Whether you opened your first-ever credit card in the pursuit of free travel or already had a few accounts before you found this incredible world of points and miles, your first couple of moves will be highly scripted, thanks to Chase’s 5/24 rule. The issuer uses this rule to automatically reject applicants who have opened five or more cards in the last 24 months.
Some business cards don’t count, so be sure to check out our guide to 5/24 if you’re not familiar with the rule. But in general, you should open up your Chase cards first before moving on to other issuers because of this rule.
You might go with a tested card combination like the Chase trifecta, composed of the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card and Chase Freedom Unlimited®. Or you might build your own strategy after deciding which Sapphire card is better to anchor your strategy. Although there are plenty of great Chase card choices, there are only so many ways to use up those first five slots.
If you exceed five cards in 24 months, you’ll find yourself in the Wild Wild West of credit cards, where anything goes. After 5/24, there’s no uniform path for you to follow. It’s time to evaluate the cards in your wallet, figure out what you want from new credit cards and chart a course.
Today, we’ll take a look at some of your best options for building a post-5/24 strategy.
Related: How to calculate your 5/24 standing
What NOT to do
Being ineligible for a Chase card doesn’t mean it’s time to stop getting new cards altogether. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is waiting on the sidelines to fall under 5/24 again and missing out on other valuable welcome bonuses in the meantime.
At any given time, there will be multiple welcome bonuses from other cards worth $1,000 or more that you are eligible for (even if you’re over the 5/24 rule). By opening a card from a different issuer with a valuable welcome offer, you can earn and redeem tons of valuable rewards now rather than waiting for months or years to be eligible for another Chase card.
If you have your eye on a specific Chase card that you’re aiming to be eligible for quickly, you’ll want to be strategic. A great option is to apply for a business card in the meantime. These typically won’t count against your 5/24 status, so you can earn some bonus rewards while still making progress toward eligibility for the Chase card you want.
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Related: Business credit cards that aren’t under the 5/24 rule
What to do if you’re over 5/24
If you are over the 5/24 limit, there are a few different strategies you should consider when deciding which cards to add to your wallet next.
Diversify your points
I’d argue that the 5/24 restriction is the main reason most people get Chase cards first rather than collecting other rewards currencies, such as American Express Membership Rewards points, Citi ThankYou points, Capital One miles or Bilt Rewards Points. However, there is a benefit to having rewards from multiple programs, since each of them has a unique set of redemption options. Plus, they’re all valuable — TPG’s September 2024 valuations peg the value of these points at a minimum of 1.8 cents per point.
The true value of diversifying your points is access to each issuer’s transfer partners and the tremendous flexibility they offer. Amex has the most transfer partners, but the other issuers aren’t far behind.
All five issuers also have some transfer partners in common (including British Airways and Emirates), but their differences are incredibly complimentary.
Star Alliance is a great example. Chase and Amex let you transfer to all the major loyalty programs in the largest airline alliance. This lets you pit United, Avianca, Aeroplan and Singapore against each other and pick the absolute lowest cost for any award you want to book.
Furthermore, these issuers frequently offer transfer bonuses to transfer partners, meaning that the best transfer option might vary from month to month. By having access to multiple types of points, you can ensure that you’re always ready to jump when the right redemption option presents itself.
Top cards to consider:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Terms apply.
- American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first six months of card membership.
- Bilt Mastercard®(see rates and fees): Earn points on rent without paying any fees.
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening,
- Citi Strata Premier℠ Card(see rates and fees): Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening.
Look for gaps in earnings rates
While Chase cards are known for having solid bonus categories like travel and dining, you might find that your current portfolio has some bonus-earning gaps. If you’re over 5/24, look for cards from other issuers to fill those gaps.
For example, if you pay rent, the Bilt Mastercard allows you to earn points on rent without paying any fees and earns flexible points, which can be redeemed for outsize value.
Additionally, you may not have a card that covers bonus earnings on groceries or gas. Now is a great time to consider adding a card like the Amex Gold or the Citi Strata Premier to your wallet to earn bonus rewards in those categories.
Lastly, if you have all your bonus spending categories covered, you can opt for a fixed-rate card that earns at least 2 points or miles per dollar on all purchases, like the Capital One Venture Rewards card, to ensure you earn bonus earnings on essentially every purchase you make.
Related: The best cards for each bonus category
Consider cobranded cards
While it may seem easy to write off cobranded cards because Chase issues the majority of the cobranded airline and hotel cards, there are some excellent offerings from other issuers.
If you’re loyal to Marriott, for instance, you can pick up one of the Amex Bonvoy cards like the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
Hilton loyalists also have a number of Amex cards to choose from, and American Airlines and Delta flyers can pick up cobranded credit cards without worrying about 5/24. This can be a great way to get a free hotel night each year, save on checked bag fees or simply earn a welcome bonus that can help jump-start your next trip.
Top cards to consider:
The information for the Hilton Aspire Amex card and the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Bottom Line
The 5/24 rule is the beginning, not the end, of your credit card rewards journey. Hitting that mark is a rite of passage to serious award travelers, and once you do, it’s time to look forward, not backward. Figure out which of your Chase cards are keepers, either with low or no annual fee or strong bonus categories, and decide what benefits matter most in your next credit cards.
Whether you’re looking to diversify into a new rewards currency, fill in missing gaps or possibly both, you have plenty of options to consider. The important thing is that you continue to go out and take action if you want to keep earning points.
Related: The best ways to use your 5/24 slots
For rates and fees of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.
For rewards and benefits of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.
