I love credit cards so much! v2.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[Lain]

I have Marriott Premiere Plus Opened 6/18
Bonus posted 8/18

DH has Spg Personal (the purple card) Opened 4/18
I don’t remember when bonus posted. We hit MS right away so not long after we opened it.

So you're looking to get a Bonvoy Brilliant.

The fine print on the Bonvoy Brilliant offer states:

Welcome offer not available to applicants who

(i) have or have had The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card from JPMorgan or the J.P. Morgan Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card in the last 30 days,

(ii) have acquired the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier Business from Chase or the Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase in the last 90 days, or

(iii) received a new Card Member bonus or upgrade offer for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ from Chase, Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier Plus Business from Chase or the Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase in the last 24 months.

Basically, because you got a SUB on the Chase Marriott Premier Plus in the last 24 months, you won't get the SUB for the Amex Bonvoy Brilliant. You'll need to wait until after 8/2020 to be eligible for the Brilliant SUB. If you go ahead and get the card anyway, without the SUB, you'll make yourself ineligible for ever getting the bonus under Amex's bonus rules that make bonuses eligible if you have or ever had the card product.


What about the Bonvoy Biz?

The fine print there says:

Welcome offer not available to applicants who

(i) have or have had the Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier Plus Business from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ from Chase, or the Marriott Rewards® Business Credit Card from Chase in the last 30 days,

(ii) have acquired the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier from Chase or the Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase in the last 90 days, or

(iii) received a new cardmember bonus offer in the last 24 months on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier Plus from Chase or the Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase.

It looks like that SUB on the Chase Marriott Premier Plus in the last 24 months also makes you ineligible for the Amex Bonvoy Biz until after 8/2020.


I'm sorry.

Does DH have any Chase Marriott cards? If not, he should be eligible to get SUBs on the Amex Bonvoy Biz and Bonvoy Brilliant.

This link has helpful charts: Navigating Marriott’s Byzantine Credit Card Rules.

 

[smmco]

Of those two cards opened in 2003, are they still open?

Amex has a so-called 2/90 rule, which means they'll approve you for up to 2 Amex credit cards within 90 days. Getting the Delta Gold in March should not make you ineligible for another Amex credit card in the next 90 days. Even if you fell under the 2/90 rule, that doesn't trigger a no bonus denial pop up; you'd just get denied the card (not just the bonus)

Have you put any more spend on the Delta Gold since meeting the minimum spending requirement to get the 60k miles?

The cards are still open. A couple of small charges. I read a couple of places that they won’t give you two bonuses within 90 days No idea if that’s true or not.

 

[PolyRob]

Now that I have CIP #2, is it bad to keep CIP #1 at a $5,000 CL and drop CIP #2 to a $1,000 CL? If the CIPpy cup is still flowing, I will try for CIP #3 in September. I really do want a CIC and I don't want to be locked out if I get denied so I figured keep one CIP with enough CL to PC down the line if need be.

 

[Lain]

The cards are still open. A couple of small charges. I read a couple of places that they won’t give you two bonuses within 90 days No idea if that’s true or not.

Amex will approve you for up to 2 of their credit cards within a 90 days period, and the 2/90 rule doesn’t affect Amex’s charge cards (e.g., the Green, Gold, Platinums, and their business varieties) so Amex could approve you for any of their charge cards within a 90 days period even if you were 2/90.

The bonus issue in your case is a separate thing. You have 3 open Amex cards, 2 of which with no or very little spend on them, 1 where you just spent $3k in one month to get the 60k miles bonus, and you’ve put only a couple of small charges on it since. It looks to Amex that you’re only spending on their cards to get the signup bonus, then your spend drops off considerably. As I mentioned before, Amex wants to see regular, ongoing, and ideally high levels of spend on the cards they approve you for. If they see this kind of drop off after you’ve met your minimum spending requirement and you’ve gotten your bonus, they’ll assume you were only interested in using their cards for the bonus.

Again, you’ll need to keep using your existing Amex cards and keep putting spend on them, and maybe you’ll be able to rehabilitate your relationship with Amex and get rid of the bonus denial pop up.

 

[nhgirl]

Thanks @Lain. You’re awesome!!

 

[Lain]

Thanks @Lain. You’re awesome!!

I know.

 

[Judique]

Thanks but I’m going to (finally) use some URs thru a CSR to get that sweet 1.50x kicker!


My happiness carries a lot of value LOL! It’s a 1.2x kicker on the value of the pts

That's why I said 'yikes who am I talking to' mid post but continued anyway just in case it has value for anyone else! Lol! the 1.5 jumped right into my brain along with all the Cippy UR's.

 

[afan]

Well, looking it up, Jersey week is the week before Veteran's day. But may still be busy with people that took week off for Veteran's Day? Or cheerleading shows?

Jersey week is always the week of elections. Schools are closed for election day and then there's another one or two for teacher stuff at the end of the week. So depending on where within the dates things fall it includes veteran's day.

The 14-17 is probably also the end of food and wine.

 

[miztressuz]

Chatter today about Marriott Bonblah sending out free gift cards to random members. I got slightly excited to see an email from them but it was a double points promotion, only good on weekend stays.

Haven't found a rhyme or reason yet. Some people have no stays this year with none booked, others are currently on a stay and have upcoming stays; some had all points stays, others had mix of cash and points/certs stays. Seeing mostly $30 and $50 amounts from Plat and Titanium members. Mention on DoC of a $100 being received - https://www.doctorofcredit.com/marr...gift-cards-to-members-for-no-apparent-reason/

Double check your emails for “Your Gift from Marriott Bonvoy”

 

[ski_mom]

I believe these quotes are what you’re looking for:

Wow, thank you! That is an interesting idea, but I'm probably not going to open an HELOC just to do this - although, it almost seems like it would be worth it

 

[Lain]

 

[PolyRob]

-

 

[bernina]

Wow, thank you! That is an interesting idea, but I'm probably not going to open an HELOC just to do this - although, it almost seems like it would be worth it

We happened to have a HELOC that’s been fully paid off for several years. We thought of closing it but our lender said we should keep it open in case of emergencies. It’s been sitting there quietly waiting just for this moment

 

[Judique]

Jersey week is always the week of elections. Schools are closed for election day and then there's another one or two for teacher stuff at the end of the week. So depending on where within the dates things fall it includes veteran's day.

The 14-17 is probably also the end of food and wine.

I was looking at this and saying 'that's late for F&W' as usually it is over by Nov 12, and the Disney site says it goes from Aug 29 to Nov 23, 2019. Talk about stretching it out! I'm there up until the 12th. Now I may have to put in some wait lists to try to hit cooler weather as it is usually still pretty toasty in November - 80ties. Also, want to check Eat to the Beat concerts as they go until Nov 19th.

So, Nov 12-18 is TBD and Nov 19 is DCapella. I usually get Boyz 2 Men and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and this year is no different. I've also seen BBVDD playing over in Celebration for their community day after they did their Epcot shows. Plus I'll have the opportunity to catch Sheena Easton, The Hooters and Kris Allen. I like the live shows and the 1/2 hour length is perfect for me. Hope they get some more mouldy oldy goldies for those dates!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

We happened to have a HELOC that’s been fully paid off for several years. We thought of closing it but our lender said we should keep it open in case of emergencies. It’s been sitting there quietly waiting just for this moment

I get a fee free HELOC from the bank I work at. Opened it 4 years ago...never have touched it. Also think it’s been sitting there quietly waiting for this moment

 

[Lain]

Thanks @Lain. You’re awesome!!

Anyway! If DH has never had any Marriott/Bonvoy cards from Chase, he should be eligible for the Amex Bonvoy Biz and Brilliant, so he may want to keep the Amex SPG for its ability to refer himself to the Bonvoy Biz and Brilliant for 20k Marriott points per card. But do try to have him call Amex's retention line, play hard to get, and see if he can get a retention offer out of them. Good luck!

 

[smmco]

Amex will approve you for up to 2 of their credit cards within a 90 days period, and the 2/90 rule doesn’t affect Amex’s charge cards (e.g., the Green, Gold, Platinums, and their business varieties) so Amex could approve you for any of their charge cards within a 90 days period even if you were 2/90.

The bonus issue in your case is a separate thing. You have 3 open Amex cards, 2 of which with no or very little spend on them, 1 where you just spent $3k in one month to get the 60k miles bonus, and you’ve put only a couple of small charges on it since. It looks to Amex that you’re only spending on their cards to get the signup bonus, then your spend drops off considerably. As I mentioned before, Amex wants to see regular, ongoing, and ideally high levels of spend on the cards they approve you for. If they see this kind of drop off after you’ve met your minimum spending requirement and you’ve gotten your bonus, they’ll assume you were only interested in using their cards for the bonus.

Again, you’ll need to keep using your existing Amex cards and keep putting spend on them, and maybe you’ll be able to rehabilitate your relationship with Amex and get rid of the bonus denial pop up.

The first two have been dormant for years and I’m nor resurrecting them. I did have an Amex that put thousands on every year. That was Costco. I appreciate the advice, but after researching this on multiple boards and websites I’m not sure there’s any rhyme or reason for the bonus denials. At least I’m certainly not
alone.

 

[tink1970]

Quantas is supposedly really stingy with award seats from what I have read and getting New Zealand air awards flights via United is like finding a unicorn. Here is a pretty decent article though that may help.

https://upgradedpoints.com/best-ways-to-fly-to-australia-with-points/
You will likely need to position to LAX or SFO to get the best availability.

OMG!!! So I've been collecting miles with a goal of either 1) Australia or 2) S Africa and not really holding out too much hope for Australia since, you know, Qantas Unicorn . Well, I received an email this am from Spencer Howard with dates and availabilities on Qantas (straighttothepoints.co --I don't use his service but he'll email out alerts). TL;DR next Feb DH and I are headed to Sydney from LAX !I cannot tell y'all how excited I am

Granted, I'm not sure what we'll do once we're there (I'm thinking a cruise?) or how we're getting back but I am SO GLAD I kept hope alive

 

[babyready]

I would have taken that offer. They didn’t give me any offer tho so I cancelled.

I took the same offer.

20k points for $2k spend means 10 additional Marriott points per $1. The SPG card already has a base earn rate of 2 points per $1. So that's 12x Marriott points for the next $2k of spend. That's not bad! And it'll help you slow your roll if you need something to keep you busy in between Chase, Citi, and Amex apps.

The AF is "only" $95. I can get more than that in value from the 35k FN certificate. Although peak pricing is looming, which will devalue the 35k FN cert, I do expect Marriott to give some advance notice when it'll go into effect, and I'm fairly confident that my latest FN cert will deposit and I can redeem it before then.

Tagging @nhgirl.

Thank you for responding and making me feel better!

For anyone else looking at options, the other upgrade I was offered was to upgrade to the Brilliant for 50,000 with 2,000 in spend.

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

OMG!!! So I've been riding the grAAvy train with a goal of either 1) Australia or 2) S Africa and not really holding out too much hope for Australia since, you know, Qantas Unicorn . Well, I received an email this am from Spencer Howard with dates and availabilities on Qantas (straighttothepoints.co --I don't use his service but he'll email out alerts). Anyway, I was 13k short of the 220 AA miles I needed to I put the tickets on hold, bought the 13K AA miles to top off my miles and next Feb DH and I are headed to Sydney from LAX in Qantas first! I cannot tell y'all how excited I am

Granted, I'm not sure what we'll do once we're there (I'm thinking a cruise?) or how we're getting back but I am SO GLAD I boarded the grAAvy train and kept hope alive

Shut. Up.

That is so awesome congratulations!!

Get the DK/Eyewitness Travel book for Australia!