I love credit cards so much! v5.0 - 2022 (see first page for add'l details)

[iujen94]

They do, but I think it's rather rare to be denied by Amex. Does he have any of his credit reports frozen? That's one reason I can think of for it to go pending. Or just a system issue, in which case it should work it's way out. Or he can call to have it pushed through.

No credit reports frozen. His last card was the CapOne Venture X in November. If it were me, I’d call, but since it’s my reluctant P2, I guess we’ll wait.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

No credit reports frozen. His last card was the CapOne Venture X in November. If it were me, I’d call, but since it’s my reluctant P2, I guess we’ll wait.

Sending he’s approved…my DH definitely would not call either ..he is fine with me applying for cards with his okay and loves reaping the rewards of my planning but will not participate in any way

 

[IFlossU]

No credit reports frozen. His last card was the CapOne Venture X in November. If it were me, I’d call, but since it’s my reluctant P2, I guess we’ll wait.

This happens to DH and myself with all of our recent AMEX applications. Typically get an approval email in 3 business days. No calling or further action required on our part. I think you should get a response in the next few days.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

P2 applied for the AMEX Gold today using my referral link and got a “we need more time” message. I’m relatively new to AMEX - is there a status line I can stalk (like Chase), or anything I can do but sit and wait? Also, anything to read into the message he got?
View attachment 654260

Yes, it is. Does AMEX have reconsideration, like Chase? Realllllly hoping he won’t have to call.

For my husband's first Amex biz card, we got a "we need you to call" type message. I wrote up a cheat sheet for him and convinced him to call. Turns out it was just an automated line that verified his identity. Hope it's something simple like that and it works its way through. Good luck!

 

[ElizaDoesDisney]

I'm sure this has been discussed so I'll apologize now. We need to look into a card that gets points that can be used for hotels, perferably more than one brand. If this season of youth wrestling has taught me anything it's that lodging is the very worst part of planning lol. We have a hilton aspire so we have plenty of points there. But we need another option. We had the state tournament this weekend and the hotel situation was awful. Not nearly enough rooms for 1400 wrestlers, a bowling tournament and a basketball tournament in the same weekend lol. I'm at 3/24. I do not have one of the premium Chase cards yet. So maybe that? Or would something else be better?

And only sort of related, my 7 year old took 2nd place!!! In his 1st year of being able to even qualify for state. Our little team of 40 total wrestlers only had 3 state qualifiers. the other 2 took 1st place in their brackets. And overall our team took 3rd place in Class II which is pretty impressive since there were teams with 10 or more wrestlers who went. #mombrag over

In your situation - I'd look towards adding Marriott and/or IHG. Those two each have a ton of options even in smaller towns. Chase transfers to both programs, so maybe target Chase URs. Hyatt gets talked about a lot more as a Chase transfer partner because it gives outsized value, but for your use case the MR/IHG transfers might make sense.

 

[disneyfan150]

Hello Friendly Fellow Dis Fans!
I had started following this thread a while back and then life got in the way of my credit card planning dreams. Today I found out that my bank is making changes. So I may take my money to a new bank. Which brings me here because I may get another credit card. Better yet, I need to follow you guys again to figure out how to save on future vacations.

-I have no credit card debit.
-I have not applied for a credit card in well over two years.
-I spend about $1,200/mo. or more on my card.
-My cc is through my bank at the moment.
-As soon as I make a purchase, I immediately transfer the money from my checking to my cc online in order to keep a $0 balance.
-Once a month, I withdraw my cash back from the ATM and put it in my Minnie Mouse piggy bank at home. Watching the cash grow gives me incentive to keep saving for trips.
-I am a teacher. I really only travel in the summer.
-My goal would be to save for an undetermined summer trip in 2023.

I am thinking of changing my checking acct. to Chase b/c they have a $250 cash offer for opening a new checking account with them. I am hoping their online platform will allow me to make transfers from my checking to a Chase cc as I am currently able to do. I would also have to open a new Chase cc.

Should I open a regular cash back card with Chase, maybe a Sapphire Reserve, or do something else?

Thoughts anyone?

 

[kayteekt]

I have used my CSR at Disney restaurants last year and was able to use PYB on the charges

I just used PYB this week for some Disney dining! Such a nice feature to have

Perfect, thank you both!

 

[GZanta77]

Hello Friendly Fellow Dis Fans!
I had started following this thread a while back and then life got in the way of my credit card planning dreams. Today I found out that my bank is making changes. So I may take my money to a new bank. Which brings me here because I may get another credit card. Better yet, I need to follow you guys again to figure out how to save on future vacations.

-I have no credit card debit.
-I have not applied for a credit card in well over two years.
-I spend about $1,200/mo. or more on my card.
-My cc is through my bank at the moment.
-As soon as I make a purchase, I immediately transfer the money from my checking to my cc online in order to keep a $0 balance.
-Once a month, I withdraw my cash back from the ATM and put it in my Minnie Mouse piggy bank at home. Watching the cash grow gives me incentive to keep saving for trips.
-I am a teacher. I really only travel in the summer.
-My goal would be to save for an undetermined summer trip in 2023.

I am thinking of changing my checking acct. to Chase b/c they have a $250 cash offer for opening a new checking account with them. I am hoping their online platform will allow me to make transfers from my checking to a Chase cc as I am currently able to do. I would also have to open a new Chase cc.

Should I open a regular cash back card with Chase, maybe a Sapphire Reserve, or do something else?

Thoughts anyone?

Welcome @disneyfan150.

Seems to me you are primed and ready to delve into the world of Chase Ultimate Rewards (URs). The Chase Sapphire Reserve(CSR) you mentioned is a Premium card with a $550 annual fee (which many consider good value) but I would suggest the Chase Sapphire Preferred might be a better fit for you. Unfortunately, the sign up bonus (SUB) on the CSP is not at one of the higher levels right now. It is still 60,000 URs, but it has been as high as 100,000 URs in recent times. URs are an excellent reward currency - they can be used to book travel, transferred to airlines/hotels reward programs, spent on Amazon, exchanged for gift cards or yes, even cashed out as a statement credit.

However, I might suggest you dip you toe into the Chase UR system with a Chase Freedom Flex. This has comes with a $200 (20,000) SUB and is currently offering 5% back on all gas purchases for one year. It also has rotating 5% categories that change each quarter. Then, after a few months, keep your eye on the SUB for the CSP and then consider applying for that once the SUB hits 80,000 URs or higher.

To get the most out of URs, you will have to change your focus to growing your UR balance rather than withdrawing the cash back to your piggy bank. Leaving your rewards in the form of URs will give you the most flexibility when the time comes to use them. If necessary, you can always cash them out for a statement credit at any time.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Well much as I thought and going against what the 800-OD number said, the $400 charged to my card, and the $200 credit they issued immediately. So now I get the fun of fighting/arguing for the $200 back on the $100 VGC that's not been activated at all. UGH.

Does anyone know, if I book Bonvoy FNC now (before the deval) for random dates, can I just call to have the dates changed? Or would I have to book at the new rate if there is one? I really need to figure out where to use these FAST! The BF does have 2 weekends off next month....maybe we can get away, LOL. My son called me out today for all my travel. Sad thing is I've only done 2 trips this year....they just bought were awesome hotel stays and 2 weeks apart, LOL.

If you decide to go through Toronto I don't think that you'll have an issue with flights. I was just able to book dd and I return flights on AC with points from Dublin on May 19th in biz class last week. There was a lot of availability. We will fly from Edinburgh to Dublin on May 15th (the day we were supposed to fly home) -- I booked flight with 60k Avios in biz class + $4 in taxes.

For hotels, if you're looking for Hilton, there is the very highly rated DoubleTree Morrison and the Conrad; there is also a very highly rated Hyatt Centric and an ALoft (the DT, Hyatt and ALoft are all in the Liberties). The Liberties is a gentrified area across the Ha'penny bridge from the Temple Bar district and close to the Guiness store. The Hyatt, ALoft and DoubleTree are highly rated on TA, so it will depend on what points you want to use. I'd probably go with the DT since you can get a night free if you stay for 5 nights (and they are easier to accumulate these days).

Thank you! This helps. Toronto is for sure an option since it's only a 4 hour drive. That's assuming Canada is back to "normal" of course. You'd think being so close I'd know that, LOL. I guess I really need to pin down the dates we want to go. All I do know is we have to be there on 3/17, LOL. Her dad wants to come too. She doesn't want him to go really. So I told her we can have her dad come towards the end of our trip and then she can stay some more days with him. I mean I can't tell him no! But I'm also not planning **** for him. He had a CSR and rather than as me what to do, he cashed out his points for Amazon. UGH. He keeps telling the kids he wants to do Cali with them....but then doesn't take the effort to plan anything.

Hello Friendly Fellow Dis Fans!
I had started following this thread a while back and then life got in the way of my credit card planning dreams. Today I found out that my bank is making changes. So I may take my money to a new bank. Which brings me here because I may get another credit card. Better yet, I need to follow you guys again to figure out how to save on future vacations.

-I have no credit card debit.
-I have not applied for a credit card in well over two years.
-I spend about $1,200/mo. or more on my card.
-My cc is through my bank at the moment.
-As soon as I make a purchase, I immediately transfer the money from my checking to my cc online in order to keep a $0 balance.
-Once a month, I withdraw my cash back from the ATM and put it in my Minnie Mouse piggy bank at home. Watching the cash grow gives me incentive to keep saving for trips.
-I am a teacher. I really only travel in the summer.
-My goal would be to save for an undetermined summer trip in 2023.

I am thinking of changing my checking acct. to Chase b/c they have a $250 cash offer for opening a new checking account with them. I am hoping their online platform will allow me to make transfers from my checking to a Chase cc as I am currently able to do. I would also have to open a new Chase cc.

Should I open a regular cash back card with Chase, maybe a Sapphire Reserve, or do something else?

Thoughts anyone?

I'm a teacher too! I have about 73 Chase accounts (LOL) I've been banking with them since I was born (well the banks they took over). I don't just stick to one card, or one "currency". I love my Hilton cards (a lot recently), my IHG card, I have like 500k URs, I have MRs, I have AA miles, I have Delta miles, etc. In Feb I used my Hilton points to stay at the Dipolmat in Hollywood Beach and was upgraded to a $5k/nt suite. Last week I used my Hilton FNC to stay in an all inclusive in Mexico. This summer I'm using my AA miles and my IHG points to take my kids to NC and spend a week at the beach "free". I don't have any kind of "travel savings" so I see the points I earn and get from SUB, etc as my savings plan. Last week I just (finally) got the free Hilton card to add 70k and another FNC to my HIlton stash. I'll likely jump on the IHG Biz card to reload my IHG stash. And I just did an offer to earn some extra AA miles.

 

[DaveL]

Looks like the Freedom categories for April - June are Amazon and "Select" streaming services.

 

[platamama]

Per DoC, the Venture X dropped to 75K SUB with $4K/3mo MSR, no more $200 AirBnB/VRBO credit. Not as good as it was, but easier to hit the MSR.

 

[elgerber]

Per DoC, the Venture X dropped to 75K SUB with $4K/3mo MSR, no more $200 AirBnB/VRBO credit. Not as good as it was, but easier to hit the MSR.

For those of us that applied with the $200 credit, does anyone know how long we have to use it?

 

[iujen94]

For those of us that applied with the $200 credit, does anyone know how long we have to use it?

I believe it’s within the first year that you have the card (that’s what I’ve got on my credit card spreadsheet )

 

[iujen94]

P2 applied for the AMEX Gold today using my referral link and got a “we need more time” message. I’m relatively new to AMEX - is there a status line I can stalk (like Chase), or anything I can do but sit and wait? Also, anything to read into the message he got?
View attachment 654260

P2’s approval came by email just a few minutes ago! Thanks for the pixie dust and for talking me off the ledge last night

 

[elgerber]

I believe it’s within the first year that you have the card (that’s what I’ve got on my credit card spreadsheet )

Thanks!!!

 

[becauseimnew]

Welcome @disneyfan150.

Seems to me you are primed and ready to delve into the world of Chase Ultimate Rewards (URs). The Chase Sapphire Reserve(CSR) you mentioned is a Premium card with a $550 annual fee (which many consider good value) but I would suggest the Chase Sapphire Preferred might be a better fit for you. Unfortunately, the sign up bonus (SUB) on the CSP is not at one of the higher levels right now. It is still 60,000 URs, but it has been as high as 100,000 URs in recent times. URs are an excellent reward currency - they can be used to book travel, transferred to airlines/hotels reward programs, spent on Amazon, exchanged for gift cards or yes, even cashed out as a statement credit.

However, I might suggest you dip you toe into the Chase UR system with a Chase Freedom Flex. This has comes with a $200 (20,000) SUB and is currently offering 5% back on all gas purchases for one year. It also has rotating 5% categories that change each quarter. Then, after a few months, keep your eye on the SUB for the CSP and then consider applying for that once the SUB hits 80,000 URs or higher.

To get the most out of URs, you will have to change your focus to growing your UR balance rather than withdrawing the cash back to your piggy bank. Leaving your rewards in the form of URs will give you the most flexibility when the time comes to use them. If necessary, you can always cash them out for a statement credit at any time.

@GZanata77
You might want to go to a Chase branch to apply for the CSP. There are reports of better SUB. AF waived the first year + 80K URs.
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/targ...ints-signup-bonus-with-4000-spend-mail-offer/

 

[eticketplease]

Welcome @disneyfan150.

Seems to me you are primed and ready to delve into the world of Chase Ultimate Rewards (URs). The Chase Sapphire Reserve(CSR) you mentioned is a Premium card with a $550 annual fee (which many consider good value) but I would suggest the Chase Sapphire Preferred might be a better fit for you. Unfortunately, the sign up bonus (SUB) on the CSP is not at one of the higher levels right now. It is still 60,000 URs, but it has been as high as 100,000 URs in recent times. URs are an excellent reward currency - they can be used to book travel, transferred to airlines/hotels reward programs, spent on Amazon, exchanged for gift cards or yes, even cashed out as a statement credit.

However, I might suggest you dip you toe into the Chase UR system with a Chase Freedom Flex. This has comes with a $200 (20,000) SUB and is currently offering 5% back on all gas purchases for one year. It also has rotating 5% categories that change each quarter. Then, after a few months, keep your eye on the SUB for the CSP and then consider applying for that once the SUB hits 80,000 URs or higher.

To get the most out of URs, you will have to change your focus to growing your UR balance rather than withdrawing the cash back to your piggy bank. Leaving your rewards in the form of URs will give you the most flexibility when the time comes to use them. If necessary, you can always cash them out for a statement credit at any time.

I totally agree. The main reason I use the reserve is for Primary Rental Car coverage the second is the 3x on dining. If you can now get the 3x dining on the Flex which has no fee to carry. You will also the get the 20,000 CUR points after only spending $500

 

[wanderlust7]

Spent a lovely weekend at the Alila Napa Valley. All we did was eat lol. I put up a review here Alila Napa Valley

Already got my 2022 points from the Bonus Journeys promo. Plus points for the pre-tax and tip cost of the second breakfast even though it was comped for being Globalist lol.

 

[havaneselover]

It’s a good thing I get the general voicemails at work because Amex corporate keeps leaving me messages on my office’s general voicemail box asking me to call them back. It’s a sales call and I’m ignoring them at all costs.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Called AmEx this morning for a retention offer on my gold card. Was offered 30k MRs for $3,000 spend over 3 months. Considering that I haven't used the card since July I thought it was a decent offer. I didn't accept it yet because I have to figure out if I can complete the spend. I'm only 1/3 of the way on my $7.5k CIU spend and am hesitant to take on any more. Plus I'd like to get dd the Hilton Surpass before the current offer ends on the 31st and would have to complete that spend as well.