WHAT IS THE CHASE 5/24 RULE AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?
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When I started point travel almost ten years ago, there were no rules on what credit cards you could get, how many or how often you could get the sign-up bonus, etc. Because of this, many people took advantage and would open multiple cards, earn the bonus, then close the cards.
The banks caught on and started making rules to limit how many cards and sign up bonuses we could earn. As the years passed, we have seen more and more restrictions placed on cards and their sign-up bonuses. There are many rules across all the banks, and it can seem overwhelming to keep track of. When you are first starting out, this is the most important rule you should learn as it will drive your strategy when applying for credit cards.
WHAT IS THE 5/24 RULE?
5/24 is an unofficial Chase rule that means they will not approve you for any credit cards (personal or business) if you have received five or more credit cards from any bank in the past 24 months. This is a hard and fast rule. There is no going around this. Keep in mind, this is a Chase rule, you can still get approved from other banks if you are over 5/24.
HOW DOES THIS AFFECT STRATEGY?
Chase offers some of the most lucrative travel rewards credit cards in the points world, including our favorite points cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points (UR). Chase points are transferable. That means that you can transfer them to multiple travel transfer partners like United, Southwest, Hyatt, British Airways, etc.
In addition to cards that earn UR points, Chase issues co-branded cards like Hyatt, Southwest Airlines, United, Marriott and IHG. These cards will be the cornerstone of your award travel strategy and for that reason, you want to start with Chase cards first before moving on to cards from other banks. (The exception to this rule is if a non-Chase card has a limited, increased bonus.)
WHAT CARDS COUNT AGAINST 5/24?
All personal credit cards issued by all banks (even if they are closed) in the past 24 months
Business credit cards issued by Capital One, TD and Discover in the past 24 months
Being an authorized user on a credit card can count against your 5/24 status, but there are data points suggesting this is no longer the case
There are certain retail credit cards that will count against your 5/24 status
WHAT DOES NOT COUNT AGAINST 5/24?
Business cards from Citi Bank, Bank of America and American Express
You must be under 5/24 to be approved for a Chase business card, but it will not count against your 5/24 status
Mortgage, student loans and auto loans
HOW TO CHECK YOUR 5/24 STATUS:
You can get a free copy of your credit report from Experian or Credit Karma
Travel Freely (I highly recommend adding your card to your Travel Freely account as soon as you get it - it’s completely free!)
WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE OVER 5/24?
Remove yourself as an Authorized User before applying for a new card. If you get denied for a card that you are an authorized user on, call the Chase reconsideration line at 888-270-2127 and ask them to remove you as an authorized user.
Focus on business cards that do not count towards your 5/24 status. Most people are eligible to apply for business credit cards.
Take a break from applying for credit cards until one falls off your credit report
OTHER RULES REGARDING BONUSES ON CHASE ISSUED CARDS
Sapphire cards:
You can only hold one card from the Sapphire family at a time: either the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (CSP) or the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (CSR).
You can only earn the sign up bonus on one of the Sapphire cards every 48 months. That means that if you earn the sign up bonus on the CSP in January of 2023, you will not be eligible to earn another bonus on the CSP or the CSR until January 2027
You will not be approved for a CSP or CSR card if you currently hold the card.
Co-Branded Chase cards (airline and hotel cards)
You can earn the bonus on Chase co-branded cards every 24 months, but you cannot currently hold the card to be approved
You can only hold one Southwest Airlines personal card at a time
You can only hold one IHG personal credit card at a time
STRATEGY
If you are new to miles and points travel, the best strategy is to focus on Chase cards first. If your travel goal is a domestic trip it could look something like this:
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card- Choose one of the Sapphire products based on your travel needs and style. If you travel often and value premium perks and lounge access, go with the Sapphire Reserve.
Chase Freedom Flex℠- 20k Ultimate Rewards points - earns 5x points on rotating categories, 3x on gas and drug stores. This will be the card you use the most if you can’t qualify for a business card.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card - This card earns 5% cash back (or 5x points per dollar) on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account year. This will be your workhorse card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card - If you can qualify for a business card, I recommend applying for the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card. It has a higher sign up bonus and it will keep you at 2/24.
Pick a Chase co-branded hotel card like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card you will earn you three 50k points free night awards or the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, which currently has a sign-up bonus of four free 40k night awards.
You will use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points for flights and to book Hyatt hotel stays. Get your Player Two involved to double the amount of points you earn.
If your travel goal is an International trip, you will follow the same plan above except you will omit the Southwest credit card (for now) and focus on:
United Quest℠ Card (click: Category>Airline) - The welcome bonus is enough for a round-trip flight in economy to Europe. United is a Chase travel transfer partner, so you could transfer points earned from your Chase Sapphire to book more than one flight or to book a business class flight.
Add a non-Chase card that has a high sign-up bonus like the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card or Capital One® Venture X Rewards Credit Card. Both of these cards have a 75k sign up bonus. They earn transferable miles and are worth a 5/24 spot in my opinion.
If you are not comfortable or able to qualify for a business credit card, I would fill your card spots with credit cards that have a limited, increased bonus or one that earns flexible points. Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Happy Travels!
Read why the Chase Sapphire Preferred is my favorite card for beginners here.
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Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
