I love credit cards so much!

[platamama]

The SPG/Marriott merger thing is confusing me about points. Silly question, I guess, but are the 125K SPG points that we could get by opening a LUX card actually 125K or do they get converted into a lesser amount of Marriott points? Can they be used at any Starriot hotel, or is this thing still complicated?

They can be used at any Starriott hotel, but there are nuances in how you can use them. One example: if you login from the Marriott side, you can use points to book rooms even if you don't have enough points in your account yet. If you login from the SPG side, you can use points to book rooms but you HAVE TO have enough points in your account.

ETA: If it's a SPG legacy property, you still can't book an awards night (even if logging in from the Marriott side) unless you have enough points. I just tried it.

 

[trenty]

Hi for the SW CP..I think most are opening a SW personal and business card...if the business card isn’t something you’d like to do then you could shop through the RR shopping portal for extra points, and put the extra spend on the card to get to 110,000 RR points...depends on how much you use the CP

For your husband either the CF or CFU...depends on if you’d earn more URs with the 5x CF categories or the 1.5URs on the CFU

Thanks. Yeah - thinking there are other ways to earn SW points for the CP when the time comes.... I would prob use the SW card almost exclusively while trying to earn the CP. But this is not my main goal right now. I will forgo the CP for 2019 and look into it again in 2020 after I build up my stash of United and Chase URs. The rules may be different then anyway.

I don't think I would get DH CF - We have no problem maxing out most quarters on mine - but maxing out on two would be a stretch. Would you PC his CSP or apply for a new CFU?

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Thanks everyone! I am looking for advice about what new card(s) I should get. I currently have the SW Chase Visa with a little bit of a balance owed, that card was opened in 2014. No other AUs. I paid it off monthly until about 1.5 years ago when I bought my house and "needed" new furniture. Other than that indulgence I'm really good about not overspending. I was thinking I would transfer that balance to a 0% interest rate card to help me pay it off, and hopefully that card can also earn me rewards; or I could open a 2nd card to actually use and earn rewards with. My travel goal is an internation trip in 2021 and another international trip in 2022 (these will be graduation gifts to my 2 oldest nephews). I am single so my initial required spend for bonus points on the card probably needs to be low. Also, I can probably have my parents join in the action to help me earn rewards as well (my mom can't really travel anymore). They could either be AUs on my card(s), or get their own; whichever would be most helpful. Dad still has a small business, so they are eligible for both personal and business cards. The 3 of us together earned 7 free transcon tix and 2 companion passes through sign up bonuses alone on SW back in 2014 so we are not completely new to this; it's just been a while. Thanks in advance for any advice!

Your in a great position since your last card was in 2014...so your 0/24......And should look at applying for Chase cards first...spacing out the applications 2-3 months apart.

How much do you think you could put on the cards in the first 3 months ? ...The Chase CIP...a business card has the higsign up bonus 80,000URs after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months. Other cards have 50,000 bonuses after $3,000 and $4,000 MSR...

It’s great your parents are willing to open cards as well...you can earn a lot of points with 3 people opening cards...it’s a matter how much you can spend in 3 months

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Thanks. Yeah - thinking there are other ways to earn SW points for the CP when the time comes.... I would prob use the SW card almost exclusively while trying to earn the CP. But this is not my main goal right now. I will forgo the CP for 2019 and look into it again in 2020 after I build up my stash of United and Chase URs. The rules may be different then anyway.

I don't think I would get DH CF - We have no problem maxing out most quarters on mine - but maxing out on two would be a stretch. Would you PC his CSP or apply for a new CFU?

I’d apply for a new CFU for the 15,000 sign up bonus points....also if you have one you can refer him and get I think 10,000 referral points....if you don’t....have him refer you later on

 

[afan]

I've been slow to look at my amex offers and have the AT&T one but it's on my biz card. It says - pay your wireless bill or other service charges online directly with AT&T at att.com/smallbusiness or through the AT&T app.

I know a lot of people have done the offer whether they had cell and internet or cell and directv, which is what we have, but I didn't see if anyone had done it on a biz card. I'm guessing since ours isn't through the small business link, because I'm a sole prop and wouldn't have that even if I had a biz, that it won't work for me. There is some wording that makes it look like it won't matter if it's through small biz but I'd rather make sure. Since it's all under my mom's name and I'd have to involve her in it, I would hate to do it thinking it'll work and then it doesn't.

 

[Lain]

I am waiting for my SW anniversary points to post so that I can cancel the SW Premiere. This is one of the few cards I plan to churn so DH or I can almost always have the CP since all of our domestic travel currently takes place with SW. Not 100% sure I can still swing this since the DD is dead and I can only hold one card. But I do want to keep the CP option open.

Am I missing any other opportunities (besides business cards)?

The only way to get the SW CP now through credit card signups is with one personal card (preferably a 50k RR offer in-flight or hoping Chase increases the signup bonus) and the business card (60k RR). I know you don't want to open any business cards, so that leaves you with one personal card and as much as $60k-70k worth of actual spend in the same year.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Thanks. Yeah - thinking there are other ways to earn SW points for the CP when the time comes.... I would prob use the SW card almost exclusively while trying to earn the CP. But this is not my main goal right now. I will forgo the CP for 2019 and look into it again in 2020 after I build up my stash of United and Chase URs. The rules may be different then anyway.

I don't think I would get DH CF - We have no problem maxing out most quarters on mine - but maxing out on two would be a stretch. Would you PC his CSP or apply for a new CFU?

The fact that CF referrals is a bummer - I'd say that would be your best move if you could refer, but you can't.

Since he is a "reluctant" P2...why not have him apply for a CFU if he's willing. You can earn 15,000 URs from the signup, 750 from meeting the MSR, and I think they still have 2,500 for adding an AU (maybe add himself, or middle name, or something like that). So all-in the signup could be worth $182.50 in cash (or $273.75 if redeemed through CSR for travel) for just a $500 MSR. Then, If it's worth a slot, he could later refer you to CFU and that would be worth the same amount PLUS 10,000 URs for the referral.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

The only way to get the SW CP now through credit card signups is with one personal card (preferably a 50k RR offer in-flight or hoping Chase increases the signup bonus) and the business card (60k RR). I know you don't want to open any business cards, so that leaves you with one personal card and as much as $60k-70k worth of actual spend in the same year.

And unless somebody was planning to use that CP twice a month or something ridiculous like that...the $60k spend could be put to MUCH better use on other sign-up bonuses or category bonus spend most likely. I know some of us fly a lot, but we gotta keep in mind what the true "value" of the CP is.

 

[trenty]

The only way to get the SW CP now through credit card signups is with one personal card (preferably a 50k RR offer in-flight or hoping Chase increases the signup bonus) and the business card (60k RR). I know you don't want to open any business cards, so that leaves you with one personal card and as much as $60k-70k worth of actual spend in the same year.

I know. :-(
This is not really on my radar for the immediate future. I would hope for a better sign on bonus and/or use the shopping portal. I am also resigned to accept the fact that it can't be done. I rarely get FOMO in this hobby.

 

[trenty]

The fact that CF referrals is a bummer - I'd say that would be your best move if you could refer, but you can't.

Since he is a "reluctant" P2...why not have him apply for a CFU if he's willing. You can earn 15,000 URs from the signup, 750 from meeting the MSR, and I think they still have 2,500 for adding an AU (maybe add himself, or middle name, or something like that). So all-in the signup could be worth $182.50 in cash (or $273.75 if redeemed through CSR for travel) for just a $500 MSR. Then, If it's worth a slot, he could later refer you to CFU and that would be worth the same amount PLUS 10,000 URs for the referral.

This is probably what I will do - then cancel is CSP when he has had it for a year...as long as I am still able to transfer his URs to me.

 

[trenty]

And unless somebody was planning to use that CP twice a month or something ridiculous like that...the $60k spend could be put to MUCH better use on other sign-up bonuses or category bonus spend most likely. I know some of us fly a lot, but we gotta keep in mind what the true "value" of the CP is.

Yes - I have thought of this as well. And we will be flying more with the CP - but not that much more!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

This is probably what I will do - then cancel is CSP when he has had it for a year...as long as I am still able to transfer his URs to me.

I'd still convert that CSP to a CF and maybe just reduce the CL down to $1,500. If a GREAT quarter for the 5% comes around then you'd have 2 Freedoms! Now that it's an open card, no sense in closing it

 

[palhockeymomof2]

This is probably what I will do - then cancel is CSP when he has had it for a year...as long as I am still able to transfer his URs to me.

If your not already transferring the URs from his CSP to yours I’d recommend doing it monthly as they post on his card.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Yes - I have thought of this as well. And we will be flying more with the CP - but not that much more!

Yeah - it'd be a math problem for sure. Just look at the "expected value" you'd get from a CP. Hypothetically, Let's say you could use it once a quarter (so 8 times over 2 years) and the average flight would be $250 round trip. The CP is worth $2,000. If you poured that $60k spend into a SW card you'd get a CP worth $2,000 and 60k SW points worth abuot $900 - so $2,900 in total at a return of < 5%. If you put that $60k towards a bunch of signup bonuses you'd probably get way more than $2,900 out of it.

You really want to consider doing the SW biz and personal combo to get that CP. The other things my hypothetical example assumes you can earn the CP right away...it could take you a whole year to earn those 60k points meaning you only get the use of the CP for 13 months instead of 23...All things worth considering. No matter what you do though, you can take solace in the fact that you are still getting a better return through churning than probably 99% of the public lol!

 

[trenty]

I'd still convert that CSP to a CF and maybe just reduce the CL down to $1,500. If a GREAT quarter for the 5% comes around then you'd have 2 Freedoms! Now that it's an open card, no sense in closing it

Something to think about.....

 

[trenty]

If your not already transferring the URs from his CSP to yours I’d recommend doing it monthly as they post on his card.

Absolutely! I transfer as soon as the points hit his account!

 

[jhoannam]

Only if you agree to smack me too. I keep wondering how I get myself into this! 5k on Amex is torture...though I do love the plat card so that is my only consolation.

I think I’ve only been to one place that doesn’t take Amex.

 

[tinker&belle]

@Judique and @miztressuz gave excellent advice!

Do you and DH still have the Starwood (SPG) cards? If not, when did you and DH close your cards?

The reason being the exclusions that @Judique and @miztressuz mentioned -- effective 8/26/18, the combined Marriott (which we sometimes refer to unofficially as "Starriott") placed a lot of restrictions on their credit card offerings from Chase and Amex. As @Judique mentioned, the general rule is you have to choose whether to get the cards from Chase (Marriott) or Amex (SPG), to the exclusion of the other issuer for about two years after. But first, let's see what cards you might be eligible for.

We have cancelled the cards and never had the Marriott card. Would we qualify for the Marriott bonus? Would that work for Starwood properties? I am hoping to take the cruise from Honolulu in 2020 and there is a nice Starwood in Waikiki I want to stay at-trying to figure out if I can get some sort of credit card bonus to make it happen.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Here's my ss for premium gas in my area. Valuing stsrriott points at 0.9 cents each. Hope it makes sense, I have oop cost, value of rewards earned, and final cost is oop minus rewards.

View attachment 358364
I dont have the speed pass rewards calculated since I haven't looked into them much. Basically Kroger and murphy are within 5 mins of the house, maverick is out of the way but DH will do it because he feels their gas is better, Sam's is no way unless were shopping there, probably costco too except its 10mins away vs 30mins for Sam's, and exxon is not bad but not most convenient either, and I know DH will not do speed pass without me to run it. This is also the first time gas prices have put exxon ahead of the others for me, before at best it would tie or just be worse because their prices are usually the highest.

How does speed pass work? I see 3pts per dollar on gas, 5pts if paying with speedpass? What is 100pts worth?

100 points is worth $1. FWIW, I use Speedpass every time I fill up at Exxon and I’ve had 100 points for my next visit every single time. Usually putting 16-17 gallons in my car on each trip.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I think I’ve only been to one place that doesn’t take Amex.

Dang. I have lots. Mostly spendy items like sports, insurance, vet. No Amex. Forgot to ask plumber Friday if they take cc at all. Gotta call tomorrow before they come on Tuesday. $2k bill, I sure hope they take cc.