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A Primer on Priority Pass Select Airport Lounge Membership
Since the announcement of the immensely popular Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card, many questions have arisen about one of its benefits–Priority Pass Select membership. The confusion stems from the number of different Priority Pass membership levels and the fees associated with each. Here are answers to some of the more common questions I’ve seen asked lately. What is Priority Pass? Priority Pass is a club that provides frequent travelers with independent airport lounge access worldwide. There are currently over 1000 lounges in 400 cities across 120 countries in the the network. Priority Pass does not own or operate any lounges, instead they contract with independent lounge operators to allow members access during certain hours.…
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50% British Airways Transfer Bonus from Amex Membership Rewards
For a limited time, you can get 50% more British Airways Avios when you transfer from your American Express Membership Rewards account. For every 250 MR point you transfer, you’ll get 300 Avios instead of the usual 200. This offer is good through 11:59 p.m. CT on October 10, 2016. If your travel plans include British Airways or its partners in the near future, now would be a great time to transfer some of your Membership Rewards points. In October, 2015, American Express reduced the regular Avios transfer ratio. For each 250 Membership Rewards points you normally receive 200 Avios. Prior to that devaluation, the exchange ratio was 1:1 (250:250). Ultimately,…
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Citi Prestige Card to Discontinue AA Lounge Benefit
The Citi Prestige Card, one of Citi’s most expensive credit cards, is dropping a major benefit–complimentary access to American Airlines Admirals Club airport lounges. According to their website, Admiral’s Club access is due to expire on July 23, 2017. Citi Prestige has a $450 annual fee which is not waived the first year, so losing a benefit like this is certainly a blow. There’s no doubt that this is still a valuable card for travelers–particularly those that didn’t frequently use the lounge benefit. It remains to be seen how Citi will adjust other benefits or the annual fee to compensate cardmembers for the change. Card Benefits $250 Annual Air Travel Credit Each calendar year,…
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Chase Adds Flying Blue to Ultimate Rewards Partners
Chase has added a new partner to its Ultimate Rewards program. Effective immediately, you can now transfer your UR points to Flying Blue, the frequent flyer program of Air France and KLM. In addition to those airlines, Flying Blue miles can be redeemed for reward flights on SkyTeam Member Airlines like Delta, AlItalia, and AeroMexico. Flying Blue had already been a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Citi Thank You Rewards, and Starwood Preferred Guest. As with all of Chase’s other travel partners, UR points transfer to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio in increments of 1,000 points. FlyingBlue adds to the current list of Chase Ultimate Rewards airline partners:…
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Which Credit Cards Pay For Global Entry or TSA PreCheck?
Long security lines at U.S. airports is commonplace during the summer travel season and this year should be no different. TSA Pre✓ gives trusted travelers the benefit of shorter lines and expedited screening. There is an application fee, but I’ll show you how to sign up for free. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is encouraging travelers to sign up for TSA Pre✓ to help alleviate the delays: This is predicted to be one of the busiest air travel summers the airline industry has seen in a very long time and with more people flying, lines are expected to grow at TSA checkpoints. Travelers who are enrolled in TSA Pre✓or one…
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Amex SPG 35k Signup Bonus for Limited Time
American Express is offering a limited time increased signup bonus for its Starwood Preferred Guest Personal and Business credit cards. You can get 35,000 bonus Starpoints after you use the new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. The signup bonus is normally 25,000 Starpoints and I’ve only seen it as high as 30,000 in the past. This limited time offer ends March 30, 2016. Starpoints are a favorite for travelers not just because they have high value when you redeem at Starwood properties like Sheraton, Westin, and W Hotels. Starpoints can also be transferred directly to miles in your frequent flyer program with a 1:1 Starpoints-to-miles exchange rate…
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My Latest Credit Card Retention Call
It’s been a year since I was approved for my Chase United MileagePlus Explorer credit card. At the time, my account was targeted for 50,000 MileagePlus Miles after spending $3,000 in addition to the usual no annual fee for the first year. I was able to take advantage of that offer AND get a $50 statement credit for applying while booking a flight on United’s website. I never did complete the flight booking, I just wanted the $50 credit! This morning, I noticed that the $95 annual fee charge for the card appeared in my account, so it may be time to cancel. It’s not uncommon for credit card issuers…
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Miles and Points Programs Expiration Rules – What You Need to Know
Cash back and rewards points earned in credit card programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards and Citi ThankYou Rewards, don’t expire as long as you keep your card open. However, when you transfer those points to your airline frequent flier or hotel loyalty account, they become subject to the terms and conditions of those programs, and may expire if you don’t use them. Flexibility is one thing that makes credit card travel rewards points so valuable–they can be transferred to many different partners at will. As a rule, in order to retain that flexibility, you shouldn’t transfer any more points than you need to book a flight or stay.…
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Do Credit Card Points Expire? Not if You’re Careful
You’ve earned all those credit card rewards points from spending and sign up bonuses, it would be a shame to lose them. The good news is that these points typically don’t expire, but if you’re not careful, you can accidentally forfeit them. Read on to make sure that doesn’t happen. Cash back credit cards are consistent and fairly straightforward: your cash-back credits won’t expire as long as your account is open. If your card has no annual fee, there’s no reason to cancel it… Ever! There is no downside to keeping a free credit card account active–even if you rarely use it–and it will help your credit score at the same…
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How to Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to Travel Partners
Do you want to get the best value from your Chase Ultimate Rewards points? As I wrote in Chase Sapphire Preferred 50k Bonus Points – How to Use Them Best, the greatest value can be realized when you transfer them to airline frequent flier and hotel loyalty accounts. This step-by-step guide will walk you through the process. Introduction The Ultimate Rewards travel transfer option that I’ll be explaining is only available if you have a Sapphire Preferred , Sapphire Reserve, or Ink Plus business card. If you only hold a Chase Freedom, Freedom Unlimited or Ink Cash card, you’ll need to add a premium card to your wallet in order to take advantage of…
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