I love credit cards so much!

[jele30]

I'm thinking about going to Chase to apply for the CSR in branch tomorrow. Looks like other sites show success yet in the branch and tomorrow is the last day (unless you can find a branch open on a Sun). If I do that is there any value in keeping the SW card? I'd love to pair this with the Freedom card, but guessing I can't downgrade the SW card to Freedom (thought I saw someone mention that upthread). I would be looking at two apps so should I do those same day?

Update: I went into the branch and applied for the CSR. Approved, but they were having technical difficulty so he had me do it online while sitting there and he called their customer care to let them know it was in person. Hopefully, it gets coded correctly, but pretty excited. Now do I apply for the Freedom for 5x or just sit tight? Decisions, decisions....

 

[Ngwira]

Points unfrozen today!! Wohoo. I'm transferring 100,000 points to Aeroplan for our united flights to Calgary. Cashing out the rest for Fairmont gift cards.

What a day! Attempted to transfer my points and got the message that my account was still under review. Called Amex MR and got the run around. Went to the thread on flyer talk, got AMEX's CEO's email and sent a scathing email and referenced the letter they sent stating my review was completed and points were available for use.
Two hours later I get a call from his assistant in Amex corporate stating he received my letter and wants to help. Answered a few questions and she transferred 100,000 points to aeroplan for me!

Also cashed out the rest of my points for $900 in Fairmont gift cards. What a nightmare.

 

[Ngwira]

What a day! Attempted to transfer my points and got the message that my account was still under review. Called Amex MR and got the run around. Went to the thread on flyer talk, got AMEX's CEO's email and sent a scathing email and referenced the letter they sent stating my review was completed and points were available for use.
Two hours later I get a call from his assistant in Amex corporate stating he received my letter and wants to help. Answered a few questions and she transferred 100,000 points to aeroplan for me!

Also cashed out the rest of my points for $900 in Fairmont gift cards. What a nightmare.

Confirmed my 100,000 aeroplan miles are in my account. I can now book my flights when they come out in April. These flights are worth at least $1600. We will use the Fairmont cards to pay for the 3 night Fairmont Palliser stay. Using the 2 free nights certificates at Fairmont Lake Louise. Saved thousands by using points, but Amex didn't make it easy.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Confirmed my 100,000 aeroplan miles are in my account. I can now book my flights when they come out in April. These flights are worth at least $1600. We will use the Fairmont cards to pay for the 3 night Fairmont Palliser stay. Using the 2 free nights certificates at Fairmont Lake Louise. Saved thousands by using points, but Amex didn't make it easy.

Glad you finally got your points. Sad it took so much.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I'm in the Chicago burbs too!

Which one? We're west, in Villa Park.

 

[Albort]

Update: I went into the branch and applied for the CSR. Approved, but they were having technical difficulty so he had me do it online while sitting there and he called their customer care to let them know it was in person. Hopefully, it gets coded correctly, but pretty excited. Now do I apply for the Freedom for 5x or just sit tight? Decisions, decisions....

not sure if its too late but u might be able to apply and get both cards with 1 hard pull.

Also, RIP 100k CSR. Hello 100k Ink Preferred? lol

 

[Ngwira]

Glad you finally got your points. Sad it took so much.

Yeah me too. Amex is usually very consumer friendly, so I was very shocked to have to go through this. I'm no longer using any questionable links to apply for Amex cards. But Amex should know that consumers who are savvy will attempt to get the highest bonus since you can only get one bonus per lifetime.

Mr. Chenault's assistant did go through my accounts to make sure my spend was organic (no manufactured spending) and once she confirmed that, she initiated the transfer.

I think this is a warning to those who ms on Amex cards. Be very careful as Amex is watching accounts very carefully. Lots of data points out there stating that bonuses are being denied and points clawed back if you manufacture spend. Recent article from Bloomberg where Amex stated they are "fighting back against churners".

 

[Psychodisney]

Which one? We're west, in Villa Park.

Way up north in Lindenhurst.

 

[Psychodisney]

Thought this might interest other people who love rewards even though it's not a credit card. My DD's high school soccer team has a new fundraiser that looks interesting. It's a program called shopping boss. You buy a code from the seller which gives you access to the app and website. I'm not sure how much the organization gets but as a consumer you get cash back. Apparently it works well with stacking. You can go through your favorite shopping portal and get those points, your credit card points and your cash back from shopping boss and somehow the organization profits too. You can use it at brick and mortar locations too. I noticed there are some retailers that I haven't found on other portals namely Amazon (1%) and Zappos (6%).

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Yeah me too. Amex is usually very consumer friendly, so I was very shocked to have to go through this. I'm no longer using any questionable links to apply for Amex cards. But Amex should know that consumers who are savvy will attempt to get the highest bonus since you can only get one bonus per lifetime.

Mr. Chenault's assistant did go through my accounts to make sure my spend was organic (no manufactured spending) and once she confirmed that, she initiated the transfer.

I think this is a warning to those who ms on Amex cards. Be very careful as Amex is watching accounts very carefully. Lots of data points out there stating that bonuses are being denied and points clawed back if you manufacture spend. Recent article from Bloomberg where Amex stated they are "fighting back against churners".

Any idea exactly what they consider MS? I buy store gift cards but don't use bill payment services or money orders.

 

[MrPTato]

Any idea exactly what they consider MS? I buy store gift cards but don't use bill payment services or money orders.

I think they look, for example, that if your income is $50,000/yr and you just charged and/or paid $20,000 in charges in 1 month...something doesn't add up. Probably the location would flag too...someone that can charge a small fee for cash and turn it back over.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I think they look, for example, that if your income is $50,000/yr and you just charged and/or paid $20,000 in charges in 1 month...something doesn't add up. Probably the location would flag too...someone that can charge a small fee for cash and turn it back over.

Yeah I am at no risk of that. Lol. I buy gift cards but like a couple hundred maybe, not a couple thousand.

 

[MrPTato]

Yeah I am at no risk of that. Lol. I buy gift cards but like a couple hundred maybe, not a couple thousand.

No worries then!

 

[Ngwira]

Any idea exactly what they consider MS? I buy store gift cards but don't use bill payment services or money orders.

They are looking for spending on cash equivalents i.e. Prepaid gift cards and money orders which can be liquidated for cash. They are also looking for people who buy things to meet minimum spending, get the bonus, then return the item after they get the bonus. They call that "returns".

They especially hate people who do "returns", get the bonus, transfer the bonus out then close the account to get a refund of the annual fee.
Someone I know met the minimum spending organically but then made the mistake of downgrading her platinum card which has an annual fee of $450 to a green card which has a fee of $95. After she downgraded, they clawed back her points because she received a prorated refund of her annual fee..

 

[platamama]

So now I have a $300 SW gift card to use for our WDW trip next year.

Just some tips I want to offer in using the SW gift card, having learned through experience:

If you change or cancel your flight, you get funds back as "ticketless funds" which need to be used (i.e. travel completed) within 1 year of the date you bought the tickets. Funds can only be used for the same person whose name was on the original ticket. Hold onto the full 16(?) digit gift card code and the SW confirmation codes for the original ticket purchased, because you'll need that information to apply ticketless funds.

I much prefer using Rapid Rewards points for SW tickets. If my plans change, those points don't have the same expiration as a paid tickets - the points just go right back into my account. Transfers of UR points to SW (in multiples of 1000 points) are almost instantaneous. Also the fare in RR points is usually runs around $10-$20 less than the cash fare because of some fees/taxes not being paid for (70 RR points = $1).

I was able to use the Marriott Hotel & Flights package transfer to Southwest to get my Companion Pass for 2017-2018 (March 31 is the deadline before Southwest closes that avenue for CP qualification), so my UR points are worth a lot more when I transfer them to Southwest until end of 2018.

 

[Alice Sr.]

As far as the SW cards go, the business card should not impact your 5/24. After adding a personal card and the business card you should be at 2/24.

For your United trip out of Chicago, I have a couple of other suggestions. I've historically had a hard time getting award seats on United so I have stayed away from their branded card. Option 1, use your UR and book through the CSR portal. Option 2, look into the Barclay Card and the Capital One Venture card. Both of those options would allow you to book the tickets on United and "erase" the charges.

I will be applying for both SW cards regardless of whether it counts so if it does count I'll just have to be more strategic on my last card as I approach the 5/24. Thank you for the info on United, I am sketchy on the difference between the UR portal (does CSR have its own?) and United's rewards site. Would there be a bigger selection of seats available through the portal than United's site? I have a Capital One card that I have had for a long time. Do you know if I could product change (I think that's what it's called), I know Chase does that but don't think I have read that anyone has done that with Cap1? Any idea if that would count against Chase's magic number? What does "erase" the charges mean, this is the second time I have seen that comment? Thanks!!

 

[Alice Sr.]

Congrats on the new place. I find moving very stressful, I can't imagine with a large family. (BTW we are in Chicago burbs)
One idea, I used CSR travel bonus to buy airline gift cards because I wasn't ready to book travel when the bonus was available. So now I have a $300 SW gift card to use for our WDW trip next year.
Also consider the SPG Amex, 35k bonus right now. WDW Swan/Dolphin are 10-12k points per night. You could also add Marriott card for 80k points (which will convert to 26k Starpoints)

It has been stressful, so many moving parts. The move part was just me (and my 2 cats), I moved from the far western suburbs to MI to be closer to my oldest DD since they are starting a family, plus the commute to Chicago everyday was starting to get to me. The "family" is my oldest DD, her husband and baby (due 8/23), my youngest DD, her (perpetual) fiance and their 2 babies (4 yr old and 1 yr old) and my husband. Thank you for the SPG Amex suggestion, I will look into that. I own DVC so we will be using that for our stays on both trips. I don't know enough about the conversion factors yet to understand if the hotel cards will still be beneficial for air but will try to get a better understanding. Thanks for your comments and suggestions.

 

[Psychodisney]

I will be applying for both SW cards regardless of whether it counts so if it does count I'll just have to be more strategic on my last card as I approach the 5/24. Thank you for the info on United, I am sketchy on the difference between the UR portal (does CSR have its own?) and United's rewards site. Would there be a bigger selection of seats available through the portal than United's site? I have a Capital One card that I have had for a long time. Do you know if I could product change (I think that's what it's called), I know Chase does that but don't think I have read that anyone has done that with Cap1? Any idea if that would count against Chase's magic number? What does "erase" the charges mean, this is the second time I have seen that comment? Thanks!!

1. Yes, your CSR points have their own page to redeem. I think if there are any seats on the flight available, they should show up. On the United page, they might not have any depending on when you try and book. I forget how much the redemption is for a ticket to HI but I think it is a fixed amount. On the CSR page, it will be based on the price of the ticket.
2. If you product change your Capital One card you probably wouldn't get the bonus points. So, yes, if you apply for a new card it will count towards the 5/24 rule.
3. With the Cap ONe Venture card you ear 2 points per dollar spent on everything. When you have a trial expense, you can cash in those points for a statement credit to erase the charge. For example, if you buy a ticket that costs $500 you need 50000 points (you move the decimal point 2 places). I'm not totally familiar with the Barclay card but I think it works similarly.

 

[wendow]

@Alice Sr. I love your new avatar! Those must be your grandbabies and they are precious! I have a pic of my girls when they were almost the same ages (4 & 2) that is almost the same.

 

[ski_mom]

Do the points for referrals for RR credit cards go through the referring member's credit card?

I referred DH and he got his card over the weekend. I'm wanting to close my Southwest card soon though because the annual fee will be posting this month. But, I'm afraid if I close the account I won't get the 5,000 referral points.

Just wondering if anyone knows how that works. I've never referred anyone before.