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. CF3234

    CF3234 Fan of: Bandwagons
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    Miami HurricanesMiami MarlinsMiami DolphinsFlorida PanthersTiger WoodsInter Miami CFGame of ThronesMiami Heat

    Most likely an obvious question, but here we go anyway. The fiance wants to get a new card. Should she start off with the CSR like I did so we are both accumulating UR points, or should she start with the Amex Platinum to diversify?
     
  2. Zebbie

    Zebbie Hey Mike, guess what I have in my underwear?
    Donor
    Texas Tech Red RaidersTexas RangersChicago CubsDallas StarsTexas Tech Red Raiders alt

    I would go CSR - Chase is the most difficult to get, so prioritize them over anyone else, IMO
     
  3. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Clemson TigersTennessee VolunteersBarcelonaUnited States Men's National Soccer TeamLiverpool

    Could she do the double dip with CSR and CSP? If so do that and combine all the UR points.
     
  4. CF3234

    CF3234 Fan of: Bandwagons
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    Miami HurricanesMiami MarlinsMiami DolphinsFlorida PanthersTiger WoodsInter Miami CFGame of ThronesMiami Heat

    yea, she can do the double dip assuming she doesn't get shafted like I did.
     
  5. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Just in Hong Kong. For now
     
  6. gordon bombay

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

    They announced us cards will stop 8/1/19
     
  7. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Well that was a good hour

    That's a huge loss
     
  8. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    Guess I need to move my priority pass to chase benefit

    How are they even accomplishing this without creating a new priority pass tier. Haven't used it since leaving Oregon but it was great for many locations without lounges.
     
  9. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
    Donor
    Oklahoma State CowboysHouston AstrosHouston TexansTiger Woods

    Took advantage of some of the Hilton Aspire benefits in Boston this past week. Quick run down:

    Did the advance purchase rate on the standard guest room, 3 nights for $785 total. There was an AmEx promo credit on stays at Hilton properties over an amount so I'll get a $50 statement credit. Used my weekend reward night for a 4th night. There were no suites available but we got upgraded to a superior guest room, quite a bit larger with some nicer features and generally runs about $30 more per night than the standard room. Also got vouchers for a free continental breakfast or $20 daily to the cafe, so another $80 there. Overall, spent $735 for something like $1200 worth of a normal stay. 10/10, will stay again

    Edited to correct the credit
     
    #10559 tjosu, May 28, 2019
    Last edited: May 28, 2019
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  10. Todd Bonzales

    Todd Bonzales Sex with old ladies for money aaaand bear traps.
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    Ohio State BuckeyesCleveland BrownsUSA RugbyTiger WoodsOhio BobcatsCleveland CavaliersCleveland IndiansOlympics

    There was a $50 offer add-ok available, too.
     
  11. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
    Donor
    Oklahoma State CowboysHouston AstrosHouston TexansTiger Woods

    Hmm, maybe I'm screwing up what the offer was then
     
  12. laxjoe

    laxjoe Well-Known Member
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    San Diego State AztecsSan Diego Padres

    Offer I see is spend $250 get $50 back
     
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  13. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
    Donor
    Oklahoma State CowboysHouston AstrosHouston TexansTiger Woods

    Yeah, that has to be it. I was doing something stupid where I was remembering that one for stays in Hawaii for $200 back. Corrected my amounts
     
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  14. Baseballman86

    Baseballman86 Well-Known Member
    Alabama Crimson TideAtlanta BravesAtlanta Falcons

    PP is now mostly worthless to me at the airports I frequent most. That blows
     
  15. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    you don't have csr?
     
  16. Lip

    Lip Well-Known Member
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    Michigan State SpartansDetroit LionsGeorge Washington Colonials

    How can they differentiate between how you got your priority pass?
     
  17. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Chase cards have 16-digit Priority Pass numbers
     
  18. BrickTamland

    BrickTamland You're not Ron...
    Donor
    Florida State Seminoles

    The range of quality when it comes to Priority Pass lounges is substantial. I’d like to have access to the Delta lounges by the next time I travel, they seem to be consistently better.
     
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  19. BrickTamland

    BrickTamland You're not Ron...
    Donor
    Florida State Seminoles

    Ive got CSR as well as SPG Lux (under which I think I set up Priority Pass,) but my PP card shows an 11 digit number.

    Do I understand correctly that there is another level of membership that I need to switch over to by attaching it to my CSR card?
     
  20. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Clemson TigersTennessee VolunteersBarcelonaUnited States Men's National Soccer TeamLiverpool

    I fly out of CLT a lot so I'd love to find a way to have access to the American lounge and/or the upcoming Centurion lounge there. Haven't done any research yet though.
     
  21. theregionsitter

    theregionsitter Well-Known Member
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    Notre Dame Fighting IrishChicago White SoxIndianapolis ColtsColumbus Blue JacketsColumbus Crew

    I've been in some lol bad Priority Pass lounges (think it was Korean Air's in Hong Kong) but some are really legit like in Toronto
     
  22. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    I believe that means you have your pp membership through your Amex
     
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  23. CF3234

    CF3234 Fan of: Bandwagons
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    Miami HurricanesMiami MarlinsMiami DolphinsFlorida PanthersTiger WoodsInter Miami CFGame of ThronesMiami Heat

    ohhaithur so should she do the double dip or get Amex go differentiate?
     
  24. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    She can try. It's a matter of preference. There are benefits of having one currency with a lot of stuff and there are benefits to having different currencies so you can find the best deal
     
    CF3234 likes this.
  25. $P1

    $P1 Ball State #1
    Staff Donor TMB OG
    Michigan WolverinesChicago CubsLos Angeles LakersChicago BearsChicago BlackhawksWest Ham UnitedBall State Cardinals

    Signed up for a Venture card last week...got the "we'll let you know" message...figured I had opened too many recently...nope, approved with a 30k credit limit. wtf, I don't need this temptation in my life
     
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  26. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
    Donor
    Auburn TigersAtlanta BravesWashington Football TeamAtlanta United

    I find it annoying that I have Chase Points from churning and Delta from flying.

    It would be better, IMO, with all in the same spot
     
    southside likes this.
  27. Todd Bonzales

    Todd Bonzales Sex with old ladies for money aaaand bear traps.
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    Ohio State BuckeyesCleveland BrownsUSA RugbyTiger WoodsOhio BobcatsCleveland CavaliersCleveland IndiansOlympics

    Buzz, laxjoe and i am a bammer like this.
  28. Lip

    Lip Well-Known Member
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    Michigan State SpartansDetroit LionsGeorge Washington Colonials

    Good. I have 16 numbers.
     
  29. tjsblue

    tjsblue I was right at the time
    Donor

    Turkish airline in IAD is legit.
     
  30. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
    Donor
    Auburn TigersAtlanta BravesWashington Football TeamAtlanta United

    I was looking at this and thr points seem to suck dick.

    130k points was only like $700. Seemed pretty weak. I don't get the hype behind this card
     
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  31. Todd Bonzales

    Todd Bonzales Sex with old ladies for money aaaand bear traps.
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesCleveland BrownsUSA RugbyTiger WoodsOhio BobcatsCleveland CavaliersCleveland IndiansOlympics

    Apply first, ask questions later.

    Kidding. It’s definitely not for everyone.

    As ohhaithur’s chart shows, if you value status and prefer one specific family of hotels, it’s a great card. Their point value also is fluid, too. Nights at Waldorf Orlando were 80,000 with a cash value of $600+ at the time. Also, the yearly credits and the free weekend night make the points simply bonus. You get more than your money back from the credits and night alone.
     
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  32. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
    Donor
    Auburn TigersAtlanta BravesWashington Football TeamAtlanta United

    Maybe it was just the hotel I was looking at in Bali that just had a bad conversion rate
     
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  33. Todd Bonzales

    Todd Bonzales Sex with old ladies for money aaaand bear traps.
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesCleveland BrownsUSA RugbyTiger WoodsOhio BobcatsCleveland CavaliersCleveland IndiansOlympics

    Yeah, it’s not all great. Fuck, the Conrad Bora Bora can range around 200,000 a night for a standard reward night.
     
  34. southside

    southside Well-Known Member
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    Texas LonghornsSouth Carolina GamecocksHouston AstrosDallas CowboysSeattle Kraken

    I’m in this exact conundrum
     
  35. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    That's why I have tens of thousands of points with every company

    Thanks for coming to my TED Talk
     
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  36. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Really though, there's value in diversifying frequently for me, but it only works if you have a lot

    Having 5,000 Delta points is useless

    But if you have a lot of each you can fly one way on one brand and another on the other leg and save yourself a lot
     
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  37. $P1

    $P1 Ball State #1
    Staff Donor TMB OG
    Michigan WolverinesChicago CubsLos Angeles LakersChicago BearsChicago BlackhawksWest Ham UnitedBall State Cardinals

  38. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

  39. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    southwest is more than most airlines imo very airport specific on how useful it is and if you're an international traveler vs all domestic

    my parents in STL who don't fly international get tons of use out of theirs
     
  40. $P1

    $P1 Ball State #1
    Staff Donor TMB OG
    Michigan WolverinesChicago CubsLos Angeles LakersChicago BearsChicago BlackhawksWest Ham UnitedBall State Cardinals

    Yeah this is what I'm trying to figure out...mostly flying out of Detroit
     
  41. laxjoe

    laxjoe Well-Known Member
    Donor
    San Diego State AztecsSan Diego Padres

    have had it the last year and its saved easily thousands at this point. we got it from a promotion so we didn't need to get 110K points, but if you can get it by opening a new card and earning the remaining points, its 100% worth it.
     
  42. EMAW FC

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

    used priority pass at Timberline Steaks and Grille at Terminal C in DEN a couple weeks ago. They have the deal where the cardholder and guest get $28 each for food/drink.

    Waiter mentioned that they were the 9th highest grossing restaurant in the country after coming on board w/ Priority Pass.
     
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  43. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Not anymore RIP
     
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  44. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
    Donor
    Oklahoma State CowboysHouston AstrosHouston TexansTiger Woods

    Isn't that only for AmEx Priority Passes?
     
  45. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
    Donor TMB OG
    Texas LonghornsManchester United

    Well he just means their volume is going to go down w/o Amex visits. Chase and Citi (iirc) that they aren't changing that perk at this time.
     
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  46. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
    Donor
    Oklahoma State CowboysHouston AstrosHouston TexansTiger Woods

    Have eaten here many times since DEN is a frequent airport for us. They stay really busy and generally service is pretty quick so you can squeeze it in a short layover if necessary. Awesome breakfast
     
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  47. EMAW FC

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

  48. EMAW FC

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

    service was great. Was about a 10 minute wait but that's to be expected since it is the only PP option.
     
  49. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
    Donor
    Oklahoma State CowboysHouston AstrosHouston TexansTiger Woods

    I'm sure there are statistics out there for it but I'd be curious to know out of all Priority Passes issued, what the source is for each person. In other words, how many active cards are from CSR, how many are AmEx, how many are people that just pay PP directly
     
  50. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Timberline almost caused a breakup with how slow their service was once. We were in there for 105 minutes with no alcohol and we did no stalling