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

[eticketplease]

So I was trying to go for the AMEX Bonvoy credit and then get a Chase Bonvoy bonus after 90 days of opening the AMEX card.

I have been tracking my spending down to the penny and had not met the requirements yet.
My spending had $255.52 to hit the bonus while AMEX shows I am short $206 of hitting it.

So here is the issue, AMEX issued my bonus points 2 days ago anyways.
From reading the rules of the Chase cards I could not have been approved in the past 90 days and not received a bonus in the past 24 months.

I assume that I would not be getting a bonus now when applying for a Chase card after my 90 days. Is there anyway to check before applying at Chase?

If not I guess I just apply for the no fee card anyway as my goal was to obtain 2 85K certs issued about the same time every year from 1 Brilliant card and 1 Ritz card after upgrading the Chase card.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Not sure I saw this posted here yet. Re: Amex Business Platinum 35% bonus changes. I haven't used the 35% on a first class ticket yet but sad it wont be an option anymore for non pre selected airlines. Very happy they aren't changing the selected airline 35% bonus though. I really really like it and have used it several times now.

Effective September 18, 2025, Business Platinum Card Members will no longer receive points back through the 35% Airline Bonus for a First or Business class flight on any airline that is not their selected qualifying airline when using Membership Rewards Pay with Points through American Express Travel.

Card Member must select a qualifying airline at . Qualifying airlines are subject to change. Only the Basic Card Member or Authorized Account Manager(s) on the Card Account can select the qualifying airline. The airline you select for the 35% Airline Bonus and the $200 Airline Fee Credit must be the same. Card Members who have not chosen a qualifying airline will be able to do so at any time. Card Members who have already selected a qualifying airline will be able to change their choice one time each year in January at or by calling the number on the back of their Card. Card Members who do not change their airline selection will remain with their current qualifying airline.

 

[reliev]

Not sure I saw this posted here yet. Re: Amex Business Platinum 35% bonus changes. I haven't used the 35% on a first class ticket yet but sad it wont be an option anymore for non pre selected airlines. Very happy they aren't changing the selected airline 35% bonus though. I really really like it and have used it several times now.

Effective September 18, 2025, Business Platinum Card Members will no longer receive points back through the 35% Airline Bonus for a First or Business class flight on any airline that is not their selected qualifying airline when using Membership Rewards Pay with Points through American Express Travel.

Card Member must select a qualifying airline at . Qualifying airlines are subject to change. Only the Basic Card Member or Authorized Account Manager(s) on the Card Account can select the qualifying airline. The airline you select for the 35% Airline Bonus and the $200 Airline Fee Credit must be the same. Card Members who have not chosen a qualifying airline will be able to do so at any time. Card Members who have already selected a qualifying airline will be able to change their choice one time each year in January at or by calling the number on the back of their Card. Card Members who do not change their airline selection will remain with their current qualifying airline.

I did here
https://www.disboards.com/threads/i...t-page-for-addl-details.3959667/post-66206903
ive only used it a few times when it made sense. I need to start spreadsheeting every card again to make sure im doing well with these annual fees. It used to be so easy to track.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I did here
https://www.disboards.com/threads/i...t-page-for-addl-details.3959667/post-66206903
ive only used it a few times when it made sense. I need to start spreadsheeting every card again to make sure im doing well with these annual fees. It used to be so easy to track.

Okay good not sure how I missed it.
Especially hard to track when it comes to the coupon style ones.

 

[reliev]

Okay good not sure how I missed it.
Especially hard to track when it comes to the coupon style ones.

100% it used to be so easy.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Okay so with Cap 1 changing the lounges to just the card holder, and CSR changing to $795, is the Marriott to Ritz the way to go for lounge access? I have to say, I don't get to use it at DTW anymore since we're Delta now (and Delta doesn't allow non-revs even if we could get into the lounges at McNamara). Vegas the PP lounge is meh....the Cap 1 we couldn't get into when we were there in May. CUN the lounge is pointless as it's before security. And I guess we just don't travel to enough other places right now that I'm using lounges, LOL. (Seems we're only flying to LAS and CUN, LOL). I don't have a Marriott card right now, and I doubt the 5 FNC will stick through my 24 mos mark. So I might just be out of the lounge game for a bit it might seem.

 

[Judique]

So I was trying to go for the AMEX Bonvoy credit and then get a Chase Bonvoy bonus after 90 days of opening the AMEX card.

I have been tracking my spending down to the penny and had not met the requirements yet.
My spending had $255.52 to hit the bonus while AMEX shows I am short $206 of hitting it.

So here is the issue, AMEX issued my bonus points 2 days ago anyways.
From reading the rules of the Chase cards I could not have been approved in the past 90 days and not received a bonus in the past 24 months.

I assume that I would not be getting a bonus now when applying for a Chase card after my 90 days. Is there anyway to check before applying at Chase?

If not I guess I just apply for the no fee card anyway as my goal was to obtain 2 85K certs issued about the same time every year from 1 Brilliant card and 1 Ritz card after upgrading the Chase card.

Let us know what happens. I'm in a different boat with a plan for 2 of the 85K certs. I had a Brilliant and kept it for a bunch of years and then they changed the $300 credit to 12 x $25 credits and upped the fee from $450 to $650 so I product changed it back to a $95 card 35K cert.

Eventually they sent me a decent upgrade offer, mostly points on my 'other' Amex $95 card. Took it.
Now I want to product change the old Brilliant back to a Brilliant for the 85K cert and the 12 x $25 credit. Probably should do it now, but I keep putting it off just in case another upgrade should happen. Having 2 x 85k certs is a plus right now, but I have to use actual points at present. The other plus is the platinum status has been kicking in nicely.

 

[pinkxray]

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!

Yes please

Not many people seem to post about that ship that have kids.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

So I was trying to go for the AMEX Bonvoy credit and then get a Chase Bonvoy bonus after 90 days of opening the AMEX card.

I have been tracking my spending down to the penny and had not met the requirements yet.
My spending had $255.52 to hit the bonus while AMEX shows I am short $206 of hitting it.

So here is the issue, AMEX issued my bonus points 2 days ago anyways.
From reading the rules of the Chase cards I could not have been approved in the past 90 days and not received a bonus in the past 24 months.

I assume that I would not be getting a bonus now when applying for a Chase card after my 90 days. Is there anyway to check before applying at Chase?

If not I guess I just apply for the no fee card anyway as my goal was to obtain 2 85K certs issued about the same time every year from 1 Brilliant card and 1 Ritz card after upgrading the Chase card.

I'm sorry that happened. Did you have any returns that might have counted towards your spend?

When will your 90 days from Amex app be up? I'm not sure how that the approval and bonus info gets shared between Amex and Chase, but I'm hopeful for you that perhaps that info won't sync up quite so quickly and you'll be eligible for the Chase bonus.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

I listen to the Clark Howard podcast.

My young adult children swear I was the worst parent ever bc they had to listen to Clark Howard in the back of the minivan for school pickup. Just the other day they tried flaming me about it. But, they've had 401k and investment accounts since their young 20s, so...

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

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.

I'm thinking I might have a bit of a play here. My travel credit resets in August instead of 11/1 bc of some weird upgrade timing. So I'm thinking I might use the travel credit then and any of the semi-annual credits that I can when benefits go live on 10/26. Perhaps I'll look to cancel or PC the card within 30 days of the 11/1 AF and then re-app for the CSR before the end of the year for triple/quadruple dip. That would be pretty tight timing, but I could maybe make it work. The new rules about having multiple sapphires may make this possible.

 

[reliev]

Sorry for all the angry emojis I just want the messages here asap, so we all can share. LOL, I have a feeling the cuts are going to keep coming because other companies do it, just like here in Orlando when Disney raises the price 5$ for parking, the other 2 within 2-3 weeks.

 

[LynnTH]

Okay so with Cap 1 changing the lounges to just the card holder, and CSR changing to $795, is the Marriott to Ritz the way to go for lounge access? I have to say, I don't get to use it at DTW anymore since we're Delta now (and Delta doesn't allow non-revs even if we could get into the lounges at McNamara). Vegas the PP lounge is meh....the Cap 1 we couldn't get into when we were there in May. CUN the lounge is pointless as it's before security. And I guess we just don't travel to enough other places right now that I'm using lounges, LOL. (Seems we're only flying to LAS and CUN, LOL). I don't have a Marriott card right now, and I doubt the 5 FNC will stick through my 24 mos mark. So I might just be out of the lounge game for a bit it might seem.

Another option is the BOA Premium Rewards Elite. It does have a $550 annual fee. You get PP (which includes Restaurants) plus you can sign up 3 others for PP Pass as well. Each person can bring 2 people. So, I have the card and got PP for DH, DS and DD. Have used it many times so far, and DD loves it when traveling with friends.

It also comes with an annual $150 Lifestyle Credit (Uber, Doordash and lots of other things - easy to use) and $300 Airline Incidental Credit (Bag Fees, Upgrades etc).

I think this will be a keeper card for me.

 

[elgerber]

Sorry for all the angry emojis I just want the messages here asap, so we all can share. LOL, I have a feeling the cuts are going to keep coming because other companies do it, just like here in Orlando when Disney raises the price 5$ for parking, the other 2 within 2-3 weeks.

each new announcement makes me think I should cash out.

I don't have a CSR so I haven't paid a ton of attention, but I saw posts about no longer redeeming at 1.5 in the portal. Will the CSP still be 1.25 for travel?

 

[Twilghtsprkle]

each new announcement makes me think I should cash out.

I don't have a CSR so I haven't paid a ton of attention, but I saw posts about no longer redeeming at 1.5 in the portal. Will the CSP still be 1.25 for travel?

Nope. Per DOC : Similarly, Chase Sapphire Preferred will have its 1.25% fixed redemption rate removed. The Chase Sapphire Preferred, INK Preferred, and INK Plus cards will get a Points Boost redemption option with the value of up to 1.5% on select hotels flights, and up to 1.75% on select premium cabin flights.

 

[reliev]

Nope. Per DOC : Similarly, Chase Sapphire Preferred will have its 1.25% fixed redemption rate removed. The Chase Sapphire Preferred, INK Preferred, and INK Plus cards will get a Points Boost redemption option with the value of up to 1.5% on select hotels flights, and up to 1.75% on select premium cabin flights.

this 100% makes sense why gut their premium card and not the lower ones.

 

[elgerber]

Nope. Per DOC : Similarly, Chase Sapphire Preferred will have its 1.25% fixed redemption rate removed. The Chase Sapphire Preferred, INK Preferred, and INK Plus cards will get a Points Boost redemption option with the value of up to 1.5% on select hotels flights, and up to 1.75% on select premium cabin flights.

This is what I figured. Not much point in not cashing out then, maybe leaving some for potential transfers.

 

[afan]

Another option is the BOA Premium Rewards Elite. It does have a $550 annual fee. You get PP (which includes Restaurants) plus you can sign up 3 others for PP Pass as well. Each person can bring 2 people. So, I have the card and got PP for DH, DS and DD. Have used it many times so far, and DD loves it when traveling with friends.

It also comes with an annual $150 Lifestyle Credit (Uber, Doordash and lots of other things - easy to use) and $300 Airline Incidental Credit (Bag Fees, Upgrades etc).

I think this will be a keeper card for me.

What can you do with their rewards?

 

[eticketplease]

Let us know what happens. I'm in a different boat with a plan for 2 of the 85K certs. I had a Brilliant and kept it for a bunch of years and then they changed the $300 credit to 12 x $25 credits and upped the fee from $450 to $650 so I product changed it back to a $95 card 35K cert.

Eventually they sent me a decent upgrade offer, mostly points on my 'other' Amex $95 card. Took it.
Now I want to product change the old Brilliant back to a Brilliant for the 85K cert and the 12 x $25 credit. Probably should do it now, but I keep putting it off just in case another upgrade should happen. Having 2 x 85k certs is a plus right now, but I have to use actual points at present. The other plus is the platinum status has been kicking in nicely.

Will do. I’m guessing I will just apply for the no AF one as if I don’t qualify for the bonus I’m only out a 5/24 slot.

 

[eticketplease]

I'm sorry that happened. Did you have any returns that might have counted towards your spend?

When will your 90 days from Amex app be up? I'm not sure how that the approval and bonus info gets shared between Amex and Chase, but I'm hopeful for you that perhaps that info won't sync up quite so quickly and you'll be eligible for the Chase bonus.

I had a few returns but I had accounted for them. Someone on here was helpful and showed me how to check spend towards the $60k for the extra 85k certificate and it also shows I’ve spent very close but under the $6k for the sign up bonus to hit so who knows.

I have to wait until 7/5/25 that will be day 91 since being approved for the brilliant.