Earning frequent flyer miles and travel rewards through credit card sign-up bonuses is far and away the best way to get large chunks of points quickly.
In fact, it’s the way that I’ve earned over 90% of my 3 million frequent flyer miles in the last four years.
However, when deciding which credit cards are right for you, there is one thing you must be keenly aware of:
Today at EPoP its time to get personal. I feel like we’ve reached that level in our relationship; it’s been 8 months, after all. Shouldn’t we reveal stuff to each other? So today, I’m going to let you in on a little secret, something I haven’t mentioned before on the blog….
I’M A TWIN!
Yes, it’s true. There is another 29 year old out there in this world (currently Spain) who shares the same birthday, same set of parents, and same upbringing as myself. Scary, huh? Luckily for my twin, we aren’t identical. You see, she’s a girl.
(quick side note: You won’t believe the number of people (at least 500 in my life) who know that I have a twin SISTER and ask me if we are identical twins. Usually, I ask them why their school didn’t offer health class in 5th grade.
When this baffles them, I remind them that “boys” and “girls” have different body parts, thereby not allowing them to be identical. It’s amazing the questions science can answer!)
And while there is one major difference between my sister and I, we tend to share a lot of the same qualities, neurosis, and quirks (for better or worse). The Chase Ink Plus and the Chase Ink Bold are very similar in this way. [The Ink Bold Card is no longer available from Chase]
One Major Difference
Danny and Arnold…more than one major difference!
The one major difference between the Chase Ink Bold and the Chase Ink Plus is that the Ink Bold is a CHARGE card while the Ink Plus is a CREDIT card.
This is an important distinction.
Since the Ink Bold is a charge card, the balance must be paid in full each month. You can not roll over a balance from month to month. You MUST pay the full amount each month.
The Ink Plus is a credit card, which means that you can carry a balance on it from month to month. I NEVER, EVER recommend carrying a balance because the interest you are paying on that balance negates any frequent flyer benefits you are getting from the card, but the Ink Plus will allow you to do so if you need to.
The Similarities
Mary Kate and Ashley…not identical, but pretty close!
Outside of the charge card vs. credit card difference, EVERYTHING ELSE about these two cards is the same. The Ink Plus has all the awesome, amazing perks that the Ink Bold has. And if you’ve been following this blog for any length of time, you know that I LOVE the Ink Bold, so if you guessed that I LOVE the Ink Plus, you’d be spot on. It’s an awesome, awesome card!
So instead of writing another 1,300 word love letter to the Ink Plus, I’ll just point you towards the one I wrote to the Ink Bold (it’s right here, my first public love letter) and each time you read “Bold”, substitute “Plus”. Remember, they’re twins!
For those of you who don’t feel like reading my eloquently written love letter, here is a list of the awesome perks that the Ink Plus and Ink Bold share:
Signup bonus of 50k Chase Ultimate Rewards points (transferable to United and Hyatt, among others) after spending $5,000 in 3 months.
5x for every $1 spent on cable, internet, and cellphone bills
5x on every $1 spent at office supply stores (including gift cards, which means you can buy gift cards and essentially get 5x on every purchase you make!)
2x on gas, a huge bonus when the gas is at $4 a gallon!
2x on hotels and motels
1x on everything else
$95 annual fee WAIVED FOR THE FIRST YEAR
No foreign transaction fee
There is ALOT to like about this card.
Of course, the one major complaint about the Ink Bold and Ink Plus cards is the minimum spend requirement, which is $5,000 in 3 months.
Only get this card if you can definitely hit the minimum spend requirement. $5,000 in 3 months can be steep for some people, so always err on the side of caution.
If you can’t meet the $5k requirement, there are plenty of other options listed on the Best Current Deals page.
The Big Question: Can You Get Both Cards?
Twins having their cake and eating it too!
This is an emphatic YES!
Even though these cards are “twins”, they are considered different cards by Chase and therefore you are eligible to earn the signup bonus for BOTH cards.
Final Word(s)
Psssttt….I don’t really think you have to be a twin to love a twin.
In fact, the Chase Ink Plus is such an AWESOME card and I’d recommend it to EVERYONE who thinks they can meet the minimum spend requirement, single, twin, triplet, or otherwise!
The 50k bonus is great and the bonus categories allow you to rack up tons of extra Chase UR points.
Most importantly, you’re eligible to get the signup bonus for the Ink Plus even if you already have the Ink Bold since it is considered a different card by Chase.
When you’re flying free on United or staying at uber-posh Hyatts you’ll be glad you applied for this card!