I love credit cards so much!

[Albort]

@Albort and @Aanna , would you guys explain about how we might be able to triple dip on the CSR travel credit? I understand the changes coming to the CSR but my brain isn't connecting the dots on what you are alluding to.

Say u apply September 2016. You get $300. January 2017, u get another $300. Changes say, membership anniversary. so September 2017, $300. Typically, Chase gives u a month to cancel your card before memebership hits. so you cancel your card. thats $900.

 

[Angrose]

I've been out of the points game for awhile (we opened a business and didn't have extra money to float balances or to travel), and I would love some opinions before I jump back in. Sorry for the long post...

In the past, DH and I have each earned the SWA CP; we had ink bold, Citi prestige and TY, venture and Barclaycards. We also have over 200k AA miles. We've used all the points from all these cards, except for the AA, which I think we will use summer 2018 for trips to Alaska and Rome.

I think our primary travel goal is to earn the SWA CPs again. With those two big trips 2018, I think it's unlikely we will be able to afford any smaller trips for 2018, so I was thinking the best time to apply for the SWA cards would be the end of 2018, so we could have the CPs for 2019 and 2020 (provided they don't change the rules on earning them).

So, my question is, would you apply for the CSR now, to use the double dipping on the travel credit and then just sit on those points/transfer them to SWA while waiting to earn the CPs? And, can I open a CF card to keep the UR active and cancel the CSR before paying the second anniversary fee? Or, should I just not worry about the extra $600 (credit if we each get a CSR) and just hold off until we can make better use of them closer to when we will get the SWA cards again?

DH just opened a Marriott card and IHG card, because that's where we will be staying in Rome; other than that, we should not have any cards opened in the last two years.

Or, any other major deals out there? I just started reading this thread and resumed reading the blogs I used to follow, so I'm really feeling out of the loop! Thanks for any advice!

Another option could be opening a CSP instead of the CSR. Same sign-up bonus of 50,000 points but the annual fee is waived the first year. You still earn UR points that can transfer to SW. You could downgrade or open a CF to keep your points before the AF hits or just transfer all the points to SW before you close or downgrade. That would work if you decide to go for the CSR as well.

We are going to Rome next month...can't wait!!

 

[amalone1013]

Awesome news on getting approved! But oh my, I am so sorry you got caught in that awful hail storm. We are just south enough...by like 2 miles...that we did not get any hail at all.

Yeah... we live up in a weird bubble in the Thornton/Brighton area, and rarely get weather, but I work at I25/I70. It's lot's of small dimples, and the chrome is beat up. DF works farther east on I70 and they got hail but no damage. I'm Midwest born and raised, so I'm no stranger to hail, but it's the first time I've had to deal with insurance for it lol. But hey at least I can use it for a spend

 

[Ngwira]

For those planning a Vegas trip this summer, check your Amex offers.

Amex offer for Las Vegas hotels: Spend $300 between now and 6/30 at MGM hotels and get a $60 statement credit: ARIA®, Vdara® Hotel & Spa, Bellagio®, MGM Grand® Las Vegas, The Signature at MGM Grand®, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, DELANO LAS VEGAS, and Mirage®. Reservations must be made directly through MGM Resorts International (or properties listed above), by phone, by individual property websites, or through mlife.com, and mobile app.

I got it on my Platinum and will be using it next month!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Say u apply September 2016. You get $300. January 2017, u get another $300. Changes say, membership anniversary. so September 2017, $300. Typically, Chase gives u a month to cancel your card before memebership hits. so you cancel your card. thats $900.

I read it as current cardholders will continue on calendar year, while new cardholders will be membership anniversary.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Not a credit card/points question but I thought I'd ask since people here are well traveled. Friend is looking for hotel/resort recommendations for Napa Valley for his DWs 40th bday. Adult only weekend trip. Recommendations?

 

[Aanna]

I read it as current cardholders will continue on calendar year, while new cardholders will be membership anniversary.

I read some rumor somewhere that after a year or two the grandfathered folks will all also change to conform with the new system. Again, I don't put much trust in that info.

 

[Lain]

Not a credit card/points question but I thought I'd ask since people here are well traveled. Friend is looking for hotel/resort recommendations for Napa Valley for his DWs 40th bday. Adult only weekend trip. Recommendations?

If this is a splurge, I'd suggest Meadowood in St. Helena or Hotel Yountville right in downtown Yountville. I've also heard nice things about Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford and Bardessono in Yountville. The Restaurant at Meadowood consistently scores three Michelin stars, and Yountville is home to Thomas Keller's restaurants The French Laundry, Bouchon, and Ad Hoc. If (you or) your friend has an Amex Platinum card, the Concierge is one way to snag almost impossible to get reservations at The French Laundry.

Really though, there is no shortage of fine wine and dining in the Napa Valley, or variety of lodging from motels, to B&Bs, to resorts and spa. Napa is the largest town and at the southern entrance to the valley with a downtown that's had a lot of commercial development in the last ten years, Yountville is situated in the middle of the valley along Highway 29, and St. Helena is at the northern end of the valley before Calistoga. Your friend would also be in quick driving distance to more wineries, dining (eta: and lodging) in Sonoma to the west, Healdsburg to the northwest, and the Russian River further west. If your friends are into craft brewing, a trip to Russian River Brewing in Santa Rosa is kind of a must.

Let me know if there's anything else I can add!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

If this is a splurge, I'd suggest Meadowood in St. Helena or Hotel Yountville right in downtown Yountville. I've also heard nice things about Auberge du Soleil in St. Helena and Bardessono in Yountville. The Restaurant at Meadowood consistently scores three Michelin stars, and Yountville is home to Thomas Keller's restaurants The French Laundry, Bouchon, and Ad Hoc. If (you or) your friend has an Amex Platinum card, the Concierge is one way to snag almost impossible to get reservations at The French Laundry.

Really though, there is no shortage of fine wine and dining in the Napa Valley, or variety of lodging from motels, to B&Bs, to resorts and spa. Napa is the largest town and at the southern entrance to the valley with a downtown that's had a lot of commercial development in the last ten years, Yountville is situated in the middle of the valley along Highway 29, and St. Helena is at the northern end of the valley before Calistoga. Your friend would also be in quick driving distance to more wineries and dining in Sonoma to the west, Healdsburg to the northwest, and the Russian River further west. If your friends are into craft brewing, a trip to Russian River Brewing in Santa Rosa is kind of a must.

Let me know if there's anything else I can add!

So we are in Chicago. Which airport would you recommend? Oakland or Sacramento?

I have been trying to convince him to get in the credit card points game. He was just complaining he paid over 3k for his family's flight to TX (4 kids). He can afford it, just doesn't like to. He & his wife are both physicians, so I know he can afford a splurge. Not sure if they are big enough foodies to know/appreciate Thomas Keller.
Thanks for all the info!

 

[calypso726]

So, my question is, would you apply for the CSR now, to use the double dipping on the travel credit and then just sit on those points/transfer them to SWA while waiting to earn the CPs? And, can I open a CF card to keep the UR active and cancel the CSR before paying the second anniversary fee? Or, should I just not worry about the extra $600 (credit if we each get a CSR) and just hold off until we can make better use of them closer to when we will get the SWA cards again?

DH just opened a Marriott card and IHG card, because that's where we will be staying in Rome; other than that, we should not have any cards opened in the last two years.

Or, any other major deals out there? I just started reading this thread and resumed reading the blogs I used to follow, so I'm really feeling out of the loop! Thanks for any advice!

I would apply for the CSR before the 21st so I could get the double dip and your $600 credit for 2 cards is now $1200. Right now the credit is based on calendar year. After the 21st and new card applications will have the travel credit based on card anniversary date.

UR points don't work like Amex MR points whereby having another Amex MR card will keep them active and of the same value. I opened an Amex Platinum and then cancelled it but before cancelling I opened a no fee Everyday Amex card and was able to keep my MR points active and they could still be transferred to airlines.

Only UR points from the CSR, CSP, Ink+/Bold/Preferred can be transferred to airlines. Only CSR UR points are worth 1.5. So, if you opened a CSR with the intention of transferring your UR points to SW you'd have to do that before you closed the account. CF UR points cannot transfer to SW or any other airline/hotel.

Hope this helps.

 

[Lain]

So we are in Chicago. Which airport would you recommend? Oakland or Sacramento?

I have been trying to convince him to get in the credit card points game. He was just complaining he paid over 3k for his family's flight to TX (4 kids). He can afford it, just doesn't like to. He & his wife are both physicians, so I know he can afford a splurge. Not sure if they are big enough foodies to know/appreciate Thomas Keller.
Thanks for all the info!

I'm not familiar with Sacramento, but Oakland is an easy airport to navigate, should have a lot of flights availability through Southwest, and near the 580, which they'll take north along the East Bay until it becomes the 80, then get off at Hwy 37 in Vallejo and very quickly turn onto Hwy 29, which runs the length of Napa Valley. Depending on the time and day, traffic can get pretty bad along parts of 580/80 between Oakland and San Pablo and the 37 in Vallejo. Coming from San Francisco across the Bay Bridge, that's pretty much the same route we'd take to Napa and takes about 45 mins to a little over an hour.

Generally, I'd avoid any lodging in the town of Napa. As I was saying, it's the biggest town in the valley and there's a lot of retail and dining, but when you're in town, everything seems flat and a bit overdeveloped. As you go further up the valley, there's so much more open vineyards and rolling hills and staying further north really lets you appreciate the beautiful terrior. It sounds like a wonderful trip!

 

[brownhaired_girl]

OK... I'm fairly new to this. I did get my CSR in November and this has become my go to card. I got my 2 Southwest cards and should be getting my CP in the next month or two. I'm thinking about having my husband sign up for one of the Chase cards, but he is a dairy farmer and WON'T leave his cows. I am thinking of the CSR because it gives triple points for my timeshare fees. I can also get the $300 credit applied to the timeshare maintenance fees. I'm confident we can do the spend, but can I transfer his points to my account at some time, or how can I use them for travel for my mother, granddaughter, daughter and myself? I'm mostly concerned about airfare since my rooms are actually very reasonably priced.

 

[calypso726]

OK... I'm fairly new to this. I did get my CSR in November and this has become my go to card. I got my 2 Southwest cards and should be getting my CP in the next month or two. I'm thinking about having my husband sign up for one of the Chase cards, but he is a dairy farmer and WON'T leave his cows. I am thinking of the CSR because it gives triple points for my timeshare fees. I can also get the $300 credit applied to the timeshare maintenance fees. I'm confident we can do the spend, but can I transfer his points to my account at some time, or how can I use them for travel for my mother, granddaughter, daughter and myself? I'm mostly concerned about airfare since my rooms are actually very reasonably priced.

Yes. DH and I have transferred UR points to each other's UR accounts. With personal accounts you are allowed to transfer UR points to one member of your household. If you use the UR points as cash you can purchase airfare through the UR portal. If you use them as miles you can transfer the UR points to the airline you will be flying and then use those miles to book award travel. Do not transfer to an airline unless you are sure that there is award availability for your flights. Also, compare how many UR points it would be to buy the flights vs UR points to transfer and book with miles.

 

[rnorwo1]

Another option could be opening a CSP instead of the CSR. Same sign-up bonus of 50,000 points but the annual fee is waived the first year. You still earn UR points that can transfer to SW. You could downgrade or open a CF to keep your points before the AF hits or just transfer all the points to SW before you close or downgrade. That would work if you decide to go for the CSR as well.

We are going to Rome next month...can't wait!!

I would apply for the CSR before the 21st so I could get the double dip and your $600 credit for 2 cards is now $1200. Right now the credit is based on calendar year. After the 21st and new card applications will have the travel credit based on card anniversary date.

UR points don't work like Amex MR points whereby having another Amex MR card will keep them active and of the same value. I opened an Amex Platinum and then cancelled it but before cancelling I opened a no fee Everyday Amex card and was able to keep my MR points active and they could still be transferred to airlines.

Only UR points from the CSR, CSP, Ink+/Bold/Preferred can be transferred to airlines. Only CSR UR points are worth 1.5. So, if you opened a CSR with the intention of transferring your UR points to SW you'd have to do that before you closed the account. CF UR points cannot transfer to SW or any other airline/hotel.

Hope this helps.

Thanks so much, I guess I'll go for it. Need to figure out minimum spend now!

 

[Alexle2007]

As I spending $4800 alternative seating that our PTA is giving to our staff and I'll be reimbursed for, I kept thinking I wish I had a new credit card that I needed to minimum spend on since I could have knocked it out. Now to decide if DH needs an Ink or CSP since we have a bunch of upcoming travel.

 

[brownhaired_girl]

Well.. We applied for a CSR for my husband and got the 30 day response. Should we expect the $300 credit will be based on application date or the date they would accept the application?

 

[calypso726]

Well.. We applied for a CSR for my husband and got the 30 day response. Should we expect the $300 credit will be based on application date or the date they would accept the application?

I would call the recon line and see about getting it approved and expedited to you for upcoming expenses.

 

[wendow]

Yeah... we live up in a weird bubble in the Thornton/Brighton area, and rarely get weather, but I work at I25/I70. It's lot's of small dimples, and the chrome is beat up. DF works farther east on I70 and they got hail but no damage. I'm Midwest born and raised, so I'm no stranger to hail, but it's the first time I've had to deal with insurance for it lol. But hey at least I can use it for a spend

We have lived here 20 years and I have NEVER seen reports of hail like what came through with that storm. Sorry about your car but yay for the spend...you know we are messed up when we think that way lol!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I removed DH as AU from my cards earlier this week & finally got him to call Chase about his denial for CSP.
They told him they recommended approval & would move it up the line for final approval. That's good, right? Pretty good chance it will get approved?

 

[Ava]

I have a general question about card apps that maybe someone here will know the best thing to do. My DW doesn't work, she's a stay at home mom to our girls. What should she put for income on a CC app? Our household income? Then I'm not sure what she should put if it asks for her employer. Self-employed? Homemaker? Will she be automatically denied if she doesn't have her own income? She hasn't applied for a new card since she stopped working 8 years ago but we'd like to start doubling up on some bonuses by having her get a card too. She is an AU on a few of my cards so she does have some credit history for those years.