RECENT POSTS
  • Credit Cards,  Travel Rewards

    Amex Announces New Platinum Card Benefits

    After recent buzz about potential new benefits coming to the Platinum Card, today American Express announced the changes. Beginning October 6, consumers with a Platinum Card from American Express will receive 5X Membership Rewards points on airfare booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel. Also, Business Platinum Card Members will now earn 50% points back (up from 30%) when using Membership Rewards Pay with Points through American Express Travel to book an economy flight with their selected airline or a first or business class ticket with any airline. In addition, Business Platinum Card Members can earn 1.5X Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on any individual purchase of $5,000 or more. “Our new…

  • Credit Cards,  Travel Rewards

    Transfer Points and Status Match Between Marriott and Starwood

    Marriott has completed its acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, giving the combined company 30 hotel brands and over 5700 properties worldwide. Effective immediately, you can now match your highest level status and transfer points in either direction between the programs. The 3:1 ratio for transferring points is fair: 3 Marriott/Ritz Carlton Rewards points = 1 Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) point. The only limitations are a minimum of 1000 points and a maximum of all the points in your account. If you have a Marriott or Ritz Carlton account and an SPG account, you can link them together here. If you are not already a member of one or both of the programs,…

  • Credit Cards

    New Citi Prestige Applicants Losing AA Lounge Benefit Soon

    Last month, news broke that Citi Prestige cardholders would be losing access to American Airlines Admirals Clubs. A few days later, Citi confirmed that, and many other negative changes to the card. The only good news was that Citi was giving one year notice of the changes, which are due to take effect July 23, 2017. However, there is one change that will affect new applicants much sooner. According to various reports, new Citi Prestige applicants must be approved by August 31, 2016 to have Admirals Club access through July 23, 2017. If you become a cardholder on September 1 or later, you will not have the AA lounge club benefit…

  • 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.…