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

[NewbieMom]

With the Southwest flight credit expiration date, does anyone know if that expiration date is when travel needs to occur or when travel needs to be booked?

So if I have travel credits that expire May 1st, do I need to use them to book another flight by May 1st or do I need to take a flight by May 1st using those credits?

 

[Road_Dog]

So in preparation for a future Disney trip (unknown timeframe, just in general) I recently opened the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant. 150k bonus for hitting the spend. I then opened up the Marriott Business card, getting a 125k bonus. I had to spend a total of about $15k total combined to get both of these bonuses so that's an extra 30k Bonvoy points at the base 2x rate (but there was dining spend mixed in there too for 3x).

All in all, roughly 290k Marriot points. I had about 50k Marriot in my account from previous things. But now I have a solid chunk for a 5-night stay at the Swan--already booked 5-nights for october 2026 for about 320k. Seems really steep and not the best redemption considering the cash rate is roughly $350'ish/night. But hey, points don't have any value until you use them.

Never stayed at the Swolphin before so I'm excited to check it out, although my kids are young enough where we will likely be hitting up Magic Kingdom more than not, and I'm not a fan of non-Disney provided bus transportation. Unsure if the walk to Boardwalk busses would be worth it.

 

[georgina]

With the Southwest flight credit expiration date, does anyone know if that expiration date is when travel needs to occur or when travel needs to be booked?

So if I have travel credits that expire May 1st, do I need to use them to book another flight by May 1st or do I need to take a flight by May 1st using those credits?

Based on my recent experience, you need to actually fly before the expiration date. I had booked a flight more than 6 months ahead, and when I cancelled it and wanted to use the credit for another date, it said I couldn't use the credit because it would expire before the flight (expires 6 months after the original booking date) Really bad considering I got used to the no-expiry credits. Once I use up my remaining credits and points I am done with SW.

 

[NewbieMom]

Based on my recent experience, you need to actually fly before the expiration date. I had booked a flight more than 6 months ahead, and when I cancelled it and wanted to use the credit for another date, it said I couldn't use the credit because it would expire before the flight (expires 6 months after the original booking date) Really bad considering I got used to the no-expiry credits. Once I use up my remaining credits and points I am done with SW.

This is the dp I was looking for. I want to consolidate / use up some of my remaining airline credits, but my next flight isn't until June. I'll wait towards late Dec to use it. Thanks!

 

[orangecuse]

So I have a question..... I hold a Venture (less than a year) and I'm eyeing that new offer for venture x..... seems like according to DoC I could app for the x while holding the basic one (?) So does Cap1 have the app jail where you know before you try if you can get a bonus etc?

From DoC....

• Venture X: Customers are not eligible for the Venture X bonus if they have earned the Venture X bonus within the last 48 months
• Venture: Customers are not eligible for the Venture bonus if they have earned the Venture X bonus or the Venture bonus within the last 48 months
• VentureOne: Customers are not eligible for the VentureOne bonus if they have earned the Venture X, Venture, or VentureOne bonus within the last 48 months

I hold both and received the bonus for both. Got them about a year apart.

 

[orangecuse]

cancelled my plat and within an hour my gold had an offer to upgrade for 50k miles haha I keep waiting for a Hilton upgrade offer but that doesn't seem to be coming.

 

[magickingdomprincess]

So in preparation for a future Disney trip (unknown timeframe, just in general) I recently opened the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant. 150k bonus for hitting the spend. I then opened up the Marriott Business card, getting a 125k bonus. I had to spend a total of about $15k total combined to get both of these bonuses so that's an extra 30k Bonvoy points at the base 2x rate (but there was dining spend mixed in there too for 3x).

All in all, roughly 290k Marriot points. I had about 50k Marriot in my account from previous things. But now I have a solid chunk for a 5-night stay at the Swan--already booked 5-nights for october 2026 for about 320k. Seems really steep and not the best redemption considering the cash rate is roughly $350'ish/night. But hey, points don't have any value until you use them.

Never stayed at the Swolphin before so I'm excited to check it out, although my kids are young enough where we will likely be hitting up Magic Kingdom more than not, and I'm not a fan of non-Disney provided bus transportation. Unsure if the walk to Boardwalk busses would be worth it.

I've been doing a fall trip with my mom and uncle the past 4-5 years and we almost always stay at the Swan. It's our favorite because of the ease of access to EPCOT and how easy it is to get in/out of the hotel. We usually walk over to the Boardwalk to catch the bus to MK since the Swolphin bus takes you to the TTC. We do usually use the Swan's bus for AK and DS, and have been pretty happy with the service. If you haven't already, I'd highly recommend the Swan/Dolphin thread on the Resorts board. Lots of good info there! Oh, and I wanted to mention I've stayed at the Swan Reserve also with my husband/kids and we enjoyed it. The extra walking distance isn't terrible, but if there's anyone with mobility issues it's just hard to want to walk those extra steps. Hope you have a great trip!

 

[hsmamato2]

If you go into your account and look at upgrades is Savor shown? If so I would sign up for the X with its welcome bonus. I would then transfer the Venture miles to the X and then “upgrade” the venture to the Savor as the bonus is usually not much on the savor card. The savor earns cash back but can transfer 1 way as miles to the venture and venture X for travel or transfer partners.

Replying to an older post....gonna try this today and see how it goes.....this seems genius

 

[hsmamato2]

Replying to an older post....gonna try this today and see how it goes.....this seems genius

Ok...... that was crazy! within 10 minutes this morning I unfroze accts- app'd for Vx,got instant denial, decided to app for CiP ...(bc I'm reckless) *Instant Approval*!!! I already have CiC and CiU and I'm 6/24..... mind blown!

 

[happ]

So in preparation for a future Disney trip (unknown timeframe, just in general) I recently opened the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant. 150k bonus for hitting the spend. I then opened up the Marriott Business card, getting a 125k bonus. I had to spend a total of about $15k total combined to get both of these bonuses so that's an extra 30k Bonvoy points at the base 2x rate (but there was dining spend mixed in there too for 3x).

All in all, roughly 290k Marriot points. I had about 50k Marriot in my account from previous things. But now I have a solid chunk for a 5-night stay at the Swan--already booked 5-nights for october 2026 for about 320k. Seems really steep and not the best redemption considering the cash rate is roughly $350'ish/night. But hey, points don't have any value until you use them.

Never stayed at the Swolphin before so I'm excited to check it out, although my kids are young enough where we will likely be hitting up Magic Kingdom more than not, and I'm not a fan of non-Disney provided bus transportation. Unsure if the walk to Boardwalk busses would be worth it.

Be sure to keep checking regularly on the points cost for your Swan reservation. The prices fluctuate all the time, and it's easy to modify and get some points back when the cost goes down. I modified multiple times last year.

 

[eticketplease]

Ok...... that was crazy! within 10 minutes this morning I unfroze accts- app'd for Vx,got instant denial, decided to app for CiP ...(bc I'm reckless) *Instant Approval*!!! I already have CiC and CiU and I'm 6/24..... mind blown!

are you qualifying for the bonus? I saw somewhere maybe doc that they are going to stop bonus for the free ink line if you have already received one.

 

[Herding_Cats]

I'm sure this has been discussed but I honestly don't have the time to wade through all of the pages.

Logged in to look at car rentals through my CSP card this morning and got a lovely notice that the 1.25x bonus has been taken away. BOO! I use this card for shuffling UR points around to either United or SW for flights twice a year, and almost nothing else. DH wants to cancel it because of the annual fee. He already has the United Business card that also has an annual fee (which pays for itself in luggage perks.) I'm like 90% sure we are both 0/24.

Is there another chase product card that will allow me to move points around like this that does *not* have an annual fee?

Better for me to "refer" him for his own CSP for the bonus points and then cancel mine? He's a self-employed contractor, so hitting MSR isn't difficult if we time things correctly with his jobs.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

are you qualifying for the bonus? I saw somewhere maybe doc that they are going to stop bonus for the free ink line if you have already received one.

Maybe here? https://frequentmiler.com/chase-adds-lifetime-langage-to-no-annual-fee-ink-cards/

 

[eticketplease]

Is there another chase product card that will allow me to move points around like this that does *not* have an annual fee?

No

Cards and AF

CSP $95 (Your Current Card)
CSR $795/Each AU $195
CIBP $95 (Chase Ink Business Preferred)

You can have free cards that can earn and transfer among themselves but not to partners.

 

[Shannon G]

I am new to booking hotels with credit card rewards or portals, except for the odd Hyatt on points, usually when on a road trip.

So, 2026 is my travel year and I have a bunch of hotel reservations to make!

I don't have any hotel certificates because I never could use any free nights previously. Anyway I have been looking at all the portals (Amex, Chase, and Capital One) in order to use up the credits available to us.

I found that hotels on Capital One seemed over priced and/or restrictive (non-refundable) the $300 credit did not go far. I wind up using the CO credit on booking AA plane tickets from LAX to YVR that I would have paid cash on anyways because there were no good point redemptions that made sense. Economy ticket redemption on Air Canada would not include checked luggage.

I am LOVING the Chase EDIT hotels with the $250 EDIT credit and point boosts! I tried looking at the same hotels on AMEX with the FHR and THC to use the $300 credit and it seemed that I would have to use a lot more $ OOP or a lot of MR points. The points boost in combination with the EDIT credit is such a sweet deal.

I am having trouble finding places I want to stay to use the Amex FHR/THC $300 credit...

My best use of the Amex FHR credit so far was a 1 night stay at Portofino Bay at Universal. Room was about $500, which brought it to $300 after the credit. Staying at Portofino gets you the Express Pass at Universal Studios and IOA for everyone on the reservation for the length of your stay. With a one-night stay we had the express pass for both check-in and check-out day, which for 2 of us was worth about $600. The terms said we got a $100 hotel credit and free breakfast, but I think the breakfast worked as a set $ credit behind the scenes as well, because I know we spent more than $100 on dinner, yet the cost of dinner and breakfast were both zero'd out. At check-out, the only amount on the bill was the parking charge.

 

[Herding_Cats]

No

Cards and AF

CSP $95 (Your Current Card)
CSR $795/Each AU $195
CIBP $95 (Chase Ink Business Preferred)

You can have free cards that can earn and transfer among themselves but not to partners.

well that sucks. i figured though. it's been a huge PITA to shuffle cards between accounts (we have multiple logins so we could refer eachother for some stuff) but I honestly think that we should keep the card because of the benefit with the travel partners.

 

[eticketplease]

well that sucks. i figured though. it's been a huge PITA to shuffle cards between accounts (we have multiple logins so we could refer eachother for some stuff) but I honestly think that we should keep the card because of the benefit with the travel partners.

Yes I agree and the insurance protections are pretty good and can be used for personal travel as opposed to the business card that has the same fee that only covers you for business related travel.

Just saw from your original post about referring P2 that certainly would be an option sub is 75K CUR points right now.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

My best use of the Amex FHR credit so far was a 1 night stay at Portofino Bay at Universal. Room was about $500, which brought it to $300 after the credit. Staying at Portofino gets you the Express Pass at Universal Studios and IOA for everyone on the reservation for the length of your stay. With a one-night stay we had the express pass for both check-in and check-out day, which for 2 of us was worth about $600. The terms said we got a $100 hotel credit and free breakfast, but I think the breakfast worked as a set $ credit behind the scenes as well, because I know we spent more than $100 on dinner, yet the cost of dinner and breakfast were both zero'd out. At check-out, the only amount on the bill was the parking charge.

We've done this, too. And it used to be that if DH and I had back to back reservations we would get the food credit twice.