I love credit cards so much! v4.0 - 2021 (see first page for add'l details)

[wanderlust7]

Here's my experience, a bit convoluted. But not sure the travel credit double dip will work, for those hoping for that. Had the OG CSR from 8/2016:

June
PCed CSR from 2016 to CFU
Lowered limit to 5,000
Apped for CSP
Met MSR and received 100k bonus

July 30
PCed the CFU (which used to be the CSR) back to CSR
Has to have a 10k limit, so pulled from another cc
Change was immediate in the app
Immediately able to redeem for travel at 1.5cpp

For me this was a math exercise. Less the $300 travel credit, the card AF is $250 or 16,000ish points. Since I knew I was going to use the portal for some travel purchases, it made sense to pull the trigger rather than wait until the CSP is a year old and upgrade that.

Here's how the AF and Travel credit worked out:

Sept 2020 AF of $450 posted
Dec 14 2020: Travel credit reset and begins posting
After I PCed in June 2021, received prorated AF refund back-dated to September 2020 for $112.50 (3 months)
Aug 2021 Received $300 Travel Credit
Nov 1 2021 AF of $550 posted

I wasn't trying to double-dip the travel credit, just really wanted the CSR back and chose this route rather than an MDD. From what I can tell though, I don't really think I'll come out ahead on the TC. The Nov 2021 AF has posted and I've put eligible travel spend on the card after statement closed on Dec 12, and haven't received any additional credit. Perhaps I will after the New Year? But from my vantage points, I think the travel credit I received in Aug 2021 is going to take me through to Aug 22, in which case I really haven't double-dipped the travel credit (again, wasn't my intention). @wanderlust7, any thoughts? The T&Cs are very confusing:

$300 Annual Travel Credit: A statement credit will automatically be applied to your account when your card is used for purchases in the travel category, up to an annual maximum accumulation of $300. Annual means the year beginning with your account open date through the first statement date after your account open date anniversary, and the 12 monthly billing cycles after that each year. (For applications submitted before May 21, 2017, annual means the year beginning with your account open date through the first December statement date of that same year, and the 12 billing cycles starting after your December statement date through the following December statement date each year.) Call the number on the back of your card to see when you are eligible for your next $300 Annual Travel Credit.

I'm not really sure how the dates will work out, but I would think your travel credit will reset while your next AF is still refundable. So the one AF is the one in Nov 2021 and the 2 travel credits are the one in Aug 2021 and the one after it resets in 2022.

 

[wanderlust7]

I’ve got the AMEX Bonvoy Biz card with a $5k credit limit. I got it in May 2021 and have used it relatively consistently thanks to a bunch of Swolphin trips. This is my only AMEX card. We are staying at a Marriott property over Spring Break, and I think I may end up spending up to $7k on the trip. If I ask AMEX for a credit increase, how likely am I to get one? Will that show up as a hard pull on my credit report, or otherwise have unintended consequences? And can I do this by AMEX’s version of SM (do they HAVE a version of SM??), or would I have to call? Thanks for any advice!

You might be able to spend over your CL. You can check under Account Services -> Payment and Credit Options -> Check Spending Power

Though I've heard that you shouldn't check too often.

Or if you want to ask for a CL increase, Amex doesn't do a hard pull. No SM, but you can chat. I'm not sure if they'll make you call.

 

[ElizaDoesDisney]

I’ve got the AMEX Bonvoy Biz card with a $5k credit limit. I got it in May 2021 and have used it relatively consistently thanks to a bunch of Swolphin trips. This is my only AMEX card. We are staying at a Marriott property over Spring Break, and I think I may end up spending up to $7k on the trip. If I ask AMEX for a credit increase, how likely am I to get one? Will that show up as a hard pull on my credit report, or otherwise have unintended consequences? And can I do this by AMEX’s version of SM (do they HAVE a version of SM??), or would I have to call? Thanks for any advice!

Do you have any other business AmEx cards? If so you should be able to move the credit around from one of your other cards which should only be a soft pull. See: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/how-to-reallocate-your-credit-limits-with-american-express/

 

[iujen94]

Do you have any other business AmEx cards? If so you should be able to move the credit around from one of your other cards which should only be a soft pull. See: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/how-to-reallocate-your-credit-limits-with-american-express/

Nope, unfortunately this is my only AMEX, Biz or personal.

 

[ElizaDoesDisney]

Nope, unfortunately this is my only AMEX, Biz or personal.

Which is right there in your original post. Sorry - entirely a reading comprehension fail on my part.

 

[sinnika]

My DS and I stayed at an Airbnb the last 2 nights near DLP. I used my Venture X card and it shows as Airbnb and codes as other travel. I’ll keep you updated when I get credited $200. The cost was $230 total for both nights. This was our first time and we had a perfectly clear cold day! We are now on a train to Strasbourg to enjoy the Christmas markets and then heading to Colmar tonight to enjoy their Christmas markets tomorrow. DD is joining us tomorrow in Colmar, then we are driving back to her home in Germany DH arrives on Christmas Eve. Europe is definitely take it one day at a time because Covid rules are constantly changing.

 

[trenty]

We got the CIC in the mail today! Just in time to pay some bills.

Question about paying our DVC to help complete my MSR - what is the best alternative to just paying the dues in full (one contract at a time) online? Purchase (Disney) GCs at Staples and use to pay down the dues balance? I poked around on the DVC website. I am signed up for monthly auto-pay. I don't think I can make partial payments with a CC, only payment in full, unless it was with a Disney GC of Disney redemption card.

I have auto pay set up to my checking account. Then I pay with the discounted gift cards before the draft comes out. Depending on the deals I am able to get, sometimes partial amounts come out with the auto draft and sometimes I am months ahead. I plan to get my first discounted gift cards for 2022 soon and then try to stay ahead as much as possible. I would like to get to the point where @calypso726 is and just have the whole year saved up a year in advance.

 

[hsmamato2]

Here's my experience, a bit convoluted. But not sure the travel credit double dip will work, for those hoping for that. Had the OG CSR from 8/2016:

June
PCed CSR from 2016 to CFU
Lowered limit to 5,000
Apped for CSP
Met MSR and received 100k bonus

July 30
PCed the CFU (which used to be the CSR) back to CSR
Has to have a 10k limit, so pulled from another cc
Change was immediate in the app
Immediately able to redeem for travel at 1.5cpp

For me this was a math exercise. Less the $300 travel credit, the card AF is $250 or 16,000ish points. Since I knew I was going to use the portal for some travel purchases, it made sense to pull the trigger rather than wait until the CSP is a year old and upgrade that.

Here's how the AF and Travel credit worked out:

Sept 2020 AF of $450 posted
Dec 14 2020: Travel credit reset and begins posting
After I PCed in June 2021, received prorated AF refund back-dated to September 2020 for $112.50 (3 months)
Aug 2021 Received $300 Travel Credit
Nov 1 2021 AF of $550 posted

I wasn't trying to double-dip the travel credit, just really wanted the CSR back and chose this route rather than an MDD. From what I can tell though, I don't really think I'll come out ahead on the TC. The Nov 2021 AF has posted and I've put eligible travel spend on the card after statement closed on Dec 12, and haven't received any additional credit. Perhaps I will after the New Year? But from my vantage points, I think the travel credit I received in Aug 2021 is going to take me through to Aug 22, in which case I really haven't double-dipped the travel credit (again, wasn't my intention). @wanderlust7, any thoughts? The T&Cs are very confusing:

$300 Annual Travel Credit: A statement credit will automatically be applied to your account when your card is used for purchases in the travel category, up to an annual maximum accumulation of $300. Annual means the year beginning with your account open date through the first statement date after your account open date anniversary, and the 12 monthly billing cycles after that each year. (For applications submitted before May 21, 2017, annual means the year beginning with your account open date through the first December statement date of that same year, and the 12 billing cycles starting after your December statement date through the following December statement date each year.) Call the number on the back of your card to see when you are eligible for your next $300 Annual Travel Credit.

wow thank you!

 

[DaveL]

Does not look like this was mentioned here, but for those like me that don't keep up with all the other threads around here.. Saw this on SlickDeals of all places.. LOL. Guess I don't keep up as much as I used to...

https://sunshineflyer.com/

 

[becauseimnew]

Successful DP on Chase Carnival Cruise $35 offer. I bought $100 cruise cash on 12/14, $35 credit posted 12/20.

 

[happ]

Does not look like this was mentioned here, but for those like me that don't keep up with all the other threads around here.. Saw this on SlickDeals of all places.. LOL. Guess I don't keep up as much as I used to...

https://sunshineflyer.com/

That's interesting. The prices are close to mearsconnect which I'll be using in a few weeks. It's nice that there's some competition. Hopefully that will keep the prices down.

 

[amcc]

My DS and I stayed at an Airbnb the last 2 nights near DLP. I used my Venture X card and it shows as Airbnb and codes as other travel. I’ll keep you updated when I get credited $200. The cost was $230 total for both nights. This was our first time and we had a perfectly clear cold day! We are now on a train to Strasbourg to enjoy the Christmas markets and then heading to Colmar tonight to enjoy their Christmas markets tomorrow. DD is joining us tomorrow in Colmar, then we are driving back to her home in Germany DH arrives on Christmas Eve. Europe is definitely take it one day at a time because Covid rules are constantly changing.

What a great trip and so nice that you are over there already and able to share with your family. I follow a Paris-based (American) travel blogger and she was just in Strasbourg and it was GORGEOUS. Enjoy the time with your family

 

[happ]

I'm planning to cancel my hilton biz. I figured I would try for an amex card before doing so in case I go into pop-up jail. Evidently, I'm already there. No card for me. Ugh.

Update: I tried for a different card. Resy plat offer incognito worked! The plat was on the list of "someday I'll get that card." Turns out "someday" is today. Now I have to figure out how to make use of the credits because that annual fee is insane. If anyone is wondering, I was trying for the no-fee hilton card before. I tried using a dis link, no link, and incognito for that app and kept getting the pop-up.

 

[sinnika]

What a great trip and so nice that you are over there already and able to share with your family. I follow a Paris-based (American) travel blogger and she was just in Strasbourg and it was GORGEOUS. Enjoy the time with your family

Yes, it is absolutely fairytale like! We visited several markets and had an early dinner, now on the train to Colmar. This is on DD’s bucket list as she is a huge Belle fan and she said the town is similar? Anyway, booked a hotel using Chase UR points close to the cathedral. Like 10,000 points. So this 2 month journey has been no cost lodging. Most of the time has been at DD’s home. I told her she needs to have an Airbnb. It’s super cute. Here are a few pics from Strasbourg.

 

[elgerber]

Yes, it is absolutely fairytale like! We visited several markets and had an early dinner, now on the train to Colmar. This is on DD’s bucket list as she is a huge Belle fan and she said the town is similar? Anyway, booked a hotel using Chase UR points close to the cathedral. Like 10,000 points. So this 2 month journey has been no cost lodging. Most of the time has been at DD’s home. I told her she needs to have an Airbnb. It’s super cute. Here are a few pics from Strasbourg.

this looks absolutely amazing!!! I would love to see a place like this some day.

 

[happ]

I have a trip planned in a few weeks. Currently booked at ASM one night and then moving to Swan Reserve on points. Now that I have the plat and the $200 hotel credit, I'm considering using the credit for the Swan instead of staying at ASM the first night. The Reserve doesn't show up. The Swan is $323 nonrefundable/$359 refundable plus fees. I paid $164 plus taxes for ASM. So after the credit, it's about the same for the Swan. Is this a no-brainer to switch or am I missing something? I'm kind of nervous to cancel because the Disney one night availability was hard to come by and now it's nonexistent. Any thoughts?

 

[afan]

I have a trip planned in a few weeks. Currently booked at ASM one night and then moving to Swan Reserve on points. Now that I have the plat and the $200 hotel credit, I'm considering using the credit for the Swan instead of staying at ASM the first night. The Reserve doesn't show up. The Swan is $323 nonrefundable/$359 refundable plus fees. I paid $164 plus taxes for ASM. So after the credit, it's about the same for the Swan. Is this a no-brainer to switch or am I missing something? I'm kind of nervous to cancel because the Disney one night availability was hard to come by and now it's nonexistent. Any thoughts?

Without ME I would do it. It would make change hotels so much easier.

 

[wanderlust7]

I have a trip planned in a few weeks. Currently booked at ASM one night and then moving to Swan Reserve on points. Now that I have the plat and the $200 hotel credit, I'm considering using the credit for the Swan instead of staying at ASM the first night. The Reserve doesn't show up. The Swan is $323 nonrefundable/$359 refundable plus fees. I paid $164 plus taxes for ASM. So after the credit, it's about the same for the Swan. Is this a no-brainer to switch or am I missing something? I'm kind of nervous to cancel because the Disney one night availability was hard to come by and now it's nonexistent. Any thoughts?

Were you able to pull up a 1 night stay at the Swan? It's always been Hotel Collection when I've looked, which has a 2 night minimum.

 

[Judique]

I have auto pay set up to my checking account. Then I pay with the discounted gift cards before the draft comes out. Depending on the deals I am able to get, sometimes partial amounts come out with the auto draft and sometimes I am months ahead. I plan to get my first discounted gift cards for 2022 soon and then try to stay ahead as much as possible. I would like to get to the point where @calypso726 is and just have the whole year saved up a year in advance.

I would like to be a year ahead but only if I get at least 10% or better.

Paid ahead almost $800 already. It seems to be applied evenly to each contract as I attempted to do when I paid it, but, looks like it divided the remainder into 12 payments. Hard to tell until January rolls around as it says payment due in January but no amount, but, the amount listed elsewhere is less than 1/12 of what my dues would be. My objective was to have no payment due in January. Probably should have held off paying until closer to January 15.

In any case I've already got some gift cards I got at 20% (Chase Giant grocery offer) off, so I'll apply those around January 10th or so.

 

[cdurham1]

Which cc issuers really don't care about the number of recent cards? I am at 5/24, actually like 5/9, but will be past my mandatory spend on my last bonus by February or early March. I would like some more sign up bonus opportunities, but I feel like I have opened too many recently.

Stick with business cards or are there some issuers for personal cards that are still reasonable?