irish pete ag06 said:

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People that have done the Chase Ink Business Preferred for the 80K points... what have you downgraded this card to avoid the second annual fee?

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There's no reason to product change it unless you want to do some manufactured spending at office supply stores. There are a couple of No-AF options that make sense. CIC is the most common one. But, lately as people realize you can get 2, 3, maybe more CIP most people are just cancelling them as they come up for renewal as there seems to be a soft limit of 4 chase biz cards per person at any one time.

I wouldn't expect the CIP loophole to stay open much longer. Like the AA mailer thing at some point the banks will catch on.

Question on cards that offer elevated rewards at grocery stores, whether quarterly or year-round: When they have an associated fuel station (i.e. Kroger or HEB), do purchases at the fuel pump qualify for these 5 or 6% rewards?

It's about that time again. I plan on applying for this business card to start my SW companion pass journey:
https://creditcards.chase.com/a1/southwest/NAEPBizT?CELL=6RHZ

Then apply for this personal card in December:
https://creditcards.chase.com/a1/southwest/NAEP60kPremierT?CELL=6RHZ

Let me know if there's a better way, or if I may screw things up. I'm currently an authorized user on my wife's SW card. I hope that doesn't screw me up.

Tips and tricks are appreciated.

gvine07 said:

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It's about that time again. I plan on applying for this business card to start my SW companion pass journey:
https://creditcards.chase.com/a1/southwest/NAEPBizT?CELL=6RHZ

Then apply for this personal card in December:
https://creditcards.chase.com/a1/southwest/NAEP60kPremierT?CELL=6RHZ

Let me know if there's a better way, or if I may screw things up. I'm currently an authorized user on my wife's SW card. I hope that doesn't screw me up.

Tips and tricks are appreciated.

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Just don't hit your min. spend this year. Make absolutely certain you hit it during the first cycle that closes in 2020.

Nope

LeftyAg89 said:

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Not sure if this has been brought up on this thread since it's not CC, but if you don't have a Chase checking or savings acct... you can get a $600 signup cash bonus. Not bad!! I'm about to sign up the wife as well, an easy $1200.

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I'm new to all of this, and this may be a totally dumb question, but is this as easy as signing up with the minimum amount(s), and keep it for a certain time I'm sure, and they will just simply deposit the $600 or $1200 in your account?

I think it's a minimum of $25k for atleast 3 months.

I don't want to start a brand new thread to ask this - but this thread is 9 pages long - and a lot of acronyms and code speak.

I am taking a trip to Europe in a few months (everything already booked). I plan to fly my family of 4 to California this summer. Then we are headed to Italy next Winter.

I'd like a card that will help me out on airfare and preferably have no foreign transaction fees.

I don't travel much for work.

I prefer VRBO over hotels.

What's my best card in this situation?

Edit: I never carry a balance. Probably put around $40k/yr on a card.

Edit2: Currently have a Chase Amazon card and year-to-date rewards (through end of Sept) is right at $900.

With that kind of spend and travel, I would focus on Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR). Very valuable when you transfer UR to one of the travel partners...or to keep it simple you can book flights via the Chase portal.

I think you would a prime candidate for the Chase Sapphire Reserve. It comes with a $450 annual fee but there is a $300 travel credit so its really a $150/yr card. If you book via the Chase portal, your points are worth 1.5x. The sign on bonus is 60,000....so you are already looking at $900 worth of travel minimum (60,000 x 1.5 = ~$900). If you don't want a $450/yr card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the other option with the $95/yr fee. Points are worth 1.25x on the Chase portal.

After you hit the minimum spend bonus, I would get a second card. Chase Freedom Unlimited. Which is a no fee card earning 1.5x on everything. Since you'll have the Reserve, you can combine your points and still get the 1.5x in the Chase portal. So if you do the math, every dollar you spend will be worth 2.25 in the portal (1.5 x 1.5). After getting the Freedom Unlimited, I would use that card for the majority of purchases. Only using the Reserve for Travel + Dining which earn 3x. (or really 4.5 if used via the portal).

what kind of limitations are there on travel using the Chase portal?

Can I still access all flight options?

They now use Expedia, so if you can book it on there, you should be able to get it on the Chase portal.

Correct, check Expedia.

You can't book Southwest flights is one limitations. But you can transfer points to Southwest 1 to 1. Good value this way so its actually a pro.

Can I get the 1.5 bonus using my Chase Amazon card to book travel too?

I'm not sure if the rewards on my Amazon card average out 1.5 overall but it's probably close.

Good question. I don't think you can use the points from Chase Amazon card on the portal to book travel by don't know for sure.

I think the portal on works for regular Chase cars (Sapphire, Freedom, Freedom Unlimited, Ink) and not co-branded cards like Chase Amazon, Southwest, Hilton, IHG, Marriott, United, etc.

First time companion pass holder here, it expires at the end of this year.

I currently have 73,000 points towards the 110,00 to re-earn it.

What is the best way to make sure I re-earn the pass? If I re-earn it will it go for two years versus the one** year that I have currently had.


** I only earned it by signing up earlier this year for their CC and reaching the amount to spend.

Honestly, either a lot of spend, some over priced nights on hotels through their portal, or another cars with them. If you have the personal, you could consider a business card, but you can't have more than one personal card.

If you're married get your spouse to get a business card and personal card and go hit 110k early 2020. Then you get a companion pass for the rest of 2020 and all of 2021.

I don't think you can get another bonus for 24 months

Southwest rapid rewards shopping. Bonus points on stuff you buy each month. Example ink for my office printer is like 7 pts per dollar spent. So spend 300 earn 2100 points. Same price as you would buy just earn bonus point s

TexDill15 said:

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First time companion pass holder here, it expires at the end of this year.

I currently have 73,000 points towards the 110,00 to re-earn it.

What is the best way to make sure I re-earn the pass? If I re-earn it will it go for two years versus the one** year that I have currently had.


** I only earned it by signing up earlier this year for their CC and reaching the amount to spend.

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I did same thing with that card back in April. Yes if you hit 110k this year, it is good for next year.

Per Doc companion pass reqt. Jumps to 125k in 2020

Yep. 125k for companion pass starting in 2020.

I wonder if they'll offer the card that comes with a one year companion pass again?

SoupNazi2001 said:

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BSD said:

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Yep. 125k for companion pass starting in 2020.

I wonder if they'll offer the card that comes with a one year companion pass again?

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That sucks but is not surprising. My fear is all these rewards will continue to get devalued.

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When have rewards ever increased in value? Hoarding rewards like they are some 401k plan is a fools errand. Churn and burn.

----dp

It looks like the SW cards have lowered their bonuses. The personal cards are all 40k (at least one was 60k yesterday before the expiration) and the two business cards are down to 60k and 70k (the upper tier card was 80k yesterday).

culdeus said:

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Per Doc companion pass reqt. Jumps to 125k in 2020

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That will get rid of most of the double card sign up people. 40+60 (typical sign up bonus values) is 100, most people don't spend $25k a year.

My mom will be pissed, she's hit companion pass every year about 5 years now with spend only.. but usually just barely gets it. I don't think she'll get to 125k

SoupNazi2001 said:

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My fear is all these rewards will continue to get devalued.

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They will continue to get devalued. Eventually the game will end (it will get to the point where its not worth it anymore). But we are still living in the good times. Enjoy while you can. Churn and burn is correct.

Hopefully we can get another 3-4 good years of the good times.

Meanwhile, both SW and United just recently announced no expiration on points.. so it's not all bad.

AggieMainland said:

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SoupNazi2001 said:

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My fear is all these rewards will continue to get devalued.

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They will continue to get devalued. Eventually the game will end (it will get to the point where its not worth it anymore). But we are still living in the good times. Enjoy while you can. Churn and burn is correct.

Hopefully we can get another 3-4 good years of the good times.

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There was a pretty big dry spell where it was even rare to run sign up bonuses leading into 2008. Banks simply didn't need to or want to extend more unsecured credit. They were happy buying up mortgages. Then as soon as the recession hit programs like Chase UR and Amex MR went in to hyperdrive, and everyone was scrambling to catch up.

The problem banks have now is they have way too much automotive debt on the books. That probably won't lead to a contraction of unsecured lines of credits, but who knows.

Just an update: I applied for the business SW card (80k bonus) on October 5. As soon as I finished my application I received an email that said something to the effect of "We will let you know as soon as a decision is made. Check Chase.com if you have any questions."

Life got busy and I never heard anything - I also logged into my Chase account and didn't see anything. Last night I called at about 10:15 and an automatic machine said I was approved. Now I vaguely remember my wife called after a couple of days when she applied 2 years ago.

That's a long way to say you should call Chase after you apply for the business card. Short stories are for losers.

Quick question - I did try to google but just not clear on the answer. I am brand new to this and want to try and earn the SW 125,000-point companion pass as early in 2020 as possible. I currently have no SW rewards cards.

Assume I open the following:

1) SW business card that has the 80,000 bonus (spend $5k in first 3 months)
2) SW personal card that has 40,000 bonus (spend $1k in first three months)

If I time my spending correctly, I will earn the 120,000 bonus miles in January or February of 2020. I'll still need 5,000 more to earn my companion pass.

My question is - will the $5,000 I spend on the business card in the first 90 days in order to earn my bonus points also earn 5,000 points on its own (dollar for dollar spending)? In other words, once I spend that $5,000 will I actually have 85,000 points (5,000 from my spending, plus the bonus)?

I'm hoping to hit that 125,000 in January or February so we have essentially 2 years of companion pass.

Also, I do have a small business (Ebay store) so I should qualify for both cards - which do I apply for first, or does it matter?

Thanks for any info.

-B

SW business card question. I have multiple business that are related but have their own EIN numbers. My wife and I already have a SW Chase card for one of the business in part for the companion pass. Should I be able to get another round of business cards using a different EIN but of course same SS# number etc?

OldAg92 said:

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Quick question - I did try to google but just not clear on the answer. I am brand new to this and want to try and earn the SW 125,000-point companion pass as early in 2020 as possible. I currently have no SW rewards cards.

Assume I open the following:

1) SW business card that has the 80,000 bonus (spend $5k in first 3 months)
2) SW personal card that has 40,000 bonus (spend $1k in first three months)

If I time my spending correctly, I will earn the 120,000 bonus miles in January or February of 2020. I'll still need 5,000 more to earn my companion pass.

My question is - will the $5,000 I spend on the business card in the first 90 days in order to earn my bonus points also earn 5,000 points on its own (dollar for dollar spending)? In other words, once I spend that $5,000 will I actually have 85,000 points (5,000 from my spending, plus the bonus)?

I'm hoping to hit that 125,000 in January or February so we have essentially 2 years of companion pass.

Also, I do have a small business (Ebay store) so I should qualify for both cards - which do I apply for first, or does it matter?

Thanks for any info.

-B

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First things first, I believe the business card is now 70k and the personal card is 40k, so you'll need 15k more points. And yes, the amount you spend will be added to your total. So if you spend some in November, it won't count for a 2020/2021 CP. If you spend the required amounts in late December (after the December bill comes) and early January then you'll have 6k of that done. I'm going to be super cautious and not hit the spending amount until after Jan 1...just to be sure.

Apply for business first is what I was told.

I don't know for sure, but you can probably at least play 2 player mode with your wife. My wife has a SW business card in her name (and SS #) and I'm an authorized user. I just got a SW Business card in my name and SS # and will add her as an authorized user.

Can't you just have your wife apply for the other one using a different EIN?

We plan on cancelling her cards and doing this again in 2 years.

I'm confused. I thought my spending in November and December WOULD count towards a 2020/2021 CP as long as I don't hit the required minimum spending for the bonus until next year - hence the requirement to hit the minimum spending "in the first three months." Is this not correct? My plan was to get myself within around $500-$600 of the minimum by doing all our Christmas shopping, etc on the card this year, then make the remaining purchases to reach my minimum spending requirement during the January billing cycle to earn my bonus. Is this not accurate?