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

[Chancery8]

Marriott has announced the yearly award night category changes - https://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2019/02/08/marriott-category-changes-2019/

Of note so far:
Peak and Off Peak are not yet implemented. Still unknown when that will happen.
Changes are effective March 5, 2019
Category 8 pricing begins March 5 as well.
A handful of additional hotels are being added to the Cat 8 tier, there's a list singled out towards the end of the article.
A good amount of Cat 5 (35k) hotels are jumping up to Cat 6, as well as a couple dozen moving from Cat 6 (50k) to Cat 7. (exact numbers were posted here https://old.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/aoj2aa/marriott_2019_award_category_changes/)

Just a spot check, seeing

NYC
Residence Inn Central Park and Times Sq going up from Cat 5 (35k standard) to Cat 6 (50k standard)

Anaheim/Disneyland Resort
Residence Inn Anaheim going up from Cat 5 to 6.
Four Points Anaheim going up from Cat 3 to 4.
And increases for other farther hotels

Hawaii
Sheraton Waikiki going up from Cat 6 to 7 (60k standard).
Sheraton Princess Kaiulani going up from Cat 5 to 6.
Marriott Waikiki going up from Cat 5 to 6.
Residence Inn Maui Wailea going up from Cat 5 to 6.

No bueno.

So how do these changes impact people's thoughts on applying for a Marriott card for the 35k FN cert? Still worth it for someone new to Marriott? Starting to think maybe P2 should go for Barclay A+ instead.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

The sad part is this could have been me. I hated Alexa so much I made DH get rid of it. Wearing the shiny hat now-- I just don't trust it.

That was the most hilarious thing I’ve seen all day. Thanks for the laugh.

That is hilarious. Also my DH. He keeps unplugging her and I keep plugging her back in.

We have one (it was a gift) and it's like having a 3rd person messing with our heat/AC. DH and I set it and are happy with it, then one day the Next decides it has learned what we like and knows better than us. We're freezing and the AC turns on. We're comfy and the heat goes on. It's been years since we got this thing and we still aren't so sure about it.



Thanks for the laugh!

Glad you guys enjoyed. "I don't know about that" is now part of our family lexicon We also love to tease my 75-year-old mom about the heat, "It's 100 degrees." ROFL!!! But for the record, I'm not sure I trust those things either. All the hacking/spy stories make me nervous.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

More questions. I have been out of the game for a bit and want to make sure I don't screw up. We are going to be purchasing almost $5k in flooring and I want to get a new card that would give us 0% interest for at least a year, preferably longer. And if it gave a sign up bonus, that would be even better.

I was thinking about getting DH the Chase Ink Unlimited, but then I am not sure if he would qualify for the bonus because he got a the Chase Ink Cash less than a year ago. Here is his history over the past 24 months:

Chase Freedom Unlimited AU - 05/2017
Chase Sapphire Preferred - 09/01/2017, downgraded to Chase Freedom 9/18
Chase Ink Cash - 03/2018
Chase IHG - 03/2018
Bank of America BankAmericard - 01/2019

I know you can only get one sapphire bonus every 24 months, but what about Ink? And if he can't get another Ink bonus, any suggestions on another card, preferably a business card, that would give 0%?

Your fine applying for the Chase Ink Unlimited and getting the 50k UR bonus..it’s a separate card from the Chase Ink Cash....

 

[wendow]

He needs the app. I can see who is messing with the temp while I'm at work and then change it back to run program.

Thankfully, our thermostat is not 'smart' like that

 

[Chancery8]

More questions. I have been out of the game for a bit and want to make sure I don't screw up. We are going to be purchasing almost $5k in flooring and I want to get a new card that would give us 0% interest for at least a year, preferably longer. And if it gave a sign up bonus, that would be even better.

I was thinking about getting DH the Chase Ink Unlimited, but then I am not sure if he would qualify for the bonus because he got a the Chase Ink Cash less than a year ago. Here is his history over the past 24 months:

Chase Freedom Unlimited AU - 05/2017
Chase Sapphire Preferred - 09/01/2017, downgraded to Chase Freedom 9/18
Chase Ink Cash - 03/2018
Chase IHG - 03/2018
Bank of America BankAmericard - 01/2019

I know you can only get one sapphire bonus every 24 months, but what about Ink? And if he can't get another Ink bonus, any suggestions on another card, preferably a business card, that would give 0%?

All the Chase Inks are considered different cards (not like sapphire family), so it's fine. But note, the sapphire family bonuses are now 1 in every 48 months.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

All the Chase Inks are considered different cards (not like sapphire family), so it's fine. But note, the sapphire family bonuses are now 1 in every 48 months.

Wow. I guess that isn't a huge deal since I plan to keep my CSR for as long as we are using UR points. It has been the most amazing card. I guess that means DH can't get a Sapphire bonus again until October 2021!

 

[GZanta77]

So how do these changes impact people's thoughts on applying for a Marriott card for the 35k FN cert? Still worth it for someone new to Marriott? Starting to think maybe P2 should go for Barclay A+ instead.

It'll be different for everybody, but I was previously in the camp of keeping my Marriott Premier and SPG Biz - now I will have to reevaluate.

 

[3 DD love princesses]

Yes, my mom bought me a 'winter robe' once and I can't wear it for more than 2 mins. I feel like it's strangling me or something lol. I have a short 'summer robe' that is thin and zips up and that works all year for me, but I'm really just not that into robes, unless we have company. Heat is 62 at night and a/c is, iirc, 73 at night. Same, summer was SOOOO long ago and can't come soon enough!

Marriott has announced the yearly award night category changes - https://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2019/02/08/marriott-category-changes-2019/

Of note so far:
Peak and Off Peak are not yet implemented. Still unknown when that will happen.
Changes are effective March 5, 2019
Category 8 pricing begins March 5 as well.
A handful of additional hotels are being added to the Cat 8 tier, there's a list singled out towards the end of the article.
A good amount of Cat 5 (35k) hotels are jumping up to Cat 6, as well as a couple dozen moving from Cat 6 (50k) to Cat 7. (exact numbers were posted here https://old.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/aoj2aa/marriott_2019_award_category_changes/)

Just a spot check, seeing

NYC
Residence Inn Central Park and Times Sq going up from Cat 5 (35k standard) to Cat 6 (50k standard)

Anaheim/Disneyland Resort
Residence Inn Anaheim going up from Cat 5 to 6.
Four Points Anaheim going up from Cat 3 to 4.
And increases for other farther hotels

Hawaii
Sheraton Waikiki going up from Cat 6 to 7 (60k standard).
Sheraton Princess Kaiulani going up from Cat 5 to 6.
Marriott Waikiki going up from Cat 5 to 6.
Residence Inn Maui Wailea going up from Cat 5 to 6.

No bueno.

cant like these as this isnt good news
uggg Just when Im starting to get a stash they up the amount

 

[miztressuz]

So how do these changes impact people's thoughts on applying for a Marriott card for the 35k FN cert? Still worth it for someone new to Marriott? Starting to think maybe P2 should go for Barclay A+ instead.

There's still many hotels that are available with the 35k night cert, it just all depends on what you thought you might use it for. For us it works and I'm keeping at least one card at the 35k level. This year I'm going to try it near Hershey Park, I'm hoping the peak pricing holds off for a bit so I can use my cert at the SpringHill in July rather than the $250+ I just saw the other week. We have family in the area so we get screwed if we have to visit during the summer and can't make it a day trip. We normally end up a little ways out because I'm also not paying those kind of points for the same room I get around $100-125 other times of the year. We tend not to hit all the splashy cities and are happy to just get a night discounted somewhere near where we planned to travel.

I'd still look at where you think you might one day, in the near future, want to use it for and see what your options are like there. As it was pointed out somewhere, they do have 6700 hotels and only 300 some are being changed right now. They made the big changes already in the last few years so hopefully the corrections stay minor for the near future.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Am I correct in thinking that even if a 1099 is not received one still needs to add whatever referral bonuses were received?
I did not receive a 1099 from PNC for a bank bonus, but did get one for $200, which I added to my return.

I would 100% put a cash bank bonus on your tax return no matter what, regardless of whether you get a 1099 or not.

I agree with @striker1064 on interest income/bank bonuses. They are easy to quantify, and I wouldn't leave them off.

As to whether you should add whatever REFERRAL bonuses were received...(this is what I would do - not specifically saying you should too)...I would not be readily paying taxes on those babies. They have never been taxed in prior years, card issuers have never issued 1099s for them until this year, and if you didn't get a 1099 I'd just move on.

Marriott has announced the yearly award night category changes - https://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2019/02/08/marriott-category-changes-2019/

Of note so far:
Peak and Off Peak are not yet implemented. Still unknown when that will happen.
Changes are effective March 5, 2019
Category 8 pricing begins March 5 as well.
A handful of additional hotels are being added to the Cat 8 tier, there's a list singled out towards the end of the article.
A good amount of Cat 5 (35k) hotels are jumping up to Cat 6, as well as a couple dozen moving from Cat 6 (50k) to Cat 7. (exact numbers were posted here https://old.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/aoj2aa/marriott_2019_award_category_changes/)

Added to the DISchurners news thread Thanks!

 

[miztressuz]

On my search for "New York" in the Marriott list

NYC from Cat 5 to Cat 6

Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Central Park
Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Times Square
Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel
Courtyard New York Manhattan/Central Park
Courtyard New York Manhattan/Times Square
Courtyard New York Manhattan/SoHo​

A few others are moving from Cat 4 to Cat 5 but not necessarily in that same area, I think those were down by the WTC/financial district.

Search for "Orlando" brought up a few but all went from Cat 3 to Cat 4 except for that Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld I mentioned earlier, which is Cat 4 to Cat 5.

Puerto Rico mostly showed downgrades except for the La Concha Renaissance and the Marriott Resort & Casino, both moved from Cat 5 to Cat 6.

 

[speedyfishy]

More questions. I have been out of the game for a bit and want to make sure I don't screw up. We are going to be purchasing almost $5k in flooring and I want to get a new card that would give us 0% interest for at least a year, preferably longer. And if it gave a sign up bonus, that would be even better.

I was thinking about getting DH the Chase Ink Unlimited, but then I am not sure if he would qualify for the bonus because he got a the Chase Ink Cash less than a year ago. Here is his history over the past 24 months:

Chase Freedom Unlimited AU - 05/2017
Chase Sapphire Preferred - 09/01/2017, downgraded to Chase Freedom 9/18
Chase Ink Cash - 03/2018
Chase IHG - 03/2018
Bank of America BankAmericard - 01/2019

I know you can only get one sapphire bonus every 24 months, but what about Ink? And if he can't get another Ink bonus, any suggestions on another card, preferably a business card, that would give 0%?

You can get him the Ink Unlimited. Amex Blue Business I believe is also 0% for 15 months.

 

[Lain]

cant like these as this isnt good news
uggg Just when Im starting to get a stash they up the amount

If you have your dates and destination set, it's probably a good idea to book your Marriott hotel now with the points advance option (if you don't yet have the points) to lock in the points pricing, especially if your hotel is going up an awards category and with the implementation of peak pricing coming.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

More questions. I have been out of the game for a bit and want to make sure I don't screw up. We are going to be purchasing almost $5k in flooring and I want to get a new card that would give us 0% interest for at least a year, preferably longer. And if it gave a sign up bonus, that would be even better.

I was thinking about getting DH the Chase Ink Unlimited, but then I am not sure if he would qualify for the bonus because he got a the Chase Ink Cash less than a year ago. Here is his history over the past 24 months:

Chase Freedom Unlimited AU - 05/2017
Chase Sapphire Preferred - 09/01/2017, downgraded to Chase Freedom 9/18
Chase Ink Cash - 03/2018
Chase IHG - 03/2018
Bank of America BankAmericard - 01/2019

I know you can only get one sapphire bonus every 24 months, but what about Ink? And if he can't get another Ink bonus, any suggestions on another card, preferably a business card, that would give 0%?

I know others have already clarified on: 1) CIC and CIU are separate cards, so no issues; 2) Sapphire now has a 48 month rule...

Here's my question...I don't see a Chase Ink Preferred card on his list. I understand the interest in the 0% interest for the first 12 months and why a CIU card interests you now (and that seems like your best bet now). Do you also have a CIP card on your plan for him at some point soon? It seems like a natural next step also (especially if you have one and can refer him).

 

[miztressuz]

So @Lain, since we were both greeted with the popup on the SPG card, what are your thoughts for picking it up anyway for the referral points and the ongoing FN only? I'm torn a bit as it is definitely my shot to keep a $95 FNC since they're increasing the SPG Biz AF so that's no longer a keeper. But on the other hand I was mostly interested in the bonus to replenish the points we're spending this year and it's kinda hard to reward AmEx's... rude?... behavior with the popup by still getting their product without an incentive. (hard to come up with a Disney word at the moment for how I really feel about them. swinging back to "hate" hard in this love/hate relationship )

So I go back and forth on should I do it or not if I get the popup again. I mean, my profile with AmEx is an average joe profile really. I can't believe they really want to alienate the masses to discourage a select group's behavior. Being a long time customer with only 2 open products I'd be very confused if I got the pop up not knowing all I know now. I've put spend on the SPG Biz in the last week just in case but I highly suspect this is not strictly a spend problem with this algorithm. I think they're seeing I haven't had the SPG Biz card for a year yet and are limiting how much can be shelled out in one program at one time. My limited spend probably isn't helping me either but I'm not sure what I'll do when I apply again if I see the pop up.

 

[striker1064]

Marriott has announced the yearly award night category changes - https://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2019/02/08/marriott-category-changes-2019/

Of note so far:
Peak and Off Peak are not yet implemented. Still unknown when that will happen.
Changes are effective March 5, 2019
Category 8 pricing begins March 5 as well.
A handful of additional hotels are being added to the Cat 8 tier, there's a list singled out towards the end of the article.
A good amount of Cat 5 (35k) hotels are jumping up to Cat 6, as well as a couple dozen moving from Cat 6 (50k) to Cat 7. (exact numbers were posted here https://old.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/aoj2aa/marriott_2019_award_category_changes/)

Just a spot check, seeing

NYC
Residence Inn Central Park and Times Sq going up from Cat 5 (35k standard) to Cat 6 (50k standard)

Anaheim/Disneyland Resort
Residence Inn Anaheim going up from Cat 5 to 6.
Four Points Anaheim going up from Cat 3 to 4.
And increases for other farther hotels

Hawaii
Sheraton Waikiki going up from Cat 6 to 7 (60k standard).
Sheraton Princess Kaiulani going up from Cat 5 to 6.
Marriott Waikiki going up from Cat 5 to 6.
Residence Inn Maui Wailea going up from Cat 5 to 6.

No bueno.

On my search for "New York" in the Marriott list

NYC from Cat 5 to Cat 6

Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Central Park
Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Times Square
Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel
Courtyard New York Manhattan/Central Park
Courtyard New York Manhattan/Times Square
Courtyard New York Manhattan/SoHo​

A few others are moving from Cat 4 to Cat 5 but not necessarily in that same area, I think those were down by the WTC/financial district.

Search for "Orlando" brought up a few but all went from Cat 3 to Cat 4 except for that Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld I mentioned earlier, which is Cat 4 to Cat 5.

Puerto Rico mostly showed downgrades except for the La Concha Renaissance and the Marriott Resort & Casino, both moved from Cat 5 to Cat 6.

Shocker of shockers, Marriott is changing 71 Cat 5 to Cat 6. Go figure. DW and I had been talking about whether to keep the Premier Plus with the $95 AF posting since there was no retention offer. This makes it a lot easier. For NYC, the only remaining Cat 5 in a good central-ish location that I can see is the Marriott Midtown East. I love that area but many other tourist trip reports I've read aren't keen on it because it's much quieter.

 

[Haley R]

I have a tiny scar from my grandmother's dog, too! Depending on the version (I was sharing a carrot and forgot her turn OR I was teasing her)...it was probably deserved. Grumpy little dog never got less grumpy and dumb kids (not saying anyone other than I deserved the bite though) don't get smarter-my cousin who's 10 years younger than I am has an exact replica of my scar on her face.

That said, I love dogs (have 4) and have been active in rescue for a while. I don't like cats-I'm sure if I had had a farm and they could work that would be fine, but I want anything that potties inside to use the toilet (and not be a cat).



The sad part is this could have been me. I hated Alexa so much I made DH get rid of it. Wearing the shiny hat now-- I just don't trust it.

We hated our Alexa. Dh got it at a work Christmas party and we sold it the next day.

 

[punkin]

Honestly wondering if the Marriott credit card is worth the annual fee anymore.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

A Strategy Re-emerges...
With the return of CF support clicks the "2 Player" Freedom Double Dip (and potential quad-dip) strategy has returned!

This is a strategy that some folks (especially slow churners who liked small MSRs) embraced awhile back to pad the URs - It never really went away for CFU cards but it was truthfully more popular with CF cards for some reason so when those links went away it wasn't discussed much anymore.

I'll detail in bullet points:

• P1 - sign up for CF (using DISchurner link if nothing better available)
• P1 - Meet $500 MSR preferably on 5x category for that quarter
• P1 - earn 17,500 URs
• P1 - refer P2 to CF - earn 5,000 URs (unfortunately this strategy isn't quite as lucrative since the RAF bonus is only 5k vs 10k before)
• P2 - Meet $500 MSR preferably on 5x category for that quarter
• P2 - earn 17,500 URs
• COMBINED 40,000 URs from 2 cards (and now you have 2 CFs to use on future quarterly deals)
• (this next part is the potential quad-dip)
• P1 - PC CF card to CFU (yup - the card you just got a few months prior)
• P1 - refer P2 to CFU - earn 10,000 URs
• P2 - Meet $500 MSR
• P2 - Earn 15,750 URs
• P1 - PC CFU card back to CF (yup that same card you PCed before, lol)
• P2 - refer P1 to CFU - earn 10,000 URs
• P1 - Meet $500 MSR
• P1 - Earn 15,750 URs
• TOTAL COMBINED 91,500 URs from 4 cards (just $2,000 MSR so a min. 45%+ return)

There are numerous variances on this strategy and if you happen to have a CF or CFU to start with (perhaps downgraded from a CSP or CSR) that can help too. I plan to do some form of this with me and my wife. It does end up using 5/24 slots BUT there aren't a TON of Chase personal cards I want (it seems CIP, CIC, CIU are the big hitters now) so I'm willing to devote at least 1 slot each to some form of this strategy and possibly do the whole quad-dip if it works out right!

 

[Lain]

So @Lain, since we were both greeted with the popup on the SPG card, what are your thoughts for picking it up anyway for the referral points and the ongoing FN only? I'm torn a bit as it is definitely my shot to keep a $95 FNC since they're increasing the SPG Biz AF so that's no longer a keeper. But on the other hand I was mostly interested in the bonus to replenish the points we're spending this year and it's kinda hard to reward AmEx's... rude?... behavior with the popup by still getting their product without an incentive. (hard to come up with a Disney word at the moment for how I really feel about them. swinging back to "hate" hard in this love/hate relationship )

So I go back and forth on should I do it or not if I get the popup again. I mean, my profile with AmEx is an average joe profile really. I can't believe they really want to alienate the masses to discourage a select group's behavior. Being a long time customer with only 2 open products I'd be very confused if I got the pop up not knowing all I know now. I've put spend on the SPG Biz in the last week just in case but I highly suspect this is not strictly a spend problem with this algorithm. I think they're seeing I haven't had the SPG Biz card for a year yet and are limiting how much can be shelled out in one program at one time. My limited spend probably isn't helping me either but I'm not sure what I'll do when I apply again if I see the pop up.

Honestly, for the first time in a long time, I don't know what to do with Amex.

I hit the MSR on my BGR with a charge on 1/31, which was pending and didn't post until 2/4. $200 of the MSR was a PayPal donation to my kiddo's PTO, so I put in extra spend to make up for it, in case that didn't count, before the MSR period ended yesterday. I'm still waiting for the SUB to post, but have a nagging feeling of dread that I might get a no-pop-up-denial. I've opened 8 Amex cards in the past 14 months, so maybe the BGR was tempting fate, but I've been putting thousands in spend across my cards every month, and my overall spend with Amex has actually increased in recent months because of traveling, some unexpected expenses, and the holidays. Most of my Amex SUBs have posted 2-3 days after hitting MSR, but I know there can be some delay for a week or two (like with @striker1064), and there seems to be a lot of reports of lag with the airline fee credits posting, so I don't know... I hate being in limbo, and I don't want to "call the bank" either.

Since DW's last pop up on the SPG Personal, I threw a $2.6k charge on her Hilton Biz last week on top of an earlier $500 purchase from Staples .com to take advantage of the Amex Offer and no-fee MCGC deal, and have used her SPG Biz to pump gas a few times and small charges here and there. (We're going to try hit $15k spend on the Hilton Biz regardless for the free weekend night.) I'll probably try applying once more next week before the SPG Personal goes away on 2/13. If I don't get the pop up, I'd still be nervous about a no-pop-up-denial. If I get the pop up, I don't know if another 35k FN cert a year from now (and possibly every year after) is enough to tempt me. I was also hoping for the 75k Marriott points to help replenish our stash after having made a big Hawaii redemption for later this year. Between my wife and I, we have 2x SPG Biz, 1x SPG Personal, 1x SPG Lux, 1x Marriott Biz, and 1x MPP. I'll keep our 2x SPG Biz another year because the AF increase won't hit us this year and I'll pocket the 2x 35k FNs (for Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood). I'm planning to keep my SPG Personal and SPG Lux too. My Marriott Biz FN has already posted, and I'm going to cancel it when the AF hits (to free up room for more Chase biz cards). I'm seriously considering upgrading my MPP to a Ritz-Carlton after my first year is up. That's 5x 35k FN certs, and 1x 50k FN cert this year. I don't think we need another 35k FN, especially if Marriott is going to move all the good redemptions where we'd actually visit and stay up to Cat. 6. In which case, it makes keeping my SPG Lux and upgrading the MPP to a Ritz-Carlton all the more compelling, since the 50k FNs look to be more useful for us.

I'm much more focused on more Chase biz cards in the coming months. My wife is 1/24, and I'll be under 5/24 again next month. Going to get the United Biz, because my wife could always use more miles and my account needs replenishing, then eyeing another CIP for each of us, and a CIU for me.