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

[afan]

@afan Eva Air only releases 1 award seat / day / destination. I'm not sure if you and your friend could both get from Shanghai-->Taipei in biz class since they would only release 1 award seat for that leg. But 1 of you could take the 1pm and the other the 4pm flight to Taipei. Found the below on Eva to DFW on June 12th:

View attachment 975016

I appreciate your looking but if they only release 1 seat they aren't an option. I'll try with what I can do, if I don't find anything I'll book dl and keep looking for seats to get released or upgrades on dl.

Just thinking about booking it all separately on the way home is stressing me out. One we aren't together when she has already said she was glad for the suggestion to go from Seattle together since she's never been there but also there's little incentive for me to use my points and worry about booking her if we aren't flying together.

 

[GZanta77]

I'm just sure I'm cursed because a week ago my son (18 days into driving) ripped the bumper off his new car. Then my daughter called while I was in NC to tell me a deer hit her car. Her whole driver side is smashed in and can't open any doors. This will be her 3rd claim in a year (last was when she ended up in a ditch when I was in Mexico). So it's only fitting I add to the body claims right now.

Sorry to make light of your misfortune, but this sentence amused me. I just have this image in my head of someone sat innocently in a parked car when a deer comes out of nowhere and smashes into the car. =

I don't envy you your insurance renewal.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

I'm one of the few who thinks I'll get some value out of the new CSR benefits. But my AF renewal is 6 days after the new fee takes effect. 6 days!!!! I would have really enjoyed a free year of the improved benefits, lol.

 

[afan]

Sorry to make light of your misfortune, but this sentence amused me. I just have this image in my head of someone sat innocently in a parked car when a deer comes out of nowhere and smashes into the car. =

I don't envy you your insurance renewal.

Reminds me of a season 1 episode of Gilmore Girls when Rory has to drive to Chilton and a deer hits her car.

 

[Tink3815]

Can someone tell me if this is a good move. First time planning an overseas trip and traveling on United Air. We have United credit cards and were able to book our departure trip using miles from the card in Premium Plus seats for just 50,000 miles each. We have 33,358 miles remaining for the return flight. The return flight I would like is also 50,000 miles for each for the Premium Plus seats. They are running a mile sale, and it would cost $1435.00 for the remaining miles I need to book the flights for us together. The cash price for each seat is $2805 for each person.

Buying the miles and booking now seems like the way I should proceed, but I have always heard that buying miles are not the best way to go. We are not traveling from 4-22-26 to 5-3-26. Do you see anything wrong with this plan?

 

[GZanta77]

Can someone tell me if this is a good move. First time planning an overseas trip and traveling on United Air. We have United credit cards and were able to book our departure trip using miles from the card in Premium Plus seats for just 50,000 miles each. We have 33,358 miles remaining for the return flight. The return flight I would like is also 50,000 miles for each for the Premium Plus seats. They are running a mile sale, and it would cost $1435.00 for the remaining miles I need to book the flights for us together. The cash price for each seat is $2805 for each person.

Buying the miles and booking now seems like the way I should proceed, but I have always heard that buying miles are not the best way to go. We are not traveling from 4-22-26 to 5-3-26. Do you see anything wrong with this plan?

So the cash price is kinda distorted if you are looking at one way international flights. They are usually significantly inflated compared to round trip. However, as you have already booked one direction - you are now stuck needing to find a way home.

You are correct that buying miles is rarely recommended unless a small amount are needed for a redemption. If it were me, I would be inclined to get a Chase Ink card and quickly meet the MSR to earn enough URs to transfer over to United and hope the seats are still available.

If thats not an option, then how important is it for you to fly PE? Is the flight 7 hours or 12+ hours? Bottom line - if you think its worth it to spend the $1435 to guarantee the seats you want - thats all that matters.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Are the CSR charges going to affect the ability to get Ink cards even more? Are those going to be subject to the coming pop up jail?

I didn't use the travel portal much, mostly just transferred URs to Hyatt. So my worry is whether URs will get more difficult to accumulate.

 

[reliev]

Are the CSR charges going to affect the ability to get Ink cards even more? Are those going to be subject to the coming pop up jail?

I didn't use the travel portal much, mostly just transferred URs to Hyatt. So my worry is whether URs will get more difficult to accumulate.

I mainly transfer out also, but I would imagine that if not immediately, the denial/pop-up jail for Chase would trickle to all cards.

 

[hsmamato2]

I am curious how they will keep track of the UR buckets - those that can be redeemed for travel at 1.5 vs the newer URs that can't.

Wait.....huh? how is this supposed to work?

 

[ctinct]

Is there a time limit for a rental car company to hit you with a damage charge? I used some of my Cap 1 credit for our rental in NC over the weekend. We grabbed a brand new Cherokee Trailhawk. Someone at the hotel must have thrown their door into the driver door, or the wind blew it (it was fierce at times) as we noticed our last night there was a lovely huge dent in the driver's side door. When we returned it the clerk came over, looked at everything and said we were good to go. I have my final receipt in my email, etc. My BF likes to think since they didn't catch it on check in they can't come back at us later because one could argue that it could have been done after we turned it in. They had about 5 rows of returns and the rows were narrow, LOL. So he thinks we're in the clear. I'm just sure I'm cursed because a week ago my son (18 days into driving) ripped the bumper off his new car. Then my daughter called while I was in NC to tell me a deer hit her car. Her whole driver side is smashed in and can't open any doors. This will be her 3rd claim in a year (last was when she ended up in a ditch when I was in Mexico). So it's only fitting I add to the body claims right now.

I also think I need to go back to school and learn body repair. I guess I'm just happy we found a great body shop in our neighborhood. He's basically family at this point, LOL.

I listen to the Clark Howard podcast. He says there are instances where the rental car companies come after people 2-3 months later. Even worse, since they may not know who caused the damage at that point, they may go after multiple past renters. That’s why he recommends videoing the car both on pickup and return, and keeping the video for several months. I realize this wouldn’t have helped you, but something to consider for the future.

How did you pay for the rental? And ooof! Your insurance going forward! I imagine it’s already high given the age of your kids. I’d be praying they won’t drop you. Hopefully your run of bad luck is over.

 

[ctinct]

Duh. I just reread your post and saw how you paid for part of the rental. Should have reread the post before I posted.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

I mainly transfer out also, but I would imagine that if not immediately, the denial/pop-up jail for Chase would trickle to all cards.

I'm waiting until next week to apply for another Ink. Have only one rn (CIC), and while I'd like another CIC I'll go for a CIU to hopefully increase the odds. Hopefully it's not my last one for a long time!

 

[elgerber]

Reminds me of a season 1 episode of Gilmore Girls when Rory has to drive to Chilton and a deer hits her car.

I always yell at the tv during this episode, because this did happen to me. Ran right into the passenger side of my car.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Sorry to make light of your misfortune, but this sentence amused me. I just have this image in my head of someone sat innocently in a parked car when a deer comes out of nowhere and smashes into the car. =

I don't envy you your insurance renewal.

I listen to the Clark Howard podcast. He says there are instances where the rental car companies come after people 2-3 months later. Even worse, since they may not know who caused the damage at that point, they may go after multiple past renters. That’s why he recommends videoing the car both on pickup and return, and keeping the video for several months. I realize this wouldn’t have helped you, but something to consider for the future.

How did you pay for the rental? And ooof! Your insurance going forward! I imagine it’s already high given the age of your kids. I’d be praying they won’t drop you. Hopefully your run of bad luck is over.

I always yell at the tv during this episode, because this did happen to me. Ran right into the passenger side of my car.

The damage is all on the driver's side. So the impact was actually from the damn deer charging at her. $4100 in damage, UGH. But I'm hoping since it's comprehensive, it won't hurt our renewal too much. She now pays any increase to the insurance overall. I have our rates from March 2024 vs March 2025. It went up $600 (for 6 months). I did swap from a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee to a 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee too, but I know that wasn't the reason for the jump.

I also found out, in Michigan, anyone who lives at your residence has to be on your policy. Which I'm not sure how we get through that loophole w/ my daughter being on mine, and my son on his dad's. Both kids have my house as their address on their license. So even if I made her get her own policy she has to be on mine till she moves, and then I would also have to be on hers....So I can't separate the policies and hope for some kind of break on my jeep. I pay $1200 every 6 months on it now. UGH.

I did also ask if we could be dropped and they did say no.....So I guess it's good I have my big girl job for now to supplement any increases. Sigh.....

 

[LynnTH]

Wait.....huh? how is this supposed to work?

Sounds like anyone who currently has the CSR will be able to use points still at 1.5 until October of 2027. Any points earned prior to October 2025 will be eligible.

 

[chattadisser]

I'm one of the few who thinks I'll get some value out of the new CSR benefits. But my AF renewal is 6 days after the new fee takes effect. 6 days!!!! I would have really enjoyed a free year of the improved benefits, lol.

I'm in the same boat, our renewal is 5 days after the new fee. Ugh!

 

[havaneselover]

I'm in the same boat, our renewal is 5 days after the new fee. Ugh!

Mine is 11/1. I’m just going to spend down my points and move on. I would have kept it for one more year but there’s no way I’m paying $800 since I can’t cash out at $0.015/UR.

 

[orangecuse]

Jealous of all the high UR balances. I think I have 13000 or so

I just pulled the trigger for our summer vacation next year. 11/26 is our 25 anniversary so I want to do something different. I’ve been wanting to do an Alaskan cruise for years but the kids were pretty small. They are now 10/8 so I think they will enjoy it. Booked us on HAL Kongisdam for 7/26 since we can’t do an Alaskan cruise in Nov.

I’m a little nervous bc I’m sure NCL or RCL will be better for the kids but when I make a list of what I actually want the only option is HAL. The kids are pretty easily entertained so I’m hoping I made the right choice.

Will have to start working on whatever cards we need to at least help cover the flights. Not sure what those are yet.

We are doing this same itinerary and ship this summer with a 7 and 5 year old so I can report back if you want!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Sorry to make light of your misfortune, but this sentence amused me. I just have this image in my head of someone sat innocently in a parked car when a deer comes out of nowhere and smashes into the car. =

I don't envy you your insurance renewal.

 

[reliev]

Amex just killed pay with points business/first class rebate for business cards
The refresh better be amazing!