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

[CyndiLouWho]

Bit the bullet and applied for United Biz card. Instant Approval. Lowered CL on 1 card yesterday and closed a CIU Sunday.

 

[reliev]

Forgot to post this earlier.
https://www.hilton.com/en/p/hilton-honors/tier-updates/
What do you think of the changes? Seriously, it nurfs diamond status, right?

 

[afan]

Forgot to post this earlier.
https://www.hilton.com/en/p/hilton-honors/tier-updates/
What do you think of the changes? Seriously, it nurfs diamond status, right?

How does it nerf it?

The diamond level, that most probably get from amex, stays the same. Reading that people only expect 4-5% to make it to reserve given the spend part and cc spend not counting. They should get extra perks but there's not really anything there that's that exciting.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Forgot to post this earlier.
https://www.hilton.com/en/p/hilton-honors/tier-updates/
What do you think of the changes? Seriously, it nurfs diamond status, right?

Add it to the list of things being taken away because too many people are talking about "fight club". There are too many blogs, websites, FB groups and TT accounts sharing all of the hacks now. I'm guilty myself. My family members told me I should be "teaching" this. I have a blog (that I was terrible at updating), I started to shoot tik toks. But I stopped. I know in the end my stopping isn't going to suddenly fix this. But I also can't complain this has become too main stream and participate myself. I also think our group here is so small, and niche, I don't count us as part of the problem, LOL.

The Ink Train is drying up. I remember when every "hacking" group was adamant you could only have 1 ink. Then they all found out you could have many. And in some of the groups I'm in, people are talking about how they had 10 just last year. I think I had 8 since I started back in 2020. I never made it on the GrAAvy train either. I've managed to play the game getting Hilton cards like crazy thanks to NLL. But even that is like 2 of each. Lounges no longer are going to allow access for more than just the card holder because the Delta Duggers (those are the Delta families that screw me over in non-rev listings with 5+ kids, LOL) got a Venture X card for every kid they had (for the record, I just got one for my BF because of his MSP long sits, I didn't even get my kids cards, lol). There are rumors of higher fees to use rewards cards, or these types of cards going away all together (I know this has been around for years). I remember first stumbling upon this thread when the CSR was first released. At the time the only card I had was the Starwoods Biz card for my photography business.

I'll play along......but I also think I'll seriously be downgrading the cards I hold onto, the fees I pay, etc. I'm lucky in that I don't have to worry about airfare 99% of the time. I'll play along as long as I can. But I'm definitely that old guy yelling at people to get off my lawn when it comes to this game, LOL. In fact I've had to put all of my FB groups on mute as they were making my blood pressure rise, LOL. I only venture to them when I have a question now.

 

[DaveL]

Chase bonus tracker question, I applied for a personal SW card yesterday evening with an 85k link. Is it common for the “Tracker” to delay in showing up? I do not yet see it in the app or on the website, but also do not see the Chase Offers section. The SW Biz card I applied for about a week ago has the tracker, however I received the card already. Just wondering if I need to SM Chase to confirm the bonus or it’s just delayed until after the card is processed and mailed?

Edit: Card tracker says requested.

Data point here since it sounds like Biz cards rules/limits are evolving. I applied for the SW Biz last week with my first auto approved Biz application, the CL was 3x over the largest CL I have had in the past on a Biz card. I have one other Biz card open, and closed a second a few days before. Waited a week and applied for the Personal card and got a we need more time. About 10mins later I got a call just to confirm I really did apply for the card and it was approved at the same CL! I was kinda shocked. Once the MSR’s are done I will be requesting both to be reduced greatly.

 

[jujubiee4]

I’m really looking for miles to accrue enough for a 2027 trip. United has the only nonstops from ORD to HI. The free bag is good to have but we often do carryon only so it’s not a deal breaker. Any card I get now might be cancelled by trip time anyway.

*double post

 

[jujubiee4]

I’m really looking for miles to accrue enough for a 2027 trip. United has the only nonstops from ORD to HI. The free bag is good to have but we often do carryon only so it’s not a deal breaker. Any card I get now might be cancelled by trip time anyway.

Most of the time I find their saver miles needed for economy or premium fair. However i found a steal of a deal for AA when we flew to London in September. That was tragic. A 3 hour delay went to 5 hours then 8 hours. I was livid and wished I just booked United.

 

[jujubiee4]

I'll play along......but I also think I'll seriously be downgrading the cards I hold onto, the fees I pay, etc. I'm lucky in that I don't have to worry about airfare 99% of the time. I'll play along as long as I can. But I'm definitely that old guy yelling at people to get off my lawn when it comes to this game, LOL. In fact I've had to put all of my FB groups on mute as they were making my blood pressure rise, LOL. I only venture to them when I have a question now.

I have more friends and relatives saying the same thing. Either closing or seriously downgrading.
Im wondering what the future is going to be for this game or travel in particular in this economy.
Normally I start planning a international summer trip or something but DH said no hold off. Scary times.

 

[reliev]

How does it nerf it?

The diamond level, that most probably get from amex, stays the same. Reading that people only expect 4-5% to make it to reserve given the spend part and cc spend not counting. They should get extra perks but there's not really anything there that's that exciting.

I think it nerfs Diamond status because the upgrades will be slimmer. The new status will take away those upgrades. To me, it devalues the card, but I understand the reasoning at the same time. I just hope this doesn't happen with the Hyatt refresh—where they give you Globalist and then create a new tier. (And no, I'm not giving them ideas! Hopefully, no one from there reads this.) But typically, in this space, if one company does something, others follow. Just look at Marriott.

 

[afan]

I think it nerfs Diamond status because the upgrades will be slimmer. The new status will take away those upgrades. To me, it devalues the card, but I understand the reasoning at the same time. I just hope this doesn't happen with the Hyatt refresh—where they give you Globalist and then create a new tier. (And no, I'm not giving them ideas! Hopefully, no one from there reads this.) But typically, in this space, if one company does something, others follow. Just look at Marriott.

They should get the upgrades over those of us that buy the status with an af. I also get way better upgrades outside of the US and I don't see that changing. There's too many diamonds here to get a great upgrade, if one at all.

I have the card for the fnc, free breakfast and lounge access outside the US. The credit for breakfast here is meh but I've been trying to stay at resorts in the US so I can use that credit with it.

I would hope anyone with the card is using it more for those perks than room upgrades. If a room type is important to me I'll book it

 

[Twilghtsprkle]

CSR question, Edit bookings are prepaid, correct? So I could book something for next year to use up the credit that expires Dec 31. But what happens if the $300 travel credit hasn’t been used up yet?

 

[lsutigers03]

How can I tell if an American Airlines flight is refundable after 24 hours or can be changed for no cost? DW is looking to book a flight with points but I haven’t seen any detail on if the flight is refundable or not. It’ll be a domestic first class ticket. I believe the category is J.

 

[DaveL]

Chase bonus tracker question, I applied for a personal SW card yesterday evening with an 85k link. Is it common for the “Tracker” to delay in showing up? I do not yet see it in the app or on the website, but also do not see the Chase Offers section. The SW Biz card I applied for about a week ago has the tracker, however I received the card already. Just wondering if I need to SM Chase to confirm the bonus or it’s just delayed until after the card is processed and mailed?

Edit: Card tracker says requested.

Data point here since it sounds like Biz cards rules/limits are evolving. I applied for the SW Biz last week with my first auto approved Biz application, the CL was 3x over the largest CL I have had in the past on a Biz card. I have one other Biz card open, and closed a second a few days before. Waited a week and applied for the Personal card and got a we need more time. About 10mins later I got a call just to confirm I really did apply for the card and it was approved at the same CL! I was kinda shocked. Once the MSR’s are done I will be requesting both to be reduced greatly.

Replying to myself with update, card shipped last night and tracker showed up this morning.

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

How can I tell if an American Airlines flight is refundable after 24 hours or can be changed for no cost? DW is looking to book a flight with points but I haven’t seen any detail on if the flight is refundable or not. It’ll be a domestic first class ticket. I believe the category is J.

I believe all AA flights booked with points are refundable (not codeshare flights, not sure about that). We often book AA flights on points and cancel if the points cost goes down. We've done this with domestic and international flights. Every time, the points are immediately back in the account. It typically takes a week for the taxes portion to be refunded, though.

 

[hsmamato2]

Just paid property tax with the deal. I already see the points pending on the transaction. I did Pay in 4 because I've done that before for other promos and there's no hard pull or interest. The limit is $1500.

I tried CIU and Delta gold biz for the initial payment, but got an error about the card type. Hawaiian personal worked (5x offer up to $500). Oddly, Delta gold biz worked to pay the second payment, but CIU didn't. Nice that subsequent payments you can specify the exact amount, so I can do the $500 exactly.

Wondering how you paid property tax with this deal? My town page only allows a cc...no option for PP

 

[reliev]

Nice small stacking opportunity with the Citi Strata Elite Best Buy is giving 10$ for free with 100$ purchases for certain cards.

 

[lsutigers03]

I believe all AA flights booked with points are refundable (not codeshare flights, not sure about that). We often book AA flights on points and cancel if the points cost goes down. We've done this with domestic and international flights. Every time, the points are immediately back in the account. It typically takes a week for the taxes portion to be refunded, though.

So if we track the flights and they go down we have to cancel in order to rebook?

 

[cruisehopeful]

Has anyone purchased airfare from Citi travel and used the 12 month no interest? It had the best deal on a flight I was looking at, but I don't have enough points to cover. It says I can pay the difference and I have 12 months of zero interest on the flights. Since I pay my balance every month, I'm wondering if it separates the zero percent payment from the overall balance. I'm also considering just using the card a lot and getting enough points to cover the flights.

 

[wanderlust7]

Wondering how you paid property tax with this deal? My town page only allows a cc...no option for PP

My county happens to have a Paypal option.

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

So if we track the flights and they go down we have to cancel in order to rebook?

In my experience, I've never been able to make changes on AA points bookings. When you click the Change button, it always says "Please cancel your booking to make changes" or something to that effect.