I love credit cards so much!

[MrsAlexis]

I am waffling on decision to go for AMEX Gold on 12/1. Now considering the 75,000 Capital One Venture. This is for my reluctant, business card-averse P2. We have been collecting Chase, but he already has CSR, CF, and I have slotted CFU for him around May 2019.

We don't have any MRs as of now, and the AF on the Gold is giving me heartburn. I'm not counting on the $10/month credits due to likelihood of us not using all of them. So I would have the airline credit and the dining statement credit to offset the fee, but would have to buy the airline GC in December with no plans to fly anywhere. I would feel compelled to fly next year due to having the gift card so this doesn't feel like a true $100 value to me.

$750 cash back from the Venture sounds great, but we are just coming off a $5k MSR and I'm not looking forward to jumping immediately into another. First year AF waived is nice.

As I type this, I realize I have no idea what I am even asking! Just getting thoughts out of my head, since P2 wants nothing to do with the CC decisions. Any thoughts on either of the 2 cards?

 

[mefordis]

Could you not book you and your DD on the 2nd reservation using DH's points/account?
I am not familiar with united, but I can book a flight for whomever I like using DH's SW account/points.

My dh only had 150k miles, enough for 3 tickets and the flights are 50k each. I tried to book my dd10 with these miles and for some reason our desired flight did not come up when searching for 3 people. Otherwise it would have worked out by having him book three then I could have used my travel credit to book my own on my own account.

 

[mefordis]

I tend to be timid, but I think I'd at least wait til 12/1 and likely until 1/1/19.
Waiting til 12/1 would drop off that chase united card from you x/12 count and waiting til 1/1 would drop 3 chase cards from your x/12 count.
ETA: Esp since it is a biz card it will likely be reviewed by a real person...at least I assume that is what happens when you don't get instant approval.

Thanks for the advice. The new CSR and CSP restrictions forced me to change my strategy! I think I'll wait until January.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Yes! Baby churn steps......now I have approx how long to begin with Chase before the Amex hits CR? I'd like to space out the MSRs if possible.

DH's amex from 9/11 hit his report today, or very recently. I got the CK email today.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

My dh only had 150k miles, enough for 3 tickets and the flights are 50k each. I tried to book my dd10 with these miles and for some reason our desired flight did not come up when searching for 3 people. Otherwise it would have worked out by having him book three then I could have used my travel credit to book my own on my own account.

Yes but could you not have booked in sets, like you did, but though his account. So the 2 seats, then another single seat.
Then booked yours with your credit separately too?

edited, b/c I misread the first time.

 

[tink1970]

I am waffling on decision to go for AMEX Gold on 12/1. Now considering the 75,000 Capital One Venture. This is for my reluctant, business card-averse P2. We have been collecting Chase, but he already has CSR, CF, and I have slotted CFU for him around May 2019.

We don't have any MRs as of now, and the AF on the Gold is giving me heartburn. I'm not counting on the $10/month credits due to likelihood of us not using all of them. So I would have the airline credit and the dining statement credit to offset the fee, but would have to buy the airline GC in December with no plans to fly anywhere. I would feel compelled to fly next year due to having the gift card so this doesn't feel like a true $100 value to me.

$750 cash back from the Venture sounds great, but we are just coming off a $5k MSR and I'm not looking forward to jumping immediately into another. First year AF waived is nice.

As I type this, I realize I have no idea what I am even asking! Just getting thoughts out of my head, since P2 wants nothing to do with the CC decisions. Any thoughts on either of the 2 cards?

It sounds like you're tired and maybe this isn't the time to have a new card. Cap One pulls from all 3 credit bureaus so that's something to consider...and the $5000 MSR is nothing to sneeze at if you don't have any major, unavoidable bills coming due.

I my (rose) gold card and I am finding I can really accumulate MRs between Publix and eating out...oh and the $46 turkey breast we just picked up from Fresh Market. BUT... if, for you, the AF sounds like it's too much, them maybe wait this card opportunity out. The hardest thing about reading blogs and boards is FOMO. I heard a better acronym (for me) JOMO (joy of missing out). That's what I think to myself when I read everyone's approvals lately. Whoo hoo, no MSR, whoo hoo, another month down without the agony (and excitement) of pops ups, recon, obsessive status checks. Sometimes a break is good!

That's just my $0.02, I'm sure others will have better suggestions.

 

[mmmears]

I am waffling on decision to go for AMEX Gold on 12/1. Now considering the 75,000 Capital One Venture. This is for my reluctant, business card-averse P2. We have been collecting Chase, but he already has CSR, CF, and I have slotted CFU for him around May 2019.

We don't have any MRs as of now, and the AF on the Gold is giving me heartburn. I'm not counting on the $10/month credits due to likelihood of us not using all of them. So I would have the airline credit and the dining statement credit to offset the fee, but would have to buy the airline GC in December with no plans to fly anywhere. I would feel compelled to fly next year due to having the gift card so this doesn't feel like a true $100 value to me.

P2 and I have a stack of Amex cards at the moment. I think it really depends on what you want and what you need. The $800 of flying credit was very useful to us this year since we have lots of flights that we have to book (not vacation related) so the AFs are something we can deal with (but still concerns me since
they are around 2K at this point). I'm not at all sure what next year will bring, and if we don't need to purchase all those tickets I can see us dropping quite a few of the cards. The Gold dining does let you use Grub Hub, which is a delivery service, so it's not all that hard to use, but if you wouldn't use it, then yes, it's not worth much. I guess my point is that worth is relative and directly related to what you would need or would want to use. And if you don't see the worth there I wouldn't get the card. We spend a pretty sizable amount each month on dining and groceries, so the 4x points was the main attraction to me.

Good luck deciding what to do. And I agree with Tink1970 that taking a break isn't a bad idea either.

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

I am waffling on decision to go for AMEX Gold on 12/1. Now considering the 75,000 Capital One Venture. This is for my reluctant, business card-averse P2. We have been collecting Chase, but he already has CSR, CF, and I have slotted CFU for him around May 2019.

We don't have any MRs as of now, and the AF on the Gold is giving me heartburn. I'm not counting on the $10/month credits due to likelihood of us not using all of them. So I would have the airline credit and the dining statement credit to offset the fee, but would have to buy the airline GC in December with no plans to fly anywhere. I would feel compelled to fly next year due to having the gift card so this doesn't feel like a true $100 value to me.

$750 cash back from the Venture sounds great, but we are just coming off a $5k MSR and I'm not looking forward to jumping immediately into another. First year AF waived is nice.

As I type this, I realize I have no idea what I am even asking! Just getting thoughts out of my head, since P2 wants nothing to do with the CC decisions. Any thoughts on either of the 2 cards?

What about arrival +? Also a 5k MSR and waived af for 70k but 10% redemption back which puts it a little ahead of the Venture. Plus it’s a MasterCard vs Visa so if you have a mortgage you could knock the spend out on Plastiq or you could do a bank bonus with either to offset MSR. PNC is a good one but double check on Doc if Venture or Barclays work (I did it easily for CIP)

Happy thanksgiving!! Off to work at the hospital to care for the kiddos that can’t be home for the holiday!!!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

He has $0 on credit cards now. Had a small (around $500) balance for about a month...credit limit is around $1000 - so maybe that is it. He has since paid it. I will see what his score is next month. Thank you.

DH and I both had a slight drop in scores this month. We didn’t carry a balance but pay on due date. So a snapshot of our accounts right before we paid them showed high utilization last month due to new water heater, new washer, WDW tix and insurance all within a couple weeks.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Yes but could you not have booked in sets, like you did, but though his account. So the 2 seats, then another single seat.
Then booked yours with your credit separately too?

edited, b/c I misread the first time.

She can’t because at some point at least one kid would be unbookable as an unaccompanied minor. Either DH +kid1, kid2 unaccompanied; DH alone with kid1 + kid2 unaccompanied. Unless they are booked as unaccompanied (and extra fees I believe) I don’t think 2 kids plus 1 adult will work in 2 bookings.

 

[wendow]

I pulled the trigger on the 70K offer, marking my first card over 5/24. The SW Priority took me to 5/24 and while I could have waited til May when I was under 5/24 again to get the last Chase card I wanted (CIU or maybe United), the opportunity cost didn't make sense since I also want the Amex Gold. DH is 3/24, so figured he could be the P2 to stay under 5/24 (he drops to 2/24 in May and 1/24 in July) with plenty more Chase cards in sight for him. The Arrival+ also seemed like it was calling me after I opted to wait, back in Sept when the 60K offer popped up. Worked out well! Hope it will still be there for you in a few weeks!

The Arrival+ was the card to put me over 5/24 last year. I had zero regrets! I am still at 5/24 now. I had just gotten to 4/24 when I jumped on the Amex plat. Again, no regrets. Dh is under at 2/24 but we still have work to do with chase soon for him so I’m gonna keep my fingers crossed the 70k holds for a bit.

Congrats on your approval!!

 

[MrsAlexis]

It sounds like you're tired and maybe this isn't the time to have a new card. Cap One pulls from all 3 credit bureaus so that's something to consider...and the $5000 MSR is nothing to sneeze at if you don't have any major, unavoidable bills coming due.

I my (rose) gold card and I am finding I can really accumulate MRs between Publix and eating out...oh and the $46 turkey breast we just picked up from Fresh Market. BUT... if, for you, the AF sounds like it's too much, them maybe wait this card opportunity out. The hardest thing about reading blogs and boards is FOMO. I heard a better acronym (for me) JOMO (joy of missing out). That's what I think to myself when I read everyone's approvals lately. Whoo hoo, no MSR, whoo hoo, another month down without the agony (and excitement) of pops ups, recon, obsessive status checks. Sometimes a break is good!

That's just my $0.02, I'm sure others will have better suggestions.

Good luck deciding what to do. And I agree with Tink1970 that taking a break isn't a bad idea either.

Of course yall are right...! Maybe I just need to sit out for a month or so and see what happens.....but the FOMO!! I will try to overcome it LOL

What about arrival +? Also a 5k MSR and waived af for 70k but 10% redemption back which puts it a little ahead of the Venture. Plus it’s a MasterCard vs Visa so if you have a mortgage you could knock the spend out on Plastiq or you could do a bank bonus with either to offset MSR. PNC is a good one but double check on Doc if Venture or Barclays work (I did it easily for CIP)

Happy thanksgiving!! Off to work at the hospital to care for the kiddos that can’t be home for the holiday!!!

I will consider that! I think part of my hesitation is moving to another 'currency' from URs and figuring which would work best for us. Happy Thanksgiving!!

 

[Albort]

Do we have ppl here where their kids only wear under Armor? https://giftcards.kroger.com/deal/kroger/under-armour-egift-7
says earns 3x via CIP as well.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Of course yall are right...! Maybe I just need to sit out for a month or so and see what happens.....but the FOMO!! I will try to overcome it LOL

I will consider that! I think part of my hesitation is moving to another 'currency' from URs and figuring which would work best for us. Happy Thanksgiving!!

I’ve been trying to figure out the same thing...we have all chase cards.....I’ve been able to book hotels with our URs...but when I look to see theAmex MRs needed to book the same stay it’s 2 to 3 times the number of points..since I have the CSR
We don’t travel internationally and fly SW...so I haven’t been able to figure out how to get value out of paying the high annual fees for the Amex cards I’d need to accumulate enough MRs to book hotels with them...definitely have FOMO on some of the Amex cards....but really think the best thing for us is to accumulate URs...
I’ll be without a MSR next month for the first time since May..next Chase applications will be in January

appreciate all the great advice I’ve received here...Thanks to everyone here my DH and I will be able to visit my son 4 times a year instead of 2..all paid for with points..
Happy Thanksgiving All

 

[Alexle2007]

Do we have ppl here where their kids only wear under Armor? https://giftcards.kroger.com/deal/kroger/under-armour-egift-7
says earns 3x via CIP as well.

Raises her hands high! I guess since it’s an online offer it doesn’t matter that I have no Kroger near me?

ETA: If I use my AmEx Gold, I should earn 4x MR, correct, since it’s a grocery store?

 

[mmmears]

We don’t travel internationally and fly SW...so I haven’t been able to figure out how to get value out of paying the high annual fees for the Amex cards I’d need to accumulate enough MRs to book hotels with them...definitely have FOMO on some of the Amex cards....but really think the best thing for us is to accumulate URs...
I’ll be without a MSR next month for the first time since May..next Chase applications will be in January

The best use of MRs in our case was flying overseas in first/business class. I can see that URs are easier to use for domestic hotels (I haven't tried booking a flight with them yet). So I do think it's a case of knowing what works best for you. The FOMO is strong, but I'm trying to resist much of it and just do what makes the best sense for my family and our needs.

 

[mefordis]

Yes but could you not have booked in sets, like you did, but though his account. So the 2 seats, then another single seat.
Then booked yours with your credit separately too?

edited, b/c I misread the first time.

I tried that. First I booked my dh and my dd14. Then when I went to book my dd10 they gave me an alert that she was an unaccompanied minor. I didn't want to declare her as such and pay the $150 fee so I abandoned that reservation and booked mine and hers separately, but logged into MY account. BUT now that I think of it I could have booked mine using my dh's account , paid in cash while at the same time book hers and used the miles for hers!! Doh! Oh, well. We'll use the miles for another trip.

To buy these tickets in Basic Economy and pay in cash it would have been $2300, so we still came out way ahead.

Edit: Actually, I don't think United allows you to do a combo transaction of one ticket with miles and the other with cash, so I probably couldn't have done both mine and hers on my dh's account using miles + cash.

 

[Alexle2007]

I tried that. First I booked my dh and my dd14. Then when I went to book my dd10 they gave me an alert that she was an unaccompanied minor. I didn't want to declare her as such and pay the $150 fee so I abandoned that reservation and booked mine and hers separately, but logged into MY account. BUT now that I think of it I could have booked mine using my dh's account , paid in cash while at the same time book hers and used the miles for hers!! Doh! Oh, well. We'll use the miles for another trip.

To buy these tickets in Basic Economy and pay in cash it would have been $2300, so we still came out way ahead.

Edit: Actually, I don't think United allows you to do a combo transaction of one ticket with miles and the other with cash, so I probably couldn't have done both mine and hers on my dh's account using miles + cash.

Will United allow you to book it via phone since they could verify that they’ve are indeed not an unaccompanied minor and probably can override it? I know I have had issues with DS as my CP and it looks like he is traveling by himself and have had to call SW to resolve.

 

[mmmears]

Raises her hands high! I guess since it’s an online offer it doesn’t matter that I have no Kroger near me?

ETA: If I use my AmEx Gold, I should earn 4x MR, correct, since it’s a grocery store?

I was wondering the same thing. No Kroger near us.

 

[Alexle2007]

Atom tickets has $7 off if you use Chase Pay. I used it to buy my Ralph Breaks the internet tickets for Thanksgiving.

Is there a code you need to use or just check out using Chase Pay?