I love credit cards so much! v6.0 - 2023 & 2024 (see first page for add'l details)

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

Chase restaurant offer spend $10 get $5 back has reappeared on my cards

Mine are back too. Also see that the $5 for both cards I used the offer on last week has credited, yay!

 

[havaneselover]

I'm going to keep loading $10 on my CFA app. Yippee!

 

[hsmamato2]

So,Ink CL, if I have 2, would they allow me to call in to transfer part of the CL from one to the other? (to utilize the 0% a bit more) or is that only allowed while app'ing? Also wondering about that new IHG premier cc...it's such a good offer, but apparently I can't be holding any other IHG cc to get it? I'm only 1 player now....

 

[palhockeymomof2]

So,Ink CL, if I have 2, would they allow me to call in to transfer part of the CL from one to the other? (to utilize the 0% a bit more) or is that only allowed while app'ing? Also wondering about that new IHG premier cc...it's such a good offer, but apparently I can't be holding any other IHG cc to get it? I'm only 1 player now....

Yes you can either call or SM chase to transfer CL

 

[nlenguyen]

For those who applied for the Capital One Venture X, was there a specific strategy you use leading up to applying?

I have done some research and found that it can be hard to get accepted. I also read that while some Capital One card applications are soft credit pulls, they do a hard pull for Venture X.

 

[nlenguyen]

Just got 2 emails from Chase that we redeemed the restaurant offer, for our purchases on 2/9. I did another Starbucks reload on 2/12, so we'll see. I'm still thinking glitch and they will reappear.

Does Starbucks purchases categorize as restaurant?

 

[jenmsmith]

Does Starbucks purchases categorize as restaurant?

Yes.

 

[calypso726]

Hoping this group can give me some guidance on card maximization! I have current cards listed and all travel plans listed below - would love to hear what the experts would do. The travel plans are aspirational, but I figure if I start early we might be able to pull it off!

Current cards:

• 04/21 - Chase Sapphire, Bonus Post Date 6/5/21, annual fee due 4/29/23, 48k points, Use for restaurants only. Keep open due to travel benefits?
• 05/22 - Chase Freedom Unlimited, Bonus Post Date 5/31/22, no annual fee, 47k points, Use for all other costs. Will keep open - no fee
• 05/22 - Southwest, Bonus Post Date 8/26/22, annual fee due 5/31/23, 37k miles, Use for daycare costs $1k/month, this is ending May 2023. End before annual fee due?
• 09/22 - BonVoy, Bonus Post Date 12/13/22, annual fee due 9/23/22, 41k miles, Keep open for free night each year?
• Forever - Disney, no annual fee, Use for Disney only
• Forever - Amazon, no annual fee, Use for Amazon only

Average spend on cards is $2k per month, with big spend each May of $5k for kids camps and Nov/Dec of $3k (have used these to get to past minimum spends) No Player 2 - husband has Costco card and refuses to budge.

Fly from Harrisburg (MDT), or drive to BWI for SW

Travel:

May 2023 CA: SW points already covered flights, BonVoy points covered partial lodging. Outstanding costs are AirBnB reserved by family member and rental car. Considering using UR points for car rental.

Summer 2023 Pittsburgh: Using remaining BonVoy points for hotel, no other significant costs.

August 2023 Denver: Need flights for two adults, flying from Harrisburg. Not considering using rewards but will sign up for loyalty program of whatever airline we fly.

May 2024 Disney World: Plan to transfer UR points to SW to pay for all flights for 2 adults/2 kids. Will do split stay, 2 nights via Disney and 4 nights via point rental. Will purchase tickets through third party vendor.

Feb/Mar 2025 Disney Cruise: If keeping BonVoy card will use yearly free night to stay at hotel night before cruise leaves. Would like to use points to pay for flights for 2 adults, 2 kids.

Summer 2026 CA and Disneyland: Would like to use hotel/airline rewards to pay for part of the trip, 1 adult, 2 kids.

2027 Hawaii: Would like to use airline rewards to pay for flights, 2 adults, 2 kids. Renting points to stay at Aulani, then want to stay in a vacation rental on another island.

2028 Australia: Would like to use airline rewards to pay for flights for 2 adults, 2 kids. Would go to Sydney, Uluru, and Great Barrier Reef. Unsure if doing vacation rentals or hotels

Love the user name LOL A good rule of thumb is to build a family of cards to maximize your spending. This is different for for each person, how they travel and their comfort level of applying for business cards etc. Another good rule of thumb is to always be earning an MSR.

Due to the Chase 5/24 rule, most will recommend to start with the Chase cards. It seems like you are at 4/24 with one dropping off in April. You didn't mention if your Sapphire was the Reserve or Preferred. In either case you need a premium card to transfer other UR points to that account in order to transfer to airlines or hotels as needed, or pay for travel via the UR portal with points at 1.25 pp (CSP) or 1.5 pp (CSR). If you cancel that card, you won't be able to transfer your points to airlines or hotels.

Personally, I like the Chase Ink Cash card which earns 5x at office supply stores, internet phone and cable for up to $25k in spend per year. The current sign up is 90k for $6k spend in 3 months which seems like you can swing. Then, refer your spouse to get one and get an additional 20k UR for the referral. Staples, OD/OM often have Visa gift card promotions with no activation fee. Most of us like to purchase those and get 5x and then use them at the grocery store, Costco, and all non bonus category spend. I also purchase Disney gift cards at 5x form the office supply store and use those to pay for my expenses at WDW and DLR and Disney cruises, Adventures by Disney etc. The card also has a 0% for purchases for the first 12 months so it's nice if you need to float a big expense for a bit and earn those points quickly.

The other Chase UR cards I think are worth keeping is either a CSR or CSP depending on how you use your points. A chase Freedom or Freedom Flex for the rotating 5x categories and the CFU which you already have.

That will earn you 212,000 UR to add to your current points leaving you with 300k+ UR points which is worth $3,750 with a CSP and $4,500 with a CSR. If you hold a CSP and plan to purchase your travel via the UR portal with points you'd probably want to product change the CSP to a CSR as the value of the points more than covers the AF and you'd have the $300 travel credit to use as well. I'd be sure to compare the cost of the SW flights via UR vs transfer and use Rapid Rewards. Sometimes, it is less to pay with points depending on which card you hold (CSP vs CSR) and you will also earn RR for your flight. Food for thought.

Now, onto travel hacking a trip. I always recommend planning two years out. Give yourself one year to earn the points you need and have them in place one year before you need to travel so you can book as soon as award availability opens up for the airlines or hotel you plan to use. You can use Google flights, point.me and flight connections to try and narrow down what airline you may need to get award miles with to use for you flights. You will also need to determine if you will have to position to another city in order to get the flight you need. Once you have plan A in place, realize that may not work for you when it comes time to pull the trigger and get a Plan B. More than once, I've had Plan A go up in smoke and this year, I wound up resorting to Plan D. Kinda glad because I actually am more excited about Plan D than I was about Plan A. Go figure. Hope all this helps

 

[iujen94]

Does anyone have suggestions for compression packing cubes? It may be a unicorn, but I’m looking for cubes where they have a size that will fit side by side in my Away Bigger Carry-On (so I can create two “stacks”, if that makes sense??) I ordered the LeanTravel ones from Amazon, and I like them in theory, but their sizes are so weird that they actually make packing less efficient.

 

[jujubiee4]

For those who applied for the Capital One Venture X, was there a specific strategy you use leading up to applying?

I have done some research and found that it can be hard to get accepted. I also read that while some Capital One card applications are soft credit pulls, they do a hard pull for Venture X.

Do you have any cards with them at all? I have gotten 2 preapproved emails for VentureX from them.
But I have had their regular Venture card for years so I assume that is the reason though I declined for
now.

 

[wanderlust7]

For those who applied for the Capital One Venture X, was there a specific strategy you use leading up to applying?

I have done some research and found that it can be hard to get accepted. I also read that while some Capital One card applications are soft credit pulls, they do a hard pull for Venture X.

Capital One pulls all 3 credit reports. I think that applies to all their cards. Amex is the only one I know of that often doesn't do hard pulls on existing customers.

Approval is unpredictable. Having a low number of inquiries and new cards should help, but it's not known where the limit is. There is also a theory that they like people who carry a balance.

 

[jujubiee4]

Soooo..... for all the people planning Japan for this year or next or so on are you paying cash
or using point/miles? If so which ones? Our 2020 trip was canceled so back to drawing board.
I am working on Amex platinum Sub and have some UR's (i rather keep those).

Anyone use Alaska miles to book? If I don't get this airfare brought down it will be sayonara Japan.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

The last offer that I haven't used is still disappeared.

I have the same issue.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Capital One pulls all 3 credit reports. I think that applies to all their cards. Amex is the only one I know of that often doesn't do hard pulls on existing customers.

Approval is unpredictable. Having a low number of inquiries and new cards should help, but it's not known where the limit is. There is also a theory that they like people who carry a balance.

For those who applied for the Capital One Venture X, was there a specific strategy you use leading up to applying?

I have done some research and found that it can be hard to get accepted. I also read that while some Capital One card applications are soft credit pulls, they do a hard pull for Venture X.

I was recently approved for the VentureX and followed the advice that I received here, which is to say that I carry a balance (I never do). Not sure if that helped me get instant approval, but something to keep in mind when applying.

 

[Haley R]

Soooo..... for all the people planning Japan for this year or next or so on are you paying cash
or using point/miles? If so which ones? Our 2020 trip was canceled so back to drawing board.
I am working on Amex platinum Sub and have some UR's (i rather keep those).

Anyone use Alaska miles to book? If I don't get this airfare brought down it will be sayonara Japan.

We’re planning to go next May and are gonna try flying JAL either booking through AA or BA depending on what’s available.

 

[Nala83]

Soooo..... for all the people planning Japan for this year or next or so on are you paying cash
or using point/miles? If so which ones? Our 2020 trip was canceled so back to drawing board.
I am working on Amex platinum Sub and have some UR's (i rather keep those).

Anyone use Alaska miles to book? If I don't get this airfare brought down it will be sayonara Japan.

I used Alaska miles to book Seattle-Tokyo. Round trip in economy was 70,000 plus $72 taxes/fees. I earned all of the miles with one SUB!

Edit to add: My flight is Alaska miles on JAL.

 

[jujubiee4]

I used Alaska miles to book Seattle-Tokyo. Round trip in economy was 70,000 plus $72 taxes/fees. I earned all of the miles with one SUB!

Edit to add: My flight is Alaska miles on JAL.

Thank you! This is what I was thinking. I downgraded my Alaska card to a reg BOFA cash card
and now thinking about applying again. Wonder if I should close the card first? I have read BOFA
is a tricky one....lol

**Ugh! just read about all the new negative changes with the card. What a bummer.

 

[jujubiee4]

We’re planning to go next May and are gonna try flying JAL either booking through AA or BA depending on what’s available.

Thank you. We are looking to go end of April beginning of May also and want to go on JAL also.

 

[sinnika]

Does anyone have suggestions for compression packing cubes? It may be a unicorn, but I’m looking for cubes where they have a size that will fit side by side in my Away Bigger Carry-On (so I can create two “stacks”, if that makes sense??) I ordered the LeanTravel ones from Amazon, and I like them in theory, but their sizes are so weird that they actually make packing less efficient.

I have the Away Bigger carry on and I use my ebags packing cubes I’ve owned for over 10 years! Those things compress so well with the mesh on top and those super strong zippers! I have done 2 international trips with the Away carry on only and personal bag. (Used to be the Away everywhere bag but just made the switch to the Afar backpack by Away.) My favorite sizes are the classic slims and the medium packing cubes. I also use the small cubes in my personal Away bag (26l backpack). I usually double stack the 2 mediums, and the 3 slims fit horizontally on their sides. I also use an Eagle creek packing folder (for dressier tops and dresses) to lay on top of the cubes before I compress it all down with the Away straps. On the other zippered side of the Away case, I have the ebags shoe holders and the ebags lie flat Toiletries bag, along with anything else that is not clothing. I do have one of the medium ebags compression cubes which I bring empty to pack additional new clothes or souvenirs. That one has a double zipper to extra compress stuff but I feel like the regular medium cubes work just as well.

 

[jujubiee4]

I was recently approved for the VentureX and followed the advice that I received here, which is to say that I carry a balance (I never do). Not sure if that helped me get instant approval, but something to keep in mind when applying.

I have their regular Venture and haven't carried a balance in years even using it regularly. I got pre
approval emails for VenX. So I definitely think YMMV. They must have some secret algorithm or maybe
they just pull out decisions from a hat. lol