Chase Sapphire preferred credit card

[calypso726]

I do have a semi legit business, will definately not cancel CSP until i qualify for Ink card. Only reason i got TYP cards is that the airline i fly with takes TYP transfers, Best UR can do is *AU. Ive only applied for CSP and Primier so im good with the 5/24 rule. I am thinkin about getting the Freedom Unlimited though... just another card for more UR points!

I wish TYP transferred to AA direct. If they did I'd be keeping one of them. I may keep the Prestige for the 4th night free hotel benefit and lounge access since I know we can make use of the $250 airline credit each year. Do you already have the old Freedom card? I do like the rotating 5% bonus categories. I thought about getting the Freedom Unlimited but figured I'd go for the IHG and maybe Hyatt cards before 5/24 goes into effect for those.

OK- Question thats been bugging me for a while. Why are the Starwood Preferred Guest credit card points valued so highly in the MS world? Is it strictly for the high accrual rate and subsequent free hotel night stays?
Personally, I value points that go towards airfare any day of the week. We pretty much ONLY travel to Florida so I want to get there cheaply

For me it is the most valuable points currency because of the ability to transfer to over 30 airlines. I also love that for every 20K miles you transfer into an airline SPG gives you 5K bonus miles. So if I need 100K miles to get somewhere with AA it will only cost me 80K SPG points. We've also used the points for stays at SPG properties. 12,500 points per night for a hotel that charges $300+ a night is awesome especially when a similarly cash priced Marriott is 40,000 points. BTW SPG points can be used for stays at the Swan and Dolphin. They also have the nights and flights program for category 3 and 4 hotels which is a discount on 5 night hotel stays which will save you 20,000 SPG points on category 4 hotel stays. The Dophin is a category 4. 70,000 SPG points can be exchanged for five nights at a Category 4 and 50,000 airline miles. All of my non bonus category spending goes on this card.

 

[ski_mom]

We do some MS. We are trying to get the BA companion pass now and are half way to the $30K spend required. Yeah, DH got his Blue Bird shut down in December and was using mine after that. Mine just got shut down last week. However, after his shut down we put plan B and C into play. Now he is using a BB in his brother's name. If and when that gets shut down, he will use his sister's, and we will keep moving through family members that have no interest in this game but don't mind helping us out. Walmart security won't know. You just won't be able to load to Kate when the shut down happens. You'll also get an email.

I was wondering if there is somewhere that I can read about the whole Blue Bird manufactured spending deal? I understand the concept of it, just not sure on the details of where you can do it, the fees involved, what all accounts you need, etc.

 

[calypso726]

I was wondering if there is somewhere that I can read about the whole Blue Bird manufactured spending deal? I understand the concept of it, just not sure on the details of where you can do it, the fees involved, what all accounts you need, etc.

I believe the Frequent Miler blog has a pretty good explanation of using Blue Bird and MS. You would need to open up a Blue Bird account which is a free checking account. You purchase pin enabled gift cards, only certain ones work with the credit card you are trying to get points on. We get the Visa gift cards from gift card dot com that say debit and personalize with our name just in case the Kate machine isn't working and we have to go to see customer device and try ask to see our "debit card." You can load up to $5K per month but not more than $2k per day. Once the funds are in you BB account you can bill pay you credit card or transfer to a different checking account and bill pay from there.

 

[Ava]

For me it is the most valuable points currency because of the ability to transfer to over 30 airlines. I also love that for every 20K miles you transfer into an airline SPG gives you 5K bonus miles. So if I need 100K miles to get somewhere with AA it will only cost me 80K SPG points. We've also used the points for stays at SPG properties. 12,500 points per night for a hotel that charges $300+ a night is awesome especially when a similarly cash priced Marriott is 40,000 points. BTW SPG points can be used for stays at the Swan and Dolphin. They also have the nights and flights program for category 3 and 4 hotels which is a discount on 5 night hotel stays which will save you 20,000 SPG points on category 4 hotel stays. The Dophin is a category 4. 70,000 SPG points can be exchanged for five nights at a Category 4 and 50,000 airline miles. All of my non bonus category spending goes on this card.

I wish I could get in on the SPG card while they are offering the 35K bonus points but I just got the CSP and $7K is a lot to spend in 3 months. I could do it if I use one of those services that allows you to pay your rent by credit card, but that's something I'd have to discuss with DW. As it is she's skeptical of my new hobby; she thinks the multiple inquiries are going to affect my credit score.

 

[calypso726]

I wish I could get in on the SPG card while they are offering the 35K bonus points but I just got the CSP and $7K is a lot to spend in 3 months. I could do it if I use one of those services that allows you to pay your rent by credit card, but that's something I'd have to discuss with DW. As it is she's skeptical of my new hobby; she thinks the multiple inquiries are going to affect my credit score.

I may be applying for the business one at the end of the month. Don't want to pass up the bonus. The multiple inquiries will lower you credit score temporarily by a few points but those inquiries are less impactful as time goes on and they fall off after a year. Having a new line of credit and lower overall utilization ration due to the new cards will help improve your credit score. There are people in this hobby that apply for 3 - 5 cards every 3 months and they have very good credit scores.

 

[linzjane88]

I may be applying for the business one at the end of the month. Don't want to pass up the bonus. The multiple inquiries will lower you credit score temporarily by a few points but those inquiries are less impactful as time goes on and they fall off after a year. Having a new line of credit and lower overall utilization ration due to the new cards will help improve your credit score. There are people in this hobby that apply for 3 - 5 cards every 3 months and they have very good credit scores.

Yep! I went on a card binge just over a year ago (it also included my DH) . Initially (first month to two) we took about a 20 point ding. Now both of us have scores higher than where we started. My husband had the bigger jump-he started at about 745 and is now at 780. That's one perk of having all these cards. We have access to our credit score for free everywhere since most of them include it.

 

[linzjane88]

I just product changed to a Chase Freedom last night Well my DH did. I told him about it today (gotta love communication via email! Although I've DEFINITELY faked a man voice to cancel a card in his name before the annual fee hit) .

I'm on the fence doing the same for the CSP. I'm locked out until this time next year (5/24) but don't know if I should wait and get it then with a sign up bonus or forgo the bonus and get one now via product change. Decisions, decisions.

 

[StuckInKS]

How long does it take for the welcome bonus to credit? I am currently putting all of our vacation expenses on the card and then paying it off with our saved vacation funds. If I spend the $4k this billing cycle (should have the $4k spend after we buy park tickets), will the points be available after the statement cuts? Hoping to get them and have them turned into target GCs and then Disney GCs before our vacation in late May.

 

[calypso726]

I just product changed to a Chase Freedom last night Well my DH did. I told him about it today (gotta love communication via email! Although I've DEFINITELY faked a man voice to cancel a card in his name before the annual fee hit) .

I'm on the fence doing the same for the CSP. I'm locked out until this time next year (5/24) but don't know if I should wait and get it then with a sign up bonus or forgo the bonus and get one now via product change. Decisions, decisions.

Ooh, tough decision. If you aren't in immediate need of a credit card with primary car rental insurance or using UR points for travel then I'd wait and get the card once I am no longer at 5/24. This card or the Chase Ink Plus would be the only cards that would actually cause me to put a halt on my yearly cc apps. It would probably take me well over a year to reach the welcome bonus point balance through regular spending anyhow. Good call on the product change for the Freedom though! The 5X bonus categories when maxed out will help you rack up those points pretty quickly.

How long does it take for the welcome bonus to credit? I am currently putting all of our vacation expenses on the card and then paying it off with our saved vacation funds. If I spend the $4k this billing cycle (should have the $4k spend after we buy park tickets), will the points be available after the statement cuts? Hoping to get them and have them turned into target GCs and then Disney GCs before our vacation in late May.

In my experience it has credited the statement cycle after the spending requirement is met and this has been true with all of the Chase products I've had. Worst ever was the Wells Fargo Propel which required a $3K spend in 3 months to get $400 in travel credits. I made the spend the same month I got the card, well before the statement closed. Making the spend was also a nightmare because every time I used the card it would get declined and trigger a fraud alert. Sometimes this happened multiple times throughout the day even after with speaking to their fraud department. They would not credit the points until 3 months had passed. After 3 months they still had not credited the points and it took several phone calls over 2 more months before they would honor their T&C. I don't think I ever actually hated a credit card until that experience. Ugh, never again.

 

[hsmamato2]

SPG points are valuable b/c they have a lot of good redemption options,and they are not easy to get in bulk....once you get the cc bonuses, it's mainly just regular spending and it can be slow for ordinary budgets.... I Love my SPG card!

 

[ski_mom]

I'm loving this thread! I have a couple of questions that you guys seem like you'd know -

1. We have a Chase Freedom in DH's name. I'm assuming that if we got a CSP or Ink Plus, that would also have to be in his name if we wanted to transfer the points from his Chase Freedom?

2. Is there a way to see how close you are to reaching the maximum spend for the 5% bonus categories on the Chase Freedom each quarter?

Thanks for any help!

 

[linzjane88]

I'm loving this thread! I have a couple of questions that you guys seem like you'd know -

1. We have a Chase Freedom in DH's name. I'm assuming that if we got a CSP or Ink Plus, that would also have to be in his name if we wanted to transfer the points from his Chase Freedom?

2. Is there a way to see how close you are to reaching the maximum spend for the 5% bonus categories on the Chase Freedom each quarter?

Thanks for any help!

I don't know about question 2 but as far as #1 I am pretty sure you can transfer to a spouse. I've just never actually done it.

 

[calypso726]

I'm loving this thread! I have a couple of questions that you guys seem like you'd know -

1. We have a Chase Freedom in DH's name. I'm assuming that if we got a CSP or Ink Plus, that would also have to be in his name if we wanted to transfer the points from his Chase Freedom?

2. Is there a way to see how close you are to reaching the maximum spend for the 5% bonus categories on the Chase Freedom each quarter?

Thanks for any help!

Chase UR points can be transferred to an authorized user of your card in the same house hold. I would suggest getting one in his name, making the spend to get the bonus, and then get one in your name and adding your DH as an authorized user. When your annual fee comes due transfer your UR rewards to your DH's account and then cancel or product change your card. This is what DH and I do. We always get the same cards to get double the bonus. Sometimes we do have to wait until the spend is made on one card and then do the application for me to get the same card.

If there is I haven't seen it. I usually just keep track of category bonus spend on the card. Next month is groceries so I will probably just buy $1500 in Disney gift cards at Publix.

 

[calypso726]

I don't know about question 2 but as far as #1 I am pretty sure you can transfer to a spouse. I've just never actually done it.

Chase changed the rules last November to authorized user.

 

[ski_mom]

don't know about question 2 but as far as #1 I am pretty sure you can transfer to a spouse. I've just never actually done it.

Chase UR points can be transferred to an authorized user of your card in the same house hold. I would suggest getting one in his name, making the spend to get the bonus, and then get one in your name and adding your DH as an authorized user. When your annual fee comes due transfer your UR rewards to your DH's account and then cancel or product change your card. This is what DH and I do. We always get the same cards to get double the bonus. Sometimes we do have to wait until the spend is made on one card and then do the application for me to get the same card.

If there is I haven't seen it. I usually just keep track of category bonus spend on the card. Next month is groceries so I will probably just buy $1500 in Disney gift cards at Publix.

Thank you both very much!

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

I'm loving this thread! I have a couple of questions that you guys seem like you'd know -

1. We have a Chase Freedom in DH's name. I'm assuming that if we got a CSP or Ink Plus, that would also have to be in his name if we wanted to transfer the points from his Chase Freedom?

2. Is there a way to see how close you are to reaching the maximum spend for the 5% bonus categories on the Chase Freedom each quarter?

Thanks for any help!

If you link on the ultimate rewards site from your freedom and click on other activity a bar pops up with how much you've earned on you 5x bonus for freedom. It maxes at $75. Still kicking myself for forgetting to put a $700 car repair done by the mechanic at a Shell station. Errrgggghh.

 

[calypso726]

don't know about question 2 but as far as #1 I am pretty sure you can transfer to a spouse. I've just never actually done it.

Thank you both very much!

You are very welcome. You used to be able but the T&C changed. Here is a copy and paste from the UR website.

Can I transfer my points to someone else's frequent travel account?
You can transfer points in 1,000 point increments, but only to participating frequent travel program accounts belonging to you, or one additional household member who is listed as an authorized user on your card account.

If you link on the ultimate rewards site from your freedom and click on other activity a bar pops up with how much you've earned on you 5x bonus for freedom. It maxes at $75. Still kicking myself for forgetting to put a $700 car repair done by the mechanic at a Shell station. Errrgggghh.

Ouch! Thanks for the info, good to know.

 

[dfchelbay]

Just a heads up when you get your card. The credit cards numbers don't appear on the front of the card. You'll get weird looks from cashiers sometimes when they look at it. Sometimes you may have to tell them the numbers are all on the back. Most of the time it goes unnoticed.

 

[AmyAnne]

Does anyone know how re-applications for the CSP card work? I had this card a few years ago but then cancelled it because we were not travelling as much. If I submit another application now, can I get the sign up bonus again? I know for Am Ex cards, the sign up bonus is only once per lifetime, but is Chase the same way?

 

[Albort]

Does anyone know how re-applications for the CSP card work? I had this card a few years ago but then cancelled it because we were not travelling as much. If I submit another application now, can I get the sign up bonus again? I know for Am Ex cards, the sign up bonus is only once per lifetime, but is Chase the same way?

every 2 years starting from the day you received your bonus is what data point shows so far... If you reapply, u should get the bonus.