Well, we travel a good amount, and Airfare is always the biggest concern. We have to fly Delta because they are the most pet friendly (dog in cabin) internationally. The only card that would really work would be the Delta Reserve card, but at $600 a year (after second card), it just isn't worth the hit. I considered the Ritz card, but we don't often stay in the Ritz. I have status with SPG, and yet again, find ourselves staying at their hotels more often than not because they are super pet friendly.

So, at this point, I am going to be very happy with the Barclay's card. It is likely going to payout somewhere in the 3 cents per mile for us. it is already at 2 cents with the double miles, but then you get a 10% return on used miles. So, that brings you to 2.2. When you consider that you'll be booking your travel ticket with credit card, you won't be booking an awards ticket, so you'll be earning miles on the trip that you paid nothing for. I think our Paris trip would earn something like 15-18k miles for a single ticket. So, let's say we spend 100k points on a airplane ticket. We are going to get back 10k for that redemption. Then we are going to each another 15k from delta. So, we spent 50k to earn 100k, but when we redeem, we get 35k back. I know that has to push it over 3 cents per point.

I did the SPG card a while back. It just isn't worth being stuck to a single hotel chain. Pain to use. We are pretty much stuck with Delta, but I can't switch from Amex Plat to Delta Reserve because we would actually lose out on a ton of benefits we enjoy with the Platinum just to get some status on Delta. If Delta reverses their stance and allows secondary card holders to get into their shitty lounges for free, then I'll probably switch. But until then, the AMEX Plat is the better card. But we would get gold status every year if we spent everything on the Reserve card, but at the expense of earning real points.



[Edited on January 5, 2015 at 2:35 PM. Reason : .]

1/5/2015 2:32:27 PM

Quote :

"I think our Paris trip would earn something like 15-18k miles for a single ticket."

How so?

1/5/2015 2:58:21 PM

It is something like 5,000 a segment each way, and depending on not if I've managed to get Silver (I never fly enough to get gold), I get a boost. But it is probably closer to 12-14, not 20. I'd only get that if I were Diamond or above, and I have never, and will never, attain that flying status.

1/5/2015 3:34:47 PM

Pretty boring churn this quarter just got approved for
AMEX Gold Business 50k pts 5k spend
Chase Ink Plus Business 50K pts 5K spend

1/30/2015 5:05:49 PM

Quote :

"If Delta reverses their stance and allows secondary card holders to get into their shitty lounges for free, then I'll probably switch."

Wait, they don't?

1/31/2015 4:33:24 PM

Sames goes for AA executive unless you're with the primary cardholder.

1/31/2015 5:21:16 PM

Jeez buying two flights to London with United points for 120k total. Even though the points completely cover the flights I'm still paying ~$400 in fees for both tickets. I don't remember fees being that much.

2/5/2015 7:38:44 PM

I think I paid $182 X 2 last time. Pretty reasonable compared with some of the fees out of other airports like Heathrow.

2/5/2015 11:08:06 PM

I got two tickets from RDU to Paris for 60k Delta miles each, plus $96 each in taxes

2/6/2015 11:55:46 AM

Oops, just realized he said he was flying into London, so yeah, that's pretty standard.
I had a stopover in Germany so that basically doubled the fees.
Pretty cheap though considering I was able to tack on a whole extra trip.

2/6/2015 12:30:01 PM

Yeah mine were 60k total each. ^^^Mine was slightly more but around that.

^^France is a lot cheaper than the UK. Most of the $394 I paid was UK fees flying into Heathrow.

[Edited on February 6, 2015 at 12:32 PM. Reason : post]

2/6/2015 12:31:16 PM

Sucks, but you'd have to pay all that + the ticket price if you didn't use miles
At least hotels seem to avoid all taxes and fees when using points.

2/6/2015 12:36:21 PM

Yeah I guess I remember getting tickets to London for $750 in like 2008. Total.

Also if you book through Chase it's the total cost including fees plus a 20% discount.

It's always good to look at both Chase and the respective airline. Sure you get a 20% point discount with Chase but if it's a $1200 flights it's still going to cost you ~100k points BUT because Chase is paying the airline for it you're still getting miles/segments toward status. However that same $1200 flight might only be 60k points directly through the airline but you don't get miles/segments toward status.

2/6/2015 1:12:06 PM

Quote :

"It's always good to look at both Chase and the respective airline. Sure you get a 20% point discount with Chase but if it's a $1200 flights it's still going to cost you ~100k points BUT because Chase is paying the airline for it you're still getting miles/segments toward status. However that same $1200 flight might only be 60k points directly through the airline but you don't get miles/segments toward status."

what

2/9/2015 12:43:22 PM

He's saying there are circumstances where the points required * 1.25% may be more than the price of the flight, so going through the portal may be more cost effective. In addition, since you aren't using miles when going through the portal then it sounds like you still earn miles like you would if you had paid cash for the flight.

[Edited on February 9, 2015 at 1:55 PM. Reason : ]

2/9/2015 1:54:19 PM

I just ordered an AmEx Blue somethingorother Preferred.

It has a $75 annual fee, but you get $150 back as soon as you spend a few thousand bucks within the first 90 days. Also, it's 6% at grocery stores (up to the first $6k you spend), 3% at gas stations and some department stores, and 1% on everything else (and after you break the $6k ceiling at grocery stores).

Couple this with double Shell Fuel Perks for stuff bought at Winn Dixie...I've been buying Lowes gift cards, for example, to build my detached workshop/garage. It's damn near a scam.

2/11/2015 10:25:37 PM

what are the best non-Chase bonuses out there right now?

2/12/2015 1:55:43 PM

Quote :

"He's saying there are circumstances where the points required * 1.25% may be more than the price of the flight, so going through the portal may be more cost effective. In addition, since you aren't using miles when going through the portal then it sounds like you still earn miles like you would if you had paid cash for the flight."

Correct. If you look on United.com you may find a super saver economy ticket for 60k round trip to Europe. That's what I got two of.

Those tickets might be like $1200 each so that's 96,000 points even with the discount chase gives you so it only makes sense to use Chase to get airline tickets if:

1. There aren't any economy super saver seats available
2. You care more about status and want to receive miles / segments toward airline status

If that makes sense.

[Edited on February 12, 2015 at 2:00 PM. Reason : s]

2/12/2015 1:59:54 PM

Quote :

"I've been buying Lowes gift cards, for example, to build my detached workshop/garage. It's damn near a scam."

Haha you buy them at the Grocery store? That's awesome! Do you use the 10% off coupons too?

2/12/2015 2:13:31 PM

I thought some of these filtered out GC purchases, but maybe I'm thinking of churning rules.

Quote :

"Correct. If you look on United.com you may find a super saver economy ticket for 60k round trip to Europe. That's what I got two of. Those tickets might be like $1200 each so that's 96,000 points even with the discount chase gives you so it only makes sense to use Chase to get airline tickets if: 1. There aren't any economy super saver seats available 2. You care more about status and want to receive miles / segments toward airline status If that makes sense."

it kind of makes sense, I'm still a little fuzzy on this, sorry. So you're saying you go to united.com and you can use your Chase UR points to check out? And that it can be a better deal then going to the Chase travel portal and using points (even after the 20% discount on travel).

I've never used any of my points for travel (since I've started churning I've just been banking them for something awesome) so I apologize for my ignorance.

2/12/2015 3:15:08 PM

Banking them? Oh like for cash? Cash is always the worst way to spend points. It's usually always 1 point gets you 1 cent.

So no not using Chase points at United.com directly. You actually use United points at United.com. You first transfer your Chase points 1:1 to United (free). It transfers almost instantly. Then you use United to get a flight with your United points. So my ~$1200 flight cost me 60k points. That's 2 cents per point. If I had gone through Chase travel it would have been 96,000 points or 1.25 cents per point. So going through United it's a much better deal.

If you never travel, stay at hotels, rent cars, etc then sure cash back is alright but you still get a shitty return on your points (1 cent per point). You could potentially get twice as much for your points if you use it through an airline or hotel.

2/12/2015 3:24:36 PM

Quote :

"I thought some of these filtered out GC purchases"

Not that I know of but most stores have tightened their rules so you can't buy gift cards with a credit card.

2/12/2015 3:38:09 PM

^^Or you can sell your points and do better than 1 cent

2/12/2015 3:58:23 PM

I assume she meant she was accumulating them in mass quantities.

2/12/2015 4:03:01 PM

Can I transfer points to WOW airlines?

2/12/2015 4:09:27 PM

Quote :

"^^Or you can sell your points and do better than 1 cent"

Yes I that with my AA points but still didn't get close to 2 cents per point.

2/12/2015 4:13:26 PM

Yeah, I sold a bunch of those before devaluations, but still came out behind.
Hotels on the other hand are a completely different story.

2/12/2015 4:21:31 PM

Quote :

"Haha you buy them at the Grocery store? That's awesome! Do you use the 10% off coupons too?"

Yep, I buy the gift cards with a credit card at the grocery store, then do the 10% military discount at Lowes, then go buy gas and enjoy the double fuel perks on gift cards.

Quote :

"Not that I know of but most stores have tightened their rules so you can't buy gift cards with a credit card."

At the Winn Dixie by my house here in FL, they just require a manager approval above a certain amount on a credit card. I think it's $200-300 or something. I go in there dressed sharp when I'm going to buy a large amount, just to make sure.

2/12/2015 6:03:37 PM

Even at 6% 6K in groceries will only net you $360.
I'll stick with my churning.

2/13/2015 1:53:46 AM

Need a nice-ish hotel in the uptown/Knox area of Dallas next month. I have maybe 80k IHG pts (plus "platinum" status) and my annual free night from the IHG card. However the intercontinental is in some area nowhere near anything, and I don't think IHG has any other nice-ish hotels. But I don't want to use my UR points as I'm hoarding them WHAT SHOULD I DOOOOOO

2/13/2015 7:21:01 PM

You'd be foolish not to use the UR pts
Category 1 Hyatt House Dallas/Uptown

2/13/2015 7:38:02 PM

But didn't you say using the UR pts on hotels was a bad deal?

2/13/2015 8:05:08 PM

Because I usually stay at mid level hotels which have the worst redemption rates.
At 5K a night you'll probably be getting 3 cents a point.

2/13/2015 8:18:18 PM

Figures that I'd finally get a Target prepaid redcard and the NC systems would go on the fritz.

2/20/2015 3:04:45 PM

http://thepointsguy.com/2015/02/chase-drops-all-travel-sites-from-ultimate-rewards-portal/

2/24/2015 11:21:03 PM

^^^where are you finding rooms for 5k/night? I'm looking for Dallas in a few weekends and 4* hotels are going for 30-50k/night. That is a horrible deal, IMO.

2/25/2015 12:33:37 AM

Don't think I've ever found a Marriott hotel for under 15k a night. Then again I'm not staying in a hotel under 3 stars. Usually only 4 or 5 if I can help it.

2/25/2015 11:05:25 AM

^^ The 5K rate is for category 1 hotels

http://www.hyatt.com/gp/en/awards/hyatt_free_night.jsp

2/25/2015 11:31:52 AM

So you were saying to transfer my UR pts to Hyatt points and then book a Hyatt

I'm slow on the uptake with this stuff

2/25/2015 3:23:05 PM

Hah.
Yeah, I mean its cat 1, but hyatt places are usually decent.
You can check it against tripadvisor.

2/25/2015 11:00:35 PM

Get SPG points for using Uber

http://thepointsguy.com/2015/02/uber-and-starwood-preferred-guest-launch-new-partnership/

2/26/2015 4:23:20 PM

So I get 2 points per $1 spent already with my Chase Preferred card using Uber. How is this any different? Or does this mean in addition to what your credit card already earns you?

--Also staying at the Ritz next week in Philly for work. Only $229 /night. Thanks corporate codes!

[Edited on March 7, 2015 at 5:26 PM. Reason : s]

3/7/2015 5:26:21 PM

I've always wondered about using corporate codes for personal travel

3/8/2015 10:01:44 AM

Yeah they usually only work on the weekdays. I've never actually been ID'd. If you are say you're there for an interview. Old coworker of mine even printed out fake business cards for each of the companies in case he ever got asked. Haha.

3/8/2015 1:55:34 PM

never had a problem using a corporate code on the weekend - worst case scenario if they ask for proof you say that you are a vendor or doing consulting and someone at the company booked your stay with their code because you are doing work for them

3/8/2015 8:35:52 PM

No I meant from experience a lot of corporate codes don't work or don't have the same rate on the weekends.

3/8/2015 10:19:29 PM

in general, ibm's codes work on the weekend

3/8/2015 10:24:23 PM

Hmm sweet re-booked my hotel for $20 cheaper. The corporate rates do seem to fluctuate a bit even for the same nights. I guess it's all based upon availability at the hotel. Got the Ritz for $209/night now. IBM was $212.

Yeah I checked on the weekend. I rates I usually use are still offered then. I guess I remember rates not being available before on weekends but maybe that's more rare than I'm thinking it is.

3/8/2015 11:37:24 PM

Ritz is $184 with DTC. Even better.

Also just got my United Silver status renewed from being Platinum Marriott. I mainly fly Delta but it's nice to have at least silver when I have to fly United for free economy plus seats and priority boarding.

3/9/2015 8:08:11 PM

Is there a particularly good strategy for Marriott/Ritz Carlton points?

Chances are I'm getting married at a Ritz in a year and change, so I'd like to start accruing points sooner rather than later.

3/10/2015 5:31:07 PM