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Fresh Look for the Site
After a couple years with the same look for the site, I thought it was time for a change. This morning, I updated the website with a fresh new style. Major new features include a search button on the main menu, Featured Posts on the home page, and plenty of Related Posts sections to help with your navigation. I hope you all like the changes! If you like the information in this article, please consider supporting this blog by shopping with my Amazon Referral link.
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Hyatt Award Category Changes
Hyatt has announced award category changes for a large number of its hotels. Although I would classify this as a devaluation, it’s by no means a massive one. These changes won’t take effect until March 18, 2019. You can book at the old award rates until then. The entire list of changes can be found at Hyatt’s website here. In total, 259 properties are changing categories. 129 hotels are moving to a lower category and 130 are getting more expensive. That looks fairly balanced at first glance. Lets dig deeper. World of Hyatt Categories The Hotel Award Categories determine how many World of Hyatt points are required to be redeemed…
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Ameriprise Amex Platinum No Longer Waiving Annual Fee
UPDATE: The waived annual fee is no longer offered, but the card lives on, with a 60,000 Membership Rewards welcome bonus after spending $5,000 in the first months. As of this morning, The Platinum Card from American Express for Ameriprise Financial is no longer available for new applications. The card was a favorite due to its waived annual fee for the first year. The Amerprise Platinum card had all same benefits that the standard Platinum card–Centurion Lounge and Delta SkyClub access, $200 airline fee credit, $200 Uber credit to name a few. While the card didn’t offer any Membership Rewards signup bonus, it had been offered with a $0 introductory annual…
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Marriott and SPG Credit Card Eligiblity Confusion
Marriott’s new combined rewards program has been named Marriott Bonvoy and will go live in February. This consolidates the Marriott Rewards, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards and SPG programs under one unified brand. What’s still confusing are the credit card and bonus eligibility requirements of each card. Can you get the Amex SPG Luxury card if you have the Chase Marriott Premier Plus card? The answer isn’t always apparent. And if you read the Offer Terms, you’re left even more confused. I’ve written a questionnaire to cut through the eligibility legalese in each card’s offer terms. Simply choose the card you intend to apply for, answer the ensuing questions, and I’ll tell you if…
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Chase Offers: $40 Back on DirecTV
I found a Chase Offer in my Chase mobile app for $40 back after spending $20 on DirecTV with my Sapphire Reserve card . This offer is intended for new subscribers. I’ve been with DirecTV for years, but I gave it a shot anyway. Here’s how it went. What are Chase Offers? According to Chase’s FAQ, “Chase Offers brings you great deals from the places you love. No coupons, codes or vouchers to remember, and no registration is required. You just click on an offer to activate it for your card, and then use your card to pay in stores, online or via mobile apps and wallets. You’ll see your…
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Why is the Chase 5/24 Rule So Confusing?
I had a recent exchange with someone claiming to have been approved for Chase Freedom Unlimited despite being at 5/24. As it turns out, he was only 4/24, and that’s why he wasn’t declined. That begs the question: “How could it be so hard to count to 5?” Well, Chase’s 5/24 rule is not so straightforward. In fact, it’s downright confusing. It can make a reasonably intelligent person have trouble counting to 5. In this post, I will try to clear up some of the most confusing concepts of the 5/24 rule, including the reason that the Freedom Unlimited application I mentioned above was approved. What is the Chase 5/24…
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New Lineup of Marriott Bonvoy branded Credit Cards
Marriott’s new combined rewards program has been named Marriott Bonvoy and will go live in February. This consolidates the Marriott Rewards, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards and SPG programs under one unified brand. This new branding will be reflected across Marriott’s entire line of credit cards offered by American Express and Chase. Points earning rates and benefits will remain largely unchanged, with the exception of a few new ones. Here’s a rundown of all of the new Marriott cards. American Express Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card The SPG Amex card will become the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card and will close to new applicants on February 12. The card’s benefits and annual fee will…
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New Access Restrictions for Amex Centurion Lounges
In an effort to reduce overcrowding at its popular Centurion Lounges, American Express has been piloting various access restrictions in certain airports at certain times. Some of those will now be made permanent. Beginning March 22, 2019, Platinum and Centurion Card Members will only be permitted to access a Centurion Lounge within 3 hours of their scheduled flight departure time or between connecting flights. Card Members will not be permitted access upon arrival at their destination. I’ve seen enough complaints about overcrowding at Centurion Lounges, even while the temporary restrictions have been in place that I’m skeptical that making these permanent will have any noticeable effect. The arrival restriction seems…
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Capital One Venture Adds Miles Transfer Partners
Capital One has finally introduced airline transfer partners to its popular Venture credit card. In the past, I’ve been critical of Venture for being nothing more than an expensive cash back credit card marketed as a travel card. That ends with this new benefit. Capital One Venture earns 2x miles on all purchases and 10x miles on eligible purchases on hotels.com. Each mile can still be redeemed towards $.01 of travel purchased with the card. In that respect, the cash back feature of the card still exists. Now, miles can also be transferred to airline partners at a ratio of 1.5 airline partner miles for every 2 Venture miles. This…
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Priority Pass Loses Another LAX Restaurant
In an effort to increase its offerings, Priority Pass has been adding restaurants to its list of airport lounges. When dining at these participating venues, you simply order off the menu as you normally would and your Priority Pass membership will provide you and your guests with a credit toward your meal. Unfortunately, these restaurant additions are beginning to mysteriously disappear. Another LAX airport restaurant will no longer be accepting Priority Pass soon. After November 30, 2018, Barney’s Beanery is leaving the network of airport lounges. The restaurant was added to Priority Pass only a few short months ago. This comes on the heels of Campanile’s Restaurant in LAX Terminal…
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