I love credit cards so much!

[vanjust14]

Speaking of promos, was the ebags deal many of you were talking about on the Chase cards or was it an Amex promo? Now that I have a few new cards, I'm looking forward to a deal like that again. I want more packing cubes, lol. I have some from Target but want to try the ebags ones.

 

[WDWRook]

Thanks for this! Did you happen to ask if you could do a Disney Package without tickets? I.e. just room and dining plan? I know that is available if you call Disney, just wondering if you were told it is a possibility with Chase.

When I spoke to Chase they said, and I quote, "If you can book it through Disney, we can book it for you using UR points."

 

[jhoannam]

When I spoke to Chase they said, and I quote, "If you can book it through Disney, we can book it for you using UR points."

hmmm... I wonder if I can get military pricing.

 

[WDWRook]

Interesting. I have two trips booked right now, One with Chase for a room only using all points, then a second for the same trip with Disney using a 20% bounce back with room and dining only. I have been trying to decide what one to cancel but from this it sounds like I could possibly move that to chase and pay off the balance with points (Only paid the $200 deposit so far)... I may have to call tomorrow and see if that would work! Did she happen to say with the issues might be?

Not specifically, but my impression is that it is just more difficult and more work on their end, and that it takes a bit of time for it to transfer over.

 

[amalone1013]

I haven't started the really looking into the app process so I don't know, is that $200 a month or is that $200 annually? If $200 annually that's pretty impressive.

$200 annually

 

[WDWRook]

Regarding CSR vs CSP here is a good article from The Points Guy with a chart of different benefits.

https://thepointsguy.com/guide/chase-sapphire-preferred-vs-chase-sapphire-reserve/

I think the insurance and the purchase protection benefits are alone with the annual fee and mainly decided to keep the card for that. But the UR point value is great as well. I earned around 450,000 UR last year.

CSR 450,000 UR times 1.5 = 675,000 divided by 100 = $6,750 dollars worth of travel if purchased direct through the portal.

CSP 450,000 times 1.25 = 562,500 divided by 100 = $5,625 dollars worth of travel.

CSR provided me $1,125 in extra travel value.

Yes, it's a $450 AF vs $95. But, the $300 travel credit (which I use to pay DVC dues that I have to pay anyway) makes that only a $155 difference for a $1,125 increased benefit. I likely won't get that much UR every year, but I only need 62,000 UR points earned per year to break even ($155 times 100 divided by 0.25). I should be able to get that amount no problem. And, that is all ignoring the Select Check reimbursement.

 

[trenty]

I have a question:

Amex wants to increase my limit. I do not need the increase, and my instinct tells me to ignore it. Would there be any benefit to my increasing? Would it make a drastic change up or down to my credit score?

I do have some plans for this year that may make me accept the increase if it would increase my credit score (already above 810):
Apply for the Chase Freedom Unlimited. (already have and plan to keep forever the Sapphire Preferred and Freedom 5%) I am currently at 4/24
Cancel both my SW cards after the yearly points post. (unless they give me a retention offer when I call).
Eventually apply for the Discover card that gives 5% rotating cash back.

Towards the end of 2018 or in 2019 I will venture into cards that give hotel points. Right now I primary need airfare points and have more than enough (never enough) SW and slowly working on Jet Blue through AMEX.

So - should I accept the Amex increase or just continue to ignore it?

TIA!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

$200 annually

And in AMEX's book that is one successful business!!!

 

[Albort]

good question! I haven't yet gone to a pp lounge this entire year....

they pretty much suck domestically but are wonders internationally. used it at Taipei last year. au my parents a few months ago and they absolutely loved it in germany. they had a 6 hour layover and one thing they really enjoy the lounge was the sofa beds that are built to lay down and take a nap. i won’t find that anywhere else in the airport!

 

[wendow]

When I spoke to Chase they said, and I quote, "If you can book it through Disney, we can book it for you using UR points."

This is what they told my aunt too. ANYTHING she could book through Disney, they could book also.

 

[Lain]

CIP status line update....."YOU'VE BEEN APPROVED"!!!!!!!!! Thank you thank you thank you to everyone who encouraged me to go for it while i spent weeks being terrified to apply!!!!!!!! You guys rock!

I love being right. I LOVE READING ABOUT CARD APPROVALS EVEN MORE!

CONGRATULATIONS!

If you can't wait to get your spend on, call 1-800-945-2028 to ask Chase expedite your new CIP!

 

[wendow]

Speaking of promos, was the ebags deal many of you were talking about on the Chase cards or was it an Amex promo? Now that I have a few new cards, I'm looking forward to a deal like that again. I want more packing cubes, lol. I have some from Target but want to try the ebags ones.

The ebags deal was a Chase promo where you spent $20 and got 2000 UR. There has been an Amex offer for ebags on my cards but it's for like $25 off $125.

 

[disneedee]

They’re all listed on the Priority Pass website - just search by airport. Off-hand, the only ones I know of are Denver, STL, and MSP.

portland, oregon too.

 

[snugglebug]

Is SPG business eligible for Amex Offers? I could get that now, get me started with Amex while I pass some time with Chase. I'm just not quite ready for my next Chase app. I know they're watching my CSP with the fraud charge and I don't want to risk a review or anything.

Sometime in March or April I'll get Marriott personal to fill in my last 5/24 slot. I'm going to PC my CSP to a Freedom in June. Then I have no real plans beyond that for now other than venturing outside 5/24 a bit.

 

[Alexle2007]

Can you transfer MR points to SW so you can book the flights with points (like with UR)? This is what I found online: To redeem your Membership Reward points for Southwest Airline tickets, simply book your ticket directly with Southwest Airlines and then redeem your points after the charge posts via Your Charges online at: membershiprewards.com/yourcharges or through the American Express App on your mobile device (iPhone and Android platforms only). You have the ability to schedule a point redemption for eligible pending charges through the American Express Mobile App. You must have enough Membership Rewards® points to cover the entire cost of the charge with Your Charges.

 

[ski_mom]

On the Priority Pass, I also downloaded an app and you can put in whatever airport you are flying from/to and it will let you know if there are any lounges / restaurants that qualify.

 

[Lain]

What is the easiest way to find out about these restaurant alternatives to lounges?

http://pointsyak.com/benefits/priority-pass-restaurants/

Whenever Priority Pass adds a new restaurant, it seems the points and miles blogs will write about it.

Speaking of promos, was the ebags deal many of you were talking about on the Chase cards or was it an Amex promo? Now that I have a few new cards, I'm looking forward to a deal like that again. I want more packing cubes, lol. I have some from Target but want to try the ebags ones.

Like @wendow posted, both Amex and Chase had eBags promos in the last quarter of 2017. Amex frequently has Amex Offers that are like $25 statement credit when you spend $125 or more. Chase's promo was get 10x UR points when you spend up to $20 on a Freedom, Freedom Unlimited, CSP (and maybe Sapphire?) using Chase Pay.

It used to be that you could buy just a $20 eBags gift card for Chase, or a $125 gift card with each Amex card that had the offer (and not a penny more) to maximize the deal, then ask eBags customer service via chat or email to combine the gift cards for you. eBags won't do that for you anymore.

You can only use 1 gift card per transaction on eBags.

If you have several cards that have an eBags deal, what you can do is (1) use 1 credit card to buy 1 eBags gift card for the minimum required amount to trigger the statement credit (Amex) or the maximum amount that'll qualify for the bonus (Chase), then (2) use that 1 gift card in conjunction with another credit card with the deal to hopefully put enough spend on the second card to trigger a statement credit or earn more bonus points.

eBags frequently offers 12% back and as high as 20% through shopping portals. They also run 20-25% off "site wide" sales often, but with lots of exceptions. (And I love me some Tumi sales!) If all the stars align, you can find some awesome savings on eBags!

 

[Calfan]

On the Priority Pass, I also downloaded an app and you can put in whatever airport you are flying from/to and it will let you know if there are any lounges / restaurants that qualify.

I have the Priority Pass app, and it will give me the lounges, but I can't get it to give me the restaurants with benefits. When I put in DEN, for example, it comes up with nothing. Maybe my app is just quirky. I am finding them on the website at least.

 

[Lain]

Is SPG business eligible for Amex Offers? I could get that now, get me started with Amex while I pass some time with Chase. I'm just not quite ready for my next Chase app. I know they're watching my CSP with the fraud charge and I don't want to risk a review or anything.

Sometime in March or April I'll get Marriott personal to fill in my last 5/24 slot. I'm going to PC my CSP to a Freedom in June. Then I have no real plans beyond that for now other than venturing outside 5/24 a bit.

Yes, the SPG Biz gets Amex Offers, but personally I haven't gotten any really good ones yet.

Why not double dip your last 5/24 slot?

 

[Calfan]

http://pointsyak.com/benefits/priority-pass-restaurants/

Whenever Priority Pass adds a new restaurant, it seems the points and miles blogs will write about it.

Thanks. I'll check that out.