credit card points travel/miles/airline and hotel rewards

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you plan to travel a lot in the US/Caribbean then Southwest may be a good deal. If you qualify for a companion pass then one of you can fly for free on each flight.

Was a fabulous deal now SW is going to drop the companion pass

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If anyone has questions for someone deep in the hobby I’m happy to answer them. I’ve been doing it since you could buy coins from the mint to hit sign up bonuses so been at it a while.

An OG real one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you plan to travel a lot in the US/Caribbean then Southwest may be a good deal. If you qualify for a companion pass then one of you can fly for free on each flight.

I’m becoming sour on Southwest after all the changes - I wouldn’t be surprised if they do away with this. Southwest card holders still get one free bag per passenger if you have their credit card, so I’m holding on to mine for now but every time I look the rates are insanely high and we end up booking with another airline because it’s a better deal even with my companion pass. YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you plan to travel a lot in the US/Caribbean then Southwest may be a good deal. If you qualify for a companion pass then one of you can fly for free on each flight.

Was a fabulous deal now SW is going to drop the companion pass

Have they announced that? I am like 10k
Points away right now!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are really three ways to get points: business directly with an airline/hotel, a sign up bonus for a new card, and ongoing spend on a card. For redeeming you can book through a travel portal, which is usually a terrible value, or transfer to a partner which is the best value. My wife and I have traveled pretty much exclusively on points for the last decade or so. It requires flexibility and preparation but is worth it if you put the work in.

Thanks. This is super helpful perspective.

[Anonymous]

These programs are changing fast. They have so many miles and points in the system they are imposing restrictions, increasing how much you need to spend each year and devaluing points and miles. Many have done the number and are walking away from these programs.

After The New York Times asked readers how they felt about their loyalty programs, more than 100 wrote in to say they were done chasing airline status. Some of the respondents said they were considering canceling their airline credit cards, where banks team up with airlines to offer additional benefits like lounge access, and which offer more opportunities to earn status tied to spending. Many expressed disappointment at how they had spent years accruing points and miles with their chosen airlines only for them to become significantly devalued as airlines made changes to their programs.

Ms. Brantner recalled a time when she had to spend $15,000 each year with Delta to reach the top-tier status. Now the company is asking customers to spend $28,000 annually to earn Diamond status. She also learned that her American Express Delta Reserve credit card would be imposing restrictions on how many times she could use the airline’s Sky Club lounges — unless she spent at least $75,000 on her card each year.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/28/business/airline-loyalty-programs-rethinking.html

https://onemileatatime.com/news/capital-one-venture-x-lounge-access-changes/

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2024-airline-miles-points/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just pick an airline and a lounge you want. Open the best credit card for those, and try to use that airline whenever possible.

In general I think the games are just to entertain people who have to travel for work and are stuck there anyway. It’s much better to be a leisure traveler and just pay for the perks you want as you go.

Except I do think it’s nice to have access to a lounge and they will give it to you just for opening a card so you might as well. I think it’s worth the Amex fee, but I would have had an Amex anyway.

OP here. Good point. I had miles for upgrades all the time when I used to travel for work, but haven't traveled for work in years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These programs are changing fast. They have so many miles and points in the system they are imposing restrictions, increasing how much you need to spend each year and devaluing points and miles. Many have done the number and are walking away from these programs.

After The New York Times asked readers how they felt about their loyalty programs, more than 100 wrote in to say they were done chasing airline status. Some of the respondents said they were considering canceling their airline credit cards, where banks team up with airlines to offer additional benefits like lounge access, and which offer more opportunities to earn status tied to spending. Many expressed disappointment at how they had spent years accruing points and miles with their chosen airlines only for them to become significantly devalued as airlines made changes to their programs.

Ms. Brantner recalled a time when she had to spend $15,000 each year with Delta to reach the top-tier status. Now the company is asking customers to spend $28,000 annually to earn Diamond status. She also learned that her American Express Delta Reserve credit card would be imposing restrictions on how many times she could use the airline’s Sky Club lounges — unless she spent at least $75,000 on her card each year.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/28/business/airline-loyalty-programs-rethinking.html

https://onemileatatime.com/news/capital-one-venture-x-lounge-access-changes/

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2024-airline-miles-points/

Airline status has become increasingly worthless, particular in a hub city like DC. Much better offer booking business class on points if that’s what people are after.

[Anonymous]

I haven’t paid for vacation flights in over 3 years. I travel for leisure with 2 kids, mostly in economy because of numbers, and have no loyalty to any one program. At present I’m working Amex, Chase, American and Alaska programs. Points are earned largely through initial bonuses and ongoing spending.

In the last 3-4 years we went to France, Turkey, UK, Morocco, Netherlands. Just came back from 2 weeks in Scandinavia, and have Austria booked for tgiving and Italy for spring break.

If you and your DH consistently open new cards 3-4 times a year, you can travel in business class 1-2 times a year easily, more if in economy. It’s a fun hobby but there is definitely a learning curve and ongoing research.

[Anonymous]

I'll give my take as a frequent traveler with little spare time. I don't "churn" cards because I dont' have time for that. I have 2 cards:
AmEx Platinum
Chase Sapphire Reserve

AmEx gets all my airfare because you get 5x points. This also gives me gold status on both Hilton and Marriott hotels. Lots of free breakfasts and routine upgrades (usually outside the US).
Chase gets everything else.

Then, each partners with various airilnes so you can convert AmEx/Chase points to that airline's points, and it's diferent airlines for each. When I want a flight, I convert the points at that time.

Big caveat: the annual fee on these cards is $600-700/year. However, you get credited for various spending so actual cost is a lot lower.

But for all this, you need to spend a lot to make it worth it. Work lets me use my personal card for travel, so between the 2 cards I'm spending $200-300k/year.

As for the "just get a cash back card", you don't get much value from that _if_ you want to use it for business class travel. A simple example: a round-trip business calss flight from here to Europe may be $7k if you buy it, or 140k points. To earn $7k on your cash back card, you need to spend let's say $350k. To earn 140k points, that would be $30k on airfare (AmEx 5x points) or maybe $100k on typical regular spending (Chase gives 3x points on restaurants).

In summary, it's a balance of how complicated you want to make your life.. the marginal benefit compared to your time to manage the "tricks".

[Anonymous]

We skip the airline cards because they are not good value for us - YMMV.

We have a Marriott Bonvoy card that gives us status-credit "nights" for every $3000 in credit card spend -- plus triple Marriott points on any hotel/airline spend, double points on restaurants/dining, single points per $1 on other spend. It costs $95/yr and we get a one night free stay at a lower tier property (which makes the fee break-even for us).

We picked Marriott mostly because they have hotels everywhere. They have several different cards. Look them all over and pick the one that best fits your situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll give my take as a frequent traveler with little spare time. I don't "churn" cards because I dont' have time for that. I have 2 cards:
AmEx Platinum
Chase Sapphire Reserve

AmEx gets all my airfare because you get 5x points. This also gives me gold status on both Hilton and Marriott hotels. Lots of free breakfasts and routine upgrades (usually outside the US).
Chase gets everything else.

Then, each partners with various airilnes so you can convert AmEx/Chase points to that airline's points, and it's diferent airlines for each. When I want a flight, I convert the points at that time.

Big caveat: the annual fee on these cards is $600-700/year. However, you get credited for various spending so actual cost is a lot lower.

But for all this, you need to spend a lot to make it worth it. Work lets me use my personal card for travel, so between the 2 cards I'm spending $200-300k/year.

As for the "just get a cash back card", you don't get much value from that _if_ you want to use it for business class travel. A simple example: a round-trip business calss flight from here to Europe may be $7k if you buy it, or 140k points. To earn $7k on your cash back card, you need to spend let's say $350k. To earn 140k points, that would be $30k on airfare (AmEx 5x points) or maybe $100k on typical regular spending (Chase gives 3x points on restaurants).

In summary, it's a balance of how complicated you want to make your life.. the marginal benefit compared to your time to manage the "tricks".

This is a great strategy. Only thing I’d add is to also get a Chase Freedom Unlimited card to put everything on that is not a bonused category on Sapphire or AMEX. 1.5x points on everything and can transfer to Sapphire to transfer to travel partners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll give my take as a frequent traveler with little spare time. I don't "churn" cards because I dont' have time for that. I have 2 cards:
AmEx Platinum
Chase Sapphire Reserve

AmEx gets all my airfare because you get 5x points. This also gives me gold status on both Hilton and Marriott hotels. Lots of free breakfasts and routine upgrades (usually outside the US).
Chase gets everything else.


Then, each partners with various airilnes so you can convert AmEx/Chase points to that airline's points, and it's diferent airlines for each. When I want a flight, I convert the points at that time.

Big caveat: the annual fee on these cards is $600-700/year. However, you get credited for various spending so actual cost is a lot lower.

But for all this, you need to spend a lot to make it worth it. Work lets me use my personal card for travel, so between the 2 cards I'm spending $200-300k/year.

As for the "just get a cash back card", you don't get much value from that _if_ you want to use it for business class travel. A simple example: a round-trip business calss flight from here to Europe may be $7k if you buy it, or 140k points. To earn $7k on your cash back card, you need to spend let's say $350k. To earn 140k points, that would be $30k on airfare (AmEx 5x points) or maybe $100k on typical regular spending (Chase gives 3x points on restaurants).

In summary, it's a balance of how complicated you want to make your life.. the marginal benefit compared to your time to manage the "tricks".

This is a great strategy. Only thing I’d add is to also get a Chase Freedom Unlimited card to put everything on that is not a bonused category on Sapphire or AMEX. 1.5x points on everything and can transfer to Sapphire to transfer to travel partners.

You’d be better off getting an AMEX Blue Business Plus which is 2x on everything if you’re not going to use the Freedom just on bonus categories.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We skip the airline cards because they are not good value for us - YMMV.

We have a Marriott Bonvoy card that gives us status-credit "nights" for every $3000 in credit card spend -- plus triple Marriott points on any hotel/airline spend, double points on restaurants/dining, single points per $1 on other spend. It costs $95/yr and we get a one night free stay at a lower tier property (which makes the fee break-even for us).

We picked Marriott mostly because they have hotels everywhere. They have several different cards. Look them all over and pick the one that best fits your situation.

This is me, but with Hilton AMEX card. I haven’t done the math, but my perceived value from my Hilton card seems much more than the airline card I used to have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://frequentmiler.com/start-here/

It's mostly about getting the card sign up bonuses.

This. And the points you get after you have earned the bonus are just noise. If you want to truly “play the game” it’s about opening new cards on a steady pace and with a specific strategy so as not to limit how many new cards you can open. Different banks have different rules. There is a significant time investment up front to learn what you are doing and then a lesser but not zero ongoing time investment to stay abreast of new developments and learn how to make the best redemptions etc. I’m in pretty deep time-wise and I’d say I’m only intermediate level at best.

There is definitely a degree to which this depends on your ability. My wife and I get to book all of our work travel on personal cards so we earn a ton a points from that. Beyond that just maximizing bonus categories i.e. 4x on food, 3x on travel, 2x on the rest etc. can add some. Always be on the look out for providing referrals to, sometimes to each other.

Always refer each other plus shop on Rakuten for Amex points.