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

[Lain]

1.5x Chase travel portal redemptions? Is that really worth that much more than the 1.25x you can get with CIP, again for a $95 AF?

@calypso726 would say so.

I do think the 50% redemption bonus on the CSR vs. 25% redemption bonus on the CSP/CIP can make a huge difference in points saved, depending on how you use the UR portal. In our case, it's worth the effective $150 fee (or $55 premium over the CSP/CIP $95 AF). Is it worth it with a $100 increase to the AF? #Math

 

[DaveL]

No way! I loved reading through your dilemma. That’s the kind of thing I suffer through in silence because I don’t want people to think I’m crazy. Now I know I’m not alone. So thank you for that

HAH! So slept in this morning and went about my normal morning. While waiting for DD to wake up I check the offers again to kill time and happen to find a POP Preferred room for our exact dates, this is after DW and I were considering dropping our direct flight and arriving a day early to still stay at POP for DD... So ended up going from POP Preferred Pool to POP Preferred for $275 less than our original res and like $500 less than POFQ. Oh and a whole day of drama with something about POR, POFQ, and AKL but its all a blur.

 

[speedyfishy]

Tried to PC my CSP to a CSR this morning. The rep told me their systems won’t allow PCs until after the 12th. I really hope this isn’t due to an annual fee increase.

 

[jhoannam]

For those with the Amex Offer for Sam's online, has anyone received the credit for doing a $50 Disney e-card?

 

[jhoannam]

Tried to PC my CSP to a CSR this morning. The rep told me their systems won’t allow PCs until after the 12th. I really hope this isn’t due to an annual fee increase.

Oh no, why do I always wait until it's too late. I hope that's not the reason.

 

[smmco]

Dh and I have been planning on doing the London/Scotland trip next year, but I've really been feeling lately like I just want to go back to Japan instead. I loved it there so much and I know if I said it to Dh he would agree in a heartbeat. He practically begged me to go back last year even though we were just there in June. I feel like we should see someplace new, though. The expansion at TDR also doesn't open until 2022 so I'd like to see that, but by then we might be dealing with two kids. I just can't decide. We most likely wouldn't fly business with ANA because of the seat configuration and I would want the baby to have his own seat. We also would have to trek a lot further than if we were just going to Europe since we're on the East Coast. The nice thing about Japan is we've been there before and would know what to expect. We wouldn't really have to plan much because we already know we want to go back to Tokyo. I just can't decide.

London and Scotland are pretty easy to navigate. There's also no language barrier. Planning the trip might give you something to do when your home with the baby.

 

[alryan]

Don't think anyone posted this yet. Extra points for Hilton stays. Looks like it's good on award stays as well. Timing worked out for me. I have five nights next month. Not like 2k Hilton points are worth much, but I'll take it.

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/hilt...000-points-every-10-nights-1-6-2020-5-3-2020/

 

[platamama]

You can get that with CIP for a $95 AF. 1.5x Chase travel portal redemptions? Is that really worth that much more than the 1.25x you can get with CIP, again for a $95 AF?

At the current $450 AF, you would break even at 22,000 URs spent in travel, and anything over 22,000 you'd do better with the CSR.

If it goes to $550 AF, that break even would increase to 62,000 URs, assuming whatever Chase adds on as a benefit for the $100 increase is of no value to you.

Math: (CSF $AF - 300) - CIP $95AF. Take that and divide by 0.0025, which is the difference between the 1.5x - 1.25x.

 

[alryan]

I'm gonna be honest here guys - I'm seriously considering looking at these SW personal card offers. I'm 0/24... this could divert my attention from ::ahem:: other cards for 6 months while I see how that one plays out...

I agree, I'm excited about this and neither DH nor I am even eligible! I think it's a great option if anyone is nervous about continuing to drink from the cup. If you can cross support and get 85k out of it, it is almost as good. I hope it gets extended until my DH can apply in April. I may then consider getting him the CP with the rest of the spend using MS.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I agree, I'm excited about this and neither DH nor I am even eligible! I think it's a great option if anyone is nervous about continuing to drink from the cup. If you can cross refer and get 85k out of it, it is almost as good. I hope it gets extended until my DH can apply in April. I may then consider getting him the CP with the rest of the spend using MS.

Cross-support would actually get you 95k including the base points. When I factor in the value of the CP I think it even beats 2 sips for me.

 

[PolyRob]

Tried to PC my CSP to a CSR this morning. The rep told me their systems won’t allow PCs until after the 12th. I really hope this isn’t due to an annual fee increase.

NOOOOO! I really hope it doesn't change. It is so easy for me to justify at its current price. If the AF increases with some useless credit I will be annoyed AND if the AF increases with no useless credit I will be even more annoyed. Maybe Chase will take a page from Amex and lock-in the AF for those currently holding the card? One can hope

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Early reports are that Chase is refusing to match to the new SW personal card offer for those that recently applied. I’d still attempt it but set your expectations accordingly. If the offer becomes a public offer it might be worth trying again then also!

 

[miztressuz]

IMO they're crazy if they raise the AF by $100 solely for a (sort of) dining credit that expires after two years. I'm stuck with the CSR because I can make the credits work but if I could make full use of Amex Gold I would drop CSR in a second with a $550 AF. What would you be paying the extra $250 for, after the travel credit? 3x on restaurants? You can get 4x with the Gold. 3x on travel? You can get that with CIP for a $95 AF. 1.5x Chase travel portal redemptions? Is that really worth that much more than the 1.25x you can get with CIP, again for a $95 AF?

Which is why I don't think they'll be increasing for this benefit. They'll be adding something else just for the CSR when they want to increase the AF. Both the CSP and CSR get the same subscription and I can't see them adding $100 to the CSP AF too.

But when doing their analysis they won't compare it to the CIP because that's for business expenses/travel. Everyone that has a CSR won't jump ship for a CIP. Despite our numbers, churners are a minority and not the demo they're catering to. So it might make sense for us to use 2 $95 cards instead of a CSR to get a similar value, but it'd probably just be a blip in their numbers for CSR holders. When running their numbers I don't think the CIP would really come as a competitor.

I know you can generally find numbers to back almost any position, but, in the PR they said that the majority of Chase card holders who do delivery order in once in a month on average. It's an across the board trend over all their cards so since they want to keep their portfolios and take advantage, I'm kinda leaning that they'll do something similar to AmEx to get some more AF money. I'm not entirely sure they'll do it monthly for some kind of dining credit but I'm not sure it'll have the opportunity for a lump sum redemption ala the travel credit.

If they're smart they'll find a way to encourage continual spending without being as restrictive as AmEx (with $10 credits per month, use it or lose it.) Or at least a double dip opportunity. Maybe the monthly credit accrues so if you want to spend all $120-150 at once you can, but at the end of your cardmember year after it's accrued? Something like that. But that might make too much sense.

I'm hoping for travel credit type feature myself if they have to do it, without the accrual system. And given the geographic restrictions of things like Doordash, I hope they include a few more partners to use it if it's not going to be an open credit. Even then I'm not sure it'll be a keeper on it's own.

 

[reliev]

IMO they're crazy if they raise the AF by $100 solely for a (sort of) dining credit that expires after two years. I'm stuck with the CSR because I can make the credits work but if I could make full use of Amex Gold I would drop CSR in a second with a $550 AF. What would you be paying the extra $250 for, after the travel credit? 3x on restaurants? You can get 4x with the Gold. 3x on travel? You can get that with CIP for a $95 AF. 1.5x Chase travel portal redemptions? Is that really worth that much more than the 1.25x you can get with CIP, again for a $95 AF?

agreed AMEX isn't widely used though in most places I've tried outside of the US I would hope if they raised the annual fee the multiplier would move up with the times say 4-5x I know I haven't been using it anywhere except places I think AMEX will code as bars for 3x. vs 1x with the gold.

 

[hsmamato2]

Actually it did! Yay! That makes my membership free, $25 credit plus $20 GC. Now I have a free Sam’s membership to use for Q2 Discover bonus

did you use the previously posted link here?

 

[IFlossU]

For those with the Amex Offer for Sam's online, has anyone received the credit for doing a $50 Disney e-card?

I purchased the $50 Disney e-card. Amex credit posted within 4-5 days.

 

[calypso726]

IMO they're crazy if they raise the AF by $100 solely for a (sort of) dining credit that expires after two years. I'm stuck with the CSR because I can make the credits work but if I could make full use of Amex Gold I would drop CSR in a second with a $550 AF. What would you be paying the extra $250 for, after the travel credit? 3x on restaurants? You can get 4x with the Gold. 3x on travel? You can get that with CIP for a $95 AF. 1.5x Chase travel portal redemptions? Is that really worth that much more than the 1.25x you can get with CIP, again for a $95 AF?

@calypso726 would say so.

I do think the 50% redemption bonus on the CSR vs. 25% redemption bonus on the CSP/CIP can make a huge difference in points saved, depending on how you use the UR portal. In our case, it's worth the effective $150 fee (or $55 premium over the CSP/CIP $95 AF). Is it worth it with a $100 increase to the AF? #Math

Once again, I'd have to math the situation out.

Current Math: $450 AF on CSR minus $300 travel credit I am spending anyway = $150. Difference between $150 CSR - $95 CIP/CSP = $55.
Possible future math: $550 on CSR minus $300 travel credit I am spending anyway - $250. Difference between $250 CSR - $95 CIP/CSP = $155

I'd still keep it. We booked 4 nights at Ashford Castle with UR points for next year. All in the price of the hotel was $4,117. We "paid" 274,477 UR points through the CSR. If I had a CSP/CIP I would have had to pay 329,372 UR points. That's a difference of 54,895 points. That's a $548 statement credit, CSP/CIP value of $686 or CSR value of $823. For the way I redeem points via UR it is still more vaulable for me to keep the card even if they raise the fee for something I can't or won't use. PCing the card would cost me too much money lost in point redemption.

I get that not everyone goes through and redeems points the way we do. But even those doing once a year redemptions may want to look at their own math before jumping the gun one way or the other.

Let's say you are going to redeem a $500 RT flight for a party of 2. That's $1000. If you hold a CSP or CIP that should cost you 80,000 UR points. If you hold a CSR those flights would cost you 66,666 points. That is a difference of 13,334 points which is equivalent to $166 in the CSP/CIP UR portal. So holding the CIP/CSP over the CSR just cost you $166 in points. If someone is redeeming $1,000 or more via the UR portal each year, then they may be looking at a small loss, or in my case a huge loss by PCing the card if it goes up to $550.

 

[MKTokyo]

@calypso726 would say so.

I do think the 50% redemption bonus on the CSR vs. 25% redemption bonus on the CSP/CIP can make a huge difference in points saved, depending on how you use the UR portal. In our case, it's worth the effective $150 fee (or $55 premium over the CSP/CIP $95 AF). Is it worth it with a $100 increase to the AF? #Math

haha May I be so lucky as to reach her level one day But at the moment, I rarely use the portal. I mostly do point transfers & have only booked some activities and tickets through the portal. That extra 25% is worth $150 for us but probably not $250. We do spend enough in travel & dining to be able to absorb the $100 increase but of course that cuts into the earnings.

Tried to PC my CSP to a CSR this morning. The rep told me their systems won’t allow PCs until after the 12th. I really hope this isn’t due to an annual fee increase.

Blaaah! I just paid my AF so at least I have until next December but I'm going to assume it's increasing. Blah.

At the current $450 AF, you would break even at 22,000 URs spent in travel, and anything over 22,000 you'd do better with the CSR.

If it goes to $550 AF, that break even would increase to 62,000 URs, assuming whatever Chase adds on as a benefit for the $100 increase is of no value to you.

Math: (CSF $AF - 300) - CIP $95AF. Take that and divide by 0.0025, which is the difference between the 1.5x - 1.25x.

Last year we used just below 50K UR through the portal. I'm hoping DoorDash is not the only new benefit.

Which is why I don't think they'll be increasing for this benefit. They'll be adding something else just for the CSR when they want to increase the AF. Both the CSP and CSR get the same subscription and I can't see them adding $100 to the CSP AF too.

But when doing their analysis they won't compare it to the CIP because that's for business expenses/travel. Everyone that has a CSR won't jump ship for a CIP. Despite our numbers, churners are a minority and not the demo they're catering to. So it might make sense for us to use 2 $95 cards instead of a CSR to get a similar value, but it'd probably just be a blip in their numbers for CSR holders. When running their numbers I don't think the CIP would really come as a competitor.

I know you can generally find numbers to back almost any position, but, in the PR they said that the majority of Chase card holders who do delivery order in once in a month on average. It's an across the board trend over all their cards so since they want to keep their portfolios and take advantage, I'm kinda leaning that they'll do something similar to AmEx to get some more AF money. I'm not entirely sure they'll do it monthly for some kind of dining credit but I'm not sure it'll have the opportunity for a lump sum redemption ala the travel credit.

If they're smart they'll find a way to encourage continual spending without being as restrictive as AmEx (with $10 credits per month, use it or lose it.) Or at least a double dip opportunity. Maybe the monthly credit accrues so if you want to spend all $120-150 at once you can, but at the end of your cardmember year after it's accrued? Something like that. But that might make too much sense.

I'm hoping for travel credit type feature myself if they have to do it, without the accrual system. And given the geographic restrictions of things like Doordash, I hope they include a few more partners to use it if it's not going to be an open credit. Even then I'm not sure it'll be a keeper on it's own.

I think I read that the average HHI for holders of the CSR is around $150K so I'm sure it would cost Chase more or less nothing to hand another mediocre food or travel benefit to that audience courtesy of a company that would love to have them, and it might make a potential increase more palatable. Even with the restrictive dining credits, Amex Gold is a good card. I wish Chase would bump dining to 4x. (It won't happen.)

 

[MKTokyo]

I purchased the $50 Disney e-card. Amex credit posted within 4-5 days.

Same here.

 

[hsmamato2]

Once again, I"d have to math the situation out.

Current Math: $450 AF on CSR minus $300 travel credit I am spending anyway = $150. Difference between $150 CSR - $95 CIP/CSP = $55.
Possible future math: $550 on CSR minus travel credit I am spending anyway - $250. DIfference between #250 CSR - $95 CIP/CSP = $155

I"d still keep it. We booked 4 nights at Ashford Castle with UR points for next year. All in the price of the hotel was $4,117. We "paid" 274,477 UR points through the CSR. If I had a CSP/CIP I would have had to pay 329,372 UR points. That's a difference of 54,895 points. That's a $548 statement credit, CSP/CIP value of $686 or CSR value of $823. For the way I redeem points via UR it is still more vaulable for me to keep the card even if they raise the fee for something I can't or won't use. PCing the card would cost me too much money lost in point redemption.

I get that not everyone goes through and redeems points the way we do. But even those doing once a year redemptions may want to look at their own mat before jumping the gun one way or the other.

Let's say you are going to redeem a $500 RT flight for a party of 2. That's $1000. If you hold a CSP or CIP that should cost you 80,000 UR points. If you hold a CSR those flights would cost you 66,666 points. That is a difference of 13,334 points which is equivalent to $166 in the CSP/CIP UR portal. So holding the CIP/CSP over the CSR just cost you $166 in points. If someone is redeeming $1,000 or more via the UR portal each year, then they may be looking at a small loss, or in my case a huge loss by PCing the card if it goes up to $550.

interesting..... I think if all these awful prophecies about CSR come true I'm out.... I'll use my UR creatively another way. I'd prob just transfer a lot for whatever. That price point is over my head. But I'm one of those cheapskates,I'm not looking for the most luxurious experience,I'm looking for the most decent experience that's the best bargain (i.e. $0) but I can see why You and others calculate differently. (hence my decision on upcoming UO onsite hotel...I chose the best one I could find that was also the cheapest, but NOT their cheapest onsite option,since I could have gone cheaper, but the experience wasn't what I wanted) -same with UR's....I had 'only' a CSP for years before the advent of the CSR....and dang if I didn;t work those points every which way!