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. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
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  2. Tommy Callahan

    Tommy Callahan Well-Known Member
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    Alabama Crimson TideAtlanta Braves

    I used a bunch of Amex delta and Hilton points January of 2020 to book our honeymoon to Italy in June. Needless to say ended up with a negative balance on Amex for many months as they refunded me in cash not points. Currently 200k delta and basically 300 in both Amex and Hilton. Baby due in a month and a half so gonna keep growing for the time being
     
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  3. Spontaneous Cumbustion

    Spontaneous Cumbustion Well-Known Member
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    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCincinnati BengalsXavier MusketeersFC CincinnatiTottenham HotspurUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    Jealous of all the points you guys have. I barely ever get mine above 100k because we use them a couple times a year.
     
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  4. pianoman

    pianoman my drinks are free
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    Michigan WolverinesChicago CubsDetroit Red Wings

    Their value, at least domestically, has plummeted. I live in the Midwest so normally could get anywhere between Denver and the East coast round trip for around 20-25k miles. I just booked flights to Miami one way for three and it cost 28k per person.
     
  5. colonel_forbin

    colonel_forbin Well-Known Member
    Donor

    We usually take one big trip a year. Didn't do so in 2020 due to wedding and COVID, so we had some points saved from that year and our big 2021 trip was an AirBnB with friends so we didn't cash in points for hotels. But I've also been using the Chase Pay Yourself Back each month for the past two years.
     
  6. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    i end up using them for cheap first class upgrades mostly
     
  7. Tommy Callahan

    Tommy Callahan Well-Known Member
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    Alabama Crimson TideAtlanta Braves

    Once everything shifted to point to dollar not just flat fares it made it much worse
     
  8. Nashville Knight

    Nashville Knight Well-Known Member
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    UCF KnightsTampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay LightningNashville Predators

  9. comrade static

    comrade static i love french fries
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    Oklahoma City ThunderPhiladelphia EaglesOklahoma SoonersBarAndGrillBig 8 Conference

    Nashville Knight likes this.
  10. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
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  11. pianoman

    pianoman my drinks are free
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    Michigan WolverinesChicago CubsDetroit Red Wings

    We typically do one big vacation on points every two years. The other year we get together with my three siblings and mom, since we all live in different corners of the country, and then we do a huge airbnb. So as a result I'm typically able to accumulate points up for two years before spending a bunch. We use a ton of chase and Hyatt points for weekend trips here and there but I typically save Hilton and IHG to utilize their stay 5 pay 4 or stay 4 pay 3 for our long trips.
     
  12. Rusty Shackleford

    Rusty Shackleford Dale 1 - Rats 0
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    Auburn TigersSan Antonio Spurs

    Can you do a personal amex platinum and a business platinum at the same time?
     
  13. pianoman

    pianoman my drinks are free
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    Michigan WolverinesChicago CubsDetroit Red Wings

    Yes, you can even do a Schwab platinum too at the same time.
     
    Rusty Shackleford likes this.
  14. Rusty Shackleford

    Rusty Shackleford Dale 1 - Rats 0
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    Auburn TigersSan Antonio Spurs

    Just got a 130k business offer which I will probably jump on. May stack the personal on it too.
     
  15. pianoman

    pianoman my drinks are free
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    Michigan WolverinesChicago CubsDetroit Red Wings

    What's the spend? Last I checked it was $15,000 in three months which I'd struggle to hit.
     
  16. Rusty Shackleford

    Rusty Shackleford Dale 1 - Rats 0
    Donor
    Auburn TigersSan Antonio Spurs

    I actually have a business that would make it pretty easy to hit that number. Currently I have the Chase ink business and the CSR. Typically take those business points and transfer them to the CSR and use it to pay yourself back. I can shift that over and should be in good shape.
     
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  17. Where Eagles Dare

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

    Congrats on not committing light fraud like the rest of us. My collectables business was popping for those Chase Ink Cards back in the day.

    Fuck I need something like that to come back around
     
  18. Rusty Shackleford

    Rusty Shackleford Dale 1 - Rats 0
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    Auburn TigersSan Antonio Spurs

    I would never want to take advantage of credit card companies. They are the moral and ethical bedrock of this country.
     
    Name P. Redacted, Lip, laxjoe and 4 others like this.
  19. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
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    Texas LonghornsManchester United

    checks excel sheet....

    $13.3k value concentrated in

    230k AMEX MR
    215k Chase UR

    upload_2022-4-21_11-43-20.png

    I've yet to apply about a .85 multiplier for expected annual deval.
     
    tjsblue, Name P. Redacted and TAS like this.
  20. Chumbolone

    Chumbolone Wigglin’ my toes on a mink rug…
    Indiana HoosiersNotre Dame Fighting IrishChicago CubsIndianapolis Colts

    Email offer of 125k pts for Amex Plat - is this a historically good offer for AMEX sign up bonus? Ever been higher?
     
    Sportfan likes this.
  21. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    very high

    iirc 150k is the highest ever
     
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  22. Tommy Jefferson

    Tommy Jefferson Well-Known Member
    Nebraska CornhuskersKansas JayhawksKansas City RoyalsKansas City Chiefs

    That $695 annual fee is steeeeeeeep
     
  23. Name P. Redacted

    Name P. Redacted I have no money and I'm also gay
    Donor
    Kansas State WildcatsSeattle Kraken

    Now that I own a house I’m abusing my ability to get credit cards’ yearly fee waived. What are some cards I should keep an eye out for? I have:

    amex plat (wife’s account. I’m auth user)
    CSR (auth user)
    Delta amex plat
    Chase United infinite
    Chase Marriott bonvoy fancy card

    Obvious choices are another airline or open my own amex plat/csr. I have a usaa card that’s 2.5% cashback so don’t need a daily spender one.
     
  24. Sportfan

    Sportfan From Six to Dumptime
    San Antonio SpursHouston TexansNew Mexico State AggiesTexas AandM Aggies

    Got an email for 125,000 bonus Platnium AmEx. Is that the best thing out there right now? Gotta finally bail on my CSR.

    edit: I maybe should have read this page :loldog:
     
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  25. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
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    Texas LonghornsManchester United

    Impressive to have ~$2k in annual fees and be looking to get it closer to $3k.
     
  26. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    lots of his get waived due to his spouse

    which he did mention in his post fwiw
     
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  27. 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 don't understand what owning a house has to do with getting annual fees waived. I'm very confused.
     
    DuffandMuff likes this.
  28. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    military gets fees waived on some(many?) cards
     
  29. Det. Frank Bullitt

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

    Felt like I had more AF than I realize

    Update: I'm at $2490 in AF.

    I was already planning to drop from 3 premium cards (1 CSR + 2 Amex Plats) but now I will do so before the af hits.

    No amount of Disney, Uber Eats, or Amex credits can justify w/o a huge (e.g .$500 like last year) retention offer.

    The co brand cards all still make sense.
     
  30. 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

    Makes sense but this key detail was missing from his post. I don't have my Name P. Redacted dossier handy.
     
    Louis Holth, laxjoe, EMAW FC and 2 others like this.
  31. pianoman

    pianoman my drinks are free
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    Michigan WolverinesChicago CubsDetroit Red Wings

    Yeah, I just checked. I'm at $2395 but that includes a brand new Schwab Platinum and the signup bonus easily offsets it. I do plan on dropping the CSR and Platinum this year. Probably going to drop Delta Platinum too. That would get me to $830 which is much more reasonable.
     
  32. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    have two amex plats, two delta plats, a delta reserve, a CSP, and a hyatt card

    all the delta ones I easily recoup the fees with companion passes, hyatt card is easily value with free night. CSP is to still have access to my ultimate rewards points and is really my daily spender. amex plats I haven't paid the high AF on either so i'm in the positive on both with a little effort, will drop one when the AF hits this year.
     
  33. Tommy Jefferson

    Tommy Jefferson Well-Known Member
    Nebraska CornhuskersKansas JayhawksKansas City RoyalsKansas City Chiefs

    I’m glad you asked because I was sitting here thinking I had missed something big with regard to home ownership. Still don’t know why that was referenced if fees were waived during military service.
     
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  34. Lip

    Lip Well-Known Member
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    Michigan State SpartansDetroit LionsGeorge Washington Colonials

    It was poorly phrased, but I think he meant he’s doing big spend with the home ownership to hit sign up bonuses and still get the annual fees waived.
     
    Tommy Jefferson likes this.
  35. Name P. Redacted

    Name P. Redacted I have no money and I'm also gay
    Donor
    Kansas State WildcatsSeattle Kraken

    For clarity, I merged two things into one sentence.

    Now that I own a house, I'm less reticent to open up new lines of credit willy nilly. This is mostly just due to spouse approval.

    I don't have to pay yearly fees for most major credit cards due to my wife's active duty status.

    So now I'm looking to set up the list of cards to work through. Also ironically I got an email today saying that USAA is changing their 2.5% cashback to 1.5% starting Jan '23.
     
  36. laxjoe

    laxjoe Well-Known Member
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    San Diego State AztecsSan Diego Padres

    My thought was that he recently bought a house, so he’s now back to opening cards. No idea about waiving annual fees, other than many of the cards are his wife’s?

    edit: and I’m late to the party and see it’s already been addressed
     
  37. rv12

    rv12 Cowabunga
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    Tennessee VolunteersAtlanta BravesGreen Bay PackersColorado State RamsSneakers

    Is there a best choice for delta and sky club? I’ll be doing a lot of traveling out of DTW so figured I should be efficient and get Delta points/lounge if available.

    currently only have CSR and will be downgrading that soon to do CSP bonus. Would prefer not to have that $695 Amex yearly fee unless y’all tell me it’s absolutely worth it.
     
  38. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    Look at the delta reserve

    Gets you lounge access and companion pass. Will refer if you go that way
     
    rv12 likes this.
  39. racer

    racer Yuma, where I work in software.
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    Iowa HawkeyesKansas City ChiefsLas Vegas Golden KnightsWatfordOlympicsFormula 1

    Are you a material girl?

     
  40. beist

    beist Hyperbolist
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    If you by chance upgraded from delta platinum to delta reserve, did you notice a meaningful change in your place on upgrade lists after you upgraded? I frequently find myself a few spots short of a first class upgrade on my main route and would happily pay the incremental annual fee if it would make a difference.
     
    rv12 likes this.
  41. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    I've changed status with delta in the same interim so hard to guess

    I did clear at the 3 day window into first which had never happened before
     
    beist likes this.
  42. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    We buy a couple tickets in first a year so reserve is a no brainer
     
  43. IV

    IV Freedom is the right of all sentient beings
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    Alabama Crimson TideUAB BlazersDemocratAvengersBirmingham LegionUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    Who do I call to dispute items on my credit score?
     
  44. Lip

    Lip Well-Known Member
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    Michigan State SpartansDetroit LionsGeorge Washington Colonials

    The credit agency. Transunion, etc
     
  45. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
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    The credit reporting agencies.

    One of the 3 has an online resolution process, can't remember which one but I've successfully used it in the past. And once you get a resolution with one, they're supposed to report it to the others, although you can always call the others on your own.
     
  46. Chumbolone

    Chumbolone Wigglin’ my toes on a mink rug…
    Indiana HoosiersNotre Dame Fighting IrishChicago CubsIndianapolis Colts

    Chase finally found a way to entice me to spend points, 25% more on Apple products using pts.
     
  47. The_Baumer

    The_Baumer Go Mordecai!
    Donor

    I’m under 5/24 and have had my CSR for over four years. I’ve seen screenshots where the CSP is going up to 100k again. I’m thinking of downgrading the CSR and getting that deal. Thoughts?

    I mostly redeem miles by transferring to Chase Partners so the 1.5 in the portal wouldn’t be that much of a factor.
     
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  48. 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 did it last year. No regrets.
     
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  49. Spontaneous Cumbustion

    Spontaneous Cumbustion Well-Known Member
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    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCincinnati BengalsXavier MusketeersFC CincinnatiTottenham HotspurUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    Might have to also pull this myself. Could I upgrade my CSP to a CSR after I get the sign up bonus?
     
  50. bigjrock

    bigjrock Pillsbury Geauxboy
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    LSU TigersNew Orleans PelicansNew Orleans Saints

    Really hope that sticks around until July.