The First Card to Get After Dropping Below 5/24

by Gary Leff

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Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card

For many Chase cards you can only get approved if you’ve had fewer than 5 new credit card accounts in the last 24 months.

Chase’s own rewards cards all fall under 5/24 guidelines. So Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, and Chase Sapphire Reserve Card are all subject to 5/24.

Because of this rule you should get these cards first. In fact in my view if you’re just getting started in rewards cards you should get Chase cards first, and in particular these cards. Doing so becomes a license to get the others, without giving up the option to get these.


Singapore Airlines A380 Suites

I offered a comprehensive explanation of ‘5/24’ on Chase Day (May 24th).

If you’ve had 5 or more new cards in the last 24 months, you take a break from any new cards and fall back under 5/24, the first card you should get is the Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card.

Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card has an 80,000 point signup bonus after $5000 spend within 3 months. That can even be enough for a roundtrip business class award ticket between the US and Europe.

It earns 3 points per dollar on travel — that’s airlines, hotels, rental cars, tolls, even Uber — and 3 points per dollar on shipping and advertising on social media and search engines, so great for anyone who advertises on Facebook or Twitter, or who spends money advertising with Google. It also comes with $600 protection against theft or damage when you use it to pay your cell phone.

Points transfer to:

  • Airlines: United, Air France KLM, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Southwest, Singapore, JetBlue, Aer Lingus, Iberia
  • Hotels: Hyatt, Marriott, IHG


Park Hyatt Hadahaa Maldives

If you don’t want to sign up for a small business card for whatever reason then the card to get once you’re under 5/24 is Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Editorial note: any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Comments made in response to this post are not provided or commissioned nor have they been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any bank. It is not the responsibility of advertisers Citibank, Chase, American Express, Barclays, Capital One or any other advertiser to ensure that questions are answered, either. Terms and limitations apply to all offers.

Comments

  1. Not me Gary. Going for CP so will go for SW Biz at end of next year…and then SW personal. Family of 5 and most travel is domestic to/from SW airports

  2. I have CSR. Is Ink Business Preferred still desirable? Otherwise I am eying IHG and Southwest cards.

    As for other cards, I am bummed out by 33% devaluation in Starwood earnings. Almost thinking of giving it up.

  3. The cell phone coverage is supplemental coverage, after “all insurance or indemnity has been exhausted.” The problem with that is that you have to make a claim on your homeowners/renters and, if you have a high enough deductible, they will pay after the $100 deductible for the cell phone coverage. But, that will likely either: 1. increase your homeowners premium or 2. get your homeowners cancelled.

    https://www.uphelp.org/pubs/claim-or-not-claim%E2%80%A6that-question-david-shaffer

    Are there any credit cards where cell phone coverage is primary from the card?

  4. I just dropped under 5/24 but my plan is like this:
    get the Chase biz cards first because you will still be 4/24. If you have just dropped and you acquire the CSR , this puts you back at 5/24. I first acquired Chase Ink Cash, next will be Chase Ink Preferred for the 80K, Ill do a product change when qualify to Chase Biz Unlimited, and then I will get CSR and whatever else after. But top respect as always to Gary regardless.

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