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

[Simba06]

I just used two Delta companion certificates and while it was great to use them, I don't think it's as great as the SW companion program overall. The Delta ones are one time uses whereas SW you have a companion for every flight you take for the year or two. When we had the SW companion we got 5-6 free flights a year out of it vs the one with Delta. Now on the flip side, I can fly Delta from my local airport whereas I can't with SW so I think your location and travel plans determine which is best for you.

That definitely takes the appeal of the platinum away for me. Hard to justify the annual fee otherwise.

 

[Simba06]

Goal: diversify airline choices, get TSA precheck
Currently have: southwest and disney visa

We pay our balance in full every month. We only like to fly Southwest or Delta, and we live near a major Delta hub. Family of four with 2 small children. Domestic travel planned 2-3x/yr. While we love flying Southwest, we have a lot more direct flight options by adding Delta to the mix. Considering the Delta Platinum Amex over the Gold for the companion pass (after renewal? Is it as easy to use as Southwest) and TSA precheck fee being covered. Also like have the first checked bag free. Can easily spend $4-5k a mo between bills, daycare for two etc.

Thoughts?

To piggyback on my original post...would a card like the chase sapphire be better than a Delta Amex? I read you can book Delta with chase points, its just not as a direct way to do so? Can anyone help clarify this for me? We really are only interested in flying Delta or Southwest.

 

[ski_mom]

Woo-hoo, instant approval for the SW Biz Performance - my first ever attempt at a Biz card! Can I link this to my existing Chase login that I have for my personal cards, or do I have to set up a different online user account since it is a business card?

Congrats! I have mine combined, but DHs are separate. To get mine combined, I had to call Chase and they linked them for me. I'm really not sure there's an advantage either way other than being able to check all accounts at one time.

 

[elgerber]

I just used two Delta companion certificates and while it was great to use them, I don't think it's as great as the SW companion program overall. The Delta ones are one time uses whereas SW you have a companion for every flight you take for the year or two. When we had the SW companion we got 5-6 free flights a year out of it vs the one with Delta. Now on the flip side, I can fly Delta from my local airport whereas I can't with SW so I think your location and travel plans determine which is best for you.

And you have to pay for the one flight with Delta, with SW you can use points for the first flight and the pass for the 2nd.

 

[Albort]

To piggyback on my original post...would a card like the chase sapphire be better than a Delta Amex? I read you can book Delta with chase points, its just not as a direct way to do so? Can anyone help clarify this for me? We really are only interested in flying Delta or Southwest.

depends on what you fly more. if you fly southwest more, then a chase sapphire would be better.
if its half and half, chase sapphire is still better for insurance and versitility, u can transfer points to southwest for flights or you can buy delta flights via chase portal for 1.5x(or 1.25x).
if you fly more on delta, u can add a delta card into your 5/24 mix, just to get the free bags and priority. i would still suggest going after more chase cards first while your at 5/24 before u start going after amex cards to help boost your SkyMiles balance.

you have lots of choices and pathways to go actually...

 

[Simba06]

depends on what you fly more. if you fly southwest more, then a chase sapphire would be better.
if its half and half, chase sapphire is still better for insurance and versitility, u can transfer points to southwest for flights or you can buy delta flights via chase portal for 1.5x(or 1.25x).
if you fly more on delta, u can add a delta card into your 5/24 mix, just to get the free bags and priority. i would still suggest going after more chase cards first while your at 5/24 before u start going after amex cards to help boost your SkyMiles balance.

you have lots of choices and pathways to go actually...

We have flown southwest exclusively the last 3 years due to having a pile of points due to opening both southwest cards and getting a companion pass. But we like delta just as much, and it offers much more opportunities for direct flights than southwest. Moving forward I would like to use them 50/50, basically I want options and not just Southwest schedules to pick from.

For some reason i can’t find an article with a good explanation on using Chase Sapphire points for Delta. Maybe I am just being dense, but I can’t get my head around it.

Since you mentioned I have lots of options...what would you do in my situation?

 

[afan]

It's what's for lunch and was so good.

 

[wanderlust7]

We have flown southwest exclusively the last 3 years due to having a pile of points due to opening both southwest cards and getting a companion pass. But we like delta just as much, and it offers much more opportunities for direct flights than southwest. Moving forward I would like to use them 50/50, basically I want options and not just Southwest schedules to pick from.

For some reason i can’t find an article with a good explanation on using Chase Sapphire points for Delta. Maybe I am just being dense, but I can’t get my head around it.

Since you mentioned I have lots of options...what would you do in my situation?

You can't transfer Chase UR points to Delta. You can book Delta flights through the Chase travel portal and use your URs at the 1.25 or 1.5 cent per point rate. This is like booking a cash ticket with a travel agency (portal runs off of Expedia).

You can transfer Amex MR to Delta. It's possible to rack up a lot of MR if you're willing to do high AF, high spend cards, even more if you do business cards. Some current high offers - the Platinum card at 100k (possible 125k) for $5000 spend, $550 AF. Personal card that will take up a 5/24 spot. Or Platinum Business possible 150k for 15k spend, $595 AF. Gold Business card, 90k/10k spend or 80k/6k, $295 AF. Amex cards are a bit weird in that you might have to try different things to pull up the offer you want.

 

[Shannon G]

We have flown southwest exclusively the last 3 years due to having a pile of points due to opening both southwest cards and getting a companion pass. But we like delta just as much, and it offers much more opportunities for direct flights than southwest. Moving forward I would like to use them 50/50, basically I want options and not just Southwest schedules to pick from.

For some reason i can’t find an article with a good explanation on using Chase Sapphire points for Delta. Maybe I am just being dense, but I can’t get my head around it.

Since you mentioned I have lots of options...what would you do in my situation?

Regarding using Chase URs for Delta points - I recently did that for the first time. I needed to book a flight for my daughter, and Delta had times that worked - I found it used fewer points to transfer URs to Delta miles and then book with miles through Delta. You could book flights directly through the Chase travel portal, but that would have required more URs.

Oops - sorry - I just realized that I transferred AmEx points, not Chase URs. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[WVMomof3]

Which would you choose? Trip is for nothing fun unfortunately. Assume hotels are all about same distance from destination and don't really plan on doing anything but sleeping there.

Holiday Inn Express - King suite $350 cash (no IHG points rooms available)

Hyatt Place - King suite $650 cash or 36,000 Hyatt points (assuming I would get 5000 points back under current promo so effectively 31,000 points)

Courtyard by Marriott King room $430 cash or 60,000 Marriott points

If I did the cash rates I have 22,3000 Barclay points I could use or I could use the cobranded card for extra points. Maybe a split payment to get both. I am Platinum with IHG and Marriott and Globalist with Hyatt but I don't think that will get me anything extra with these hotels.

 

[wanderlust7]

Which would you choose? Trip is for nothing fun unfortunately. Assume hotels are all about same distance from destination and don't really plan on doing anything but sleeping there.

Holiday Inn Express - King suite $350 cash (no IHG points rooms available)

Hyatt Place - King suite $650 cash or 36,000 Hyatt points (assuming I would get 5000 points back under current promo so effectively 31,000 points)

Courtyard by Marriott King room $430 cash or 60,000 Marriott points

If I did the cash rates I have 22,3000 Barclay points I could use or I could use the cobranded card for extra points. Maybe a split payment to get both. I am Platinum with IHG and Marriott and Globalist with Hyatt but I don't think that will get me anything extra with these hotels.

If you do Hyatt, will that get you closer to the 10 nights for 1 FNC? Or help you get to the suite night award? Or add a brand to your Brand Explorer?

If not - I value Hyatt at 1.5 cpp, so that's $465. Marriott at 0.8 cpp, so $480. So I'd probably go with the Holiday Inn Express.

 

[Judique]

Thanks for reminder! I think I may also attempt a self-referral from my SW personal card - that could put me over the points required if it works. Anyone have any recent experience with that?

I wouldn't self support. You are risking shutdown. Not worth it.

 

[Judique]

Which would you choose? Trip is for nothing fun unfortunately. Assume hotels are all about same distance from destination and don't really plan on doing anything but sleeping there.

Holiday Inn Express - King suite $350 cash (no IHG points rooms available)

Hyatt Place - King suite $650 cash or 36,000 Hyatt points (assuming I would get 5000 points back under current promo so effectively 31,000 points)

Courtyard by Marriott King room $430 cash or 60,000 Marriott points

If I did the cash rates I have 22,3000 Barclay points I could use or I could use the cobranded card for extra points. Maybe a split payment to get both. I am Platinum with IHG and Marriott and Globalist with Hyatt but I don't think that will get me anything extra with these hotels.

I would blow the Marriott points, but I have a ton of Marriott points.

Obviously the cash rate at IHG is cheapest. You could keep an eye on this one to see if points rooms pop up, depending on the point cost.

I also would never pay 31K for a Hyatt Place. Love Hyatt Place but just no.

What else can you do with the Barclay points? What are they worth? I would be trying to keep cash in my pocket so if that is making cash out of pocket maybe about $150 or so, yes to using Barclay points on the IHG.

 

[IFlossU]

to the super smart UR peeps here....please refresh my memory- I had a couple of recent charges on CSR- that were redeemed with the TC immediately, yet I can still use PYB at 1.5% for these purchases....what is the benefit of doing this?

The way I see it Chase is basically giving you money. If you bought $100 worth of groceries, and Chase credits you $100, you’re now even. But…if you also use that same purchase for PYB, now you can get an additional $100 statement credit for the same purchase. Works with DoorDash as well. I think it’s great

ETA: I hope that makes sense. You’re essentially double dipping the credits for 1 purchase.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Well I applied for the CIU, and I got a "we need to review". UGH. So I guess I'll wait a few. Sucks because I can use a MSR right now.

Grrrrrr

 

[Judique]

The way I see it Chase is basically giving you money. If you bought $100 worth of groceries, and Chase credits you $100, you’re now even. But…if you also use that same purchase for PYB, now you can get an additional $100 statement credit for the same purchase. Works with DoorDash as well. I think it’s great

ETA: I hope that makes sense. You’re essentially double dipping the credits for 1 purchase.

@hsmamato2
Is that how that works? I thought it was different. My understanding (and I've never used PYB so I'm probably wrong) was that they would take UR's to cover your cash purchase, essentially crediting you at 1.5 with a CSR and 1.25 with a CSP. You in turn would get a $100 statement credit so nothing out of pocket (other than your UR's).

Basically cashing in your UR's? For CSR they would take 6670 UR's. For CSP they take it at 1.25 rate.

Benefit: your grocery money stays in your pocket. You can use it for other things.

 

[iujen94]

Is anyone interested in trying out CLEAR for the summer? I have 5 guest passes, each good for 3 months of CLEAR, and for each pass, the person can include up to 3 family members. PM me if you are interested!

(note - I get absolutely nothing if you do this, so it’s not a referral of any sort!)

 

[elgerber]

Is anyone interested in trying out CLEAR for the summer? I have 5 guest passes, each good for 3 months of CLEAR, and for each pass, the person can include up to 3 family members. PM me if you are interested!

(note - I get absolutely nothing if you do this, so it’s not a referral of any sort!)

I would love to, if only I was flying this summer :-( not flying until the end of October.
That's awesome of you to share!

 

[IFlossU]

@hsmamato2
Is that how that works? I thought it was different. My understanding (and I've never used PYB so I'm probably wrong) was that they would take UR's to cover your cash purchase, essentially crediting you at 1.5 with a CSR and 1.25 with a CSP. You in turn would get a $100 statement credit so nothing out of pocket (other than your UR's).

Basically cashing in your UR's? For CSR they would take 6670 UR's. For CSP they take it at 1.25 rate.

Benefit: your grocery money stays in your pocket. You can use it for other things.

You are correct. However, there’s a bit of a bonus since the current PYB and travel credit categories overlap. You can get a statement credit for groceries (travel credit), and then still be able to use that same purchase for PYB. DoorDash also works. I just made a DoorDash purchase for $30. I received my $30 statement credit, and now when I go to PYB I can also use points to cover that charge again, essentially giving me another $30 back for 1.5x points.

 

[chattadisser]

And you have to pay for the one flight with Delta, with SW you can use points for the first flight and the pass for the 2nd.

Good point! I forgot about that! Can't use sky miles in conjunction with the Delta companion ticket.