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

[georgina]

Way behind on this thread, just got back from 2 weeks in Africa and many websites were not available in the countries I was in, when I checked once or twice. Decided to try for CSR Biz, was approved with a $10,000 CL after the phone call from the fraud dept to make sure it was really me applying. Used a support link from DH's CIP. I have 3 open Chase personal cards and 2 biz cards, one that I use semi-regularly. Will try to refer him to a new CIU soon, would like to get the points to his CSR to hopefully beat the late October deadline.

I have $12,000 CL on my CIC and $9000 on my CIP, so I will move quite a bit over so I don't have to make too many separate payments to hit the CSR Biz MSR.

 

[havaneselover]

Has anyone tried Beis luggage? I need a large checked bag. I have an Away Medium checked bag and the kids and I all have bigger carry-ons. When I went to Norway I realized the 70 L capacity of the medium was too small for me for over a week (I probably could do it, but it caused stress). So I'm looking for a large check bag. The only reason I'm considering Beis is I have a 15% Amex offer. Otherwise I'd just get an Away large checked bag. The difference after all discounts is $80.

 

[reliev]

I usually go to whichever isn't crowded, honestly. The difference between Centurion and Skyclub isn't significant imho-neither is worth waiting so I check the line and walk to the other. The DL Flagship is reserved for Delta One (not first but biz international or possibly to LAX?) or AF/KLM biz (TATL) iirc so that's another option if that's how you're flying TO JFK from overseas.

yeah DL flagship is business only AFAIK. I did it to Munich and back, which was great.

 

[gr8ful]

I am going to apply for a new card today but can't decide what.

For southwest- am I correct that the elevated bonus earns the companion pass for next year? And then do you just book with points/the otjer person is free? We are the opposite of most people in that we will consider southwest more now that they do assigned seating.

Did you get the answer to your question about the SWA companion pass? I couldn’t find one in the posts following yours and have the same question. I believe the 100,000 bonus points count toward the 135,000 needed for a companion pass, but would appreciate verification. Thanks!

 

[jenmsmith]

Did you get the answer to your question about the SWA companion pass? I couldn’t find one in the posts following yours and have the same question. I believe the 100,000 bonus points count toward the 135,000 needed for a companion pass, but would appreciate verification. Thanks!

The elevated bonus does count towards the 135,000 Rapid Rewards points needed for the companion pass. The previous poster mentions earning the CP with that one card. The sign up bonus alone won't earn the pass, but it does get the majority of the way there.

 

[gr8ful]

The elevated bonus does count towards the 135,000 Rapid Rewards points needed for the companion pass. The previous poster mentions earning the CP with that one card. The sign up bonus alone won't earn the pass, but it does get the majority of the way there.

That’s what I thought. Thank you for confirming!

 

[LAX]

there's a hampton Inn right outside Acadia we've stayed at. Not sure of room sizes as I only needed for 2. Make sure you try Trenton Lobster Pound. Amazing lobster, no frills

Thanks for the recommendation. Need to check it out the next time we visit Maine.

LAX

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Well I clearly am itching to travel right now, LOL. I think I might head off to NC this upcoming weekend to give my daughter a beach day. I tried to give her a trip to the zoo in SD back in May but that didn't go well (she had an attack while there which resulted in us only spending 12 hours in SD). She was 100% okay being left behind when we went to Munich, but then once again had an episode, and was upset when we got back. So I promised her something ASAP. Loads look good into RDU. I have a rental car on hold for "free" (using my Cap 1 bank). I can get an employee rate at the double tree on the beach, so let's go, LOL. I'll use my credit on my surpass for 1 night. So I'll only be out like $30! Then put rooms on hold in New Orleans to take her to Krewe of BOO. She LOVES Halloween. And she's been begging to go to New Orleans. We'll see if we go or not. She's been doing really good with her "big girl job" and going back to school this fall, so I want to kinda give her something to "reward" her.

While I was booking the rental for RDU, I checked prices on rental cars for Cabo in Nov/Dec when/if we do the Waldorf. $40 for the 3 nights is WAY cheaper than the shuttle, LOL. And there's free parking. So that will use up some more of my credit. I guess I can look at booking a rental car for when we do Zac Brown in Vegas to use up the rest. I'm kinda itching for a Vegas trip too since we cancelled to do Munich instead, LOL.

I need to cancel my CIC. I know I keep dragging my feet. I transferred over my points, but I have like 500 pending. How do I get those? You have like 30 days to transfer over the remaining when you cancel, right?

Wanted to share my latest redemption that surprised me. We are planning 3 nights in San Diego at the end of September and I was going to book using IHG points. Well, for the 3 nights at Indigo it was going to be roughly 150K IHG points! Or, using 1 FNC and then 2 nights on points, still very high. I remembered I have the CSP $50 hotel credit and the one time $50 travel credit so I took a look at that portal. I was able to book the same hotel with only 35K URs (there was a points boost) and $105, which $50 was taken off at checkout and I'll get another $50 credit. I typically hoard my URs to transfer to airlines for Biz class flights, but I couldn't turn this down! Just wanted to share in case others are wondering how to use those credits.

ETA: Cash price would have been over $800.

Thank for this suggestion! I have a Hilton on hold (employee rate) in New Orleans for Krewe of BOO. But I really wanted to do the Kimpton as it's on the parade route which means we don't have to camp out, LOL. We can just walk out to watch it. The room was $600/nt, or like 95k IHG points (Which I have but it's a lot for ONE NIGHT). So I looked for 35k URs and $50 I can book the Kimpton, so I did. So the $50 credit is used....How do you know if you have the $50 one time credit? ETA: Looks like that credit is if you were new to CSP within the last year. DD got her CSP back in April. I may have to have her log into her Chase account. Might be worth booking it with her points instead and using the $100 credit.....hmmmm.

 

[havaneselover]

Just knocked out my CIC MSR for estimated federal taxes. Pay ACI is still working with business cards using paypal at the lower rate. Still have one more payment to make before the 15th.

 

[Sheree]

Just knocked out my CIC MSR for estimated federal taxes. Pay ACI is still working with business cards using paypal at the lower rate. Still have one more payment to make before the 15th.

thanks for the idea! I want to knock out my ink msr in one swoop. going to set up estimated taxes since we owed so much last year. then hopefully i get my URs and can move them to my csr before the Oct date!

 

[chattadisser]

thanks for the idea! I want to knock out my ink msr in one swoop. going to set up estimated taxes since we owed so much last year. then hopefully i get my URs and can move them to my csr before the Oct date!

This is my game plan too, trying to accumulate and move as many UR's to our CSR as possible before the October date. I did sit down the other day and figure out the statement periods on each UR earning card so I know which cards to focus my spend on. Don't want to put them on a card that will end up with a statement closing after the October date!!!! I'd be so mad at myself!

 

[becauseimnew]

After almost 2 years, DH received his first instant approval from Chase. His last personal card was approved 12/24 and his last business card was approved 7/24 (has been declined 3 times).

Glad I decided to try again instead of taking the Amex upgrade on my Gold Biz, the $95 CIP fee is much better than the $695 Plat AF.

 

[afan]

Trying to sort the return flight from Shanghai out. Having similar issues as Japan, figure x out and then when I search weeks later nothing comes up. But I also kind of expected this to be the one that gets booked close in. Open to the west coast so I've looked at LAX, SFO and YVR, not just SEA.

I had thought I'd be able to book economy on dl so we have something and then sort out what to do, but even their economy prices are insane and more than I have, and it leaves me without any dl miles.

All that to ask, what site does everyone use to alert to flights opening up? I know they all have their differences and they don't work with all airlines and don't necessarily work with connecting routes which makes it more complicated to search, but I can't decide which makes the most sense to use and since there's a cost I don't want to do more than one.

Eta, still curious about the above but I think the answer is aeroplan icn to sfo or lax. Not my favorite idea, but as of now seems plan a. Will see what happens in a few weeks.

 

[highlander357]

Sorry if this is a simple question, but I am just starting to try to figure out how to use points most effectively. I want to travel to WDW. I have a SW Plus Visa and Disney Premier Visa. I fly out of Manchester NH and want non-stops. Would it be more efficient to use the SW card for monthly expenses to rack up points for flights or do the same with the Disney card for rewards $?

Also I don’t not have a Jet Blue card but they are now also in Manchester with limited non-stops to MCO. Does JB have a better rewards program than SW?

Thanks.

 

[djmeredith]

Sorry if this is a simple question, but I am just starting to try to figure out how to use points most effectively. I want to travel to WDW. I have a SW Plus Visa and Disney Premier Visa. I fly out of Manchester NH and want non-stops. Would it be more efficient to use the SW card for monthly expenses to rack up points for flights or do the same with the Disney card for rewards $?

Also I don’t not have a Jet Blue card but they are now also in Manchester with limited non-stops to MCO. Does JB have a better rewards program than SW?

Thanks.

If you earned the Sign Up Bonus (SUB) on your SW card more than 24 mos ago, you may want to consider cancelling it and reapplying for the Premier. (You can only hold 1 personal SW card). There is a currently an elevate SUB of 100,000 pts for the Plus and Premier cards. That is an easy 100K pts, and that also gets you very close to the amt of pts you would need to earn the Companion Pass (CP).

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Instant Approval for the SW Priority card this morning from DHs support link…

Timeline
7/28- cancelled existing SW Priority card
reduced CLs on other Chase cards and also used those cards so they closed on 8/19 with a balance ….not sure if this makes a difference but it seems to with my business applications

 

[Arcades]

Thank you!

I closed my Surpass on 7/28/25 after having it 'almost' 3 years. Today is 8/28, so 31 days ago. For the first time that I can remember I was denied for a card straight up - the basic Hilton Honors card. I have 2 personal Amex Marriott cards - have had them for many years plus an Amex Marriott Business card. I also have a very old Amex MR card, that is a credit card - so including Biz, 4 credit cards. Last personal card from other issuer was Chase in November 2024 and last Biz card from Chase was September 2024.

Credit score 832 - it dropped after paying off mortgage and a car loan so I have no revolving accounts except CC's. Planning on paying cash for a new car this fall but I may have to get a loan, lol!

They will mail me a 'reason' within 10 business days. I am now moving on to a different card app. Meanwhile I'm sitting on an Aspire offer - but had decided to get the no fee first and put the Aspire on hold as I wanted it in a later month.

Oh yeah - I've been an Amex customer for about 30 years or so.

Amex has fluctuated for me, without rhyme or reason, between a 5 card cap and 4 card cap over the last few years. It used to be 5 credit cards and 10 charge cards without question. Right now, I have 4 cards and that's my cap. Earlier this year I had 5 until I closed my Hilton Business and was rejected for an Aspire NLL offer. That 5th slot opens from time to time for me and I just have to keep checking. The good news is there's no wasted inquiry with Amex when they reject you, so keep trying at intermittent intervals.

 

[georgina]

DH instantly approved for CIU with 10,000 CL. I had lowered the limits on his open CIP and CIC to 6000 and 13,000 yesterday (was saving some to transfer, not expecting that high CL on the new one!) I have the MSR all lined up as soon as it arrives.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

For those going for the Atmos Summit, the card takes quite a while to arrive. It's out for delivery finally, 2 days short of 2 weekend since approval. FYI in case you need it fast

 

[newski_mom]

Preparing for DH to apply for a SW card for the 100,000 point SUB. Can someone remind me what the limits Chase likes to stay with. Right now he has:
CIC, CIU and CIP with $17,000 limits between then and
CSR, CF and Hyatt with $27,500 between them for a
total of $44,500 between all cards.

Also curious which card everyone's been going with. DH and I typically fly 5-6 times a year and right now Southwest is the best option from our airport (STL). I don't know that it will stay that way in the future, but right now, it's always been our best option.

It looks like the biggest benefit of the priority card is that you select your seat at booking. That does seem like a nice benefit, but we aren't super picky about where we sit, so probably not a deal breaker to wait until 48 hours before flight to pick a seat. I'm hoping to get the companion pass quickly after January to get it active for 2026-2027. We've been alternating CP for quite a few years now and have flights planned for the end of February, so we'll have to earn it quickly to hopefully use it for those flights.