I love credit cards so much!

[calypso726]

close to the end of the year... gotta hit my max on my freedom! so bought $200 of tmobile gc and $300 of sams club gc...

any of you guys doing some maxing out on certain cards?

I have Amex offers that I am taking advantage of before they expire. I had the Sam's Club get 20% off up to $250 back on my SPG biz card which was going to expire on 12/31. I hit Sam's today and bought $1286 in Disney gift cards and am will get a $250 statement credit. YAY!!! Then, I have spend $50 to get a $10 statement credit at Sears on all 5 Amex cards so that will be another $50 off my annual DVC maintenance dues. I am also trying to complete the spend on my Delta Amex biz card to earn 70,000 Delta miles too. My Freedom card is taking a back seat to bigger savings off my DVC dues and required spend for a new card.

 

[Albort]

I have Amex offers that I am taking advantage of before they expire. I had the Sam's Club get 20% off up to $250 back on my SPG biz card which was going to expire on 12/31. It hit Sam's today and bought $1286 in Disney gift cards and am will get a $250 statement credit. YAY!!! Then, I have spend $50 to get a $10 statement credit at Sears on all 5 Amex cards so that will be another $50 off my annual DVC maintenance dues. I am also trying to complete the spend on my Delta Amex biz card to earn 70,000 Delta miles too. My Freedom card is taking a back seat to bigger savings off my DVC dues and required spend for a new card.

makes my $500 sams club purchase look puny compared to you... haha

 

[ski_mom]

Do the Chase Freedom points credit based on the day the charge posts, or is it on statement date like the $300 travel credits?

I guess I'm trying to find out if I can still make purchases to get my 5x categories completed in the next day or two, or am I too late?

 

[havaneselover]

Do the Chase Freedom points credit based on the day the charge posts, or is it on statement date like the $300 travel credits?

I guess I'm trying to find out if I can still make purchases to get my 5x categories completed in the next day or two, or am I too late?

Chase freedom bonus categories are quarterly so you get the bonus if the purchase is made by 12/31.

 

[ski_mom]

Chase freedom bonus categories are quarterly so you get the bonus if the purchase is made by 12/31.

Perfect! Thank you very much!

 

[hsmamato2]

Chase freedom bonus categories are quarterly so you get the bonus if the purchase is made by 12/31.

don't bank on that, they only get 5x if the charges go thru BEFORE that date.... and in my experience over the years I have had some fails too close to the date...(I almost felt like it was an intentional slowness) up to 5 days is my limit as I've been out the extra points closer than that. I finished my freedom spend yesterday I wouldn't go any closer than 3 days....I kid you not I have watched pending charges sit for days at times...

 

[havaneselover]

don't bank on that, they only get 5x if the charges go thru BEFORE that date.... and in my experience over the years I have had some fails too close to the date...(I almost felt like it was an intentional slowness) up to 5 days is my limit as I've been out the extra points closer than that. I finished my freedom spend yesterday I wouldn't go any closer than 3 days....I kid you not I have watched pending charges sit for days at times...

Thanks for the clarification. Chase's FAQ says the charge has to be submitted by the merchant before the end of the quarter. To me that means if it's pending it is fine but I guess not???

 

[hsmamato2]

if it doesn't clear before the 31st you won't get the extra points.

 

[havaneselover]

if it doesn't clear before the 31st you won't get the extra points.

Just looked back over my statements. 9/30/15 I purchased gas (gas was a 2015 q3 bonus category) and got 5% on that purchase. I also noticed that I got 5% back at Kroger's gas station--for some reason I thought Kroger gas didn't count but maybe that's just for Amex. I'll call chase tonight to clarify.

 

[havaneselover]

I called chase freedom customer service and was told the bonus is based on the date of the transaction, not the date it posts.

 

[SUSIEQ]

I called chase freedom customer service and was told the bonus is based on the date of the transaction, not the date it posts.

Thanks for this info. That's what I thought.

 

[hsmamato2]

well YMMV I guess.... I've had more than a few not post at 5x based on dates not clearing fast enough..... any blog you read on the subject will also warn you not to cut it too close for this reason.

 

[havaneselover]

well YMMV I guess.... I've had more than a few not post at 5x based on dates not clearing fast enough..... any blog you read on the subject will also warn you not to cut it too close for this reason.

I guess. But I also have it in writing from chase that this is the policy (sent a secure message and was again told it was based on the transaction date regardless of when it posts) and I can see how my transactions have been treated.

 

[Albort]

well YMMV I guess.... I've had more than a few not post at 5x based on dates not clearing fast enough..... any blog you read on the subject will also warn you not to cut it too close for this reason.

definately YMMV. I did my last gas 2 hours before, then did the next category just pass midnight, both got the 5x... haha.

 

[havaneselover]

definately YMMV. I did my last gas 2 hours before, then did the next category just pass midnight, both got the 5x... haha.

Isn't that what should have happened?

 

[Albort]

Isn't that what should have happened?

yes, but some people did the same but it didnt code correctly from them.

 

[havaneselover]

yes, but some people did the same but it didnt code correctly from them.

Got it. I have read if there are issues you can get them to fix it. To me this is different than the issue with the csr and the travel credit.

 

[WDWRook]

Need some planning help. Live near Detroit (DTW airport) and planning our Oct trip to Disney. The only airlines that fly direct between DTW and MCO are Spirit and Delta. We flew Spirit the last two trips without issue. Delta is always way more expensive. Well, now I have 115,000 UR points I can purchase four round trip economy Delta tickets via UR points. Or, it is usually around $600 for the trip on Spirit and I can save those UR points for a better value in the future (maybe a Hawaii trip or a dreamed return to French Poly). We also have 25,000 Spirit points, but their point redemption sucks and you basically have to fly mon-weds to get it to work; which messes with DVC point chart costs. Although, there are certain times it can work but just not October it seems.

What would you do?

Also, does Delta's costs change very often? I'm wondering if I should keep watch for a month or so to see if prices drop down.

 

[hsmamato2]

I usually plan my trips based on the points I have to use,and where. What is a good value to me not might be the same for you- it all depends on your amount you want to spend oop for this trip vs.,are you actually planning to book another trip,in which you'll utilize the points? Sometimes I decide to pay oop,and get more points,to use for future plans, sometimes I use my points b/c I want/need to spend $0. It doesn't matter to me the valuation,it matters to me how much I want to spend/save. I am currently using some points for upcoming plans, but holding some others in reserve for something more expensive.

 

[calypso726]

Need some planning help. Live near Detroit (DTW airport) and planning our Oct trip to Disney. The only airlines that fly direct between DTW and MCO are Spirit and Delta. We flew Spirit the last two trips without issue. Delta is always way more expensive. Well, now I have 115,000 UR points I can purchase four round trip economy Delta tickets via UR points. Or, it is usually around $600 for the trip on Spirit and I can save those UR points for a better value in the future (maybe a Hawaii trip or a dreamed return to French Poly). We also have 25,000 Spirit points, but their point redemption sucks and you basically have to fly mon-weds to get it to work; which messes with DVC point chart costs. Although, there are certain times it can work but just not October it seems.

What would you do?

Also, does Delta's costs change very often? I'm wondering if I should keep watch for a month or so to see if prices drop down.

That's a hard one to answer as the right answer could be entirely different depending on the person and their goals. I personally try to get redemption value over 1.9 or better for my UR points. Therefore, very rarely would I use them as cash to pay for a ticket. I'd sooner transfer them to an airline partner and use the miles to book a round trip in business or first class. Those miles can get me a seat that would cost $5,000 or more which means the points are worth more to me as miles than they would be as cash.