I love credit cards so much!

[amalone1013]

Fingers crossed for the Disney Visa offer, we are also going in September and it would probably net us an extra $60 or so... or more if we pay ahead on some bills, which could be a possibility.

 

[ski_mom]

Question - I applied for the Chase Ink Preferred Business Card and got the 30 day message, would it hurt to apply for the CSP while I'm waiting, or should I just hold tight? I have had the CSR and was approved for it in late January. The Ink card is the only card I've applied for since then if that matters.

 

[eeyoresmom]

Fingers crossed for the Disney Visa offer, we are also going in September and it would probably net us an extra $60 or so... or more if we pay ahead on some bills, which could be a possibility.

Well I got the offer and tried the link to enroll and got a " site down for scheduled maintenance " reply.

 

[Albort]

Just starting out here and don't want to get too ahead of myself but are you product changing just to avoid the AFs?

Not always, sometimes, u find a better card and you dont need 2 cards... i got the CSP, but then i found out Citi had my airline of choice so i downgraded my CSP without hesitation.
But recommendation before you do that, call the bank and see if they will refund you the AF if you would like to keep the card. I recently had plans to cancel my Citi and focus my earning powers with Chase. i have a CSR. Citi offered me +2 points in every category for 6 months, it was too good to cancel my card. :]
I think Chase CSP has good retention plans, i know the only card with no chance are the Inks.

Okay! I have read all 125 pages over the last week. I can hardly sleep at night thinking about strategy, but knowing my DH will be cautious until proven.

I have missed the 100k bonus for CSR, dangit, and signed up for the CSP before really thinking everything through. But it's done. 50k bonus is great and I think it will be a good card for us overall.

My ultimate goal is to help fund airfare and more for WDW in March 2018.

Once we have completed spend for the CSP, I am going to have DH apply for the Ink Business and hopefully the bonus will go up to 100k at that point. QUESTION: can we transfer his UR to my CSP UR?

Then, I am looking at the SW personal and business to try for the companion pass-doing it near year end and completing spend in early 2018 so that we can have it all of 2018 and 2019. We could easily optimize the pass, but it seems like the SW chase isn't what people get excited about. Thoughts about that?

So between the Ink and the SW (if I do go that route), I will look at other offers to increase rewards-maybe CF and maximize the categories? If there are great bonuses elsewhere I may consider those too.

Calypso, if you are around, can you give an outline of how you funded your DLC? That may be something we consider in 2019 and I want to make sure it's lining up with the cards I have mapped out so far.

This board is inspiring and I am grateful for the info I have already learned! Thank you!

Dont forget adding a AU will give u an additional 5k... you can add anyone including your dog. :]
The Ink Preferred is already at 100k but you have to apply with a business manager, if you have a legit business, call your local chase branch and see if they have a business manager. If not, you would have to wait. No, you cannot transfer his UR to your CSP UR. Not sure why u would though, CSP and InkP both have the same redemption rate. If you said CSR, then thats a different story. i think you can go the other way around. i havent seen anyone do that yet though.
SW works great for people who travel with each other a lot. I think the amount of spendings is quite high for this one. you need 110k points to gain a CP. you can do 1 card for 50k, $3,000 spendings, a 2nd card for 50k also $3,000 spendings... then u need another 10k to complete. total spendings need to be $16k(could be less, i think buying SW flights can cut it in half). Im not sure if SW cards count towards 5/24 either. i think they do. the earning power isnt very strong with these cards, i think its 1x on everything 2x on southwest cards. - im wrong on the math, see below.
SW points also stay with SW i believe. Someone needs to verify this.
UR points(Ink, Sapphires, and Freedom) can be redeemed for other airlines(including SW) and hotels... giving you more flexibility.

Honestly, if your looking for flights, id start with your closest airport and see what kind of hub it is. say like, the hub is delta, it might be better to get a delta card. I personally fly EVA airways a lot, so i currently have my Travel Card with Citi Bank. I swipe that more than anything right now. Reading the entire thread might not help you, but it does give u an idea. To build a strategy, you would need to give us more info like, what is your ultimate goals, what is your purchasing power, how much do u spend on what category, etc.

Question - I applied for the Chase Ink Preferred Business Card and got the 30 day message, would it hurt to apply for the CSP while I'm waiting, or should I just hold tight? I have had the CSR and was approved for it in late January. The Ink card is the only card I've applied for since then if that matters.

If you can make the minimum spendings, go for it! $5k for ink, $4k for CSP. if both gets approve, u would need $9k expense.

edit: added more things.
edit2: correcting my mistakes.

 

[mhartman09]

SW works great for people who travel with each other a lot. I think the amount of spendings is quite high for this one. you need 110k points to gain a CP. you can do 1 card for 50k, $3,000 spendings, a 2nd card for 50k also $3,000 spendings... then u need another 10k to complete. total spendings need to be $16k(could be less, i think buying SW flights can cut it in half). Im not sure if SW cards count towards 5/24 either. i think they do. the earning power isnt very strong with these cards, i think its 1x on everything 2x on southwest cards.
SW points also stay with SW i believe. Someone needs to verify this.

Isn't the minimum spend on the two personal SW cards only $2000 per card? Of course, you'd have to have a way to make up the other 10K RR points for the CP after the two 50K bonuses, so that would add spend if there isn't another option to make the extra points. The SW business card has the 60K bonus, which would make up for the extra 10K, so going for 1 business and 1 personal card is another option.

 

[mfly]

Isn't the minimum spend on the two personal SW cards only $2000 per card? Of course, you'd have to have a way to make up the other 10K RR points for the CP after the two 50K bonuses, so that would add spend if there isn't another option to make the extra points. The SW business card has the 60K bonus, which would make up for the extra 10K, so going for 1 business and 1 personal card is another option.

Correct. For the current offers (the offers that have existed for some time), the minimum spend is 2k for each card.

Once you've completed minimum spend on both cards and received the bonuses, you're at 104k points - so 6k from CP. There are other ways to get that last 6k aside from credit card spend, but some of those ways are disappearing on 3/31.

 

[hurt817]

Well I got the offer and tried the link to enroll and got a " site down for scheduled maintenance " reply.

I received the same message.

 

[Kbmas0n]

Isn't the minimum spend on the two personal SW cards only $2000 per card? Of course, you'd have to have a way to make up the other 10K RR points for the CP after the two 50K bonuses, so that would add spend if there isn't another option to make the extra points. The SW business card has the 60K bonus, which would make up for the extra 10K, so going for 1 business and 1 personal card is another option.

This was what I was planning on-one business and one personal. It would get me to the 110k with only 5k spend...unless I am missing something? We fly out of St. Louis, so not really a hub for any airline, but is a "focus" city for SW.

 

[Albort]

This was what I was planning on-one business and one personal. It would get me to the 110k with only 5k spend...unless I am missing something? We fly out of St. Louis, so not really a hub for any airline, but is a "focus" city for SW.

sounds right. $5k spendings, 110k points... CP!

 

[mhartman09]

There was a post on Doctor of Credit regarding the Disney Visa bonus offer (as well as other Chase co-branded card offers including SW cards). He states even if you don't receive the email, you might be able to check for offer eligibility on the mychasebonus site by entering your last name, the last four digits of card number, and your zip code.

Currently the site is showing down for maintenance - possibly a ton of traffic today with these new offers going out. Might be worth a shot to check if the site comes back up soon. I'd love to be eligible for both the Disney offer and the SW offer.

 

[calypso726]

Just starting out here and don't want to get too ahead of myself but are you product changing just to avoid the AFs?

Some folks are. After getting the CSR (which I always intended to keep) I product changed my CSP to the CFU. I did want a CFU card but and I am waaaay over 5/24 and would not have been approved. However, I was unwilling to go 11 months with not applying for any cards to fall under 5/24 for the CFU. Therefore product changing the CSP which I did not need to keep since I got the CSR was the best way to allow me to have the card.

When you product changed, did it put an inquiry on your credit report? I ask because when I changed my SPG Amex to Amex Everyday, I got a hard inquiry on my report. Wondering if this is always the case or if this was just Amex.

I honestly don't know as I never checked.

Quick question if anyone has any experience with the SPG card from AMEX. It states that after meeting the spend it will take 8-12 weeks for your bonus points to post to your account. Has this been your experience? I know a lot of times they tell you this but they post quickly so just trying to see if anyone has applied and met the spend for this card recently. Am looking to use it for a summer booking and won't be able to wait that long! thanks for any help!

Mine posted right after the statement closed and I'd made the spend.

Okay! I have read all 125 pages over the last week. I can hardly sleep at night thinking about strategy, but knowing my DH will be cautious until proven.

I have missed the 100k bonus for CSR, dangit, and signed up for the CSP before really thinking everything through. But it's done. 50k bonus is great and I think it will be a good card for us overall.

My ultimate goal is to help fund airfare and more for WDW in March 2018.

Once we have completed spend for the CSP, I am going to have DH apply for the Ink Business and hopefully the bonus will go up to 100k at that point. QUESTION: can we transfer his UR to my CSP UR?

Then, I am looking at the SW personal and business to try for the companion pass-doing it near year end and completing spend in early 2018 so that we can have it all of 2018 and 2019. We could easily optimize the pass, but it seems like the SW chase isn't what people get excited about. Thoughts about that?

So between the Ink and the SW (if I do go that route), I will look at other offers to increase rewards-maybe CF and maximize the categories? If there are great bonuses elsewhere I may consider those too.

Calypso, if you are around, can you give an outline of how you funded your DLC? That may be something we consider in 2019 and I want to make sure it's lining up with the cards I have mapped out so far.

This board is inspiring and I am grateful for the info I have already learned! Thank you!

Sorry, I'm not familiar with this acronym. Did you mean DCL Disney Cruise Line or DVC Disney Vacation Club. Just want to make sure I am answering the question you are asking.

 

[calypso726]

Another question about product changing and long term planning.....When you product change you obviously lose the benefits of the original card ( thinking especially of the 1.5 ur with the CSR which is pretty valuable to me). I know everyone is different and has different goals but I'm guessing some people are accumulating points for the short term ( big trip next year, etc.) For someone who travels frequently and will be indefinitely is the advice to keep and use the cards that still benefit you and only open new for the sign up rewards? Still learning here but I intend to this indefinitely.

Correct. Everyone's goals are different and some do churn their cards. I will keep cards that are beneficial to me long term. This hobby has become a way of life for us so we think long term as well. We could not travel the way we do without travel hacking. Some cards are beneficial to us for their bonus spending categories, some for their perks. Most cards we apply for are to get the bonus but we definitely have more keeper cards than before due to the perks even if we don't use them for normal spending. I'll share my list of keeper cards here for you and why they are keepers for us since you seem to do a lot of travel and the list may be beneficial to those who travel a lot as well. Of all the cards I am listing below, only 5 stay in the wallet: Chase UR cards and the Amex SPG. The others come out of the drawer as needed.

Chase Ultimate Rewards balance boosting strategy
CSR - kept for 3x dining travel, $300 travel credit, and 1.5 UR value
CF - Kept for 5x rotating bonus categories
Ink+ - kept for 5x cable, wireless, phone 5x at office supply stores
CFU - kept for 1.5 non category spend

Membership Rewards
Amex Everyday - kept to keep my MR points alive as I make my way through the various MR earning cards so I don't lose those points when I cancel a card.
Amex Platinum business - Just got this one recently but plan to keep for 50% MR points back when you pay for airfare points though Amex travel. Annual #200 airline credit. Centurion and Delta lounge access, 10 GoGo wifi passes, $200 airline credit, gold status on SPG, Marriott and Hilton, Fine resorts and hotels benefit.

Amex SPG business - 5K bonus when transferring 20K SPG points to over 30 airlines. Used for purchases when Amex extended warranty is needed.

US Bank Club Carlson - kept for the 40,000 points each anniversary of the card.
Chase Marriott - kept for annual night at cat 1 - 4 hotel. Used when we are planning a last minute trip to WDW and all the DVC rooms are booked.
Chase IHG - kept for annual night at any property
United Club card - lounge access.
Chase United Explorer - additional award availability for card holders, 2 lounge passes each year in case we are traveling with others.
Citi Prestige - 4th night free at hotels, $250 annual airline credit, AA lounge access until this July. Will re-evaluate in 2018 if I'm keeping it another year.
Citi AA Executive card - AA Admiral's lounge access.
Citi AA Plat Advantage - 10% miles back when you redeem miles up to 10k miles which we max out every year. 1st checked bag free for up to 4 traveling companions. Reduced mileage awards on saver level award tickets.
Barclay Red Aviator - they offer me a spending challenge every year to earn 15,000 miles so I keep it.
Barclay Arrival no fee card - was downgraded from a Plus card so I could keep a card that is a true chip and pin in case I need it in Europe. We have needed it on occasion.

 

[eeyoresmom]

Correct. Everyone's goals are different and some do churn their cards. I will keep cards that are beneficial to me long term. This hobby has become a way of life for us so we think long term as well. We could not travel the way we do without travel hacking. Some cards are beneficial to us for their bonus spending categories, some for their perks. Most cards we apply for are to get the bonus but we definitely have more keeper cards than before due to the perks even if we don't use them for normal spending. I'll share my list of keeper cards here for you and why they are keepers for us since you seem to do a lot of travel and the list may be beneficial to those who travel a lot as well. Of all the cards I am listing below, only 5 stay in the wallet: Chase UR cards and the Amex SPG. The others come out of the drawer as needed.

Chase Ultimate Rewards balance boosting strategy
CSR - kept for 3x dining travel, $300 travel credit, and 1.5 UR value
CF - Kept for 5x rotating bonus categories
Ink+ - kept for 5x cable, wireless, phone 5x at office supply stores
CFU - kept for 1.5 non category spend

Membership Rewards
Amex Everyday - kept to keep my MR points alive as I make my way through the various MR earning cards so I don't lose those points when I cancel a card.
Amex Platinum business - Just got this one recently but plan to keep for 50% MR points back when you pay for airfare points though Amex travel. Annual #200 airline credit. Centurion and Delta lounge access, 10 GoGo wifi passes, $200 airline credit, gold status on SPG, Marriott and Hilton, Fine resorts and hotels benefit.

Amex SPG business - 5K bonus when transferring 20K SPG points to over 30 airlines. Used for purchases when Amex extended warranty is needed.

US Bank Club Carlson - kept for the 40,000 points each anniversary of the card.
Chase Marriott - kept for annual night at cat 1 - 4 hotel. Used when we are planning a last minute trip to WDW and all the DVC rooms are booked.
Chase IHG - kept for annual night at any property
United Club card - lounge access.
Chase United Explorer - additional award availability for card holders, 2 lounge passes each year in case we are traveling with others.
Citi Prestige - 4th night free at hotels, $250 annual airline credit, AA lounge access until this July. Will re-evaluate in 2018 if I'm keeping it another year.
Citi AA Executive card - AA Admiral's lounge access.
Citi AA Plat Advantage - 10% miles back when you redeem miles up to 10k miles which we max out every year. 1st checked bag free for up to 4 traveling companions. Reduced mileage awards on saver level award tickets.
Barclay Red Aviator - they offer me a spending challenge every year to earn 15,000 miles so I keep it.
Barclay Arrival no fee card - was downgraded from a Plus card so I could keep a card that is a true chip and pin in case I need it in Europe. We have needed it on occasion.

Thank you so much, your advice and @Albort's have been so helpful. I have started keeping notes and coming up with a plan for the year at least. I am book marking this so I can compare my goals with what you are doing. No two persons spending is the same but I'll use you as a guide as I'm learning DH and I have decided on Hawaii in January and Europe ( would like to book open jaw if possible) for autumn 2018. We haven't been able to check out flight schedules yet but that's what we're working toward.

 

[afan]

Barclay Arrival no fee card - was downgraded from a Plus card so I could keep a card that is a true chip and pin in case I need it in Europe. We have needed it on occasion.

How do you know if a card is a true chip and pin vs one of the new chipped cards we have now?

 

[Albort]

Thank you so much, your advice and @Albort's have been so helpful. I have started keeping notes and coming up with a plan for the year at least. I am book marking this so I can compare my goals with what you are doing. No two persons spending is the same but I'll use you as a guide as I'm learning DH and I have decided on Hawaii in January and Europe ( would like to book open jaw if possible) for autumn 2018. We haven't been able to check out flight schedules yet but that's what we're working toward.

for Hawaii, Korean Air sky pass miles has been known to be the best redemption. think it's 35k. UR can be sent to that. keep an eye on that.

How do you know if a card is a true chip and pin vs one of the new chipped cards we have now?

u know the cards are true chip and pin when u are required to set a pin. only Barclay cards are like that now. everyone else is chip and signature.

 

[afan]

u know the cards are true chip and pin when u are required to set a pin. only Barclay cards are like that now. everyone else is chip and signature.

Wonder what my pin is then I probably did something but don't remember. I want to change from the aviator to the arrival after my trip in May so I imagine that will get me a new card that I can set the pin on. Of course I won't need it until next summer so there's time to sort it out Good to know I already have one though.

What would be the option if you don't have a true chip & pin or want to use one that isn't? Though my friend is in Portugal and Spain right now for a tour, so I imagine she'll have it figured out for when we go next year.

 

[calypso726]

How do you know if a card is a true chip and pin vs one of the new chipped cards we have now?

True Chip and pin with no FTF

First Tech Federal Credit Union Choice Rewards World MasterCard
PenFed Power, Platinum Rewards, Promise, & Gold Visa
Bank of America Travel Rewards
Wyndham Rewards Visa from Barclaycard
Priceline Rewards Visa from Barclaycard
State Department Federal Credit Union EMV Visa Platinum
Andrews Federal Credit Union Platinum Rewards Visa
Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard
Hawaiian Airlines World Elite MasterCard
Wells Fargo Propel World American Express Card
UN Federal Credit Union Elite

The rest are chip and signature. A few of the ones above will default to chip and signature unless it is an unmanned kiosk.

 

[Albort]

Wonder what my pin is then I probably did something but don't remember. I want to change from the aviator to the arrival after my trip in May so I imagine that will get me a new card that I can set the pin on. Of course I won't need it until next summer so there's time to sort it out Good to know I already have one though.

What would be the option if you don't have a true chip & pin or want to use one that isn't? Though my friend is in Portugal and Spain right now for a tour, so I imagine she'll have it figured out for when we go next year.

have u considered a debit card instead? My solution is a Charles Schwab check account. I have $1000 in it. Its a true chip and pin cuz ya know its debit... no FTF and Unlimited ATM reimbursement(includes international). Services 2 for the price of 1!

Bank of America Travel Rewards

i dont think BOA does chip and pin... i could be wrong though... my dad has one, i will ask him...

 

[afan]

Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard

Will I be able to product change my aa aviator to this one? They both have the same annual fee, if I remember mine correctly.

 

[calypso726]

i dont think BOA does chip and pin... i could be wrong though... my dad has one, i will ask him...

They do. The information is on their website.