I love credit cards so much!

[Lain]

Just called the Chase status line - the 2 week message is a good sign, correct?

Yes!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

One of the highlights of this card is you pick one of the following to earn 3x MR on purchases in that category, and 2x MR on the other categories:

• Airfare purchased directly from airlines
• U.S. purchases for advertising in select media
• U.S. purchases at gas stations
• U.S. purchases for shipping
• U.S. computer hardware, software, and cloud computing purchases made directly from select providers

The only one of those I use is gas stations. No use for advertising, shipping or new computers. I fly free.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

So you sign up for the bonus, then PC to the Blue Business Plus? The 3x categories don’t seem too useful, so I’d mostly be getting 1x points.
Do you use MRs thru a portal like Chase URs?

I’d check out that post @Lain just made.

The BGR (as with many AMEX cards) is only good for its signup bonus. You wouldn’t want to PC to a BlueBiz+ but applying for one of those is a good idea too at some point LOL!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Yes!

Not always. DH had the 2 week message for 2 days before getting denied for CIC last month

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I’d check out that post @Lain just made.

The BGR (as with many AMEX cards) is only good for its signup bonus. You wouldn’t want to PC to a BlueBiz+ but applying for one of those is a good idea too at some point LOL!

So you cancel? Then redeem MRs how? Blue Biz +has no AF but no signup bonus. The BGR has the sign up bonus but AF $175 after first year, so I wouldn’t want to keep it.

 

[Lain]

The only one of those I use is gas stations. No use for advertising, shipping or new computers. I fly free.

I was thinking gas stations too.

Not always. DH had the 2 week message for 2 days before getting denied for CIC last month

I'm so sorry DH was one of the 0.31% of cases denied after getting the 2 weeks message.

 

[ski_mom]

Glad you had a great trip! It's my first trip to Europe too and neither of us have been to Paris. Anything we should know? We're doing 4 nights at DLP and 3 in Paris. We have figures out what we want to see but no clues on food really. Any place we have to try?

Honestly, we had such a great time walking around, we basically just picked a cafe to eat in when we decided it was time to eat. The cafes are literally everywhere!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

So you cancel? Then redeem MRs how? Blue Biz +has no AF but no signup bonus. The BGR has the sign up bonus but AF $175 after first year, so I wouldn’t want to keep it.

BlueBiz+ has a signup thru DISchurners

As long as you have 1 MR earnings card they stay active. You could get a PRG, Plat, Biz Plat down the line and redeem thru them.

If you had MRs how would you redeem them? That’s probably a good starting question.

 

[jhoannam]

Try for a double dip...? Lol. Might be your only chance.

Lol... we don’t need anymore Marriott points. And DH has to cool it with chase until December to get the SW CP.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

'm so sorry DH was one of the 0.31% of cases denied after getting the 2 weeks message

It was over a weekend but I was excited to get the 2 week message Saturday and Sunday, then Monday it went bad.

If you had MRs how would you redeem them? That’s probably a good starting question.

Not sure. I have used URs for flights and hotel to DL. I’m also planning to book cruise excursions with them next year. If I had more URs I’d probably use them for WDW tix also. I have some SPG points, 180k AA miles, a few thousand SW miles (have to wait on a new bonus for those since we had them less than 2 years ago) Hyatt and Hilton points.
Are MRs easily transferable? Or spent on an AMEX portal? I have no idea how they really work.

Maybe a Marriott Biz would work?

 

[jhoannam]

Not always. DH had the 2 week message for 2 days before getting denied for CIC last month

Noooo. I can’t remember, did you try recon?

 

[Lain]

So you sign up for the bonus, then PC to the Blue Business Plus? The 3x categories don’t seem too useful, so I’d mostly be getting 1x points.
Do you use MRs thru a portal like Chase URs?

So you cancel? Then redeem MRs how? Blue Biz +has no AF but no signup bonus. The BGR has the sign up bonus but AF $175 after first year, so I wouldn’t want to keep it.

MR points are pooled automatically across all MR-earning cards into a single MR account. In order to keep any MR points you've earned alive, you need to have at least one MR-earning card open. Do not cancel a MR-earning card unless you have at least one other MR-earning card open or you will lose all your points. The no fee option for this is the Amex EveryDay credit card.

Amex does have travel portal called American Express Travel, where you can pay for flights, hotel, vacation packages and cruises using the Pay with Points option. However, this is not usually a good value. Unlike Chase where UR points are worth 1 cpp, 1.25 cpp when redeemed for travel using CSP/CIP and 1.5 cpp more when redeemed using CSR, Amex MR points are worth 1 cpp when redeemed for airfare and between 0.75-0.85 cpp when redeemed for hotels, vacation packages and cruises through the Amex portal. If you redeem through an Amex Biz Platinum, you can get a 35% rebate of your redeemed points. You can probably find better value when transferring MR points to airline travel partners, especially during transfer bonuses.

 

[afan]

Honestly, we had such a great time walking around, we basically just picked a cafe to eat in when we decided it was time to eat. The cafes are literally everywhere!

That's what another friend said. It's what we do most places anyway but it's always good to have a rec for somewhere.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

@gottalovepluto MemoryBank just sent an email saying they removed the requirements to qualify for 1.6% APY. This might make me consider actually keeping the account.

 

[Lain]

Are MRs easily transferable? Or spent on an AMEX portal? I have no idea how they really work.

Here's a TPG article on Redeeming American Express Membership Rewards for Maximum Value.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Noooo. I can’t remember, did you try recon?

No. I waited for the letter. “Too many accounts” There were AUs showing on Experian that weren’t on TransUnion when I checked his credit report. My fault for not paying close attention.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Here's a TPG article on Redeeming American Express Membership Rewards for Maximum Value.

Thanks just read that. Seems hard. Lol.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Thanks just read that. Seems hard. Lol.

This is why I went the Schwab cash out route. $4,000+ in Cash was an easy choice LOL!

 

[linzjane88]

I've been gone 8 hours and you added 10 pages you animals !

 

[Lain]

Thanks just read that. Seems hard. Lol.

I wouldn’t say Amex MR is “hard” as much as Chase has made its UR program so “easy” to understand, earn, and redeem.

But also, when it comes to redeeming points, TPG, FlyerTalk, Reddit are all about maximizing value which I think puts extra scrutiny over every little detail and advantage to squeeze out that extra 0.x cpp.