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. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

    Also .. Amex has some good offers accessible via the incognito mode - Amex Everyday 30K MR for 2k spend, SPG 30K points, Premier Rewards Gold 50K MR & Green card 25K MR
     
    ohhaithur likes this.
  2. coffee

    coffee Remember: Jedi is plural for Jedi
    Sporting Kansas CityKansas State WildcatsKansas City RoyalsKansas City Chiefs

    Incognito mode?
     
  3. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    It follows your cache. I had to close my incognito twice to get it

    Got spg and prg :yousoright:
     
    pratyk likes this.
  4. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    I'm able to pay my rent and my mom's rent on my cards so I'm going to be adding lots of cards soon :lovelove:
     
  5. coffee

    coffee Remember: Jedi is plural for Jedi
    Sporting Kansas CityKansas State WildcatsKansas City RoyalsKansas City Chiefs

    Sorry, I know what Incognito Mode is on a browser. I assumed Amex would present you offers based on you having to log in and them knowing the card you have, when you got it, etc. No?
     
  6. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    The opposite in fact

    You get better offers with it not knowing you exist

    Why? Fuck if I know
     
  7. EMAW FC

    EMAW FC Proud Smucker
    Donor
    Kansas State WildcatsKansas City RoyalsKansas City ChiefsFulhamSporting Kansas CitySneakers

    which company do you use to do so?
     
  8. coffee

    coffee Remember: Jedi is plural for Jedi
    Sporting Kansas CityKansas State WildcatsKansas City RoyalsKansas City Chiefs

    But don't you have to sign in to load the offers to your card? Sorry for being dense this morning.
     
  9. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    No, go to the credit card page and you'll see the offers. If they're bad, close and try again

    They don't ask who you are until after the offer
     
    coffee likes this.
  10. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Our respective landlords allow it with $28 fees per transaction so I do multiple months at a time. I finally convinced mom to let me pay hers on CC and direct deposit me money

    2800 points for $28 is at worst break even so even if I wasn't hitting bonuses I'd still do it
     
    bricktop and EMAW FC like this.
  11. EMAW FC

    EMAW FC Proud Smucker
    Donor
    Kansas State WildcatsKansas City RoyalsKansas City ChiefsFulhamSporting Kansas CitySneakers

    Nice. My first apartment out of college had it, wish I was more knowledgeable about cards then. Only paid w/ my rapid rewards card a couple times.
     
  12. coffee

    coffee Remember: Jedi is plural for Jedi
    Sporting Kansas CityKansas State WildcatsKansas City RoyalsKansas City Chiefs

    OK apparently you'll have to walk me through this like a child, because when I go to amexoffers.com, it doesn't show me any offers until I log in to my Amex account (even in Incognito mode)....
     
  13. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    coffee likes this.
  14. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    I might just not ever move because I love all the free points
     
  15. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

    AmexOffers.com is for partner offers like 10$ statement credit for buying flowers etc.

    The incognito mode "offers" are basically better signup bonus offers when you visit the personal card pages in private mode (try using your phone's browser for higher chance of viewing better signup bonuses)

    e.g. Amex Everyday is usually 10K points for 1K spend. I got 25K points for 2K spend when using Incognito mode of the browser.
     
  16. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
    Donor

    Y'all are talking about two different things. He's talking about new cards as a whole, you're talking about Amex offers for existing cards
     
    coffee likes this.
  17. coffee

    coffee Remember: Jedi is plural for Jedi
    Sporting Kansas CityKansas State WildcatsKansas City RoyalsKansas City Chiefs

    Ahhhh.

    Yeah, I'm too old to sign up for a bunch of new cards just to chase rewards. :)
     
  18. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

    Never too old.. Besides, I don't really travel for work so the only way to get miles & points is via credit card signups.
     
  19. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    looks like it just died anyway :(
     
  20. coffee

    coffee Remember: Jedi is plural for Jedi
    Sporting Kansas CityKansas State WildcatsKansas City RoyalsKansas City Chiefs

    If you don't travel often it seems to me you should opt for a cashback card instead of a rewards one.
     
  21. allothersnsused

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

    Just noticed that the 5% back for "Commuter Transport" for the Chase Freedom includes Uber/Lyft. Just an FYI to switch your default payments on those apps for the next couple months if you haven't already.
     
  22. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

    I travel often, just not for work.. Personal travel isn't enough for earning miles / points that can be redeemed down the line.
     
  23. LSU90

    LSU90 Well-Known Member

    So can someone point me in the direction of the best resource for churning cards?
     
  24. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

  25. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    do chase cards first
     
    pratyk likes this.
  26. colonel_forbin

    colonel_forbin Well-Known Member
    Donor

    I downgraded my CSP to a Freedom for the rotating categories since I have a CSR. Does the rotating categories include cash back for purchases inside the store? Could I buy a $100 Visa gift card inside a gas station and get $5 back?
     
  27. Matt Foley

    Matt Foley RIP EARL
    Donor
    Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsAuburn TigersCarolina PanthersWofford Terriers

    Is that guy saying that your goal is to get 1 business and 1 personal card from each of the 6 banks every 3 months?

    That's 48 new cards per year, seems a little excessive.
     
  28. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Yes. I load up my Amazon
     
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  29. It'sAlwaysSunnyInAthens

    It'sAlwaysSunnyInAthens Well-Known Member
    Donor

    So i've found a few hyatts that you can book through the chase travel portal for less points than through gold passport rewards.
     
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  30. Lip

    Lip Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Michigan State SpartansDetroit LionsGeorge Washington Colonials

    Which ones.
     
  31. It'sAlwaysSunnyInAthens

    It'sAlwaysSunnyInAthens Well-Known Member
    Donor

    a couple of the all inclusives in Cancun. They are 25k through hyatt and the Ziva cancun was 19 through chase. It just went up but it's still less than 25. The Andaz in Savannah is less through the chase portal as well.
     
    Lipp likes this.
  32. allothersnsused

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

    What is the cap again? $500? Going to do this in March for whatever amount I haven't hit.
     
  33. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
    Donor

    1500 in purchases
     
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  34. stangd

    stangd I love scotch. Scotchy, scotch, scotch
    Donor
    Florida State SeminolesOrlando MagicBuffalo BillsTampa Bay LightningOrlando City

    Amex platinum, is it worth the $450 a year fee? Got a chance to upgrade with 50K points.
     
  35. C A N E

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

    Just did the same thing. If you don't care about account age, get the Barclays arrival plus on the same day to have only one inquiry.
     
  36. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
    Donor

    If you're going to get it, sign up with the 100k offer when it's available
     
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  37. gordon bombay

    gordon bombay magician's alliance enthusiast
    Donor
    Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsAtlanta BravesAtlanta HawksAtlanta Falcons

    ohhaithur likes this.
  38. gordon bombay

    gordon bombay magician's alliance enthusiast
    Donor
    Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsAtlanta BravesAtlanta HawksAtlanta Falcons

    Don't take that offer. They routinely offer 100K points for that card. Amex is one and done so you have to maximize sign up offers.

    It is definitely worth it for the first year with the 100K offer. After that, you would have to decide. I personally thank it is worth it but I fly Delta solo a ton and abuse the shit out of sky clubs / centurioun lounges.
     
  39. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

    If you have 10-15+ accounts, Account Age doesn't change much for new ones.
     
  40. C A N E

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

    I have over 15 so I apply for anything with a decent bonus. Using the two AA cards and the $500 travel credit from the Arrival plus to get to Asia again in December.
     
    pratyk likes this.
  41. allothersnsused

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

    I just compared this to the Gold online and am lost as to what the Platinum provides that the Gold doesn't, aside from a better sign-up reward. I thought it used to offer a companion ticket every year but don't see this listed among the benefits now.

    Hardly worth an extra $100/yr
     
  42. rezy

    rezy Member
    Donor
    Florida State SeminolesNew York YankeesLos Angeles ClippersNew York GiantsManchester United

    Card still offers the free companion fare
     
  43. gordon bombay

    gordon bombay magician's alliance enthusiast
    Donor
    Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsAtlanta BravesAtlanta HawksAtlanta Falcons

    Platinum gives you a companion pass upon card renewal and also offers a mileage bonus at $25,000 spend. I would only get the platinum for the sign up bonus or if you fly a lot, to maintain/reach higher status levels.
     
  44. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
    Donor

    My understanding of the companion benefit is that it's pretty useless usually unless you get lucky
     
  45. gordon bombay

    gordon bombay magician's alliance enthusiast
    Donor
    Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsAtlanta BravesAtlanta HawksAtlanta Falcons

    I have only used it once but it was fairly easy to redeem on a $450 ticket from nyc - san fran when booking a few months out
     
  46. rezy

    rezy Member
    Donor
    Florida State SeminolesNew York YankeesLos Angeles ClippersNew York GiantsManchester United

    I've used it for the past 4 years and was able to save money with it every time, but I also fly out of jfk so it might depend on where you generally fly out of
     
  47. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
    Donor

    JFK probably helps. The article I read said that the refundable business class/first class tickets are often so expensive and the routes/airlines restricted enough that you rarely come out on top. Unless you live in a place you don't have to connect to that certain airlines service routes without a 2-4x markup on refundable premium tickets
     
  48. rezy

    rezy Member
    Donor
    Florida State SeminolesNew York YankeesLos Angeles ClippersNew York GiantsManchester United

    The platinum delta is a free companion for coach, you might be thinking of the reserve that has the companion ticket for biz/first
     
  49. gordon bombay

    gordon bombay magician's alliance enthusiast
    Donor
    Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsAtlanta BravesAtlanta HawksAtlanta Falcons

    You are thinking of the companion fare perk that comes with the regular amex platinum card, and yes, that is basically worthless as it requires you to buy a $20k first class international ticket basically.

    The delta platinum amex companion ticket is just a free ticket in Coach anywhere domestic and is fairly simple to use.
     
    Arkadin likes this.
  50. RJF-GUMP

    RJF-GUMP Daubert Qualified in Cooler Thermodynamics
    Donor TMB OG

    I'm about to apply for chase sapphire preferred. someone stop me if this is bad idea. from reading this thread i've decided its probably the best card for redeeming points