I love credit cards so much! v5.0 - 2022 (see first page for add'l details)

[becauseimnew]

I plan on signing up in Oct and it's 50k now. So you can continuously earn the CP year after year as long as you earn the necessary Reward Points?

Yes, but remember you can't meet the minimum spending requirement until after Jan 1.

 

[disneylover81]

If you mean does SW offer a CP all the time, yes. It's offered for anyone who logs 100 qualifying flights or 125,000 RR points. People on this thread generally find the quickest way to 125 k RR points is via CC signup bonuses. That said, you don't need to use a CC at all, people who fly SW a lot are also able to earn CP. The CP is good for the rest of the year you earn it and the following year. People here like to get it in January thus having almost 2 years of CP, before signing up for another CC bonus to start all over again (and many people alternate between partners.)

Thank you. That's exactly what I was asking and wanting to know. I wondered why everyone kept canceling and reapply every couple years so now it makes more sense to me. I am sure it's hard to log 100 flights a year and earn 125k RR, at least for me it would be. lol. I think that's what we will do, I will apply in Oct. alone, then my DH can apply 2 years later so we would have 4 years for sure. We are trying to get in the position of traveling more now that our kids are basically grown and I hate driving anywhere far so I think it's the perfect time for us to get the SWA card. So I am trying to be smart like all of you and travel on points and benefits and spend less cash!

 

[disneylover81]

I would probably get the Priority Card, the AF is $149 but comes with $75 Southwest travel credit (which you can use to buy Early bird check in) and 4 upgrades at the boarding gate. Those 2 things are worth more than the AF, plus you'll get 7,500 miles at your one year anniversary.

And the sign up bonus is only 50K RR now, but there have been some better offers in the recent past.

Perfect! I was actually just looking at that one a second ago and thinking it was probably the best bang for my buck, whether we fly a ton or not with those credits. We always buy EBCI and I wish we had done the upgrades before. I have always heard them announcing it at the gate for people to buy it, but never really paid it any attention because we are always in the A boarding group. But now that direct flights are not daily like before and layovers are all over the place, I think upgrading would be definitely worth it sometimes.

I remember last year/early this year I want to say we got a SUB offer in the mail for like 100k RR, I could be wrong, but I looked really hard at it and then threw it away, because the AF made me nervous. If I knew then what I know now I would have jumped on that offer.

 

[wanderlust7]

Perfect! I was actually just looking at that one a second ago and thinking it was probably the best bang for my buck, whether we fly a ton or not with those credits. We always buy EBCI and I wish we had done the upgrades before. I have always heard them announcing it at the gate for people to buy it, but never really paid it any attention because we are always in the A boarding group. But now that direct flights are not daily like before and layovers are all over the place, I think upgrading would be definitely worth it sometimes.

I remember last year/early this year I want to say we got a SUB offer in the mail for like 100k RR, I could be wrong, but I looked really hard at it and then threw it away, because the AF made me nervous. If I knew then what I know now I would have jumped on that offer.

There was a 100k offer last year, but it required spending $12k. That plus one support points was how I got my CP.

Be very careful about getting the bonus points to post in January. There have been people who failed to get their points posted in the right year due to returns and even fraudulent charges that counted towards the spend. I think it's better if you can wait later than October, but depends on how much time you need to make the spend.

 

[wanderlust7]

I tried finding this new offer but no luck - do you have a link? P2 got it last month and I figure it’s worth asking if they will match the new offer.

ETA: Ok, I see it mentioned on the OMAAT blog. Fingers crossed Chase will match it!

An interesting DP. Link

We only have 5 nights planned until the end of the year, so I don't think I'll try it. My SM match request was forwarded to the "appropriate department" (still fully expect it to be denied lol).

 

[disneylover81]

There was a 100k offer last year, but it required spending $12k. That plus one support points was how I got my CP.

Be very careful about getting the bonus points to post in January. There have been people who failed to get their points posted in the right year due to returns and even fraudulent charges that counted towards the spend. I think it's better if you can wait later than October, but depends on how much time you need to make the spend.

Thanks for the heads up! I can wait until later and I can spend $1000 pretty quickly (in real charges) to meet the MSR, I just want to have it be done by the time I book my May flight to WDW.

 

[reliev]

i know a lot of us are interested in japan this brings up a lot of valid points https://onemileatatime.com/news/japan-border-reopening-tourists/
I'm more confident in my 2024 approach now

 

[becauseimnew]

i know a lot of us are interested in japan this brings up a lot of valid points https://onemileatatime.com/news/japan-border-reopening-tourists/
I'm more confident in my 2024 approach now

I've read that Japan summer 2023 should be a go since they are hosting the G-7 Summit in May 2023.

 

[afan]

i know a lot of us are interested in japan this brings up a lot of valid points https://onemileatatime.com/news/japan-border-reopening-tourists/
I'm more confident in my 2024 approach now

No one actually knows what will happen though. This is a good read as are the comments. https://www.travelcaffeine.com/when-will-japan-reopen-allow-foreign-tourists/

They can keep trying to go back to their isolationism of the past but in today's society it won't work. At some point other countries are going to stop letting Japanese freely enter when Japan isn't reciprocating.

 

[reliev]

No one actually knows what will happen though. This is a good read as are the comments. https://www.travelcaffeine.com/when-will-japan-reopen-allow-foreign-tourists/

They can keep trying to go back to their isolationism of the past but in today's society it won't work. At some point other countries are going to stop letting Japanese freely enter when Japan isn't reciprocating.

agreed I just find 2023 less and less of the point daydream I have as time goes on. I don't want to go with a guide i have to hire for a custom tour with testing it doesn't sound fun to me only stressful.

 

[afan]

All of you mentioning the cap one preapproval thing. I have a savings acct with them, old ING acct, and they are always sending me emails to check if I'm pre approved. Got one today so figured ok let's see what they say.

Clearly they don't like me since this was my answer - You should receive a letter notifying of your pre-approval status within 7 to 10 business days.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

All of you mentioning the cap one preapproval thing. I have a savings acct with them, old ING acct, and they are always sending me emails to check if I'm pre approved. Got one today so figured ok let's see what they say.

Clearly they don't like me since this was my answer - You should receive a letter notifying of your pre-approval status within 7 to 10 business days.

That's ...odd.
I have the same savings accounts. I recently had an email offer for a checking account for $250 bonus so now I have that too.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

The kids' passports finally came yesterday. I applied 6/24 so it took almost 2 months. I'm shocked at how bad my son's photo looks, LOL. But I'm going to assume if they printed it and sent it, he's okay. I immediately applied for my 17yo's GE. I'm hoping she gets approved fast and hopefully she can snag an appt pretty fast. I am having my mom use the other credit to get GE before Ireland. My 13yo still got TSA precheck under my GE last week. So I'm not worried about him having GE/TSA yet.

But then I've been thinking about maybe taking my kids somewhere for Christmas because we're all off the week after New Years. My friend has 2 GE credits on her cards she's not going to use, so she said she'd let me have one, LOL. I guess I need to start looking at flights and places to go.

Just a DP for anyone who needs to do a GE interview on arrival. My 19 yo nephew just did his at DTW and he said it only took a couple of minutes. He landed 45 minutes ago and is already in the lounge. I was worried about him navigating the interview and customs for the first time by himself, but he had no problems.

They almost didn't let him in the Sky Club because he is only 19. They said there is a working bar tender so he could go in, but they do not allow guests under 21 if there is no bar tender. I just checked the website and it does say that you have to be 21 or over if it is a self-service bar. That makes sense, but I just didn't think about it since I was with him when we traveled to Europe.

I think it's pretty easy to still get appts at DTW in general. I know I was able to book my BFs for a week after approval, LOL. I think when I did mine it was next day.

Okay, you both convinced me to try it out lol. Not much risk with the 100 day refund policy.

@reliev Thanks for the promo code!

Ya'll are making me think about doing this. I guess the perk being that it has reward flights too. But I struggle since as a teacher a lot of "deals" are times I can never go.

That's a nice benefit from AMEX.

I LOVE making spreadsheets. I guess if I start getting several cards with AF's, I would make a spreadsheet too just to keep up. I am starting it slow, as I just got my first AF card, but it was no doubt worth the $95 fee because I already have earned $1500 UR since May. Every card has different benefits and I need to step up my game. I struggle sometimes just to keep up with the Chase Freedom and Discover card 5% Bonus categories each quarter and also the little addons "+" signs that have to be clicked each month. I plan on getting a SWA card in October to earn the CP so I am looking into those options now to see which one would be best us.

That CSR $495 AF for sure had me nervous! But I know from the DIS that it pretty much pays for itself if you work it right. Normally spending $8k in travel a year is nothing to me, but we just purchased DVC so we will no longer be making cash reservations for rooms anymore there, which was a huge chunk of our travel spend. So now I will have to sit back next year and just see what we are looking like with our spending.

I was one of the first to get the CSR. And for years I justified the AF. But when it bumped up to $550 and I wasn't offered a retention offer, I finally walked away. Part was because I know I wanted to churn it at some point. But mostly because the value wasn't there for me anymore. I wouldn't get $250 out of the card right now. My PP card still works, lol. And my surpass comes w/ 10 as well. I was upset they took away the door dash and peleton credits. But once I finally decide to do the MDD, I'll grab it again, but we'll see if it's a keeper for me beyond that first year anymore.

 

[afan]

That's ...odd.
I have the same savings accounts. I recently had an email offer for a checking account for $250 bonus so now I have that too.

I've gotten that too. I ignore all their emails. Only reason I have an acct with them is because they bought or whatever they did with ING.

I put money for my ira in it each week and then every few months I call and have Edward jones pull it out. Keeps it out if sight/out of mind.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Any cards out there subsidizing Peacock subscriptions, either in part or entirely? Amex Plat is already subsidizing my Disney+.

 

[ten6mom]

Question on carry on luggage on my flight to Canada:

Half of the trip each direction is on a Westjet Bombardier Q400. I know this is a smaller plane and I am concerned that even if I make the first leg (PHX to Calgary on a 737 I think) with only carryon, that there won't be space on the smaller plane for it.

I am absolutely trying to avoid checking a bag.

Does anyone know if my standard small rolling suitcase (it's not a fancy new one... it's 30 years old from Sam's club) that fits just fine in a regular plane overhead will fit on the smaller plane?

And, if it doesn't, will they tell me before I leave Phx or how will that work?

 

[jujubiee4]

i know a lot of us are interested in japan this brings up a lot of valid points https://onemileatatime.com/news/japan-border-reopening-tourists/
I'm more confident in my 2024 approach now

Yeah we are going to put off our trip until 2024 also. I was tired of rebooking lol.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Question on carry on luggage on my flight to Canada:

Half of the trip each direction is on a Westjet Bombardier Q400. I know this is a smaller plane and I am concerned that even if I make the first leg (PHX to Calgary on a 737 I think) with only carryon, that there won't be space on the smaller plane for it.

I am absolutely trying to avoid checking a bag.

Does anyone know if my standard small rolling suitcase (it's not a fancy new one... it's 30 years old from Sam's club) that fits just fine in a regular plane overhead will fit on the smaller plane?

And, if it doesn't, will they tell me before I leave Phx or how will that work?

Are you trying to check a bag because you don't want to pay for it, or because you want to keep it with you? You should be able to gate check for free if that's something you're interested in.

 

[elgerber]

Refundable hotel trick

Update, and the Chase CSP $50 hotel credit. This did indeed work, got the credit, cancelled and so far they have not clawed it back. My statement since then has closed.

 

[jujubiee4]

For anyone familiar with Airport Lounges. Which card is the best for this? For years I had
the Reserve and never use priority pass ...mainly because we never had time before boarding.

Now I want to look into it more. Is Amex platinum the best? Sometime this year I want to apply
for the Delta card because of flight itineraries. (I don't have the CSR anymore.) Thank you.

* I just read about the Platinum lounge access changes beginning next year. So for
a family that may be out.