I love credit cards so much! v7.0 - 2025 (see first page for add'l details)

[FreeDiningFanatic]

About 5 days ago, I apped for the CapOne Venture and was denied; it didn't show up on the pre-approval but I tried anyways. Womp womp. Following that, I apped for a CIU (was denied in January) and was approved. At time of application, I had two biz cards open and 3/24 (though who knows with the biz credit report thing last week).

Also, I redeemed the Calm annual membership offer through CSR for about $4 in taxes (hasn't credited yet, but that's the plan).

And I did a local mattress run to keep IHG diamond status with a targeted 8 nt offer. This has historically gotten us a suite and breakfast for 2 at Kimpton Seafire, so the 8 nt mattress run was worth the offer. The mattress run also coincided with DD's 8 year relationship ending, so the hotel room ended up working out well while her partner moved out.

 

[georgina]

Has anyone used Orlando Informer to buy theme park tickets (Universal)? I want to get single day Epic Universe tickets, but I like the option of getting a refund on Orlando Informer if something happens and we can't go, rather than getting directly from Universal.
If anyone has used them, any problems using your tickets? Or getting the refund if you had to?
And does anyone know if they code as travel?

I did once buy a Universal parks ticket from them. No problems using it, I upgraded it to an AP. No experience with returns, don’t remember which card I used so can’t look back to see how it coded. I’m just guessing, but could possibly code as entertainment not travel.

 

[LynnTH]

My annual fee is due for my AMEX Delta Plat Card. (this was originally the Delta Gold Biz and was upgraded to Delta Plat). I chatted to downgrade back to Gold and they said they are unable to do that any more. That I can just apply for the Gold again - yeah, well doesn't work when in pop-up jail.... Is this a thing now - cannot DG to Delta Biz Gold??

 

[afan]

My annual fee is due for my AMEX Delta Plat Card. (this was originally the Delta Gold Biz and was upgraded to Delta Plat). I chatted to downgrade back to Gold and they said they are unable to do that any more. That I can just apply for the Gold again - yeah, well doesn't work when in pop-up jail.... Is this a thing now - cannot DG to Delta Biz Gold??

Call, amex chat is notorious for being incompetent.

 

[LynnTH]

Call, amex chat is notorious for being incompetent.

Thanks. I will try that!

 

[elgerber]

My annual fee is due for my AMEX Delta Plat Card. (this was originally the Delta Gold Biz and was upgraded to Delta Plat). I chatted to downgrade back to Gold and they said they are unable to do that any more. That I can just apply for the Gold again - yeah, well doesn't work when in pop-up jail.... Is this a thing now - cannot DG to Delta Biz Gold??

Ha good lordy I hope not, I have a plat that will need to switch back eventually. I have moved mine up and down over and over.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Ha good lordy I hope not, I have a plat that will need to switch back eventually. I have moved mine up and down over and over.

I have two Plats that I expect to move back down in November!
But yeah, I think Amex chat doesn't always know what they're doing

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Anybody flown Starlux Airlines before? They seem to get good reviews from the bloggers. But man, the points are so expensive!

Only option I'm seeing to fly to Taiwan in biz around Christmas so I booked it @ 175K per person for Dec 24 out of SFO. Took up most of out Alaska miles. But they're refundable if I find something else, I just doubt it since that's such a busy traveling time.

I booked my parents on Starlux (economy) from TPE to KIX (Kyoto) when I couldn't find any decent fares or reward tickets when I had to reposition them from Taiwan to Japan for their Biz flight HND-ORD-MIA. It was 15k Alaska Air miles + $28.20 per person for economy. I transferred 30k points from my Dad's Bilt card to Alaska Air to reserve the Starlux tickets.

They said it was very nice. It was a short flight, so economy was fine.

It is hard to maximize the CPP when travel plans are not flexible or last minute. I was just happy to minimize any OOP costs for my parents.

I'll have to ask how they managed that..... What sort of doc would have a reason for the difference? I think they just used her middle name her whole life and when she became an adult she just filled out the paper work with her name she used(?) the only one it's the actual name is birth cert..... does GE use passport for Id? or the birth cert makes a difference?

I only bought in my passport for GE interview. I would think that whatever name she actually travels under, which should be whatever is on her passport, would be what should be on her GE, regardless of what is on her birth certificate.

I mainly use my maiden name professionally and on all my credit cards, etc. However, I finally changed to my married name on my passport when it was time to renew recently after 25 years!

And THEN I had to change all my frequent flyer account names to my married name so that they all match when traveling. The GE would have to match and be in my married name as well otherwise, it won't apply to any tickets issued not in the same name.

My CSP is still in my maiden name as well as all my Chase bank accounts (personal and business). Therefore, I didn't want to mess with the name. So, when I needed to transfer URs to airlines, I couldn't because the names don't match exactly. I have to combine all URs into PP2's (DH) CSR account and then transfer to his airline account and have him use miles for both our tickets.

I was planning to downgrade my CSP this fall and apply for the CSR as my 48 months is coming up, but now I need to seriously think about applying in my married name so that it matches all my airline frequent flyer account names. My Hyatt account is in my maiden name, so I will have to change that as well.

 

[Sheree]

the amex plat offer is 250k MR
I have used the 300k I have but...

anyway, how do you maximize the fee? Can the $200 travel credit be used for united TB like my personal? then the $200 del.
don't need clear, tsa or indeed.

thoughts?

 

[afan]

Amex 1/90 is only for charge cards right? The dl offer ends 4/2 but I was approved for the bbp on 1/17.

 

[disneylover81]

This was years ago, but I SM'd from my personal account to have my first Chase biz expedited and they processed it.

Update - I SM'd from his personal account to have it expedited and that did the trick. It came in yesterday so I have been a busy bee today charging it up. I just got him the $3k MSR card with the $99 AF since we were in a hurry. I renewed our AP's today $2k, purchased MMB $99, bought 24 OTU points for the price of 12 $240, paid our phone bill $250. So less than $350 away from earning CP.

It shows a due date of 5/4/25, no closing date shown yet. Our trip is 5/4/25-5/11/25. I wonder if his CP status will be updated by then so I can cancel my flight and get my RR points back in my account. I am hoping it is instant, as soon as the first statement closes. I can't remember how fast it was 2 years ago when I earned it, but we also weren't in a time crunch like this either.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Update - I SM'd from his personal account to have it expedited and that did the trick. It came in yesterday so I have been a busy bee today charging it up. I just got him the $3k MSR card with the $99 AF since we were in a hurry. I renewed our AP's today $2k, purchased MMB $99, bought 24 OTU points for the price of 12 $240, paid our phone bill $250. So less than $350 away from earning CP.

It shows a due date of 5/4/25, no closing date shown yet. Our trip is 5/4/25-5/11/25. I wonder if his CP status will be updated by then so I can cancel my flight and get my RR points back in my account. I am hoping it is instant, as soon as the first statement closes. I can't remember how fast it was 2 years ago when I earned it, but we also weren't in a time crunch like this either.

Based on the first due date…the first statement should close 4/7/25…points should post within 2 days and CP after that…so you should be fine for your trip

 

[VGCgroupie]

the amex plat offer is 250k MR
I have used the 300k I have but...

anyway, how do you maximize the fee? Can the $200 travel credit be used for united TB like my personal? then the $200 del.
don't need clear, tsa or indeed.

thoughts?

I believe it can be used for United Travel bank based on things I have seen reported, Im sure someone else here can confirm. I did the Delta "hack" and got my $200 travel credit. Before June you can still get $200 at Dell. $10 per month credit for paying cell phone bill. $50 per quarter Hilton (currently GC are still sold out)

 

[calypso726]

This thread is gold for anyone looking to maximize points! I’m currently working on my Chase trifecta and debating whether to add an Amex Gold for groceries. Anyone have experience juggling both Chase UR and Amex MR?

Many of us do. I like to think of point currencies like diversifying a financial portfolio. I don't want all my eggs in one basket. In addition to Chase URs and Amex URs, I also keep Citi Thank You Points. I will likely add Cap1 down the line. Additionally, various hotel programs and their points are beneficial when it comes to mitigating vacation costs for some of us. Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG, Wyndham etc.

 

[hsmamato2]

About 5 days ago, I apped for the CapOne Venture and was denied; it didn't show up on the pre-approval but I tried anyways. Womp womp. Following that, I apped for a CIU (was denied in January) and was approved. At time of application, I had two biz cards open and 3/24 (though who knows with the biz credit report thing last week).

Also, I redeemed the Calm annual membership offer through CSR for about $4 in taxes (hasn't credited yet, but that's the plan).

And I did a local mattress run to keep IHG diamond status with a targeted 8 nt offer. This has historically gotten us a suite and breakfast for 2 at Kimpton Seafire, so the 8 nt mattress run was worth the offer. The mattress run also coincided with DD's 8 year relationship ending, so the hotel room ended up working out well while her partner moved out.

my 'womp womp' moment from last week is app'ing for cap1,instant approval, and my screenshots that I thought I took were only partial screenshots so now I know I used a 100k offer page but have no screenshot to prove it in case they only give me the 75k...

 

[hsmamato2]

I got the Hawaiian Personal Card back in October. I just checked, and I received the 50% off companion certificate 2 weeks after approval.

wait... you get a companion pass offer with the one purchase bonus offer? where do I find this info?

 

[trenty]

This thread is gold for anyone looking to maximize points! I’m currently working on my Chase trifecta and debating whether to add an Amex Gold for groceries. Anyone have experience juggling both Chase UR and Amex MR?

I don't have the Amex Gold, but I collect URs and MRs. To me, URs are more valuable, but I always find a use for my MRs. A diversified points portfolio is good, because things are always changing. I don't go beyond MRs and URs though sometimes I think about venturing beyond......

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

I don't have the Amex Gold, but I collect URs and MRs. To me, URs are more valuable, but I always find a use for my MRs. A diversified points portfolio is good, because things are always changing. I don't go beyond MRs and URs though sometimes I think about venturing beyond......

I'm addition to MRs and URs, I like having points with AA and Alaska. Also keep a Delta CC for 15% off point bookings.

 

[elgerber]

I see that P2's Ink has been removed from TransUnion now

 

[afan]

Applied and was approved for dl biz card, whatever the middle one is. Has a 6 month spend which I'll need but this with the bbp i got in Jan will hopefully lower my recent inquiries enough that if i put some spend on a personal card or 3, cap 1 will finally approve me for a venture x.