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

[reliev]

I had a feeling all the big changes coming signaled the end of an era....

I've been getting better deals on Delta on some routes I hope the prices come back down. But from the shift I've seen everyone is going to go premium + fc to get people to fly them more since Delta is the most profitable airline I wouldn't be surprised as much as we don't like if thresholds went up for everything.

 

[happ]

Frustrating fail. I purchased 2 $500 virtual visa GCs from vanillagift during the last fee-free sale to use toward my property taxes. These have always worked for payments in the past, but now they're not working. They just get declined. I even tried running a smaller amount in case they were putting a hold or something, but that didn't work either. There's no way to register these virtual cards, so that's not it. When I look them up on vanillagift it shows they're active, the correct balance, and the declined charge. I'm assuming I'm just out of luck on using them toward my taxes which stinks since they only charge 3.95 for debit card payments, but 2.5% for cc. Does anyone have suggestions on what to do with the 1k of virtual GCs?

 

[StephPlum]

My plan for 2026 is Africa. I was hoping to fly QSuites to either Cape Town or Johannesburg. I've been reading/researching on how to book Q Suites with points. Whenever I search I can't find any award availability. Not sure if I am looking on the right airlines or at the right time. Does anyone have a good article/site that explains how to do this or can share how they booked QSuites? I am looking at traveling in June/July/August 2026 so I think I have some time to figure this out. Not worried about points as multiple currencies to use. I just can't figure out where to search and when. Thanks.

 

[StephPlum]

Just saw that Alaska Airlines upped their CC offer from 70K miles to 75K. I just got this card. Any hope to match the better offer or just bad timing?

 

[sky13]

Interesting take on this... I didn't even think about getting day tickets AND night tickets and just staying... that might actually be a super convenient idea and esp if they let you in a little early! I'm mostly interested in seeing the pangolin, tasmanian devil, hyenas and doing the rhino feeding for $10 during the night safari.
Sounds like using the subway to get there is easy enough, and then maybe we'd just do Grab back to the hotel after.

Have you or @sky13 done Windsor Nature Park? I've also read good things about that, appears to be free, and seems to be in the same vicinity as the zoo. Mostly would be interested in walking around trying to see the monkeys, and see other wildlife.

I actually had to google Windsor Nature Park, it wasn't on my radar at all!

Looks like it's in the vicinity of MacRitchie. I know some people who like to go walking in that area, it's quite popular I think. The last time I went there was many many years ago - don't really have much impression of it except that I rather liked the Tree Top walk! Unfortunately don't know enough to comment about anything else about it...

I think we are going to be at TDL around the same time, because I also booked an Unlimited Package there and Frozen will be closed (I think it's a short 2 week closure) but we did get the other rides. We've never been before.

Yes possibly - I'm there in mid May! Disappointed about the Frozen closure, but there will be so many other things to do there... Plus the unlimited package just looks so amazing! I've been before but many years ago, and going with people who haven't been before... really hoping they will like TDR!

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

I actually had to google Windsor Nature Park, it wasn't on my radar at all!

Looks like it's in the vicinity of MacRitchie. I know some people who like to go walking in that area, it's quite popular I think. The last time I went there was many many years ago - don't really have much impression of it except that I rather liked the Tree Top walk! Unfortunately don't know enough to comment about anything else about it...

Yes, the Tree Top Walk is one of the things of interest to me in the area as well! Glad to hear you had a good impression of it I'll have to see if we can fit it into our limited schedule!

 

[hsmamato2]

Just saw that Alaska Airlines upped their CC offer from 70K miles to 75K. I just got this card. Any hope to match the better offer or just bad timing?

was your offer the one purchase offer?

 

[LynnTH]

For the IRS it was $5000 for 2024, $2500 for 2025, $600 in 2026. Unless your state has a different threshold.

And a 1099 isn’t that much extra work if you keep an excel spreadsheet. I used to do it when I ran an eBay business.

What do you keep track of in the spreadsheet? I too stopped at $600 cuz I didn't want to get taxed on my own stuff I sold. But would like to clean out more stuff - but not sure what I should be keeping track of??

 

[StephPlum]

was your offer the one purchase offer?

no spend $3000 in 3 months for 70K miles.

 

[LynnTH]

I could maybe do another US Bank biz. Who is our US Bank expert? I have a Leverage and a Triple Cash. The latter I got in the first portion of October. Thoughts on another one of those or suggestions on a different one?

Not an expert - but have getting these in between Chase Cards. (AMEX mostly hates us too).
Me - March Triple Cash, April Biz Alt Connect and October Triple Cash again
DH - July Triple Cash, August Biz Alt Connect and November Trip Cash again.

All with high credit limits.

 

[calypso726]

My plan for 2026 is Africa. I was hoping to fly QSuites to either Cape Town or Johannesburg. I've been reading/researching on how to book Q Suites with points. Whenever I search I can't find any award availability. Not sure if I am looking on the right airlines or at the right time. Does anyone have a good article/site that explains how to do this or can share how they booked QSuites? I am looking at traveling in June/July/August 2026 so I think I have some time to figure this out. Not worried about points as multiple currencies to use. I just can't figure out where to search and when. Thanks.

I booked Qsuites for our Africa trip this year, flying from Miami into Nairobi. I would make sure you are searching to and from airports that Qatar services and then make sure the plane is equipped with Qsuites. Availability on AA is not easy to find. I booked straight on Qatar. The calendar opens at 361 days out. I hope this helps.

 

[jujubiee4]

For any cruisers out there with a BOFA card I logged on today and saw offers of 150 back for booking
Celebrity or Royal Caribbean.

 

[wanderlust7]

Just cleared out my US Bank rewards balances <$25 by reloading Amazon and paying with points (at 1 cent per point). Got the idea from r/churning. Connect biz and Triple Cash biz are in $25 increments, which is very annoying. Glad to be able to use it up.

 

[Twilghtsprkle]

What do you keep track of in the spreadsheet? I too stopped at $600 cuz I didn't want to get taxed on my own stuff I sold. But would like to clean out more stuff - but not sure what I should be keeping track of??

Cost of goods sold, shipping costs (actual shipping & cost of packaging), eBay fees. You deduct that from sales amount when you fill out a schedule C. You need to keep receipts in case you get audited.

 

[platamama]

Absolutely! He has been an AU for 8 of so years now. I think there is a path to take. Like starting with Discover?

The first cc opened by my kid at 18 was the Chase Freedom Rise that is geared toward students. No AF, earns 1.5URs and the only SUB was $25 if enrolled in autopay. Once 1 year rolled around, Chase automatically upgraded it to the Freedom Unlimited and the CL increased. Unfortunately for me, my kid has no interest in being a true P3 right now. Maybe someday.

 

[elgerber]

Not sure if you all remember my post a couple of months ago, about my dd's Amex Delta app, that wanted additional docs, but we didn't know if she would get the bonus miles when she was approved. She got no popup, and the card wasn't approved until she sent that stuff, and their chat could not confirm either, they could confirm what the bonus was she applied for, but not if she was actually eligible. Well she met the spend on Friday and the 80000 bonus miles are now in her account

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

My plan for 2026 is Africa. I was hoping to fly QSuites to either Cape Town or Johannesburg. I've been reading/researching on how to book Q Suites with points. Whenever I search I can't find any award availability. Not sure if I am looking on the right airlines or at the right time. Does anyone have a good article/site that explains how to do this or can share how they booked QSuites? I am looking at traveling in June/July/August 2026 so I think I have some time to figure this out. Not worried about points as multiple currencies to use. I just can't figure out where to search and when. Thanks.

I was book able to book my QSuites through the BA website as soon as the seats dropped. It's important to know what Qatar's hubs in the US are and be willing to position there. I also practiced booking them for several days beforehand so I would be ready to go as soon as they dropped.

I was reading on OMAAT that Lufthansa hasn't been releasing either biz or first class seats on points since the new year. Though their planes are mostly old and not the best layout they were always a reliable way to get to FRA and onwards in Europe on points. Hoping that they start releasing seats soon because it would be a major blow otherwise. Ds and I are flying with them to FRA (then to Copenhagen, then hopping on Singapore Air to Singapore) on the 19th in biz in a 2x2 layout. I'm not fussed about 2 transfers but AC cancelled our direct flight to Copenhagen so there weren't any other options. Fingers crossed for no snow here, Frankfurt or Copenhagen.

 

[georgina]

Not an expert - but have getting these in between Chase Cards. (AMEX mostly hates us too).
Me - March Triple Cash, April Biz Alt Connect and October Triple Cash again
DH - July Triple Cash, August Biz Alt Connect and November Trip Cash again.

All with high credit limits.

I have been having trouble with Chase Ink lately, so your post inspired me to try for the triple cash. Got a 7-10 day message, with a 'we may contact you' added (which frightens me!). Any idea what they may ask?

 

[Judique]

This may be old news but I went to buy my Hilton gift card today (and pay with my Surpass) and there's a big banner saying they have a 'shortage'.

Dear Hilton Gift Card Purchasing Consumer - due to an unforeseen inventory shortage of Hilton Gift Cards, RPG has been instructed to temporarily suspend the sales of Hilton gift cards until card inventory is replenished, by the Hilton Program Management Team. We are expecting replenished inventory to be available within the next eight weeks. RPG, along with the Hilton Gift Card Management Team, apologizes for this unexpected delay, and appreciates your understanding as we work closely with all relevant parties to resolve this shortage as expediently as possible.

If anyone notices them back in stock, please post.

 

[Haley R]

We are starting to maybe look at flying to London next year in premium economy (doing a day flight because ds absolutely refuses to sleep on a plane). We’re thinking about flying out of either Boston or New York. Anyone have any experience flying premium economy on this route and which airline did you fly? Thanks!