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

Does Chase give you a cushion over your limit on Ink cards? I recently was approved for a CIC and have been putting everything into it. I haven’t received my first statement yet so I haven’t made a payment. I just bought DW her anniversary gift and right after I handed over the card I paused and checked the available credit and it was less than the charge I was trying to make. The charge went through and I then made a payment to the card to open up available credit. I made a payment of $1,700 and the available credit shows $1,384.
 
If anyone needs Hawaiian and/or Alaska miles you can get 70k for 1 purchase and a $99 AF. DW and I are at 3/24 and one will drop off in a few months so I applied us both and was instantly approved.

https://frequentmiler.com/70k-miles-after-1st-purchase-returns-on-hawaiian-airlines-mastercard/

OOH, thanks so much for this. I just recommended this card today, even at the $2k spend, so I'm glad this offer is back in action!

ETA: Received instant approval. THANK YOU!
 
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I was denied on my CIP app last month and plan to apply again in about 10 days, which will be 30 days after last app. For those who have been paying attention, do you think flavor of Ink matters? If you were denied and reapplied, did you switch up the ink flavor?

I have a CIP (8/2024) and IHG Biz (5/2024) currently open.

After @becauseimnew 's recent success with recon, I really think there was something weird with my app. I didn't try recon at the time but will if my new app fails.
 
I was denied on my CIP app last month and plan to apply again in about 10 days, which will be 30 days after last app. For those who have been paying attention, do you think flavor of Ink matters? If you were denied and reapplied, did you switch up the ink flavor?

I have a CIP (8/2024) and IHG Biz (5/2024) currently open.

After @becauseimnew 's recent success with recon, I really think there was something weird with my app. I didn't try recon at the time but will if my new app fails.
don’t think the type of ink matters…just going off my own experience, I think using the business cards you have may matter…I was just instantly approved with 4 open business cards all being used
 

If anyone needs Hawaiian and/or Alaska miles you can get 70k for 1 purchase and a $99 AF. DW and I are at 3/24 and one will drop off in a few months so I applied us both and was instantly approved.

https://frequentmiler.com/70k-miles-after-1st-purchase-returns-on-hawaiian-airlines-mastercard/
or both.... :rolleyes1 How sensitive is barcs? If I got a branded cc in Oct,then another brand in Dec- but the Dec app they called me to rearrange credit line and approve, should I try for yet another brand? Or should I lower my cl first? They're kind of sock drawered so not sure
 
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speaking of Hawaiian and Alaska points..... since I have both, should I be merging them all into my AS acct sooner rather than later? I'm guessing (for now) the ability to do so will remain for awhile, but some stuff I heard got me wondering if it'll be available permanently
 
...and another AS question (I'm trying to learn more about the ecosystem) I'm looking at previous flights, do they award 1/2 eqm on partner metal? Looks like it when looking at miles earned on the trip-miles earned on their metal are 1-1, on fiji air it's 1/2 that amount- is this right?
 
OOH, thanks so much for this. I just recommended this card today, even at the $2k spend, so I'm glad this offer is back in action!

ETA: Received instant approval. THANK YOU!
Same here, with a 20K CL lol, way more than I need! Thanks for the heads up @lsutigers03 This softens the burn from Chase denying me more Biz cards.
 
speaking of Hawaiian and Alaska points..... since I have both, should I be merging them all into my AS acct sooner rather than later? I'm guessing (for now) the ability to do so will remain for awhile, but some stuff I heard got me wondering if it'll be available permanently
What is your intention for the miles? If you intend for them to be AS move them now, why play with it?
 
Thought I'd share my positive thoughts on using the Aspire card for 2025. DH and I went to the WA in Cabo, and with 2 FNCs, some points, and our $200 each (plus the $50 from each of our Biz Plat cards) in resort credits we had a very nice getaway. They were also able to use Hilton GCs this time (it frustratingly did not work on our last visit). To top it off they upgraded us from a room to a 3 bedroom casita that was huge and came with a full kitchen and a washer and dryer. It would have been better if this had happened when there were more than just 2 of us on a visit, but in any case I'm now totally spoiled. :cloud9:

Ds and I just finished up 2 days at Tokyo Disney, 1 day in each park. I purchased the unlimited ride / drink package with our 2 night stay at Fantasy Springs Hotel. We had a great time in the parks and I don’t regret purchasing the unlimited package — it was so nice just going on each ride without being on my phone all day (like I was last year when I was here)! I’ll probably post more info when we get back next week, but if anyone has any questions please post and I’ll try to answer while the info is fresh on my mind! By far our favorite park was Disney Sea, so if only 1 day is available that’s what I’d choose! Both parks were very busy, but I’d say that Disney Sea seemed busier.

Though we didn’t have any issue getting on rides in Fantasy Springs (because of our package), this part of the park, after 9am, got super, wall-to-wall people, crowded. LOVED all the rides in FS, my favorites being Peter Pan, Frozen and Rapenzul’s Lanterns. I did Frozen 3 times, lanterns twice and Peter Pan twice (and of course I rode Tinkerbell’s buggies!) — would’ve done PP 3 times but my vertigo kicked in on the second ride and I didn’t think I could manage doing it a 3rd time — Frozen and PP were both outstanding (not to disparage lanterns, just really, really loved the other 2!). Walked 26k steps today, so looking forward to relaxing for 2.5 hours on the train to Osaka tomorrow.

Interesting how they managed the Priority Passes in Fantasy Springs: we had to show our Priority Passes, scan our room keys and show a ribbon bracelet that we were given on our first ride (in FS), for proof that we were staying at the FS Hotel. Outside of FS we only showed our Priority Passes.

Our room is okay, I wouldn’t say it’s winning any design awards, but the beds are comfy and it’s very clean. Breakfast here is excellent, miles better than what I remember at the Disneyland Hotel in 2019.

Anyone with a stay booked at the Hyatt Centric Ginza — it’s an excellent hotel. I loved it so much that I’m staying again 1 night next week before heading home. I love the Ginza area — I realize that it’s not for everyone, but it hits all the right notes for me. Breakfast was AMAZING, special thank you to the member here who gifted ds and I GoH —it saved us $$$$! We stayed on points and it was definitely worth it! We landed at Haneda around 9:45pm; I had a pretty bad headache so decided to take a taxi to the hotel. It was the right call since it was almost 11:30 by the time I got to my room. The taxi cost $65.00, not something I’d do if we had landed earlier in the day since the monorail is so fast and easy to use.

Such amazing members on this board. I have learned so much and would never be able to travel like this without the help of the folks here who so generously share their insight and knowledge.

I don't have any questions yet, but I want to thank you for sharing your thoughts. I will probably have some questions later. :)

Thinking about a Greek Isle cruise next summer with DD (then fly to Paris for a few days). Want to use Chase points. We have only ever cruised DCL (seven times) and smoke and casinos definitely aren't our thing. Any recommendations for a cruise line? I'm thinking of looking at RCI.

We branched out from DCL in Summer 2024 and I'm so glad we did. Went on the Celebrity Apex and really enjoyed the itinerary (Norwegian fjords) and now feel comfortable sailing outside the Disney bubble. We don't like casinos so just avoided it and Celebrity didn't allow smoking there anyway. In fact, I didn't run into any smoking areas but I know they exist outdoors. That was a big factor in sticking with DCL before, but it's good to know there are other lines that are also great because it opens up so many more interesting itineraries and dates. DCL offers very limited options.
 
ETA- btw if you're looking to hit the darkside this year I've used the Amex credit at Portofino (part of FHR) and Sapphire Falls (THC), THC has a 2 night stay minimum, no minimum stay FHR. You'll want your Amex with you when you check in at the property.
Thanks for the info but those parks down the road are a hard line in the sand for me. I don’t want to break board rules by going into detail but their continued business relationship with a certain author makes them off limits to us.
 
We branched out from DCL in Summer 2024 and I'm so glad we did. Went on the Celebrity Apex and really enjoyed the itinerary (Norwegian fjords) and now feel comfortable sailing outside the Disney bubble. We don't like casinos so just avoided it and Celebrity didn't allow smoking there anyway. In fact, I didn't run into any smoking areas but I know they exist outdoors. That was a big factor in sticking with DCL before, but it's good to know there are other lines that are also great because it opens up so many more interesting itineraries and dates. DCL offers very limited options.
Just paid off my DCL Norwegian Fjords August cruise (can't believe what I'm spending on this vacation). I see a Celebrity cruise over Labor Day 2026 that I'm interested in (on their newest ship). My plan would be cruise then fly to Paris for a few days since DD has never been. And I'd be more inclined to stick with DCL if I could use URs, but I can't so I might as well try something else. At some point she's not going to be able to vacation with me, so I'm trying to take advantage of her being my travel companion while I can:)
 
AmEx MR experts I could use some advice. A family member will be canceling a biz plat in the next few weeks and needs a new MR card (only other AmEx is the blue biz cash). The blue biz plus has no AF and the biz green has an AF of $95. Both have a SUB of 15,000 after $3K spend (unless there are better offers out there). Does the biz green really have just no benefits? The biz gold has too high a spend for the SUB (plus a $395 AF).

As far as I can think it through, the only possible reason to apply for the biz green is to hope for an upgrade offer--does that still happen these days? What else am I not thinking about?
 
Does Chase give you a cushion over your limit on Ink cards? I recently was approved for a CIC and have been putting everything into it. I haven’t received my first statement yet so I haven’t made a payment. I just bought DW her anniversary gift and right after I handed over the card I paused and checked the available credit and it was less than the charge I was trying to make. The charge went through and I then made a payment to the card to open up available credit. I made a payment of $1,700 and the available credit shows $1,384.
They can. I have not been so blessed, getting declined trying to put a $80 charge with $70 left on my CL :rolleyes2 , but others have. By lots. Usually the amount over the limit becomes part of your minimum payment. Or they could bump your limit up. But yes, it has been known to happen.
I'm sure someone here can help me remember that d-bag's name that put his Tesla purchase through Plastiq on the CIP and blogged about it, ruining the earn rate. He was allowed 20k over his limit, like a 50% bump on his usual credit line. (And yeah it's been like 6-7 years since that got nerfed and yeah, still salty about it. )
AmEx MR experts I could use some advice. A family member will be canceling a biz plat in the next few weeks and needs a new MR card (only other AmEx is the blue biz cash). The blue biz plus has no AF and the biz green has an AF of $95. Both have a SUB of 15,000 after $3K spend (unless there are better offers out there). Does the biz green really have just no benefits? The biz gold has too high a spend for the SUB (plus a $395 AF).

As far as I can think it through, the only possible reason to apply for the biz green is to hope for an upgrade offer--does that still happen these days? What else am I not thinking about?
Do they need it to be a biz card? Biz and Personal all pool to the same account. Maybe something personal would work better with their spending. Also the Biz Checking account earns MR so that will keep the points alive until they get an offer they like. There's some bonus offers out there for opening that to look into.

Biz Green kinda sucks, I'm sure there's an argument somewhere for it , but really I'd take the BBP. There are some targeted offers for the BBP for 25-75k bonuses.
As for the upgrade offers, it still happens but I haven't heard a green to plat in a while. Could be not many people have the green anymore and that's why we're not hearing it? For me, that's not worth the AF on a chance though. Unless they really need a no preset spending limit on a charge card, or have reached the 5 credit card limit, a BBP will usually win.
 
Can I get some suggestions for reasonable last minute trip ideas? My sister wants to go somewhere at the end of April. I'm east coast, she's in SLC.

She'll pay cash, but I have 200K UR and 500K MR. It can be US or International.

Thanks :)
 
booking IHG on points, usually means no resort fee, if I book on cash and points, do I get charged a resort fee?
 














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