I love credit cards so much!

[5kidsmommy]

My husband is finally realizing that using rewards cards makes so much sense. He excitedly called me the other day to tell me that he signed up for a BJs credit card because of the cash back. Duh! I've been trying to explain to him that it makes sense, especially since we never carry credit card balances. It just drives me nuts because I've been trying to explain to him for years that we need to use rewards cards when using credit. And finally now he gets it. Thank goodness for small miracles.

 

[AlohaNow]

Hey guys! I am loving this thread……I am always amazed at how knowledgeable my fellow DIS-ers are. We have churned a bunch of free domestic stuff out of our credit card rewards, but it’s time to go bigger! My goal is to get my family of four to London for free in 2-3 years. I was looking at the British Airways card, but am now thinking that CSP would be the better card overall because of the UR points? Thoughts? Experiences? Thanks!

 

[Albort]

Hey guys! I am loving this thread……I am always amazed at how knowledgeable my fellow DIS-ers are. We have churned a bunch of free domestic stuff out of our credit card rewards, but it’s time to go bigger! My goal is to get my family of four to London for free in 2-3 years. I was looking at the British Airways card, but am now thinking that CSP would be the better card overall because of the UR points? Thoughts? Experiences? Thanks!

why not both?

UR points are probably the easiest to earn for low key/lower spendings people. BA credit card for instance had a 100k bonus, but i dont see that anywhere anymore... :\ 5 cards earn UR pts at this pt.

 

[calypso726]

My husband is finally realizing that using rewards cards makes so much sense. He excitedly called me the other day to tell me that he signed up for a BJs credit card because of the cash back. Duh! I've been trying to explain to him that it makes sense, especially since we never carry credit card balances. It just drives me nuts because I've been trying to explain to him for years that we need to use rewards cards when using credit. And finally now he gets it. Thank goodness for small miracles.

Mine first started to realize it when we began dipping our toes into this game and used our Disney Visas for everything and the points wound up paying for a couple of Disney cruises. He was hooked after I got serious about this hobby and we flew in first class for the first time over to Europe. Now he is spoiled about flying but is great about earning as many points and miles as we can.

Hey guys! I am loving this thread……I am always amazed at how knowledgeable my fellow DIS-ers are. We have churned a bunch of free domestic stuff out of our credit card rewards, but it’s time to go bigger! My goal is to get my family of four to London for free in 2-3 years. I was looking at the British Airways card, but am now thinking that CSP would be the better card overall because of the UR points? Thoughts? Experiences? Thanks!

I agree with Albort and say both. Free or nearly will not be do-able flying on British Airways. Be aware that flying on BA through London will incur high taxes and fees. The general consensus is that it really isn't even worth redeeming for economy with the fuel surcharges and fees. Redeeming for business or first though on BA is an easier pill to swallow. We always redeem for first but the taxes and fees is nearly close to the cost of an economy ticket. To give you an idea, we just booked our flights to Italy on BA in first class. The cost in miles from Miami with a London connection to Rome and back from Venice connecting in London to Miami was 230,000 Avios miles for one passenger. The taxes and fees on that ticket is just under $1,000. Still less than an economy flight tough. My mom's flight in business was 180,000 Avios and the cost was $836 in taxes and fees. The same flight in economy would be 65,000 Avios miles and $560. Award costs may also vary depending on if you are flying on or off peak according to the BA calendar.

The good thing about BA is that they do tend to have decent availability for award seats. The best redemption for BA miles is always going to be short haul domestic flights since their awards are distance based and you won't incur the crazy taxes and fees. Hope that helps.

 

[Aanna]

Mine first started to realize it when we began dipping our toes into this game and used our Disney Visas for everything and the points wound up paying for a couple of Disney cruises. He was hooked after I got serious about this hobby and we flew in first class for the first time over to Europe. Now he is spoiled about flying but is great about earning as many points and miles as we can.

Wow, I would love to learn how to manage a couple of cruises with the Disney Visa. We've had it since it's been out, but, even though we use that card for all our expenses, I've never managed to rack up more than $1,250 or so after a couple years of letting points accumulate.

 

[peel]

I think I know the answer to this but I thought I'd ask the gurus here...store cards don't count toward 5/24, right? I recently opened and Amazon card and now I want to get a Target RedCard. Not the credit cards, just the store cards. I assume those don't count against you in terms of number of accounts opened in 24 months.

 

[calypso726]

Wow, I would love to learn how to manage a couple of cruises with the Disney Visa. We've had it since it's been out, but, even though we use that card for all our expenses, I've never managed to rack up more than $1,250 or so after a couple years of letting points accumulate.

DH was also putting business expenses on it.

I think I know the answer to this but I thought I'd ask the gurus here...store cards don't count toward 5/24, right? I recently opened and Amazon card and now I want to get a Target RedCard. Not the credit cards, just the store cards. I assume those don't count against you in terms of number of accounts opened in 24 months.

This is a YMMV situation. Some agents will count the store cards. The rule of thumb is to get all Chase cards that are under 5/24 before applying for any others.

 

[peel]

This is a YMMV situation. Some agents will count the store cards. The rule of thumb is to get all Chase cards that are under 5/24 before applying for any others.

Interesting! That's the first I've read about them possibly being counted, but I will definitely hold off on Target until after I try for the two SW cards later this year, just in case.

 

[calypso726]

Interesting! That's the first I've read about them possibly being counted, but I will definitely hold off on Target until after I try for the two SW cards later this year, just in case.

There are conflicting data points where it has counted for an applicant and where it wasn't counted for another applicant. There are also conflicting reports of whether or not they are supposed to count.

 

[Albort]

I think I know the answer to this but I thought I'd ask the gurus here...store cards don't count toward 5/24, right? I recently opened and Amazon card and now I want to get a Target RedCard. Not the credit cards, just the store cards. I assume those don't count against you in terms of number of accounts opened in 24 months.

i think its got to do with a hard pull or not... most soft pulls wont count towards 5/24. As for Target, Look around your state to see if they have Prepaid. I have a Redbird Prepaid card that acts just like the other 2 redbirds... no credit pullings for that one... I think the debit card is no pulls either.

 

[Alice Sr.]

Call Recon...

Just an update to the group, I called the recon number provided in a previous post last night but received a message indicating it was after hours and to call back after 8:00 AM. I just called and got a message indicating this Chase number is no longer in use and to call the number on the back of my card (which I don't have yet).

 

[peel]

i think its got to do with a hard pull or not... most soft pulls wont count towards 5/24. As for Target, Look around your state to see if they have Prepaid. I have a Redbird Prepaid card that acts just like the other 2 redbirds... no credit pullings for that one... I think the debit card is no pulls either.

I don't think I've ever seen a prepaid card, but I'll check. The debit card is the one I was planning on getting. No matter...I've waited this long, I can certainly wait until later in the year when I try for the two SW cards for the CP.

 

[calypso726]

Just an update to the group, I called the recon number provided in a previous post last night but received a message indicating it was after hours and to call back after 8:00 AM. I just called and got a message indicating this Chase number is no longer in use and to call the number on the back of my card (which I don't have yet).

Try 800-945-2000 (App status with option to speak to rep.) or
Chase: 888-245-0625 (Credit Analyst - Recons)

I don't think I've ever seen a prepaid card, but I'll check. The debit card is the one I was planning on getting. No matter...I've waited this long, I can certainly wait until later in the year when I try for the two SW cards for the CP.

This was the card that used to be able to be loaded with a credit card and was wonderful for MS but now can only be loaded with cash.

 

[Alice Sr.]

Try 800-945-2000 (App status with option to speak to rep.) or
Chase: 888-245-0625 (Credit Analyst - Recons)




This was the card that used to be able to be loaded with a credit card and was wonderful for MS but now can only be loaded with cash.

The 888 # is the one that is no longer active. I will try the 800 #, thanks.

 

[AmyAnne]

The 888 # is the one that is no longer active. I will try the 800 #, thanks.

That's odd - the 888 number is the one I called yesterday morning.

I agree that realizing the benefits of simply signing up for and using credit cards is a mind-altering experience. I just recently got the CSP and the CSR, so I am not going to be signing up for any more credit cards until December at the earliest, but I can't help speculating about what the next one or ones should be. In addition to the two new ones, we have the Chase Ink Plus and the Freedom. We also have an AmEx Delta Gold and a Capital One card and a Citi Costco card. Because of the Chase 5/24 rule, I'm pretty sure that we should try to get another Chase card before any other kind of card. Any suggestions?

 

[CaterFamily]

That's odd - the 888 number is the one I called yesterday morning.

I agree that realizing the benefits of simply signing up for and using credit cards is a mind-altering experience. I just recently got the CSP and the CSR, so I am not going to be signing up for any more credit cards until December at the earliest, but I can't help speculating about what the next one or ones should be. In addition to the two new ones, we have the Chase Ink Plus and the Freedom. We also have an AmEx Delta Gold and a Capital One card and a Citi Costco card. Because of the Chase 5/24 rule, I'm pretty sure that we should try to get another Chase card before any other kind of card. Any suggestions?

Ritz Carlton, IHG, Marriott card

SOURCE: http://www.doctorofcredit.com/co-br...ore-the-rule-change-best-offer-for-each-card/

 

[Albort]

Ritz Carlton, IHG, Marriott card

SOURCE: http://www.doctorofcredit.com/co-br...ore-the-rule-change-best-offer-for-each-card/

would suggest Hyatt card over all those cards since the redemption rate is the best on Hyatt. But in all honestly, if you have a loyalty to a certain brand, it doesnt hurt to just get that certain credit card... Do it for the status!

 

[AmyAnne]

CarterFamily and Albort - thanks for the input. My initial thought is that any kind of hotel rewards are going to be harder to use than airline miles, because our hotel needs are often complex -- we almost always need at least two rooms and sometimes three, depending on how many people can stay per room. It's great to get one free room but not so much if the cost for the other rooms is higher than we would pay somewhere else. We are totally not brand loyal. I would say about half of the hotels we have stayed in over the past five or so years have not been major chain hotels; this is especially true when we have travelled in Asia. It's hard to predict exactly where we might be travelling in the next few years, although next year, one trip to London is a certainty and one trip to Shanghai is a good probability.

Am I making the hotel card rewards seem more difficult to use than they really are?

 

[Albort]

Am I making the hotel card rewards seem more difficult to use than they really are?

pretty much haha. I would stick with UR points since you can book non-chain hotel room(asia usually) with 20% discount(CSP) (CSR give u 50%?) if you use points, although it might be more expensive with the 20%.
i guess you should stick with General Travel cards i guess. UR unlocks Hyatt, IHG, Marriott and Ritz-Carlton. MR unlocks Best Western, Choice, Hilton and Starwood. TY is just Hilton at a crappy rate... :\
Im unfamiliar with MR, and if they have a portal to book hotels like UR does.

Im still a + for Hyatt card though...

 

[CaterFamily]

I just like the look of the Ritz-Carlton card...total homer by me though.