Credit Card Thread - Now with a Beginner's Guide to free travel/FAQ

Discussion in 'The Mainboard' started by blind dog, Apr 10, 2015.

  1. Frank Martin

    Frank Martin tough love makes better posters
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    Doubtful. They would prefer new customers.
     
  2. allothersnsused

    allothersnsused Wow that’s crazy
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    Virginia CavaliersAtlanta BravesAtlanta HawksWashington Football TeamChelsea

    Just discovered that you can buy things on amazon directly with Chase points, which is pretty cool.

    Then discovered they're worth less than $0.01/point. Which is disappointing.

    Disappointing :awesomeface:
     
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  3. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
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    Has anyone activated the Priority Pass benefit from the CSR and received their card? I did about a week or two ago, haven't gotten anything yet.

    Despite my previous ragging on the program there looks to be a lounge at MSP I can use in a few weeks. I have a Priority Pass card that says it's good through some 2018 from my old employer and old Corp Platinum card but not sure if it'll work with that account having been closed. I never registered it on their site and don't have the activation PIN anymore.
     
  4. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    Cards take about two weeks to get. I have mine.
     
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  5. Big Apple Duck

    Big Apple Duck Craving a chimichanga
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    Oregon Ducks

    I have priority pass with my Amex Platinum but have never used it. I think it would come in most handy when travelling internationally - the Air France lounge at JFK, for example, is dope. I ate pounds of lox and stinky cheese and drank two gallons of champagne before my last flight to Paris.
     
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  6. EMAW FC

    EMAW FC Proud Smucker
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    rec'd my card yesterday, and I was approved for the CSR in late August
     
  7. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    I have mine, stuck at an airport without one though :(
     
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  8. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
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    I've had one for years and never used it but the Escape Lounge at MSP looks pretty nice so I'm going to try to check that out.

    http://www.escapelounges.com/msp-lounge/
     
  9. beist

    beist Hyperbolist
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    I assumed I would be able to just show my card at the lounge to get access. How do you activate the priority pass benefit?
     
  10. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    You will not be able to get in without your priority pass card, either digital or in hand.
     
    beist likes this.
  11. Big Apple Duck

    Big Apple Duck Craving a chimichanga
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    Oregon Ducks

    I wonder how that compares to the Delta lounge. I have a two hour layover there on Friday on my way to Nebraska for the Duck game, so I might check out both.
     
  12. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
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    Let me know if you end up checking it out. The reviews I read on it sounded pretty positive. I have a couple United Club passes I got from Hyatt (haven't flown United in over 3 years) that I need to use at some point too so that's another option for me there.
     
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  13. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
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    They're usually located in inconvenient terminals. PHL doesn't even have one period.
     
  14. beist

    beist Hyperbolist
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    Good to know. I've been able to just flash my Amex at Delta lounges and get in.
     
  15. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    Priority pass is a separate entity so there's no way for them to look anything up unless you have your priority pass information
     
  16. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    that's where I am
     
  17. Big Apple Duck

    Big Apple Duck Craving a chimichanga
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    Oregon Ducks

    ohhhh shit I have those too - totally forgot. I'm a Delta guy tho. I need to give those away or somethign
     
  18. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
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    Should be able to just use them.

    Access policy changes
    Beginning August, 18, 2016, all United Club customers, including members, are eligible to access United Club locations only when they have a flight on any airline the same day, and must show a boarding pass for entry. See the complete United Club terms and conditions, including new information for members of the U.S. military.
     
  19. g8r

    g8r Well-Known Member
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    Florida GatorsBoston Red Sox

    Just applied for CSR and was told they needed to look at my application a little longer. Prob doesn't help I have gotten an Arrival+, CSR, and Hyatt in the last 3 months. Building a house, hitting bonuses. Hope it goes through.
     
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  20. Name P. Redacted

    Name P. Redacted I have no money and I'm also gay
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    Chase is going to devalue points when used through the Amazon site, so be careful.
     
  21. PJP3

    PJP3 Well-Known Member
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    I've used the priority pass through amex platinum probably 10 times. Generally, the domestic lounges are tiny and aren't great, but are usually good for free booze and maybe some snacks. Internationally, often times it comes with access to some major airlines lounges which are better. I wouldn't pay for the membership but its a nice perk to have for free.
     
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  22. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    Yeah. It's a nice quiet place to chill out and booze for free if you don't feel like sitting in an airport bar usually. Been to some internationally that were great though.
     
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  23. beist

    beist Hyperbolist
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    The Q4 Chase Freedom categories were just announced. Department Stores, Drug Stores, and Wholesale Clubs. No Amazon this year. Bummer.
     
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  24. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    I'm going to CVS to buy Amazon gift cards probably
     
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  25. allothersnsused

    allothersnsused Wow that’s crazy
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    I cancelled my CSP and Amex Gold to get the CSR. I will miss the Delta lounges I had with my Amex gold but the perks to that card weren't enough to justify the $100 fee. I would pay a lot for some sort of program that gave you global access to multiple airlines' lounges.
     
  26. Tommy Callahan

    Tommy Callahan Well-Known Member
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    Delta lounges don't come with Amex gold
     
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  27. PJP3

    PJP3 Well-Known Member
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    That's what I was thinking. As far as I know that only comes with platinum, and isn't the gold fee $175?
     
  28. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
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    They would get overrun. The fee would have to be outrageous to level it out.
     
  29. C A N E

    C A N E Let justice be done though the heavens fall
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    Miami HurricanesMiami Heat

    I know it's too late but you can just charge access to the CSR and Chase will reimburse you.
     
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  30. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
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    Link?
     
  31. C A N E

    C A N E Let justice be done though the heavens fall
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    Miami HurricanesMiami Heat

    I've read a few people post on different boards about charging it to the card and a a chase rep said chase will reimburse twice a year. However, not sure if that method will allow multiple people.
     
  32. EMAW FC

    EMAW FC Proud Smucker
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    i'm assuming this is a no but i couldn't find any literature to tell me otherwise

    do travel purchases made before you meet the $300 limit (thus getting statement credit) count towards the $4k spending needed to get the bonus?
     
  33. beist

    beist Hyperbolist
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    I would assume they do count but I don't know for sure.
     
  34. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    It didn't say anything about it in the terms and conditions but I'm going to name sure I build a nice buffer in case
     
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  35. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
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    Can you do that or will chase flag it?
     
  36. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    Reddit has people doing $100,000 a month in visa gift cards at office max, we're probably ok
     
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  37. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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  38. Big Apple Duck

    Big Apple Duck Craving a chimichanga
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    Oregon Ducks

    Only the Amex Platinum comes with Delta lounge access; the Delta platinum does not, but the Delta reserve (also $450) does.

    As promised, I checked out the lounges in Minneapolis this morning. The elevate lounge was a huge disappointment - it felt like a hampton inn lobby. I walked over the Delta lounge which is pretty nice. Same old limited food selection, but a lot of space and nice area.
     
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  39. beist

    beist Hyperbolist
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    As a (soon to be former) Delta Amex Platinum card holder, this never ceases to amaze me.
     
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  40. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
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    Typical comp booze selection? I only have :45-1 hour to kill so I just I want to grab a few drinks before my puddle jumper to Fargo.
     
  41. Big Apple Duck

    Big Apple Duck Craving a chimichanga
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    Oregon Ducks

    I honestly don't know. I landed at 8am and leave in an hour, so I wasn't checking out the booze seen. They definitely had a bar and it looked to be a decent selection.
     
  42. Volholic16

    Volholic16 Well-Known Member
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    Just applied and got the Reserve. Highest limit I've ever had on a card, surpassing the limit on the Preferred I've had for a just over a year.
     
  43. Tommy Callahan

    Tommy Callahan Well-Known Member
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    Missed the opening of a new one in Atlanta by a week today in Concourse B. Pictures look really nice the current one is pretty lacking
     
  44. g8r

    g8r Well-Known Member
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    Florida GatorsBoston Red Sox

    Officially part of the CSR club. Initially received a denial due to the number of cards in a short period. Explained I got the CSP prior to CSR coming out and that I wanted to keep the CSR long term. Their solution was to pull $10k of the CSP limit and open the CSR.

    Can I transfer my 60k in rewards points from CSP to CSR then close CSP?
     
  45. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    Yes. But I'd downgrade it to a freedom if you can
     
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  46. Volholic16

    Volholic16 Well-Known Member
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    How long is the CSR taking to arrive?
     
  47. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    under a week
     
  48. Volholic16

    Volholic16 Well-Known Member
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    Tennessee VolunteersAtlanta BravesNashville PredatorsGrateful Dead

    Bang. I've got to book a last minute trip to Denver next week and I would like to use it but not sure I can wait that long.
     
  49. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
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    Texas LonghornsManchester United

    anyone travelling through a United Hub and looking for a Club pass? I have one that expires in about 10-12 days. PM me if interested.

    They are worth $50, but I would part with it for much less.
     
  50. PJP3

    PJP3 Well-Known Member
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    I just hit my 4k spend. How long has it been taking for people to get the 100k bonus?
     
    Sportfan likes this.