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

[tink1970]

For me, the difference between the Summit (100k SUB + 5k waitlist bonus) and Ascent (80k SUB) is 25k more points and a 25k companion award. That's worth the extra $300 in AF to me. I don't place that much value on the Ascent companion fare.

If DPs look good, I might try for the biz too.

ITA!
Earlier this month, I decided against the more expensive Citi Strata Eilite (that and, let's be honest, Citi IT although BoA's is just as bad...sigh) afer realizing the benefits of AS miles were actually better (much!) than 100K AA miles for me. With the Summit I can use miles for partner flights, have a little discount on the partner award fees and with the extra 5K bonus for signing up via email, that was a boost. I'll likely cancel the Ascent (who comes up with these names, anyway?) when it's due for renewal and keep the Summit for one renewal to pay for GE because I predict ruthless culling of platinum cards in my future so I was very happy when I was approved this am.

 

[*pixie*]

Does anyone know where I can find a good tutorial on booking with Hawaiian Air? I've only ever used points with Southwest. DH and I are planning on flying with Hawaiian Air one way in February and would like to book first class. We are also kicking around a second trip later in 2026 that would involve roundtrip tickets for 6 of us, some first class and some main cabin.

DH has CSR and I have Amex Platinum. Kicking around getting the new Atmos card for these flights, but I'm confused on some of the perks, specifically the companion fare. If I'm understanding correctly, the Ascent companion perks seem to only be good on main cabin and cash fares, so I think we would need the Summit. Also confused on upgrades? Wouldn't I be better off just to book the seats we want instead of trying for upgrades? With our other two cards we already have lounge access. Not sure if it's worth getting the Summit for these two trips, or am I better off just paying cash?

 

[VGCgroupie]

Does anyone know where I can find a good tutorial on booking with Hawaiian Air? I've only ever used points with Southwest. DH and I are planning on flying with Hawaiian Air one way in February and would like to book first class. We are also kicking around a second trip later in 2026 that would involve roundtrip tickets for 6 of us, some first class and some main cabin.

DH has CSR and I have Amex Platinum. Kicking around getting the new Atmos card for these flights, but I'm confused on some of the perks, specifically the companion fare. If I'm understanding correctly, the Ascent companion perks seem to only be good on main cabin and cash fares, so I think we would need the Summit. Also confused on upgrades? Wouldn't I be better off just to book the seats we want instead of trying for upgrades? With our other two cards we already have lounge access. Not sure if it's worth getting the Summit for these two trips, or am I better off just paying cash?

I have a Hawaiian card and booking was easy, as of now they still have really good redemption values, not sure if it will remain this way. Booking Hawaiian/Alaskan with Amex and Chase points can be done via their travel portals. Hawaiian still has their cards as well as an option. Right now it's 80k points for 5k spend $99 AF. There used to be an offer with no high spend requirement, I will be on a Hawaiian flight this weekend and will post here what in flight offer is and share the code if it's a good one.

 

[Princess Michele]

@calypso726 Thank you for your wonderful pictures and trip report. A safari is one of my bucket list trips and I need to start researching to get a trip lined up in 2027 or 2028.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Not sure if I saw this mentioned. I have Citi Rewards+ card that I never use. I got an email that my card has now been changed to a Citi Strata card. I logged in and its all changed over and they had preselected a 3x category for me.

 

[wanderlust7]

Does anyone know where I can find a good tutorial on booking with Hawaiian Air? I've only ever used points with Southwest. DH and I are planning on flying with Hawaiian Air one way in February and would like to book first class. We are also kicking around a second trip later in 2026 that would involve roundtrip tickets for 6 of us, some first class and some main cabin.

DH has CSR and I have Amex Platinum. Kicking around getting the new Atmos card for these flights, but I'm confused on some of the perks, specifically the companion fare. If I'm understanding correctly, the Ascent companion perks seem to only be good on main cabin and cash fares, so I think we would need the Summit. Also confused on upgrades? Wouldn't I be better off just to book the seats we want instead of trying for upgrades? With our other two cards we already have lounge access. Not sure if it's worth getting the Summit for these two trips, or am I better off just paying cash?

Flight to Hawaii in first start at 40k one-way. It can be much higher than that though. If you can find that, the Summit bonus would cover your Feb flight with miles left over. It would be 40k for one person, the 25k companion award plus 15k topoff for the other. 55k miles total and you'd have 45k miles left.

Or you can get the Ascend and pay 80k miles with no miles left. The companion fare can then be used for the 2026 trip to book main cabin. Let's say roundtrip is $500, companion would be $99 plus around $25 in taxes/fees.

Or you can get both.

 

[magickingdomprincess]

Does anyone have experience with being granted preboard with SW while traveling with special needs adult? My mom takes care of my uncle, who has special needs. From looking at him you most likely wouldn't be able to tell, and probably only would after talking with him for a bit. We've always just purchased EBCI while flying SW, but the cost for it has really gone up. I'm wondering if she could just try preboard? If so, would she need to request it for both flights or just the originating airport? We have one connection. I would most likely just check in at 24 hours and hope I can sit with them. Oh, and this is for a Sept flight, before assigned seating starts. Thanks!

 

[*pixie*]

Flight to Hawaii in first start at 40k one-way. It can be much higher than that though. If you can find that, the Summit bonus would cover your Feb flight with miles left over. It would be 40k for one person, the 25k companion award plus 15k topoff for the other. 55k miles total and you'd have 45k miles left.

Or you can get the Ascend and pay 80k miles with no miles left. The companion fare can then be used for the 2026 trip to book main cabin. Let's say roundtrip is $500, companion would be $99 plus around $25 in taxes/fees.

Or you can get both.

Thank you! I haven’t found any that low, but maybe it’s still too soon?

I assume points post fairly quickly once you hit your required spend?

 

[hsmamato2]

Following up. Since today is the last day for the elevated SUB for CSR, I decided to try again. I did NOT get PUJ today (as I did yesterday). I did get a message that the application was in review, but that means I got past the "you aren't eligible for the SUB".

So to recap. PC'd to a Freedom LAST Monday, PUJ on Friday, PUJ yesterday, "under review" message today.

whoa..... so they won't see the app as the 'same'?

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

If anyone got the new CSR card, check the rewards portal; dd (me) got a reminder e-mail this morning to use her (my) $500 travel credit by August 21st. I didn't know about this credit, so logged into her account and sure enough when I went to check-out for a hotel purchase, there was an option to add the promo, which took $500 right off the price (I had already booked a hotel in Athens, so re-booked it and cancelled the original booking). I had 2 reservations for 2 nights each; the first was made to use the $250 Edit credit and $300 annual travel credit, the second was cash. For my 4 nights at the Capital Center hotel I saved $1,050 -- pretty good deal! Very happy with the decision to get the new CSR for 1 year. I had a minor issue with the booking: it took 36k URs to cover the remaining balance (would've preferred to pay cash), but I can live with that.
I fly through Boston to get to London (enroute to Florence) at the end of September and will enjoy a very nice dinner at Bistro du Midi to make use of the $150 restaurant credit.

 

[magickingdomprincess]

Has anyone noticed that when updating flights on Southwest that it's charging more points than it should if just booking straight out? This happened twice to me, when updating my individual reservation and again when updating my mom/uncle's reservation. I ended up cancelling and rebooting at the lower fare. These were all booked on points. Something to watch out for!

 

[Psychodisney]

Does anyone have experience with being granted preboard with SW while traveling with special needs adult? My mom takes care of my uncle, who has special needs. From looking at him you most likely wouldn't be able to tell, and probably only would after talking with him for a bit. We've always just purchased EBCI while flying SW, but the cost for it has really gone up. I'm wondering if she could just try preboard? If so, would she need to request it for both flights or just the originating airport? We have one connection. I would most likely just check in at 24 hours and hope I can sit with them. Oh, and this is for a Sept flight, before assigned seating starts. Thanks!

I'm pretty sure anyone can ask for preboard. Just ask the gate agent.

 

[wanderlust7]

Thank you! I haven’t found any that low, but maybe it’s still too soon?

I assume points post fairly quickly once you hit your required spend?

It's not too soon for Feb. This is a generalization, but awards tend to be lowest at calendar open or sometimes very last minute. I don't know how much Hawaiian awards fluctuate.

After you meet the spend, you need to wait for the statement to close. Then it might take a day or two for the points to make it over to your mileage account.

 

[VGCgroupie]

The sign up bonus for the CSR increased to 125,000 points after $6,000 spend no more travel credit of $500.