Okay, so I'm 17 and I really want a credit card. Don't worry, I won't go into debt, I make enough to pay it off easily and have money in a savings account as a backup. I figure if I'm spending $300-$400 a month (as I am) I may as well get some rewards. I'd like to get the Amex Starwood card as it's apparently like the best for traveling, and I'm going around the world next year, so if I end up spending like $4000+ by the end of the year I could get a few free flights which would be sweet. The thing is, you have to be 18 to sign up - is there a way for my parents to be like a guarantor or something so I can get the card like now? Their fine with it, because they understand everything I do and how much I make etc. I'm 18 in 6 months, but over 6 months I could get some nice travel points.
You will need to wait another six months to get your own credit card. However, you could check with your parents if they can get you a supplementary card. However all points earn through a supplementary card would go to the main credit card holder. It is best to just wait till you are 18 years old since anything under that age is considered a minor and contracts with minors are not binding so companies do not want to take the risk.
Are you sure about that? My parents are pretty confident that if they're a guarantor it should be fine. Still, we'll call up Amex and check.
Actually six months is a long time when I'm traveling in 11-12 months. If I continue to spend $300-$400 a month that'd be enough points to travel quite a few hundred miles. I will almost definitely spend more than that as time progresses through, and could easily build up 10,000 points before I go away. I'm spending the money no matter what so why would I not try to get free travel?