I love credit cards so much!

[Albort]

Maldives??

yes! suppose to be the best point per value when u redeem your points there.

 

[Ngwira]

For my next card, I am thinking about the Barclay Arrival Plus. It has a 50,000 point sign-up bonus that looks like it can be redeemed for at least $500 of various travel expenses. And the AF is waived the first year. Any thoughts on this card?

I just got this card in March and my points already posted.

 

[tink1970]

For my next card, I am thinking about the Barclay Arrival Plus. It has a 50,000 point sign-up bonus that looks like it can be redeemed for at least $500 of various travel expenses. And the AF is waived the first year. Any thoughts on this card?

I have this card and after my spend the points posted fairly quickly. I have yet to use the points yet...hoping to during one of my 3 European trips thins year since it's a true chip and PIN. I think it's a nice card to round out my "travel cards."

 

[elgerber]

I have this card and after my spend the points posted fairly quickly. I have yet to use the points yet...hoping to during one of my 3 European trips thins year since it's a true chip and PIN. I think it's a nice card to round out my "travel cards."

I have the Barclays card, dh and I each have one. We used our points for 2 roundtrip tickets to England and to cover almost all of our hotel for 5 nights in London. Super easy to use.
I will say, even though it's true Chip and Pin, the ONLY place we could use the PIN in the UK was at the McDonalds ordering Kiosks. Everywhere else required a signature. My dd has one over there since Jan, and it's always the same. She went to Berlin last weekend too, same thing. Always a signature.

 

[tink1970]

I will say, even though it's true Chip and Pin, the ONLY place we could use the PIN in the UK was at the McDonalds ordering Kiosks. Everywhere else required a signature. My dd has one over there since Jan, and it's always the same. She went to Berlin last weekend too, same thing. Always a signature.

I'm embarrassed to admit this but McD's and tube tickets are the only thing I was thinking of for chip & PIN...when DH and I were in Prague at our favorite spot (yep, golden arches) we tried to order from the screen and the payment got hung up since I didn't have my Barclaycard. Imagine trying to charade that out with the counter guy who spoke more English than I do Czech (but not a lot). It all worked out but I determined to never leave home for Europe without it.


On a happy, successful credit card note, I need to spend one night at one hotel (DTW Airport Westin) and I researched prices up and down-cheapest price I could find was $485. The lowest Starwood points was 10,000. Logged on to UR portal and it said 29,000 points. Bit the bullet and got the wonderful message that there was one room for less. 24,321 points later I had my room. Whoo hoo. I know for some this isn't a great use of UR points but since we're a primarily Delta family I find myself using them for hotels. When the hotels are much less than any other price, that's just gravy. After our statements close next week I'll have about 8,000 UR so I don't feel too bad about the spend

 

[Eighty8Keys]

i see the change of PP guests, but i cant find where u need an alaska air ticket to get in...

You're right, I was referring to the change in PP guests, which is what I'd heard about. Hadn't heard anything about access denied for non-Alaska travelers. Super bummed about this since I live in Portland and was looking forward to lounge use for both me and DS with my PP membership once he PC'd his CSR to CFU in October.

 

[gottalovepluto]

The Points Guy tweeted about it yesterday. According to him, the change goes into effect May 1, and affects the airline’s lounges in Los Angeles (LAX), Portland (PDX) and Seattle (SEA). Here's a link to the article. (I hope that worked, I don't think I've linked anything before.)

You're links works just fine! Congrats on first link!!

Yeah, says limited to no guests. It does not state you need an Alaska Air boarding pass. I'm gonna call hooey on the needing an Alaska boarding pass part, as just Reddit speculation isn't enough for me.

--Lols just saw your above post. It was a previous poster who said the boarding pass part.

 

[Alice Sr.]

I was just thinking of this trip myself. 2019 will be our 30th anniversary and it would be a great idea. There's other trips I'd rather do, but they are international & we won't be going out of the country for a while.

The only non-stop Chicago to Honolulu is on United, so I'll be brainstorming how to get 300k miles.

I am working on this also, I will be trying to book 9 seats on points on UA's (one and only) non-stop out of ORD in the Jan/Feb 2019 timeline. I think 9 may be tough but whatever I'm able to book with points will better than paying cash for all. We will have my 6 yr old, a 3 year old and a 1.5 yr old granddaughters so I will pay cash before I book a layover. Congrats on 28 years, that's a beautiful accomplishment and worth a celebratory trip in its own right.

 

[Angrose]

For my next card, I am thinking about the Barclay Arrival Plus. It has a 50,000 point sign-up bonus that looks like it can be redeemed for at least $500 of various travel expenses. And the AF is waived the first year. Any thoughts on this card?

I also like this card. I got it last month to wipe away the cost of one night at the Disneyland Hotel (which is $500/nt, believe it or not). And I just got the CapitalOne Venture card to wipe away a second night. I will keep the Arrival+ to use in Europe in June and then I will cancel it. I've read that both these cards are churnable so will apply for another set at the end of the year.

 

[Alice Sr.]

So, YIPPEE, I got approved for the Ink BP!! I need to spend 5k now. I was planning to do what I have been doing to meet min spends...putting anything and everything on the card, buying so GC's, maybe paying my mortgage through Plastiq if getting desperate, etc. But now Chase has sent that letter telling people not to use their biz card for personal spend. Ugh, I cannot meet 5k at just Staples and Office Max. What sort of expenses should I NOT put on it to be safe? My biggest monthly expenses are my mortgage and groceries.

That's great! Did you have any other business cards? I recently got SW business (and personal) but saw on reddit that Chase does not allow more than one business card, which seems odd to me so just trying to verify that DP. Congrats on your new home office too

 

[AmyAnne]

I also like this card. I got it last month to wipe away the cost of one night at the Disneyland Hotel (which is $500/nt, believe it or not). And I just got the CapitalOne Venture card to wipe away a second night. I will keep the Arrival+ to use in Europe in June and then I will cancel it. I've read that both these cards are churnable so will apply for another set at the end of the year.

Oh I can believe $500 a night. I am sure the Poly will be that or more, once I can finally access Feb. 2018 dates.

That's interesting about the possibility of churning. The only card I have ever "churned" is the Chase United card. Applied for the first one about 10 years ago and cancelled it after a few years, because we were flying SW a lot. Just recently applied for it again. I'll have to look into the Capital One Venture card too.

 

[Ngwira]

Finally used the global entry credit on my Amex platinum for DH's global entry application. He was able to get a July appointment at the Philly airport. I go in June for my GE appointment paid for by Chase.

 

[Alice Sr.]

Update on Credit Karma indicates one new Chase card (SW personal), and one new credit inquiry on 4/27 (the UA instant approval), the SW business is not included. I have CSR 9/16, SW personal (and business) 3/17 and UA 4/17. I think this makes me 3/24 with Chase, is that right, or do I need to count the SW business in my count? One other note on the inquiries, I was only dinged once for the 2 Chase cards applied for on the same day. I know reddit indicates that applying for 2 cards on the same day does not save you from two hard pulls (as previous DP indicated).?

 

[wendow]

That's great! Did you have any other business cards? I recently got SW business (and personal) but saw on reddit that Chase does not allow more than one business card, which seems odd to me so just trying to verify that DP. Congrats on your new home office too

I do not have any other business cards. I have never had a business card b/c I just assumed I could never qualify for one since I don't have what I considered a 'legitimate' business. Many on this thread have mentioned that even selling on ebay is fine as a business, and when dh & I went into the branch to open his CSR, I asked the banker about the Ink card. She confirmed that just selling on ebay was enough.

Congrats on all your new cards I am having a blast with this hobby! I miss our GC churning days but this is quickly making that a distant memory!!

 

[Alice Sr.]

Lol, yes on to bigger and better plans. I had not been on that thread in months but went there today as I bought 3100.00 in Disney GC's through BJ's to help with the spend, just wanted to see if there was any new twists. Plus I noticed the Target by me did not have any Disney GC's yesterday, I thought that was odd. I asked the clerk when I checked out, just out of curiosity, she hadn't heard anything.

 

[wendow]

Lol, yes on to bigger and better plans. I had not been on that thread in months but went there today as I bought 3100.00 in Disney GC's through BJ's to help with the spend, just wanted to see if there was any new twists. Plus I noticed the Target by me did not have any Disney GC's yesterday, I thought that was odd. I asked the clerk when I checked out, just out of curiosity, she hadn't heard anything.

I still check in on that thread to see if there is anything new but it's pretty much the same. I buy from my Kroger-chain with my Amex BCP. That seems to be the best deal I can get right now.

 

[Alice Sr.]

I still check in on that thread to see if there is anything new but it's pretty much the same. I buy from my Kroger-chain with my Amex BCP. That seems to be the best deal I can get right now.

As soon as I hit 5/24 with Chase I am going to check out AMEX, we have a Kroger's here so that will be a great option for me. I would prefer to get the GC's local rather than order online in case there is one of those quirky issues that we heard about on the GC thread. Does the AMEX BCP have a limit on how much and/or when you can buy and get the discount?

 

[wendow]

As soon as I hit 5/24 with Chase I am going to check out AMEX, we have a Kroger's here so that will be a great option for me. I would prefer to get the GC's local rather than order online in case there is one of those quirky issues that we heard about on the GC thread. Does the AMEX BCP have a limit on how much and/or when you can buy and get the discount?

Me too I am at 4/24 with Chase. Once I am at 5/24, I will be getting the Amex SPG.

The Amex BCP gives 6% back at grocery stores up to 6k of spending. It has a $95 AF. The free Amex BC card has no AF and gives 3% cb at grocery stores. I love my Amex BCP! We are a family of 6 and we rarely eat out. We spend about $600 a month at the grocery store (without any GC's added in) so I can really max out this card. I switch to my Chase Freedom when grocery is a 5% category.

 

[amalone1013]

I think we're going to try for the SW Companion Pass. I'd like to try for the business card and one of the personal cards, because then we wouldn't need any additional points from spending to get the pass (60k business card + 50k personal referral offer). I've got a couple questions.

I think I'll probably just apply for one after the other. Will the business card go against my 5/24 status? I'm at 4/24 right now, which is why I'd do them together... My understanding is that they'll look at 5/24 for the business card, but if I'm approved and then apply for a personal card later, I will still be considered 4/24. I mainly ask because after SW cards, I would be out of luck with Chase for two years (hindsight is 20/20!) if I stop getting cards, and if I do/don't is a bit up in the air at this point. Currently I have the CSR (which we're going to keep at least one more year without downgrading) and Disney, so no other UR cards.

I did consider a scenario like: get SW business card, 30-60 days later apply for SW personal and CSP on the same day. Obviously that only works if the business card doesn't count against me.

I was planning on using some wedding expenses to help meet the minimum spends, like photographer, venue fee, and caterer deposit. The rest should come from our regular spending, like auto insurance, groceries, and phone bills. With the email Chase sent out this last week, are there any expenses I should try to put on the personal card vs the business card? Putting the wedding expenses on the business card would almost knock out the spend, and I'd like to get one card done quickly to get the points. That way we can book our flights with the RR points just in case my plan wouldn't work out, and I wouldn't move UR points from my CSR unnecessarily so they could be saved for other things. And if it does work, when I'd get the CP I could just cancel my fiance's flight, get the points back, and add him as my companion.


ETA: Figured I might as well add, I'm needing a new bank anyways and Chase keeps sending me the $200/$300 account bonuses, so I'm planning on doing that in the next few weeks. So maybe I'll luck out and get an in-branch approval for one of the other UR cards...

 

[mom2elal]

I think we're going to try for the SW Companion Pass. I'd like to try for the business card and one of the personal cards, because then we wouldn't need any additional points from spending to get the pass (60k business card + 50k personal referral offer). I've got a couple questions.

I think I'll probably just apply for one after the other. Will the business card go against my 5/24 status? I'm at 4/24 right now, which is why I'd do them together... My understanding is that they'll look at 5/24 for the business card, but if I'm approved and then apply for a personal card later, I will still be considered 4/24. I mainly ask because after SW cards, I would be out of luck with Chase for two years (hindsight is 20/20!) if I stop getting cards, and if I do/don't is a bit up in the air at this point. Currently I have the CSR (which we're going to keep at least one more year without downgrading) and Disney, so no other UR cards.

I did consider a scenario like: get SW business card, 30-60 days later apply for SW personal and CSP on the same day. Obviously that only works if the business card doesn't count against me.

I was planning on using some wedding expenses to help meet the minimum spends, like photographer, venue fee, and caterer deposit. The rest should come from our regular spending, like auto insurance, groceries, and phone bills. With the email Chase sent out this last week, are there any expenses I should try to put on the personal card vs the business card? Putting the wedding expenses on the business card would almost knock out the spend, and I'd like to get one card done quickly to get the points. That way we can book our flights with the RR points just in case my plan wouldn't work out, and I wouldn't move UR points from my CSR unnecessarily so they could be saved for other things. And if it does work, when I'd get the CP I could just cancel my fiance's flight, get the points back, and add him as my companion.


ETA: Figured I might as well add, I'm needing a new bank anyways and Chase keeps sending me the $200/$300 account bonuses, so I'm planning on doing that in the next few weeks. So maybe I'll luck out and get an in-branch approval for one of the other UR cards...

I don't know about whether they'll count the SW business card. They don't count other business cards because they don't show up on your credit report, but obviously they'll know that you have the SW one, so it seems like they would count it, but I don't know for sure.

But...you won't necessarily be out of luck for two years unless you got the four cards you have now on the same day. When did you get the four you have now that fall under 5/24?