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. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    Thanks. I’ll look more into it after this weekend. Bout to head out for a little weekend trip.
     
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  2. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Hopefully paid for with points
     
    marcus likes this.
  3. Doug

    Doug Skeptical Doug-o
    Donor
    LSU TigersNew Orleans PelicansNew Orleans SaintsLouisiana Ragin' CajunsPoker

    I keep all my families finances in QuickBooks because I'm an accounting nerd, and I've started accounting for every time I book travel using rewards I put the cost of the travel as an expense, then credit my credit card dues account.

    I'm not nearly into churning as a lot of the guys in here but still since the start of 2017 I've netted roughly $6500 in travel credits. So averaging a little over $2k a year in free travel with very minimal churning work.
     
  4. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    It really is an 80/20 I think. It really doesn't take that much to gain a lot
     
    beist likes this.
  5. pianoman

    pianoman my drinks are free
    Donor TMB OG
    Michigan WolverinesChicago CubsDetroit Red Wings

    So my fucking Hilton Honors account got hacked tonight. Canceled 4 separate reservations I have booked over the next month and redeemed all my points for gift cards over in China. Over 400,000 points.
     
  6. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Shit dude, what did Hilton say?
     
  7. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
    Donor

    Fuck. Sorry to hear that happened to you
     
  8. pianoman

    pianoman my drinks are free
    Donor TMB OG
    Michigan WolverinesChicago CubsDetroit Red Wings

    The customer rep I spoke to seemed confident that it’ll work out. She opened a fraud case for it and put notes in to give me back whatever points are necessary to book the same hotels. So it seems like it should work out fine, just a pain in the ass to deal with as I’m flying to Europe on Friday so I need it worked out by then.
     
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  9. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Good luck. Keep the pressure on. Status?
     
  10. Todd Bonzales

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

    No doubt — and get some fucking bonus points for your trouble
     
  11. LSU90

    LSU90 Well-Known Member

    Wife wasn't keen on it either until she went on her first "free" trip. We now each have 4 CIP's.
     
  12. Where Eagles Dare

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

    She just prefers that I get the points for her
     
  13. LSU90

    LSU90 Well-Known Member

    Just tell her double the cards = double the points = double the free trips.
     
  14. pianoman

    pianoman my drinks are free
    Donor TMB OG
    Michigan WolverinesChicago CubsDetroit Red Wings

    I got all my points back and all my reservations restored. I'm paying for a hotel Saturday and Sunday in cash and they gave me extra points to make up the cost for the room currently so I could book it with points and cash so it came out to the same rate as when I booked it last month. All together it worked out as if nothing had happened.
     
    PAHokie, Uncle Tupelo, TAS and 7 others like this.
  15. laxjoe

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

    seeing conflicting info on whether venmo counts towards minimum spend for american express surpass card. this is from the terms and conditions
    that seems to indicate venmo would not be option. does that also rule out somethinng like plastiq? does anyone have any recent experience using either of these to hit minimum spend? just got the surpass card under the assumption that we could make a ~$3500 purchase via square, but now i'm being told the place only accepts venmo for credit card payments. thoughts?
     
  16. Uncle Tupelo

    Uncle Tupelo Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCleveland Browns

    Venmo doesnt code as purchases for amex cards, so that's out. As far as plastiq goes, it can be used, but I believe you are pretty limited on what you can pay with amex cards through it. And if you use it "too much" amex has been known to clawback points.

    https://help.plastiq.com/hc/en-us/a...merican-Express-not-allowed-in-all-categories
     
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  17. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    MS for an Amex bonus is a bad strategy. It might work but you'll lose too frequently
     
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  18. laxjoe

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

    that's what i thought. thanks guys
     
  19. RockHardJawn39

    RockHardJawn39 #FranklinOUT
    Donor
    Penn State Nittany LionsSan Francisco GiantsPhiladelphia 76'ersPhiladelphia FlyersLiverpoolWrexham AFC

    I never considered someone would try to do that. I guess I need to change my weak AF Bonvoy password.

    Good to know that they took care of you. That would fucking suck if you were out 400k points
     
  20. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Ihg's pin is only four numbers
     
  21. Houndster

    Houndster Well-Known Member
    Donor TMB OG

    My AF just hit for the CIP. I’m supposed to call now to downgrade and they remove it, correct?
     
  22. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Indeed
     
    Houndster likes this.
  23. LSU90

    LSU90 Well-Known Member

    If you want to avoid having them ask you three times if you are sure you want to do that, you can just send them a secure message too.
     
    Houndster likes this.
  24. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    • Platinum pros: Centurion Lounge access in two airports I connect in a lot (SFO and IAH). Plus lounge access in my home airport, which I wouldn't get through Priority Select.

    I would definitely use the $200/year in Uber credit. On the other end, I don't know if I would use the $200 in airline credit. I fly United for free, so not sure when this would come in handy. No increased bonus return for eating at restaurants, which is my main spend.

    • Aspire pros: Hilton Diamond status and $250 Hilton credit. Free weekend night once a year. Plus fifth consecutive night free. Nice bonus for eating at restaurants.

    Cons: Same as Platinum with the airline incidental fees, not sure when I would use it. As far as Hilton, I don't tend to stay in many hotels. Domestic travel is at Airbnbs/friends places. International is typically at hostels.

    Ultimately, if I can get the 100k point sign up bonus for Platinum, I think I have to do that? How does Amex look at people who cancel after a year or two? I have still never cancelled a card, so I'm a bit hesitant to do that.

    Jordan/Egypt/Greece in a week, all in hostels. Hawaii in November, at a friends. South Africa in January, maybe I could use Hilton there? /humblebrag
     
  25. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Amex would be ok with you canceling either in a year. Or downgrading

    I haven't personally seen the 100k platinum but if you get it I agree

    Or get both since the platinum is a charge card
     
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  26. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    Now that gift card isn't possible easily for the $200 incidental spend the amex cost/benefit definitely changed. I've used mine for stand by fees but i'll have status next year so imagine that'll get waived. Some reports it'll work for seat upcharge, so if I book economy but pay up to comfort+ or something after the fact it'll reimburse. I never buy anything on a plane. Definitely harder to use.

    I don't put anyyyy regular spend on my Plat, I still put basically everything on my CSR. I did do a flight booked on it, because the flight discounts for premium economy + business paid fares can be huge. Doesn't sound like that'll help you though.
     
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  27. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    this led me to go down a hole to try to figure out how to spend the $90 I have left (was using it for luggage fees but now get those waived)

    seems like i'm just going to buy drinks on a few domestic flights this fall

    i wish they'd just drop it to $150 but make it work like Chases
     
  28. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Yeah it's garbage now. And you can't even change airlines
     
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  29. Det. Frank Bullitt

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

    they removed 1x (yearly in January) option to switch...meaning I'm set to AA forever?

    I did not hear this.
     
  30. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    iirc you used to be able to swap it around during the year if you called

    so people would change it to match their flight schedules
     
  31. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    No, it's still there. I'm saying he can't switch airlines to use the rest of his credit this year. It's almost worthless for most of us
     
  32. CoastalOrange

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

    How and where do I find my free night with Hyatt after having the CC for over a year?
     
    Houndster likes this.
  33. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    You carry both the Plat and CSR? Seems like a lot in AF, although the Plat is easy to knock down.
     
  34. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    Really dumb question, but what is a charge card?
     
  35. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    math works out for it easily in my case, hell I saved $400 just on two tickets to Japan using Amex's flight program

    especially because I got a retention offer on the plat after threatening to cancel
     
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  36. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
    Donor
    Oregon DucksPortland Trail BlazersSan Francisco 49'ersManchester UnitedPortland Timbers

    I have about 300k chase points but I don’t have a reserve. Upgrading when my CSP hits 13 months (October) is a no brainer for the redemption value alone, right?
     
  37. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Hyatt account, tab in the middle of the page
     
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  38. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    A credit card that requires you to pay every month in full. No APR or minimum payment shenanigans
     
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  39. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Unless you want to wait 3 more years for a bonus or if you transfer points to Hyatt/SW/United. I haven't gone through the portal much

    I do find significant other values in the csr though
     
    NoNatty likes this.
  40. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    Things were so much easier 7 years ago when I got my Discover It, Chase Freedom, and Amex Blue Cash Everyday.

    The game has passed me by. I have no money, I have no cards, I have no points, my pets heads are falling off.
     
  41. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    The best time to start was yesterday but the second best time to start is today
     
  42. Uncle Tupelo

    Uncle Tupelo Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCleveland Browns

    $55 extra bucks for the CSR is worth it for the lounge access and trip delay protection in itself imo. Not to mention the extra $750 in potential portal value. That $450 hurts initially though, i'll admit.
     
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  43. Zebbie

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

    What do you usually do, transfer to one of those 3?
     
  44. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Correct. Mostly sw honestly
     
  45. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    old news for most but i direct messaged chase about swapping out my CSR's for ones that have the contactless option built in and they next day aired them to me

    the tap functionality is becoming the easiest method for mass transit, no separate card needed for any of my fall travel and all can just use that card
     
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  46. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

    It's ridiculous how wireless is everywhere in europe and half-assed stateside.
     
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  47. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

    Unless you're eligible for pay over time... :awesomeface:
     
  48. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    have NZ/AUS/FR/ENG in the next two months and trying to figure out transit for them is literally just "tap your credit card or google pay"

    I like the credit card back up in case not having internet for the wifes phone inhibits google pay despite the token technology

    but yes, it's insanely infuriating
     
  49. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

    I did not need internet for apple pay fwiw.

    Also - transit is weird. If you have to use an automated kiosk, you may need to use a pin
     
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  50. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    yeah i researched it that phone based payment systems store something like 5 uses but need some kind of wifi check in after that to dl more tokens to allow more uses