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

[SouthFayetteFan]

I sometimes feel I am choosing the wrong cards! I am sort of skittish towards the AMEX Cards even though I have 2 now, the HH and the AMEX Gold
card. They have so many more of them as opposed to Chase cards

Amex is a difficult one to master (especially early on in the game). They are quirky, they are vindictive... if you do something they don't like (i.e. abuse their bonuses) they blacklist you. It's hard to advise people to grab Amex cards when under 5/24 unless you're going for biz cards. And if you do go for Amex cards, you want to keep spending something on them regularly AND pay your AFs and don't cancel after the first year.

 

[Madabouttravel]

Amex is a difficult one to master (especially early on in the game). They are quirky, they are vindictive... if you do something they don't like (i.e. abuse their bonuses) they blacklist you. It's hard to advise people to grab Amex cards when under 5/24 unless you're going for biz cards. And if you do go for Amex cards, you want to keep spending something on them regularly AND pay your AFs and don't cancel after the first year.

Thanks for the tips, I don’t know much about them, I tend to use most all the cards I do have for something. Any other advice would be helpful.

I have been considering the Plat, after I finish the spend on the Gold, Can you tell me if it’s worth the AF?

 

[Judique]

Played the Southwest game again for myself and daughter. DD won 100 points. Her account now has a grand total of 150 points. I will keep playing until the end. It ends on the 18th so not a big time suck.

Interesting Hilton SUB's....the Hilton card was one I got the pop up for. I haven't gone back and will probably let my Gold go as I'm into my Chase cards lately. That'll teach them!

 

[spacerangerqueen]

YES. I pass so many students that shouldn't be. I also crush lots of "dreams", LOL. I tell the parents, well at least thank me for saving you all that money when they majored in Engineering in college and then dropped out, LOL.


In my past interviews I've always said my class is something EVERYONE should have to take, if nothing else for the ability to measure and spacial skills! I said (my now ex) overestimated the size of couch that could fit in our house, LOL. And I was the one figuring out our closet layouts, our deck, etc.


I got my first job mid- year because the teacher (who was new) would have the female students sit on his lap while he graded. Ummmm.....It's bad enough there are maybe 3 girls in my Engineering classes (the flip is almost true of Architecture, LOL). But to do something like that. I will say when I started I was down the road from the Chrysler HQ (now FCA). I had MANY dads coming to "vet" me those first few years. And after "I passed" they would jokingly ask if I could teach their child XYZ because they needed to know how to do it at work, LOL. When I started I was like the only female teacher...now I think we might outnumber the guys in the county.

I will say my HS Drafting teacher was amazing, and the reason I went into this. I took Drafting in HS because there was a boy I liked in class. I fell in love (with the class) and thought I wanted to be an Engineer. I went away to Engineering camp before my senior year of HS, and realized I can't hack the math (still can't, though I've been told I likely could hack being an engineer since I have the problem solving component the calculus teaches, GRRRR). I was the kid who always played school in the summer, so after fumbling around for 1.5 years in college, I decided to follow in my Drafting teacher's footsteps. I had invited him to my wedding, LOL. And he was still teaching when I started so we got to meet up at meetings and conferences. To this day we are FB friends. I'm FB friends with sooooo many former students. It's great to see where they've gone in life. And it's great when they come back and tell me how much my class helped to prep them. It's those kinds of things that make it worth the headaches! The handful of students I was a "Mr. B" (my teacher) to. Now that my daughter is in HS, she's shocked I'm "the cool teacher" and I have a "cult" following of students, LOL. It is nice to have some students for 4 years....and then there's the others I can't shake for 4 years, LOL.

I took mechanical drawing my freshman year of high school and then architectural drawing my sophomore year. I was the only girl both times. There was maybe one other kid doing architectural drawing so that class was a combo with engineering drawing. I have been able to eyeball an inch for the past 20+ years thanks to those classes. I definitely think people would gain a lot from the spacial awareness you gain in drawing everything out. If this past year has taught me anything, people don't know what 6 feet is! I guess I wasn't too shocked though, since I spent the last 13 years telling people they couldn't fit all those things on the floor of their store and expect anyone to walk around.

 

[platamama]

So DH has a CSP. I know it only gets 2X rather than 3X bonus in the travel category but I was wondering if the Car Rental Primary Insurance coverage is the same on the CSP and CSR? I just did a quick look and it appears to be the same.

Yes, it's the same.

 

[MinnieMay]

Yes, it's the same.

Thank you so much! I have been worried about this because we may have to charge the car rental on a card with DH's name as I put him as the primary driver. I read some Chase language that says you have to reserve the car and pay for the car with the Chase Sapphire card in order to get the primary insurance. So does that mean they would refuse to pay a claim if you reserved the car with a different Chase card (mine) but paid for the car with my DH's card? Insurance on rental cars is a very worrisome topic for me because I don't understand it very well. And the recent talk of umbrella policies (which we don't have) is adding to my stress.

 

[georgina]

Hmmm. When I reserve a car through Costco I don't have to enter a CC to reserve it. I usually checkin the night before on the Alamo website and put the card in then. It is confusing, DH has a CSR and I have a car reserved in my name with him as an additional driver, since I have the Alamo insiders with skip the line. Not sure if we can use his card on the rental, I have seen conflicting reports.

Since I downgraded my CSP a year ago I have been considering paying for the AU card on his CSR, can't remember if the date of the AU is used in my 5/24 or if it is the date HE originally got the card. We are doing more separate travel in the year coming up.

 

[stitchfan18]

Thank you so much! I have been worried about this because we may have to charge the car rental on a card with DH's name as I put him as the primary driver. I read some Chase language that says you have to reserve the car and pay for the car with the Chase Sapphire card in order to get the primary insurance. So does that mean they would refuse to pay a claim if you reserved the car with a different Chase card (mine) but paid for the car with my DH's card? Insurance on rental cars is a very worrisome topic for me because I don't understand it very well. And the recent talk of umbrella policies (which we don't have) is adding to my stress.

I reserved a car rental for this week using points on my CSR. I had it in DH’s name originally, but was able to change it to my name so I could give them my CSR to have on file at pick up. DH can be added as an authorized driver at pick up at no additional charge. We’re renting though Budget, but they said The credit card on file had to be in the primary drivers name, so they wouldn’t take my CSR at pickup. I’m not sure if he could have picked up and presented them with his CSP and had the same coverage, but it seemed easier just to list me as primary driver to use the CSR coverage since that’s the card we paid with.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

@SouthFayetteFan and other experts:

If you are a serious churner (not a casual dabbler), what is your perspective on trying to stay below 5/24 vs blowing past it? I'm in two player mode and dabbling with keeping one of us under 5/24 and the other free reign. We have a large family and travel a lot, so it seems our points appetite might be more than the average couple or family.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

@SouthFayetteFan and other experts:

If you are a serious churner (not a casual dabbler), what is your perspective on trying to stay below 5/24 vs blowing past it? I'm in two player mode and dabbling with keeping one of us under 5/24 and the other free reign. We have a large family and travel a lot, so it seems our points appetite might be more than the average couple or family.

I'm a single player. Amex hates me right now which makes it easier to stay under 5/24. I'm working on the CIU MSR right now. I'm sitting at 3/24. The next card I want is the IHG premier again and then I'm thinking the MDD. But if the offer is still out there for the CSP when I'm done w/ the CIU spend, I may need to move up the MDD and have to wait a lot longer on the IHG premier churn. Once I go over, I'm out of the Chase game till 5/2022. That said, I have written out a plan of attack.

I took all the cards I wanted to do and listed them (ones I wanted to churn as well). I prioritized the Chase cards since I'm under 5/24. Then I'll see if Amex stops hating me, if they do, I'll move onto the Amex I want. Then there are Citi cards (AA) that I want. TBH, once I do the MDD/IHG Churn, there really isn't any Chase I'll want (unless I churn the business cards). So at that point, I won't be as upset at being over 5/24. I'll say writing out all the cards I want helped plan for me. I was able to see everything and kinda make a timeline/plan. Of course in this game things can change at anytime, LOL

 

[tink1970]

@SouthFayetteFan and other experts:

If you are a serious churner (not a casual dabbler), what is your perspective on trying to stay below 5/24 vs blowing past it? I'm in two player mode and dabbling with keeping one of us under 5/24 and the other free reign. We have a large family and travel a lot, so it seems our points appetite might be more than the average couple or family.

I really think that keeping one of a 2 player unit under 5/24 is a great strategy-I know my favorite blogger (Greg The Frequent Miler) does that as well as some others here on the boards. It really allows you flexibility as long as you and your P2 have similar scores-one can go for the unicorns (and low hanging fruit) while the other steadily accumulates Chase cards and URs. I don't have a P2 who will play (I call him a P 0.000002, lol) so I often go over 5/24 then have to wait until I go under and I've missed a couple good Chase plays as a result. That said, non, je ne regrette rien!

 

[iujen94]

Is there any downside to setting up autopay with Chase? I have all of my credit card closing dates calendared and pay in full as soon as my statement is issued. As my number of credit cards grows, I’m worried one will slip through the cracks. I’d like to set up autopay through the Chase app to just pay off the statement balance each month, but wanted to make sure there’s not some unforeseen downside to doing so. (I also now have one AMEX that I’d like to have on autopay.)

 

[platamama]

Thank you so much! I have been worried about this because we may have to charge the car rental on a card with DH's name as I put him as the primary driver. I read some Chase language that says you have to reserve the car and pay for the car with the Chase Sapphire card in order to get the primary insurance. So does that mean they would refuse to pay a claim if you reserved the car with a different Chase card (mine) but paid for the car with my DH's card? Insurance on rental cars is a very worrisome topic for me because I don't understand it very well. And the recent talk of umbrella policies (which we don't have) is adding to my stress.

Hmmm. When I reserve a car through Costco I don't have to enter a CC to reserve it. I usually checkin the night before on the Alamo website and put the card in then. It is confusing, DH has a CSR and I have a car reserved in my name with him as an additional driver, since I have the Alamo insiders with skip the line. Not sure if we can use his card on the rental, I have seen conflicting reports.

Since I downgraded my CSP a year ago I have been considering paying for the AU card on his CSR, can't remember if the date of the AU is used in my 5/24 or if it is the date HE originally got the card. We are doing more separate travel in the year coming up.

I'll echo @stitchfan18 's experience. When I once reserved a car through Costco for Alamo, I had put DH as primary driver. When we got to the counter to pick up the car, they had to change the name on the rental agreement to match the name on the card even though I was going to be an authorized driver (I have a CSR but he doesn't), i.e. the name on the card used for payment had to match the primary driver's name.

A couple years ago, I had an "accident" with a rental car (somebody scraped it with their car while it was in the valet's possession - the valet had the car keys - as I was checking in). Marriott wouldn't take responsibility for it because the valet guy wasn't physically in the car when it happened. It is a LONG PROCESS and rather confusing to deal with, and Chase's third party insurance handlers do things entirely online so it's hard to get questions answered. It eventually became an nothingburger when Alamo couldn't get its act together to provide me the paperwork for damages, and they closed out the claim. But it was hanging over my head the entire time and that was stressful. It made me especially mad since it wasn't even anything I did!

To anyone using UR points to pay for a car rental, I strongly recommend that you select payment in a way that puts a nominal amount on your CSP/CSR in order for that to show up on your cc statement. You need to provide proof of payment on the CSP/CSR for coverage and having it show up on a statement is helpful.

 

[wisconsinmom]

It is time for me to get a new card and I'm not sure what route to go! I'm running low on UR points. I see that the CSP is at 100,000 points. I'm eligible for the Sapphire bonus again but currently hold the CSR. I have 60,000 points currently sitting on the card that I think I could transfer, but I also have airline tickets to Portugal in December booked on UR points through the card. What happens to the trip if I PC the card to a freedom or cancel it? Obviously I don't want to lose the tickets!

I'd love to take advantage of the CSP 100,000 point offer but I'm nervous to mess with my CSR. I love that card.

Any advice on how to proceed.

 

[platamama]

It is time for me to get a new card and I'm not sure what route to go! I'm running low on UR points. I see that the CSP is at 100,000 points. I'm eligible for the Sapphire bonus again but currently hold the CSR. I have 60,000 points currently sitting on the card that I think I could transfer, but I also have airline tickets to Portugal in December booked on UR points through the card. What happens to the trip if I PC the card to a freedom or cancel it? Obviously I don't want to lose the tickets!

I'd love to take advantage of the CSP 100,000 point offer but I'm nervous to mess with my CSR. I love that card.

Any advice on how to proceed.

Do you have a P2 in your household? I'm like you that I'm eligible for a Sapphire bonus again, but since I have airline tickets that I've paid the taxes/fees with the CSR (I love that card too) in order to have travel protections, I don't want to pc that card and lose those protections. When you pc a card, it keeps the same 16 digit number so you won't lose the tickets (you've already bought them), but you will lose the travel protection specific to the CSR. I assume you get whatever they are on the new card product (which won't be as good as the CSR).

I'm planning on DH applying in a few weeks, so that he can get to 3 mo since his last Chase card. I read that the first year AF is waived if you apply in-branch YMMV.

 

[wisconsinmom]

Do you have a P2 in your household? I'm like you that I'm eligible for a Sapphire bonus again, but since I have airline tickets that I've paid the taxes/fees with the CSR (I love that card too) in order to have travel protections, I don't want to pc that card and lose those protections. When you pc a card, it keeps the same 16 digit number so you won't lose the tickets (you've already bought them), but you will lose the travel protection specific to the CSR. I assume you get whatever they are on the new card product (which won't be as good as the CSR).

I'm planning on DH applying in a few weeks, so that he can get to 3 mo since his last Chase card. I read that the first year AF is waived if you apply in-branch YMMV.

I have a P2 but he isn't eligible for the bonus so it has to be me.

 

[Albort]

@SouthFayetteFan and other experts:

If you are a serious churner (not a casual dabbler), what is your perspective on trying to stay below 5/24 vs blowing past it? I'm in two player mode and dabbling with keeping one of us under 5/24 and the other free reign. We have a large family and travel a lot, so it seems our points appetite might be more than the average couple or family.

keep one player below 5/24, let the other one blow pass 5/24.

 

[MinnieMay]

Are there any issues with booking a room for someone else using your Marriott Rewards account? I booked a room for my daughter and I entered her name as the guest. It sent the reservation to my email but to her name. The reservation email doesn't even mention my name. She is planning to pay with her Marriot Bonvoy biz card (employee card of my biz). I originally entered her name so she could check in first and tell them I was arriving later but now I don't even know if they have my name. I just don't want my daughter to have any issues when checking in.

 

[MinnieMay]

I'll echo @stitchfan18 's experience. When I once reserved a car through Costco for Alamo, I had put DH as primary driver. When we got to the counter to pick up the car, they had to change the name on the rental agreement to match the name on the card even though I was going to be an authorized driver (I have a CSR but he doesn't), i.e. the name on the card used for payment had to match the primary driver's name.

A couple years ago, I had an "accident" with a rental car (somebody scraped it with their car while it was in the valet's possession - the valet had the car keys - as I was checking in). Marriott wouldn't take responsibility for it because the valet guy wasn't physically in the car when it happened. It is a LONG PROCESS and rather confusing to deal with, and Chase's third party insurance handlers do things entirely online so it's hard to get questions answered. It eventually became an nothingburger when Alamo couldn't get its act together to provide me the paperwork for damages, and they closed out the claim. But it was hanging over my head the entire time and that was stressful. It made me especially mad since it wasn't even anything I did!

To anyone using UR points to pay for a car rental, I strongly recommend that you select payment in a way that puts a nominal amount on your CSP/CSR in order for that to show up on your cc statement. You need to provide proof of payment on the CSP/CSR for coverage and having it show up on a statement is helpful.

So are you saying that when you use UR points to pay for a car rental, the UR points count as "paying with the CSR/CSP" for purposes of using the primary insurance coverage? I thought you had to pay the entire amount with the card itself. But that's great if I am wrong, LOL!!

 

[platamama]

So are you saying that when you use UR points to pay for a car rental, the UR points count as "paying with the CSR/CSP" for purposes of using the primary insurance coverage? I thought you had to pay the entire amount with the card itself. But that's great if I am wrong, LOL!!

I'm saying that you can use UR points to pay for most of the car rental, but you shouldn't use them to pay for all of it. You can customize how many points you wish to spend, and the rest will get charged to the card you put the balance on.

The language in the Guide to Benefits states, "You are covered when Your name is embossed on an eligible card issued in the United States, and You use Your credit card Account and/or rewards programs associated with Your Account to initiate and complete Your entire car rental transaction. Only You, as the primary renter of the vehicle, and any additional drivers permitted by the Rental Car Agreement are covered." Bolded by me for emphasis. I would for sure take screenshots during the reservation process to provide documentation in case it's needed.

I typically don't use UR points to pay for car rentals because I book thru Costco to get the free additional driver, and end up paying for the full rental on my CSR. Also, I get more value out of my URs by transferring to SW (because of CP) or Hyatt, so I save URs for those programs.