such as gas, groceries, drugstores, office supplies, utilities, etc. That is what I do, but for purchases that don't fall into any of the "bonus" categories, I need an all-purpose card.
The AMEX Blue Cash with 1.5% after $6,500 is decent, but only if you spend a lot in non-bonus categories. The Fidelity is good if you have a Fidelity account, and the Emigrant card is good if you don't mind being locked into their savings account and minimum balance requirement.
Other than those few cards, I don't see anything offering more than 1.33%. My guess is a lot of people skip right over the Blue Sky figuring it is a "travel" card, but in reality, it's a pretty decent all-purpose card.
This has been my new primary card for a few months now (from Citi PlatDiv Select), for what I think is similar reasons as you.
There's actually a website where you can put in estimated spending in each category per month (gas, groceries, entertainment, bills, etc), and it will compute rough dollar-equivalence rewards for all of the popular cards out there. (they factor in annual fees and etc)
There's a bunch of cards that will give me higher rewards (a few I already own, actually), but for convenience sake, instead of switching from card to card for different purchases, I just stick to the AMEX Sky... get covered by its great AMEX protection, have a simplified point structure, and I will travel anyway.
Sure I'm losing some extra "free" money at the end of the year, but I dont have to pay off different bills, juggle a bunch of points accounts, etc
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