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

[hsmamato2]

So I've seen this question with other cc brands.... what do y'all think? Hit the MSR on ihg premier,bonus awarded, then forgot I had a return of $200 coming back to card.... so I actually will be the af amount below MSR..... I'm hoping I just keep the points as is, and spend another $200 so they don't get fussy and claw them back?

 

[hsmamato2]

...and I forgot to add, I'm currently without an MSR, by some crazy miracle I keep hitting them and I'm wanting more, (but do I need more?) and kind of looking around for options...... last ink was 9/2 so I'm holding off on chase till at least December and hoping for something interesting to pop up (3 inks open)as per my last post I used to be all in on swa but not sure ATM(and there's nothing worth jumping at right now for them).....Barclays seems to like me with instant approval on the HA card last month....maybe JB time? I think it's smarter for me to wait for something that really catches my eye....

 

[Sheree]

...and I forgot to add, I'm currently without an MSR, by some crazy miracle I keep hitting them and I'm wanting more, (but do I need more?) and kind of looking around for options...... last ink was 9/2 so I'm holding off on chase till at least December and hoping for something interesting to pop up (3 inks open)as per my last post I used to be all in on swa but not sure ATM(and there's nothing worth jumping at right now for them).....Barclays seems to like me with instant approval on the HA card last month....maybe JB time? I think it's smarter for me to wait for something that really catches my eye....

in the same boat!

 

[Wood Nymph]

This is my first time posting to this thread. I had several different bank cards that did not have annual fees. I had always refused to get a card with annual fees. But when Southwest Airlines introduced their Rapid Rewards credit card with $400 cash back, and other perks, I caved. I chose the RR Premier card with an annual fee of $99 because it had better perks. And with $400 cash back I figure it will pay for of those annual charges. We fly with SWA at least 5 times a year, so it is worth it. I will drop the card if life circumstances change, and we don't travel as much.

 

[smallsy]

There's two different sets of RR points that can post, 1) SW credit card RRs, and 2) SW Hotels RRs.
Through the SW Hotel portal, these are prepaid hotel stays and these are the cc RRs that show up on your SW cc statement close date (obvs you have to pay with a SW cc for this). If the chosen SW Hotel also is offering bonus RRs for the stay, then those post after the stay is complete.

Earlier this year I booked a hotel using a SW Biz Performance card thru the portal and got 3xRRs. I booked a refundable rate, and cancelled down the road, and those 3xRRs were clawed back.

Ok, perfect, thanks. I'm look at stays with the bonus 10K+ RRs. Since the chase biz cards have been getting so many denials lately I may need a new strategy for the CP. I'm waiting to complete my SUB for the 85K RR from the personal after January 1st, and just trying to strategize when to book those stays.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

It's always so interesting to me to read that others experience JB in a now positive way than I have, and that "it's nicer than SWA." Quite the opposite for me!
Makes me wonder what I'm doing wrong, lol.

 

[djmeredith]

This is my first time posting to this thread. I had several different bank cards that did not have annual fees. I had always refused to get a card with annual fees. But when Southwest Airlines introduced their Rapid Rewards credit card with $400 cash back, and other perks, I caved. I chose the RR Premier card with an annual fee of $99 because it had better perks. And with $400 cash back I figure it will pay for of those annual charges. We fly with SWA at least 5 times a year, so it is worth it. I will drop the card if life circumstances change, and we don't travel as much.

Welcome! With those travel habits, you may want to consider churning the Companion Pass every 2 yrs through SUBs. That would you to take a free companion on every flight for 2 yrs, including flights booked on points.


I also avoided all AF cards until I started this hobby. Most of us here try to maximize use of the benefits on cards to help offset the annual fees (AFs). We also factor in the value of the SUB pts towards the first year AF. If you only go for high SUBs, it always pays for itself (and then some) the first year.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

So I've seen this question with other cc brands.... what do y'all think? Hit the MSR on ihg premier,bonus awarded, then forgot I had a return of $200 coming back to card.... so I actually will be the af amount below MSR..... I'm hoping I just keep the points as is, and spend another $200 so they don't get fussy and claw them back?

The IHG card is with Chase? They have not clawed back points in the past, but it's always good practice to make up the spend.

 

[Princess Michele]

Yesterday I said goodbye to my almost 18-year old dog. She took care of me throughout my 30s and most of my 40s. She was by my side through a difficult divorce and more recently my dad's passing. Until the last few days, she made me laugh everyday. I miss her terribly and don't know what to do without her. When I'm feeling better, though, I'll start planning a trip to Japan for May with DS (I haven't been apart from her for the last year or so because of her health).

​

So sorry for you loss. It is always difficult to loose a pet but especially one like yours who has been with you for so long and through so much. Hopefully your other dog will bring you as much joy and comfort as this one did.

 

[TheDailyMoo]

We live 10 minutes from the airport and have a SW CP so have flown them exclusively to MCO to visit or son who lives in Baldwin Park, don’t really travel anywhere else.
My daughter has booked JB for 9,000 points to MCO from there but usually the points are higher than SW.

It's always so interesting to me to read that others experience JB in a now positive way than I have, and that "it's nicer than SWA." Quite the opposite for me!
Makes me wonder what I'm doing wrong, lol.

And I always feel like I'm missing something with SW. I always want to get in on this companion pass but every time I look at ISP and their flights they are always just as expensive as a Delta or JB out of LGA or JFK. And their choice of times for direct flights never work well for us either. Perhaps it's because JB and Delta go out 11 months which allows me to grab great award flights when they first open up? I dunno but it does seem that people who know how to SW get some great deals!

 

[palhockeymomof2]

And I always feel like I'm missing something with SW. I always want to get in on this companion pass but every time I look at ISP and their flights they are always just as expensive as a Delta or JB out of LGA or JFK. And their choice of times for direct flights never work well for us either. Perhaps it's because JB and Delta go out 11 months which allows me to grab great award flights when they first open up? I dunno but it does seem that people who know how to SW get some great deals!

For us, since ISP is 10 minutes away max (we live in Holbrook) and we get the town of Islip parking pass for I think $55 for 2 years, plus the CP we are okay if the points( I have over 400k RR points) are sometimes higher to MCO(since we are only paying for 1 person) than a flight out of JFK or LGA on another airline landing and being home quickly works for us.
My sister lives in Massapequa and pays cash so she goes by the flight times and cost to decide what to book….If I lived where she does I’m sure I’d do the same

 

[Wood Nymph]

With those travel habits, you may want to consider churning the Companion Pass every 2 yrs through SUBs. That would you to take a free companion on every flight for 2 yrs, including flights booked on points.

I have never been able to qualify for a Companion pass in the past. I'm not sure if the SUB will get me there, but it will be interesting.

 

[becauseimnew]

After 3 years of 2 SW CPs I think 2025 is the first year we won’t have them. This hit hard, we usually use it 4 times a year. We take weekend trips just because we have 2 companion passes. We have a spring break trip that I was planning on having 2 CPs, now I don’t think we’ll even have one CP.

This is the worst part of the Chase train ending, at least for our family.

 

[platamama]

Ok, perfect, thanks. I'm look at stays with the bonus 10K+ RRs. Since the chase biz cards have been getting so many denials lately I may need a new strategy for the CP. I'm waiting to complete my SUB for the 85K RR from the personal after January 1st, and just trying to strategize when to book those stays.

Are you familiar with Plastiq? There is a 2.9% + $1.49 mailing fee for a physical check to be sent. I use it to help reach spend targets since not everything in my life is payable with cc directly (in my case, my kid's college sadly doesn't). But I have to make a call as to whether the fee is worth it or not. For a CP that lasts 2 years, it could be worth it.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

After 3 years of 2 SW CPs I think 2025 is the first year we won’t have them. This hit hard, we usually use it 4 times a year. We take weekend trips just because we have 2 companion passes. We have a spring break trip that I was planning on having 2 CPs, now I don’t think we’ll even have one CP.

This is the worst part of the Chase train ending, at least for our family.

Agree…. Between DH and I one of us has had the CP for years, with these new Chase DP I’m going to have to be more strategic going for the 2026/27one…also assuming SW doesn’t change the requirements. Probably 2 business application in 2025, will have to see how everything goes.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

On my Amex card I have a spend $250 get 25 back…don’t usually use Amex so not too familar….would buying a 250 Disney gift card in store work to get the $25 back ?

 

[DogCat]

I also have Amex questions. I have a Lowes Spend $200 get $50 back. I was thinking GCs were a no go with Lowes but maybe that’s just for MSR?

Also re MSR, I am “slowly" working on a Amex Hilton MSR that earns a FNC so I want to hit MSR toward the end of the 6 month period. What is the easiest way to verify the date and bonus amount?

 

[VGCgroupie]

I also have Amex questions. I have a Lowes Spend $200 get $50 back. I was thinking GCs were a no go with Lowes but maybe that’s just for MSR?

Also re MSR, I am “slowly" working on an Amex Hilton MSR that earns a FNC so I want to hit MSR toward the end of the 6 month period. What is the easiest way to verify the date and bonus amount?

This one does work on 3rd party GC purchased in store I did it on mine and DH cards, but with Amex I would be sure to subtract that from your msr total just to be safe.

 

[jujubiee4]

It's always so interesting to me to read that others experience JB in a now positive way than I have, and that "it's nicer than SWA." Quite the opposite for me!
Makes me wonder what I'm doing wrong, lol.

I have been very disappointed in JetBlue. They use to be my favorite airlines. I wish i could post the countless emails
they sent delaying and even canceling routes/flights I have booked. I booked 8 flights with them last year
for this year and they changed or flat out CANCELED each one. After using up all my travel credit I am cancelling
the card.

 

[jujubiee4]

Anyone have an opinion on the Citi Strata Premier with the new sub? I have a citi rewards card i never use
so wonder if i can get this. As cruising is our main travel expense i have got to get the cost down and would
love to use the sub as statement credit against DCL. I just don't see any other way except constantly looking
for discount Dis gift cards.