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. Baseballman86

    Baseballman86 Well-Known Member
    Alabama Crimson TideAtlanta BravesAtlanta Falcons

    Thanks fellas. I’m over 5/24 but still have a few biz cards to get and just got started on the wife’s cards so I’ll hold off for a while
     
  2. Mix

    Mix I own a Fuddruckers with Scottie Pippen
    Staff Donor TMB OG
    UCF KnightsPittsburgh PenguinsOrlando CityPittsburgh Steelers

    So we're starting to franchise and have a bunch of people all over I'm meeting with soon plus have 2 weeks in Europe coming up in May. Thinking of doing the AMEX Platinum corp card but you guys seem to know which ones to do so let me know if I'm being dumb.
     
  3. HuskerInMiami

    HuskerInMiami Well-Known Member
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    Miami DolphinsNebraska Cornhuskers

    What’s better Amex SPG. Amex Hilton. Or chase Marriott? Gonna buy my wife a ring that’s $2500 so can easily hit 3k bonus.
     
  4. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

    Depends. What one do you stay the most at or plan to?
     
  5. HuskerInMiami

    HuskerInMiami Well-Known Member
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    Miami DolphinsNebraska Cornhuskers

    Don’t really travel that much. If I fly, friends/family typically insist we stay stay with them.

    If my wife is an authorized user on my CSP can she still sign up in her name and get the bonus?
     
  6. HuskerInMiami

    HuskerInMiami Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Miami DolphinsNebraska Cornhuskers

    Hilton Amex houndster posted looks like what I’ll go w on one.
     
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  7. HuskerInMiami

    HuskerInMiami Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Miami DolphinsNebraska Cornhuskers

    Houndster just gave you a referral bonus.

    10k limit goes to 35k when I receive card.
     
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  8. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
    Donor

    Yes authorized users are eligible for the signup bonus if they get their own card
     
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  9. Zebbie

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

    Who’s got Amex SPG Biz referrals? Since all of the Starriot cards have 75k bonuses, and I’ll be done soon with my Chase Hyatt min. spend, this looks like the next route to go since I’m at 4/24 & would prefer to stay there long enough to get CIP #2 sometime in January/February.
     
  10. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

    I have one - I’ll post when I get home.
     
  11. Todd Bonzales

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

    Thank you to whoever else use my referral from the other day, other than Struggler
     
  12. Det. Frank Bullitt

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

    marcus h/t

    On the Amex Hilton Honors Apsire card, I did the quick math on the $450 Annual Fee. Not to mention, Marcus your above post about the Conrad Bora Bora location. That property is not on the excluded list @ https://hiltonhonors3.hilton.com/en/promotions/weekend-reward.html.
    1. $500 - airline gift-cards via the loophole at $250 x2 (do it each calendar year). If you don't use the gift-card method, you will only get fees reimbursed, so read up at https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ame...778-using-amex-aspire-250-airline-credit.html
    2. $250 - Hilton Resort Statement credit for each year of card membership. Very explicit, not calendar year, no double dip here.
    3. $250 - conservative value of Free Weekend Night Reward. This is worth more than $1000 at the properties I'm looking at for my honeymoon.
      • Bonus - you can earn a second one of these each year, if you spend $60,000 in a calendar year.
    4. $200 - very conservative value of 150,000 Hilton Honors pts. for the welcome offer. At the Conrad Maldives. You can get an (over) Water Villa room for 95k pts. That is a $1500 USD/night room, and you'd still have 55k points left over
    5. $100 - "On Property Credit" with 2 night stays at participating properties (generally speaking, Waldorf Astoria & Conrad properties). 50/50 if I use this. This covers things like dining, spa, golf, etc. Full property list should show in a dropdown here - https://www.hiltonhonorsaspirecard.com/
    6. Varies - Space available room type upgrade, including suites. This is a perk for Diamond Status, an automatic benefit of the Amex Hilton Honors Aspire card.
    7. Varies - 5th night free on reward stays of 5 nights or more. Another perk from Diamond Status. At some of these properties, that value will be over $1000 by itself.
    That's around $1300 in minimum value, I could see a value of closer to $4k or $5k for some power users.

    From a direct cash perspective, you can get $500 back in (#1) airline gift-cards alone, if you jump in now before the end of the 2018. I'm doing AA and those are delivered over email instantly.

    If this post was helpful, like and subscribe.
    http://refer.amex.us/JORDALywMt?XLINK=MYCP
    Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases with your new Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card within first 3 months of Card membership.

    Bonus: YMMV, but you might be able to obtain benefit #5 without the card if you use code. ZZAAP1 when booking by phone.
     
    #8812 Det. Frank Bullitt, Dec 18, 2018
    Last edited: Dec 28, 2018
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  13. Det. Frank Bullitt

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

    And if you have paid stays at Hilton properties with this card, pts will rain (14x) with plenty of incremental boosts (eg 1k points per stay). Separately, through Amex, I already have statement credit offers for Hilton properties. Best one is spend $350, get $70 back for Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties, with similar ones for DoubleTree, Hampton, Garden Inn. These will rotate though.
     
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  14. 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

    Bravo, man. :golfclap:
     
  15. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    https://tinyurl.com/ohhspgbiz
     
  16. Todd Bonzales

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

    Yeah, they usually always have some type of statement credit offer going for properties. Got an extra $50 off my spring break trip last year, in top of the $250 off.
     
  17. Dale Doback

    Dale Doback Well-Known Member
    Donor

    This is somewhat confusing me but seems interesting. Have not gotten a new CC since the CSR initially came out. Trying to read up more on this and understand it all.
     
  18. Det. Frank Bullitt

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

    Hyatt was my first hotel card and is great for local stays in the US, but their int'l properties do not compare to the resort/exclusive portfolio of Hilton, especially in places like Tahiti, Maldives, and imo, the Caribbean. Lots of chatter about Hyatt and their welcome offer itt. but right now I don't have the time to breakdown like the Hilton Aspire above.

    Hyatt pays for itself ($95) with one stay, as it includes a free night per year. The new offer is 60,000 pts, which is 12 nights at a Tier 1 property or ~2 nights at their top property. Generally, the welcome offer is worth 4-7 nights at most properties, which is insane return on $95. https://www.referyourchasecard.com/205/KO6M5JM2M3

    My Fiance really likes hearing "I have a free night". I think I did the math last year and my nights at Hyatt have cost about $33 each fully loaded. I'm part way through other qualifying offers to get that price even lower.

    Great name, btw.
     
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  19. Dale Doback

    Dale Doback Well-Known Member
    Donor


    Say i signed up today and wanted to go to Conrad Bora Bora in March.

    My understanding is i would have $500 toward a flight. 150k points at a minimum towards a room. one free weekend night. and if i stayed a total of 5 nights one of the nights would be free?

    So in essence, use points for 3 of the nights and get 5 nights? also get $350 towards room credits?
     
  20. i am a bammer

    i am a bammer Ben Eblen>Jamychal Green
    Donor TMB OG
    Alabama Crimson TideSan Diego Padres

    If you're paying with points, you need enough points for 4 nights to get 6 nights at a property, essentially. 500 towards a flight depends on the carrier (Southwest gift card worked for me, no games needed). 250 that's good for anything, including fare, at a resort. 100 that's only good at Waldorf and Conrad properties, but doesn't include fare. I'm pretty fuzzy on the last one though.

    Edit: plus you get free suite upgrades and at least 34 points per dollar spent with the diamond bonus included.
     
  21. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Dale Doback this might help you too
     
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  22. Todd Bonzales

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

    Correct. Fifth night free applies when paying for the entire stay with points. Weekend certs attached to points can be counted towards that, but I’m bora bora, you would likely need 750,000 points just to get those first three nights :blowup:
     
  23. Det. Frank Bullitt

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

    You're right, but Bora Bora redemption are astronomical, like marcus said.
     
  24. Det. Frank Bullitt

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

    Hawaii or Key West would be less points, still with a ocean front resort feel.
     
    #8824 Det. Frank Bullitt, Dec 18, 2018
    Last edited: Dec 18, 2018
  25. tjosu

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

    Me: maybe once I wrap up this minimum spend on the Hyatt card I'll tone it down on the new cards for the time being

    Also me: wow, I think I need the Hilton Aspire card

    :yousoricky:
     
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  26. HuskerInMiami

    HuskerInMiami Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Miami DolphinsNebraska Cornhuskers

    Wish you would have posted last night. Do you get the free weekend night right away, or after a year? I thought I read it says after anniversary.
     
  27. Det. Frank Bullitt

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

    Let me look at my fine print - at https://apply.americanexpress.com/hilton-card/?page_url=70

    After receiving your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, enjoy a free Weekend Night Reward. Plus, receive one free Weekend Night Reward every year after renewal.‡
     
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  28. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Right away but it takes 8 weeks fyi
     
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  29. Det. Frank Bullitt

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

    just spoke to the "diamond desk" their language says 2 months, but only said that after saying we normally tell customers to expect 6-8 weeks for it to post. Also said she hears people refer to receiving an email far ahead of that closer to 4 weeks, so standard YMMV.
     
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  30. i am a bammer

    i am a bammer Ben Eblen>Jamychal Green
    Donor TMB OG
    Alabama Crimson TideSan Diego Padres

    It took mine about 8 weeks, fwiw
     
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  31. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Same
     
  32. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
    Donor

    Just signed up for the Charles Schwab banking account, hopefully the ATM card gets here before I head to Mexico next week.

    Anything funky I should know about how the account works?
     
  33. Det. Frank Bullitt

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

    Love that feature, but weirdly I've only used internationally because I leave it in my int'l wallet. I should put in my regular wallet, so that I can use any ATM instead of just Chase.
     
    TAS likes this.
  34. The_Baumer

    The_Baumer Go Mordecai!
    Donor

    The Chase Freedom categories may be the weakest they’ve ever been: gas, tolls, and drug stores.

    Fucking tolls?
     
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  35. Struggler

    Struggler Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCincinnati Bengals

    How is buying (2) $250 airline gift cards a double dip? Is it not only $250 in credit per calendar year?
     
  36. tjosu

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

    Gas stations is a staple, and an easy one for most people I’d assume
     
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  37. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Get card in March. Get credit in March 2019 and January 2020. Cancel
     
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  38. Struggler

    Struggler Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCincinnati Bengals

    Getting the wife a newer Odyssey for Xmas. If the dealership accepts Amex, my minimum spend goes through this month.
     
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  39. Struggler

    Struggler Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCincinnati Bengals

    Gotcha. I opened this month and just enrolled according to Amex. Fingers crossed it counts against this year.
     
  40. i am a bammer

    i am a bammer Ben Eblen>Jamychal Green
    Donor TMB OG
    Alabama Crimson TideSan Diego Padres

    Let us know how long it takes. Took 3-4 days for my credit to post.
     
  41. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

    Applied and got approved for the Schwarz’s Platinum. Gotta hit the high MSR but should squeak by in 3 months. Airline credit triple dip here I come.
     
  42. Jimmy the Saint

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

    Gas is an easy one and you can buy gift cards at drug stores. There have been worse IMO.
     
  43. comrade static

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

    Last year they had internet/cable or something like that and I paid my att joke WiFi for the year. Was hoping it would be the same this year. Bummer
     
  44. bRamonceTaylor

    bRamonceTaylor Well-Known Member
    Donor

    I have the regular platinum and a Schwab account (that I use almost exclusively as a checking account and for the ATM refunds). Had never looked into the Schwab platinum before, but I don't get the perks unless you park a shitload of cash in the brokerage account you're forced to have (which, I'll never have anywhere near $250k in there for a $100 credit). Is there any other reason I should consider changing my platinum to a Schwab platinum?

    TIA
     
  45. bRamonceTaylor

    bRamonceTaylor Well-Known Member
    Donor

    If it's like mine, you'll get a brokerage account and a checking. It's easy to move money between the two, but make sure you keep them straight.

    When I had to send the wire for the down payment on my house and tried to do it from my checking they wanted me to fill out some wire authorization CYA form. I called them and the guy told me to just move the money to the brokerage account and send the wire from there (make sure you include an additional $25 or whatever for the wire fee); no form required from there.

    You'll get a little nugget of interest on the checking account. Congrats on the monthly pack of cigarettes or gum.
     
    TAS likes this.
  46. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
    Donor

    :respek:

    Do you use it as your primary checking account? I really just got it for the free international atm, but I'm always looking for a reason to tell wells fargo to fuck off
     
  47. bRamonceTaylor

    bRamonceTaylor Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Yeah, man. I used it to tell BOA to suck it.

    It'll be 2 years in January since I opened Schwab and a Marcus account (used to be GS Bank (this is Goldman's commercial banking branch)) and I couldn't be happier with the decision. Everybody should have a Marcus account (2.05% online savings (was 1.05% when I opened it in Jan 2017; has gone up by .05% regularly)) (unless there's something better I'm unaware of). I think Wachovia (maybe?) and one other bank or two has a similar savings account, but I like to feel boujee and be a "Goldman client". EDIT: Since everybody I rec Marcus to asks, I usually get same day transfers to a checking account taken care of depending on the amount/time of day. Sometimes they'll tell you a couple Business Days, but I've had 1 BD max and that was for the largest amount I've ever spent in one day.

    The thing that pushed me over the edge with BOA was when I went to pull out X amount of cash in $50 or $100 denominations for staff gifts and had a check to cash in the process. Walked by the ATM with a line of 5+ people to the teller and made my request and input my debit card. Teller told me it would be a $15 fee to use her services, but it would be free to use the ATM. fuck. that. shit.

    It's free for all ATMs; I don't think I've ever used a Schwab ATM and there's one across the street, but I work in the Frost Bank building so I use that. Just checked my account $15 back for ATMs for November, there was an ill advised strippy trip in there.
     
    #8847 bRamonceTaylor, Dec 20, 2018
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2018
  48. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
    Donor

    That Marcus account looks interesting. If you get any sort of bonus for referrals, shoot one my way
     
  49. bRamonceTaylor

    bRamonceTaylor Well-Known Member
    Donor

    No referral bonus that I'm aware of. Just one of a few products I shout about from the rooftops because it beats the alternatives I've used (I used to get so pissed seeing $0.77 interest payments on my BOA savings). Buy me a beer next time Texas and A&M play again.

    Since you're in Texas (I think?), Vonlane between Dallas/Houston/Austin is another product on that list if you like my taste haha. You can probably get 10% off if you're a member of the A&M alumni org.
     
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  50. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
    Donor

    Haha deal.

    Yeah I'm in Houston but I'm bout that southwest CP life and I'm 10 mins from Hobby. Have heard good things about vonlane though.
     
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