RECENT POSTS
  • Credit Cards

    Results of my Chase Sapphire Reserve Application…

    Yesterday I wrote about the new premium Chase Sapphire Reserve card and all its benefits. I also wrote about how this card, like many other Chase credit cards, is subject to the Chase 5/24 approval rule. Regardless, I decided to apply today and my results are inconclusive, but doubtful. I’ve opened more than 5 new credit cards in the last 24 months, so I knew applying online via the Chase website would be just about futile. After reading countless data points of approvals and denials over the last 2 days, I knew my best hope of circumventing the rule was going into a branch to see if I happened to be pre-approved.…

  • Miles and Points

    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,…

  • Offers

    $5 Free Starbucks from Visa Checkout

    Update: This offer has been extended to August 29, 2016. To me, one of the only things better than Startucks coffee is FREE Starbucks coffee. That’s why I’m excited about the current promotion from Visa Checkout. Be one of the first 200,000 to buy an eGift Card (min. $10) on Starbucks.com and pay using Visa Checkout between 8/4/16 – 8/18/16 and get a Bonus Load of $5. This offer isn’t quite as lucrative as the last Starbucks/Visa Checkout promotion back in May. That one gave you a $10 Bonus Load for purchasing a $10 eGift card. It’s important to note, this doesn’t mean you simply checkout by paying with a Visa card. You…

  • Amex Offers
    Credit Cards,  Offers

    Rundown of all the New Amex Offers

    Many new Amex Offers have been released over the last few days. If you have travel plans, the Sheraton Hotels and Ritz-Carlton deals are particularly lucrative and might influence your hotel choice. In addition, the 10% back on gas and tolls offers can provide you with a savings on money you’re probably spending anyway. For newcomers to these deals, check out my primer: Amex Offers = Too Good To Miss Out!. I wrote about how to connect your American Express card to your social media account and how to add offers to your card via Twitter, Facebook, or your americanexpress.com account. Twitter is the easiest method, but some offers are targeted, so you should be logging on to your…

  • Credit Cards,  Miles and Points

    More Negative Changes to Citi Prestige Coming

    In an earlier post, I wrote about Citi’s plans to discontinue complimentary American Airlines Admirals Club lounge access for Prestige cardmembers. Unfortunately, that was only the beginning. More Citi Prestige changes have been announced and they’re all bad. In addition to the loss of Admirals Club access, Citi is reducing the value of ThankYou points redeemed for flights, discontinuing the Complimentary Golf benefit, and reducing the value (in some cases substantially) of the 4th Night Free hotel benefit. All these changes are to take effect July 23, 2017. Citi Prestige Changes Access to American Airlines Admirals Club lounges will no longer be offered. After July 23, 2017, current cardmembers will…