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

[kmc8826]

So I am trying to figure out how to make the Amex Plat work better for us. Ever since AA stopped working for GC credits, I am kind of at a loss of what to do. We don't fly SW (too far, and TBH quite expensive - $500 for a flight that was $200 on other airlines) or Delta (also really expensive and always with a stop).

However, I was reading up on using my travel credit (and potentially DH's once he gets his) on Delta GC.

Now, I will fully admit that I am not an avid reader on this thread or other travel hacking sites, but I saw this in the FAQ's:

HOW DO I REDEEM A DELTA GIFT CARD?

• Gift Cards may be redeemed for any Delta-marketed flight worldwide by visiting delta.com or by calling 1-800-221-1212.
• Gift Cards may only be redeemed for the cost of air transportation, including taxes, fees, and surcharges imposed on the air transportation. They may not be used for any additional fees (including baggage fees) or for any other products or services (including upgrades, in-flight purchases, premium seating, mileage booster, SkyMiles Cruises, cargo, hotel stays, or car rentals).
• Gift Cards may now be used toward Delta Vacations® packages

So I searched my dates for WDW and sure enough, a few Disney hotels came up. So can I really book a Delta vacation (air and hotel) and use my Delta GC's from my Amex Plat???

Good find! I think at some point I read a blog post on using skymiles for Disney hotels but didn’t really research.

Delta and the $50 gift cards is rough. Earlier this month I ended up booking DH a last minute flight and wanted to use 6 $50 gift cards. They told me repeatedly it could not be done even though I kept saying it said you could on the site. Supervisor said it would be an “IT miracle” to get it to work. We eventually figured out a way (pretty much because I insisted). So gift cards for packages may work but be prepared to go to battle on it.

Thank you. Guess I haven't paid much attention to the Blue in quite awhile.

I had your original quote but am only catching up to the board tonight. Unless it has changed I don’t think you can get a bonus on the Blue if you are holding other Delta cards. It is a decent one to product change too. And you should get the referral bonus.

 

[kmc8826]

Last two months I haven’t even used my credit for the Amex rose gold. It is just a pain. Am I going to have to go to the shun corner?!?

 

[Lain]

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Gold biz!

I think you have to already hold a Delta card to generate a support link for the increased offer. Do you have any Delta cards currently (or spouse?)

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

This comment on r/churning:

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/burt4x/_/epjy5rf

I mean...at least try to read and understand how this all works before you go applying for a biz card. They’ll probably get approved but wow, everything they said there is wrong LOL!

EDIT: just to be clear, this isn’t saying anything changed. This person just didn’t do their research before applying and wrongly assumed that their real business would be subject to less scrutiny than a sole prop which simply is wrong. (And then their comment about the inquiry which was dumb too).

 

[mmmears]

I've been looking for a use for all those AA tickets since I really don't want to fly with them anymore. From what I can tell, you can't use them for AAVacations but CAN use them for flights originating from the US on One World partner airlines like BA and Qantas... Up to 8 GC at a time. I may actually find a way to use these.

 

[mmmears]

This comment on r/churning:

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/burt4x/_/epjy5rf

I mean...at least try to read and understand how this all works before you go applying for a biz card. They’ll probably get approved but wow, everything they said there is wrong LOL!

That CSP is looking better all the time.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

That CSP is looking better all the time.

What do you mean?? This wasn’t to discourage anybody. This person was just dumb because they applied with a real business (I’d assume an S-Corp) and were asked for entity documents which would be common practice and they were complaining about it. (And on top of that they complained about getting an inquiry which is also the norm). “Weirdness all around” was actually “Exactly what a smart churner would expect”

 

[bernina]

Be careful, you don't want to get beaucouped!

This is all I can think of when I hear beaucoup (although spelled differently)

 

[mmmears]

What do you mean?? This wasn’t to discourage anybody. This person was just dumb because they applied with a real business (I’d assume an S-Corp) and were asked for entity documents which would be common practice and they were complaining about it. (And on top of that they complained about getting an inquiry which is also the norm). “Weirdness all around” was actually “Exactly what a smart churner would expect”

Oh! Ok. I thought it was a sign that Chase, like Barclay, is starting to ask for proof of a business. If they aren't then that's good. My little start up doesn't have much in the way of paperwork.

 

[Lain]

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I agree with @SouthFayetteFan as to a CIP card for you. DH looks to be over 5/24, so wouldn’t be eligible. It’s just a glaring omission in your lineup.

You’re considering the United Explorer biz card vs. the CIP. I made a similar choice back in March when the United biz was at an all time high offer of 75k UA miles for $5k MSR in 3 months. I went for CIP2 instead. That Unites biz offer has since dropped down to only 50k UA miles for $3k MSR in 3 months. By comparison, the CIP offers a 80k SUB for a $5k MSR. 80k UR > 75k UA > 50k UA, even if you consider the CIP has a $95 AF not waived, and the United biz waives its AF in the first year. With United’s change to dynamic pricing, 50k UA miles seems like a really poor choice when you can earn 80k URs instead. Since UR transfers to UA 1:1, if you do decide to redeem your points with United, you can transfer the 80k URs you earned from the SUB and another 5k URs from meeting the MSR into 85k UA miles, which I think is a better deal than going for the current 50k UA miles offer on the United biz.

Add to this that right now the overflowing CIPpy cup is just too good to pass up. That United biz will be available to us in the future but you can’t get CIP2 until you get CIP1 People gotta take advantage of CIPpy while it lasts!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Oh! Ok. I thought it was a sign that Chase, like Barclay, is starting to ask for proof of a business. If they aren't then that's good. My little start up doesn't have much in the way of paperwork.

Sorry that wasn’t clear! Yeah, this person wrongly assumed that having a real business would make it easier to get this card. Ummm no, actually having a real business subjects you to a bunch of regulations around know your customer and such that means you have to prove your biz exists and you are the owner.

Here was my response to that person:

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/burt4x/_/epkivhk

 

[Lain]

 

[wanderlust7]

DH CIP annual fee will post next week. He has about 50K points still on it. Do we keep it or is it better to downgrade to a different card. We do have some hotel stays pending in July and October. Will that affect anything?

I would have your DH generate a support link from his CIP and apply for CIP #2. I think you can get the annual fee refunded within 30 days after it's charged. So the support bonus should post by then. Move all the URs out to the new CIP. Then you can cancel the card or product change to the CIU or CIC if you have a use for them.

I don't think there's any issue with the booked stays. They are just paid for reservations.

Alternatively, if your Ulta card didn't count towards 5/24, then you can apply for the CIP using your DH's support link. In general, cross support is safer than self support. Though I don't think we've heard of anyone having problems with it.

I don't know much about store cards other than what I've read here - which is that if it can only be used at the specific store then it probably doesn't count toward 5/24.

* (I am trying hard to use the word support instead of the R word.)

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Wow, I thought for a moment that it was a negative DP that might signal the end of the almighty CIPpy cup, but it was just stupid human error! Uh, if you’re going to apply with a fictitious business name, Chase is going to verify it. And yes, inquiries hit personal reports; biz card accounts don’t.

Yeah I did a quick edit to make my point clearer. Sorry lol! People think this is just a game - business fraud is a real thing. You can’t just claim you own a business with a name without proving it!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Go Raptors. That is all...

 

[amalone1013]

My car title came yesterday. I didnt think about it but it came in my maiden name. I sent a pic to DH and he said, Congrats about having to change your name on another document!

 

[afan]

Go Raptors. That is all...

We the north! I will add for my canadian friends even if I don't really understand the meaning/purpose behind the phrase though I'm guessing national pride. I'd rather they win anyway, canada hasn't had a champion in anything outside of the olympics in awhile.

 

[smmco]

Well, some good news on the Amex front. I posted in previous threads that I kept getting popup denials for the Hilton Aspire and Gold card. I just opened a Delta Sky miles 2 months ago and was approved with the 60k miles. I had tried the pre-approved cards on the Delta account to no avail. I have two Amex cards I opened 15 years ago a Hilton card{ not the Surpass} and the Blue Cash Card. I said on a previous post I wouldn't resurrect these cards, but that's exactly what I did. I could remember my login, but not the password. Luckily I still had one of the cards in my little blue pouch full of expired and no longer in service cards. I was able to change my password and get into my cards.

I immediately got a pop up to upgrade the blue cash card to a preferred cash card. The offer was a 250 dollar credit after 1000 spend with 95 dollar AF.. Not a card I would apply for but the 6% cash back on groceries is pretty darn good. I have two teenage boys. So I upgraded and was approved.
I then looked at the upgrade offers for the Hilton. The Aspire and ascend were offered, but no bonus was offered. The Gold card was on there with 50k bonus.
I decided to apply fully expecting to see the same pop up I got yesterday when trying to apply through the Delta login. Lo and behold I was approved. I'm feeling a little nostalgic this was the first credit card I had when my parents put me on their account.

I'm now the proud owner of 350.00 dollars of annual fees due in July. I know the Gold card is a charge card, but does it count towards the 5/24 rule?

I used to put a decent amount of spend on Amex back when they had a contract with Costco. I spend about 7k a year at Costco. I guess I'll retire my Capital one for a while and concentrate half my spend on Amex and half on the Chase preferred. Maybe I can get back in the good graces of Amex. I'd still like the Aspire card with the bonus. At some point I plan on canceling or downgrading my Delta card. Is there a Delta card with no annual fee I can downgrade too? I only have to spend 3k between two cards in 3 months which should be pretty easy with just normal spending. I'm going to WDW in two weeks which should also help with the spend.........if my cards are here by then.