Goal: Pivot from Amex Platinum/Luxury Resorts (FS, Rosewood) to the Chase/Hyatt ecosystem. Now that we have 2 kids under 4, we need the space/value of Hyatt for school break travel (Deer Valley, Maui, Asia).
Current Stats:
- P1 FICO: 800 | Income: $500k+
- Points Stash: 700k MR (held by BBP) | 350k UR (held by CSP/CFU)
- 5/24 Status: 2/24 (CFU 2/26, Amex Plat 9/25)
- Oldest Account: CSP (2012)
Current Cards:
- CSP ($28.5k, 2012)
- Amex Personal Platinum (Opened 9/25)
- CFU ($10k, Feb 2026)
- Amex BBP (Feb 2026 – Holding the 700k MR stash)
The 2026 – 2027 Roadmap
I want to keep my personal cards stable and "churn" Ink cards as a sole proprietor (no EIN) to keep the UR engine humming.
End Goal Card Stack:
- Personal: CSP, CFU, CFF, WOH
- Business: Ink Cash, Amex BBP
| Date | Action | Strategy/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | Open Ink Business Preferred (CIP) | 100k SUB. 1st Ink to build the Hyatt fund. Does not count toward 5/24. |
| July 2026 | PC: CSP —> Freedom Flex (CFF) | Product Change 2012 card to CFF before the $95 AF. Preserves the 14 yr history. |
| Aug 2026 | Open Sapphire Reserve (CSR) | 125k SUB. Replaces Amex Plat travel perks (PPS, 1.5x Portal value). Now 3/24. |
| Sept 2026 | Close Amex Personal Platinum | Close before $895 renewal. Travel perks now covered by CSR. |
| Nov 2026 | Open Ink Business Cash (CIC) | 75k SUB. Use for 2x Gas and 5x Gift Cards. |
| Jan 2027 | Open World of Hyatt (WOH) | Use for the Cat 1-4 cert and extra points on Hyatt stays. Now 4/24. |
| Mar 2027 | PC: CIP —> 2nd Ink Cash | No AF. Doubles the 5x cap for Amazon/Utilities via Gift Cards. |
| Aug 2027 | PC: CSR —> CSP | Downgrade CSR after Year 1 to keep the UR transfer ability at a lower cost. |
Specific Questions for the Community:
What do you think about the timeline and final setup? We will need around 250k points per week for Ski Week and Spring Break yearly. I was hoping to churn through the Ink cards, but due to the recent changes, I am going to see if my wife will join the game.
I appreciate any guidance and love learning from this community!
[Strategy Check] SFO-based Family Pivot: Chasing Hyatt for a Family of 4 (2026 Strategy)
byu/alorable inCreditCards
Posted by alorable
2 Comments
Check the points calendars on those Hyatts before committing in my opinion.
Make sure you know what you’re getting into in terms of availability.
Also the points values people claim for Hyatt in Paris are likely comparing to the high cash prices.
In general I think American chain hotels are low value outside of USA/Canada.
For skiing and Hawaii I’ve always done condos or houses. That way there’s a comfy living room, full kitchen and lower prices vs. hotels.