I love credit cards so much!

[Alice Sr.]

You are welcome. I like step by step examples. I used to love MMS because of those when I was starting out. If I were in your shoes, I would use the CIC for all Disney gift cards purchased at an Office supply store. It is what I do with my Ink+. You do not need to pay your MPX purchases with your UA card. I sure don't. You get the 25% bonus simply because you have the card. It is tied to the profile of your UA FF account. I have never paid my MPX purchases with the UA card. I always get my 25% bonus just because I have a UA card. If you go to the reddit thread and read the MPX write up @Lain has there, it may help you see in 3D a little better. I would take the 100k Amex Plat offer.

I am very biased on the value of points vs miles due to our travel goals and the ridiculous things miles allow me to do and get away with which still baffle me to be honest. But I'll add another example to show what I mean. If I want to book another one way, standard award flight on Singapore Air in the first class suites to Hong Kong will cost me 250,000 Kris flyer miles.

250K Kris Flyer miles = 250,000 UR, MR, TYP points or 187,500 SPG points because I get a bonus for every 20K I transfer.

If I were to pay for that flight with points, which is $11,479. I would need 765,266 UR points if I have a CSR. I would need 918,322 if I only had a CSP. With TYP it would be 863,082 and MR points would be 1,147,900 MR points and if I have an Amex Business Plat card I'd get 401,765 MR points (35%) back about a month later. I simply can't afford to do cash back cards or points for cash on a consistent basis. Don't get me wrong, I do use points as cash from time to time, but only if the numbers work in my favor for the circumstances. Everyone's travel goals, needs and style is different and what works for me may not work for others. I just like everyone to know there is more than one way to meet the goals and to look at their options and run the numbers before they leap.

Thank you, thank you, (sorry for the delayed thank you). I went to Reddit and fell down a rabbit hole, I came up for air three days and 20 pages later.

@Alice Sr., check out my follow up post to @CaliforniaGirl09 about using the Ink+ at Office Depot/Office Max. It’d apply to the CIC, too, since the office supplies category works the same way with a lower spending limit.

But yes, for a 100k MR signup bonus, I think the Amex Platinum is definitely worth getting (and taking up a */24 slot if you ever want to go back for Chase cards).

Despite the $550 AF, I think you can justify that in value back in the first year. I think a lot of people would easily value 100k MR at $1,000 or more worth in travel (or $1,250 if you eventually decide to cash out via Schwab). The personal Platinum also comes with a $200 airline fee credit every calendar year, which can be used to buy Southwest, AA, and Delta gift cards (check how from recent data points on FlyerTalk). So you can dip this $200 benefit for 2018 when you get the Platinum, and dip again for another $200 worth of airline gift cards in 2019 before a second AF hits and you consider canceling the card. The Platinum also comes with $200 in Uber credit, doled out $15/month and an extra $20 in December (I don’t know how useful that is to you). It also comes with Global Entry/Pre-check credit, which extends to authorized users. The Platinum also comes with access to Centurion Lounges and Priority Pass Lounge (although the Platinum’s PP perk is less generous than the CSR’s PP). It also gives you automatic Gold status with Hilton and SPG (and by extension Marriott). When you decide you don’t want to pay another AF, you could cancel the personal Platinum and apply for the Ameriprise Platinum, which has a lot of the same benefits but has its AF waived the first year.

Thank you also, I was leaning away from the AMEX Plat 100k offer until I read your Reddit post.

I go away for a few days and it takes me 3 hours to catch up!!! I love it though, so much fantastic information.

I'm really thinking about buying those 30K SPG points...that will definitely count toward the min spend on my new SPG Biz card, right?

Yes...

Yes! Forgot about that. See, I need to run every move by the folks in this thread before I do anything. It's too much to keep track of!

And yes, I originally kept a journal of strategies and tips, I regret not keeping up with it.

 

[Lain]

will try it next month since its a 2% promotional right now. I know a guy(the 20k guy in texas) who just sent his landlord(aka wife) "rent" money. apparently it codes as Category: Merchandise & Supplies - Computer Supplies with Amex, Utilities(unconfirmed) as Visa. gonna try Ink+ with it.
im not too worried, you used a credit card. just do a chargeback.

edit: MCC i think codes COMPUTER SOFTWARE STORE

I read the first set of Roomipay checks mailed out were handwritten. How sketch is that? These no fee promos also give me bad flashbacks to Radpad’s Android Pay promo that blew up in their faces.

 

[Alice Sr.]

I am 5/24 (stupid hot tub) and won't come out from under until Sept. My biggest regret is that I am Freedomless and do not have anything that I could PC to get one. In the meantime I have a AMEX Plat 100k offer so will apply for that sometime in the very near future. I think I am finally coming around to SPG when/if the bonus is increased next month I will apply. I would prefer business if the bonus is the same (if I can qualify) to keep the account off my CB. I SM'd Chase to PC my CIP to CIC and also got a note back to call in. I read on Reddit that the CIC points aren't transferable, I don't know what that means in the scheme of things. I want the BCP but think it would come after the Amex Plat and SPG.? I bank with BoA and they are always sending me offers, since I am looking at heading up north to catch the Northern Lights I will look to see if there is an Alaska card bonus offer (preferable business). Any warnings or other options would be appreciated.

 

[Albort]

I read the first set of Roomipay checks mailed out were handwritten. How sketch is that? These no fee promos also give me bad flashbacks to Radpad’s Android Pay promo that blew up in their faces.

i was reading that there is a few radpad employee working for them right now, haha. I know what you mean though... esp when RadPad went up in flames and sold off everything... but they came back which is weird. wished they code as 3x on travel though...

 

[Albort]

I am 5/24 (stupid hot tub) and won't come out from under until Sept. My biggest regret is that I am Freedomless and do not have anything that I could PC to get one. In the meantime I have a AMEX Plat 100k offer so will apply for that sometime in the very near future. I think I am finally coming around to SPG when/if the bonus is increased next month I will apply. I would prefer business if the bonus is the same (if I can qualify) to keep the account off my CB. I SM'd Chase to PC my CIP to CIC and also got a note back to call in. I read on Reddit that the CIC points aren't transferable, I don't know what that means in the scheme of things. I want the BCP but think it would come after the Amex Plat and SPG.? I bank with BoA and they are always sending me offers, since I am looking at heading up north to catch the Northern Lights I will look to see if there is an Alaska card bonus offer (preferable business). Any warnings or other options would be appreciated.

CIC cant transfer to airlines if thats what its getting at. They can still transfer to other cards ie CSR/CSP. Whats your card line? kinda surprised you dont have any freedoms, SPG, or amex card?
BOA cards are best if you have your investment account with them.
Northern Lights! i went there a year ago. A few tips for you on that. Fly there at night(Fairbanks). The chances of you seeing it on the plane is quite good! we looked at this site every day to check the Northern Lights status. If you do book a tour, find one that has a cabin. We did one like that, we also had people doing the car chasing but said that it was hard to keep warm as the car was also cold. Heat Packs... Bring Heat Packs... Extra ones for your phone too! cuz those die quickly!

on a side note, if you dont have GE, apply for one, do your interview at Fairbanks. Appointments are wide open there.

 

[Lain]

I SM'd Chase to PC my CIP to CIC and also got a note back to call in. I read on Reddit that the CIC points aren't transferable, I don't know what that means in the scheme of things ...

I am looking at heading up north to catch the Northern Lights I will look to see if there is an Alaska card bonus offer (preferable business). Any warnings or other options would be appreciated.

So the CIC is a “Cash Back” card like the Freedom and Freedom Unlimited cards. But really you’re getting cash back in the form of Ultimate Rewards Points a 1 cent = 1 point.

You can transfer UR points from the CIC to any other UR-earning card in your household. However, you will need a premium UR card like the CSP, CSR, or CIP to redeem them for travel through the UR portal or transfer points to hotel and airline partners.

ETA: step away from composing my reply for 15 mins and @Albort ’s got it handled. Also paging @calypso726 since she saw the Northern Lights in Iceland last year.

 

[mom2elal]

I saw this thread on the BB asking everyone what their vacation plans and costs were for this year. I thought it would be a good one to post here but with a spin that fits our thread. Where is everyone planning to go on vacation this year and how or what are your plans to use points and miles for said vacation?

I'm trying to get caught up on the thread, and I'm still way back in early January, lol, but I thought it would be fun to chime in on this question. We got a trailer in September, so a lot of our travel this year (including our "big" 10 day trip to Oregon) is going to be in that. We live in California. This is our non-camping travel:

February: Universal Studios Hollywood for 3 nights, using passes we bought last year, staying at Holiday Inn in Burbank, which will be covered by the cash back from my BofA Premium card, so only paying for food, gas, etc

July: DL for 4 nights/3 days for my ods's 16th bday. Reserved Springhill Suites with points from SPG card converted to Marriott, will use cash back from our Citi Costco, Blue Cash Preferred, etc to help cover expenses.

November: Sedona/Grand Canyon--Flying with SW CP that we are hoping to earn soon, 2 nights at Grand Canyon OOP, 2 nights in Sedona on Best Western Points (not the best points program, but we went on a vacation last summer where we were spending quite a few nights in Best Westerns, so got the card. They're not worth much, lol)

I am currently amassing points for a trip to WDW in 2019 and Hawaii in 2020. If we get CP, we will of course throw a bunch of weekend trips in there, too.

 

[Albort]

I go away for a few days and it takes me 3 hours to catch up!!! I love it though, so much fantastic information

it's fun sometimes to see where ppl are at in our massive thread. I got a like on a post I made on page 608 right now. likers got a ways to go. lol

 

[mom2elal]

it's fun sometimes to see where ppl are at in our massive thread. I got a like on a post I made on page 608 right now. likers got a ways to go. lol

That was probably me! I'm back around there.

 

[Alice Sr.]

CIC cant transfer to airlines if thats what its getting at. They can still transfer to other cards ie CSR/CSP. Whats your card line? kinda surprised you dont have any freedoms, SPG, or amex card?
BOA cards are best if you have your investment account with them.
Northern Lights! i went there a year ago. A few tips for you on that. Fly there at night(Fairbanks). The chances of you seeing it on the plane is quite good! we looked at this site every day to check the Northern Lights status. If you do book a tour, find one that has a cabin. We did one like that, we also had people doing the car chasing but said that it was hard to keep warm as the car was also cold. Heat Packs... Bring Heat Packs... Extra ones for your phone too! cuz those die quickly!

on a side note, if you dont have GE, apply for one, do your interview at Fairbanks. Appointments are wide open there.

I have CSR, UA, SW Bus, SW Personal, IHG, CIP. I was planning on a double application for my 5/24-6/24 slots but in the meantime I bought a hot tub and fell for the free 60 month financing not realizing it was not an installment plan but considered a CC, so that was unceremoniously my 5/24. Still makes me want to cry like a baby. That was last summer, it has taken that long to get over it and move on. But I'm free now to chase the AMEX's. Oooh thank you for that link and the tips, flying into Fairbanks was off my radar so good to get your input there! I will definitely be doing a tour, I was looking at one that included a day snowmobiling and a dogsled outing. I know the 1st night and last night were in a hotel but the rest of the nights were in a cabin (I think).

So the CIC is a “Cash Back” card like the Freedom and Freedom Unlimited cards. But really you’re getting cash back in the form of Ultimate Rewards Points a 1 cent = 1 point.

You can transfer UR points from the CIC to any other UR-earning card in your household. However, you will need a premium UR card like the CSP, CSR, or CIP to redeem them for travel through the UR portal or transfer points to hotel and airline partners.

ETA: step away from composing my reply for 15 mins and @Albort ’s got it handled. Also paging @calypso726 since she saw the Northern Lights in Iceland last year.

I wonder why Reddit says they are not transferable, based on yours and Albort's comments they seem pretty transferable.? Do they transfer to my CSR at 1.5 times or just 1:1? Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Albort]

I wonder why Reddit says they are not transferable, based on yours and Albort's comments they seem pretty transferable.? Do they transfer to my CSR at 1.5 times or just 1:1? Thanks for the clarification.

they transfer to CSR 1:1 ratio. How old was the thread? i know before CIP came out, it was considered a cashback card, although it was still transferable. They changed the wording around to say earns UR now instead of cash back. From CIP --> CIC, the one thing you lose is the ability to transfer to airlines/hotels... if thats not the case, linky please.

 

[wendow]

@Alice Sr. if you product change your CIP to a CIC, the points will transfer to your CSR at a 1:1 ratio and be worth 1.5x when redeemed through the CSR.

 

[Livelovedance]

Thank you, thank you, (sorry for the delayed thank you). I went to Reddit and fell down a rabbit hole, I came up for air three days and 20 pages later.


Thank you also, I was leaning away from the AMEX Plat 100k offer until I read your Reddit post.


Yes...


And yes, I originally kept a journal of strategies and tips, I regret not keeping up with it.

This is completely off topic, but does anyone else see the word "it" showing up as a blue link on multiple posts? Is there a reason why this is happening?

 

[Alice Sr.]

they transfer to CSR 1:1 ratio. How old was the thread? i know before CIP came out, it was considered a cashback card, although it was still transferable. They changed the wording around to say earns UR now instead of cash back. From CIP --> CIC, the one thing you lose is the ability to transfer to airlines/hotels... if thats not the case, linky please.

PM'd the link to you

 

[gottalovepluto]

...I was planning on a double application for my 5/24-6/24 slots but in the meantime I bought a hot tub and fell for the free 60 month financing not realizing it was not an installment plan but considered a CC, so that was unceremoniously my 5/24. Still makes me want to cry like a baby. That was last summer, it has taken that long to get over it and move on...

Ouch!! I'd have fallen for that! (I totally understand if you don't want to answer my q and fall down that Hole of Despair again) Did you file complaints with the credit bureaus that your installment plan was being reported incorrectly as a CC?

 

[Albort]

PM'd the link to you

looked and replied. Transferability to airlines/hotels cant be done with a CIC

 

[Alice Sr.]

This is completely off topic, but does anyone else see the word "it" showing up as a blue link on multiple posts? Is there a reason why this is happening?

Sometimes the blue ink is a link but I didn't have any in my posts if that's where you saw it.

 

[miztressuz]

This is completely off topic, but does anyone else see the word "it" showing up as a blue link on multiple posts? Is there a reason why this is happening?

I'm not seeing it. It can be a plug in or a software setting that's affecting the browser your using. Or an update to an app. Skype goofed me up for a while where it made every telephone number on a webpage a link that I could call with Skype... except it didn't work and it made all my telephone numbers disappear from the pages. Took a couple days to figure that how/where that setting got changed. Might be something like that, I kinda recall a service that would find keywords and link to definition pages/wiki. Howard forums has something like that, like everytime someone would write eBay the forum made it an auto link to the site.

 

[Alice Sr.]

looked and replied. Transferability to airlines/hotels cant be done with a CIC

Ah thanks, I didn't catch that.

 

[platamama]

I wonder why Reddit says they are not transferable, based on yours and Albort's comments they seem pretty transferable.? Do they transfer to my CSR at 1.5 times or just 1:1? Thanks for the clarification.

I'll back up what others have said. I have a CIC, I can transfer UR points to my CSR at a 1:1 ratio. Once the points are in my CSR UR pool, that's when they can be redeemed thru the Chase portal at 1.5x or transferred to travel partners.