Do you hoard credit card points? (1 Viewer)

[Desert_Power]

It's nearly never about getting exactly the right card anymore, it's more about scaling your MS and the rest falls into place so don't sweat getting things perfect inside 5/24.  If you can't scale MS or don't even have any, then just stick with a 10 card rotation every 24 months per player across all the banks, still should be able to earn $10k/year easy with 2P, and cast a shadow on 20k.  With MS outs this year I'm targeting maybe $45k in earn and maybe another $5k in bank bonuses. 

Do you do most of your MS with things through the buyers club mentioned upthread? Also, didn't you retire in 2020 or am I confusing you with another poster?

I've been looking into MS more recently while out on paternity leave. Have done some experiments, but it seems tough to scale.

 

[culdeus]

Do you do most of your MS with things through the buyers club mentioned upthread? Also, didn't you retire in 2020 or am I confusing you with another poster?

I've been looking into MS more recently while out on paternity leave. Have done some experiments, but it seems tough to scale.

I'm not retired and since about November I do a combination of buyers clubs and non gift card methods to MS.  

 

[Desert_Power]

I'm not retired and since about November I do a combination of buyers clubs and non gift card methods to MS.  

Thanks. I think I had you confused with cosjobs on that as I don't read each letter and you're both from Texas.

 

[McBokonon]

Star Alliance launching a card this year

This has potential. Not many details yet.

Star Alliance Plans Credit Card For Redeeming Points Across 26 Airlines

-Star Alliance plans to launch co-branded credit card this year

-Member airlines also working to jointly purchase cleaner fuel

Star Alliance -- the largest of the three global airline groups -- is planning to offer a co-branded credit card that will allow a person to redeem points across all 26 members.

The card, to be launched later this year, will allow users to earn points via their spending, like a regular credit card, and then redeem those points via the frequent-flyer programs of any of the airlines, Star Alliance CEO Jeffrey Goh said at a briefing Thursday. Star Alliance members span airlines from Singapore Airlines Ltd. to Deutsche Lufthansa AG and United Airlines Holdings Inc. 

The unusual move is aimed at better linking peoples’ credit card spending with loyalty miles. Loyalty programs can be a very lucrative business for airlines, which typically generate revenue by selling points to credit card operators, hotels and shops. Airlines make a profit because they sell the points for more than it costs to redeem them. 

“This area is quite the holy grail for most individual airlines,” Goh said. But there’s room for frequent-flyer programs to mature, he said, without disclosing further details about the mooted card, including which financial institution will be a partner.

While it’s common for airlines to offer loyalty programs as well as form partnerships with other airlines and merchants, a combined credit card with more than two dozen members will be a first for the industry. 

During the worst of Covid, loyalty programs were a lifeline for carriers, with British Airways’ owner IAG SA raising almost $1 billion by selling points to American Express Co. Others including Delta Air Lines Inc. and United Airlines laid down their programs as security against billions of dollars of loans and bonds.

Separately, Goh said Star Alliance carriers are planning to jointly procure sustainable aviation fuel considering supply remains limited despite increasing calls for airlines to turn green. Goh declined to comment on the volume of fuel the group is planning to purchase.

The alliance will also look to partner with large multinational corporations with a “significant travel footprint” on clean fuel, in a bid to get businesses to subsidize airlines’ cost, Goh said.  

 

[culdeus]

Star Alliance launching a card this year

This has potential. Not many details yet.

Star Alliance Plans Credit Card For Redeeming Points Across 26 Airlines

-Star Alliance plans to launch co-branded credit card this year

-Member airlines also working to jointly purchase cleaner fuel

Star Alliance -- the largest of the three global airline groups -- is planning to offer a co-branded credit card that will allow a person to redeem points across all 26 members.

The card, to be launched later this year, will allow users to earn points via their spending, like a regular credit card, and then redeem those points via the frequent-flyer programs of any of the airlines, Star Alliance CEO Jeffrey Goh said at a briefing Thursday. Star Alliance members span airlines from Singapore Airlines Ltd. to Deutsche Lufthansa AG and United Airlines Holdings Inc. 

The unusual move is aimed at better linking peoples’ credit card spending with loyalty miles. Loyalty programs can be a very lucrative business for airlines, which typically generate revenue by selling points to credit card operators, hotels and shops. Airlines make a profit because they sell the points for more than it costs to redeem them. 

“This area is quite the holy grail for most individual airlines,” Goh said. But there’s room for frequent-flyer programs to mature, he said, without disclosing further details about the mooted card, including which financial institution will be a partner.

While it’s common for airlines to offer loyalty programs as well as form partnerships with other airlines and merchants, a combined credit card with more than two dozen members will be a first for the industry. 

During the worst of Covid, loyalty programs were a lifeline for carriers, with British Airways’ owner IAG SA raising almost $1 billion by selling points to American Express Co. Others including Delta Air Lines Inc. and United Airlines laid down their programs as security against billions of dollars of loans and bonds.

Separately, Goh said Star Alliance carriers are planning to jointly procure sustainable aviation fuel considering supply remains limited despite increasing calls for airlines to turn green. Goh declined to comment on the volume of fuel the group is planning to purchase.

The alliance will also look to partner with large multinational corporations with a “significant travel footprint” on clean fuel, in a bid to get businesses to subsidize airlines’ cost, Goh said.  

Meh, just get UR earning cards and you'll have access to all these brands on revenue pricing.  You are better off churning for cash back than into a revenue structure these days.  

 

[McBokonon]

Meh, just get UR earning cards and you'll have access to all these brands.  

Meh, don’t get the card, then. I’m at least waiting for any SUB details and other info. If the points are the same value as United and you don’t have to take time to transfer among airlines, could be a nice addition.

 

[culdeus]

Meh, don’t get the card, then. I’m at least waiting for any SUB details and other info. If the points are the same value as United and you don’t have to take time to transfer among airlines, could be a nice addition.

United as a star hub is fine, you can book basically the entire SA with them if that's the intention.  In fact, you can tend to get better LH-F seats thru the United hub having access 14 days out where they don't even offer their partners access until 3 out for upgrades on miles.  If that goes away for this it makes star stuff a lot less valuable.  

 

[Desert_Power]

Meh, don’t get the card, then. I’m at least waiting for any SUB details and other info. If the points are the same value as United and you don’t have to take time to transfer among airlines, could be a nice addition.

Can't you book SA flights through United already though? The big travel benefits come with transferring to a partner that has that same flight priced lower.

Now if the transfers can go both ways (ie you can move orphaned points from one SA carrier to another), it could be somewhat fun.

 

[culdeus]

Can't you book SA flights through United already though? The big travel benefits come with transferring to a partner that has that same flight priced lower.

Now if the transfers can go both ways (ie you can move orphaned points from one SA carrier to another), it could be somewhat fun.

Nearly certainly this is a revenue based model where transferring points is just a currency conversion across brands.  There's very, very little value in revenue models (see, Bonvoy), certainly no value in ongoing spend with them.  You are better off closing the loop with cash back driving travel spend driving more cash back where up against revenue models.  

 

[McBokonon]

Can't you book SA flights through United already though? The big travel benefits come with transferring to a partner that has that same flight priced lower.

Now if the transfers can go both ways (ie you can move orphaned points from one SA carrier to another), it could be somewhat fun.

I’m not an expert - just saw the article and posted it. I’m willing to put a little effort into churning but not nearly to the extent others like culdeus do. So, I think it’s just a general points program you can redeem on all 26 carriers directly. If it proves to be a worthless sack of crap only an idiot would even consider getting, we’ll know soon enough.

 

[culdeus]

If someone is interested in the group I described earlier lmk

 

[massraider]

If someone is interested in the group I described earlier lmk

Consider yourself notified.

Also, here's a handy Twitter list I put together of travel bloggers, fare hunters, etc. 

Any suggestions for additions, let me know. 

I have the ability to travel whenever I want, pretty much, so I really do leisure travel based on grabbing deals. My attitude about Europe is, just get there. If you want Italy, but you can get to Vienna for $400, go. Flights around Europe are peanuts.  

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Consider yourself notified.

Also, here's a handy Twitter list I put together of travel bloggers, fare hunters, etc. 

Any suggestions for additions, let me know. 

I have the ability to travel whenever I want, pretty much, so I really do leisure travel based on grabbing deals. My attitude about Europe is, just get there. If you want Italy, but you can get to Vienna for $400, go. Flights around Europe are peanuts.  

I found and followed you, but don’t see the group. I’m not well versed in the tweeters. Help a brother out?

 

[massraider]

I found and followed you, but don’t see the group. I’m not well versed in the tweeters. Help a brother out?

Under my profile, you will see my lists.

Click the list you want, and hit "follow". Then you can access your own lists from your profile

 

[culdeus]

Consider yourself notified.

Also, here's a handy Twitter list I put together of travel bloggers, fare hunters, etc. 

Any suggestions for additions, let me know. 

I have the ability to travel whenever I want, pretty much, so I really do leisure travel based on grabbing deals. My attitude about Europe is, just get there. If you want Italy, but you can get to Vienna for $400, go. Flights around Europe are peanuts.  

DM sent 

 

[Buckna]

AMEX sent me emails for another Gold and Platinum Business. I am still about 30 days out before I can get another Platinum which would be my 4th in about 16 months. All legitimate spend in my case. Now sitting on over 1MM MR points. Planning on using them to pay for a trip to Fiji next year!

 

[Random]

If someone is interested in the group I described earlier lmk

Not sure what you're referencing but I'll take a DM.  Lots of time on my hands to get back into this pretty heavily right now.

Under 5/24, haven't done much with points the past few years, as our travel was slowed.  Anything great to get right now?

I still have the old Amex Blue Cash card.  I used to churn that at gas stations and Kroger (so much that the cashier knew my DL number), but I think they all stopped selling $500 gift cards or maybe they got harder to cash out, dont remember.  I think this was 5% cash back with no or a very high limit.  Is it still playable?

 

[culdeus]

AMEX sent me emails for another Gold and Platinum Business. I am still about 30 days out before I can get another Platinum which would be my 4th in about 16 months. All legitimate spend in my case. Now sitting on over 1MM MR points. Planning on using them to pay for a trip to Fiji next year!

This year has been nothing but amazing. Thought churning was dead with aa burning up but long live this hobby

 

[Buckna]

AMEX sent me emails for another Gold and Platinum Business. I am still about 30 days out before I can get another Platinum which would be my 4th in about 16 months. All legitimate spend in my case. Now sitting on over 1MM MR points. Planning on using them to pay for a trip to Fiji next year!

This year has been nothing but amazing. Thought churning was dead with aa burning up but long live this hobby

Got another targeted email this week for another platinum. Hopefully it will still be active by the time October gets here when I can sign up again. Not even bothering with Golds anymore as I don’t want them taking up charge card slots. Getting close to 2MM MRPoints between the wife and I. Going to have to get her a Schwab soon so I can start cashing out some of them.

 

[culdeus]

AMEX sent me emails for another Gold and Platinum Business. I am still about 30 days out before I can get another Platinum which would be my 4th in about 16 months. All legitimate spend in my case. Now sitting on over 1MM MR points. Planning on using them to pay for a trip to Fiji next year!

This year has been nothing but amazing. Thought churning was dead with aa burning up but long live this hobby

Got another targeted email this week for another platinum. Hopefully it will still be active by the time October gets here when I can sign up again. Not even bothering with Golds anymore as I don’t want them taking up charge card slots. Getting close to 2MM MRPoints between the wife and I. Going to have to get her a Schwab soon so I can start cashing out some of them.

I can get you NLL links if you run dry. Are you doing all the AU offers? The ROI on the AU for the gold is a bit higher so don't sleep on it. You can do 10 AU offers online for each ABP.

 

[culdeus]

This might be the first six figure year for me across all players. Need a couple more NLLs to come in. Probably made as much this year as nearly all prior years combined. An absolute fountain of points and offers across all issuers and the MS trains kept running. Hope everyone else killed it.

 

[Buckna]

Been a great year, just got a Schwab and started cashing out. Between P2 and I, we have accumulated about $30k in points so far. Most of it AMEX, but Chase, Cap1, US Bank, and a few others have helped out. Going to be using some points to cover a trip to Fiji next year and cashing most of the rest. It helps we have a small business and lots of spending, I haven’t tried to dip my toe into MS yet (in large part due to limited time.)

AMEX has been suddenly tightening my Pay Over Time and credit limits over the last few weeks. I might have taken advantage of the 0% offers and carrying balances a little too much. Will start paying those down over the next few months, had just started getting into the bank bonus and interest game with them floating me.

 

[bcat01]

This does not sound good for credit card rewards/points.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/****-durbin-coming-credit-card-rewards

Can't post the link because the guys name is D!ck...really

 

[kupcho1]

Absolutely not. I get cash back, and cash today is worth more than cash tomorrow. I used it to credit my statement monthly.

 

[culdeus]

This does not sound good for credit card rewards/points.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/****-durbin-coming-credit-card-rewards

Can't post the link because the guys name is D!ck...really

Fud. Just keep smashing offers till they stop

 

[Dez89]

"Simple" question here. Assuming you're not churning or waiting for 1.2x deals or anything like that (neither of which I'm doing), when do you guys decide to use your points? I'm not spending above my means, so I've got enough to cover travel, purchases, etc. every month, so I'm struggling as to when I should use my points. I've got about $1800 worth sitting in my account.

 

[massraider]

"Simple" question here. Assuming you're not churning or waiting for 1.2x deals or anything like that (neither of which I'm doing), when do you guys decide to use your points? I'm not spending above my means, so I've got enough to cover travel, purchases, etc. every month, so I'm struggling as to when I should use my points. I've got about $1800 worth sitting in my account.

Personal preference. Do you have an aspirational trip you saving for? If not, then many veterans will tell you use them whenever you want.
People get caught up in redemption value, based on some of these blogs, where you feel like a loser not getting 3x on your points.

 

[Dez89]

"Simple" question here. Assuming you're not churning or waiting for 1.2x deals or anything like that (neither of which I'm doing), when do you guys decide to use your points? I'm not spending above my means, so I've got enough to cover travel, purchases, etc. every month, so I'm struggling as to when I should use my points. I've got about $1800 worth sitting in my account.

Personal preference. Do you have an aspirational trip you saving for? If not, then many veterans will tell you use them whenever you want.
People get caught up in redemption value, based on some of these blogs, where you feel like a loser not getting 3x on your points.

Not really saving up for anything in particular. In my head I think I'm waiting to use them to take someone else on a trip so I'm not footing so much all at once.

 

[culdeus]

"Simple" question here. Assuming you're not churning or waiting for 1.2x deals or anything like that (neither of which I'm doing), when do you guys decide to use your points? I'm not spending above my means, so I've got enough to cover travel, purchases, etc. every month, so I'm struggling as to when I should use my points. I've got about $1800 worth sitting in my account.

Earn. Burn.

 

[Buckna]

"Simple" question here. Assuming you're not churning or waiting for 1.2x deals or anything like that (neither of which I'm doing), when do you guys decide to use your points? I'm not spending above my means, so I've got enough to cover travel, purchases, etc. every month, so I'm struggling as to when I should use my points. I've got about $1800 worth sitting in my account.

Earn. Burn.

What he said. These companies are constantly devaluing these rewards systems so holding long-term you are losing value over time. Just in the past day Chase silently devalued their Pay Yourself Back promo dropping 1.5x on some categories of the Sapphire Reserve.

 

[culdeus]

"Simple" question here. Assuming you're not churning or waiting for 1.2x deals or anything like that (neither of which I'm doing), when do you guys decide to use your points? I'm not spending above my means, so I've got enough to cover travel, purchases, etc. every month, so I'm struggling as to when I should use my points. I've got about $1800 worth sitting in my account.

Earn. Burn.

What he said. These companies are constantly devaluing these rewards systems so holding long-term you are losing value over time. Just in the past day Chase silently devalued their Pay Yourself Back promo dropping 1.5x on some categories of the Sapphire Reserve.

Airbnb can still cash at 1.5. That's all anyone needs.

 

[massraider]

The r/CreditCards subReddit is alight with anecdotal stories of Bilt cards getting compromised. If you have one, good to take a hard look at your statement.

 

[culdeus]

The r/CreditCards subReddit is alight with anecdotal stories of Bilt cards getting compromised. If you have one, good to take a hard look at your statement.

If you aren't already shut down at bilt you weren't really trying hard enough.

 

[massraider]

The r/CreditCards subReddit is alight with anecdotal stories of Bilt cards getting compromised. If you have one, good to take a hard look at your statement.

If you aren't already shut down at bilt you weren't really trying hard enough.

Any value there aside from rent payment option?

 

[MAC_32]

"Simple" question here. Assuming you're not churning or waiting for 1.2x deals or anything like that (neither of which I'm doing), when do you guys decide to use your points? I'm not spending above my means, so I've got enough to cover travel, purchases, etc. every month, so I'm struggling as to when I should use my points. I've got about $1800 worth sitting in my account.

Christmas. We are generally below our means spenders, but not between mid Nov and year end. Usually cash out around $1200, but we are almost up to $2k this year.

 

[Bogart]

The r/CreditCards subReddit is alight with anecdotal stories of Bilt cards getting compromised. If you have one, good to take a hard look at your statement.

Was actually thinking about getting one. Selling my house in the next month or so and probably renting for a year. This might make me think twice.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Was going to do some reorganizing and add the Amex Business Platinum mainly for the lounge access and 35% rebate on flights booked w/ points, but man I didn't realize just how crappy lounge access has gotten for all these premium cards. $50 per guest now makes it very not worth it when traveling with a family of 4. Would much rather hang out in an airport restaurant with a likely sub $150 meal than shell out $150 to bring the family along into a lounge.

 

[culdeus]

Was going to do some reorganizing and add the Amex Business Platinum mainly for the lounge access and 35% rebate on flights booked w/ points, but man I didn't realize just how crappy lounge access has gotten for all these premium cards. $50 per guest now makes it very not worth it when traveling with a family of 4. Would much rather hang out in an airport restaurant with a likely sub $150 meal than shell out $150 to bring the family along into a lounge.

Get two. Or eight like me.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Was going to do some reorganizing and add the Amex Business Platinum mainly for the lounge access and 35% rebate on flights booked w/ points, but man I didn't realize just how crappy lounge access has gotten for all these premium cards. $50 per guest now makes it very not worth it when traveling with a family of 4. Would much rather hang out in an airport restaurant with a likely sub $150 meal than shell out $150 to bring the family along into a lounge.

Get two. Or eight like me.

It's $350/yr to add an authorized user on that card. And that would still leave the 2 kids to pay for.

 

[culdeus]

Was going to do some reorganizing and add the Amex Business Platinum mainly for the lounge access and 35% rebate on flights booked w/ points, but man I didn't realize just how crappy lounge access has gotten for all these premium cards. $50 per guest now makes it very not worth it when traveling with a family of 4. Would much rather hang out in an airport restaurant with a likely sub $150 meal than shell out $150 to bring the family along into a lounge.

Get two. Or eight like me.

It's $350/yr to add an authorized user on that card. And that would still leave the 2 kids to pay for.

There are ways to end around this with delta sky lounges. It's a bit of of a mess. It's also just 175 for a plat AU. Gets a few other tiny perks. Break even after three visits I guess if you value the lounge life.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Was going to do some reorganizing and add the Amex Business Platinum mainly for the lounge access and 35% rebate on flights booked w/ points, but man I didn't realize just how crappy lounge access has gotten for all these premium cards. $50 per guest now makes it very not worth it when traveling with a family of 4. Would much rather hang out in an airport restaurant with a likely sub $150 meal than shell out $150 to bring the family along into a lounge.

Get two. Or eight like me.

It's $350/yr to add an authorized user on that card. And that would still leave the 2 kids to pay for.

There are ways to end around this with delta sky lounges. It's a bit of of a mess. It's also just 175 for a plat AU. Gets a few other tiny perks. Break even after three visits I guess if you value the lounge life.

Business Platinum is $350 for additional user. It's only the personal that is $175, which doesn't have the 35% points rebate of the business plat.

 

[culdeus]

Was going to do some reorganizing and add the Amex Business Platinum mainly for the lounge access and 35% rebate on flights booked w/ points, but man I didn't realize just how crappy lounge access has gotten for all these premium cards. $50 per guest now makes it very not worth it when traveling with a family of 4. Would much rather hang out in an airport restaurant with a likely sub $150 meal than shell out $150 to bring the family along into a lounge.

Get two. Or eight like me.

It's $350/yr to add an authorized user on that card. And that would still leave the 2 kids to pay for.

There are ways to end around this with delta sky lounges. It's a bit of of a mess. It's also just 175 for a plat AU. Gets a few other tiny perks. Break even after three visits I guess if you value the lounge life.

Business Platinum is $350 for additional user. It's only the personal that is $175, which doesn't have the 35% points rebate of the business plat.

Then get a personal, Schwab is the best plat to hold. I have a Schwab a vanilla 4 biz three golds taking 8 slots. Will take on another plat and gold soon. P2 has 7.

Personal AU do add to 5/24.

 

[ex-ghost]

Was going to do some reorganizing and add the Amex Business Platinum mainly for the lounge access and 35% rebate on flights booked w/ points, but man I didn't realize just how crappy lounge access has gotten for all these premium cards. $50 per guest now makes it very not worth it when traveling with a family of 4. Would much rather hang out in an airport restaurant with a likely sub $150 meal than shell out $150 to bring the family along into a lounge.

Get two. Or eight like me.

How do you max out all the benefits? I would love to see your playbook.

 

[culdeus]

Was going to do some reorganizing and add the Amex Business Platinum mainly for the lounge access and 35% rebate on flights booked w/ points, but man I didn't realize just how crappy lounge access has gotten for all these premium cards. $50 per guest now makes it very not worth it when traveling with a family of 4. Would much rather hang out in an airport restaurant with a likely sub $150 meal than shell out $150 to bring the family along into a lounge.

Get two. Or eight like me.

How do you max out all the benefits? I would love to see your playbook.

Dell is the hardest. Once you are doing thousands of dollars of volume with them you get on a list. Buying xbox gcs also gets you on a list. Eventually you finally talk to them and tell them what you are up to and it goes away. (but no xbox)

The travel credits are the easiest.

I pipe the wireless credits to mint wallet. Easy.

Saks is just socks and maybe a dildo or two.

Fhr and that ******** just leave it.

Streaming is nbd. I just buy marked up booze with Uber.

 

[culdeus]

Occasionally you can farm the clear credit. Thar was nice.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

any of you mega churners know of any good sign up bonuses right now. i'm puling the trigger on a remodel so will have plenty of spend and i haven't gotten a new card in long time. i think i'm outside the 5/24. amex platinum is out

eta: i'm only interested in travel bonuses

 

[DA RAIDERS]

another question: if i use the lame checks CC companies send you, does that count towards spending? i want to pay my GC in cash, but want the points

 

[culdeus]

any of you mega churners know of any good sign up bonuses right now. i'm puling the trigger on a remodel so will have plenty of spend and i haven't gotten a new card in long time. i think i'm outside the 5/24. amex platinum is out

eta: i'm only interested in travel bonuses

I have no idea what this is trying to say.

 

[culdeus]

another question: if i use the lame checks CC companies send you, does that count towards spending? i want to pay my GC in cash, but want the points

No. Don't ever do this. Use plastiq if you have to

 

[DA RAIDERS]

any of you mega churners know of any good sign up bonuses right now. i'm puling the trigger on a remodel so will have plenty of spend and i haven't gotten a new card in long time. i think i'm outside the 5/24. amex platinum is out

eta: i'm only interested in travel bonuses

I have no idea what this is trying to say.

i haven't gotten a new card in a long time. i don't want to spend $700 for the platinum card. although it might be worth it.

it's funny, i don't understand a lot of your posts on this subject. because you're so knowledgable, a lot of it flies over my head. i wish i knew 25% of what you know.