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

[chattadisser]

I am also in the process of divorcing SWA.

Our house is too in the middle of a SWA divorce. Loved them for a few years, but not so much anymore. We are trying to use up the points we have and not accumulate any more - which is a weird spot to be in!

 

[hsmamato2]

It doesn't look like the cards are going away. Link

I did the Hawaiian personal and biz on the same day since Barclays combines pulls. Did personal first since wanted that more. It was instant approval, then biz need verification. Was 2/6 and 4/12 inquiries. DH did the same, personal was instant, but biz was denied. He was 1/6 and 3/12 inquiries. Memory is fuzzy, but I think denial letter cited D&B biz report.

where's the best writeup for the */** (5/24 etc) guidelines for all the brands? I need a primer

 

[hsmamato2]

DH and I both have the old Select card, and the newer Premier card, so two personal cards each. With those we get the 4th night free, we get 10% refund on points bookings (old Select benefit), and 4 FNC per year. I hardly ever use the United travel bank, but the Free Night Certs we have always found good value for, especially since you can top them off over 40k points. I will keep my old Select card ($49 AF) as long as I possibly can, since a FNC for that amount is a steal. For the $99 AF on the Premier, we think more carefully about where we're going to use the cert, but it's typically been for properties that are around $200-250/night otherwise, so to us it's a good value. Plus the footprint of IHG is a bit better than Hyatt, so we can find hotels in random places sometimes when there is no Hyatt in sight. There was only 1 year that I can recall that we weren't going to use one of the FNC, but I reached out and they gave me points for the expiring cert, so I was happy with that. Every other year, I have plans for the FNC before I even get them. If anything, my problem is that I want the Biz card for us both also! lol

I thought you had to give up the old select to get the premier? I really want both but don't want to give up my og IHG cc- I think I use IHG more than just about anything

 

[StephPlum]

I thought you had to give up the old select to get the premier? I really want both but don't want to give up my og IHG cc- I think I use IHG more than just about anything

There was a window where you could get both personal. Now you are limited to only one personal so, yes now you would have to cancel the og IHG cc to get the premier.

I have both personal cards and will keep as I can’t churn the premier (would have to cancel the select). I have gotten the biz once, just cancelled. I might get again if I need points but will try to sync up my FNCs to the same month as one of the personal. I wasn’t quite that strategic so I get one in March and one in September. I have been able to use all in one visit but it takes more planning. I find these very useful in the west for my NP trips. I used one in Fresno, one in Oakhurst and one in Redding on a great CA road trip to Yosemite and Lassen Volcanic.

 

[StephPlum]

Ha ha love the SW divorce talk. I’m sorta in a separation from SW. I’ve been traveling internationally more and much less domestically. I’m also flying solo a lot so no need for a CP. So just a natural split.

I still have a ton of points and they are the only carrier from my home airport that flies non-stop to Orlando. So my trip in Dec to Universal will be on SW. I’ll do carry on so not worried about baggage fees. I’m really going to miss free bags.

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

I have both personal cards and will keep as I can’t churn the premier (would have to cancel the select). I have gotten the biz once, just cancelled. I might get again if I need points but will try to sync up my FNCs to the same month as one of the personal. I wasn’t quite that strategic so I get one in March and one in September. I have been able to use all in one visit but it takes more planning. I find these very useful in the west for my NP trips. I used one in Fresno, one in Oakhurst and one in Redding on a great CA road trip to Yosemite and Lassen Volcanic.

Same. We have 2 certs that hit in March, and then another in July and another in August. I too wish I was more strategic so that they were all issued around the same time, cuz those July/August certs require a bit more planning. We've used a lot of ours for NP trips as well. Right now I'm looking at using some of mine in Seattle and/or Sequim for next year Olympic/Mt Rainier trip.

 

[hsmamato2]

Ha ha love the SW divorce talk. I’m sorta in a separation from SW. I’ve been traveling internationally more and much less domestically. I’m also flying solo a lot so no need for a CP. So just a natural split.

I still have a ton of points and they are the only carrier from my home airport that flies non-stop to Orlando. So my trip in Dec to Universal will be on SW. I’ll do carry on so not worried about baggage fees. I’m really going to miss free bags.

yeah, I'm coo also I'm more worried about the seat setups after 2026...without a cc I'll be stuck in the middle

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

We're divorcing SWA also, but plan for an amicable process and to remain friends

We still have joint custody of a few hundred in non-expiring flight credits and about 80K RR in our household, so we'll need to take care of all of that

But the separation, which would be hastened by the possible demise of the SW CP, does mean that we won't be pursuing RR points through their shopping portal or alternating p1/p2 CC applications every 2 years--previously cornerstones of our marriage!

On the bright side, the divorce means we can see new people more often: currently we only have Delta and United flights booked for 2026

 

[hsmamato2]

Ok- question -Cap1 portal car rental question- I got a conf code- it doesn't work on the Hertz/Thrifty website- what should I do? Call the portal,or the car location to check? ALSO.... (this is a big oops) I booked it using points from my cc, for my ds. I input his name etc as the driver but JUST remembered now that they may not let him pick it up unless he has my cc at counter? Please advise! (my life has been INSANELY busy this summer,that's my excuse for zoning on this one)

 

[wanderlust7]

where's the best writeup for the */** (5/24 etc) guidelines for all the brands? I need a primer

DoC has a reference, but some things may be outdated. Link

If you're looking for the things that improve approval odds, that mostly comes from DPs. Many are not hard rules like 5/24. I haven't seen a summary, but I can share what I've gathered.

Citibank - very inquiry sensitive. Best to be 0/6 inquiries, maybe 1/6 is okay.
Barclays - also inquiry sensitive. Maybe 2/6 inquiries is okay. Has 6/24 new card rule, not sure if it's a soft rule.
US Bank - likes a relationship and money in a deposit account. At least $5000 gets mentioned as the amount in the deposit account.
BoA - also likes a relationsihp. Alaska biz seems especially difficult.
Capital One - who knows. Check the preapproval tool.
Chase - 5/24, 2 or less open Chase biz cards for better biz approval odds, keep total CL low.
Amex - who knows how to avoid the pop-up. Most are limited to 5 credit cards, 10 charge cards.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

So I learned something new today: can't use AAdvantage seat coupons for flights outside of the continental US even if it's still for domestic flights. I wanted to use them for a red-eye flight from Honolulu to LAX but wasn't given the option, I called and the first rep told me it can't be used on miles flights. I knew that wasn't right, I just used it on a miles flight earlier today lol. So didn't argue, just decided to call again: this time the rep told me that the reason the option doesn't appear (on my end or their end) is that they can only be used within the continental US. I looked over some other flight options and it seems to be true, I only get the button to apply seat coupons within continental US.

It doesn't say this in the seat coupons T&C, so I told the rep they should update that. Anyway, FYI in case it's helpful to someone else

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

That type of experience would have absolutely led me to a one and done. Yikes!!! Our biggest hesitation for going back is literally, how on earth do we top what we have experienced. DH said, he'd love to go back and isn't ruling it out but the experience we had is un-toppable. It's a long way and a lot of points and miles to risk the feeling that it just wasn't as good or magical the first time. Not saying we won't but expectations definitely would need to be tempered and adjusted. Our second time to the Al Maha was kind of like this. It was good, but not as good as the first time we went.

We’ve done 2 safaris and I can promise you that your second will be just as good, if not better. I really, really, really want to see the great migration, thus the potential for a third trip. I also want to do a gorilla trek in Rwanda, which can be paired with Kenya / Tanzania, but my knees aren’t getting better with age and my window is slowly closing with each passing year. You can always fly to London, see a show or two and jump on BA to Joburg. That’s what we did for 1 of our trips. Reading your TR is making me want to go back; maybe in 2027…

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

This was my ‘one and done’ in Zambia. It was absolutely terrifying (the walk to get to Angels chair and back) and I will never, ever do it again. Just watching my dd come back alone (she wanted to stay and do some crazy pics) still sends shivers done my spine. I can’t even describe how terrified I was when she was walking back. There was a retired firefighter in our group and I was holding his arm so tightly watching her come back that I probably left bruises. And the water was frigid, which didn’t help.

 

[MsOnceUponATime]

This was my ‘one and done’ in Zambia. It was absolutely terrifying (the walk to get to Angels chair and back) and I will never, ever do it again. Just watching my dd come back alone (she wanted to stay and do some crazy pics) still sends shivers done my spine. I can’t even describe how terrified I was when she was walking back. There was a retired firefighter in our group and I was holding his arm so tightly watching her come back that I probably left bruises. And the water was frigid, which didn’t help.

View attachment 993077

I don't know what exactly this is, but that looks smurfing scary. Is this the Niagra Falls of Zambia?

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

I don't know what exactly this is, but that looks smurfing scary. Is this the Niagra Falls of Zambia?

That is Angels Chair, perched atop Victoria Falls in Zambia. It was terrifying. We have friends that did Devils Armchair (they open in opposite seasons, we were there in early summer, therefore had to do Angels Chair) and they told me it was so much fun, not scary at all. Either that one is easier or they have no fear).

 

[tink1970]

I don't know what exactly this is, but that looks smurfing scary. Is this the Niagra Falls of Zambia?

I had a childhood friend who died at the age of 19 going over Victoria Falls...his body was never found so I agree with scary. I have a fear of heights and a respect for water...combine the two and...yeah, don't think I'll ever go to that particular site. I'd love to go to Victoria Falls, if only to say a prayer and think good thoughts of him but don't need to tempt Fate!

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

I had a childhood friend who died at the age of 19 going over Victoria Falls...his body was never found so I agree with scary. I have a fear of heights and a respect for water...combine the two and...yeah, don't think I'll ever go to that particular site. I'd love to go to Victoria Falls, if only to say a prayer and think good thoughts of him but don't need to tempt Fate!

I am so sorry to hear that. We were told (I asked) that no one had died doing Angels Chair. If the answer had been yes there is zero chance I would’ve taken the risk. It really wouldn’t have taken much to go over — the water was moving very fast and the rocks were slippery (dangerous combination). Add in the fact that every part of my body was shaking in fear and I can sure understand how quickly you could slip.

 

[georgina]

Yikes! We'll be in Victoria Falls next week, NO WAY would I do that! DD did recommend a craft brewery there, that's more my speed.

 

[calypso726]

This was my ‘one and done’ in Zambia. It was absolutely terrifying (the walk to get to Angels chair and back) and I will never, ever do it again. Just watching my dd come back alone (she wanted to stay and do some crazy pics) still sends shivers done my spine. I can’t even describe how terrified I was when she was walking back. There was a retired firefighter in our group and I was holding his arm so tightly watching her come back that I probably left bruises. And the water was frigid, which didn’t help.

View attachment 993077

That looks terrifying!

That is Angels Chair, perched atop Victoria Falls in Zambia. It was terrifying. We have friends that did Devils Armchair (they open in opposite seasons, we were there in early summer, therefore had to do Angels Chair) and they told me it was so much fun, not scary at all. Either that one is easier or they have no fear).

Pre 2020 I was making plans to visit Victoria Falls and had thought of doing the Devil's armchair as it were. The more I thought about it the more the idea freaked me out. I would still love to see Victoria Falls but there's no way I would do either the Devil's armchair or the Angel's chair.

I had a childhood friend who died at the age of 19 going over Victoria Falls...his body was never found so I agree with scary. I have a fear of heights and a respect for water...combine the two and...yeah, don't think I'll ever go to that particular site. I'd love to go to Victoria Falls, if only to say a prayer and think good thoughts of him but don't need to tempt Fate!

Oh no, I am so sorry. I'm with you on the not tempting fate part.

 

[hsmamato2]

DoC has a reference, but some things may be outdated. Link

If you're looking for the things that improve approval odds, that mostly comes from DPs. Many are not hard rules like 5/24. I haven't seen a summary, but I can share what I've gathered.

Citibank - very inquiry sensitive. Best to be 0/6 inquiries, maybe 1/6 is okay.
Barclays - also inquiry sensitive. Maybe 2/6 inquiries is okay. Has 6/24 new card rule, not sure if it's a soft rule.
US Bank - likes a relationship and money in a deposit account. At least $5000 gets mentioned as the amount in the deposit account.
BoA - also likes a relationsihp. Alaska biz seems especially difficult.
Capital One - who knows. Check the preapproval tool.
Chase - 5/24, 2 or less open Chase biz cards for better biz approval odds, keep total CL low.
Amex - who knows how to avoid the pop-up. Most are limited to 5 credit cards, 10 charge cards.

Thanks!