08-23-2016, 11:38 AM | #45 | |
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I don't do business travel, so I'm left with just the sign up bonuses at this point. To date, I've done pretty well for myself: - 75k Marriott - 100k Southwest + companion pass - 75k AMEX plat - 25k AMEX Everyday (no AF MR retainer card) - Hyatt 2 free nights in any Hyatt in the world, $50 statement credit, 5000 Hyatt points (about 1 free night) I'm taking a breather for now. I'm waiting for a really good United MileagePlus one to come up. My goal is to get my wife and I down to NZ/Australia in Business Class, and I'm aligning my points up for Star Alliance flights.
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08-23-2016, 11:41 AM | #46 |
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wow, you carry Plat without a Centurion Lounge in Houston? Hopefully you travel enough to SFO or Miami or LGA to make it worth it.
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08-23-2016, 12:13 PM | #47 |
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Lol there's one coming! I use the ones in LGA and DFW every year when I fly to India, connections from IAH to those airports leave lots of time in-between
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08-23-2016, 12:18 PM | #48 | |
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Glad to see AMEX adding more lounges. After I cancel my Plat, a few years later, I might get the MB version, then the Ameriprise version, etc just for the lounge access, it's so sweet.
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08-23-2016, 12:22 PM | #49 |
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I read that the $300 travel credit is per calendar year correct? Meaning this year we would get $300 and next year another $300 (no need to go the full 12 months cycle).
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08-23-2016, 12:23 PM | #50 |
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The one in DFW is kind of small, but cozy in a good way. It gives good visibility of the terminal and the entrance/exit is always conveniently next to the emirates gates.
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08-23-2016, 12:39 PM | #51 | |
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![]() You should read Flyertalk, they have a dedicated thread on success/failure of what is correctly coded for this reimbursement. The AMEX version was good for ebay, amazon and Southwest airlines gift cards.
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08-23-2016, 12:53 PM | #52 | |
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-100,000 bonus points (Spend $4,000 in first 3 months) - We put $4k/mo on ours, so no problem here. METHOD: The quickest and surest way of reaching your spend limit in time is to PREPAY for your monthly bills. Often you're allowed to carry a credit balance on your cable, some utility and cell phone bills. Literally just log on, and charge like $1000 onto your bill pay with that credit card, and it counts for the purposes of "spending" on the credit card. Also, pay your car/house insurance on your credit card too, it's like $500+ a pop. In a pinch, buy gift cards that you will use over time, namely gas station, restaurants, grocery stores. 3X points on Dining - We eat out 4-5 nights a week. METHOD: You know how you and your friends split dining bills or your company reimburses you for dining with clients? Yeah, offer to pay for these huge tabs and get reimbursed by your friends/company. My wife does this all the time for company sponsored happy hours for employees. 3X points on travel - We travel 3-4 times a year, but what qualifies as travel? RTFM? ![]() $300 Travel credit (yearly) - How does this work? CLIFF NOTES: The original purpose is to get your airline baggage fees, wifi fees, change fees covered. METHOD: check flyertalk forums. Similar to travel point coding, there's ways to get this covered for even airline ticket purchases, gift cards etc etc, but some work is involved like using an dedicated app. TSA Pre/Global Entry credit (Every 4 years) - I think these are good for 5 years. - Is this like a refund after you get TSA PRE/GE? Cliffs Notes: Correct statement credit after you pay CBP first for the application No Foreign Transaction Fees - This would come in handy for our trip to the UK next week. Cliffs Notes: Meh, I prefer to use a Schwab Visa debit card and use it to withdraw cash. Many foreign countries and places within don't accept credit cards in general. The Schwab ATM cards reimburses 100% ATM fees and gives you best exchange rates for that day (less than 0.1% for most currencies). Access 900+ VIP airport lounges worldwide with Priority PassT - What is Priority PassT? Cliffs Notes: google priority pass, it's access to hundreds of worldwide airport lounges. However, it's only good for you the card holder. IMO, it's minimum usefulness unless you travel often at a location with one of these lounges. But if you do use it, it's sweet with the free food and shower and all.
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08-23-2016, 01:33 PM | #54 |
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08-23-2016, 01:54 PM | #55 | |
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IMO, if you want best lounge access, since you're in SFO, you should do AMEX Plat. It has the Centurion Lounge out of SFO + Priority Pass lounges + Delta Lounges. Centurion and Delta allows you to bring up to 2 guests. AMEX points is a bit more tricky to redeem for airlines though, that's the downside. But if you care a lot about lounge access, I would get AMEX Plat Here's the reviews for the SFO Centurion and Delta lounges, some of the best in the business: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-centuri...-san-francisco https://www.yelp.com/biz/delta-sky-club-san-francisco The Delta one is like 2 years old, so it's still got new lounge feel. Only issue to note is, Delta is T2 and Centurion is T3. Not all International Terminals are connected on the "secure" side at SFO. IIRC, only International G is connected to T3 and only T1 is connected to T2.
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08-23-2016, 02:18 PM | #56 |
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I have had a Sapphire Preferred since 2013. I got 50,000 bonus points when I signed up, 100,000 from this, and 350,000 from my normal spending. I travel a lot. I also take advantage of promotions Chase has in categories for more points.
For example, I got 15,000 points when amazon had 10 points/dollar during Christmas with Chase Freedom. Those points are also transferrable to your Sapphire Card. I also use the 5% categories when Freedom has them (Gas, grocery, Amazon) and transfer those as well. |
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08-23-2016, 02:23 PM | #57 | |
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I think I'll keep the Reserve because after travel credit, even $150/yr is worth it to get 3X points on Travel and dining. I've spent over $50,000 on travel in a year, so that's 150,000 points (much more than most cards). With a regular sapphire preferred, it'd only be 100,000 points because 2X travel vs 3X travel on the Reserve Plus, 3X on dining is worth the incremental $55/yr over the Sapphire Preferred (that is $95/yr). There aren't any other cards paying 3X points for Travel/Dining. You're basically paying $150/yr for the Reserve and $95/yr for the Sapphire Preferred. If you spend a lot on travel/dining, you can do the math to decide if $55/yr is worth it, plus you'll get the airport lounge access as well and other perks. |
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08-23-2016, 02:36 PM | #58 | |
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Anyone knows whether I will get reimbursed for Global Entry if I were to pay for it on my current Sapphire? The Reserve probably won't get here until next week. I'm applying for the Entry now. |
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08-23-2016, 02:59 PM | #59 | |
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08-23-2016, 03:35 PM | #60 |
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Agreed. I read up on that as wel. They say that I must pay with the same card for reimbursement.
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08-23-2016, 03:41 PM | #61 |
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This card looks awesome, but it has an APR right?
I am coming from an Amex Gold which I have a little over 300k points on, but I have been contemplating the switch to Platinum for the travel. I like how there's no APR with the Amex. Would you give me your thoughts?
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08-23-2016, 03:41 PM | #62 |
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Keep checking upon it and your email as well. HTX locations were booked out until October, however, for a few select weekends, they offered appointments on the weekend. I was fortunate to snag up a slot (original appointment was in mid-October) and get my "interview" completed last weekend.
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08-23-2016, 03:51 PM | #63 |
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I wonder if this is worth getting even if you don't travel much?
Most of the benefits seem oriented towards travel and the annual fee is rather high.
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08-23-2016, 04:23 PM | #64 | |
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3X points on travel/dining is crazy good. |
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08-23-2016, 04:24 PM | #65 | |
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08-23-2016, 05:01 PM | #66 | |
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![]() For a period they moved to a 24-hour operations, but now it's a 9-5 again.
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