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

[mom2febgirls]

It looks like I'm going to be at 70 Marriott nights by the end of the year. We are going to be visiting Rome and Greece next year and I'm wondering if a mattress run to reach Titanium would be worth it. I can book 5 nights at a local fairfield in late December for 50,000 points.

Would you do it?

 

[wanderlust7]

Thanks! I don’t have enough Chase points, or the advanced MR ability currently, so it looks like the .6 cent/point for MRs is my only real hope right now (cries in wasted points). Lots of strategy to think about in the next couple months though. I got the targeted 200k Amex Biz Gold a couple weeks ago and was on the fence, and now it has dropped to 175.

Since you're looking at biz cards, the CIU/CIC are at 90k for $6000 spend, no AF. The elevated bonus is probably ending soon.

The MR‘s only cash out at one cent per point with a platinum card as well as the business checking account or the 1.1 cents with the Schwab platinum and business checking account.

If you just have a business checking account, it raises the redemption from $0.006 cents to $0.008 cents per point

Good catch! I forgot you need biz plat + biz checking. For the Schwab, you only need the Schwab brokerage to open the card in the first place.

 

[AJruns]

Since you're looking at biz cards, the CIU/CIC are at 90k for $6000 spend, no AF. The elevated bonus is probably ending soon.



Good catch! I forgot you need biz plat + biz checking. For the Schwab, you only need the Schwab brokerage to open the card in the first place.

I just did the Ink Cash elevated bonus, but those points are all going to Hyatts on a 3 week Asia trip in June/July. I have the Amex Plat and Biz Plat so it sounds like adding a checking account could help, but while I have a legitimate business it’s “just” dog walking and dogsitting so I had never considered the checking account angle. The biz gold multipliers and coupons don’t do much for me but I would get it just for the sub. The advantage of Cap1 for me is that my P2 is not in my household (my mom), and those points are the easiest to share so between the two of us it would have been easy to erase a big travel spend.

 

[wanderlust7]

I just did the Ink Cash elevated bonus, but those points are all going to Hyatts on a 3 week Asia trip in June/July. I have the Amex Plat and Biz Plat so it sounds like adding a checking account could help, but while I have a legitimate business it’s “just” dog walking and dogsitting so I had never considered the checking account angle. The biz gold multipliers and coupons don’t do much for me but I would get it just for the sub. The advantage of Cap1 for me is that my P2 is not in my household (my mom), and those points are the easiest to share so between the two of us it would have been easy to erase a big travel spend.

I find the biz gold $20 credit pretty easy to use. I buy third party GC at Staples online. Can usually get 14 months of credits on 1 AF, so I figure the effective AF is $95.

You can get a bonus on the biz checking. There are some targeted elevated offers out there, but I think the minimum is 30k MR.

 

[reliev]

So DCL question . i called costco for early booking for DCL cruises they told me i have to call the first time, does that mean i have to call everytime? Also, at what time do they open the calls for early bookings?

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

It looks like I'm going to be at 70 Marriott nights by the end of the year. We are going to be visiting Rome and Greece next year and I'm wondering if a mattress run to reach Titanium would be worth it. I can book 5 nights at a local fairfield in late December for 50,000 points.

Would you do it?

I wouldn't; platinum status gets you free breakfast (you already earned this for next year), which to me at least, is the biggest benefit. You don't say when you're traveling, but if it's over the summer it's unlikely you'll get an upgrade since it's peak season. Not sure what properties you're looking at or for how many nights, so not sure if you could potentially use any NUAs, but again, during summer it's unlikely that popular properties would honor NUAs.

 

[mom2febgirls]

I wouldn't; platinum status gets you free breakfast (you already earned this for next year), which to me at least, is the biggest benefit. You don't say when you're traveling, but if it's over the summer it's unlikely you'll get an upgrade since it's peak season. Not sure what properties you're looking at or for how many nights, so not sure if you could potentially use any NUAs, but again, during summer it's unlikely that popular properties would honor NUAs.

Thanks. We're going in September/October. For Rome, I'm debating between the Pantheon Iconic or the W. For Athens the King George or Grande Bretagne.

 

[cruisehopeful]

So DCL question . i called costco for early booking for DCL cruises they told me i have to call the first time, does that mean i have to call everytime? Also, at what time do they open the calls for early bookings?

I don't know what time the phones open. The Costco website doesn't distinguish your Castaway status. If you are booking early because of Castaway status, you have to call to book. As soon as the cruise is on sale for the general public, you can book online.

Another way to book early (and this is what I did when booking through Costco), is to book online on the DCL website as soon as your status can book. Immediately after that or within 30 days, follow the instructions on the Costco travel website to transfer the booking to Costco. You'll get the exact same Costco cash card as if you booked through them.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Thanks. We're going in September/October. For Rome, I'm debating between the Pantheon Iconic or the W. For Athens the King George or Grande Bretagne.

Will be you be booking the King George or Grande Bretagne on points? I was looking at both for my 4 nights in Athens (got back a few wks ago) and the cash prices were insane. I ended up booking the Athens Capital MGallery hotel (Edit collection) -- it's directly across the street from the Grande Bretagne, was half the cost and it was AMAZING. The KG and GB look very nice and if you don't mind the cost I'm sure you'd love either!

 

[VGCgroupie]

Does anyone know if you get the standard cash back when you buy Amex Gift Cards via their website? Trying to decide if buying with the recent Amex offer is worth it. It may not be for me if you dont get the standard % back on the card

 

[eticketplease]

Does anyone know if you get the standard cash back when you buy Amex Gift Cards via their website? Trying to decide if buying with the recent Amex offer is worth it. It may not be for me if you dont get the standard % back on the card

Was wondering the same since they it is a gift card since they are the ones selling lol

 

[VGCgroupie]

My Barclays Hawaiian card under offers has an extra 3x points on grocery and gas up to 2400 points. Others received an extra 5x points. I activated mine via the website, others did app, so if you have the app Id check that first.

 

[reliev]

Does anyone know if you get the standard cash back when you buy Amex Gift Cards via their website? Trying to decide if buying with the recent Amex offer is worth it. It may not be for me if you dont get the standard % back on the card

Was wondering the same since they it is a gift card since they are the ones selling lol

So I bought these 5+ years ago. They were a REAL pain to use, as much as I want some free points (I'd use it for a bill). I remember it being tough. I couldn't use it on Amazon, my electric bill, etc, because of the weird holds it had. They even have a code on the website for a free 12-day trial or something similar. Im going to pass because i remember there being a few dollars left on both my cards last time and I didnt think it was worth the squeeze.

 

[VGCgroupie]

So I bought these 5+ years ago. They were a REAL pain to use, as much as I want some free points (I'd use it for a bill). I remember it being tough. I couldn't use it on Amazon, my electric bill, etc, because of the weird holds it had. They even have a code on the website for a free 12-day trial or something similar. Im going to pass because i remember there being a few dollars left on both my cards last time and I didnt think it was worth the squeeze.

I would try to flip into Disney Gift Cards and of that failed I was going to just use them directly to pay my DVC dues.

 

[gr8ful]

It looks like I'm going to be at 70 Marriott nights by the end of the year. We are going to be visiting Rome and Greece next year and I'm wondering if a mattress run to reach Titanium would be worth it. I can book 5 nights at a local fairfield in late December for 50,000 points.

Would you do it?

I would. I was a Marriott Warrior during my working career but occasionally needed to supplement with a few personal Fairfield nights to maintain status. By the time I retired I achieved Lifetime Titanium status so it was definitely worth it for me as I now enjoy all the perks without any concern over how many nights I need to maintain status each year.

 

[miztressuz]

It looks like I'm going to be at 70 Marriott nights by the end of the year. We are going to be visiting Rome and Greece next year and I'm wondering if a mattress run to reach Titanium would be worth it. I can book 5 nights at a local fairfield in late December for 50,000 points.

Would you do it?

We didn't see much of a difference at Marriott when we had Titanium over Platinum. That said, I think all our stays were domestic those years which is notorious for just not caring to give anything for loyalty. So you'd have to check the benefits and see what you might realistically get on your foreign trips and if that's worth 50k points.

The best benefit for Titanium is United Silver status, if you can fly United. If you use United anyway, but don't generally get status, Silver can be handy.

Now, have you chosen your 50 night award yet? Does that 70 nights include the 5 elite nights option already? If not, consider that award against the NUAs or spending 50k.

 

[havaneselover]

So DCL question . i called costco for early booking for DCL cruises they told me i have to call the first time, does that mean i have to call everytime? Also, at what time do they open the calls for early bookings?

I don't remember if it's 9 AM or 10 AM ET (I think 10) but they do not to my knowledge open early for DCL early booking. I've done it once or twice. For me the key was to know how to get in exactly (like within 5 seconds) of them opening the phone lines.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Haven’t caught up in a long time but just dropping a DP for those looking at BoA cards- expedited shipping was very easy & a savings account will bump you up to the 7 card level.

Took me a couple days to get approval on the savings account (I had a dispute with BoA last year on a checking bonus that went CFPB, maybe I’m flagged for manual review lol). Same day as approved I applied for AS Summit, hadn’t even processed my funding yet and was approved. Called in to request expedited, approved easily no charge. Later that evening grabbed a Premier. Called in the next morning. And got that expedited. Hardest part was their stupid automated phone line. Both cards were in hand within 48 hours. Didn’t try for the AS Biz as the DoC DPs for that aren’t pretty for those with more than 2 cards in the last year.

BoA is doing extra rewards 11/6 so if you’ve just been approved give them a call to expedite, might be time to have a sudden trip coming up

 

[SleepyatDVC]

You totally hit the lotto- I'm so happy for you. But, you really have to pat yourself on the back because all your hard work is no accident. You used hard earned skill-set to make all these things line up:
1. You'd accumulated enought points
2. They were in a transferrable currency
3. You knew how to go about searching by using tools like seats.aero
4. You travel hacked a great price on a cruise

I cannot wait to hear about all your travels in 2026!

Thanks! We are so excited. In hindsight, I should have tried to book the tickets with Avios points or some sort of double transfer arrangement. I think there was a bonus transfer going on too, so I would have saved on the points used. But that is okay. No regrets. Points penalties during the learning curve. I realized this days later.

I am happy with the redemption. We had the points and the cost was acceptable to us when I booked it. It worked out to a 0.093/point redemption. It was also a time sensitive decision at the time. I was already a nervous wreak about the transfer of points to Qatar. It would have been worse if the double transfer stalled and was not immediate.

Okay, had also been having a nearly identical dilemma about booking now or waiting until January bc of the IHG credit that rolls around then. I'm hesitant to wait because if I wait, availability could dry up or the 2.0 points boost could go away. I should probably just book it now. But I'm going to kick myself in January if all of those things are still true.

Maybe what I can do is book now and then watch it in late December. If it looks like points boost is still there in late December, I can cancel this stay with the intent to rebook January 1. I'd have to have an alternative EDIT stay ready to pull the trigger to book yet by 12/31, so as to not lose the credit for this year.

What did you end up doing?

I went ahead and booked 2 two night reservations for the IHG hotel in Edinburgh, one with my BizCSR card and one with P2's CSR. I paid $250.xx in cash and the rest in points that were boosted to 2x for each reservation. We already got both $250 EDIT credits back on our cards.

Also, since P2's CSR just renewed in October (at the old $550 AF), the one $250 charged expense triggered BOTH the EDIT credit of $250 as well as a $250 annual travel credit.

We went ahead and booked the last and 5th night at the same hotel (after we get back from the Rabbie Tour) totally on boosted 2x points, just in case. I just wanted it done already. The reservation was refundable.

I see now that the 2026 IHG credit also needs a 2 night stay. So, there was no sense to wait to book that last night, as it won't qualify for the IHG credit.

I figured I have all of 2026 to figure out how to use the EDIT and IHG credits. Better to utilize the 2025 credit, rather than lose it.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

I know that the Chase Business support bonuses only work for new Chase business card holders and not existing biz card holders.

I assume that since that even if you have a legitimate new business and new EIN, since Chase also asks for your personal SS, my P2 would not earn any support bonuses because I have other Ink cards under my personal name and SS as well as other business EINs?

If so, I figure that I might as well go into a local Chase branch to open an Ink card with the elevated offer. Perhaps, it would be easier to get approved in person?