Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Amex SPG - Which Card Do You Reach For First?

[AsherO]

This poll is for people who have both cards, obviously.

I have both cards and I'm in a quandary about which one should be my primary card. Obviously there are times when it makes sense to use a specific card for a benefit/bonus it offers, but other than that, which card is your default card and why?

Just to clarify: When I say Sapphire Preferred I mean spending on any Chase card that you'll transfer to your SP account in order to use it for airline miles/hotel points. What I mean (for example) is that some people prefer to use their Freedom card for small purchases, because it earns 10 points per purchase, but they'll ultimately redeem the points via their SP account.

[Dan]

Sapphire Freferred? Is that a new card?
I know, I know, I won't hold you responsible for that.

[AsherO]

Sapphire Freferred? Is that a new card?
I know, I know, I won't hold you responsible for that.

I thought mods are able to edit posts/titles

[yaakov s]

I thought mods are able to edit posts/titles

He wants people to understand your tagline/signature

[MnM1130]

good question.... i go with sapphire cus i live in israel and no foreign exchange fee. BUT its pretty questionable if i would have that dilemma.. I THINK i would go with spg- their points are more valuable+their protections are much easier to make use of...

[Dan]

Yup, SPG is still my default card except on dining, travel, forex, and places that don't take AMEX.
1 Starpoint is worth marginally more than 1.1 CO and the AMEX protections (dispute/warranty/return) seal the deal.
On small purchases though I really should use my Freedom card more often than I do.

[Swizard210]

When I am outside of the US, which is quite often, I use the Sapphire Preferred because of the no ForEx Fees, but in general when home I prefer the SPG since I'm not always flying CO/BA, and hence the versatility of SPG is nice.  However, I try to use the SP on categories that I'll benefit from (Dining, travel, etc.).

[AsherO]

good question.... i go with sapphire cus i live in israel and no foreign exchange fee

Do you get good rates?

My mom was just there and she got a crappy rate (~3% fee built-into the exchange rate), do you experience the same?

(OT: but does anyone know which of the no-FX-fee cards offer the best rate? If it's discussed elsewhere please direct me to that discussion. I saw the FX-fee-free cards discussions, but nothing about best exchange rates).

When I am outside of the US, which is quite often, I use the Sapphire Preferred because of the no ForEx Fees, but in general when home I prefer the SPG since I'm not always flying CO/BA, and hence the versatility of SPG is nice.  However, I try to use the SP on categories that I'll benefit from (Dining, travel, etc.).

You do know Sapphire Preferred to several hotel programs as well, right?

[MnM1130]

Do you get good rates?

My mom was just there and she got a crappy rate (~3% fee built-into the exchange rate), do you experience the same?

(OT: but does anyone know which of the no-FX-fee cards offer the best rate? If it's discussed elsewhere please direct me to that discussion. I saw the FX-fee-free cards discussions, but nothing about best exchange rates).

I wish i can answer u.. no idea. BUT i do feel its pretty much what the rate is of that day... How wud i check that?

[bubbles]

I typically stick with the spg since I stay at  hotels more than i fly

[Dan]

Do you get good rates?

My mom was just there and she got a crappy rate (~3% fee built-into the exchange rate), do you experience the same?

(OT: but does anyone know which of the no-FX-fee cards offer the best rate? If it's discussed elsewhere please direct me to that discussion. I saw the FX-fee-free cards discussions, but nothing about best exchange rates).

You do know Sapphire Preferred to several hotel programs as well, right?

I was under the impression that they all use the official rate (WSJ/NYT, etc) for the day.
Can you provide an example exchange rate and the date of purchase?

[AsherO]

I was under the impression that they all use the official rate (WSJ/NYT, etc) for the day.
Can you provide an example exchange rate and the date of purchase?

My mom is yet to show me the bill, so I don't know the exact spread. If there's actually a discrepancy when I see it, I'm going to call SP and complain. I recommended that card to my folks because my younger brother is going to be away for the next two years.

[Chaikel]

There was a massive Class action suit against the credit card companies about 8 years ago because they were giving a bad rate. I highly doubt they would try it again. The Forex fees only became popular because of that lawsuit

[AsherO]

There was a massive Class action suit against the credit card companies about 8 years ago because they were giving a bad rate. I highly doubt they would try it again. The Forex fees only became popular because of that lawsuit

I remember that. I got a decent check (definitely more than my fees were) from that lawsuit because (IIRC) it was per card, based on how many days you were outside the country, and I have a few cards and was away for a year.

[Side incomer]

My mom is yet to show me the bill, so I don't know the exact spread. If there's actually a discrepancy when I see it, I'm going to call SP and complain. I recommended that card to my folks because my younger brother is going to be away for the next two years.

i just returned from Israel using my SP on every single purchase, they charged very accurate, according to the exchange rate of that day, I check after every single purchase, and it was very accurate, so please have your mom check this out better.
I was extremely careful about this. And I'm sure about what I'm saying. i was checking the exchange rate every day, and wrote it down for me, and after the purchase I checked online how much it was, and it always matched exactly.

[S G]

I use sapphire preferred to pay my rent (they accept visa/mastercard) and all other purchases where amex is not accepted. I have recently got SPG card and I am going to use it for all the purchases where amex is accepted.

I got correct exchange rate for the day when I used my sapphire preferred card for booking a domestic flight in India.

[AsherO]

I use sapphire preferred to pay my rent (they accept visa/mastercard) and all other purchases where amex is not accepted. I have recently got SPG card and I am going to use it for all the purchases where amex is accepted.

I got correct exchange rate for the day when I used my sapphire preferred card for booking a domestic flight in India.

So which do you prefer for regular spending? SPG?

[bubbles]

I use sapphire preferred to pay my rent (they accept visa/mastercard) and all other purchases where amex is not accepted. I have recently got SPG card and I am going to use it for all the purchases where amex is accepted.

I got correct exchange rate for the day when I used my sapphire preferred card for booking a domestic flight in India.

So which do you prefer for regular spending? SPG?

I'm going to take that to mean the SPG

[S G]

So which do you prefer for regular spending? SPG?

Yes. I am voting for SPG.

[springles]

I use my freedom card for anything under $20 and my SPG for anything over. 
$20 purchase gets me 32 UR points.

If someone gives me the approximate value of Starpoints and UR (or CO points since that seems to be the most popular transfer for them) points then I can calculate at what point it is worth it to use each.