I love credit cards so much! v6.0 - 2023 (see first page for add'l details)

[lsutigers03]

What's the offer? The upgrade offers I've seen reported have 10k spend.

Hard to say how long it'll last, but since May is a ways off, I'd guess it won't last that long.

It says it's a pre approval so it might not be an upgrade just a normal offer. It's 150k MR after $15k spend in 3 months.

Agreed, doubtful it'll be around in May. Honestly those offers could be gone tomorrow, they're so tempermental. I'd put it at 3 months max. If I really wanted the offer, I'd be tempted to use it in mid December, so you can quadriple dip the Dell credit ($800) and triple dip the airline incidental credit ($600).

But honestly, I'd do the math on an Ink. Probably makes more sense.

I'm about to finish an Ink MSR and she was approved yesterday for another Ink. She was also recently approved for a 75k MR offer on the BBP. So right now we have a lot of MSR to meet. In May - July of this year I was in pop up jail. Hopefully she can get an AMEX offer when we have a ton of tuition spend or maybe I'll be out of jail.

 

[elgerber]

We have never ever taken a two week vacation either. I think the longest was a week and 2 days. Maybe 3 days. Every aspect of my job is extremely time sensitive and it's harder than heck to get ready to go on vacation and an absolute nightmare when I get back. DH's was the same, but he has a new job. But more than 1 week at a time, and it effects his commissions.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Been lurking here for a few months learning and churning. Transferred 120K UR to Virgin Atlantic for UC tickets SEA-LHR (30% bonus meant only 60k for 77.5k tickets).

Now we need suggestion for Hiltons in London. Will be there for 5 nights before moving to Marriott's Village D'ile-De-France for a week in a three bedroom I traded my Branson week for through Interval. So we have room covered for that part of the trip.

Then back to London for a few nights before flying back. Plan to use our three Hilton FNC for that portion in London.

Would love some suggestions for the first five nights on points and then the last few nights on FNC.

Thanks in advance and thanks again to everyone posting here! I have learned a lot and look forward to learning more.

Without knowing how many HH points you have, when you are traveling, what, if any, HH status you have or what your goals in London are, it's hard to make recommendations. I have stayed at the LXR Biltmore and Conrad and would recommend both. Each is good for different reasons, so hard to say which would be better for you. There is a Hilton Curio in Trafalgar Square that is supposed to be good, but hard to get on points and the base rooms are small. Hilton has a few other properties around London, so you are spoiled for choice, however the aforementioned three would be my top picks. I have reveiwed the Conrad and LXR on here.

 

[DisMommaBear]

To PC you have to call Chase, your CFF has to be over a year old…to PC to a CSR it needs a $10,000 CL, for a CSP it needs a $5,000 CL

Perfect!! Thank you

 

[Judique]

Weird thing just happened. I was chatting with Amex, fishing for a retention offer on my biz plat. The rep was questioning whether I found value in the benefits. I began typing that I liked the wireless credit and then deleted those words and wrote something instead about not needing the dell credit. The rep's response started with "I'm glad you like the wireless credit!" My submitted response didn't include anything about liking the wireless credit. Maybe I'm just paranoid, but it was like the rep had seen what I began typing before I finished and hit return. Anyway, the offer was 20k points for 20k spend in 183 days. No thanks. I think I'll try again next week, by phone.

I read something similar on Reddit. That the chat rep. responded to something the person had deleted. Seems like they can see what you are typing. Wouldn’t surprise me.

that is seriously creepy!

This may not be creepy to some. I was at Lowes, buying my $200 Disney gift card with the Amex Biz 'spend 200 get 50 back' offer.

Did NOT enter any identifying information, but asked for an email receipt and was prepared to enter the email or a phone number or something.

Tapped my card and it popped up my email.

It was able to connect that card with my email, meaning BOTH were in their system. WHY are they retaining my Amex card info? Or is there a simpler explanation and I'm just paranoid? Yes, they have my email because I do have a Lowes card. But the last time I used the Amex at Lowes was Dec of 2022, for a gift card.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Talk to me about the 150k business gold offer. How do you plan to maximize it? I had previously only been able to reliably pull the 125k offer, but then a modified version of what someone else did on r/churning worked for me. I got the pop up, but debating if the 125k is worth trying for.

Edge incognito> Bing search for amex plat biz and click the SPONSORED LINK (usually 170k)> open the sponsored link in a new InPrivate window> use the dropdown at the top for Popular Cards, click on Biz Gold

 

[Huskerpaul]

Without knowing how many HH points you have, when you are traveling, what, if any, HH status you have or what your goals in London are, it's hard to make recommendations. I have stayed at the LXR Biltmore and Conrad and would recommend both. Each is good for different reasons, so hard to say which would be better for you. There is a Hilton Curio in Trafalgar Square that is supposed to be good, but hard to get on points and the base rooms are small. Hilton has a few other properties around London, so you are spoiled for choice, however the aforementioned three would be my top picks. I have reveiwed the Conrad and LXR on here.

Sorry for the skimpy details. Traveling end of August. Have 450k HH. Conrad doesn't have any 80k rooms at this point. We are Diamond through Amex Aspire cards. Also where the FNC are coming from. I will search for your reviews. Thanks!

 

[wanderlust7]

Talk to me about the 150k business gold offer. How do you plan to maximize it? I had previously only been able to reliably pull the 125k offer, but then a modified version of what someone else did on r/churning worked for me. I got the pop up, but debating if the 125k is worth trying for.

Edge incognito> Bing search for amex plat biz and click the SPONSORED LINK (usually 170k)> open the sponsored link in a new InPrivate window> use the dropdown at the top for Popular Cards, click on Biz Gold

I find the new $20 credit that includes office supply stores easy to use. Plus the AF is still $295. I figure I can use the credit 13 times, maybe 14. I plan to buy Target GC from Staples online. So that would be worth $260. I've bought Target GC at 10% off before, so let's count that as $230, which makes an effective AF of $65. Great deal for 150k or 125k MRs!

For perspective, I've gone for a biz gold when the SUB was 90k with nothing I could use to offset the AF other than the 4x restaurants.

 

[platamama]

OT PSA: There will be an annular solar eclipse this Saturday morning, mostly visible on the western half of the US. Next one isn't until 2039, so try to catch it if you can!

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

OT PSA: There will be an annular solar eclipse this Saturday morning, mostly visible on the western half of the US. Next one isn't until 2039, so try to catch it if you can!

We will! Flying to Texas to see it this weekend. DH loves astronomy and I'm glad to have this hobby so we can do things like this. Otherwise, flight cash prices wouldn't be worth it for just a weekend trip

 

[leeniewdw]

This may not be creepy to some. I was at Lowes, buying my $200 Disney gift card with the Amex Biz 'spend 200 get 50 back' offer.

Did NOT enter any identifying information, but asked for an email receipt and was prepared to enter the email or a phone number or something.

Tapped my card and it popped up my email.

It was able to connect that card with my email, meaning BOTH were in their system. WHY are they retaining my Amex card info? Or is there a simpler explanation and I'm just paranoid? Yes, they have my email because I do have a Lowes card. But the last time I used the Amex at Lowes was Dec of 2022, for a gift card.

I think this is from Amex, not Lowes? I have a part time job bartending at a local small amphitheater and we use Square point of sale machines for payments. I've noticed people are sometimes surprised that when you get to the "want a receipt via email, text, no receipt" part, it auto-populates the email address (it hides a good part of it with asterisks). I know a few people are surprised. It doesn't do this for all people/cards, but this is not a system that "knows" anyone.

 

[ten6mom]

Do any of my resident experts have any info on the North Charleston (SC) Performing Arts Center that an out of state traveler should know about?

My son really wants to see Hadestown. It's not coming to Phoenix (or if it did, it's already done) and I could not make any closer cities (LA, Albuquerque) work... but it's in SC over Christmas break so I am considering that. There are hotels that are nearby the Charleston airport with airport shuttles and the venue is nearby too so hopefully an Uber won't be expensive.

 

[afan]

Booker some of Boston/Salem for next September. Exciting part is my mom wants to go so she's coming along. Had enough AS miles to book our flights and had no use for them any time soon. I'll get a biz sometime next year to help replace some of the miles.

Booked the hyatt regency downtown for 4 nights. I'll book the exciting Hampton Inn for 3 nights in Salem once I get my fnc from my aspire. Have the one from the biz card sub so this works out. And I'll book the HR by the airport for the night before our flight home once I get my fnc in the spring. Hopefully it stays at a cat 4.

 

[Judique]

Do any of my resident experts have any info on the North Charleston (SC) Performing Arts Center that an out of state traveler should know about?

My son really wants to see Hadestown. It's not coming to Phoenix (or if it did, it's already done) and I could not make any closer cities (LA, Albuquerque) work... but it's in SC over Christmas break so I am considering that. There are hotels that are nearby the Charleston airport with airport shuttles and the venue is nearby too so hopefully an Uber won't be expensive.

I know nothing about the Performing arts center.
But, Charleston is a lovely and walkable, charming Southern city (not from North Charleston though) and if you haven't been there, don't miss taking a bit of time to enjoy the area. My last visit is too long ago to suggest hotels or restaurants, but I'd love to go back for a few days. I just keep driving by and heading for Hilton Head.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Sorry for the skimpy details. Traveling end of August. Have 450k HH. Conrad doesn't have any 80k rooms at this point. We are Diamond through Amex Aspire cards. Also where the FNC are coming from. I will search for your reviews. Thanks!

The Hilton Bankside gets good reviews and usually has rooms open on points. You can set up an alert for rooms at the Conrad -- my ds loved their lounge, which you'd have access to as diamond members. Both ds and I received upgrades to executive rooms at the Conrad; at the LXR I was upgraded to a 1 bedroom suite. For location I'd go with the Conrad -- ds and I are staying there again in March.

 

[Judique]

I think this is from Amex, not Lowes? I have a part time job bartending at a local small amphitheater and we use Square point of sale machines for payments. I've noticed people are sometimes surprised that when you get to the "want a receipt via email, text, no receipt" part, it auto-populates the email address (it hides a good part of it with asterisks). I know a few people are surprised. It doesn't do this for all people/cards, but this is not a system that "knows" anyone.

Thanks! That makes me feel a bit better.

 

[lsutigers03]

I just started doing the $15k MSR on the BBP. If I was to use it at Lowe's for a gift card for the spend $200 get $50 back would I be ok? I ask because I've always seen that buying gift cards during an AMEX MSR is a no no.

 

[StephPlum]

It seems like a million years since I’ve loaded my serve card. First Covid and then I heard there were issues so I wasn’t doing any MS. But with a CIP and an Amex Biz Gold, the MSR is killing me right now. What is the latest deal with VGC at Walmart to load to serve? 200 cards ok or put a smaller amount on serve?

 

[Best Aunt]

You guys know everything, so you probably will know the answer to this:

I want to make an online donation, but I want it to be anonymous. I don't want them to have my name or credit card information. (I'm doing this to help an elderly relative who wants to support a particular group. I'm willing to be helpful, but our politics are different.)

If I buy a Visa Gift card, do you think I would be able to use it online like this?

 

[iujen94]

You guys know everything, so you probably will know the answer to this:

I want to make an online donation, but I want it to be anonymous. I don't want them to have my name or credit card information. (I'm doing this to help an elderly relative who wants to support a particular group. I'm willing to be helpful, but our politics are different.)

If I buy a Visa Gift card, do you think I would be able to use it online like this?

I have no idea why, but I’ve had trouble using VGC/MCGC for charity donations. Even if I register the card, it gets declined. These have been donations through fundraisers on Facebook, so maybe there is something weird in their settings for donations?