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

[mfly]

Did you guys get credit on Rakuten from the Betterment deal? I never got mine. I emailed them and they said that they have to wait until the merchant tells them.

I got my $127.50! Transaction was on 2/14.

 

[ep1229]

I got my $127.50! Transaction was on 2/14.

Did you get an email from Rakuten that you used the offer? I never got one. I wonder what I did wrong. I signed up 2/13 and funded a checking account.

 

[platamama]

Did you guys get credit on Rakuten from the Betterment deal? I never got mine. I emailed them and they said that they have to wait until the merchant tells them.

Nope, not yet, but the funding didn't go through until yesterday so it might take some more time. At least that's what I'm hoping!

 

[mfly]

Did you get an email from Rakuten that you used the offer? I never got one. I wonder what I did wrong. I signed up 2/13 and funded a checking account.

No, I didn’t get any notice from Rakuten. I just saw it as posted when I logged in today.

I didn’t choose a checking account in efforts to avoid having an account that would show up on a future Chex report when I try for another checking bonus in the future... (don’t know if that really matters...). I funded a Cash Reserve instead.

 

[Minnie368]

Did you guys get credit on Rakuten from the Betterment deal? I never got mine. I emailed them and they said that they have to wait until the merchant tells them.

I did the offer on 2/12 and noticed yesterday the $127.50 posted. I didn’t get an email saying anything about it but I could see it listed in my shopping trips the day I did it.

 

[GZanta77]

I'm going to book a flight from Boston to Ft. Myers for a trip at the end of March. I need to do this soon - like tomorrow soon. Prices have already gone up a good bit since I started looking. I have Southwest points, but Southwest doesn't fly direct and will take 8-9 hours for a 3.5 hour flight. So I'm looking at alternatives.
I have plenty of URs, but currently don't hold a card that allows transferring points (I have CFx2, CFF, CFU, CIU and CIC). I've considered upgrading one of my Freedoms to a CSR, but not sure how quickly that happens, is it immediate? And if I do that, would it be better to book on the chase portal or transfer points to an airline?
Or should I just book with a Freedom and use points towards it on my statement? The flights look like they'll be $200-$250 round trip with bags, if that makes a difference in how I should approach this.
Any opinions on best way to do this would be appreciated. Thanks!

I am assuming applying for a new CSP/CSR/CIP is not an option at this time? That would be my first choice, but if not an option then upgrading to CSP/CSR would work.

I can speak to JetBlue and the travel portal - I find JetBlue points redeem for approx 1.3-1.4 cpp. So if you had a CSP, then you would likely get more value by transferring URs to JetBlue. If you had a CSR, then I have usually found better value booking thru the Chase portal @ 1.5x.

 

[elgerber]

Did you guys get credit on Rakuten from the Betterment deal? I never got mine. I emailed them and they said that they have to wait until the merchant tells them.

I got the $75 and I think I did get the email. Like the day after it credited. It credited when the funds actually were deposited and no longer pending.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

This is clearly the greatest group on the Dis!

I think the entire group should collectively stand up and take a bow to this one

 

[LB002]

Looks like Hawaii is on a lot of minds here! We just changed out WDW DVC stay for spring break to Aulani. Now I am playing with flights...

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Southwest Chase CC Offer Update:
Much to the chagrin of numerous people here (I kid )... I will once again share the reminder that the Southwest 80,000 Point Support Links are inexplicably still working 2 weeks after they should have been taken down.

As of today the application still loads, so FWIW, the 80k SW offer is still out there.

 

[ctinct]

Glad to hear all the data points on the Betterment accounts. I’ve been impatiently waiting. Since there was no direct deposit required, this was an easy one to do. Fingers crossed the bonus shows up for me soon.

 

[KPK02090]

I am assuming applying for a new CSP/CSR/CIP is not an option at this time? That would be my first choice, but if not an option then upgrading to CSP/CSR would work.

I can speak to JetBlue and the travel portal - I find JetBlue points redeem for approx 1.3-1.4 cpp. So if you had a CSP, then you would likely get more value by transferring URs to JetBlue. If you had a CSR, then I have usually found better value booking thru the Chase portal @ 1.5x.

Right, can't apply for a CSR or CSP for another year and a half. Had both and downgraded. I have a Chase Freedom that's at least 8 years old that I could upgrade to a CSR. But still trying to decide if it’s worth it.

Anyone know how quickly an upgrade happens? Can you use the card as the new product the same day?

 

[Alexle2007]

Right, can't apply for a CSR or CSP for another year and a half. Had both and downgraded. I have a Chase Freedom that's at least 8 years old that I could upgrade to a CSR. But still trying to decide if it’s worth it.

Anyone know how quickly an upgrade happens? Can you use the card as the new product the same day?

As soon as you call and make the request your Freedom will be the CSR and you can use your Freedom until the CSR comes in the mail.

 

[EACarlson]

Right, can't apply for a CSR or CSP for another year and a half. Had both and downgraded. I have a Chase Freedom that's at least 8 years old that I could upgrade to a CSR. But still trying to decide if it’s worth it.

Anyone know how quickly an upgrade happens? Can you use the card as the new product the same day?

IIRC the only domestic airlines that Chase transfers to are SW and Jet Blue. If you are looking at another airline it is either going to be very roundabout way to redeem or you're just using UR through the portal.

I would upgrade, then downgrade next year, but I also know that I would never let myself be without one of those two higher end cards due to the benefits.

 

[Judique]

This lazy Sunday morning I've been sipping a nice cup of coffee and dreaming of using my Hyatt free nights over in Cambridge at the Hyatt Regency there. This hotel is very close to the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, and getting out and watching birds is one of my pleasures. So this morning I clicked over to the wildlife cams on the friends of Blackwater website.

You can click 'take a snapshot' on the website, so I caught this sunrise picture and another of this guy sitting on an osprey tower - not an Osprey - just borrowing the perch! By the way, after a few minutes the camera rotates to give different views.




and the Eagle

 

[Alexle2007]

This lazy Sunday morning I've been sipping a nice cup of coffee and dreaming of using my Hyatt free nights over in Cambridge at the Hyatt Regency there. This hotel is very close to the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, and getting out and watching birds is one of my pleasures. So this morning I clicked over to the wildlife cams on the friends of Blackwater website.

You can click 'take a snapshot' on the website, so I caught this sunrise picture and another of this guy sitting on an osprey tower - not an Osprey - just borrowing the perch! By the way, after a few minutes the camera rotates to give different views.

View attachment 558029


and the Eagle

View attachment 558031View attachment 558032

Very nice! Thank you for sharing!

 

[sibesx2]

I need more Hilton points and am looking at the increased bonuses on those cards. I have a Surpass opened 11/19. Am I eligible for a bonus on one of the different cards? How hard is it to get a business card? Or would the regular card be a better choice?

I also want to get one of the Freedom cards but I just upgraded my CSP to a CSR. How long should I wait to apply? I am a slow churner and am at 1/24.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Alexle2007]

I need more Hilton points and am looking at the increased bonuses on those cards. I have a Surpass opened 11/19. Am I eligible for a bonus on one of the different cards? How hard is it to get a business card? Or would the regular card be a better choice?

I also want to get one of the Freedom cards but I just upgraded my CSP to a CSR. How long should I wait to apply? I am a slow churner and am at 1/24.

Thanks for your help!

AmEx Biz cards are easy to get and they don’t count towards your 5/24. The other option is the Aspire that comes with the FNC very shortly after approval. It also has a larger AF but the Diamond status and $300 resort credit are nice perks to help offset the AF. It does count to your 5/24 but you have room.

The upgraded doesn’t count towards approvals so you could go for it any time.

 

[Alexle2007]

How do I use my iTunes funds to pay for an iPhone via the Apple store? I don’t see that as an option during checkout.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I need more Hilton points and am looking at the increased bonuses on those cards. I have a Surpass opened 11/19. Am I eligible for a bonus on one of the different cards? How hard is it to get a business card? Or would the regular card be a better choice?

I also want to get one of the Freedom cards but I just upgraded my CSP to a CSR. How long should I wait to apply? I am a slow churner and am at 1/24.

Thanks for your help!

Well the business card will preserve your nice 5/24 status. If you have a side hustle you could apply as a sole prop using that - just use your personal name and SSN for the application.

You also are eligible for the other two personal Hilton cards. Amex doesn’t have any rules about eligibility tying for one Hilton card to another. Keep in mind though that Amex has a 4 credit card limit - not sure if you have other cards with them. (And that’s only credit cards... charge cards do not count in that)

And lastly I should point to make sure you stay Amex’s good graces by continuing to spend on their cards. I recently posted a comment with blog link about the Amex popup- I assume you’re aware of that, right?