I love credit cards so much!

[Albort]

Thanks - how do you ever keep all of this straight? It seems odd that I can book a Delta flight through the UR website but Delta is not a partner. Out of curiosity, I looked to see how many Korean air miles her flight would be, but I discovered that at least one of the airports (arrival or departure) must be an airport that Korean Air services. So no booking through Korean Air for this flight.

i believe you look up the flight on delta(awards), then call Korean Airline to book.

 

[calypso726]

Thanks - how do you ever keep all of this straight? It seems odd that I can book a Delta flight through the UR website but Delta is not a partner. Out of curiosity, I looked to see how many Korean air miles her flight would be, but I discovered that at least one of the airports (arrival or departure) must be an airport that Korean Air services. So no booking through Korean Air for this flight.

You're welcome. Not sure, just some of it sticks after a while Especially with UR since I use and abuse them a lot. When you book through the UR website you are using your points as cash so the airline does not have to be a transfer partner. When you transfer miles it has to be a partner. Korean and Air France are both UR transfer partners. They are also both in the Sky team alliance so you can transfer your UR points to either one of them in order to book a flight on Delta when there is partner availability. Of course, you always want to check which will get more bang for your miles. You also want to make sure the flights you want are available on the partner airline before you transfer miles.

I've never heard of that sort of stipulation for a partner award. I have been reading up on using Korean miles to fly Delta for my trip to Iceland next year. I have not read anywhere that Korean has to service the airport I fly to or from in order to book a partner award.

 

[AmyAnne]

I've never heard of that sort of stipulation for a partner award. I have been reading up on using Korean miles to fly Delta for my trip to Iceland next year. I have not read anywhere that Korean has to service the airport I fly to or from in order to book a partner award.

On the Korean Air website, it allows me to choose a departure airport (MEM) but when I try to select BOS as the destination airport, I get a pop-up that says "If you depart from an airport that Korean Air does not service, you can choose only an airport that Korean Air services as your arrival airport." I don't think it has anything to do with partner awards because I never got that far in the booking process - I was just checking the website to see what the points would be, but it never let me enter the destination airport. It seems that it's just a Korean Air booking rule regardless of how the ticket is paid for.

 

[CaterFamily]

On the Korean Air website, it allows me to choose a departure airport (MEM) but when I try to select BOS as the destination airport, I get a pop-up that says "If you depart from an airport that Korean Air does not service, you can choose only an airport that Korean Air services as your arrival airport." I don't think it has anything to do with partner awards because I never got that far in the booking process - I was just checking the website to see what the points would be, but it never let me enter the destination airport. It seems that it's just a Korean Air booking rule regardless of how the ticket is paid for.

http://thepointsguy.com/2016/06/how-to-book-award-flights-with-korean-air-skypass/

Check that page out.

 

[Ngwira]

I know everyone says to go for chase credit cards due to 5/24 but does anyone else agree with me that sometimes other cards make more sense for their particular circumstance?
The CSR doesn't appeal to me because of the high annual fee. I also don't anticipate much travel next year outside of DW. Our train tickets are already covered because I took out the Amtrak cc and have enough points for the auto train. We aren't travelling much outside of this. I was looking at the IHG card for hotel rewards and the Amex PRG (low AF). I LOVE Amex so am a bit biased. I also need hotel points as I've used up all my starpoints and don't care for Marriott. I currently bank with Chase and am not a big fan.
Thoughts?

 

[Albort]

I know everyone says to go for chase credit cards due to 5/24 but does anyone else agree with me that sometimes other cards make more sense for their particular circumstance?
The CSR doesn't appeal to me because of the high annual fee. I also don't anticipate much travel next year outside of DW. Our train tickets are already covered because I took out the Amtrak cc and have enough points for the auto train. We aren't travelling much outside of this. I was looking at the IHG card for hotel rewards and the Amex PRG (low AF). I LOVE Amex so am a bit biased. I also need hotel points as I've used up all my starpoints and don't care for Marriott. I currently bank with Chase and am not a big fan.
Thoughts?

It does. You are correct. Your credit card picking all depends on what you use. If you dont use any of the UR partners, then UR points are worthless. My parents and I fly EVA airways the most(at least 1-2 times a year). We all have applied for the one card that allows 1-1 transfer to EVA. people like UR points simply because its is the most easiest to earn.

It also varies on how u spend as well. My citi premier which is my EVA card is my card that i swipe for everything not in the 5x category. So currently, Restaurants(max out on freedom), Grocery Stores, gas and all other 1x only stores will go on this card vs my other cards.

 

[shystalips]

Just started a new thread and didn't think of asking here. Should have with all of this talk of the CSR. Anyone know if funding a disney vacation account would be coded as travel for the $300 credit? Thought there was a chance since it's operated by walt disney travel company.

 

[mfly]

Just started a new thread and didn't think of asking here. Should have with all of this talk of the CSR. Anyone know if funding a disney vacation account would be coded as travel for the $300 credit? Thought there was a chance since it's operated by walt disney travel company.

Yes, many people here have reported that it does.

Still catching up, but Disney Vacation Account codes as Merchant Disney Vacation Account and does qualify for the $300 Travel. I got the credit immediately on my card and my wife card after it posted. I figured it was worth a try since I think it is pretty easy to request a refund from the DVA account. Used the credits on both cards to fund my Halloween party tickets.

As for good sources of tickets, buy the gift cards from Sam's Club - $150 for $142.9x - about a 4.68% discount or the $500 card from Sam's website is about 5%/ But wait you say, I can get that discount from Target. However, buy it with your Chase Freedom Card during the July - September and October - December and you get 5% back on up to $1,500.00 in purchases from Sam's Club. Convert those points to the Reserve card and you get redemption at 1.5x, so 7.5% return. Fund the Disney Vacation Account for a $20 Gift card on every $1,000.00 in expenses paid by account. NO, you don't get the bonus for requesting a gift card payout.

Potential savings of 5% discount on the card, 7.5% rewards from Chase and $20 per $1,000 from DVA = around a savings of 14.5%

I can confirm that it does. I tested it out early last week with a $10 contribution. The $10 travel credit posted the same day as the original transaction. I then went ahead and did made a contribution for the remaining $290 and that posted as well.

Just did it an credited on my account too. Was so glad someone mentioned that as an option!!

 

[calypso726]

I know everyone says to go for chase credit cards due to 5/24 but does anyone else agree with me that sometimes other cards make more sense for their particular circumstance?
The CSR doesn't appeal to me because of the high annual fee. I also don't anticipate much travel next year outside of DW. Our train tickets are already covered because I took out the Amtrak cc and have enough points for the auto train. We aren't travelling much outside of this. I was looking at the IHG card for hotel rewards and the Amex PRG (low AF). I LOVE Amex so am a bit biased. I also need hotel points as I've used up all my starpoints and don't care for Marriott. I currently bank with Chase and am not a big fan.
Thoughts?

Yes, of course. But from what you are describing, if it were me, I would still get the CSR and keep for the first year, assuming I can make the spend in the 3 months. Here is how and why. UR points transfer 1:1 with IHG. The CSR will get you 100K IHG points which is more that the 70K. The travel credit can be used for stays at IHG and I'd earn points for those stays without paying at least $300 this year out of pocket and another $300 after January out of pocket. My 100K points can be used for transfers to IHG points or used as $1500 towards my IHG stays. So I would get $2100 in value for my IHG stays which is more than the the IHG car will get you. When the annual fee rolls around the following year I would downgrade my CSR card to the CSP with $95 AF or the Freedom or Freedom Unlimited with no AF. I would still pick up the IHG card for the 60K or 70K points and free annual night. Food for thought, hope it helps.

 

[CaterFamily]

Yes, many people here have reported that it does.

Isnt that just freaking awesome?!?! I mean BLAMO! funding vacation and funding UR points at the same time! More reasons to keep the CSR after the 1 year.

 

[shystalips]

Isnt that just freaking awesome?!?! I mean BLAMO! funding vacation and funding UR points at the same time! More reasons to keep the CSR after the 1 year.

This is un freekin believable.
Couple that with transferring points to southwest for free flights and bam.
Just to be clear, funding the DVA counts towards the 4k minimum spend, correct?

 

[calypso726]

Isnt that just freaking awesome?!?! I mean BLAMO! funding vacation and funding UR points at the same time! More reasons to keep the CSR after the 1 year.

BLAMO!!!??? I am SO stealing that word

 

[CaterFamily]

This is un freekin believable.
Couple that with transferring points to southwest for free flights and bam.
Just to be clear, funding the DVA counts towards the 4k minimum spend, correct?

Just as long as you're spending money.

BLAMO!!!??? I am SO stealing that word

 

[Ngwira]

Yes, of course. But from what you are describing, if it were me, I would still get the CSR and keep for the first year, assuming I can make the spend in the 3 months. Here is how and why. UR points transfer 1:1 with IHG. The CSR will get you 100K IHG points which is more that the 70K. The travel credit can be used for stays at IHG and I'd earn points for those stays without paying at least $300 this year out of pocket and another $300 after January out of pocket. My 100K points can be used for transfers to IHG points or used as $1500 towards my IHG stays. So I would get $2100 in value for my IHG stays which is more than the the IHG car will get you. When the annual fee rolls around the following year I would downgrade my CSR card to the CSP with $95 AF or the Freedom or Freedom Unlimited with no AF. I would still pick up the IHG card for the 60K or 70K points and free annual night. Food for thought, hope it helps.

It does. Thank you.

 

[disneedee]

i met my csr min spend! now which card to get? i need to get the ba because i have to fly AS to see my grandkids but is there another that i should get 1st. i have chase freedom, discover, csr, ax blue and ax blue prefered ( which does not work at my fredmeyers), 2 alaska visa, ihg, citi costco,
none of these is great for groceries at fred meyers which is where we grocery shop.

 

[calypso726]

i met my csr min spend! now which card to get? i need to get the ba because i have to fly AS to see my grandkids but is there another that i should get 1st. i have chase freedom, discover, csr, ax blue and ax blue prefered ( which does not work at my fredmeyers), 2 alaska visa, ihg, citi costco,
none of these is great for groceries at fred meyers which is where we grocery shop.

The BA card is currently not restricted to the 5/24 rule so I'd wait. I'd get either the Freedom Unlimted which will give you 1.5 on all spend or the Freedom which has 5x quarterly on rotating categories up to $1500 and groceries is one of those categories. Or, get the CSP since the bonus is higher and when the AF hits next year how grade it to the Freedom or Freedom Unlimited.

 

[disneedee]

i do have the chase freedom which i will definitely use for the bonus categories. the csp is definitely a possiblity. was wondering if there are any great AS partner cards that would be good or any that do 2% on groceries that are good to have?

 

[AmyAnne]

Thanks to those who provided info about transferring Chase UR points to Delta via Korean Air. I have to say that looks horrendously complicated but potentially worth the hassle especially for overseas travel (or Hawaii).

 

[calypso726]

i do have the chase freedom which i will definitely use for the bonus categories. the csp is definitely a possiblity. was wondering if there are any great AS partner cards that would be good or any that do 2% on groceries that are good to have?

Besides the Alaska Airlines cc from Bank of America, the only card o know of that has points transferring to AS directly is the Starwood Preferred Guest card from Amex. The card has no bonus categories but every 20,000 SPG points that you transfer to an airline will ear you an additional 5,000 bonus miles. So it effectively earns 1.25 miles on the dollar. Keep in mind that Marriott bought Starwood. Therefore no one knows what will happen to to the card in 2018.

 

[Albort]

Besides the Alaska Airlines cc from Bank of America, the only card o know of that has points transferring to AS directly is the Starwood Preferred Guest card from Amex. The card has no bonus categories but every 20,000 SPG points that you transfer to an airline will ear you an additional 5,000 bonus miles. So it effectively earns 1.25 miles on the dollar. Keep in mind that Marriott bought Starwood. Therefore no one knows what will happen to to the card in 2018.

I think Korean Skymiles/Air France miles can be used to redeem Alaska tickets. the same technique to book a delta flight... so UR points can help i guess... but UR cards dont have a year long category on groceries...

Rumor is a Starwood card being released by chase next Feb... not sure what happens to the Amex agreement... should be interesting to see.