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

[*WDW*Groupie*]

DP: we looked around and couldn't find a card with high MSR besides the Amex. Couldn't get the 250k offer for the Amex Biz Plat to show. So, PP2 (DH) applied on the link in his log in for 200k for $20k/3mths plus $500 back on $2500 airfare spend. Instant approval. Card to be received on 5/9. No online card access in advance.

How to take advantage of the airfare credit w/o flying this year?

United TB works -- it's how I use my AmEx plat and Aspire airline credits. Have used a few times and still have a nice stash, which comes in handy.

Leaving shortly for Lake Como and Lisbon. This trip was booked entirely on points:

Swiss Air to Zurich (70k AP points for biz class, upgraded yesterday to first class for $900.00 ); super excited as I've never flown Swiss Air first class before!

Hyatt Place the Circle Zurich Airport: 2 nights using 2 FNC (1 from cc and 1 brand explorer); since I land at 6:15am, I booked a room for the night before so I’ll have somewhere to go to rest and shower before taking the train to Zurich for the day). I called the hotel (twice) to let them know I’m arriving very early on May 9th and also had them send me an e-mail to confirm my late arrival.

Grand Hotel Victoria Lake Como: Hilton points (booked 5 nights, 1 night free); booked this last year shortly after Hilton and SLH got married

Milan --> Lisbon (4 day stopover) --> YYZ: booked in biz class using 35k AP points + 1 of dh's priority rewards; AC allows a stopover of up to 5 days for an additional 5k points; going home on TAP Air (booked throne seat)

Lisbon: 4 nights at the Verride Palacio de Santa Catarina: booked using 3 FNCs + 1 night points

I did have to book a driver through the Lake Como hotel to get me to the Milan airport since transit would require a ferry + 2 trains, which would take 3+ hours versus 1h45m by car.

Excited for this trip! Will post pics along the way!

For anyone wondering if this hobby in fact reaps rewards, you be the judge. For me, the rewards are free luxury travel! Of course everyone is different and has unique goals, so whatever floats your boat works.

 

[calypso726]

United TB works -- it's how I use my AmEx plat and Aspire airline credits. Have used a few times and still have a nice stash, which comes in handy.

Leaving shortly for Lake Como and Lisbon. This trip was booked entirely on points:

Swiss Air to Zurich (70k AP points for biz class, upgraded yesterday to first class for $900.00 ); super excited as I've never flown Swiss Air first class before!

Hyatt Place the Circle Zurich Airport: 2 nights using 2 FNC (1 from cc and 1 brand explorer); since I land at 6:15am, I booked a room for the night before so I’ll have somewhere to go to rest and shower before taking the train to Zurich for the day). I called the hotel (twice) to let them know I’m arriving very early on May 9th and also had them send me an e-mail to confirm my late arrival.

Grand Hotel Victoria Lake Como: Hilton points (booked 5 nights, 1 night free); booked this last year shortly after Hilton and SLH got married

Milan --> Lisbon (4 day stopover) --> YYZ: booked in biz class using 35k AP points + 1 of dh's priority rewards; AC allows a stopover of up to 5 days for an additional 5k points; going home on TAP Air (booked throne seat)

Lisbon: 4 nights at the Verride Palacio de Santa Catarina: booked using 3 FNCs + 1 night points

I did have to book a driver through the Lake Como hotel to get me to the Milan airport since transit would require a ferry + 2 trains, which would take 3+ hours versus 1h45m by car.

Excited for this trip! Will post pics along the way!

For anyone wondering if this hobby in fact reaps rewards, you be the judge. For me, the rewards are free luxury travel! Of course everyone is different and has unique goals, so whatever floats your boat works.

This sounds super exciting! Can't wait to see pics and read your review!

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Grand Hotel Victoria Lake Como: Hilton points (booked 5 nights, 1 night free); booked this last year shortly after Hilton and SLH got married

Lake Como/Switzerland is on my shortlist for next year and I am waiting on Grand Hotel Victoria Lake Como availability to drop, so I am very excited to hear your report. Have fun.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

My mom's $300 Rakuten is pending after her instant approval.

I see CSP is down to $100 on Rakuten today.

 

[havaneselover]

Chase is really on my last nerve. Today is day 61 of waiting on a refund of over 300K URs for a cruise cancelation. Then Princess did indeed cancel my cruise for next November 2026 (50th birthday). There weren't a lot of options for Mediterranean cruises in November so I'm sort of at a loss. And Princess is giving a small future cruise credit which can only be used on the same ship over a short period of time and must be applied to a new booking in the next 12 days (and Chase will take 60+ days to refund me). Maybe I'll pivot back to a Christmas market river cruise.

 

[havaneselover]

Rumor on Doc that CSR annual fee will go up $200 and add a bunch of benefits that have zero value to me. I really hate Chase today.

 

[Haley R]

Rumor on Doc that CSR annual fee will go up $200 and add a bunch of benefits that have zero value to me. I really hate Chase today.

Saw that too. We most likely will get rid of ours and stick to the Venture X

 

[miztressuz]

Rookie Chase q’s but I’m looking to help some fam-
If you refer on CSP and downgrade it before the support posts do you still get the referral? Aside from the 48 month rule do you need to wait after downgrading a CSP or can you apply again right away?

It's been a while since I did that but yes, it would still post to the card. In fact, the link would continue to post to the account after downgrade, for as long as the link was active. But that was even longer ago that I had first hand experience with that one, not confident on it anymore.

I may be trying out pt 1 myself. I referred last week and points aren't pending yet, but I had wanted to PC down before the AF hits next week. So I may give it until Wednesday to see if I get a quick pending and then decide if I be a DP or play it safe.

Still want to give a buffer after downgrade before applying again. I think the 4 days is still safest. Might be able to do as little as 2 days, but better to plan for 4 if you can

So my referral did go pending before I PCd, so no DP from me. But got a confirmation from reddit that it continues to post after the downgrade

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/1khlgur/comment/mrayd4y

 

[catsinawindow]

Rumor on Doc that CSR annual fee will go up $200 and add a bunch of benefits that have zero value to me. I really hate Chase today.

Any ideas about what the time frame would look like for current cardholders if this rumor was true? Are existing cardholders grandfathered in for a period of time? I'd seriously rethink holding this card since I don't believe I'll be able to use the new credits, but my home airport has a Sapphire Lounge which complicates things!

 

[havaneselover]

Any ideas about what the time frame would look like for current cardholders if this rumor was true? Are existing cardholders grandfathered in for a period of time? I'd seriously rethink holding this card since I don't believe I'll be able to use the new credits, but my home airport has a Sapphire Lounge which complicates things!

No idea but I hope I can get one more year at the current annual fee (I think mine renews in November).

 

[reliev]

Rumor on Doc that CSR annual fee will go up $200 and add a bunch of benefits that have zero value to me. I really hate Chase today.

I saw this too, if they get rid of the 3x multiplier whats the point?? Is it to force you into that new product that never came out?
Heres the breakdown someone did it on reddit I didn't type this

So in exchange for a $245 AF increase ($550->$795):

• 10x Chase Travel hotel and cars reduced to 8x
• 5x Chase Travel flights increased to 8x
• 3x Direct flights and hotel increased to 4x
• 3x Other travel reduced to 1x
• NEW: $500 Edit Credit via $250/semi-annual
• NEW: $300 Dining credit via Sapphire Reserve Tables $150/semi-annual
• NEW: $300 StubHub credit via $150/semi-annual
• NEW: $300 DoorDash credit via $25/month
• Same: $120 DoorDash membership (currently effective until 2027)
• NEW: $250 towards Apple TV+ and Apple Music
• Same*: $120 Lyft credit via 5% $10/month (currently effective until 2027)
• NEW: $120 Peloton credit via 10x $10/month
• Same: 3x dining
• Same: $300 Travel credit
• Same: $120 TSA/Global Entry credit (every 4 years)

Unlock after $75k spend:

• NEW: $500 Southwest credit via Chase Travel Portal
• NEW: Southwest A-List status
• NEW: IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite Status
• NEW: $250 The Shops credit

 

[reliev]

Any ideas about what the time frame would look like for current cardholders if this rumor was true? Are existing cardholders grandfathered in for a period of time? I'd seriously rethink holding this card since I don't believe I'll be able to use the new credits, but my home airport has a Sapphire Lounge which complicates things!

if it comes out its usually in a 3-6 month time frame.
I would ditch this card go full Amex I think 1x on travel, unless its flights/hotel to me is a killer. 3x on cruises you can use an amex green for less $.

 

[Twilghtsprkle]

I saw this too, if they get rid of the 3x multiplier whats the point?? Is it to force you into that new product that never came out?
Heres the breakdown someone did it on reddit I didn't type this

So in exchange for a $245 AF increase ($550->$795):

• 10x Chase Travel hotel and cars reduced to 8x
• 5x Chase Travel flights increased to 8x
• 3x Direct flights and hotel increased to 4x
• 3x Other travel reduced to 1x
• NEW: $500 Edit Credit via $250/semi-annual
• NEW: $300 Dining credit via Sapphire Reserve Tables $150/semi-annual
• NEW: $300 StubHub credit via $150/semi-annual
• NEW: $300 DoorDash credit via $25/month
• Same: $120 DoorDash membership (currently effective until 2027)
• NEW: $250 towards Apple TV+ and Apple Music
• Same*: $120 Lyft credit via 5% $10/month (currently effective until 2027)
• NEW: $120 Peloton credit via 10x $10/month
• Same: 3x dining
• Same: $300 Travel credit
• Same: $120 TSA/Global Entry credit (every 4 years)

Unlock after $75k spend:

• NEW: $500 Southwest credit via Chase Travel Portal
• NEW: Southwest A-List status
• NEW: IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite Status
• NEW: $250 The Shops credit

This sucks. We got the card for my husband to use for work travel. It was the one with the least amount of ‘work’ to earn the AF back. The new things do nothing for us. We use Spotify vs Apple Music, don’t use Stubhub, so I’ll need to have him downgrade when the new AF hits.

I’m not of fan of all these ‘coupon book’ benefits. I guess I’ll have him apply for the Venture X which was the runner up card for him.

 

[catsinawindow]

if it comes out its usually in a 3-6 month time frame.
I would ditch this card go full Amex I think 1x on travel, unless its flights/hotel to me is a killer. 3x on cruises you can use an amex green for less $.

Which Amex would you be thinking about instead? I had the Gold a few years back, but didn't feel that it was worth it for the AF and got rid of it after a year. I've looked into Amex Plat a few times considering their high SUB, but can't get past the high AF and coupon book approach where I won't be able to organically use most of the credits.

Last I checked, I was still in PUJ anyway, so it might be a moot point regardless...

I might consider seeking out the Ritz Carlton card if this comes to pass, so that we'll still get access to the Sapphire Lounge at our home airport.

 

[reliev]

This sucks. We got the card for my husband to use for work travel. It was the one with the least amount of ‘work’ to earn the AF back. The new things do nothing for us. We use Spotify vs Apple Music, don’t use Stubhub, so I’ll need to have him downgrade when the new AF hits.

I’m not of fan of all these ‘coupon book’ benefits. I guess I’ll have him apply for the Venture X which was the runner up card for him.

we will see if it happens,

the fee doesn't bother me as much as killing the multiplier

also I wouldn't be surprised if this was the case and the coupon book is here to stay. Even for the venture X to copy it when the annual fee comes around.

Which Amex would you be thinking about instead? I had the Gold a few years back, but didn't feel that it was worth it for the AF and got rid of it after a year. I've looked into Amex Plat a few times considering their high SUB, but can't get past the high AF and coupon book approach where I won't be able to organically use most of the credits.

Last I checked, I was still in PUJ anyway, so it might be a moot point regardless...

I might consider seeking out the Ritz Carlton card if this comes to pass, so that we'll still get access to the Sapphire Lounge at our home airport.

Amex Green is 3x on a lot of travel, The CSR is my go-to for car rides and random hotels and cruises; if they kill 2 of those 3 categories, it will make me rethink the card. At least Chase has a tool to see how my spending broke down by merchant.

Chase also had a rumor with a card with 4x on travel and 2x on everything else if you opened an account, that was last year (I cant remember when) I haven't heard anything about it since. Maybe they release both of these at once to get you to open up an account, who knows. But it does seem plausible.

Also, Amex CEO said on an interview that they plan to launch a ton of new products this year, I wouldn't be surprised if they had a similar card with better multipliers requiring more spend. All we can do is wait and see. They were going to launch, according to the rumors a card in between Platnium and Centutrion but then COVID happened.

 

[Narnia_girl]

I'm trying to figure out if I need comprehensive travel insurance or if I can get by with just medical & evacuation. The price difference is $150 vs $400-500.

• We booked a last minute Alaskan cruise, paid in full at time of booking with new P1 CSP.
• Flights to Fairbanks on Alaskan Air paid with P2 CSP.
• Two flights to get home: Canada Air paid with Venture X $300 annual travel credit and points. Southwest paid with points and companion pass.

If I'm clear on the travel insurance, we are covered for trip delay/cancellation/interruption and baggage loss. The only portion I think may be uncovered is that last leg home on Southwest (Denver to St. Louis) which at that point would be our luggage and maybe a night in a hotel if there was a real delay.

Am I missing something that I should get comprehensive travel insurance or will medical/evacuation be adequate coverage?

 

[wanderlust7]

I'm trying to figure out if I need comprehensive travel insurance or if I can get by with just medical & evacuation. The price difference is $150 vs $400-500.

• We booked a last minute Alaskan cruise, paid in full at time of booking with new P1 CSP.
• Flights to Fairbanks on Alaskan Air paid with P2 CSP.
• Two flights to get home: Canada Air paid with Venture X $300 annual travel credit and points. Southwest paid with points and companion pass.

If I'm clear on the travel insurance, we are covered for trip delay/cancellation/interruption and baggage loss. The only portion I think may be uncovered is that last leg home on Southwest (Denver to St. Louis) which at that point would be our luggage and maybe a night in a hotel if there was a real delay.

Am I missing something that I should get comprehensive travel insurance or will medical/evacuation be adequate coverage?

I worry about missing the cruise due to flight delays. I think the CSP would only cover it if the delay is due to severe weather or strike. Some of the comprehensive insurance cover other circumstances and some will pay to get you to your next port. Whether I'd pay more would depend on when I'm arriving before the cruise, backup flight options, and how much it might cost to catch up at the next port.

 

[ten6mom]

Just used husband's support link to app for the CSP and.... 7-10 day review. ( I downgraded to the OG Freedom last Thursday)

UUUUGGGGHHHHH the stress!!!!

 

[afan]

Booked for my first ABD. Now to gather all thr dis gc

Deposit helped with my DL spend too so I'll need to app for something in June probably. One advantage of trip insurance, which I need to sort out today, I don't have to worry about what card to put it on.

 

[eticketplease]

I saw this too, if they get rid of the 3x multiplier whats the point?? Is it to force you into that new product that never came out?
Heres the breakdown someone did it on reddit I didn't type this

So in exchange for a $245 AF increase ($550->$795):

• 10x Chase Travel hotel and cars reduced to 8x
• 5x Chase Travel flights increased to 8x
• 3x Direct flights and hotel increased to 4x
• 3x Other travel reduced to 1x
• NEW: $500 Edit Credit via $250/semi-annual
• NEW: $300 Dining credit via Sapphire Reserve Tables $150/semi-annual
• NEW: $300 StubHub credit via $150/semi-annual
• NEW: $300 DoorDash credit via $25/month
• Same: $120 DoorDash membership (currently effective until 2027)
• NEW: $250 towards Apple TV+ and Apple Music
• Same*: $120 Lyft credit via 5% $10/month (currently effective until 2027)
• NEW: $120 Peloton credit via 10x $10/month
• Same: 3x dining
• Same: $300 Travel credit
• Same: $120 TSA/Global Entry credit (every 4 years)

Unlock after $75k spend:

• NEW: $500 Southwest credit via Chase Travel Portal
• NEW: Southwest A-List status
• NEW: IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite Status
• NEW: $250 The Shops credit

Wow I had briefly looked at this last night but didn't notice the 1x on other travel.

Most of my travel on this card is for car rentals since it has the best insurance (I believe the Ritz has the same).

I was already finally planning to downgrade this card in January (hoping to get one last $300 credit) after this year's trips were completed but this is just icing on the cake.
When I opened this card it was $450 then $550 for several years and now $795.

I might have kept it for a normal dining credit but the sapphire tables thing is not in my area so absolutely no benefit there.

The lyft credit I have already discussed here previously is not a credit on your account but instead done on lyft's side so it only applies to the ride portion and not tip. No chance to stack to Lyft Cash like I do with my AMEX.
Interesting that they are bringing Peloton back as a credit though.