Teach me about travel credit card points

[Richmondhsky]

With that many points, you might be able to actually buy a plane from Spirit.

Why did you buy when you can get some oil country to pay for it and get it to you question

 

[geohusky]

Love this thread because I'm clueless about this stuff - if anyone has an Amex Platinum that they've racked up a ton of points on please weigh in as to the best way to take advantage of them.

Have Amex Platinum Business and Amex Gold personal that are linked use points to book first class flights on Amex website
First class flights get 35% of your points back

 

[Hoophound]

JetBlue and I don't get along. I've flown them all over the US, to Mexico, Lima, and in the Carribbean. My worst experiences on flights were with JetBlue, especially hostesses.

I hear this a lot and I’m baffled. I love JetBlue and so does everyone in my family. Pretty much every bad experience we’ve had flying has been on another airline and we all say “I wish we were on JetBlue”. It’s gotta be dumb luck or something. I have about 500k miles with them.

 

[husky429]

I hear this a lot and I’m baffled. I love JetBlue and so does everyone in my family. Pretty much every bad experience we’ve had flying has been on another airline and we all say “I wish we were on JetBlue”. It’s gotta be dumb luck or something. I have about 500k miles with them.

I flew standy for them many, many times when I was younger. I wonder if it's related to that.

 

[BGesus4]

How do I get access to an airport lounge that isn’t absolutely swarmed by people and less comfortable than being outside the lounge

 

[auror]

How do I get access to an airport lounge that isn’t absolutely swarmed by people and less comfortable than being outside the lounge

Time travel to before everyone got a Chase Sapphire Reserve.

 

[husky429]

How do I get access to an airport lounge that isn’t absolutely swarmed by people and less comfortable than being outside the lounge

All the good people-watching is outside anyways. I love airports for that.

If I need to kill an hour or two I usually just get food in one of the restaurants and make it last a while

 

[HuskyHawk]

How do I get access to an airport lounge that isn’t absolutely swarmed by people and less comfortable than being outside the lounge

I’m rarely in an airport that even has a lounge. Forgot those even existed.

 

[Lafayette]

Chase Sapphire Reserve is for people who travel often as you get lounge status with the card at a lot of airports. You also get Lyft Pink, Dash Pass and I think free Global Entry plus points, travel credits, etc.

But if you are not a frequent traveler that is not the card for you.

 

[husky429]

Chase Sapphire Reserve is for people who travel often as you get lounge status with the card at a lot of airports. You also get Lyft Pink, Dash Pass and I think free Global Entry plus points, travel credits, etc.

But if you are not a frequent traveler that is not the card for you.

Yeah when I was looking the 500$ annual fee was a rough one for me. I generally travel once domestically and once internationally a year. I have a baby on the way and that would go down... Seems like you'd need to be in major airports 5+ times a year to justify it

 

[Excalibur]

Yeah when I was looking the 500$ annual fee was a rough one for me. I generally travel once domestically and once internationally a year. I have a baby on the way and that would go down... Seems like you'd need to be in major airports 5+ times a year to justify it

The $300 yearly travel reimbursement takes the sting out of the fee. It includes tolls, taxis, Uber/Lyft, ferries, etc. We utilize the full amount often without even realizing it.

 

[Flipside]

The $300 yearly travel reimbursement takes the sting out of the fee. It includes tolls, taxis, Uber/Lyft, ferries, etc. We utilize the full amount often without even realizing it.

some cards give reimbursement for Global Entry and TSA Pre ... another $100+ saved

 

[Excalibur]

some cards give reimbursement for Global Entry and TSA Pre ... another $100+ saved

CSR has that. I need to renew my global entry and will be taking advantage.

 

[DaveHuskiesFan]

Chase Sapphire Reserve is for people who travel often as you get lounge status with the card at a lot of airports. You also get Lyft Pink, Dash Pass and I think free Global Entry plus points, travel credits, etc.

But if you are not a frequent traveler that is not the card for you.

Annual fee is being raised to $795. Now is a good time to apply as you’ll get the benefits that come with the increased fee but won’t have to pay that fee for a year.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

I have a baby on the way

Congrats bud! Did we know this or is this your first mention of it? Sorry, I tend to bounce around, skim threads and skip some so I may have missed it.

 

[Stew Crew]

Delta Reserve Amex has a $650 annual fee but can pay for itself if you use the benefits:

• 15 passes per year to SkyMiles lounge; unlimited if you spend $75K/year on the card
• 1 free companion ticket per year, including first class tickets.
• Up to $20/month in credits for using Uber or Lyft
• Up to $20/month in credits for dining at restaurants on Resy reservation network.
• Up to $100 credit (either every year or every other year) for Global Entry or TSA pre-check costs.
• Free checked bags and priority boarding.

We use the companion ticket every year. That has averaged about $500/year
We get the $20 Resy credit every month.
My daughter uses Uber. We usually get at least $10 back per month.

 

[Excalibur]

Annual fee is being raised to $795. Now is a good time to apply as you’ll get the benefits that come with the increased fee but won’t have to pay that fee for a year.

Is that still only a rumor at this point?

 

[husky429]

CSR has that. I need to renew my global entry and will be taking advantage.

You don't like being screamed at by customs agents in Newark? I thought that wsa part of the thrill of travel

 

[DaveHuskiesFan]

Is that still only a rumor at this point?

Hasn’t been confirmed by Chase but safe to say it’s happening.

 

[husky429]

Congrats bud! Did we know this or is this your first mention of it? Sorry, I tend to bounce around, skim threads and skip some so I may have missed it.

I've mentioned it in some DMs, idk about the main board. I've already been yelling "D1" into my wife's stomach to help.

 

[willie99]

I used to be a cash guy. Now I'm a points whore. Never pay for flights and several free nights per year at luxury hotels.

Jetblue and Marriott Bonvoy

PS: Once you're locked into a program, it's hard to leave. So choose your credit card wisely

 

[Flipside]

CSR has that. I need to renew my global entry and will be taking advantage.

just renewed last week - they said it might take 6+ months ... approved in 36hrs

 

[StllH8L8ner]

I used to be a cash guy. Now I'm a points whore. Never pay for flights and several free nights per year at luxury hotels.

Jetblue and Marriott Bonvoy

PS: Once you're locked into a program, it's hard to leave. So choose your credit card wisely

Same here, Bonvoy is solid. I was all in on Jetblue bc I flew out of NYC/White Plains a lot so I accumulated a ton of points. Fast forward to now living outside of Philly and guess which airline barely has any flights out of there? I switched to the AAdvantage card now and it’s been pretty easy to accumulate points quickly.

 

[Excalibur]

Hasn’t been confirmed by Chase but safe to say it’s happening.

I think the increase is absolutely happening. The related benefit changes still seem like rumor to me. The guy who posted on Reddit deleted his post.

 

[Lafayette]

I think the increase is absolutely happening. The related benefit changes still seem like rumor to me. The guy who posted on Reddit deleted his post.

I work there - will inquire.

Meanwhile I think the best hotel chain for redemptions is World of Hyatt and Bonvoy. I think for being in North NJ, Newark is good for United (hub), and American (Term A which is usually less hassle).