I love credit cards so much!

[DisneyMandC]

Daraius

vs.

Oberyn Martell

No. Not even close.

LOL ok, not the same guy I'm thinking of then!!



That makes me feel a little better because I was like "jeez, this guy never takes his kids anywhere."

 

[disneymagicgirl]

So any more news on that DP from FB where the double dip sapphires didn't work? I was planning to do my SW DD today...

ETA: I guess I could go back to the original plan of SW bus/personal. I just miss out on 40k extra SW points that way.

 

[amalone1013]

LOL ok, not the same guy I'm thinking of then!!

View attachment 345399

That makes me feel a little better because I was like "jeez, this guy never takes his kids anywhere."

Haha, I think Darius is officially gone as of earlier this year too.

 

[platamama]

New, raised limit to Marriott points transfers - 100,000 per year for $10 (free if higher than Silver status).

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

You all were so helpful when I started asking questions a few months ago I'm back for Round 2!

Background: We've had 2 credit cards for decades (Discover and a Citi they changed from something else a year or so ago), but have decided to play the travel game Ultimate goal is flying lay flat business to Australia and using points for some hotels there. I had hoped for 2019 but 2020 is more likely. We are DVC, travel to WDW as a couple once a year and as a family with our young adult kids every 12-18 months. Dh and I take a national parks-type trip once a year, generally flying SW. Youngest flies SW for school breaks. PHL and BWI are airports of choice.

Dh is a reluctant P2 who will not apply for business cards. I have just finished homeschooling youngest and am contemplating getting back to tutoring like I did before we started homeschooling 8 years ago. So that would work as a legit business.

Me:
CF 7/18 (1/24)

DH:
CSP 7/18 (1/24)

I think going for the SW CP (so that it's valid for 2019-2020) is a good idea for us between our usual travel and visiting my extended family in CA more often. But when in relation to other cards? CIP is a good choice for me first because of the number of UR, right? CIC would be better in the long-run though, I think.

Double dipping kinda makes me nervous

Right now we can meet spends of $5-7K/3 months easily. $8-10K would take planning. We are considering some work on the house, though.

Suggestions with timing?

And another thing---I've read Chase prefers not more than 50% of income in credit limits. Is that combined across personal and business cards? And is there also a $ limit, rather than the 50% amount?

Thanks so much

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

Mid-September is 3 months from the Marriott. I'd still do some major cutting on that $77k credit line and your $97k before then. Does he need $77k in credit from Chase? I've seen some discussion that after some point <50% doesn't matter anymore, and too much is too much.

No def don’t need that much at all. I lowered mine to $87K should I do another $10K or more? I’ll lower DH by $20k easily so maybe I should do another $20K? Only cards we really use much are the CFU (3x in DHs name) and my CSR.

 

[miztressuz]

At this point, I'm just popping in every few days to see what deal they're going to kill next.

Yeah, I was thinking we shouldn't encourage them by even clicking on the links, but then rethought about it and came to the same conclusion. That way you have an early warning system...

 

[amalone1013]

View attachment 345398

New, raised limit to Marriott points transfers - 100,000 per year for $10 (free if higher than Silver status).

So I'm gold, so I can transfer for free... out of my account? But if I want to put DHs couple thousand points in, or MIL/FILs it will cost $10?

 

[disneymagicgirl]

You all were so helpful when I started asking questions a few months ago I'm back for Round 2!

Background: We've had 2 credit cards for decades (Discover and a Citi they changed from something else a year or so ago), but have decided to play the travel game Ultimate goal is flying lay flat business to Australia and using points for some hotels there. I had hoped for 2019 but 2020 is more likely. We are DVC, travel to WDW as a couple once a year and as a family with our young adult kids every 12-18 months. Dh and I take a national parks-type trip once a year, generally flying SW. Youngest flies SW for school breaks. PHL and BWI are airports of choice.

Dh is a reluctant P2 who will not apply for business cards. I have just finished homeschooling youngest and am contemplating getting back to tutoring like I did before we started homeschooling 8 years ago. So that would work as a legit business.

Me:
CF 7/18 (1/24)

DH:
CSP 7/18 (1/24)

I think going for the SW CP (so that it's valid for 2019-2020) is a good idea for us between our usual travel and visiting my extended family in CA more often. But when in relation to other cards? CIP is a good choice for me first because of the number of UR, right? CIC would be better in the long-run though, I think.

Double dipping kinda makes me nervous

Right now we can meet spends of $5-7K/3 months easily. $8-10K would take planning. We are considering some work on the house, though.

Suggestions with timing?

And another thing---I've read Chase prefers not more than 50% of income in credit limits. Is that combined across personal and business cards? And is there also a $ limit, rather than the 50% amount?

Thanks so much

Your CP plan sounds great. You'll want to do that later in the year, so the points all post at the start of 2019. So we need to figure out what to work on in the meantime. I think I would avoid chase, so you are 0/90 when you app for those, but others here would maybe be more aggressive.
Would you be interested in starting with an amex biz card now, then doing the SW cards in a couple of months, thus still being only 1/24? Since you are the only one willing to do biz cards, it sounds like you should be the one doing the CP, not DH. So this could be your plan. Then, later in 2019 you could DD the sapphires (using referral from DH of course.) I think you may be more open to DD at that point...since you will have your feet wet.

As for DH, he could start with a chase card. Might he be interested in upgrading his CSP to a CSR so you get a better redemption rate there? You could refer him to a freedom if you like. I am drawing a blank for him, since he has a sapphire already and won't do biz cards. I'd normally suggest CIP for the 80k sign up bonus. If he could be the one to do the SW CP, that would help open up other possibilities for you too, but if he won't do a biz card for that, then he'd have to be comfortable with a DD.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

No def don’t need that much at all. I lowered mine to $87K should I do another $10K or more? I’ll lower DH by $20k easily so maybe I should do another $20K? Only cards we really use much are the CFU (3x in DHs name) and my CSR.

I’m very conservative so I’ve lowered mine by a lot...the highest I’ve kept on one card is 15,000...the ones I don’t use mush I’ve lowered to $5,000

 

[tink1970]

what is the difference in the charge and credit?

PP were correct in explaining the difference...another one that's pertinent if you like Hilton/Starwood/Delta/EDP/BBP is that Amex limits the number of credit cards to 5, with no apparent limit on charge cards. In my case, I have 5 credit cards and would really like the BBP and Hilton Aspire which means I'll need to dump a Delta co-brand in Nov to get the Hilton Aspire; another Delta co-brand or SPG or EDP for the BBP.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Just checked my AA account for the first time since last week and I see I'm now up to 70k miles! I need to have DH call into Barclays and figure out whats going on with his Aviator Biz. Sent in all the documents about 10 days ago but haven't heard anything yet.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

You all were so helpful when I started asking questions a few months ago I'm back for Round 2!

Background: We've had 2 credit cards for decades (Discover and a Citi they changed from something else a year or so ago), but have decided to play the travel game Ultimate goal is flying lay flat business to Australia and using points for some hotels there. I had hoped for 2019 but 2020 is more likely. We are DVC, travel to WDW as a couple once a year and as a family with our young adult kids every 12-18 months. Dh and I take a national parks-type trip once a year, generally flying SW. Youngest flies SW for school breaks. PHL and BWI are airports of choice.

Dh is a reluctant P2 who will not apply for business cards. I have just finished homeschooling youngest and am contemplating getting back to tutoring like I did before we started homeschooling 8 years ago. So that would work as a legit business.

Me:
CF 7/18 (1/24)

DH:
CSP 7/18 (1/24)

I think going for the SW CP (so that it's valid for 2019-2020) is a good idea for us between our usual travel and visiting my extended family in CA more often. But when in relation to other cards? CIP is a good choice for me first because of the number of UR, right? CIC would be better in the long-run though, I think.

Double dipping kinda makes me nervous

Right now we can meet spends of $5-7K/3 months easily. $8-10K would take planning. We are considering some work on the house, though.

Suggestions with timing?

And another thing---I've read Chase prefers not more than 50% of income in credit limits. Is that combined across personal and business cards? And is there also a $ limit, rather than the 50% amount?

Thanks so much

Since you fly SW getting the CP is a smart move....I’d apply Nov/Dec and make sure you complete the spend in 2019
Or if you want to apply for another Chase card between your CF and the SW cards...apply for the CIP in say October...then the SW cards January

If you want to stick with Chase and UR...you could refer your husband for the CF in October...

Your right about the credit limits...best to reduce them so the statement close with the lower limits prior to applying for the cards....It does include business and personal cards....

 

[BamaBoy]

Just wanted to share a bit of encouragement for those that are just starting this game. I have been doing this for 6 years and I could write several pages about the things we have been able to do, however I will keep it brief and share the latest. This past weekend my wife and I celebrated our 20th Anniversary by flying to Las Vegas to see Lionel Richie. Round trip air from Atlanta to Vegas and a night at the Venetian were all free. This trip would have cost us well over $1,000 (which is a big amount for us) and we simply would not have been able to even think about going without the points. The trip was extra special for us because we danced to Lionel's music at our wedding reception and then got to celebrate our 20th by seeing him live. I have dozens of these type stories from the last 6 years-trips to Disneyland, Utah, D.C., Universal Orlando, and many more-big trips and weekend getaways. All possible through taking advantage of credit card points. None would have been possible for us without this hobby. Memories and once in a lifetime experiences have been had through these points. Thanks for all the great info on this thread. If you are thinking about jumping in, please do. It will be the best decision you have ever made! On to more YOLO experiences!

 

[Albort]

PP were correct in explaining the difference...another one that's pertinent if you like Hilton/Starwood/Delta/EDP/BBP is that Amex limits the number of credit cards to 5, with no apparent limit on charge cards. In my case, I have 5 credit cards and would really like the BBP and Hilton Aspire which means I'll need to dump a Delta co-brand in Nov to get the Hilton Aspire; another Delta co-brand or SPG or EDP for the BBP.

try it, there’s rumors of the 5 amex CC card being lifted.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Just checked my AA account for the first time since last week and I see I'm now up to 70k miles! I need to have DH call into Barclays and figure out whats going on with his Aviator Biz. Sent in all the documents about 10 days ago but haven't heard anything yet.

It takes them a few days to get them in the system and then a few days to get around to reviewing them. I was able to call after they had them in the system and the person put me on hold to review the docs and then cleared me on the phone. (Fwiw they were not able to expedite the card though, even though I was willing to pay $15 at the time for them to do so they said it's no longer an option if you go through verification.)

 

[tink1970]

try it, there’s rumors of the 5 amex CC card being lifted.

I did about 2 weeks ago and they wouldn't play . I'm sure some people can slide through but not me, alas! Don't they know how loyal I am to them?

 

[amalone1013]

I gave DH his Hilton biz after it came, and told him to use it for everything ELSE - basically other than CSR for dining and Freedom for Gas. We'll knock out 2/3 of the spend with my car... eventually... so no reason to move category spend right now.

Looking through his purchases from the last week. We have fast food, small gas station purchases (like drinks)...

This is why I label DHs cards.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Saw on Reddit Barclay Aviator Biz is up to 60k points!

 

[DisneyMandC]

It takes them a few days to get them in the system and then a few days to get around to reviewing them. I was able to call after they had them in the system and the person put me on hold to review the docs and then cleared me on the phone. (Fwiw they were not able to expedite the card though, even though I was willing to pay $15 at the time for them to do so they said it's no longer an option if you go through verification.)

Yeah I called in on mine and they approved me on the phone too. The lady was super rude though... Maybe I'll get DH to call tonight.