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. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
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    :rain:
     
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  2. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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  3. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
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  4. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    Hyatt is so much more reasonable than the other companies that they devalue and I am happy
     
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  5. Menelaus

    Menelaus The Red-Haired King
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  6. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    FYI: I enrolled my Amex Plat membership rewards account into my amazon account. If you spend $100, you get $40 off if you use at least 1 MR point when paying.
     
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  7. pianoman

    pianoman my drinks are free
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    Thanks for posting. Just did this and combined it with some gift card balance I had to buy the last things my wife wanted for our child's nursery.
     
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  8. Nelson

    Nelson Can somebody please get Ja Rhule on the phone
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    Nebraska CornhuskersDenver NuggetsDenver BroncosColorado AvalanceBorussia DortmundManchester UnitedColorado State Rams

    oh wow. Assume this is a one time offer?
     
  9. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
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    DoC or one of those blogs will have the permalink, but yes - generally something along those lines. I qualify for maybe 1 in 10 of them.
     
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  10. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    Same here. Had about $95 in gift cards so didn’t spend a dime.

    Yeah, pretty sure. Just noticed it Sunday night when I was looking to buy crap (coffee mug, socks, protein and vitamins).
     
    Nelson likes this.
  11. colonel_forbin

    colonel_forbin Well-Known Member
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    So Alaska Airlines and America Airlines are partnering. Does this mean that Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card's companion fare is redeemable on American?
     
  12. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    Seems likely. Says you can use points for both now (you kind of could before)
     
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  13. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
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    Penn State Nittany LionsGreen Bay PackersChelseaHartford WhalersPhoenix Rising

    What exactly changed? I had an AA reward flight last year that had an Alaska leg going through Seattle.
     
  14. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    Full partnership
     
  15. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    Effective immediately:
    • Redeem Alaska Mileage Plan™ miles on all American Airlines flights.
    • Access any of American’s 50 Admirals Club locations worldwide with an Alaska Lounge membership.
    • Continue to earn and redeem Alaska Mileage Plan miles on our current portfolio of 16 Global Partners.

    Starting Spring 2020:
    • Earn Alaska Mileage Plan miles on any American Airlines flights, domestically and internationally.

    Starting Summer 2021:
    • Earn and redeem Alaska Mileage Plan miles on all oneworld airlines.
    • Alaska elites will enjoy privileges, including priority boarding, premium seating, baggage benefits and more when you fly on American Airlines or any oneworld airline.
    • Access 650 lounges within the oneworld network as an MVP Gold or Gold 75K member.
     
  16. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    • Earn Alaska Mileage Plan miles on any American Airlines flights, domestically and internationally.

    :grinch:
     
  17. NoNatty

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

    I guess my 125k Alaska miles just became more valuable?
     
  18. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    For a little while until they become trash
     
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  19. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
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    kinda what I figured. Time to spend away.
     
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  20. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    All that lounge access doesn't sound too shabby.
     
  21. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    Double the lounge access with double the people. Good off peak, very bad peak
     
  22. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
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    sucks the lounge access for is only Alaska to American until 2021.
     
  23. Houndster

    Houndster Well-Known Member
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    When is that?
     
  24. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    I don't know the incubation period of American Airlines virus tbh but it won't be longer than 2 years
     
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  25. laxjoe

    laxjoe Well-Known Member
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    San Diego State AztecsSan Diego Padres

    Got an offer for Master Card Black card. Given the other cards I have right now, I’m not sure it’s worth it? $495 annual fee image.jpg
     
  26. Lip

    Lip Well-Known Member
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    how can you pass up a subscription to LUXURY MAGAZINE
     
  27. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    Generally a worse card than other luxury ones but it could be useful to certain people
     
  28. Nelson

    Nelson Can somebody please get Ja Rhule on the phone
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    Nebraska CornhuskersDenver NuggetsDenver BroncosColorado AvalanceBorussia DortmundManchester UnitedColorado State Rams

    How does it accrue points
     
  29. laxjoe

    laxjoe Well-Known Member
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    San Diego State AztecsSan Diego Padres

    forgot to post in here and i'm sure you all have figured it out, but with the DoorDash credit on CSR, if you order it for pickup, you don't have to pay the fees or tip the driver, and you still get the credit. helps that $60 go just a bit further than it otherwise would.
     
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  30. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
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    Texas LonghornsManchester United

    I'm sure there is some value that could be "maximized" in some way with that card, but from an all-around perspective, the MC black card is trash for the AF they ask for.
     
  31. MA

    MA Surprisingly normal looking
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    For the Aspire free weekend night, do I have to use it before the expiration date or do I just have to book it before the expiration date?
     
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  32. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    You must complete the stay
     
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  33. g8r

    g8r Well-Known Member
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    Florida GatorsBoston Red Sox

    Just approved for cip2
     
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  34. laxjoe

    laxjoe Well-Known Member
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    San Diego State AztecsSan Diego Padres

    gr8!
     
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  35. tjsblue

    tjsblue I was right at the time
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    That’s their old strategy that it is an “elite card” that only some get offered... but then it isn’t worth it other than to post about how you have it or got offered it on the internet.
    Just so everyone knows, I’ve been offered it and turned it down because it wasn’t elite enough for me. :pipelayer:
     
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  36. 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

    Don’t be afraid to call and ask HH if they will extend the timeframe, if your trip is reasonably close after the set date. They have given people a couple extra months in the past.
     
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  37. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
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    Hey hey! Marriott free night awards don't wait until statement close date to post, so I won't totally get screwed by them bumping up the point requirements next month. Still sucks, but not completely like I originally thought
     
  38. laxjoe

    laxjoe Well-Known Member
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    San Diego State AztecsSan Diego Padres

    so far, this has been a success. took 5 days to get the credits, but was successfully able to save $245 on a $415 flight by using this workaround. will need to monitor next January to see what's possible
     
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  39. skiedfrillet

    skiedfrillet It's not a lie if you believe it.
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    Clemson Tigers

    Gf wants a CC strictly for work related expenses(she does a ton of freelance work), and is looking for suggestions. She doesn’t want the chase reserve bc I’ve already got one

    any suggestions?
     
  40. tjosu

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

    CIP is the no brainer for that bonus
     
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  41. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
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    yeah the CIP provided she can hit the 5k spend in 3-months. Other people in this thread are way more helpful than me, so I’ll let them drop their referral links.
     
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  42. tjosu

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

  43. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
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    Penn State Nittany LionsGreen Bay PackersChelseaHartford WhalersPhoenix Rising

    I accidentally let my utilization on one card go over 50% (wedding expenses, moved some to open a new card, etc.) about a month ago and got dinged down to the 740’s.

    Been actively managing my balances ever since and spiked up to my new peak of 815 today.

    Credit scores are dumb.
     
  44. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    Yes
     
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  45. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
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    I just had my second annual fee hit on my first ink. Can I call to downgrade it and get that refunded?
     
  46. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
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    Yes. Do it within 30 days of the fee posting.
     
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  47. NoNatty

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

    This may have been discussed in the travel thread, but Alaska fares are stupid cheap right now and you can change/cancel flights with no fee until 2/28/2021.
     
  48. tjosu

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

    That confused me at first so to clarify, this is for new travel purchased during March 2020, it can be changed for free until that date above. United has a similar policy in place and I assume/hope the grace period for bookings will extend past March
     
  49. Zebbie

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

    AA is doing the same too
     
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  50. BellottiBold

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    Oregon Ducks

    A lot of the super cheap stuff is for useless midweek dates unfortunately