I love credit cards so much!

[GlamMistress]

On mine, I see my CSR, Apple Pay, my Amex Plat and Uber Cash. Included in the total amount of my Uber cash is my $15 Amex credit for Oct. plus some Uber gift cards I had loaded on to my account. In the past, when I had Amex credits available in my account, Uber took them first automatically and then charged any balance to my cc (since I only recently added some gcs to my account). Now, unless you manually select away from your cc (after typing in a destination but before selecting a car) and to Uber Cash, Uber will charge your credit card and won't use your Amex credits. Ridiculous change anyway and even more ridiculous to do it without notifying riders. Customer service has already heard from me via email (where I am having a very unsatisfactory exchange with barely coherent responses from CS), and I've taken to Twitter.

It's wild because under Payment Methods I have three Amex accounts listed then under Credits the $15 for the plat for the month. Literally nowhere do I have Uber Cash. The only times I've ubered, the app has just taken my plat credits as you mention. I even have a Barclays Uber credit card but that works a little different.

On my front door, I have a green box that says "buy uber cash" - I click it and it still doesn't show up under payments. Wild.

Maybe I need to update my app or something. This is a crappy change.

 

[Lain]

@Lain - I'm confused by self referring. I have the 50K rose gold card offer in the offers on one of my Amex cards. If I apply through that link is there any way I can also self refer myself?

SPG, biz, personal and lux. And an 'Optima' credit card. No charge card.

I wish I had better news for you, but the Amex cards you have (likely) won’t allow you to refer or self refer to an Amex Gold.

The SPG co-branded cards will let you generate a referral link that you or anyone else can use to toggle amongst the SPG family of cards and select which SPG card (Lux, Biz, or Personal) to apply for. So a link generated on a Lux could be used to apply for the Lux, Biz, or Personal. However, referral links from Amex co-branded cards are limited to applications for cards in the same co-branded family. You can’t use a link generated from an SPG card to apply for an Amex charge or credit card, Hilton or Delta credit card, etc.

However, if you had an Amex-only branded card, you could generate a “universal” referral link that can be used to toggle through almost all of Amex’s referrable cards, pick which one you want to apply for, and get you a referral bonus (in whatever amount and points currency the referral bonus is on the referring card) and the new card’s welcome bonus. I don’t think the Optima card allows for referrals because it’s a legacy card, but I could be wrong.

With @Artygal90, she was considering the Biz Green, BGR, and SPG Biz. I suggested she apply for the BBP first because besides being a strong everyday card with no AF, the BBP generates referral links worth 15k MR per approved referral. (Other cards that generate 15k MR referral links are the Biz Plat and personal/vanilla Plat. The Biz Green referral bonus is only 5k MR. The BGR has a 10k MR referral bonus. And the SPG Biz referral bonus is 20k Marriott points, but can refer only to SPG cards.) From the BBP, she could generate a referral link, which she could then copy into an incognito window, use the “universal” link to select the SPG Biz to apply for, get approved, and pocket the 15k MR referral bonus from the BBP and the 100k Marriott points welcome bonus from the SPG Biz. (Congratulations again to @Artygal90 for the savvy move!)

I’ve been meaning to type up a guide to Amex universal referral links and self-referral for DISchurners. Let me know if you have any questions in the meantime.

 

[Judique]

I don’t think the Optima card allows for referrals because it’s a legacy card, but I could be wrong.

What you say is what I suspected, but I will always ask so as not to miss out.

Thank you for taking the time to answer.

 

[mmmears]

Got P2’s Amex Plat yesterday in a fancy wooden box. Looking back over past posts to clarify in my mind some of the perks. The Saks Fifth Ave credits were talked about just this weekend I think. I think I might just go in store for a $50 gift card. Most of our MSR will be made at the local gravel pit in a few weeks. Not sure if I read whether the airline credit was by calendar year or card year. Our next flight probably won’t be until next late winter/early spring. Is there anything we can do to take advantage of that credit if we lose out on 2018’s credit after Dec31?

In other news, we paid off our minivan last week. No more vehicle payments, yay! I already got an email from CreditKarma saying one of our accounts has been closed. We used the Plastiq Masterpass deal over the summer to pay this off early. It all went into IHG points.

Adding in my recent experience with the travel credits. Between my card and DH's cards minus what was already used up this year we were able to get four $100 electronic AA gift cards. They all worked and we were credited the $400.

When we booked a flight a couple of days ago, the AA website wouldn't let us pay with the gift cards. We had to call them to get it worked out. Apparently you can pay for AA flights with GCs but not extras like seat upgrades (we wanted their coach premium seats, or whatever they call them). So the rep told DH we could apply the $400 to the coach fare, but not to the upgrade portion of the price. The ironic thing is that I think that's what the credit is actually for in the first place. It all worked out since we needed 3 seats and could spend all $400 that way, but it was kind of a pain to call (but totally worth it to save $400) and I had no idea that they wouldn't accept their own GCs for stuff like this.

 

[miztressuz]

SPG, biz, personal and lux. And an 'Optima' credit card. No charge card.

Timely news for you, maybe. I'm not totally familiar with the Optima card (other than it's discontinued, right?) but AmEx just released referrals from cards not normally in the referral program. (Like the Ameriprise charge cards) Saw someone mention it on r/churning this morning and DoC has followed up with a post : https://www.doctorofcredit.com/amer...ing-schwab-ameriprise-obc-etc-with-100-bonus/

Might be worth checking out your Optima card and see if it'll let you generate a link. You'd get $100 plus the AmEx card you want

 

[amalone1013]

I just noticed that the Happy Dining cards are now an option for redeeming Discover cashback. Would be interesting if they added some more of those...

 

[mmmears]

The only potential benefit from the Uber mess is if you don’t want to use up the credit on a particular ride. DH has a business trip coming up and was thinking he didn’t really want his work to get that $15 in Nov. otherwise it just seems like an extra step that means we will forget to use the credit.

 

[Judique]

Timely news for you, maybe. I'm not totally familiar with the Optima card (other than it's discontinued, right?) but AmEx just released referrals from cards not normally in the referral program. (Like the Ameriprise charge cards) Saw someone mention it on r/churning this morning and DoC has followed up with a post : https://www.doctorofcredit.com/amer...ing-schwab-ameriprise-obc-etc-with-100-bonus/

Might be worth checking out your Optima card and see if it'll let you generate a link. You'd get $100 plus the AmEx card you want

@Lain

Thanks to both of you! I was able to generate the link from my 'Platinum' card - which is what Amex called my Optima....it's the Optima Platinum card, now that I read the front of the card. I'm pretty sure it's a credit card, but I don't think I've ever carried a balance on it so not fully sure.

Anyway, I have the 50K link for the rose gold if it doesn't drop in the next week or two. I want to wait until after my trip to apply as I don't want it to sit in my mailbox if it were to get here a bit early.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I am only half way through the Sept posts and will need the points from DH new credit card to upgrade.

Just skip to the last page and read backwards for the latest and greatest info.

 

[Judique]

In other news, there's a tentative plan for us to go to New Orleans end of March through first week of April. Daughter has a conference to attend which work will pay the fees for and give her the week off. No money in work budget for anything else but the week off is the biggie to attend.

What will come into play is one of those Marriott certificates she bought.

The minute she mentioned it I was on it like glue as I LOVE the idea of going back to New Orleans!

We leave on Thursday for Florida and will have plenty of time to do some research on what to do and see and eat.

 

[LynnTH]

Stupid Question. Do AMEX Charge Cards count for Chase in /24. I am thinking that they do - but wanted to make sure.

 

[GlamMistress]

Stupid Question. Do AMEX Charge Cards count for Chase in /24. I am thinking that they do - but wanted to make sure.

Yes, unless they are biz cards.

 

[Lain]

@Lain

Thanks to both of you! I was able to generate the link from my 'Platinum' card - which is what Amex called my Optima....it's the Optima Platinum card, now that I read the front of the card. I'm pretty sure it's a credit card, but I don't think I've ever carried a balance on it so not fully sure.

Anyway, I have the 50K link for the rose gold if it doesn't drop in the next week or two. I want to wait until after my trip to apply as I don't want it to sit in my mailbox if it were to get here a bit early.

That’s awesome news! I’m so happy to be wrong. Is the Optima referral bonus for $100 or 15k MR (or something else)?

Yes, definitely apply for the Amex Gold 50k MR offer via your referral link. The higher 50k MR/$2k MSR/3 months/up to $100 statement credit from 20% back on restaurant purchases is available via incognito or referral (and likely will continue to be until 1/9/19), but since you can benefit from your own referral, there’s no reason to fiddle with incognito.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

In other news, there's a tentative plan for us to go to New Orleans end of March through first week of April. Daughter has a conference to attend which work will pay the fees for and give her the week off. No money in work budget for anything else but the week off is the biggie to attend.

What will come into play is one of those Marriott certificates she bought.

The minute she mentioned it I was on it like glue as I LOVE the idea of going back to New Orleans!

We leave on Thursday for Florida and will have plenty of time to do some research on what to do and see and eat.

New Orleans is on our radar as a possible trip next year...trying to decide between it and Nashville

 

[LynnTH]

Yes, unless they are biz cards.

Thanks. That is what I thought.

 

[mmmears]

I want to thank you all for all the help and the pointers and the hand holding at times. We have to go to the east coast in May for a couple of days but decided to splurge and add on a few days in NYC and Philadelphia to do the tourist stuff. We picked some nice hotels and best of all we are paying for them with points. I love to see it paying off already.

 

[Alexle2007]

I want to thank you all for all the help and the pointers and the hand holding at times. We have to go to the east coast in May for a couple of days but decided to splurge and add on a few days in NYC and Philadelphia to do the tourist stuff. We picked some nice hotels and best of all we are paying for them with points. I love to see it paying off already.

So funny. I have lived 1 1/2 hours away from Philadelphia all of my life and have never actually been there. Maybe we need to add that to the list of weekend trips.

 

[mmmears]

So funny. I have lived 1 1/2 hours away from Philadelphia all of my life and have never actually been there. Maybe we need to add that to the list of weekend trips.

Seriously? Wow. Well actually I get it. We are close to San Francisco and haven't done most of the touristy stuff there (and I grew up here, too). I have made it to the Disney museum though. I toured Philadelphia last year when my DH was there on business - there is so much to see and do and so much history to learn there. I'm happy to get to go back. (Plus the lounge at PHL is really nice ). Now I have to figure out what to see and do in NYC. I've been there a few times in the last few years but didn't have much opportunity to sightsee. I haven't toured as a tourist there since I was a kid.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

I want to thank you all for all the help and the pointers and the hand holding at times. We have to go to the east coast in May for a couple of days but decided to splurge and add on a few days in NYC and Philadelphia to do the tourist stuff. We picked some nice hotels and best of all we are paying for them with points. I love to see it paying off already.

May is a nice time of year to visit NYC...so much to do...great weather to walk the highline, take a neighborhood foodtour, Central Park, 911 museum...etc etc.....we live hour away without traffic..but since there usually is traffic on the LIE ...we take the train in

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Seriously? Wow. Well actually I get it. We are close to San Francisco and haven't done most of the touristy stuff there (and I grew up here, too). I have made it to the Disney museum though. I toured Philadelphia last year when my DH was there on business - there is so much to see and do and so much history to learn there. I'm happy to get to go back. (Plus the lounge at PHL is really nice ). Now I have to figure out what to see and do in NYC. I've been there a few times in the last few years but didn't have much opportunity to sightsee. I haven't toured as a tourist there since I was a kid.

I live an hour away from NYC...and I’m in there for work..ugh..once every month or two...and we go in a few times a year...so I can try to help...we do different things...DH is not a museum guy...so we usually book a neighborhood food tour with friends, walk the highline, and have done the 911 museum...