Green Light
Proceed through a Green Light without hesitation, would get any card identified with a green light without giving it a second thought. All these are elite Credit Cards


Yellow Light
Proceed through a Yellow Light with hesitation but still run a yellow 9/10 times, would get any card identified with a yellow light but think twice or take a step back before applying


Red Light
Proceed through a Red Light with a good reason (wife’s about to give birth) would only get a card identified with a red light for a GOOD reason (going on a cruise or need to build your credit)

AADVANTAGE AVIATOR RED WORLD ELITE

Green light

AAdvantage Aviator

Green Light

-Miles for no intro spend
-Annual fee paid for after 4 checked bags on American
-Keep the miles if you cancel the card

Pros:

-Earn 60,000 miles after making a purchase on your card within 90 days of opening and paying the $99 annual fee
-Earn a $99 Companion Certificate after making your first purchase within 90 days and paying the $99 annual fee
-Get up to $25 back as statement credits on inflight wifi purchase on American Airline operated flights
-First checked bag free for you and up to 4 companions traveling with you on the same reservation
-0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers
-No foreign transaction fees
-Travel Accident Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Baggage Delay Insurance, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Coverage
-Keep the miles if you cancel the card

Cons:

-$99 annual fee is not waived for the first year of membership
-Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent on American Airlines purchases
-Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on everything else
-Points exclusive to American Airlines products
-If you make a balance transfer, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including the balance transfer) off
-Balance transfers must be posted within 45 days of opening the account
-3% balance transfer fee

JETBLUE PLUS CARD

Green light

JetBlue Plus

Green Light

-Annual fee paid 4 checked bags on JetBlue
-Keep the miles if you cancel the card
-Quality airline with free wifi

Pros:

-Earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases on your card within 90 days of opening
-Earn 6 points for every $1 spent on JetBlue purchases
-Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on purchases at grocery stores and restaurants
-Earn 5,000 bonus points every year after your account anniversary
-First checked bag free for you and up to 3 companions traveling with you on the same reservation when booked with your JetBlue Card
-Receive a 50% savings on eligible inflight purchases of cocktails and food
-0% intro APR for 12 months on balance transfers
-Receive an annual $100 statement credit after purchasing a JetBlue Vacations package with your card
-No Foreign Transaction Fees
-If you cancel your card you keep your bonus intro points that never expire

Cons:

-$99 annual fee is not waived for the first year of membership
-Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on everything else
-Points exclusive to JetBlue products
-No travel insurance
-If you make a balance transfer, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including the balance transfer) off
-Balance transfers must be posted within 45 days of opening the account
-3% balance transfer fee

AADVANTAGE AVIATOR BUSINESS CARD

Green light

AAdvantage Aviator Business Card

Green Light

-Miles for no intro spend
-Annual fee paid for after 4 checked bags on American
-Keep the miles if you cancel the card

Pros:

-Earn 65,000 miles after spending $1,000 in purchases on your card within 90 days of opening and a bonus 10,000 miles after a purchase is made on an employee card
-Earn a $99 Companion Certificate after your account anniversary and spending $30,000 or more on your card
-First checked bag free for you and up to 4 companions traveling with you on the same reservation
-No foreign transaction fees
-Keep the miles if you cancel the card

Cons:

-$99 annual fee is not waived for the first year of membership
-Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent on American Airlines purchases
-Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent at eligible office supply, telecom, and car rental merchants
-Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on everything else
-Points exclusive to American Airlines products
-Cardmember Anniversary bonus is an extra 5% of miles accrued for charges on your annually

JETBLUE BUSINESS CARD

Green light

JetBlue Business Card

Green Light

-Great return on intro spend
-Annual fee paid for after 4 checked bags on JetBlue
-Quality airline with free wifi

Pros:

-Earn 50,000 points after spending $1,000 in purchases on your card within 90 days of opening and 10,000 points when a purchase is made on an employee card (employee must be added within 30 days of opening)
-Earn 6 points for every $1 spent on JetBlue purchases
-Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on purchases at office supply stores and restaurants
-Earn 5,000 bonus points every year after your account anniversary
-First checked bag free for you and up to 3 companions traveling with you on the same reservation when booked with your JetBlue Card
-Receive a 50% savings on eligible inflight purchases of cocktails and food
-Receive an annual $100 statement credit after purchasing a JetBlue Vacations package with your card
-No Foreign Transaction Fees
-If you cancel your card you keep your bonus intro points that never expire

Cons:

-$99 annual fee is not waived for the first year of membership
-Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on everything else
-Points exclusive to JetBlue products
-No travel insurance

HAWAIIAN AIRLINES WORLD ELITE

Yellow Light

Hawaiian Airlines MC

Yellow Light

-Good return on intro spend
-Can get great value out of this card if you participate in trips to Hawaii frequently
-Very limited destination options

Pros:

-Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in purchases on your card within 90 days of opening
-Earn 3 miles for every $1 spent on Hawaiian Airlines purchases
-First checked bag is free for the primary cardmember when you use your card to purchase your ticket directly from Hawaiian Airlines
-Receive a one-time 50% off companion discount for roundtrip travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines
-$100 Companion discount annually for roundtrip travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines after each account anniversary
-No Foreign Transaction Fees
-Annual fee is waived for the first year of membership
-Keep the miles if you cancel the card

Cons:

-Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent on gas, dining, and grocery store purchases
-Earn 1 mile for every $1 spent on everything else
-$99 annual fee after the first year
-$100 off a RT flight between North America and Hawaii, only get use of this benefit if you go to Hawaii annually
-Miles exclusive to Hawaiian Airline products

UBER CREDIT CARD

Yellow Light

WF Propel AMEX

Yellow Light

-OK return on intro spend
-No annual fee
-Big cash back on Ubers
-Good card if you use Uber at least 4 times a month

Pros:

-Earn $100 Uber Cash after spending $500 in purchases on your card within 90 days of opening
-Earn 5% back in Uber Cash on purchases with Uber, Uber Eats, and JUMP
-Earn 3% back in Uber Cash on purchases at restaurants, bars, hotels, and airfare
-Mobile phone protection if you purchase your phone on the card
-No Foreign Transaction Fees
-No annual fee

Cons:

-Earn 1% back in Uber Cash for every $1 spent on everything else
-Rewards exclusive to Uber Cash
-Uber Cash is automatically and only transferred to your Uber account once you earn $50 in Uber Cash

WYNDAM REWARDS CREDIT CARD

Yellow Light

WF Propel AMEX

Yellow Light

-Good return on intro spend
-$75 annual fee not waived the first year
-Free nights start at 7,500 points

Pros:

-Earn 15,000 bonus points after your first purchase and another 15,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases on your card within 90 days of opening
-5 points for every $1 spent at Wyndham hotels and timeshare properties
-Earn 6,000 bonus points on your cardmember anniversary each year
-Free nights start at 7,500 points
-Complimentary Wyndham Rewards platinum membership
-No Foreign Transaction Fees
-0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers
-If you cancel the card you keep your bonus points

Cons:

-$75 annual fee not waived for the first year
-Earn 2 points for every $1 spent at grocery stores (excluding Target and Walmart)
-Earn 1 point for every $1 spent everywhere else
-If you make a balance transfer interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including the balance transfer) off
-Balance transfers must be posted within 45 days of opening the account
-3% balance transfer fee

CHOICE PRIVILEGES VISA

Yellow Light

WF Propel AMEX

Yellow Light

-Good return on intro spend
-No annual fee
-Free nights start at 8,000 points

Pros:

-Earn 32,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases on your card within 90 days of opening
-Earn 15 points per $1 spent at Choice Hotels
-Earn 5 points per $1 spent on Choice Privileges points or Choice Hotels gift card purchases
-Earn 2 points per $1 spent on everything else
-Earn 8,000 anniversary bonus points after spending $10,000 or more on purchases
-Free nights start at 8,000 points
-No annual fee
-0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers
-If you cancel the card you keep your bonus points

Cons:

-If you make a balance transfer interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including the balance transfer) off
-Balance transfers must be posted within 45 days of opening the account
-3% balance transfer fee
-3% Foreign Transaction Fee

BARNES AND NOBLE MASTERCARD

Yellow Light

WF Propel AMEX

Yellow Light

-Get something in return for opening the card
-No annual fee
-Good to build credit with if you’re a Barnes and Noble user

Pros:

-Earn a $25 Barnes and Noble gift card after your first purchase with the card
-Earn 5 cash back on all Barnes and Noble purchases
-Earn 2 points for every $1 spent at restaurants
-Get a $25 Barnes and Noble gift card every time you accrue 2,500 points
-Earn 12 months of Barnes and Noble membership after spending $7,500 in a year on your card
-No annual fee
-0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers

Cons:

-Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on everything else
-If you make a balance transfer interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including the balance transfer) off
-Balance transfers must be posted within 45 days of opening the account
-3% balance transfer fee
-3% Foreign Transaction Fee

JETBLUE CARD

Yellow Light

JetBlue Card normal

Yellow Light

-OK return on intro spend
-No annual fee
-Annual fee on higher tier JetBlue cards is worth it

Pros:

-Earn 10,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases on your card within 90 days of opening
-Earn 3 points for every $1 spent on JetBlue purchases
-50% off inflight savings on cocktails and food purchases
-No annual fee
-No Foreign Transaction Fees
-0% intro APR for 12 months on balance transfers
-If you cancel your card you keep your bonus intro points that never expire

Cons:

-Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on everything else
-Points exclusive to JetBlue products
-If you make a balance transfer interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including the balance transfer) off
-Balance transfers must be posted within 45 days of opening the account
-3% balance transfer fee

MILES AND MORE WORLD ELITE

Yellow Light

Miles and More CC

Yellow Light

-Good return on intro spend
-Similar to United miles
-Best value if redeemed with Lufthansa

Pros:

-Earn 50,000 award miles after spending $3,000 in purchases on your card within 90 days of opening and paying the annual fee
-Receive two complimentary Lufthansa Business Lounge Vouchers after each account anniversary
-Receive a Companion Ticket after each account anniversary
-Redeem miles for flight awards and upgrades on Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, SWISS, Star Alliance Airlines and other partners
-No Foreign Transaction Fees
-0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers
-If you cancel your card you keep your bonus intro points

Cons:

-$89 annual fee not waived for the first year of cardmembership
-Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on ticket purchases directly from Miles and More airline partners
-Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on everything else
-Points exclusive to Lufthansa and partners products
-If you make a balance transfer, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including the balance transfer) off
-Balance transfers must be posted within 45 days of opening the account
-3% balance transfer fee

UPROMISE MASTERCARD

Yellow Light

Upromise MC

Yellow Light

-Good return on intro spend
-Forces you to save for a child’s college
-Beware of the 0% intro APR balance transfer

Pros:

-Earn a $100 Cash Back Bonus after spending $500 in purchases on your card within the 90 days of opening
-Receive a 15% cash back bonus when your Upromise account is directly linked to an eligible 529 College Savings Plan
-Upromise round up lets you round up your purchases to the nearest dollar (difference between the purchase price and round up goes into a 529 College Savings Plan)
-No annual fee
-No Foreign Transaction Fees
-0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers

Cons:

-Earn 1.25% cash back on every purchase
-If you make a balance transfer, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including the balance transfer) off
-Balance transfers must be posted within 45 days of opening the account
-3% balance transfer fee

WYNDHAM REWARDS VISA

Yellow Light

WF Propel AMEX

Yellow Light

-Good return after first purchase
-No annual fee
-Missing out on an easy 15,000 extra points

Pros:

-Earn 15,000 bonus points after the first purchase on your card
-Earn 3 points for every $1 spent at Wyndham hotels and timeshare properties
-Earn 2 points for every $1 spent at grocery stores (excluding Target and Walmart)
-Complimentary Wyndham Rewards gold membership
-No annual fee
-No Foreign Transaction Fees
-0% intro APR for 6 billing cycles on all Wyndham Timeshare Purchases
-0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers
-Keep your intro points if you cancel the card

Cons:

-Earn 1 point for every $1 spent everywhere else
-If you make a balance transfer, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including the balance transfer) off
-Balance transfers must be posted within 45 days of opening the account
-3% balance transfer fee

HAWAIIAN AIRLINES BUSINESS MASTERCARD

Yellow Light

Hawaiian Biz MC

Yellow Light

-Good return on intro spend
-Can get great value out of this card if you participate in trips to Hawaii frequently
-Very limited destination options

Pros:

-Earn 60,000 miles after spending $1,000 in purchases on your card within 90 days of opening and an additional 10,000 miles when a purchase is made on an employee card (employee must be added within 30 days of opening)
-Earn 3 miles for every $1 spent on Hawaiian Airlines purchases
-Receive a one-time 50% off companion discount for roundtrip travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines
-Earn 20,000 bonus miles with $50,000-$99,999 in annual purchases or earn 40,000 miles with $100,000 or more in annual purchases
-No Foreign Transaction Fees
-Keep the miles if you cancel the card

Cons:

-Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent on gas, dining, and office supply store purchases
-Earn 1 mile for every $1 spent on everything else
-$99 annual fee not waived the first year
-No free baggage included
-Miles exclusive to Hawaiian Airline products

PRINCESS CRUISES REWARDS VISA

Red Light

WF Propel AMEX

Red Light

-Ok intro bonus
-No annual fee
-Carnival MasterCard OVER Princess Visa

Pros:

-Earn 10,000 bonus points after your first purchase on your card (redeemable for a $100 statement credit towards your next cruise purchase)
-0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months
-No annual fee
-No Foreign Transaction Fees
-Keep the points if you cancel the card

Cons:

-Earn 2 bonus points for every $1 spent on all Princess purchases, including onboard purchases
-Earn 1 bonus point for every $1 spent on everything else
-If you make a balance transfer, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including the balance transfer) off
-Balance transfers must be posted within 45 days of opening the account
-Bonus points exclusive to redemption on Princess Cruise products
-3% balance transfer fee

RCI ELITE REWARDS MASTERCARD

Red Light

WF Propel AMEX

Red Light

-$25 intro bonus
-No annual fee
-Waste of a hard inquiry

Pros:

-Earn 2,500 bonus rewards after your first purchase (worth $25 in RCI Member Rewards)
-Earn 5 points for every $1 spent on all eligible RCI purchases
-Earn a $250 Vacation Credit when you spend $10,000 in net purchases on your card each calendar year
-0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months
-No annual fee
-Keep the points if you cancel the card

Cons:

-Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on all eligible travel purchases
-Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on everything else
-If you make a balance transfer, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including the balance transfer) off
-Balance transfers must be posted within 45 days of opening the account
-Bonus points exclusive to redemption on RCI
-3% balance transfer fee

NFL EXTRA POINTS

Red Light

WF Propel AMEX

Red Light

-OK return on intro bonus
-No annual fee
-Waste of a hard inquiry

Pros:

-Earn 10,000 bonus points after making $500 in purchases on your card within 90 days of opening (enough to redeem for $100 cash back)
-0% intro APR for 6 month on NFL ticket purchases from any participating NFL team ticket office
-0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers
-No annual fee
-20% off purchases at NFLShop.com

Cons:

-Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on NFL tickets, in stadium purchases, NFLShop.com, and team pro shops
-Earn 1 point per $1 spent on everything else
-If you make a balance transfer, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including the balance transfer) off
-Balance transfers must be posted within 45 days of opening the account
-3% Foreign Transaction Fee
-3% balance transfer fee

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE VISA

Red Light

Holland America cruise

Red Light

-OK return on intro bonus
-No annual fee
-Waste of a hard inquiry
-Carnival MasterCard OVER Holland America Visa

Pros:

-Earn 5,000 bonus points after making a purchase on your card
-0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months
-No annual fee
-No Foreign Transaction Fees

Cons:

-Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on all Holland America purchases, including onboard purchases
-Earn 1 point per $1 spent on everything else
-If you make a balance transfer, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including the balance transfer) off
-Balance transfers must be posted within 45 days of opening the account
-3% balance transfer fee

BARCLAYS FINANCING VISA

Red Light

Barclays financing

Red Light

-Special intro financing
-No annual fee
-No point accrual on purchases
-Only good benefit is building credit

Pros:

-Get special financing on apple purchases made within 30 days of account opening (promo period is based on purchase amount; 6 months if less than $499, 12 months if $499 to less than $999, 18 months for $999 and over)
-No annual fee

Cons:

-Intro benefit exclusive to purchasing an apple product and might not even be 0%
-No point accrual on purchases
-3% Foreign Transaction fees

PRICELINE REWARDS VISA

Red Light

Priceline rewards

Red Light

-OK return on intro bonus
-No annual fee
-Waste of a hard inquiry

Pros:

-Earn 10,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases on your card within 90 days of opening (that’s enough for a $100 statement credit)
-Earn 5 points for every $1 spent on priceline.com purchases
-No Foreign Transaction Fees
-No annual fee
-0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers

Cons:

-Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on everything else
-If you make a balance transfer, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including the balance transfer) off
-Balance transfers must be posted within 45 days of opening the account

CARNIVAL WORLD MASTERCARD

Red Light

Carnival World

Red Light

-OK return on intro bonus
-No annual fee
-Waste of a hard inquiry unless you’re planning a Carnival Cruise

Pros:

-Earn 20,000 FunPoints after your first purchase on your card (redeemable for a $200 statement credit towards your next cruise)
-0% intro APR for 6 months on Carnival cruise bookings
-0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months
-No Foreign Transaction Fees
-No annual fee

Cons:

-Earn 2 FunPoints for every $1 spent on any purchase with Carnival Cruise Line and with the brands of the World’s Leading Cruise Lines
-Earn 1 FunPoint for every $1 spent on everything else
-If you make a balance transfer, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including the balance transfer) off
-Balance transfers must be posted within 45 days of opening the account
-FunPoints exclusive to redemption on Carnival Cruise products

DIAMOND RESORTS WORLD MASTERCARD

Red Light

Diamond Resorts mc

Red Light

-An intro bonus
-No annual fee
-Waste of a hard inquiry

Pros:

-Earn 2,500 bonus Diamond Plus Points after your first purchase or balance transfer
-Bonus 500 Diamond Plus Points for every $2,000 you spend on your card
-0% intro APR for 6 months on Diamond Vacation Ownership
-0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months
-Redeem points for purchases toward Diamond Resorts worth $25 or more and toward airfare and car rental purchases of $50 or more
-No annual fee

Cons:

-Earn 2 Diamond Plus Points for every $1 spent on Diamond Resorts purchases
-Earn 1 Diamond Plus Points for every $1 spent on everything else
-If you make a balance transfer, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including the balance transfer) off
-Balance transfers must be posted within 45 days of opening the account
-3% Foreign Transaction Fees

FRONTIER AIRLINES WORLD MASTERCARD

Red Light

Frontier MC

Red Light

-OK return on intro spend
-Frontier sucks
-Waste of a hard inquiry

Pros:

-Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $500 in purchases on your card within 90 days of opening and paying the annual fee
-Earn 5 miles for every $1 spent on purchases at flyfrontier.com
-Earn 3 miles for every $1 spent on restaurant purchases
-Earn a $100 Flight Voucher on every account anniversary after spending $2,500 or more on purchases with your card during your card membership year
-0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months
-No foreign transaction fees
-Share miles with family and friends

Cons:

-$79 annual fee not waived for the first year
-Earn 1 mile for every $1 spent on everything else
-If you make a balance transfer, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including the balance transfer) off
-Balance transfers must be posted within 45 days of opening the account
-Miles expire if you don’t make at least one purchase every 6 months
-Miles exclusive to Frontier products
-No free baggage included with the card