Hacking approach to Chase 5/24

[MrWheat]

The Chase 5/24 rule means that once you have 5 applications within a 24 month period Chase won't approve new cards (as always, with some caveats). But some business cards (Including Bank of America/Amex/Citi) don't count towards 5/24. So by getting business cards you can extend 5/24. To me the best strategy is using up the great Chase cards, then going to business till you get under 5/24. I wait a minimum 91 days between applications. Here is the order I would go in, if I was starting travel hacking today (Y or N means counts towards 5/24):

1) Chase Sapphire Preferred, 50k UR (Y)
2) Chase Business SWA 50k SWA (N*)
3) Chase Plus SWA 50k SWA (Y) to get the SWA companion pass
4) Chase Hyatt (Y)
5) Citi Thank You Premier (Y)

now switch gears to Chase Business at 4/24

6) Chase Ink Business, 80k UR (N*)

now go 5/24

7) Amex Delta Gold (Y)

Now go Business

8. Amex Gold Business, 50k Amex (N)
9) BoA Alaska Business, 30k Alaska (N)
10) Amex Delta Gold Business (N)

(* = will not count if under, YMMV)

By now with 90 day applications you are under 5/24 and can get more Chase cards. Have a better strategy?

[amyrinco]

My husband and I have run into the 5/24 issue ourselves in the past. Our current strategy has me be the "Chase person" and he does everything else.

Of course, this only works as a couple but thought I'd throw it out there.

[gocurrycracker]

The Hyatt card doesn't fall under 5/24, afair. There are a few others (IHG card, one or two more...)

We do the husband / wife team approach also. It's a reasonable way to almost double earnings, although we spend em 2x as fast too.

You can also look into pre-approvals or in branch approvals, both of which bypass 5/24.

[MrWheat]

My understanding is Chase Hyatt is exempt from 5/24 for receiving it, but it counts toward 5/24. It's such a good card if you can use the Hyatt stays that I would get it early. But if your plan was to blow past 5/24, then waiting till you did would be a good strategy.

The above strategy also works with the DW. It's just double, and in effect we get a new card as a couple every 46 days.

[gocurrycracker]

8 cards / year / person ?

[MrWheat]

No, 91 days between apps for each person, but staggered to help meet min spends. So 46 days between cards as a couple. So about 4 cards per year per person, but 8 cards per year per couple.