I love credit cards so much!

[LB002]

Most people's vacation problem is having enough money to go...

My problem...school schedules interfering and not having enough vacation days (and I have 25 vacation days, lol!) Money is the LAST concern when it comes to trip planning LOL! I'm sure many you of share that feeling

EDIT: I should add for any newbies that stumble on this comment - this IS NOT because we are all rich. Far from it, it's just that I am able to earn and accrue travel points through credit cards faster than I can use them. Churning Level Expert

This is my problem too... not that I'm a churning expert (still studying), but I'm very frugal and planful.

 

[speedyfishy]

So it has a been a bit over a month since DH applied for a credit card. So i think we will have him apply for the Chase Ink Preferred.
We just upgrade our stay to DLH so it will not be hard to spend the minimum. What would be the worth of these points in either cash or hotels like Marriott or Hyatt?

Do you have a CSR? The 80,000 points are $800 in cash or $1000 in travel if using the portal but is more of you transfer to the CSR. For Marriott it would probably make sense to book a Marriott hotel through the portal. For Hyatt you may get a high value by transfering. You should check how many points you would need for your dates on the portal and booking direct and see what’s the better value because it will vary.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I hope that part of those rumors are true, the depositing the points back to the account. I still plan on getting the Cat 8 and 132K UA miles. We have $2K MSR on DH's Marriott and we'll have all the Marriott points we need for the package.

My original plan was to do 3 Hawaii Islands, 5 days each, but if we get the 7 night certificate we need to adjust to 7, 4, 4 (not my preference).

I'm going to wait until Mid July to finalize my decision - hopefully the new award chart will be out by then.

Exactly what I'm thinking. I'd much rather have 7(6) nights of points to break up how I see fit.

 

[Albort]

Trying to keep caught up with this thread, so much excitement with all the recent approvals. Sadly, no new cards for a while, stinks being in 1 player mode, cooling things until likely late this year when I go for a SW double dip...debating about upgrading my current Marriott but only have a 10,000 point offer, I should call and see if they will increase it. I'm excited about Southwest opening their December flight schedule at the end of this month as I'll have flights to book! Just have to move around some points, probably just going to transfer from UR, but have to run the numbers and see if I can't make a flight and night package work...no idea what to expect though with the transition in August, hope that Marriott would do the right thing, but it probably all depends how many outstanding certificates they have. Counting down the days until my DW trip-only 3 weeks!

1 player mode here as well. Honestly, the CP for SW doesnt make sense for P1 mode. I feel like its better to get more UR cards and transferring them to SW. I had a friend who went for the CP, P1 mode as well, has no idea how to use it properly... its been unused for a good 9 months. shes MAY have a CP coming... but its a maybe.

 

[GZanta77]

I'm not your best DP but here's what I did (probably against every churner rule but whatever) I got tired of being anxious about it. So I went ahead and did what I wanted right now,and anything else that comes up (say Aug 1) I'll just deal with,or let it go. I bought a cat 8 package and got SWA points. I decided I needed some points I can use NOW vs. a potential for use in the future,and Now I can stop worrying. I tend to get fixated on a problem,and that's not good for me. Worth it 100% to have it off my shoulders. (I already applied the cert to my nights) I'll figure future stuff out later but I'm just 100% tired of trying to predict something I have no control over,and IRL I have way more important stuff to do. (even tho I'm relaxing here by reading still) But reading for enjoyment/learning is way different (for me) than stressing over a detail.

Is there some reason everyone seems to be going for the Cat. 8 package? Is there an advantage to that over going for a Cat 6 and then upgrading the cert later if you want to stay at a higher Cat. property?

 

[disneymagicgirl]

This happened to me with DH's SPG Biz. Except I know I didn't write it down wrong because I took a picture of it!

me three on my spg personal

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Is there some reason everyone seems to be going for the Cat. 8 package? Is there an advantage to that over going for a Cat 6 and then upgrading the cert later if you want to stay at a higher Cat. property?

In my case I just know the properties I am eyeing are cat 8. Of course, who knows what they will be in a couple months.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

1 player mode here as well. Honestly, the CP for SW doesnt make sense for P1 mode. I feel like its better to get more UR cards and transferring them to SW. I had a friend who went for the CP, P1 mode as well, has no idea how to use it properly... its been unused for a good 9 months. shes MAY have a CP coming... but its a maybe.

I think there's some clarification that may help here:
1) P1 or P2 mode doesn't necessarily refer to being single or not. There are many folks in 1 player mode because they have an unwilling spouse so I wouldn't use P1 in this instance but rather say The CP may not make sense for a single person.
2) You could also be in 2 player mode and have a CP not make sense. Your spouse, mom, etc. may let you apply for cards in their name but not be a regular travel companion so I would also say that CP also may not make sense for a person in 2 player mode
3) I would disagree with the statement that it's better to get UR cards and transfer them to SW. If your goal is to get SW points, then get SW cards. At times you can get 50k or even 60k RR points for just $2k spend. There is NO UR earning card that offers that amount of points for that little spend (CIC/CIU = 50k for $3k; CSR/CSP = 50k for $4k; CIP = 80k for $5k).
4) The CP is a fantastic benefit, BUT for a family of 4 the value of the points probably is as important or even more important than the value of the CP. 124,000 SW points get's me over $1,800 in flights! That value alone is amazing, now if I can use the CP to save some of my points on a few trips, even better
5) Also it's worth pointing out that you can cash SW points out via some gift cards (including Target and Walmart) at $0.01 each if you have the CC so a Southwest card can even make sense for somebody who has no interest in flying Southwest.

Hopefully these are some helpful comments

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Whoo hooo! DH was approved for the Hilton Biz card! Why do I get so nervous every time I submit a new app?!

I get nervous every time too. You are not alone. Congrats!

So it has a been a bit over a month since DH applied for a credit card. So i think we will have him apply for the Chase Ink Preferred.
We just upgrade our stay to DLH so it will not be hard to spend the minimum. What would be the worth of these points in either cash or hotels like Marriott or Hyatt?

That will vary widely depending how you redeem them. They can be redeemed on the chase portal for 1.25x value. So 100,000 points is worth $1250. You could transfer them 1:1 to various hotel and flight programs. For example Hyatt is usually a good one to transfer to. Usually I find marriott better to book on the portal, but I have a CSR which gets 1.5x points value so it may be different at 1.25x...you'd have to compare the math.

https://thepointsguy.com/guide/redeeming-chase-ultimate-rewards-maximum-value/
^^^diff link b/c doc one wasn't showing whole article

 

[disneymagicgirl]

5) Also it's worth pointing out that you can cash SW points out via some gift cards (including Target and Walmart) at $0.01 each if you have the CC so a Southwest card can even make sense for somebody who has no interest in flying Southwest.

Hopefully these are some helpful comments

Are there other airline cards that you'd recommend doing the same? Cashing out points for GC b/c you won't fly the airline?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Are there other airline cards that you'd recommend doing the same? Cashing out points for GC b/c you won't fly the airline?

I did it with the Delta Gold Business offer. When it was at 50k or whatever, I got it, earned the points and got myself a $250 target gift card, LOL. I know I will never have a use for Delta points so I wasn't ashamed to do it. I also once did it with American points, redeemed for a Disney gift card.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I did it with the Delta Gold Business offer. When it was at 50k or whatever, I got it, earned the points and got myself a $250 target gift card, LOL. I know I will never have a use for Delta points so I wasn't ashamed to do it. I also once did it with American points, redeemed for a Disney gift card.

cool! Good way to earn a bonus and buy some time btwn chase apps.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

cool! Good way to earn a bonus and buy some time btwn chase apps.

Yeah - I was running out of AMEX biz cards so I was getting desparate. The min. spend was $2,000 and you also got a $50 Delta Statement credit. We sold our $50 Delta GC for $42 so my return was $292 ($250 target + $42 cash) on $2,000 spend at almost 15%. Then a great kicker was I maxed out my support clicks on the card through r/churning (this was back in Dec. when a limited time increased offer came out) and I got another $250 target card out of that

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

So it has a been a bit over a month since DH applied for a credit card. So i think we will have him apply for the Chase Ink Preferred.
We just upgrade our stay to DLH so it will not be hard to spend the minimum. What would be the worth of these points in either cash or hotels like Marriott or Hyatt?

Chase Ink Preferred (CIP)

• Best Online Offer = 80,000 Ultimate Rewards (URs) for $5k spend in 90 days (there is an in branch offer for 100k - it requires some additional work to apply in branch to with a BRM).
• Annual fee = $95 (not waived)
• Points are worth = 1.25 cents each through the travel portal OR transfer 1:1 to numerous partners (Marriott and Hyatt are both transfer partners)*
• Assuming you'd use the 1.25 travel option here's what you get:
• 80,000 bonus URs + 5,000 base URs (from min spend) = 85,000 URs worth $1,062.50 LESS $95 annual fee = $967.50 NET
• Also of note - you could hold these points, get a CSR after and then you can redeem these points at 1.50 via the CSR making it worth $1,275 (or $1,180 NET of AF)

*Before you transfer to Marriott or Hyatt you would want to see if it makes more sense to book through the UR portal or transfer points.

 

[Albort]

I think there's some clarification that may help here:
1) P1 or P2 mode doesn't necessarily refer to being single or not. There are many folks in 1 player mode because they have an unwilling spouse so I wouldn't use P1 in this instance but rather say The CP may not make sense for a single person.
2) You could also be in 2 player mode and have a CP not make sense. Your spouse, mom, etc. may let you apply for cards in their name but not be a regular travel companion so I would also say that CP also may not make sense for a person in 2 player mode
3) I would disagree with the statement that it's better to get UR cards and transfer them to SW. If your goal is to get SW points, then get SW cards. At times you can get 50k or even 60k RR points for just $2k spend. There is NO UR earning card that offers that amount of points for that little spend (CIC/CIU = 50k for $3k; CSR/CSP = 50k for $4k; CIP = 80k for $5k).
4) The CP is a fantastic benefit, BUT for a family of 4 the value of the points probably is as important or even more important than the value of the CP. 124,000 SW points get's me over $1,800 in flights! That value alone is amazing, now if I can use the CP to save some of my points on a few trips, even better
5) Also it's worth pointing out that you can cash SW points out via some gift cards (including Target and Walmart) at $0.01 each if you have the CC so a Southwest card can even make sense for somebody who has no interest in flying Southwest.

Hopefully these are some helpful comments

good points... ive only thought of this through p1 single... but like... if p2 doesnt want to play, why should u take them on a free trip am i right?

 

[DisneyMandC]

I'm going to pull the trigger and apply for the Amex Hilton biz now... any last words before I do this?

 

[miztressuz]

good points... ive only thought of this through p1 single... but like... if p2 doesnt want to play, why should u take them on a free trip am i right?

and this right there might be why you have no P2

(massively j/k! just couldn't resist the bad joke. hehe. but i'm sure you know there's all sorts of reasons why you still might want to give P2 free rides... but can't say it enough, j/k!!)

 

[peel]

and this right there might be why you have no P2

(massively j/k! just couldn't resist the bad joke. hehe. but i'm sure you know there's all sorts of reasons why you still might want to give P2 free rides... but can't say it enough, j/k!!)

 

[thevalley]

I'm going to pull the trigger and apply for the Amex Hilton biz now... any last words before I do this?

Good luck. Fingers crossed.

 

[Haley R]

Chase Ink Preferred (CIP)

• Best Online Offer = 80,000 Ultimate Rewards (URs) for $5k spend in 90 days (there is an in branch offer for 100k - it requires some additional work to apply in branch to with a BRM).
• Annual fee = $95 (not waived)
• Points are worth = 1.25 cents each through the travel portal OR transfer 1:1 to numerous partners (Marriott and Hyatt are both transfer partners)*
• Assuming you'd use the 1.25 travel option here's what you get:
• 80,000 bonus URs + 5,000 base URs (from min spend) = 85,000 URs worth $1,062.50 LESS $95 annual fee = $967.50 NET
• Also of note - you could hold these points, get a CSR after and then you can redeem these points at 1.50 via the CSR making it worth $1,275 (or $1,180 NET of AF)

*Before you transfer to Marriott or Hyatt you would want to see if it makes more sense to book through the UR portal or transfer points.

Why does the CSR take the points up by 1.5? Is there a strategic reason they do this?