Is 50k URs the best sign up bonus they’ll be? It just seems a little low
Just to add what everyone’s said about (1) these are no fee cards, (2) that require only $3k in MSR, (3) compared to the Chase Freedom and Freedom Unlimited no fee cards that have only 15k UR bonuses, and the CSP and CSR that have 50k UR bonuses but require $4k in MSR — the CIC and CIU signup bonuses are very good deals!
I also want to comment about your perception that 50k URs “seems a little low.”
Ultimate Rewards points are one of the most valuable points and miles currencies because of the amount and quality of Chase’s travel partners that you can transfer your UR points to their programs, and the ability to pool UR points between your UR-earning cards and your household’s UR-earning cards onto the highest redemption value card (the CSR for a 50% bonus in value) to make 1 point worth at least 1.5 cents towards travel (flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, excursions,
attraction tickets, etc.) on the Chase UR travel portal. Or you can always just cash out UR points for 1 cents a piece. That’s at least $500 value in cash, or $750 in travel, and potentially more if you find a transfer for a sweet redemption.
The fact that Chase has so many UR-earning cards, the CF, CFU, CSP, CSR, CIC, CIU, and CIP with signup bonuses and different bonus categories means you can accumulate quite a stash of points from the signup bonuses as you work your way through the portfolio, and as you pick up more of the cards you build out your own wallet that’ll keep earning you category bonuses on most of your everyday spend.
I don’t know if you are suggesting that “50k” UR seems low compared to say the current “100k” Bonvoy offers or the “150k” Hilton Honors offers. Not all points and miles are worth the same. They are each their own currency. If UR points are dollars, think of Hilton points as pesos, and Marriott points something in between. In many situations, it’ll cost a lot more Marriott or Hilton points than using URs to book the same stay. (That’s not to say don’t also earn other points and miles eventually, because that’ll give you options when certain redemptions may favor that program’s own points or miles.) Generally, I would much rather have 50k UR than 50k (and arguably even 150k) Hilton Honors points. Don’t get distracted by these numbers. Signup bonuses aren’t so easily compared across programs, but they can be a good measure of whether a current signup bonus is good or not compared to other cards that offer the same currency and against past offerings.
Thanks @Andysol Now he wants to order the other two professional bags to compare, since he is looking at a lot of work travel in the next few months (vs me ordering another weekender, I tried to convince him to do this originally, but... hmmm have I ever told you guys the story of his wedding ring?)
