I love credit cards so much!

[vanjust14]

Currently SPG points are the most desirable hotel points. You can use them to transfer to partners as well(20k at a time = 25k at the airline). They also go to marriott at 3x, so 1 spg = 1 Marriott point. Both SPG Amex cards currently have promotions on it, so if you want to start one now, do it before the end of the month. Also, when it comes to marriott bookings, the SPG cards earn more than Marriotts own cards... which is kinda funny in a way...
Hyatt is probably the best when it comes to redeeming. 15k for a $250 room is pretty sweet redemption. 25k sometimes for like a $400 room. Keep in mind though UR does go to Hyatt.

it really depends on what branding you like, there is also Hilton, IHG, etc.

Good to know. So many choices...decisions, decisions! Maybe I'll just have to get more than one

 

[Albort]

Good to know. So many choices...decisions, decisions! Maybe I'll just have to get more than one

ideally, u want to stick with one for better status, but hey! i love your thinking!

@calypso726 arent u a club carlson member? 3000 points for partner activity --> https://www.doctorofcredit.com/club-carlson-earn-3000-points-partner-activity-easy-cheap-complete/

 

[mhartman09]

I think @mhartman09 recently got the Marriott personal with the 80k offer? Anyways, I saw someone on reddit post that their wife was able to get matched to the 100k offer just last week via sm... I just sent one in to see. It's worth a shot!

Yes, I did take the 80K offer for Marriott personal. My plan is to SM for the match to 100K once I've got the card and I'm just about done with spend. I figure it doesn't hurt to ask. If they say no, I'm still in the same place I started.

Why does waiting on a new card have to feel like such agony? LOL. I'm still waiting on my Marriott card to arrive. I had SM'd Chase to have the card expedited, but they couldn't because they needed to verify my Marriott account number. Ugh. I got an email today saying they mailed me a card yesterday, so I'm assuming that's it. The next 3-5 days will be the longest ever!! Don't they know I've got bills I need to pay, but won't because I want to use them for spend on this card????

 

[amalone1013]

Yes, I did take the 80K offer for Marriott personal. My plan is to SM for the match to 100K once I've got the card and I'm just about done with spend. I figure it doesn't hurt to ask. If they say no, I'm still in the same place I started.

Why does waiting on a new card have to feel like such agony? LOL. I'm still waiting on my Marriott card to arrive. I had SM'd Chase to have the card expedited, but they couldn't because they needed to verify my Marriott account number. Ugh. I got an email today saying they mailed me a card yesterday, so I'm assuming that's it. The next 3-5 days will be the longest ever!! Don't they know I've got bills I need to pay, but won't because I want to use them for spend on this card????

Exactly! Come on, AMEX, DH needs tires and an oil change! I want to get all my Nov 1st autopay stuff onto this card! I want to pay extra on my bills!

 

[nhgirl]

Shop Through Chase has always been very YMMV for me. I have had my points clawed back once after 3 weeks for using a non-chase brand card, i also had points given to me for using a non-chase brand card. Sometimes they dont even show up. Another time, i bought 2 iPads back to back, one of them gave me my extra 2% but the other didnt. when i inquired, they told me they were on sale, therefore it didnt count. i didnt want to burn the bridge and get my other points taken away so i let it go. I still got a few walmart purchases that hasnt pass through shop with chase either...



did u get the 120k mailer? i got it, i would totally get it but i already have a another card coming.

Edit: thanks evil amalone1013

I got the 120k mailer but I froze my credit because of the Equifax data breach. If they send you an offer do the do a credit check? Or can I put the application in under DH? His credit in not frozen.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Thanks, great plan! Hope it works for you when you try in April. I don't really have a specific need in mind. Not planning to go to Hawaii until 2019, and I will have Southwest Companion pass then. I fly mostly Southwest. I'd like a hotel card just for points and staying free just because I can, ha! It doesn't have to be Marriott...do you recommend one over the other? SPG or Hyatt maybe? Only reason I was considering venture was for UT tickets for my December 2018 WDW trip.

I'm a Marriott supporter dating back to my days when I traveled more for work. I also like that Marriott points can be transferred to Southwest. (Perhaps we have similar preferences here, haha!).

In combination with the strategy I posted earlier, you could also consider getting an SPG business card in the middle there. That could slow down your rate of Chase applications (which helps with auto-approvals) without having any impact to your 5/24 status.

With relation to Marriott and SPG points my wife and I have hit the following:
- Me: Marriott Personal, Marriott Biz, SPG Personal, SPG Biz (going to apply in a week or so before the 35k offer goes away)
- Wife: Marriott Personal, SPG Biz

Combined with all of these signups, min spends, and referrals; we've earned over 600,000 Marriott points.

 

[amalone1013]

Bummer... turned down for 100k Marriott match. Guess I go back to hoping that offer comes back in the next month and half and try again.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Bummer... turned down for 100k Marriott match. Guess I go back to hoping that offer comes back in the next month and half and try again.

If at first you don't succeed, try try again! Good Luck!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Just got a "we're mailing you a credit card" email from Chase and got excited that maybe it was the CIP - nope, it's a new Freedom card as mine is set to expire next year.

May go for the Marriott card next...

Is your CIP approved? If so as soon as it gets approved you can call and request it be expedited. Otherwise it will ship through the normal mail in 7-10 business days.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Good to know. So many choices...decisions, decisions! Maybe I'll just have to get more than one

Careful, credit cards are like Lay's... "betcha can't eat just one!"

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I will sm them and see what they say. Hard to believe they'd want to turn down the extra fees, but if so we will do it at the 12mth mark.

So I sm’d To change dh’s csp to csr. Mission accomplished. I was thinking he was under a year with the card, but he actually got it March 2016. Ha! Time flies when you are having fun!

Anywho, excited to get the extra point and have my redemptions stretch further, so yay! Thanks for y’alls help!

 

[elgerber]

Do you guys use Chase Credit Journey? I enrolled my college student daughter, so we can keep an eye on her credit score. There is a box for pre-qualified offers, does that mean she would get those if she applied? There is a CSP offer in there LOL! I can't get one because I am over 5/24, but my 21 year old college student can? LOL, she couldn't ever make the spend, not even close, but it's kinda funny.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Settled on the Delta Personal Gold for the bonus miles. Immediate approval so yay! Downside: won't expedite it. I called and they said it has to be sent regular USPS for "identity verification purposes". Guess because it's my first Amex? Sigh. Countdown begins. Card has 8 business days to arrive in time for my trip... FINGERS CROSSED!!

 

[jujubiee4]

Received an Amex business gold rewards offer with 75k after $5k spend - $175 fee waived the first year. Is that a good offer? Or should I hold out for something better.

Do you have a business? I got this offer in the mail also a few weeks ago and threw it
in the trash because of no business.

I wonder how close they check for a business. I have heard of people making up one
but thought that was with chase not amex.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Do you have a business? I got this offer in the mail also a few weeks ago and threw it
in the trash because of no business.

I wonder how close they check for a business. I have heard of people making up one
but thought that was with chase not amex.

I've heard of people with "businesses" getting cards with Amex. Reddit suggests Amex biz recon is actually easier than Chase biz recon.

 

[jujubiee4]

u still got a chance! im rooting for u!

PS, anyone have earning strategies?
Recently learned that by shopping through JetBlue Portal to Amazon, i can earn 3x JetBlue points.
So far ive also been buying VGC @ staples with ink+ for 5x. using them to pay my utility bills with them. some tricks ive learned with my electric company is they wont let you overcharge, but 2 smaller charges seems to work.

This is interesting. I constantly forget to use the jetblue portal for Amazon. The recent Amex 20 percent
off Amazon purchases REALLY helped with my Christmas shopping as i had it on both Amex card and i hit
it hard. I only learned about it from Slickdeals.

The utility overpaying is definitely YMMV. All my bills you can pay wayyy over but i tried to take advantage
of Amex offer of extra points by paying cable bill and it got rejected. Direct Tv informed me i can only
pay 100 dollars over bill. Lame!

 

[wendow]

Do you have a business? I got this offer in the mail also a few weeks ago and threw it
in the trash because of no business.

I wonder how close they check for a business. I have heard of people making up one
but thought that was with chase not amex.

Agree with @gottalovepluto , everything I have read suggests Amex is easier to get biz cards from than Chase.

 

[jujubiee4]

What card is everyone putting their Christmas shopping on?
Or does it depend on the store?

As hard as i hit Amazon the last month I'm wondering if i should break
down and get their card. I just used Discover recently because of 5x.

I never got the amazon card because i don't want to be encouraged
to shop their more than i need to. lol

 

[jujubiee4]

Settled on the Delta Personal Gold for the bonus miles. Immediate approval so yay! Downside: won't expedite it. I called and they said it has to be sent regular USPS for "identity verification purposes". Guess because it's my first Amex? Sigh. Countdown begins. Card has 8 business days to arrive in time for my trip... FINGERS CROSSED!!

I wish i lived near a Delta hub. I would consider their card. I had a brief trip recently for to see
family and my dad booked Delta for us to fly. I was pleasantly surprised as i have not flown delta
in years. What is the spend on the card?

 

[gottalovepluto]

I wish i lived near a Delta hub. I would consider their card. I had a brief trip recently for to see
family and my dad booked Delta for us to fly. I was pleasantly surprised as i have not flown delta
in years. What is the spend on the card?

$2k in 3 months for 50,000 miles. Additional $1k within 6 months for 10,000 more miles. Also have a $50 statement credit with any Delta purchase in first 3 months. E-gift card can trigger that and is my back-up if I don't get my card in time to buy something on-board.