I’m at 5/24 - What Now?
You're not stuck. You're just on a different sequence.
Being at or over 5/24 means rule-enforcing issuers are off the table for now - both their personal AND their business cards. But it doesn't mean you've missed your shot at travel rewards points. The strategy just shifts to capture welcome bonuses from issuers that DON'T enforce 5/24 while you wait for your oldest cards to age out.
The Plan in Three Parts
1. Pivot to issuers that don't enforce 5/24. There are still solid welcome bonuses available from card issuers that don't apply the rule. We'll work through those first - earning travel rewards points along the way & not losing momentum.
2. Track when your oldest cards age out. Your 5/24 count is a rolling 24-month window. Every card you opened drops out of the count exactly 24 months after it was opened. The moment your count drops back to 4/24, BOTH the personal AND the business cards from rule-enforcing issuers open back up. That's the re-entry point we're playing the long game for.
I track those age-out dates so neither of us has to memorize them. Let's be in touch as your math gets close to clearing.
3. Resist applying for cards I haven't recommended. This matters more when you're at 5/24 than at any other time. Every new card you open while at 5/24 resets your earliest age-out date - which delays when you can get back to the rule-enforcing issuers' cards. Worse, that card is eating a 4/24 slot you'll wish you had once your math clears. Applying for the wrong card right now can push your re-entry by months.
If you're tempted by an offer, text me first. Five seconds of "is this a good idea?" can save you a six-month delay.
What This Looks Like in Practice
When a new member comes in at 5/24 or over, I look at their full card list, calculate when each card ages out, & build a sequence that matches:
Welcome bonuses from non-5/24 issuers in the near term
Strategic timing for when the rule-enforcing issuers' personal & business cards open back up
Whether their spouse's 5/24 status creates household options worth pursuing first
The pace might look a little different than someone starting at 0/24 - but the path is just on a different sequence. Households at 5/24 still earn meaningful travel rewards - it's just a different order of operations.
Couples at 5/24
If your spouse is under 5/24, that's a meaningful asset. Their personal slots become the household's near-term path for the rule-enforcing issuers' cards while we work your non-5/24 sequence in parallel. Combined household strategy unlocks more than two solo paths running separately. For the full picture on running the program as a couple, see the related question below.
Related Questions
Important Disclosures
Educational guidance only - not financial, credit, or tax advice. Individual results vary based on card approval, spending habits, redemption choices, & timing. Approval for any credit card is subject to issuer criteria.
Hawaii Reward Travel may receive compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. This is how this free program is funded. Compensation does not influence guidance. Opinions are the author's alone & have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any bank, card issuer, or other entity.
