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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Ethan's been a frequent flier for as long as he can remember, from studying abroad in Paris to moving to Shanghai after graduating college, where he served as TPG's eyes and ears for all things travel in the Asia-Pacific region. If you asked him where he wants to travel next he'd quote Anthony Bourdain and tell you "anytime I'm eating spicy noodles in a bowl, I'm happy."
September 29, 2025 • 9 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Editorial note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt adviser and investor.
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Quick summary
The 5/24 rule restricts new card approvals if you have opened five or more cards in the past 24 months, shaping early card strategies.
Once over the 5/24 threshold, you should consider cards from other issuers to diversify your points and access more transfer partners.
Expanding your rewards portfolio beyond one issuer can provide greater flexibility and redemption options, especially with unique transfer bonuses and partners.
Cobranded airline and hotel cards from various issuers remain accessible and can offer valuable perks, even if you are over the 5/24 limit.
What to consider
Some business cards do not count toward the 5/24 rule, allowing for strategic applications without impacting your status.
Diversifying points across multiple programs can increase redemption flexibility, with TPG's September 2025 valuations placing these points at a minimum of 1.85 cents each.
Welcome bonuses from non-Chase issuers remain available and can be substantial, so waiting to fall below 5/24 may mean missing out on valuable offers.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed guide to building a post-5/24 card strategy, including how to identify gaps in your rewards and maximize value from multiple loyalty programs.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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 may 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 how 5/24 works. But in general, you should open up your Chase cards first before moving on to other issuers because of this rule.
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 new course.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of your best options for building a post-5/24 strategy.
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.
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At any given time, there will be multiple welcome bonuses from other cards worth $1,000 or more that you're 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.
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 2025 valuations peg the value of these points at a minimum of 1.85 cents per point.
The true value of diversifying your points is access to each issuer's transfer partners and the tremendous flexibility they offer. Citi has the most transfer partners, but the other issuers aren't far behind.
All five issuers also have some transfer partners in common (British Airways and Air France-KLM Flying Blue make many appearances, for example), but their differences are incredibly complementary.
Star Alliance is a great example. Chase and Amex let you transfer to allthe major loyalty programs in the largest airline alliance. This lets you pit United Airlines, Avianca, Air Canada and Singapore Airlines against each other and pick the absolute lowest cost for any award you want to book.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
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 you’re always ready to jump when the right redemption option presents itself.
Top cards to consider:
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Find out your offer and see if you're eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $12,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
American Express® Gold Card: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Bilt Mastercard®: Earn Bilt Points on rent without paying any transaction fees (up to 100,000 points per year; you must make at least five transactions each billing cycle to earn points).
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening, plus receive a $300 credit to use on hotel and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel in the first cardholder year.
Citi Strata Premier® Card(see ): Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening.
The information for the Bilt 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.
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 transaction fees and earns flexible points, which can be redeemed for outsize value (up to 100,000 points on rent per year; you must make at least five transactions each billing cycle to earn points).
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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 spent on all purchases, like the Capital One Venture Rewards card, to ensure you earn bonus earnings on essentially every purchase you make.
*The Amex Gold earns 4 points per dollar on U.S. supermarket purchases for the first $25,000 spent each calendar year (then 1 point per dollar).
While it may seem easy to write off cobranded cards because Chase issues the majority of cobranded airline and hotel cards, there are some excellent offerings from other issuers.
Twin King Privilege Room. HOTEL DE BOURGTHEROULDE, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION/MARRIOTT.COM
Hilton loyalists also have a number of Amex cards to choose from, and American Airlines and Delta Air Lines 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.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Apply and find out if your welcome offer is as high as 80,000 bonus miles, plus earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. You may not be eligible for the maximum offer amount.
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. Once you do, it’s time to look forward, not backward.
Figure out which of your Chase cards are keepers, 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 so you can keep earning valuable rewards.
