I love credit cards so much! v6.0 - 2023 (see first page for add'l details)

[AndreaDM]

Looking for advice, we are going to Cancun for a 3 night long weekend in May. United has one way flights for 11.8K miles + $48, or a cash price of $160. I can transfer URs from Chase, but we’re going to Japan in 2025 so I’m thinking I should save those points. Thoughts?

 

[EACarlson]

Looking for advice, we are going to Cancun for a 3 night long weekend in May. United has one way flights for 11.8K miles + $48, or a cash price of $160. I can transfer URs from Chase, but we’re going to Japan in 2025 so I’m thinking I should save those points. Thoughts?

Cash price total is $160? I'd do that, if you take off the $48 in taxes and fees on the award, you're barely getting a penny per point.

 

[BuzzLightyr]

You can also redeem chase points for travel (book cash rates) for up to 1.5c per point which should use fewer points. Japan has been popular with the weak exchange rate and a challenge to find attractive award bookings.

 

[wanderlust7]

He has 4 open inks and 1 SW Biz with total CL less than half of our income. He’s been approved with these stats before. But I’m assuming they are tightening. I’ll close a couple more inks and reapply. I’ll probably wait more than 30 days, though.

I do feel like I’m twiddling my thumbs with no MSR. I do have an offer for the Amex Blue Cash Preferred for $300 for $3,000 spend. Looks like that might be the standard offer? My only Amex are the Hilton Surpass and Personal Plat. Thoughts? We don’t have aspirational use for MR, but do spend a lot on groceries….

Thanks for the DP! I was denied at 4 open Inks. Will try again at 3. I suspect the dollar amount of the CL matters too, but I don't know how low is low enough.

The public offer on the BCP is $250. Best was $350 and waived AF. Takes up a 5/24 spot, so not something I've gone for. You might be able to play the downgrade/upgrade game with it though. I have an old Everyday that I've upgraded with offers 3 times now.

 

[wanderlust7]

Looking for advice, we are going to Cancun for a 3 night long weekend in May. United has one way flights for 11.8K miles + $48, or a cash price of $160. I can transfer URs from Chase, but we’re going to Japan in 2025 so I’m thinking I should save those points. Thoughts?

The award ticket will be completely refundable, so comparing to the refundable cash price might be more apples to apples. Is that cash price the basic economy price where you can't change it at all or the regular economy where you'd get travel fund that expires in a year? Depends how much you think you might need that flexibility. Since Covid, I've valued it more than I used to.

 

[Alexle2007]

For AmEx Marriott Bevy and Marriott Brilliant, can you hold both at once? Preference as to which card is better. We have a bunch of expenses as we get the house ready to sell as we head south to MS for a few years as DS is Ole Miss bound!

 

[calypso726]

For AmEx Marriott Bevy and Marriott Brilliant, can you hold both at once? Preference as to which card is better. We have a bunch of expenses as we get the house ready to sell as we head south to MS for a few years as DS is Ole Miss bound!

If you have the Brilliant but want the Bevy then no. If you have the Bevy and want the Brilliant then yes. Most of the infographics have it that way. I saw one that conflicted. Plus with family language now, who knows. I had the Brilliant and was unable to get the Bevy. I downgraded my Brilliant to what used to be the old SPG card. A few months later, I received an upgrade offer to the Bevy and took it. DH also downgraded when I did and has not been targeted for the upgrade offer.

 

[newski_mom]

For AmEx Marriott Bevy and Marriott Brilliant, can you hold both at once? Preference as to which card is better. We have a bunch of expenses as we get the house ready to sell as we head south to MS for a few years as DS is Ole Miss bound!

Our middle DD went to Ole Miss! I loved visiting her there - such a fun atmosphere!

 

[MsOnceUponATime]

Can I go off cc topic and ask about the $800/pp VAT tax in Schengen (purchased with my cc's lol)? Some of you may recall our journey this summer, and I'm trying to figure out where exactly I claim my VAT tax purchases.

Fly into Paris from the US, train to London, train back to Paris, train to Barcelona, cruise from Barcelona to Rome, depart from Rome via plane back to the US.
I plan to purchase a couple of designer bag 50th birthday treats for myself in Paris, and possibly one in Portofino at LV. Do I claim those in Rome at the airport leaving Schengenor do I claim those in Paris at the train station when leaving? Or both?

 

[AndreaDM]

The award ticket will be completely refundable, so comparing to the refundable cash price might be more apples to apples. Is that cash price the basic economy price where you can't change it at all or the regular economy where you'd get travel fund that expires in a year? Depends how much you think you might need that flexibility. Since Covid, I've valued it more than I used to.

Cash price of $160 is basic economy. I have the United card though so at least get free luggage.

 

[Judique]

If you have the Brilliant but want the Bevy then no. If you have the Bevy and want the Brilliant then yes. Most of the infographics have it that way. I saw one that conflicted. Plus with family language now, who knows. I had the Brilliant and was unable to get the Bevy. I downgraded my Brilliant to what used to be the old SPG card. A few months later, I received an upgrade offer to the Bevy and took it. DH also downgraded when I did and has not been targeted for the upgrade offer.


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I am again confused by this chart. I want the Chase Boundless. It's basically the card I gave up on downsizing a couple of years ago.

I have 2 Amex original cards plus the Amex biz card. One was the Brilliant. All give 35K certs which I always can use at Fairfield Inn or other basic Marriotts.

I also have the Chase Marriott Biz card.

I've held these 4 cards since at least 2018, with a couple since 2001.

I may be locked out, but just in case I'm asking the question.

 

[calypso726]

I am again confused by this chart. I want the Chase Boundless. It's basically the card I gave up on downsizing a couple of years ago.

I have 2 Amex original cards plus the Amex biz card. One was the Brilliant. All give 35K certs which I always can use at Fairfield Inn or other basic Marriotts.

I also have the Chase Marriott Biz card.

I've held these 4 cards since at least 2018, with a couple since 2001.

I may be locked out, but just in case I'm asking the question.

It looks like you aren’t eligible for a Chase Boundless if you currently have or had the Amex Bonvoy within the last 30 days.

 

[becauseimnew]

Just rebooked our Southwest flights for the summer trip using their 25% award ticket promo code. SAVE25NOW
Booked 2 RT tickets to MCO for 28,928 points and booked 2 RT tickets to Sacramento for 36,686. We'll add the companion passes to the Orlando trip, so that's an amazing deal. Finally some decent prices on SW tickets.

 

[ahself]

Last Nov, we downgraded DW's CIP to a CIU rather than close it to keep the CL available since it wouldn't transfer to her Hyatt Biz due to how they (incorrectly) set up the Hyatt Biz. The CIU kept the same exact card number. She was approved for the CIP in Aug '21. Is there any reason (e.g. same card number) she wouldn't be eligible for a new CIP SUB now?

For reference:
- DW was approved with a $6k CL (yay!). CIU has a $15k CL, and the Hyatt Biz has a $5k CL. Didn't reduce CLs for either existing card. Used Sol Prop.
- Received pending review right after applying on 4/3. Called the status line on 4/4 and received the 7-10 day status. Called back on 4/6 and received an approved status.
- Sent secure message asking for an expedited delivery and received the card on 4/9.

 

[Judique]

It looks like you aren’t eligible for a Chase Boundless if you currently have or had the Amex Bonvoy within the last 30 days.

Thank you! Wishful thinking on my part! I now have two Amex Bonvoy due to product changing the Brilliant. I was thinking 4 cards were enough for 2 Florida road trips a year, but didn't factor in that older brother would pick a hotel that I've been able to get for a 35K plus extra points. Maybe younger DD will app for it for my use.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Can I go off cc topic and ask about the $800/pp VAT tax in Schengen (purchased with my cc's lol)? Some of you may recall our journey this summer, and I'm trying to figure out where exactly I claim my VAT tax purchases.

Fly into Paris from the US, train to London, train back to Paris, train to Barcelona, cruise from Barcelona to Rome, depart from Rome via plane back to the US.
I plan to purchase a couple of designer bag 50th birthday treats for myself in Paris, and possibly one in Portofino at LV. Do I claim those in Rome at the airport leaving Schengenor do I claim those in Paris at the train station when leaving? Or both?

I am no expert, but I think that you'd claim for the VAT refund in Rome (leaving the last EU country you visited). Be aware that with LV you have to take your passport to the store -- they don't accept pictures of your passport like most other designer stores do. Are you looking at buying a Goyard bag in Paris? Sometimes their stores have long lines to get in; I prefer the Goyard store in Printemps since it seems to have shorter lines. Everything else being equal, I'd wait until Rome to make the purchases so you don't have to lug them around Europe (unless you want a Goyard, in which case you'd have to purchase in Paris since they don't have a store in Rome).

 

[afan]

Posted this on r/churning but bofa showing again why they suck.

Called BofA to close an AS biz card because the AF hit. Once we sorted out the right biz card to close she said that it's not letting her refund the annual fee. She then tells me that it's Alaska's fee and that's why it won't let her do it. That's a new excuse and crazy. Will try again in a few minutes but they continue to show why they are terrible.

ETA a 20 min phone call later and it's been cancelled and the AF refunded via a supervisor. I was again told the AF I'd an Alaska fee and that he'd have to work with his supervisor to get it refunded.

It's never been this difficult to close an AS biz card and get the AF refunded. I'll have to make a note to close my current biz before the af hits if the dates work out.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Back from Vegas where we stayed at the Hilton Elara on timeshare exchange. This is the trip that I wanted the painful Wyndham biz card for. Caesar's status match turned out to be painless. Wyndham Diamond showed up the day after approval and Caesar's match only took 6 days. I didn't end up using the benefits as much as I'd hoped though.

- Thought we'd have to pay for parking at the Elara for $18/day. They share a parking garage with Planet Hollywood, so parking would have been free with Caesar Diamond. But then turned out we didn't have to pay for Elara parking on exchange.
- Thought I'd get the $100 celebration dinner, but it never showed up in my account. Was told that with status matches, you only get it after 100 credits. From what I could find, that's true EXCEPT for match from Wyndham Diamond.

- We did get free parking visiting other Caesar's resorts and saved $100.
- Got 2 free tickets to the High Roller Wheel. This is once a month, so I thought I could stack for our group, getting 2 in March and 2 in April. But nope, they expire 3 days after you get the voucher OR end of the month, so no way to use 2 month's worth at once. Thought I was being so smart, but the casinos are smarter lol.

Did you do any other matches? You could match at Hard Rock and get $50-100 in food/bev. Match at Resorts World and use that to match at Fountaine Bleu (We got $150 there). I plan on matching at Wynn when we are there at the end of the month.

That card has gotten me SOOOOOO much free. We did the matching in AC though so we matched to Ocean's which got us free nights at Resorts World and $100 F/B and $100 Free play.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Heading to Vegas end of month. 3 nights at Paris. Free with Caesars Promo and SW Flights on points. I too have the Status Match from Wyndham. Every time I want to use the $100 Dining Credit - I also need to reach 100 points first (not too difficult for me as I love the slot machines).

FOrgot to add, no need to earn points! I renewed just before we went in Feb, and used the $100 w/ NO spend on my card

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Are people buying $50 gift cards with their Hilton Biz? Sorry, I've been a bit out of the loop and am home now trying to catch up on life (and figure out how to get myself down to SW Florida permanently).

I am also behind on this. Is there a reason people aren't doing a $100 gc for an OOP cost of 41.95, since the quarterly benefit is $60? This still represents a 16% savings on that second $50 gc, which is a gc savings rate I often see people jump at.

Also, do you really think you'll permanently move to Florida?