I love credit cards so much!

[calypso726]

MMS had a really nice article explaining how the value of Ultimate reward points work depending on which card and account you are using. I know some have had questions about that. I thought I'd post the graphic he used here since it is really clear and explains it really well. Below is a flight from Washington to Paris in economy that is being booked through the Chase travel portal.

Some have also asked how and why the UR points can be more valuable when transferred to an airline. The same flight can also be booked in economy by transferring your UR points to Air France Flying Blue frequent flyer account for 50,000 miles and a little over $100 in taxes and fees. IN this case I would not transfer to an airline because the number of points is about the same, I'd get to earn butt in seat miles for the flight and I would not be subject to award availability.

Business class would be 125k miles a little over $500 in taxes and fees. But in cash that business flight is well over $8,000. Would I go that route? Maybe. For me it would depend on the plane and seat and the service whether or not it would be worth forking over $500. I would look at other options first. I won't spend $500 to sit in a seat that isn't fully lie flat with excellent service. I'd transfer 127,500 UR points to United which would get me the same itinerary in business but for only $157 in taxes and fees. The out of pocket cost for the flights in business on United for this flight range from $3800 to well over $9000. I get more bang for my UR points by transferring them to an airline. Hope that helps.

 

[SMorgan711]

I just got approved for the Chase Ink + card !!!!!!!!!!!!!! yay!!!!!! Thanks to you guys! I never would have ever thought to apply for a business card. I'm so freaking excited !! 5% on cable, internet and phone alone is worth it!

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

The refi money hit, and the credit card balances are starting to fall, one by one

I want to do the CSR (personal obv) and the ink+ (photo biz). I'm assuming I should do the CSR first. Do I have to wait on the ink+ since it's a biz acct?

 

[Ngwira]

Do all CC companies offer variable bonuses? I'm especially wondering about Chase and the United card -- I haven't seen anything better than 50,000 miles, but I have not been paying attention to these things for very long. Is there a website that keeps track of bonuses?

The reddit churning thread has a spreadsheet of all credit cards and bonuses. The spreadsheet even tells you if it's the highest bonus historically.

 

[Ngwira]

Just got instant approval for the CSR! Thanks everyone!

And thanks @Ngwira for finding the card no info!

Congratulations.

 

[Ngwira]

Sadly, (or not) I am 1/4 of the way to meeting minimum spend and I just got the card on Tuesday! I did pay cable and electric bill on the card instead of from bank account. I had to pay a $4 fee to pay electric but smart to do to meet minimum spend. Cable bill payment was free. I also prepaid some hotel stays for next year to take advantage of this years' $300 travel credit.

 

[ski_mom]

MMS had a really nice article explaining how the value of Ultimate reward points work depending on which card and account you are using. I know some have had questions about that. I thought I'd post the graphic he used here since it is really clear and explains it really well. Below is a flight from Washington to Paris in economy that is being booked through the Chase travel portal.

Some have also asked how and why the UR points can be more valuable when transferred to an airline. The same flight can also be booked in economy by transferring your UR points to Air France Flying Blue frequent flyer account for 50,000 miles and a little over $100 in taxes and fees. IN this case I would not transfer to an airline because the number of points is about the same, I'd get to earn butt in seat miles for the flight and I would not be subject to award availability.

Business class would be 125k miles a little over $500 in taxes and fees. But in cash that business flight is well over $8,000. Would I go that route? Maybe. For me it would depend on the plane and seat and the service whether or not it would be worth forking over $500. I would look at other options first. I won't spend $500 to sit in a seat that isn't fully lie flat with excellent service. I'd transfer 127,500 UR points to United which would get me the same itinerary in business but for only $157 in taxes and fees. The out of pocket cost for the flights in business on United for this flight range from $3800 to well over $9000. I get more bang for my UR points by transferring them to an airline. Hope that helps.

View attachment 200904

Thanks for the visual. I follow MMS as well but it's hard to read everything he posts about.

The only chase cards we have right now are the SW card and a chase freedom card. I looked on our chase freedom card and we have around $650 worth of points to redeem. I looked around the website and saw that you can redeem for cruises by calling their 800 number. I called and prices out the cruise that DH and I are looking at for January and it is the same price that I can get it for myself online. I realize that if I only have the Chase Freedom card, I may as well book the cruise, redeem my points for $$ and pay off a portion of it so that I'd at least get the points for the purchase of the cruise.

I guess I'm wondering if we would get the CSR card that has the 1.5 cent value - does that hold true for cruises as well? For example, the cruise we are looking at was priced to me at $1998.28. She told me that I could use the 67,200 points for $672.00 off the price and pay the difference. If we had the CSR and I transferred my points to that card, would it pay for $1,008.00 of the cruise? It seems a little different that some of the portal travel items because you have to call the 800 number to book.

I hope that makes sense and thanks for any info!

 

[Albort]

The reddit churning thread has a spreadsheet of all credit cards and bonuses. The spreadsheet even tells you if it's the highest bonus historically.

keep in mind though, it's a tab outdated sometimes... but historically high should be okay...

 

[Ngwira]

keep in mind though, it's a tab outdated sometimes... but historically high should be okay...

True. I just read that there is a targeted ihg offer..100k points with 2k spend.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

And BOOM I've got the CSR. Now if I want the ink+ for my business, do I have to wait? I knew (even at 31%...though we paid off 2 cards yesterday so under that but I doubt that has been officially reported).

Now to get the card and start racking up the travel expenses for school!

 

[calypso726]

And BOOM I've got the CSR. Now if I want the ink+ for my business, do I have to wait? I knew (even at 31%...though we paid off 2 cards yesterday so under that but I doubt that has been officially reported).

Now to get the card and start racking up the travel expenses for school!

If you are able to make the spend on bothe card within the allotted time then no need to wait. You can apply for two Chase cards in a 30 day period. Congrats!!!

 

[calypso726]

Thanks for the visual. I follow MMS as well but it's hard to read everything he posts about.

The only chase cards we have right now are the SW card and a chase freedom card. I looked on our chase freedom card and we have around $650 worth of points to redeem. I looked around the website and saw that you can redeem for cruises by calling their 800 number. I called and prices out the cruise that DH and I are looking at for January and it is the same price that I can get it for myself online. I realize that if I only have the Chase Freedom card, I may as well book the cruise, redeem my points for $$ and pay off a portion of it so that I'd at least get the points for the purchase of the cruise.

I guess I'm wondering if we would get the CSR card that has the 1.5 cent value - does that hold true for cruises as well? For example, the cruise we are looking at was priced to me at $1998.28. She told me that I could use the 67,200 points for $672.00 off the price and pay the difference. If we had the CSR and I transferred my points to that card, would it pay for $1,008.00 of the cruise? It seems a little different that some of the portal travel items because you have to call the 800 number to book.

I hope that makes sense and thanks for any info!

That makes sense but I don't know for certain since I have never tried it. I would think so though. Even if it didn't go through it would still be worth getting the card for the $300 travel credit this year and $300 next year and 100k UR points.

 

[TeamH5]

I'm new to the whole racking up points for travel, etc.. Just got the CSR, but wondering if I need to get the Chase United(one of my home airlines, plus I just opened a miles account with them) card as well to be able to transfer points, etc. Or, can I just use the points I rack up from my CSR and transfer them directly to my United miles account when I need to redeem them? What's the best way to go about this? Lol I need a class on cc for dummies as I've always been a person that didn't much believe in cc and paid cash for everything. I'm now beginning to see the advantage's of having multiple cc (as long as the balances are paid off each month).

 

[calypso726]

I'm new to the whole racking up points for travel, etc.. Just got the CSR, but wondering if I need to get the Chase United(one of my home airlines, plus I just opened a miles account with them) card as well to be able to transfer points, etc. Or, can I just use the points I rack up from my CSR and transfer them directly to my United miles account when I need to redeem them? What's the best way to go about this? Lol I need a class on cc for dummies as I've always been a person that didn't much believe in cc and paid cash for everything. I'm now beginning to see the advantage's of having multiple cc (as long as the balances are paid off each month).

Welcome to travel hacking! If you find the United card at 50k bonus or better then I'd get it. You don't need it as you can transfer your UR points directly to United and they transfer nearly instantly. Since you are new to this I would suggest starting out with a portfolio of Chase cards to maximize your UR earning potential and get the best cards with the highest bonuses before reaching the point of opening 5 new cards from any bank within 24 months. I don't know if you have read the whole thread so I will re-post my advice. After you make the spend on the CSR apply for the Ink+ business card. You can use your ss# and be the sole proprietor of your business. Then after that apply for the Sapphire Preferred card. Then decide if the CSR is worth keeping or not. If you spend at least $3200 each year in dining and travel then you are at a break even point between the CSR and CSP with the annual fee vs value of card and UR earning. Instead of cancelling one or the other downgrade it to a Freedom or Freedom Unlimited whichever you can make the most use of. I have both, plus the Ink+ and CSR.

The United card will get you 2 lounge passes each year and also the free checked bag and priority boarding. I don't keep it for that reason though. United card holders are also able to have access to more award availability vs non card holders. My other Chase keeper cards are the IHG for the free annual night at any property which outweighs the fee and the Marriott for the same reason. I will likely pick up a Hyatt card down the line for the same reason.

I hope this all helps you and anyone else new to the hobby. I have received a great deal of value playing this game. I have been able to travel in ways I would have never thought imaginable. Knowing I could go anywhere I want in the world and not worry about paying real money for airfare and hotels is pretty awesome. Getting there In first class is even better!

 

[Albort]

If any of y'all considering the ink+, now is the time to apply. rumor of it dropping to 3x has come to light... :\ Its one of the easiest to earn UR points since u have access to gift cards...

The United card will get you 2 lounge passes each year and also the free checked bag and priority boarding. I don't keep it for that reason though. United card holders are also able to have access to more award availability vs non card holders. My other Chase keeper cards are the IHG for the free annual night at any property which outweighs the fee and the Marriott for the same reason. I will likely pick up a Hyatt card down the line for the same reason.

to add to the united card, the UA card also helps u keep your miles from expiring. I also believe this is the next card behind the Ink+ that added together with dining and mileage+ app, u can earn a crap ton of miles quickly.

 

[disneedee]

If any of y'all considering the ink+, now is the time to apply. rumor of it dropping to 3x has come to light... :\ Its one of the easiest to earn UR points since u have access to gift cards...



to add to the united card, the UA card also helps u keep your miles from expiring. I also believe this is the next card behind the Ink+ that added together with dining and mileage+ app, u can earn a crap ton of miles quickly.

if they go to 3x will it change the 5x to 3x or will all the people with 5x get to continue getting 5x and only the new card holders get the 3x? does anyone understand what i wrote!!!!

 

[Albort]

if they go to 3x will it change the 5x to 3x or will all the people with 5x get to continue getting 5x and only the new card holders get the 3x? does anyone understand what i wrote!!!!

rumor is current card holders will keep the 5x but there may be a chance in the future that everyone will drop down to the 3x mark. This is all rumors so far.

 

[calypso726]

I was just about to post that. Whew! Glad we will be grandfathered in!

 

[amalone1013]

IT CAME!
Off to use it for dinner tonight!

..... it doesn't have an activation sticker or anything, does that mean it's already activated?

 

[Ngwira]

IT CAME!
Off to use it for dinner tonight!

..... it doesn't have an activation sticker or anything, does that mean it's already activated?

Yes!