I love credit cards so much! v3.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[Judique]

I’m really intrigued by this new Marriott deal, but I’ve never dealt with FN certs before so I’m not sure how easy they are to use. How quickly after meeting MSR do you think you’d be able to use them? If a room is available can you just use the cert or is it a certain number of rooms allocated as points rooms? And if so do they go quickly? Are resort fees charged when using the FN certs?

The free night certificates can be very easy to use or extremely annoying to use.

A 50K point cert can be used at any hotel which has a category 6 or below rating. Unless the hotel is using their ability to charge more points in high demand times, making the cat 6 category cert unusable for that period. For instance, a cat 6 hotel charges 55k points - you can't use the free night. You can't combine the cert with points to get to 55 - you are locked out. To be fair, sometimes they drop the requirement to 45k points - now you don't really want to use the cert - you want to use actual points which can be far more useful.

You can use the FNC as soon as it gets deposited into your Marriott account. Chase is pretty good about depositing quickly. Amex makes you wait.

Resort fees are going to vary by the individual hotel.

5 free night certs sounds wonderful. Up to a 250k point value.

250k points are by far more valuable than 5 x 50K certs, although you could possibly get quite a good value in some cases.

Personally, I'm not at all attracted to this offer. Although I've been able to use all my certs - I get 5 per year over 5 accounts, I could do a whole lot more with a point allotment annually than a free night.

But, for a 1 time MSR and a $95 fee, it's probably well worth it. It just looks bigger than it really could be. Just don't count on being able to find 5 of the 50k rooms available at anytime. They are more likely to be 55k or even 60k when you most want them. Another thing - with Marriott you don't find the category matching the hotel class - you could find a Fairfield Inn at 50K or a Westin or Ritz at 35K.

 

[hsmamato2]

You can’t have both personal - AMEX and Chase or Both business. But you can have personal with one and business with the other. There is a waiting period for getting a bonus. The chart that was shared is helpful to understanding the combos and waiting periods.

Thank you!

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Automatic rejection on P2 CIU application (how rude). 2/24, no applications since March. Sole Prop. 1 Chase business account open (CIP).

Ugh how frustrating...what did you put for years in business and business income ?

 

[punkin]

DD is in the market for a new card. She's 0/24 at chase. I'm thinking the Sapphire for 80K points. What do you guys think?

 

[StephPlum]

Data points - I was eligible for my next Chase card and figured just go for a business app
CIU - instant approval (and that never happens to me).
$3000 CL
"business" - I signed in to my account and applied. So business on record - retail/hobby (don't quite remember what the categories were when I first filled it out). Revenue $1000 and in business 30 years (I am above the median age in this group!). High Credit score, AAOA and income which probably help.

Other still open cards - CIC and CIP

 

[StephPlum]

The free night certificates can be very easy to use or extremely annoying to use.

A 50K point cert can be used at any hotel which has a category 6 or below rating. Unless the hotel is using their ability to charge more points in high demand times, making the cat 6 category cert unusable for that period. For instance, a cat 6 hotel charges 55k points - you can't use the free night. You can't combine the cert with points to get to 55 - you are locked out. To be fair, sometimes they drop the requirement to 45k points - now you don't really want to use the cert - you want to use actual points which can be far more useful.

You can use the FNC as soon as it gets deposited into your Marriott account. Chase is pretty good about depositing quickly. Amex makes you wait.

Resort fees are going to vary by the individual hotel.

5 free night certs sounds wonderful. Up to a 250k point value.

250k points are by far more valuable than 5 x 50K certs, although you could possibly get quite a good value in some cases.

Personally, I'm not at all attracted to this offer. Although I've been able to use all my certs - I get 5 per year over 5 accounts, I could do a whole lot more with a point allotment annually than a free night.

But, for a 1 time MSR and a $95 fee, it's probably well worth it. It just looks bigger than it really could be. Just don't count on being able to find 5 of the 50k rooms available at anytime. They are more likely to be 55k or even 60k when you most want them. Another thing - with Marriott you don't find the category matching the hotel class - you could find a Fairfield Inn at 50K or a Westin or Ritz at 35K.

Good points. I don't have any 50K FNC. Based on my traveling right now, I stay at lower properties and would hate using a 50K cert on a lower property. Now if they just would give out 250K points instead! Way more valuable.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Data points - I was eligible for my next Chase card and figured just go for a business app
CIU - instant approval (and that never happens to me).
$3000 CL
"business" - I signed in to my account and applied. So business on record - retail/hobby (don't quite remember what the categories were when I first filled it out). Revenue $1000 and in business 30 years (I am above the median age in this group!). High Credit score, AAOA and income which probably help.

Other still open cards - CIC and CIP

Congrats

 

[CyndiLouWho]

The free night certificates can be very easy to use or extremely annoying to use.

A 50K point cert can be used at any hotel which has a category 6 or below rating. Unless the hotel is using their ability to charge more points in high demand times, making the cat 6 category cert unusable for that period. For instance, a cat 6 hotel charges 55k points - you can't use the free night. You can't combine the cert with points to get to 55 - you are locked out. To be fair, sometimes they drop the requirement to 45k points - now you don't really want to use the cert - you want to use actual points which can be far more useful.

You can use the FNC as soon as it gets deposited into your Marriott account. Chase is pretty good about depositing quickly. Amex makes you wait.

Resort fees are going to vary by the individual hotel.

5 free night certs sounds wonderful. Up to a 250k point value.

250k points are by far more valuable than 5 x 50K certs, although you could possibly get quite a good value in some cases.

Personally, I'm not at all attracted to this offer. Although I've been able to use all my certs - I get 5 per year over 5 accounts, I could do a whole lot more with a point allotment annually than a free night.

But, for a 1 time MSR and a $95 fee, it's probably well worth it. It just looks bigger than it really could be. Just don't count on being able to find 5 of the 50k rooms available at anytime. They are more likely to be 55k or even 60k when you most want them. Another thing - with Marriott you don't find the category matching the hotel class - you could find a Fairfield Inn at 50K or a Westin or Ritz at 35K.

DH is 1/24, never had any Marriott/SPGcards. 5 nights at Swolphin too tempting. App'd just now and instant approval with 14k credit line, which I think is surprisingly high.

 

[Alexle2007]

DH is 1/24, never had any Marriott/SPGcards. 5 nights at Swolphin too tempting. App'd just now and instant approval with 14k credit line, which I think is surprisingly high.

Congrats!

 

[disfanforlife]

I did the Happy Card offer and redeemed for Gamestop and converted to a Playstation online credit. I will be ready to grab some games if I can ever actually grab the PS5.

I would like to get playstation credit for my son. How does that work converting Gamestop?

 

[disfanforlife]

Does anyone know if the amex off for spend $100 get $10 back on Amazon works with gift cards?

 

[havaneselover]

Does anyone know if the amex off for spend $100 get $10 back on Amazon works with gift cards?

Yes.

 

[georgina]

DH is 1/24, never had any Marriott/SPGcards. 5 nights at Swolphin too tempting. App'd just now and instant approval with 14k credit line, which I think is surprisingly high.

DH was given a high CL too, which I will lower once I hit MSR. First estimate for fixing the basement foundation came in at $4500, plus 3% to use a credit card, so that may be soon!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

DH was given a high CL too, which I will lower once I hit MSR. First estimate for fixing the basement foundation came in at $4500, plus 3% to use a credit card, so that may be soon!

I usually reduce after meeting MSR. In the past some have been far higher than this one but given the current climate I was expecting less.

 

[disfanforlife]

Yes.

Great, thank you!

 

[Judique]

This doesn't happen often, but my Amex offers have me all twisted about. Mostly the extra points ones, but also the spend $250 get $75 back and the spend $1000 get $100 back.

So, I've added the 'get 7 extra points at eligible restaurants' offer. We order out and tonight we ordered from Texas de Brazil - daughter is a meat eater and wanted Picanha.

Immediately get a 'you've used your offer' which went through Doordash, but we are doing pickup because we are out of range.

Last night, we ordered chicken nuggets from McDonalds. Same thing - you've used your offer and it went through Door dash, but this was actually delivered.

Couple of weeks ago, same card - the Amex Brilliant - we get food for the Grands at McD's and I get a credit for the whole amount - I believe that was using my $300 credit and there was some promo where you could use it for restaurants. But, two days earlier in September - no credit for exact same order.

So anyway, the spend $1k get $100 was added in August, I believe. Will all of these amounts credit towards that $1k spend? Will it allow a double dip? Or will I have to satisfy each offer separately and actually call Amex to get a handle on this because I've simply lost my mind on this round. I do have 3 separate deadlines 10/31 for the extra 7 points at restaurants, 11/31 for the 1K/$100 and 12/31 for the $250/$75.

 

[WendiDarling]

Congrats! CSR tomorrow?

What does this mean? Is that something I can do? And what is the benefit?

 

[Judique]

I usually reduce after meeting MSR. In the past some have been far higher than this one but given the current climate I was expecting less.

I've never actually reduced a CL - probably should as I have some $25K's sitting on cards I hold just for points or free nights. The only issuer that has bucked was Navy Fed which made me transfer 10K of credit from an existing card before they would give me the Flagship a year and 1/2 ago or so.

Meanwhile I haven't yet applied for CSP. Still only seeing the 60K on referrals.

 

[Judique]

I stay at lower properties and would hate using a 50K cert on a lower property.

Yes, my problem exactly! Even when the room is closer to $200 and somewhat worth it, I'd feel better if it cost $300. Even with a $200 room that is a 35K night - it's a win but not really a huge deal and I think of what could be. It's all in my head and I should just use the night and stay where it works so long as I'm not using it under what I paid in annual fee.

 

[djmeredith]

After getting the "we need more time" message yesterday when I applied for the Chase Marriott card, I got a denial notice today. Decided to call and ask for recon and was approved! The CFF I got a few weeks ago was approved for $14K but I immediately reduced the limit to 5 so I was hoping they would be willing to give me at least a 5K limit on the Marriott and they did! That is the 2nd card they have approved in 3 weeks (although the recent new card was listed as part of the denial reasons). No plans for any new cards for a while now.