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

[reliev]

What are your thoughts on upgrading from the CSP to the CSR before the price increases? I know that it takes a few months for the AF to actually post. DH has a CSR that we will probably downgrade in Jun/Jul. I like to keep one CSR between the two of us.

well i talked about this to my DW, she had a good idea instead of just canceling use it for a year like I normally would, me personally I don't look at the perks as much as the points if I can net positive on the points to the AF then its a winner in my book. I would probably upgrade it, I think it's coming soon now that the 2 stores no one ever heard of are out. I think it's more likely to happen than not at this point, in a year, if I don't get my positive value, I'll cancel it then. Also, I'll be looking at the Amex Green for a SUB since we do at least one cruise a year, and besides the gift cards I can load up with on Costco before a trip, I usually can get that with Uber too.

 

[newski_mom]

Also, I'll be looking at the Amex Green for a SUB since we do at least one cruise a year, and besides the gift cards I can load up with on Costco before a trip, I usually can get that with Uber too.

Can you explain this? We cruise quite a bit and I'm always looking for ways to save on cruises! Is the Amex Green helpful for that?

 

[reliev]

Can you explain this? We cruise quite a bit and I'm always looking for ways to save on cruises! Is the Amex Green helpful for that?

As far as i know, Amex Green is the only one besides Chase Sapphire that I know of that offers 3x on cruises, and "travel" category that is, unless you're going to a specific card for a certain cruise brand, which can be more, last time I checked most were 2x I've had the CSR now for almost 10 years. The rumor has been that chase is going to drop the 3x in favor of this lifestyle card, in the week that its come out the 2 other things have come out as well as an ad that someone got early that doesn't mention the 3x and new benefits, I think this coming.

 

[LynnTH]

Can you explain this? We cruise quite a bit and I'm always looking for ways to save on cruises! Is the Amex Green helpful for that?

I love to use UR's for cruises with the CSR. Just booked recently a cruise for January 2026. Booked 3 Cabins. Total cost with gratuities added would have been $5858. I used UR's with my CSR and only had to use 390,500 in points - so almost $2,000 in savings. I do research the cruises beforehand and know exactly what Cruise I want to do on along with the Cabin #'s I want. Then I call Chase Cruise and Tours and they get it booked for me. Have save lots of $$ over the years. Will have to see what happens with all the changes. Like for these cruises I upgraded my CSP to CSR because of the savings. Will evaluate when the year is up and may DG again to CSP.

 

[newski_mom]

As far as i know, Amex Green is the only one besides Chase Sapphire that I know of that offers 3x on cruises, and "travel" category that is, unless you're going to a specific card for a certain cruise brand, which can be more, last time I checked most were 2x I've had the CSR now for almost 10 years. The rumor has been that chase is going to drop the 3x in favor of this lifestyle card, in the week that its come out the 2 other things have come out as well as an ad that someone got early that doesn't mention the 3x and new benefits, I think this coming.

Ah, that makes sense! DH has always had the CSR too - I just applied for the CSP with the elevated offer, so we'll have to decide what to do when the changes come about.

 

[newski_mom]

I love to use UR's for cruises with the CSR. Just booked recently a cruise for January 2026. Booked 3 Cabins. Total cost with gratuities added would have been $5858. I used UR's with my CSR and only had to use 390,500 in points - so almost $2,000 in savings. I do research the cruises beforehand and know exactly what Cruise I want to do on along with the Cabin #'s I want. Then I call Chase Cruise and Tours and they get it booked for me. Have save lots of $$ over the years. Will have to see what happens with all the changes. Like for these cruises I upgraded my CSP to CSR because of the savings. Will evaluate when the year is up and may DG again to CSP.

That's great savings! I just did this on a NCL cruise that we booked. If we said Princess or Carnival, I've been buying the discounted gift cards from AARP, but those have gone away, so the discounts are harder to come by for them. May switch to booking more through the chase portal which for sure isn't a bad thing!

 

[mmmears]

Is there a VPN anyone here recommends? On our trip to Canada my younger daughter couldn’t access some shows due to geoblocking. So I want something set up for when we go to Japan so she can still get to all her shows.

I had Proton VPN on my iPad but it wouldn’t let me pick the country so even though US was closest, it didn’t always pick it. Then it made you wait before you could try for another location.

We got the NordVPN with some crazy incentive from Rakuten a few months ago, and we just used it while in Japan when we wanted to rebook our return flight. It worked well.

 

[VGCgroupie]

As far as i know, Amex Green is the only one besides Chase Sapphire that I know of that offers 3x on cruises, and "travel" category that is, unless you're going to a specific card for a certain cruise brand, which can be more, last time I checked most were 2x I've had the CSR now for almost 10 years. The rumor has been that chase is going to drop the 3x in favor of this lifestyle card, in the week that its come out the 2 other things have come out as well as an ad that someone got early that doesn't mention the 3x and new benefits, I think this coming.

Chase Ink Preferred earns 3x on travel.

 

[mmmears]

Just back from a trip to Japan. We booked JAL Biz a year in advance, using Avios to pay for the flights. I was impressed with the JAL service and food options, and even though we had the older seats they were still quite comfortable. We flew ANA Biz on the return, in The Room - that was booked less than a week before the flight. We originally had a JAL flight through LAX and I spent almost a year tracking award flights looking for a non-stop home. I felt lucky to find one (booked through United because apparently VA can't book J seats less than two weeks out). The Room seats were very roomy and having doors was nice. DH and I had our own little room.

For hotels, we stayed at the Andaz Tokyo on Hyatt points. It was a very nice hotel (great pool area, too) with a very good breakfast. We were upgraded to a tower view room (Globalist). In Kyoto, we spent 5 nights at the Park Hyatt. It was really, really nice. They upgraded us to a room with a little private garden and the breakfast was also great. The staff were very personable and remembered our names from the first day. We also spent a couple days in Hakone at a ryokan and a few days at Disney (stayed at Fantasy Springs).

Altogether, it was a great trip and I don't think I could have done it without miles, points, and all the helpful posters here.

 

[VGCgroupie]

What card does everyone use for airport parking? I remember years ago I had a card that gave me extra on parking but cant remember what card that was.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

What card does everyone use for airport parking? I remember years ago I had a card that gave me extra on parking but cant remember what card that was.

I use my CSR

 

[reliev]

What card does everyone use for airport parking? I remember years ago I had a card that gave me extra on parking but cant remember what card that was.

same csr for parking tolls everything cruises, that's why I'm hoping the 3x doesn't go away I have my cards down to an art (in my head)

 

[VGCgroupie]

same csr for parking tolls everything cruises, that's why I'm hoping the 3x doesn't go away I have my cards down to an art (in my head)

I use my CSR

I had a CSR 4 years ago, so I am probably thinking of that one.

 

[KPK02090]

I have an Amex Biz platinum and haven't used the Dell credit yet for this half of the year. It's coming up on the year anniversary and I plan to close it when the AF posts. It posted last year on May 22, so I'm thinking it'll post within the next few days. Can I still get the Dell credit or did I miss the boat? I don't remember how long it takes to credit after purchase. Or how long I have to cancel after the AF posts? Appreciate any input.

 

[wanderlust7]

I have an Amex Biz platinum and haven't used the Dell credit yet for this half of the year. It's coming up on the year anniversary and I plan to close it when the AF posts. It posted last year on May 22, so I'm thinking it'll post within the next few days. Can I still get the Dell credit or did I miss the boat? I don't remember how long it takes to credit after purchase. Or how long I have to cancel after the AF posts? Appreciate any input.

You have 30 days after the AF posts to cancel. My Dell credit at the beginning of this month was super quick (day after charge posted), but you never know with Amex.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I have an Amex Biz platinum and haven't used the Dell credit yet for this half of the year. It's coming up on the year anniversary and I plan to close it when the AF posts. It posted last year on May 22, so I'm thinking it'll post within the next few days. Can I still get the Dell credit or did I miss the boat? I don't remember how long it takes to credit after purchase. Or how long I have to cancel after the AF posts? Appreciate any input.

My Dell credit took 3 days to post last month.

 

[afan]

Following up, my Surpass and Aspire credits both posted for the wesrminster and waldorf.

Got my points for the noise at the waldorf, I think they refunded the points for both nights. I need to dig when I get home to see what I booked it for. Or it was 1 night and then extra for it. Either way I'm happy with it.

Westminster points also finally pulled out, annoying they didn't stay pulled when it was booked

 

[Budzooka]

What card does everyone use for airport parking? I remember years ago I had a card that gave me extra on parking but cant remember what card that was.

I use CIP for all travel. Still at 3x

 

[reliev]

For all those that use Citi too for cash back seems like they nerfed the point from 1cpp to .75cpp

 

[hsmamato2]

What are your thoughts on upgrading from the CSP to the CSR before the price increases? I know that it takes a few months for the AF to actually post. DH has a CSR that we will probably downgrade in Jun/Jul. I like to keep one CSR between the two of us.

wondering the same....if I pc'd a cc to CSr before the AF changes hit, does that mean I'm grandfathered in to the current AF?