I love credit cards so much!

[hsmamato2]

Only if you would need and use all the lux perks. as with all higher fee cards, one has to address what you would use and if it will pay for itself. A $99 card will usually pay for itself with the bonus for the first couple of years.

Oy...ok. Off to do some reading to decide. I do recall at first read the Lux didn't sound worth it to me...... I like the waived first year with the spg,that's helpful,and if I did that it would be like getting 2 free anniversary nights for that $95 (boo on the new points chart however)

 

[hsmamato2]

thanks for the staples heads up, I had it on one of mine,and one of DH's..... after I'm done with Lowes this week(whew) I'm focusing on those staples offers..... how many gc's is too many for my stash?

 

[disneybirds]

I saw this new offer this morning! Also, FYI, I also had an offer for 2x MR at Staples, so I also added that. I assume it will stack the same way the recent Amazon offers stacked. By the way, I have separate logins for my plat and the AU plat cards for each of my kids. I was able to add both offers serially to each card this morning just by logging in and out one at a time. I did not have to use different browsers or incognito windows or anything.

I have the AmEx Everyday Preferred with the 3 AU under separate logins. I added the Staples and QT offers to each of the 4 cards this morning. I just checked and they are all still there. Wish we could buy lottery tickets at QT with the $5 off! I guess we will be buying some slushies?

 

[kmc8826]

It is a tough choice since they all have their merits!

I don't use Uber that frequently so the Amex Uber credit may not benefit me the most in the aspect, but I did like the gold status for Hilton and Starwood/Marriott.
I liked that the Presitge offered 2x on entertainment and I have decent interactions with Citi in the past.
I only hear wonderful things about both Sapphire cards so I was intrigued. Forgive me if this is naive, but can I apply for a business card without a business? How would the pairing work?



I usually go SW or JetBlue. I love SWs flexibility, but sometimes I do not have direct flights from my airport so it is probably a 50/50 split. I foolishly did not take advantage of the past SW 100,000 RR promo. I had looked at the JetBlue Plus card for its free checked bags. I would have easily made the fee back in one, one-way trip!

I believe I saw Chase Sapphire was partners with SW and Citi Prestige was partners with JetBlue. It made the decision even harder haha



I opened the Disney Premier Visa in Jan 2016 and dropped it down to the basic Rewards Visa before the $49 renewal since I was not going to make it back with the 2%. The 6 month no interest financing is very tempting to use. I was hoping to spread the initial cost across multiple cards to maximize a bonus or reward.

I am waitlisted for VGF so it could take some time. The guide did seem hopeful though!

I am glad you came over! Seriously if my BLT resale falls through I am totally just buying direct again for the rewards!

You are in good shape with only one card in the last 24 months. That is something that really matters with getting Chase cards.

If I were you at this point I would concentrate on Chase. I think it was already explained that a business card does not need to be just for a business...it can be something where you make a little money on the side. We call that more of a "business." If you feel comfortable with that the Chase Ink Preferred will give you 80k Ultimate Reward Points.

Chase Ultimate Reward points is where it is at for a lot of us. The reason for that is that they are so flexible. Just do a google search of their partners and you can see why. UR points can be transferred to Southwest easy as can be. They also can be used for Disney trips through their travel department. That means if you have the Reserve a point is worth 1.5 cents.

You can only have one Sapphire card at a time, but you can do what is called a "double dip" and apply for both the same day. If you did that you would get 100,000 points once the spend was met. The Sapphires are good for your direct purchase because they code as travel. I put 10k on my Reserve for my recent direct purchase and received 30k in UR's.

If you don't feel comfortable with a business card at this point I would consider doing the double dip for both Sapphires. (Maybe someone can chime in to where that is explained in a prior post as to how to do that). You could meet the spend on both cards with the DVC purchase easily.

If you want a general travel card the Barclaycard Arrival Plus has a good 60,000 point deal right now. (Only get if you decide you are good with no more Chase cards).

As to your Disney card as @Judique pointed out that is not a bad card to have with Disney and DVC. I put my charge on the Reserve and paid it off right away but since it is 6 months no interest I am just paying off the remainder of the charge slowly (figure might as well have the money longer in my account). You might want to call Disney before you purchase though and have them upgrade it to the premier again...that way you would get double the Disney dollars and that would take care of the fee.

Let us know if you have any other questions. This thread always moves fast but it has been a little ridiculous the last couple of days!

PM @Lain, @SouthFayetteFan or @Albort about our private Dischurners group. There is some more stuff on there on using UR points with Disney, explanation of the Amex cards, as well as general referral for each of the cards for you to post your own and to use.

 

[miztressuz]

It is a tough choice since they all have their merits!

I don't use Uber that frequently so the Amex Uber credit may not benefit me the most in the aspect, but I did like the gold status for Hilton and Starwood/Marriott.
I liked that the Presitge offered 2x on entertainment and I have decent interactions with Citi in the past.
I only hear wonderful things about both Sapphire cards so I was intrigued. Forgive me if this is naive, but can I apply for a business card without a business? How would the pairing work?

So to get a business card you should have or plan to start a business, however, there is a lose definition of "business" that some employ ( ) The thread here is a good mix of actual business and sorta "business". If you've got a claim to either, then the recommendation is to also get the Chase Ink Preferred because it has a higher sign up bonus than the Sapphires, 80k vs the 50k. It also has different earning categories to complement your Sapphire while being able to transfer points earned to the CSR for redemption. The other advantage to getting business cards is most issuers use your personal credit report to approve them, but don't report them to your personal credit report. This is useful if you apply to issuers who are sensitive to how many cards have been opened in a set period of time, like Chase.

If you went the Chase route, as @Albort mentioned getting the quadfecta (or more) creates an earning machine to take full advantage of the CSR redemption. The Freedom while not considered great for use on it's own by most, gets 5x UR (up to a threshold) in rotating categories. The Ink Cash (business) gets 5x UR on office supply stores, cell/internet/cable bills, 2x on gas (also up to a threshold) that can also rack up many points. The Freedom Unlimited and Ink Unlimited both get 1.5x UR on all purchases, so anything not part of a category on another card would gain you .5% using one of those. All the cards can transfer to the CSR if redeeming UR for a travel purchase to get 50% extra, if that's what you want to do. (50k pts is $500 cash, but $750 worth of travel redeemed from Chase)

As for a "business", do you sell anything online semi-regularly (ebay/etsy/amazon/etc)? Or even in person (flea markets/craigslist/letgo/etc etc)? Perhaps provide a service like consulting? Write freelance? When applying for business cards they ask what your revenue is, not what your profit is. Some stuff that seems to 'pay' little may still work because that old cell phone you fixed up and sold for $300 but only got $10 back after fees and expenses, is really $300 in revenue for your "business".

I don't envy your decision. They all seem like good cards. For me it comes down to, am I willing to pay X amount to get Y in return? If all the lounges and perks of the AmEx plat seems worth it with your travel style, subtracting out the airline credit double dip (and ignoring Uber since you said you don't use it), is that amount worth paying for the perks? And so on for the others. Tough choices.

 

[Judique]

soooo this is a stupid question..... but why does SPG offer a cobrand card when it's just turning into Marriott? it seems odd....like if I get the SPG biz card by 10/30, I will actually be getting marriott points,so why call it spg? it's confusing

Think of it as an Amex card and a Chase card. Next year they may call them Amex Starriott and Chase Starriott (just making up the logo name from the popular nickname.)

 

[Lain]

I saw this new offer this morning! Also, FYI, I also had an offer for 2x MR at Staples, so I also added that. I assume it will stack the same way the recent Amazon offers stacked. By the way, I have separate logins for my plat and the AU plat cards for each of my kids. I was able to add both offers serially to each card this morning just by logging in and out one at a time. I did not have to use different browsers or incognito windows or anything.

I have the AmEx Everyday Preferred with the 3 AU under separate logins. I added the Staples and QT offers to each of the 4 cards this morning. I just checked and they are all still there. Wish we could buy lottery tickets at QT with the $5 off! I guess we will be buying some slushies?

The multi-tab/multi-browser tricks are dead for adding an Amex Offer to multiple cards in your name; the same Amex Offer on AU cards (in other people’s names) seem fine. It looks like Amex really wants to limit their offers to one per person.

(A few weeks ago, I recall reading DoC and seeing something about not being able to add the same Amex Offer to AU cards in the primary cardmember’s name if that cardholder already added it to his/her primary card. Seems to fit in with the one offer per person policy.)

 

[Lain]

Think of it as an Amex card and a Chase card. Next year they may call them Amex Starriott and Chase Starriott (just making up the logo name from the popular nickname.)

Why not Marriwood?

 

[disneymagicgirl]

If you can do $8k in combined spend in the next 3 months, it looks like there's a small window before the new restrictions go into effect on 8/26 for you to get both the SPG Biz (100k Marriott points/$5k MSR/3 months, 1st year AF waived) and the Marriott Biz (75k Marriott points/$3k MSR/3 months, $99 AF, not subject to 5/24).

After 8/26, you won't be able to get the Marriott Biz+ if you have or have had the SPG personal in the past 30 days. And if you get the SPG Biz before 8/26, you'll be disqualified from getting the Marriott Biz+ after 8/26. Conversely, if you get the Marriott Biz+, you won't be able to get the SPG Biz after 8/26 if you have or have had the Marriott Biz in the past 30 days (which would put you out a year +30 days if you were to cancel after your first year).

lol. I probably got you from worrying about a $10k MSR in 3 months to maybe a combined $8k MSR in 3 months.

This is so confusing. I am gonna get none I guess. I don't really have an immediate need for any marriott points since I can't even come up with somewhere to use my 7 night cert.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

For anyone interested, it worked at Home Depot

what exactly are ya'll doing with Retailmenot? I tried looking at their website last night and nothing was jumping out at me.

 

[Lain]

Delta Gold Personal referral offers have been updated. Update your links folks! 60k after $3k purchase in 4 months, AF waived, expires in Nov. Disappointed because last year they also did a $50 statement credit offer. There is a current offer I saw when making a booking for 40k after $3k purchase in 3 months plus $200 statement credit after first DL purchase in 3 months that exp 9/19/18. Personally, my parents want this card in the next couple months and one already has it so I am still going to advise them to do the referral offer as they redeem skypesos at over 1cpp (making points more valuable than the statement credit) and parent #1 will get the 10k bonus for their link being used.

ETA: this is a great example of analyzing a bonus based on specific circumstances. While I don't see this as a great DL offer (I jumped on the previous one with the $50 statement credit) this is still a great offer that will do what my parents want, when they want.

I lol’ed that DoC’s post about this said, “This offer sucks.” I appreciate DoC’s candor, but while it doesn’t seem like the best offer, it is (I believe) an elevated offer and some people could really use the points.

 

[miztressuz]

thanks for the staples heads up, I had it on one of mine,and one of DH's..... after I'm done with Lowes this week(whew) I'm focusing on those staples offers..... how many gc's is too many for my stash?

Disney GC? Apparently never too many For this last trip I stopped collecting after we reached my estimated expenses plus ~$60. Figured that would be good for stuff that comes up - like running out of sunscreen in the middle of Caribbean cruise . Still put $40 bucks on a CC in the end (Darn you DCL adding an extra Mojito tasting/class to the week that wasn't listed online. )

 

[Calfan]

The multi-tab/multi-browser tricks are dead for adding an Amex Offer to multiple cards in your name; the same Amex Offer on AU cards (in other people’s names) seem fine. It looks like Amex really wants to limit their offers to one per person.

(A few weeks ago, I recall reading DoC and seeing something about not being able to add the same Amex Offer to AU cards in the primary cardmember’s name if that cardholder already added it to his/her primary card. Seems to fit in with the one offer per person policy.)

Yes. This seems to be the difference. I also found that I have to log out of one AU card to be able to access offers on the other AU card. I get an error message if I try to log in to both AU cards from different tabs and have both logins open at the same time.

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

Thanks @Lain just applied and got approved for SPG biz. Was going to get one for DH too but between that MSR plus my new BGR MSR it’s too much. He has the Marriott premier plus and is just AU on my SPG. I have the SPG AND Marriott premier and now SPG biz. I’ll now be shut out of Marriott biz but that’s ok since I want to chill with Chase anyways. Once I’m 4/24 I’ll go for CIP and when he has a break from Chase go for it for him. Then maybe SPG for him. My head hurts from all this!!!! Lol!!

 

[AmyAnne]

I suspect the cancellation rate for cards with AF's just increased
I recall many discussions where using the offers paid over and above the AF so people just stuck it out. Having to pick and choose now may tilt that scale now.

Yep this is me. I kept the Biz Plat despite a lame retention offer because I figured the offers would help make up the AF, which they have. But now the decision to cancel just got a lot easier . . .

 

[Judique]

thanks for the staples heads up, I had it on one of mine,and one of DH's..... after I'm done with Lowes this week(whew) I'm focusing on those staples offers..... how many gc's is too many for my stash?

I'm amassing gift cards at discount to pay off my DVC dues next time around and also for a little free spend at Disney in November. 3 Best Buy offers, plus the BBB offers and now my one lonely Staples offer gave me $1000 for $890. I need roughly $2900 but have a stash already plus this recent windfall. Some are 5% discount, some 10% and some 20%. I try to work in the purchases in my regular travels and live where there are multiple stores, so I think it is easier for me, plus being retired I have time to spend.

10% of 3k is almost $300 back in my pocket. I'll take it. (Plus add in the credit card rewards on the 3K spend.) In the 'old' days 3k spend on my Amex spg was worth a weekend night at an Aloft or Sheraton on the way to Disney, which was roughly $125- $175 in value so it all comes together.

Your stash should depend on your goals - I'll always or most likely always have a goal of $3500-$4000 in discounted Disney gift cards in a year with most going to dues.

 

[MrPTato]

Why is SW not giving me the option to refund my taxes/fees on a points book? It's just telling me they'll be held for future use

That's weird...it worked for me last Friday. How did you pay the taxes/fees? How long ago did you originally book the flight?

ETA: This thread moves way too quick...you got the answers already...just pass on by!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Yep, work is reimbursing all of it - the best kind of points. He doesn't like traveling for business and it popped up last minute in the middle of craziness so he doubly doesn't want to go. The only thing making it bearable is all the points he'll get out of it

I was afraid of that for the Hilton. I keep watching all the good offers go by because we didn't have a "need" yet and figured we had time because we keep getting AmEx offers for all the other stays. But that Hilton Biz is looking mighty nice right now, doh.

It's in a higher rent district, I haven't looked at the prices yet, but I suspect if we can work the CSR that 3x a week's stay will make up for it

I was just researching this since the 3x promo for the hilton amex card ended 7/31 and we have met our MSRs. I was going to put DH's account default back to his CSR. I may still do that since I just depleted our URs and need some.
But this article says the hilton aspire is actually a better return than UR according to his valuations, and the biz is 12x (vs 14x) so it is pretty similar.

https://onemileatatime.com/which-credit-card-should-you-use-at-hotels/

 

[miztressuz]

Think of it as an Amex card and a Chase card. Next year they may call them Amex Starriott and Chase Starriott (just making up the logo name from the popular nickname.)

Right, like Citi and Barclay both having AA cards? That's a good way to go to keep it all straight.

Why not Marriwood?

That's not bad but for me Stariott rolls off the tongue - but that could just be me used to saying Marriott all these years. If it were me, I'd keep it with one r for "Star" and then "iott" from the other. Or something like RC Stariott. Kinda sounds like a person's name you could build a brand around.

But I suspect we'll get neither. The trend lately is to come up with something completely different and seemingly unrelated to the past two brands (sorry Ritz), especially since all the loyalists started the nickname.

 

[wendow]

If you can do $8k in combined spend in the next 3 months, it looks like there's a small window before the new restrictions go into effect on 8/26 for you to get both the SPG Biz (100k Marriott points/$5k MSR/3 months, 1st year AF waived) and the Marriott Biz (75k Marriott points/$3k MSR/3 months, $99 AF, not subject to 5/24).

After 8/26, you won't be able to get the Marriott Biz+ if you have or have had the SPG personal in the past 30 days. And if you get the SPG Biz before 8/26, you'll be disqualified from getting the Marriott Biz+ after 8/26. Conversely, if you get the Marriott Biz+, you won't be able to get the SPG Biz after 8/26 if you have or have had the Marriott Biz in the past 30 days (which would put you out a year +30 days if you were to cancel after your first year).

lol. I probably got you from worrying about a $10k MSR in 3 months to maybe a combined $8k MSR in 3 months.

Thanks for laying it all out! Gotta think on it a bit. Might be a good way to go for me!

Yes, 8k is worrisome too...but 1) it is 2k less and 2) it's VISA!!! I can fund bank accounts, pay my mortgage, so many more options!