I love credit cards so much!

[calypso726]

For those debating the merits of having Global Entry. A friend of mine just got back from a trip to Jamaica. The line to get through regular customs back here in the US was running 2-3 hours because most of the employees had called in sick. She said that if she did not have Global Entry, she would have missed her connecting flight back home.

 

[havaneselover]

For those debating the merits of having Global Entry. A friend of mine just got back from a trip to Jamaica. The line to get through regular customs back here in the US was running 2-3 hours because most of the employees had called in sick. She said that if she did not have Global Entry, she would have missed her connecting flight back home.

Yeah, too bad the GE interviews are being cancelled Dd has one for the end of February. I’m not holding my breath.

 

[Haley R]

There are a few good you tube reviews. We are going Bc we want to meet the evil queen and dwarfs more than worrying about the food.

We just don’t see the value in spending that much money on a meet and greet. We saw the dwarfs at mnsshp

 

[DisneyMandC]

Yeah, too bad the GE interviews are being cancelled Dd has one for the end of February. I’m not holding my breath.

Oof, I dread to think that will be in this position at the end of February...

 

[amcc]

CIP Approved!!! Now to spend! Thanks to all the advice. Next month, I will have my husband apply.

I also have the ATT offer on my CSR. I know this sounds dumb, but how do I spend the $$? Do I have to go in and buy something at an ATT store or can I make a payment on my monthly bill with the card?

 

[Alexle2007]

For those debating the merits of having Global Entry. A friend of mine just got back from a trip to Jamaica. The line to get through regular customs back here in the US was running 2-3 hours because most of the employees had called in sick. She said that if she did not have Global Entry, she would have missed her connecting flight back home.

DH keeps saying are you sure we should be flying to FL at the end of the month with TSA agents and air traffic controllers calling out. I said absolutely we have TSA pre-check so it shouldn’t be too bad. I am hoping they are back to work by then.

 

[Alexle2007]

CIP Approved!!! Now to spend! Thanks to all the advice. Next month, I will have my husband apply.

I also have the ATT offer on my CSR. I know this sounds dumb, but how do I spend the $$? Do I have to go in and buy something at an ATT store or can I make a payment on my monthly bill with the card?

You just use it to pay your bill online. Mine said I have to make 2 payments of at least $15.

ETA: Make sure to read your offer terms since they may be different than mine.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

CIP Approved!!! Now to spend! Thanks to all the advice. Next month, I will have my husband apply.

I also have the ATT offer on my CSR. I know this sounds dumb, but how do I spend the $$? Do I have to go in and buy something at an ATT store or can I make a payment on my monthly bill with the card?

Congrats

 

[Judique]

I am a loan processor (or was LOL). you will have to write a letter or sign a form stating if each inquiry resulted in any new debt. If it’s already on your credit report,that is the end of it. If it’s not they will get a credit supplement to verify the balance and the payment. Unless uou have to have a manual underwrite they should really not care any further as long as they have the payment amount in your debts and a clean payment history. I’m guessing any of us here who churn have good enough credit that an automated approval should be easy.

Back in 2008, my daughter bought a house. She had been busy MS'ing with Amex and travelers checks. Buying $3k once a week or so - withdrawing and depositing over and over for the points. Her lender made her write many letters, but it did not hold up the purchase.

 

[Albort]

Oh I see, will call regular rep! Thank you! Sorry to be dense, by regular rep, do you mean the status line 800-432-3117 (or number at the back of Chase cards)?

it's whatever the back of a chase card is. I think the 3117 is recon line? not 100% sure

 

[calypso726]

Yeah, too bad the GE interviews are being cancelled Dd has one for the end of February. I’m not holding my breath.

I know. But once they are back on again GE should definitely be on the "to do" list.

DH keeps saying are you sure we should be flying to FL at the end of the month with TSA agents and air traffic controllers calling out. I said absolutely we have TSA pre-check so it shouldn’t be too bad. I am hoping they are back to work by then.

We didn't have an issue flying out to Antarctica during the shutdown as we had TSA pre-check thanks to GE and no problems coming back home. I suppose I will see how things look when we fly out this weekend.

 

[afan]

DH keeps saying are you sure we should be flying to FL at the end of the month with TSA agents and air traffic controllers calling out. I said absolutely we have TSA pre-check so it shouldn’t be too bad. I am hoping they are back to work by then.

Not to be a downer but I would imagine if enough TSA call out that one way to help things is to shut down pre check lanes so they have enough people for the other. Though I wonder if it will get to the point where the airports step in to try and get their passengers moving, not that I know how/if that would happen.

ETA - Watch ABC national news and the journalist said she'd been traveling a lot the past few days and pre check has been closed at a lot of the airports.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Yeah, too bad the GE interviews are being cancelled Dd has one for the end of February. I’m not holding my breath.

We had ours scheduled for January 4, now rescheduled for March. Fingers crossed

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Back in 2008, my daughter bought a house. She had been busy MS'ing with Amex and travelers checks. Buying $3k once a week or so - withdrawing and depositing over and over for the points. Her lender made her write many letters, but it did not hold up the purchase.

Not for a mortgage, but for car loan last year. I had probably 5-6 new cards. The app thru the dealer went straight thru (on a Saturday, so no call or anything) with Capital One. We then transferred the loan to my local credit union, which approved the loan but did ask why all the CCs. I answered, travel rewards, we are traveling more. The board was satisfied with my answer

 

[hsmamato2]

Maybe I’m reading the original question wrong, but I thought @hsmamato2 coukd just book the flight. Then once the companion pss is achieved, add on the companion.
All the time I book flights for DH using my points and then I just add his companion.

you got it right.... I used my points to book P2 a flight- when we get the Cp in a couple of weeks -it's P2's acct getting the CP----- so when he gets the CP,I can add the companion booking to his already booked flight,right?(?) without having to change anything else

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Everything has changed so much with Chase/Disney and AMEX since I started following this thread in early 2018 when we got our first cards. I was gone for awhile and I have tried to catch up but there's so much I probably missed. I would like to get some new cards soon but I need some advice and suggestions of which cards I should consider next. Before the Chase/Disney shut down, I was planning to max out UR but now I don't know. Maybe a hotel card would be good since we travel a lot for sports and family events. I can always use some points for free hotel rooms. But I'm still mad about Disney. Should I stay with the UR Plan? Here's what we have:

ME: SPG biz - 4/18
CSR/CSP - 5/18

DH: Disney - 2/17
CIP - 3/18
CIC - 5/18

I have some hefty CL on my CSR/CSP cards. Should I decrease either/both of them before I apply for any new cards? If so, what is the recommended method to do that?

I guess the Chase rules are still 5/24 but now every Chase card counts? What about Chase business cards? Are there new rules on them? What about Amex cards, business and/or personal? I remember reading they tightened up the rules regarding churning the cards but the SPG biz is my first and only, so I was thinking that didn't apply to me.

I have some scattered thoughts here for you:

• The mechanics of the Chase 5/24 rule have not changed. ALL cards showing on your personal credit report count in the “5”. Chase business cards (as well as numerous other business card issuers) don’t report to personal agencies so they DO NOT count.
• Some Chase cards used to not have the 5/24 rule apply (Disney, Hyatt, etc). It appears that 5/24 now applies to ALL Chase cards - which for many people was a pretty minor change. So yes, you need to be under 5/24 to apply for any Chase card (including Chase biz cards)
• AMEX is cracking down on churners in their own “special” way. Essentially they give no criteria and decide on a case by case basis whether you are a good customer or not. If you aren’t putting regular spend on your SPG card, I would change that immediately and try to have something regular post to it. You also do not want to “hammer” AMEX anymore going from MSR to MSR.
• I am firmly in the camp of reducing CL. I’d probably keep $5k on one and $10k on the other - your preferences/situation may be different than mine though.

All that said...let’s talk URs and Disney.

URs are still a great value - even for DISNEY! It’s all about return on your MSR. Your husband has a CIP - you should absolutely be looking to have him refer you to this card.

The min. URs you’d earn from that is 105k. (20k + 5k + 80k). That is worth $1,050 in cash towards anything you’d want (including Disney!). Subtract the AF and you still have $955 for spending $5k. That’s basically 19.1% back on $5k in purchases. You’d be hard pressed to find that kind of return on that large of an MSR anywhere these days.

If you can find a better use for those points (transfer to Hyatt or SW OR redeem thru portal) then you are going to get a return around 30% or more!

For most churners now, the name of the game is somewhat “slow and steady”. Hammering out 20 cards may work for one year but eventually you might get shut out of the best issuers. Chase still has some good offers, you just need to be flexible with how you redeem.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Today’s news: I have hit my MSR on my Citi AA Biz. Probably looking to a CIC card for my wife next in a few days. I want to put 60 days between her CIU app and this one.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

you got it right.... I used my points to book P2 a flight- when we get the Cp in a couple of weeks -it's P2's acct getting the CP----- so when he gets the CP,I can add the companion booking to his already booked flight,right?(?) without having to change anything else

Yes you have it right...you just add the companion to the already booked flight

 

[MarBee]

you got it right.... I used my points to book P2 a flight- when we get the Cp in a couple of weeks -it's P2's acct getting the CP----- so when he gets the CP,I can add the companion booking to his already booked flight,right?(?) without having to change anything else

You are correct!

 

[gottalovepluto]

DH keeps saying are you sure we should be flying to FL at the end of the month with TSA agents and air traffic controllers calling out. I said absolutely we have TSA pre-check so it shouldn’t be too bad. I am hoping they are back to work by then.

If the country comes to so much of a standstill the airports can’t function someone will have to find their freaking brain and blink.... I hope.