Chase Sapphire Reserve question(s)

[Albort]

If I opened a CS Preferred this year, will I be able to convert it to a Freedom or will I need to wait?

The default is that you must wait 1 year to be able to convert a CSP --> a Freedom/Freedom Unlimited. however, some people were able to convert the CSP to a Chase Sapphire regular card, then to a Freedom card. its highly YMMV though.

 

[TeamH5]

Do the reward points ever expire? I'm wanting to get something where I can save enough points to pay for tickets for a family of 6, but not really sure if the trip would be in the next year or next 5 (long story).

 

[Albort]

Do the reward points ever expire? I'm wanting to get something where I can save enough points to pay for tickets for a family of 6, but not really sure if the trip would be in the next year or next 5 (long story).

the rewards point do not expire as long as you have the credit card open. You can even pool your points into one card if you like. The point to point transfer to Chase partners(ie United, Air France/KLM, Hyatt etc) however can only be done on premium cards with AF aka, CSP, CSR, Ink+.

 

[Traveling on cc points]

My daughter is a junior in high school, I have been teaching her about her credit score and credit cards since she was little. I also have her as an autherized user on most of my cards to give her history. She is planning on getting a starter card such as the freedom unlimited when she turns 18 then use those points to go on an awesome trip after her collage graduation. 4 years of points should add up to be a good amount.

 

[calypso726]

My daughter is a junior in high school, I have been teaching her about her credit score and credit cards since she was little. I also have her as an autherized user on most of my cards to give her history. She is planning on getting a starter card such as the freedom unlimited when she turns 18 then use those points to go on an awesome trip after her collage graduation. 4 years of points should add up to be a good amount.

The Freedom Unlimited is a cash back card. Without a Chase Sapphire Preferred, Reserve or Ink Plus card account to transfer those Freedom Unlimited points into, the points cannot be used for travel other than a statement credit like any other cash back card. They cannot be transferred to use as miles, or hotel points. It isn't a very good travel credit card unless you pair it with one of the aforementioned cards. You also wouldn't want her to take it on that awesome trip if it is out of the country since the card does carry foreign transaction fees. There are better no fee card options than the Freedom Unlimited which gives 1.5 cash back. The Citi Double Cash is effectively a 2% no fee card. You earn 1% on the spend and 1% when you pay the bill.

 

[Traveling on cc points]

The Freedom Unlimited is a cash back card. Without a Chase Sapphire Preferred, Reserve or Ink Plus card account to transfer those Freedom Unlimited points into, the points cannot be used for travel other than a statement credit like any other cash back card. They cannot be transferred to use as miles, or hotel points. It isn't a very good travel credit card unless you pair it with one of the aforementioned cards. You also wouldn't want her to take it on that awesome trip if it is out of the country since the card does carry foreign transaction fees. There are better no fee card options than the Freedom Unlimited which gives 1.5 cash back. The Citi Double Cash is effectively a 2% no fee card. You earn 1% on the spend and 1% when you pay the bill.[/

The Freedom Unlimited is a cash back card. Without a Chase Sapphire Preferred, Reserve or Ink Plus card account to transfer those Freedom Unlimited points into, the points cannot be used for travel other than a statement credit like any other cash back card. They cannot be transferred to use as miles, or hotel points. It isn't a very good travel credit card unless you pair it with one of the aforementioned cards. You also wouldn't want her to take it on that awesome trip if it is out of the country since the card does carry foreign transaction fees. There are better no fee card options than the Freedom Unlimited which gives 1.5 cash back. The Citi Double Cash is effectively a 2% no fee card. You earn 1% on the spend and 1% when you pay the bill.

You are absoulty correct, I should have been more clear. She plans to get the FU as her starter card when she turns 18, rack up the 1.5 point per dollar then get the csp or csr at grad time.
I am a huge chase fan, especially UR points. I have the freedom, FU. Ink Sw and just got the CSR. She is amazed on how much we are able to travel (for very little money) and wants to do the same.
I just pray she has been paying attention and doesn't spend more than she can pay.

 

[calypso726]

You are absoulty correct, I should have been more clear. She plans to get the FU as her starter card when she turns 18, rack up the 1.5 point per dollar then get the csp or csr at grad time.
I am a huge chase fan, especially UR points. I have the freedom, FU. Ink Sw and just got the CSR. She is amazed on how much we are able to travel (for very little money) and wants to do the same.
I just pray she has been paying attention and doesn't spend more than she can pay.

Ah! Now that's a plan! I figured I'd mention it just in case. I know if I am mistaken about something I'd much prefer someone inform me and clue me in rather than remain silent.

Yup me too. Finally managed to get the Quadfecta of Chase cards. After getting the Reserve, I product changed my Sapphire Preferred to the Unlimited and already had a Freedom and an Ink+.

 

[Traveling on cc points]

Ah! Now that's a plan! I figured I'd mention it just in case. I know if I am mistaken about something I'd much prefer someone inform me and clue me in rather than remain silent.

Yup me too. Finally managed to get the Quadfecta of Chase cards. After getting the Reserve, I product changed my Sapphire Preferred to the Unlimited and already had a Freedom and an Ink+.

That's awesome!! I have been putting most of my spend on the csr to hit the min spend but as soon as that's done I plan on racking up some major points.
Dining & travel on the csr
Phone, cable, internet & random gift cards from staples on ink
5% catagories ob the freedom
Everyday no catagory spend on the FU.
I haven't decided if I will close my sw card, I had 2 (for the companion pass) I really don't see myself using it but I don't want to piss chase off by closing too many cards. Decisions decisions

 

[calypso726]

That's awesome!! I have been putting most of my spend on the csr to hit the min spend but as soon as that's done I plan on racking up some major points.
Dining & travel on the csr
Phone, cable, internet & random gift cards from staples on ink
5% catagories ob the freedom
Everyday no catagory spend on the FU.
I haven't decided if I will close my sw card, I had 2 (for the companion pass) I really don't see myself using it but I don't want to piss chase off by closing too many cards. Decisions decisions

Same here. Putting all the spend on the CSR then back to categories. The FU is my backup to the SPG for non category spend should the SPG card go away in its current incarnation and there is no comparable replacement. Never picked up SW cards due to focusing more on international first class flights. I thought I read something about being able to get the companion pass via Marriott through some method or other regarding booking with Marriott points. I don't think you can product change co-brand cards, but it doesn't hurt to ask. You can always apply for a different Chase card and close the SW card on a recon call as leverage to open a new card.

 

[wendow]

Ah! Now that's a plan! I figured I'd mention it just in case. I know if I am mistaken about something I'd much prefer someone inform me and clue me in rather than remain silent.

Glad you posted all that. I did not realize that I need something other than a Freedom card to be able to use my UR for travel. I have the CSR but not planning on keeping it long term. Hmm, I guess the CSP would be the next card I need to try to get.

 

[Traveling on cc points]

Same here. Putting all the spend on the CSR then back to categories. The FU is my backup to the SPG for non category spend should the SPG card go away in its current incarnation and there is no comparable replacement. Never picked up SW cards due to focusing more on international first class flights. I thought I read something about being able to get the companion pass via Marriott through some method or other regarding booking with Marriott points. I don't think you can product change co-brand cards, but it doesn't hurt to ask. You can always apply for a different Chase card and close the SW card on a recon call as leverage to open a new card.

Haha. We might be the same person. I have been researching the Marriott method too. It costs 270,000 Marriott points to get a 7 nights in a category 1-5 hotel and 120,000 sw point that count towards the cp. The 2 big problems with this scenario for me are I don't have any Marriott points so I would have to transfer the 270,000 ur points from chase. The 2nd problem is I couldn't find a category 5 hotel that I would want to stay at.
Unfortunately co branded cards can't be product changed. I think your right and I should cancel the sw card and new it again next year.

 

[Traveling on cc points]

Glad you posted all that. I did not realize that I need something other than a Freedom card to be able to use my UR for travel. I have the CSR but not planning on keeping it long term. Hmm, I guess the CSP would be the next card I need to try to get.

It really depends on how much you go out to eat and travel. There are tons of blogs out there that will explain it better than I will but I'll try. The CSR will essentially only cost you $55 more a year than the CSP.

The csr has an annual fee of $450- the $300 travel credit a year brings you down to $150. If you are willing to pay the $95 for the csp now you are down to $55 a year more than the csp.

If you go out to eat and or travel a lot the $55 a year is worth the 3 pst per dollars with the csr vs the 2 pts with the csp. You will have to do the math to see if it's worth it or not to keep it.

 

[Albort]

It really depends on how much you go out to eat and travel. There are tons of blogs out there that will explain it better than I will but I'll try. The CSR will essentially only cost you $55 more a year than the CSP.

The csr has an annual fee of $450- the $300 travel credit a year brings you down to $150. If you are willing to pay the $95 for the csp now you are down to $55 a year more than the csp.

If you go out to eat and or travel a lot the $55 a year is worth the 3 pst per dollars with the csr vs the 2 pts with the csp. You will have to do the math to see if it's worth it or not to keep it.

the problem i see here is that csp should be calculated @ $95 for 2 years since its waived for the first year. People dont like that $450 af at the start, the CSP might be better. + 55k UR pts is not too shabby either.

 

[wendow]

the problem i see here is that csp should be calculated @ $95 for 2 years since its waived for the first year. People dont like that $450 af at the start, the CSP might be better. + 55k UR pts is not too shabby either.

I would need to close the CSR and apply for the CSP to get the waived first year's AF and signup bonus, correct? That signup bonus on the CSP is pretty nice. Is the 55k UR pretty normal or does it fluctuate?

 

[Albort]

I would need to close the CSR and apply for the CSP to get the waived first year's AF and signup bonus, correct? That signup bonus on the CSP is pretty nice. Is the 55k UR pretty normal or does it fluctuate?

CSR and CSP are independent of each other. you do not need to close CSR. chance are, u probably apply for the CSP, then leave it in a box when minimum spendings hit haha. Ppl have said you can product change(asap as oppose to waiting a year) it to a CS then to one of the freedom cards but its YMMV. 50K+5k(AU) is the highest bonus so far for CSP. It may fluctuate in either direction...

Edit: ur probably thinkin of citibank Thank you cards. those cards u need to close before opening another one.

 

[calypso726]

It really depends on how much you go out to eat and travel. There are tons of blogs out there that will explain it better than I will but I'll try. The CSR will essentially only cost you $55 more a year than the CSP.

The csr has an annual fee of $450- the $300 travel credit a year brings you down to $150. If you are willing to pay the $95 for the csp now you are down to $55 a year more than the csp.

If you go out to eat and or travel a lot the $55 a year is worth the 3 pst per dollars with the csr vs the 2 pts with the csp. You will have to do the math to see if it's worth it or not to keep it.

The break even point between the CSP and CSR is if you spend $3200 or more per year on dining and travel. That is with the CSR points at their minimum of 1.5 value. If you do, then you should keep the CSR past the first year. If you value the points for more than 1.5 due to transfer options then the break even is even less.

 

[Traveling on cc points]

The break even point between the CSP and CSR is if you spend $3200 or more per year on dining and travel. That is with the CSR points at their minimum of 1.5 value. If you do, then you should keep the CSR past the first year. If you value the points for more than 1.5 due to transfer options then the break even is even less.

I personally plan on keeping my csr unless they take away some of the benefits. We go out to eat a lot and Tavel fairly regularly. I value ur points at $0.02 per point because I transfer them to hyatt or sw. Chase is known for offering great benefits and then gradually taking them away. When I first got my csp it earned and extra 7% on all points earned at the end of the year, as soon as they took that away I down graded it. Time will tell.

 

[calypso726]

I personally plan on keeping my csr unless they take away some of the benefits. We go out to eat a lot and Tavel fairly regularly. I value ur points at $0.02 per point because I transfer them to hyatt or sw. Chase is known for offering great benefits and then gradually taking them away. When I first got my csp it earned and extra 7% on all points earned at the end of the year, as soon as they took that away I down graded it. Time will tell.

Very true. Had the same benefits on my CSP back in the day. Back then if you had a checking account and Freedom you'd get an additional 10% on your earned UR points too. Miss that. All the banks devalue their cards for the most part. Amex Plat eliminated lounge access to some of the airline lounges. Then Citi Prestige decides to eliminate AA lounge access for next year and restructure the 4th night free hotel benefit. Earn, burn and roll with the punches.

 

[Psychodisney]

Can you tell me what YMMV is? Thanks

 

[calypso726]

Can you tell me what YMMV is? Thanks

Internet shorthand for "Your Mileage May Vary"