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. bigjrock

    bigjrock Pillsbury Geauxboy
    Donor
    LSU TigersNew Orleans PelicansNew Orleans Saints

  2. C A N E

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

    Iirc, Barclays business cards do report to personal reports

    not the norm
     
    bigjrock likes this.
  3. C A N E

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

    That sweet, sweet smell of my wife being under 5/24 and being automatically approved for the Ink business cash
     
    High Cotton and The_Baumer like this.
  4. bigjrock

    bigjrock Pillsbury Geauxboy
    Donor
    LSU TigersNew Orleans PelicansNew Orleans Saints

    You da real MVP
     
  5. The_Baumer

    The_Baumer Go Mordecai!
    Donor

    My wife is too. I have plan to amass 300k Chase points in the next sixth months.
     
    High Cotton likes this.
  6. C A N E

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

    And I’ll be under in 5/24 in June.

    we’re about to go in.

    flights are outrageous right now though :(
     
  7. Lip

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

    Good flight deals to Europe
     
  8. C A N E

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

    Dublin over Memorial Day week is our likely destination
     
  9. tjsblue

    tjsblue I was right at the time
    Donor

    Edit: You must have a different card. Carry on.
     
  10. Marbles

    Marbles Trudging the road to happy destiny
    Donor
    Auburn TigersAtlanta Braves

    I’d like to get into the points and credit cards. Not sure my credit is built back up enough. Just bought a car and it was 700. A few years ago it was 500. I want to get a really good business card.
     
  11. Where Eagles Dare

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

    What is your plan? Does it include CIP or other means?

    I'm going to downgrade my CSR soon and get 80k for a CSP. I wish they'd lower their spending on the CIP. My Ebay business really needs another card
     
  12. The_Baumer

    The_Baumer Go Mordecai!
    Donor

    Chase Ink Cash with referral P2: 95k
    Chase Ink Biz Preferred with referral P1: 120k
    CSP with referral P1: 80-100k
     
    Where Eagles Dare likes this.
  13. Where Eagles Dare

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

    Real business I assume? Wish the business cards were still 4-6k vs 15
     
  14. The_Baumer

    The_Baumer Go Mordecai!
    Donor

    It’s real in that I occasionally sell stuff online and that’s the box I check.
     
  15. Where Eagles Dare

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

    15k is a lot in 3 months
     
  16. The_Baumer

    The_Baumer Go Mordecai!
    Donor

    It is. I’ll time it for a couple bigger purchases. The other biz cards are $7.5k and 75k points so a better deal.
     
  17. Baby Boy

    Baby Boy Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Clemson TigersAtlanta BravesCarolina Panthers

    I've been out of this game for a bit but what's the best hotel card out there right now? Are Marriott or Hilton any good anymore? I've always just had the Hyatt card.

    How about Chase wise? What's best card to eye there? Saw the CIBP is now $15k in 3 months? Good lord.
     
  18. ryno23

    ryno23 Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Cancelled a Delta Gold Amex last year. Opened it in 2019 or 18. Would I be eligible for a sign up bonus with the Delta Platinum?
     
  19. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    I believe that’s considered a completely different product line, so yes.

    Example: I received Amex Plat bonus in January 2020 and received the Schwab Amex Plat in September 2021.
     
    High Cotton likes this.
  20. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    I currently have the World of Hyatt card and think that’s the best for a hotel card. Some of the peak redemption rates for Hilton/Marriott are outrageous.

    Best bang for your buck right now for chase may be the sapphire preferred. I got it last year at its highest bonus ever, 100k. Only a $95 annual fee. It’s currently at an 80k sign up bonus.

    If you’re looking for a card with additional travel benefits, check out the new Capital One Venture X. I got that one last year as well and have been happy with it.
     
    tjsblue, Lip and Baby Boy like this.
  21. ryno23

    ryno23 Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Just got denied.
     
  22. Tommy Jefferson

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

    I felt like the Hilton card had a better sign up bonus but longer term was less beneficial. Hyatt has better annual perks, but fewer properties.
     
  23. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    Hilton Aspire? Yeah I think that’s up there as one of the better hotel branded CCs. The annual fee is much easier to swallow with the Hyatt especially when you maintain a couple other cards with an AF.
     
    Baby Boy likes this.
  24. RJF-GUMP

    RJF-GUMP Daubert Qualified in Cooler Thermodynamics
    Donor TMB OG

    Paypal has to be the most unsecure platform. I had fraudulent charges on it like 5 years ago and haven't used it since. My wife just had $150 of shoes stolen by some dude in Poland on hers. Fuck paypal. Now I have to get new credit cards.
     
    tjsblue likes this.
  25. Baby Boy

    Baby Boy Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Clemson TigersAtlanta BravesCarolina Panthers

    Good stuff. I do not travel currently but may be traveling a few nights a month soon. Not sure where I would end up but I'll cross that bridge when it's time. Just looking for something good to work towards again. Haven't gotten a card in years.

    So maybe Hilton Aspire or CS Preferred? How do yall drop some of these cards down to get rid of the AFs? Does it require a call or can you do it online?
     
  26. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    You typically have to call to downgrade. Make sure you don’t downgrade before the second AF hits as that could cause issues with future sign up bonuses from that credit card company.

    Also make sure you’re not downgrading to a card that you could possibly receive a sign up bonus from in the near future.
     
  27. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
    Donor

    Each card (and each bank) has different rules, which card are you looking to downgrade?
     
  28. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    Heads up to all my Amex Plat folks out there. A ton of places have 15% cash back on Rakuten right now. And if you haven’t already, link your Rakuten account to your Amex MR account.

    I just bought a couple pairs of shorts, shoes, and a weeks worth of hello fresh. Quick 5,500 MR points.
     
    BellottiBold and BayouMafia like this.
  29. It'sAlwaysSunnyInAthens

    It'sAlwaysSunnyInAthens Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Wife and I have Saphire Reserves. I am currently trying to hit the 15k spend on the ink preferred and also have an Amex Gold.

    We've had our reserves long enough to downgrade and then go for the preferred bonus.

    We should downgrade and not cancel correct? Is there an ideal card to downgrade to?

    I am thinking she'll transfer her current points to my reserve, she'll downgrade and get a preferred. Then I'll transfer my points to her then downgrade and get a preferred.

    If it all goes to plan we'll get 260k points between the 3 cards.
     
    Baby Boy likes this.
  30. It'sAlwaysSunnyInAthens

    It'sAlwaysSunnyInAthens Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Also trying to figure out what should be my daily driver once I've hit all these bonuses.. Amex Gold had 4x restaurant points but I love that ultimate reward points transfer to hyatt. I get great value there.
     
    Baby Boy likes this.
  31. Det. Frank Bullitt

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

    hmm. Why not 15% CB instead of as MR points?
     
  32. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    I value the points I earn and transfer to Amex travel partners at a higher rate than I do simply converting to cash. I can easily double or triple the value of points I get for an international business class seat compared to CB.

    Also, and this doesn’t apply to everyone, I have Schwab Platinum. I can convert my MRs to a Schwab account at 1.1x.
     
    #14082 DuffandMuff, May 12, 2022
    Last edited: May 12, 2022
  33. COVIDiskilingme79

    COVIDiskilingme79 Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Florida GatorsChicago Cubs

    Oh shit, nice. That's a perk I haven't used yet
     
    BayouMafia likes this.
  34. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
    Donor

    Definitely downgrade instead of cancel.

    I'd recommend one person get a Chase Freedom unlimited (3x on dining, 1.5x on all other spend) and the other downgrade to a Chase Freedom Flex (5x on quarterly-rotating categories, 3x in dining). Both are no annual fees and are great cards to just put in the drawer if you have other cards better for daily spend.

    Here's a referral for 80k on the CSP if you don't already have another referral in mind



    Now you can earn 80,000 bonus points with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® credit card. If you apply and get approved, we can both earn rewards:
    https://www.referyourchasecard.com/6p/AOYQ52A5IV
     
  35. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
    Donor

    For everyday spending, I'd focus on cards that get you the most usable points. If you're consistently signing up for new cards and focusing the bulk of your major purchases on those cards, then the remaining spend at 1x/2x/3x/etc. is not going to make a huge difference.

    I'm like you and can most easily use the Chase UR points, so I try to keep my daily spend on those cards if I don't have another goal in mind.

    I'd also consider looking at what sort of purchase protection/return protection/extended warranty each card offers, as part of your everyday purchases. It's nice to have that as a fall back plan if something weird happens, especially when shopping for consumer electronics that aren't worth a shit these days. Getting a free extra year in a warranty can really come in handy.
     
  36. Baby Boy

    Baby Boy Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Clemson TigersAtlanta BravesCarolina Panthers

    Chase Ink Business Preferred. Had it several years. Also the CSP. We haven't gotten a CSR or CSP in years. Idk how long. Should we try and get the CSP now or a hotel card?
     
    TAS likes this.
  37. honestlee

    honestlee Well-Known Member

    I would product change that to a Chase Ink Cash. It's a great card to have if you're all in on Chase Ultimate Rewards for it's 5x categories alone.

    5x internet, cable, phone, and office supply stores
    2x gas and restaurants
     
    colonel_forbin, Baby Boy and TAS like this.
  38. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
    Donor

    CIC is a great card, maybe the best out there if paired with a card that can utilize UR points.

    I'd downgrade the CIP to a CIC and the CSP to a Freedom unlimited.

    The CSP deal right now is almost too good to pass up imo. All the hotel cards will have good/better signup bonuses. But if you really like Marriott stays, the Chase Marriott bonvoy has a nice signup bonus that can be great with their new rule that allows adding 15k points to a free night certificate. Opens up some really good options.

    https://creditcards.chase.com/travel-credit-cards/marriott-bonvoy/boundless
     
  39. BellottiBold

    Donor
    Oregon Ducks

  40. Baby Boy

    Baby Boy Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Clemson TigersAtlanta BravesCarolina Panthers

    So maybe downgrade my CIP to a CIC and get a CSP after I do that or get the CSP then downgrade? Downgrade wife's CSP to Freedom unlimited and keep her CIP for UR points usage? How can I check and see if I'm eligible for the CSP bonus? I've had it before but it's been years. Same for CSR.
     
  41. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
    Donor

    First thing to do it confirm you haven't received a signup bonus for a CSP or CSR in the last 48 months. I believe Chase now auto rejects you if you are ineligible but it's good to know going into it. You should be able to look up old statements to see which includes whatever signup bonus you previously received.

    You also need to downgrade any other chase sapphire cards you have before applying for the new CSP, since you can't have multiple ones. I think it's recommended to wait like 3 days after downgrading before applying.

    1. CIP to CIC, CSR to CFU
    2. Your call on the 2nd CIP, but since it's redundant to the CSP for the most part, I would either close it or downgrade to a no annual fee card (CIU). Depends on how much credit you want open and how long its been open.
    3. Wait 3-4 days
    4. Apply for CSP
     
    Baby Boy likes this.
  42. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
    Donor

    You can also consolidate UR points across your and your wife's account, so you only need one premium card between the two of you. I think maybe you have to be an authorized user on the other's card in order to transfer the points, it's been a while since I've done it so I don't remember exactly how it works.
     
  43. Baby Boy

    Baby Boy Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Clemson TigersAtlanta BravesCarolina Panthers

    She has two CIP cards because back when it was so easy to get 100k points on the CIP I got one, she got one then later in she got another one. So we need to downgrade two of those and close the other one right? Downgrade the CSR also which is in her name. When doing so that will leave her with 0 premium cards so when she does that that's when she should tell them to transfer her points to me? Then 3-4 days later I apply for the CSR. Yes?
     
  44. WC

    WC Bad Company, ‘til the day I die.
    Donor TMB OG
    North Carolina State WolfpackAtlanta BravesCarolina PanthersCarolina HurricanesUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    Anybody have a Venture or Venture X and have any profound thoughts on it? I can’t do a CSR/CSP swap until October and I don’t wanna wait that long.
     
    Baby Boy likes this.
  45. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
    Donor

    1. Consolidate all the points first. (https://thepointsguy.com/guide/transfer-ultimate-rewards-points-between-accounts/)

    2. Then downgrade all premium cards.Close business cards if you want or downgrade, up to you. Don't downgrade anything less than 12 months old. Check in annual fee reimbursement, if you paid the annual fee less than 2 months ago, you may be able to get a refund. (https://www.doctorofcredit.com/annual-fee-refund-rules-for-each-card-issuer/)

    3. Wait for 3-4 days

    4. Apply for CSP
     
    #14095 TAS, May 13, 2022
    Last edited: May 13, 2022
    Baby Boy likes this.
  46. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
    Donor

    Recently got the venture but haven't done any travel redemptions yet so can't quite say much about it
     
    WC likes this.
  47. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    I got the venture x a couple months ago. The capital one travel portal is far better than Amex and chase imo. I purchased two one way tix to JFK and immediately received my $300 credit. If the price drops within a week or something Capital One will reimburse you up to $50 I believe.

    Haven’t gotten to experience a Capital One lounge yet. Being able to get an authorized user their own Priority Pass is a nice bonus.

    I think it’ll be the travel card I keep going forward. The $395 AF is too easy to redeem through their $300 travel portal rebate, Priority Pass, and 10,000 points every anniversary. Only negative is the lack of point multiplier categories. 10x points on hotels is nice, but has to be booked through their portal and doesn’t count towards your hotel program status.
     
    BellottiBold and WC like this.
  48. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    Anyone have an Amex Gold? And what is the referral offer? Got a friend looking for one.
     
  49. racer

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

    Website offer is 75
    179BBD35-7A79-4495-B0A4-736A25B1288A.png
     
    DuffandMuff likes this.
  50. Baby Boy

    Baby Boy Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Clemson TigersAtlanta BravesCarolina Panthers

    OK downgraded all cards. Combined points prior to that. Now just ready to get the CSP again. I haven't gotten a CSR or CSP bonus in five years or so. I think last time was 2016 when the CSR came out.

    So 3-4 days you think I need to wait before I apply for CSP?
     
    TAS likes this.