I love credit cards so much!

[Albort]

TGIF.

Two random questions and one random comment.

@Lain, @Albort (or anyone) when am I safe to close out my unused CIP card? It is my only business card with Chase...opened in April. I have not put any spending on it since probably June. DH has his and all recurring payments (phone, internet, etc go on it). Should I maybe put some spend on it before I cancel? I don't really want to product change as eventually might try to lower credit limits and get one of the business cards.

Can I product change Dh's Freedom back to a CSR? I just barely changed it from the CSR to the Freedom in November. BUT long story short I guess we are going to rent one of those huge 15 people passenger vans for our trip in 2 weeks since another family his going with us...I want DH to be the main driver and the other driver to be the dad in the family we are going with. (I want no part of driving that monstrosity and would feel better for insurance purposes if it was just on DH's CSR). Plus, I miss the CSR since my whole Amex personal Gold card for DH plan fell apart with the whole pop up. Not getting 3 times the points on his eating out is killing me. I assume we just need to call? That they won't do it over SM?

For those that are feeling bad about cashing out UR's...at least you are doing it to cover a trip. I just cashed out 50,000 today so I could pay our balance to Amex without taking money from savings. Christmas was painful and I am done with these $10,000 spend on Amex. It is too much. And we meet the spend too easy.

Chase doesnt care. Cancel at your 1 year mark is okay. u should product change, not sure why u dont want to. you can always just lower your limit on your biz card, but its up to u still.
Yes, u can upgrade from Freedom --> CSR. you can try SM, most likely they will tell u to call though.

 

[ctinct]

And the game may tighten some more seeing as Money magazine's latest issue has an article about churning. Shhhhhhhhhh!!!

 

[Haley R]

So I think Dh and/or I am going to get the BOA Premium Rewards card. Is there a referral bonus for this card? Or should we both just apply at the same time?

 

[kmc8826]

Chase doesnt care. Cancel at your 1 year mark is okay. u should product change, not sure why u dont want to. you can always just lower your limit on your biz card, but its up to u still.
Yes, u can upgrade from Freedom --> CSR. you can try SM, most likely they will tell u to call though.

When I got the CIP it was with only a $5000 credit limit. DH has the CIP, CIC, CIU and I have employee cards for all of those. I literally have no need for it and since I never combined the business/personal on my accounts it is a separate log in and a pain. I am hoping that if I close it then wait a couple months and lower the limits on my personal cards I could maybe get an approval on the CIC or CIU and the sign up bonus. Thanks.

 

[Jaime4004]

Wow, sorry you have to deal with this. I don't check my miles often. Now to start a spreadsheet with all my points/miles just to be sure.

Same I'm almost caught up on this thread after being in FL over xmas break. I paused to go record all of my points/miles because I really had no idea what I had.

 

[elgerber]

Same I'm almost caught up on this thread after being in FL over xmas break. I paused to go record all of my points/miles because I really had no idea what I had.

Glad I could be a PSA for everyone LOL

 

[palhockeymomof2]

When I got the CIP it was with only a $5000 credit limit. DH has the CIP, CIC, CIU and I have employee cards for all of those. I literally have no need for it and since I never combined the business/personal on my accounts it is a separate log in and a pain. I am hoping that if I close it then wait a couple months and lower the limits on my personal cards I could maybe get an approval on the CIC or CIU and the sign up bonus. Thanks.

If it’s been a year since your last Chase card you’d be fine now to apply for your own CIC or CIU..if you want to

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

If you buy a AA biz mailer w/o the 24 mos lang...or get one however you get one....can you apply with the same biz name you just had and use your SSN again? I have a biz (Lil Sweet Pea Photography) and I have a Tax ID for MI but not an EIN. I've always just used my SSN on any biz application. Once I hit my MSR on the Aspire, I'll likely be close to 90 days on the citi biz I opened in October. I'm all for some more MSR, and more AA miles since my damn BF can't figure out when he's going to move up here!

 

[StephPlum]

You would want to close that, then secure an AA biz mailer without the 24 mo. language

Tagging @Andysol as well. If you can get a Biz mailer, is there an ideal amount of time to wait between closing one card and opening another?

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

More Alaska talk!

If you want a few adventures, check out Above & Beyond Alaska (we did a private kakak to Mendenhall Glacier and then trekked up the glacier itself). They provided everything and a guide and it was fantastic. Also, DH and DD booked an excursion with Snorkel Alaska in Ketchikan - they loved it, it wasn't expensive, and it's become a fun conversation topic over the years.
.

That sounds like fun... for the adult kids if they come. I am not too sure how much trekking up the glacier my knees can do. Snorkeling in Alaska? I have to google that now.

Snorkeling in Alaska is on my list for our cruise next year. Glad to hear from someone I "know" that's actually done it that it was good It gets good reviews but it's still nice to find someone who enjoyed it. And I've noted the glacier one too, I think I can get hubby into that one at least. (He might come on the snorkel trip just to laugh at me but he has no interest in snorkeling in a wetsuit. )

We did the group glacier hike through Above & Beyond Alaska as the private one was just too pricey for us at the time. This is the one we did https://beyondak.com/trips/mendenhall-glacier-trek/ It was an amazing and, yes, very strenuous day, but one I would repeat in a heartbeat. One of the pictures dh took when we were inside the ice cave is hanging in our house where I see it every day

 

[GlamMistress]

Since so many are talking about AA miles tonight... American Airlines is running a promo where you can earn 7 miles per dollar by using an American Airlines credit card to purchase a cruise (through the American cruises portal). It's possible to earn up to 70k miles with this promotion.

https://www.bookaacruises.com/

 

[Jaime4004]

Ah, finally caught up. We drove to FL from NH over break. Spend two nights in hotels on the way down (had to stay in NC one of the nights, so decided to break up that drive also and leave on a Friday night since we had nothing going on.) So thank you, Marriott points on one and URs for another Marriott the 2nd day. One the way home, I we stayed at Homewood Suites in VA, thanks to URs. This is now my favorite hotel for a family of 5. There was sooooo much space in it, we didn't feel on top of each other. Otherwise not very exciting points wise, stayed in a free house and visited EPCOT and seaworld (both of which I have annual passes for).

 

[striker1064]

So I think Dh and/or I am going to get the BOA Premium Rewards card. Is there a referral bonus for this card? Or should we both just apply at the same time?

No referrals, just apply at the same time.

And good luck! BoA is really tough these days. Helps a lot if you have an already established bank account (for a bonus, perhaps).

 

[calypso726]

My churning philosophy is to travel more but it doesn't have to all be free. I have a travel budget and this allows me to stretch it. So I'm sure every now and then I'll have a trip that is more OOP. So this won't bug me too much. It's been on the bucket list for awhile. Though Antarctica is now up there even moreso after seeing @calypso726 's pictures.

I feel the same. This game allows us to travel more. Sometimes free and sometimes for less. Most of the time it allows for travel experiences wouldn’t choose to spend real money to experience.

I will say for you or anyone else considering Antarctica that you really look into whether or not you want to experience the Drake Passage. I did want that experience and fully knew what I was getting into. There are fly and cruise operators for those who are more limited in time or get really bad motion sickness. To be honest I am stunned that I’m not really sea sick. I’m only slightly nauseous. We are experiencing a moderate crossing of the Drake. The idea that this could get and often is much worse is truly daunting. I am currently laying in bed because it is less challenging than attempting to remain upright. Staying in the bed and not rolling off is somewhat easier to manage. Just avoid the edges. I can’t imagine doing this crossing on a ship that doesn’t have wicked awesome stabilizers.

View from my window

 

[StephPlum]

For those who were discussing Delta cards, just a reminder that there are currently targeted 75,000 mile offers available for both the personal and business cards with no lifetime language, so you can receive the bonus even if you have had the card before. Apparently a new round of people were targeted on 1/2. You can use the link on this DOC page to see if you are targeted: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/ymmv...es-200-statement-credit-no-lifetime-language/

is this a good offer for a first Delta card? or better to wait? I have a mailer with this, so better sure I am targeted. I might see if I can do it on a business card. I am not a Delta hostage but there is a specific flight to Spokane for when I rebook my Glacier trip that I would love to use points for.

 

[FloridaNative8]

Applied for P2's CIP tonight (via my referral), and INSTANT APPROVAL! 100K URs, come to momma!

 

[StephPlum]

I will say for you or anyone else considering Antarctica that you really look into whether or not you want to experience the Drake Passage. I did want that experience and fully knew what I was getting into. There are fly and cruise operators for those who are more limited in time or get really bad motion sickness. To be honest I am stunned that I’m not really sea sick. I’m only slightly nauseous. We are experiencing a moderate crossing of the Drake. The idea that this could get and often is much worse is truly daunting. I am currently laying in bed because it is less challenging than attempting to remain upright. Staying in the bed and not rolling off is somewhat easier to manage. Just avoid the edges. I can’t imagine doing this crossing on a ship that doesn’t have wicked awesome stabilizers.

I'll put that in my research. I really haven't researched this at all yet since it would be probably 5 years out if at all. Those pictures are wild. I don't get motion sickness at all, but that does seem extreme and not sure how you would prepare for that to know if it would impact you. How much time does the Drake passage take?

 

[afan]

I feel the same. This game allows us to travel more. Sometimes free and sometimes for less. Most of the time it allows for travel experiences wouldn’t choose to spend real money to experience.

I will say for you or anyone else considering Antarctica that you really look into whether or not you want to experience the Drake Passage. I did want that experience and fully knew what I was getting into. There are fly and cruise operators for those who are more limited in time or get really bad motion sickness. To be honest I am stunned that I’m not really sea sick. I’m only slightly nauseous. We are experiencing a moderate crossing of the Drake. The idea that this could get and often is much worse is truly daunting. I am currently laying in bed because it is less challenging than attempting to remain upright. Staying in the bed and not rolling off is somewhat easier to manage. Just avoid the edges. I can’t imagine doing this crossing on a ship that doesn’t have wicked awesome stabilizers.

View from my window

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Oh wow - words I can't post here - no way. Though my one issue with the water was actually when I was in the water and it was a bit choppy while snorkeling off Maui. I was fine on the boat. Though horseback riding with all the bouncing up and down did it too. But those waves are nuts and to know it could get worse wow!

Glad you both are having fun and the pictures have been great to see.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Applied for P2's CIP tonight (via my referral), and INSTANT APPROVAL! 100K URs, come to momma!

Congrats

 

[calypso726]

I'll put that in my research. I really haven't researched this at all yet since it would be probably 5 years out if at all. Those pictures are wild. I don't get motion sickness at all, but that does seem extreme and not sure how you would prepare for that to know if it would impact you. How much time does the Drake passage take?

It’s an average of 2 days each way. I have a tendency to get motion sickness even in calm seas on larger ships. I am managing fine with Bonine, laying down and distractions. We did bring some Stugeron just in case it got bad and I have not used it. DH hasn’t used anything. Surprisingly most people seem to be doing ok. There were only a few people missing at dinner tonight and most were at the cocktail hour and daily recap.