Another travel card question

[mlkgls]

Background: For several reasons we’ve recently decided that life is short and we need to make the memories with our family while we can. An Alaskan cruise is on everyone’s bucket list and assuming the date works for our extended family we will be going this summer. A relative asked if I have or had thought about a travel rewards card. 

Question: Would the Chase Sapphire Preferred be worth getting just for a cruise? We typically haven’t taken big or frequent vacations, although we’ve taken more in the last three years than I took my entire childhood. Lol. FWIW, I could change my other card's 3% category to travel, but would then lose out on the online category (I have all monthly bills setup to be paid online). 

[chpmnk1015]

we got the sapphire for a trip a couple of years ago but not a cruise (though we are planning to use it for an alaskan cruise we want to do next summer). IN general, i have seen the points add up on things easier than my other main card. I was able to use a lot of points for lodging for a trip we are doing this year. So, that doesnt answer your question but i really do like the card so far.

And, if you need a referel, here is my link

www.referyourchasecard.com/6f/P1D24U9B5W

[chilerellanos]

Maybe check out the capital one venture X as well. It has a ton of travel perks, and one I’m looking into possibly.

[mlkgls]

chpmnk1015, I already have a “you are pre-approved” banner on my login screen. How does the referral work? I haven’t opened a new card in years.

chilerellanos, thanks for muddying the waters even further. 😉 jk

[chpmnk1015]

Feb 4, 2023 10:40:10 GMT -5 mlkgls said:

chpmnk1015 , I already have a “you are pre-approved” banner on my login screen. How does the referral work? I haven’t opened a new card in years.

chilerellanos , thanks for muddying the waters even further. 😉 jk

HI- So when i did mine i had gotten a referrel from someone here.. they got like 15k extra points and i got a 60K bonus points to sign up.  Check out the best deals to get you the most point...

[Deleted]

I love my Cap One Venture X card. Their lounges are AMAZING and you get a $300 travel credit every year for travel booked through their portal. We're using ours for a hotel room before and after our Alaska cruise, coincidentally. Here's my referral link if anyone is interested - capital.one/3kZcaMI

Here are the spending categories for the card:
⚬ 10x on rental cars and hotels booked through Capital One Travel
⚬ 5x on flights booked through Capital One Travel
⚬ 2x on everything else

[Deleted]

I'll also throw this out there if you're a Costco member. We have the Costco Citi Visa and used that for our trip because all travel is a 3% earning category. That is a few hundred back for our cruise that we'll get as a check next year.

[chilerellanos]

Feb 4, 2023 11:00:23 GMT -5 @rebeccawelton said:

I love my Cap One Venture X card. Their lounges are AMAZING and you get a $300 travel credit every year for travel booked through their portal. We're using ours for a hotel room before and after our Alaska cruise, coincidentally. Here's my referral link if anyone is interested - capital.one/3kZcaMI

Here are the spending categories for the card:
⚬ 10x on rental cars and hotels booked through Capital One Travel
⚬ 5x on flights booked through Capital One Travel
⚬ 2x on everything else

I’m definitely not ready for one, because I’ve heard they’re inquiry sensitive, and I’ve gotten a few new cards within the past year plus bought a new car.

But hopefully when I’m ready to apply, I’ll post again and be able to use a referral!

[gt7301b]

I'd find the best sign up bonus that you can find and use those points towards the trip.  I assume that you will need flights and hotels on either side of the trip.

[ssmjlm]

We're looking at the capital one venture card, not sure I can stomach the fee of the X.

Our main airport is mostly American for what we fly and American doesn't play easily with Chase. So the idea of just erasing travel purchases sounds easier for me to deal with.

A CW actually recommended the capital one card because with 2 young girl, they are big Disney people and the Disney card isn't really great benefit wise.

[Deleted]

Feb 5, 2023 11:25:34 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

We're looking at the capital one venture card, not sure I can stomach the fee of the X.

Our main airport is mostly American for what we fly and American doesn't play easily with Chase. So the idea of just erasing travel purchases sounds easier for me to deal with.

A CW actually recommended the capital one card because with 2 young girl, they are big Disney people and the Disney card isn't really great benefit wise.

Keep in mind that with the $300 travel credit through their portal, it erases that fee pretty fast. Depending on where/when you use it, it's a few days in a rental car, a few nights in a hotel, etc. 

[ssmjlm]

Feb 5, 2023 11:45:58 GMT -5 @rebeccawelton said:

Feb 5, 2023 11:25:34 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

We're looking at the capital one venture card, not sure I can stomach the fee of the X.

Our main airport is mostly American for what we fly and American doesn't play easily with Chase. So the idea of just erasing travel purchases sounds easier for me to deal with.

A CW actually recommended the capital one card because with 2 young girl, they are big Disney people and the Disney card isn't really great benefit wise.

Keep in mind that with the $300 travel credit through their portal, it erases that fee pretty fast. Depending on where/when you use it, it's a few days in a rental car, a few nights in a hotel, etc. 

Yeah, I'm mainly wanting to switch to a new card for our cruise in November that we want to do, so we will definitely use the credit.


ETA: @rebeccawelton I signed up yesterday and used your referral! I convinced DH with the credit, the card is really only $195 for the year and the $300 will pay for our cruise deposit at a minimum.

[mlkgls]

These are all great suggestions! I have a little more time to decide than I originally thought; it looks like we’re either going by ourselves this summer or waiting until next year. ☹️

For those of you who travel regularly using points, how hard is it to redeem them and is much more difficult to resolve travel hiccups if you have to go through a third party like Chase or CapitalOne?

[gt7301b]

Feb 6, 2023 8:48:58 GMT -5 mlkgls said:

These are all great suggestions! I have a little more time to decide than I originally thought; it looks like we’re either going by ourselves this summer or waiting until next year. ☹️

For those of you who travel regularly using points, how hard is it to redeem them and is much more difficult to resolve travel hiccups if you have to go through a third party like Chase or CapitalOne?

I don't think it is that difficult to redeem through the portals.  The challenge is to get the maximum points you frequently have to transfer points to another partner and that sometimes makes me nervous that I am not going to get the timing right.

[Deleted]

Feb 5, 2023 11:58:43 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

Feb 5, 2023 11:45:58 GMT -5 @rebeccawelton said:

Keep in mind that with the $300 travel credit through their portal, it erases that fee pretty fast. Depending on where/when you use it, it's a few days in a rental car, a few nights in a hotel, etc. 

Yeah, I'm mainly wanting to switch to a new card for our cruise in November that we want to do, so we will definitely use the credit.


ETA: @rebeccawelton I signed up yesterday and used your referral! I convinced DH with the credit, the card is really only $195 for the year and the $300 will pay for our cruise deposit at a minimum.

Awesome - thanks for letting me know!

Also, there aren't many, but seriously - their lounges are ah.maze.ing! They put the Amex Centurion lounges to shame. Even if you just have like ten minutes, they have food to go, which has always been so absurd in lounges - they don't acknowledge people don't have time to just sit there and eat. You can grab a sandwich, little salads and waters and be on your way. But if you have time, their food is so much better than what I've had in Amex lounges, and you can bring guests. It's free to get a guest card if DH ever travels on his own. 

[fortnightlily]

Ok, I think you all have convinced me to upgrade my Chase Freedom to the Chase Sapphire. Seems like that one has more domestic airline partners and more points categories aligned with my spending.

DH does have the Costco Citi Visa already, though and we sometimes book through Costco Travel, sometimes not, depending on deals.

I don't think I can handle churning. For those who don't churn, between you and your DH how many cards do you use and which ones are they?

[Deleted]

Feb 7, 2023 7:48:01 GMT -5 fortnightlily said:

Ok, I think you all have convinced me to upgrade my Chase Freedom to the Chase Sapphire. Seems like that one has more domestic airline partners and more points categories aligned with my spending.

DH does have the Costco Citi Visa already, though and we sometimes book through Costco Travel, sometimes not, depending on deals.

I don't think I can handle churning. For those who don't churn, between you and your DH how many cards do you use and which ones are they?

FYI they do give 3% on all travel - not just through their portal. We used it for our cruise booked directly through the cruise line. 

[fortnightlily]

Feb 7, 2023 12:57:15 GMT -5 @rebeccawelton said:

Feb 7, 2023 7:48:01 GMT -5 fortnightlily said:

Ok, I think you all have convinced me to upgrade my Chase Freedom to the Chase Sapphire. Seems like that one has more domestic airline partners and more points categories aligned with my spending.

DH does have the Costco Citi Visa already, though and we sometimes book through Costco Travel, sometimes not, depending on deals.

I don't think I can handle churning. For those who don't churn, between you and your DH how many cards do you use and which ones are they?

FYI they do give 3% on all travel - not just through their portal. We used it for our cruise booked directly through the cruise line. 

Right, but it sounds like points/miles accumulation and some of the other perks of the other travel cards (like built in travel insurance, or lounge access) might be more worthwhile than cash back? Or is getting the sign-up bonus points really the main draw for using the travel cards?

[Deleted]

Feb 7, 2023 13:55:31 GMT -5 fortnightlily said:

Feb 7, 2023 12:57:15 GMT -5 @rebeccawelton said:

FYI they do give 3% on all travel - not just through their portal. We used it for our cruise booked directly through the cruise line. 

Right, but it sounds like points/miles accumulation and some of the other perks of the other travel cards (like built in travel insurance, or lounge access) might be more worthwhile than cash back? Or is getting the sign-up bonus points really the main draw for using the travel cards?

You can run the cost per point (or even google it - many blogs have that already calculated). For the cards we have, in this case with the cruise, we found that none of the points were higher than straight 3% cash. We churn cards for the bonus and then move on to something else, but I do have a standard batch of cards I keep depending on what my goals are for the next few years. 

[Deleted]

FYI Southwest announced a new promotion today if you don't currently hold a SW personal card and/or haven't earned a card bonus in the last 24 months. Open a personal card, spend $4k in the first three months, and you'll get 30,000 RR points AND earn a companion pass through February 2024. Typically, to earn the Companion Pass, you need to accrue 135,000 Rapid Rewards points or fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year. The companion pass works on paid and points tickets, and the free traveler just pays taxes and fees.

My referral link in case anyone needs it. 

[Deleted]

Another great offer - huge Alaska airlines card bonus + a companion pass is now available
onemileatatime.com/deals/alaska-airlines-visa-card-bonus/

70k miles + the companion ticket after spending $3k in 90 days

[steamboat185]

Feb 7, 2023 15:37:27 GMT -5 @rebeccawelton said:

FYI Southwest announced a new promotion today if you don't currently hold a SW personal card and/or haven't earned a card bonus in the last 24 months. Open a personal card, spend $4k in the first three months, and you'll get 30,000 RR points AND earn a companion pass through February 2024. Typically, to earn the Companion Pass, you need to accrue 135,000 Rapid Rewards points or fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year. The companion pass works on paid and points tickets, and the free traveler just pays taxes and fees.

My referral link in case anyone needs it. 

This is interesting. One thing to note is that if you earn it by getting 135k miles you get it for the rest of that year AND the following year. We typically earn it in February or March so would have it for the rest of 2023 and 2024. This definitely makes it less of a challenge, but you’d get it for less than 1 year.

[Deleted]

Feb 7, 2023 16:00:50 GMT -5 steamboat185 said:

Feb 7, 2023 15:37:27 GMT -5 @rebeccawelton said:

FYI Southwest announced a new promotion today if you don't currently hold a SW personal card and/or haven't earned a card bonus in the last 24 months. Open a personal card, spend $4k in the first three months, and you'll get 30,000 RR points AND earn a companion pass through February 2024. Typically, to earn the Companion Pass, you need to accrue 135,000 Rapid Rewards points or fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year. The companion pass works on paid and points tickets, and the free traveler just pays taxes and fees.

My referral link in case anyone needs it. 

This is interesting. One thing to note is that if you earn it by getting 135k miles you get it for the rest of that year AND the following year. We typically earn it in February or March so would have it for the rest of 2023 and 2024. This definitely makes it less of a challenge, but you’d get it for less than 1 year.

That is correct - and there are strategies to earn the full one with card bonuses and a lot less travel. But they take some specific timing and usually combining personal and business cards.

[chilerellanos]

As long as we are handing out referrals. Here’s mine for my Amex delta.

It’s for 70,000k miles after $2k in 6 month spend.

It can be used for any of the delta cards. You don’t have to have a certain one to get the bonus, so I think could choose the no AF one if you choose.

Apply for an American Express Card with this link. With your new Card, you could earn a welcome bonus and your friend could earn a referral bonus. Terms Apply.
americanexpress.com/en-us/referral/JESSICjwKX?XL=MIMCP

[mccallister84]

Feb 7, 2023 16:00:50 GMT -5 steamboat185 said:

Feb 7, 2023 15:37:27 GMT -5 @rebeccawelton said:

FYI Southwest announced a new promotion today if you don't currently hold a SW personal card and/or haven't earned a card bonus in the last 24 months. Open a personal card, spend $4k in the first three months, and you'll get 30,000 RR points AND earn a companion pass through February 2024. Typically, to earn the Companion Pass, you need to accrue 135,000 Rapid Rewards points or fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year. The companion pass works on paid and points tickets, and the free traveler just pays taxes and fees.

My referral link in case anyone needs it. 

This is interesting. One thing to note is that if you earn it by getting 135k miles you get it for the rest of that year AND the following year. We typically earn it in February or March so would have it for the rest of 2023 and 2024. This definitely makes it less of a challenge, but you’d get it for less than 1 year.

But if you manage to get 135,000 points you’d still get the regular companion pass right?

So this is just a guaranteed way to have it for 9ish months or so.

Here’s my referral link

www.referyourchasecard.com/226f/95NOBS4G33

[steamboat185]

Feb 7, 2023 20:22:55 GMT -5 mccallister84 said:

Feb 7, 2023 16:00:50 GMT -5 steamboat185 said:

This is interesting. One thing to note is that if you earn it by getting 135k miles you get it for the rest of that year AND the following year. We typically earn it in February or March so would have it for the rest of 2023 and 2024. This definitely makes it less of a challenge, but you’d get it for less than 1 year.

But if you manage to get 135,000 points you’d still get the regular companion pass right?

So this is just a guaranteed way to have it for 9ish months or so.

Here’s my referral link

www.referyourchasecard.com/226f/95NOBS4G33

I don’t know why I assumed the regular rules didn’t apply (they do). My bad.

[Poeticxpassion]

Feb 7, 2023 15:37:27 GMT -5 @rebeccawelton said:

FYI Southwest announced a new promotion today if you don't currently hold a SW personal card and/or haven't earned a card bonus in the last 24 months. Open a personal card, spend $4k in the first three months, and you'll get 30,000 RR points AND earn a companion pass through February 2024. Typically, to earn the Companion Pass, you need to accrue 135,000 Rapid Rewards points or fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year. The companion pass works on paid and points tickets, and the free traveler just pays taxes and fees.

My referral link in case anyone needs it. 

I clicked on your referral link and it takes me to the different Southwest cards I can apply for but none of the cards have the same perks that you’re talking about. Am I doing something wrong?

[Deleted]

Feb 8, 2023 13:37:38 GMT -5 Poeticxpassion said:

Feb 7, 2023 15:37:27 GMT -5 @rebeccawelton said:

FYI Southwest announced a new promotion today if you don't currently hold a SW personal card and/or haven't earned a card bonus in the last 24 months. Open a personal card, spend $4k in the first three months, and you'll get 30,000 RR points AND earn a companion pass through February 2024. Typically, to earn the Companion Pass, you need to accrue 135,000 Rapid Rewards points or fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year. The companion pass works on paid and points tickets, and the free traveler just pays taxes and fees.

My referral link in case anyone needs it. 

I clicked on your referral link and it takes me to the different Southwest cards I can apply for but none of the cards have the same perks that you’re talking about. Am I doing something wrong?

Give me a minute. I'll check to see if there's an updated version. 

[Deleted]

Feb 8, 2023 13:43:20 GMT -5 @rebeccawelton said:

Feb 8, 2023 13:37:38 GMT -5 Poeticxpassion said:

I clicked on your referral link and it takes me to the different Southwest cards I can apply for but none of the cards have the same perks that you’re talking about. Am I doing something wrong?

Give me a minute. I'll check to see if there's an updated version. 

Thanks for the flag - here you go: www.referyourchasecard.com/226f/1JLQLMLKMY

[lishie]

Feb 7, 2023 7:48:01 GMT -5 fortnightlily said:

Ok, I think you all have convinced me to upgrade my Chase Freedom to the Chase Sapphire. Seems like that one has more domestic airline partners and more points categories aligned with my spending.

DH does have the Costco Citi Visa already, though and we sometimes book through Costco Travel, sometimes not, depending on deals.

I don't think I can handle churning. For those who don't churn, between you and your DH how many cards do you use and which ones are they?

If you haven't upgraded yet, I'd keep the freedom and also get a sapphire, as you can combine the points together in the portal, and with the Freedom's 5x categories you'd earn additional points to transfer and use in the portal as compared to using the sapphire alone.