Post: #26

(06-05-2012 12:09 PM)Tuthmosis Wrote:  Capital One "No Hassle" Card: Remember reading it was pretty good in an article or two, but don't have any concrete reasons for believing this.

One of the big scams today is that you accumulate tons of points and bonus points for everything, but when it comes to cashing those in, travel costs a lot more in points (100,000 points for a regular coach ticket, for instance, instead of the standard 25-30,000). Another consideration is that most airlines (except for Southwest and JetBlue) charge you for checking in luggage on domestic flights, which would be part of my use.

Any of guys have any familiarity this topic?

I have the Capital One No Hassle card and it's pretty good.

They have a few options, I went with the one that has a $39 annual fee, and I get 2 "points" per dollar I spend.

I think there's also another one with no annual fee, but you only get 1 point per dollar you spend.

Basically the way it works is that for every 100 points, you can write off $1 in travel expenses.

But you have to build up a certain number of points first, and use the system to your advantage so you don't get ripped off. Like, once you get 30,000 points you can write off $300 in travel expenses. But they'll try to screw you, because if you write off $250 in expenses, they'll take the entire 30,000 points. They have 2 thresholds: 30,000 points and 60,000 points.

So what I do, if I have a hotel expense over $300, is ask the hotel to charge me twice. Once for exactly $300, and then the rest on a separate charge. Make sense?

But lately I've been saving up points to write off big airfare expenses to Europe, which is a better deal. After you accumulate 60,000 points, you can write off the exact amount without waiting to hit a certain threshold of points. So a $1259 airline ticket can be written off for exactly 125,900 points. Make sense?

Post: #27

http://exploreplatinum.americanexpress.c...eeBenefits
$450 annual fee but some nice ass perks if you travel alot.

Receive Gold Preferred Membership without meeting frequent-stay minimums
Benefits include room upgrades when available, late checkouts, and the opportunity
to earn free nights and award flights

Global Entry
Bypass arrival lines at most major U.S. airports when returning from international travel
Use your Card to apply and we’ll credit the application fee
Schedule an interview at a major U.S. airport, or at an exclusive Platinum Card interview session in your area
Once approved, your membership is valid for 5 years

Receive up to $200 in statement credits annually for airline incidental fees
Includes charges from the airline such as baggage fees, flight-change fees, in-flight food and beverage purchases, airport lounge day-passes, pet-kennel fees, and phone reservation fees*
Enroll with one of 11 airlines

Enjoy complimentary access to participating American Airlines Admirals Club®,
Delta Sky Club®, and US Airways® Club lounges with your Platinum Card®
Complimentary access to Airspace Lounge in the Baltimore/Washington
International Airport, Concourse D3
When you enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, you can access over 600 participating airport lounges worldwide — no matter what class or airline you fly

Post: #28

Bump.

Any word on what are the better credit card options nowadays?

I don't spend much but when I do I've been using my very ordinary CC. No annual fee, no benefits either. Looking to upgrade, preferably something that offers miles.

Post: #29

(03-31-2015 10:28 AM)Nascimento Wrote:  Bump.

Any word on what are the better credit card options nowadays?

I don't spend much but when I do I've been using my very ordinary CC. No annual fee, no benefits either. Looking to upgrade, preferably something that offers miles.

This is my Canadian card: http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/credit-cards...avion.html

Its like 100 bucks to join but has the best points plan of Canadian banks if Im not mistaken

Post: #30

(03-31-2015 10:28 AM)Nascimento Wrote:  Bump.

Any word on what are the better credit card options nowadays?

I don't spend much but when I do I've been using my very ordinary CC. No annual fee, no benefits either. Looking to upgrade, preferably something that offers miles.

Look at this more updated thread.

/thread-38140.html

Post: #31

(06-28-2012 01:44 PM)chyamor Wrote:  http://exploreplatinum.americanexpress.c...eeBenefits
$450 annual fee but some nice ass perks if you travel alot.

Receive Gold Preferred Membership without meeting frequent-stay minimums
Benefits include room upgrades when available, late checkouts, and the opportunity
to earn free nights and award flights

Global Entry
Bypass arrival lines at most major U.S. airports when returning from international travel
Use your Card to apply and we’ll credit the application fee
Schedule an interview at a major U.S. airport, or at an exclusive Platinum Card interview session in your area
Once approved, your membership is valid for 5 years

Receive up to $200 in statement credits annually for airline incidental fees
Includes charges from the airline such as baggage fees, flight-change fees, in-flight food and beverage purchases, airport lounge day-passes, pet-kennel fees, and phone reservation fees*
Enroll with one of 11 airlines

Enjoy complimentary access to participating American Airlines Admirals Club®,
Delta Sky Club®, and US Airways® Club lounges with your Platinum Card®
Complimentary access to Airspace Lounge in the Baltimore/Washington
International Airport, Concourse D3
When you enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, you can access over 600 participating airport lounges worldwide — no matter what class or airline you fly

I had the Platinum card for one year. With the Global Entry fee paid for and the bonus points, I think that's all that its good for. The lounges are good only if you travel quite a bit internationally (the access to U.S. domestic lounges is lame, you have to pay for drinks and only minimal snacks). I timed getting the card when I knew I'd be traveling a lot for work in the upcoming year. Otherwise, I would not have nor do I recommend the card.

Post: #32

Question about the platinum Amex...

If you pay the $450 for one year and then cancel, can it still be used to get into lounges in the future?

Do lounges verify the status of the AMEX, or do you just flash it and get to go through?

Post: #33

(04-01-2015 02:52 PM)BallsDeep Wrote:  Question about the platinum Amex...

If you pay the $450 for one year and then cancel, can it still be used to get into lounges in the future?

Do lounges verify the status of the AMEX, or do you just flash it and get to go through?

The lounges typically verify your status. You get a separate Priority Pass card, which is used for all international lounges and most domestic, which they swipe when you enter. I went to a lounge less than two weeks after canceling my Amex and was told my Priority Pass card wasn't working.

Post: #34

Bumping for the highest reward:expenditure ratio I've ever seen, only valid for another month. Spend $1000 in three months, get 50,000 AMEX points, $500 or so depending on how you redeem them. $195 annual fee waived for the first year, I won't be keeping it that long.

https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credi...ards-gold/

Post: #35

Post in this mega thread already on this topic.

The Frequent Traveller Thread - Perks, points, and deals for beginners and experts
/thread-38140.html

Post: #36

I'm a big fan of the Amex platinum card. Granted, it's perks are really designed for those who travel internationally and don't travel on too tight a budget. Domestically you get access to their Centurion Lounges, of which there are several now (LAS, DFW, LGA, SFO, MIA and I think SEA is coming soon?). Those are pretty slick and they have quite good food and you can sometimes even get a free 15 minute massage or facial. I think you get to bring in two guests with you as well. The priority pass deal isn't really that great. I've used it a couple of times and it can be nice if you're stuck god knows where for a while and want a safe/clean spot to sit and get free wifi.

They have their "fine hotels" program which (again, for guys with a little more coin) really is the top perk. You can often score a free night and a free upgrade at some really great hotels all over the world. You will usually get $100 credit towards food/beverage too.

Free global entry is a slam dunk too. Also you get Starwood preferred gold, which can be a nice perk.

Also worth mentioning, is the concierge which is impressive and their customer service trumps any other card I've ever used. The only drawback is overseas it's less accepted than visa, but I still manage to use it often.

In regards to the initial post on this thread, transferring Amex points to airlines miles is a really efficient way to use your points and one of the top benefits of this card. "the points guy," as someone already noted, has a lot written on this and he is really worth checking out.

Post: #37

(07-22-2015 01:33 PM)nattyboy Wrote:  In regards to the initial post on this thread, transferring Amex points to airlines miles is a really efficient way to use your points and one of the top benefits of this card. "the points guy," as someone already noted, has a lot written on this and he is really worth checking out.

This website is owned by Bankrate, Inc. and does not publish advice in the best interest of the consumer. It is a for-profit enterprise, and I do not recommend following advice from someone that is told to push certain credit cards to meet a quota.

The card itself is fine, although I'd never sign up if I didn't get one of the 100,000+ sign-up bonuses that are frequently available.

I also got the AMEX Gold card with a 75k sign-up bonus before so that isn't the best bonus ever seen.

Post: #38

The 75k points where you had to spend $10k in 4 months vs 50k points for spending $1k in 3? More power to you if you've got it, most people probably aren't putting $30k a year on credit cards though.

Post: #39

(07-22-2015 02:19 PM)elcidcampeador Wrote:  

(07-22-2015 01:33 PM)nattyboy Wrote:  In regards to the initial post on this thread, transferring Amex points to airlines miles is a really efficient way to use your points and one of the top benefits of this card. "the points guy," as someone already noted, has a lot written on this and he is really worth checking out.

This website is owned by Bankrate, Inc. and does not publish advice in the best interest of the consumer. It is a for-profit enterprise, and I do not recommend following advice from someone that is told to push certain credit cards to meet a quota.

The card itself is fine, although I'd never sign up if I didn't get one of the 100,000+ sign-up bonuses that are frequently available.

I also got the AMEX Gold card with a 75k sign-up bonus before so that isn't the best bonus ever seen.

Word.

I think there's lots of value to be found on The Points Guy so long as you remember that it is a product sales site disguised as a travel and mileage hacking blog. To be fair, nearly all the points blogs out there are pimping credit cards. Everybody and their mom is trying to live the Tim Ferris lifestyle these days by making money blogging. So they're all pushing you to sign up for credit cards where they get referral bonuses. For pure information with no hidden agenda, flyertalk is the source.

Edit -- you always have the option of removing the blogger's affiliate link when clicking on an offer. I usually don't if I find their blog of great benefit to me, but it is an option if you aren't comfortable with their practices.

Post: #40

(07-22-2015 02:29 PM)Gorgiass Wrote:  The 75k points where you had to spend $10k in 4 months vs 50k points for spending $1k in 3? More power to you if you've got it, most people probably aren't putting $30k a year on credit cards though.

I don't know if it was that one - I didn't get it from a blog, but a year or so ago from Flyertalk. Still with manufactured spending it doesn't matter at all, other than the slightly pain-in-the-ass process of going to the supermarket to buy money orders.

The Points Guy is dangerous because it isn't even owned by the guy anymore. The other ones actually still own their websites, but he doesn't and doesn't control the content.

Post: #41

(07-22-2015 03:02 PM)elcidcampeador Wrote:  The Points Guy is dangerous because it isn't even owned by the guy anymore. The other ones actually still own their websites, but he doesn't and doesn't control the content.

Well I still read the feed for his blog. He has a lot of different writers now. He does still post, he's just not the only one now.

I wonder how common it is for people to lose playing this game? People see these photos taken on beaches and then sign up for all these cards and don't know when to cancel them, when a card holds good value, what the real cost of your MS spend is when you factor in fees.

Now that I think about it, the majority must be losing or why would credit card companies back up The Points Guy? They are obvious making money off these people rushing to sign up who don't know what they're doing. If everyone was playing the game like us, the credit card companies would've probably done away with credit card bonuses as it would be a major loss.

Post: #42

(07-22-2015 05:38 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  

(07-22-2015 03:02 PM)elcidcampeador Wrote:  The Points Guy is dangerous because it isn't even owned by the guy anymore. The other ones actually still own their websites, but he doesn't and doesn't control the content.

Well I still read the feed for his blog. He has a lot of different writers now. He does still post, he's just not the only one now.

I wonder how common it is for people to lose playing this game? People see these photos taken on beaches and then sign up for all these cards and don't know when to cancel them, when a card holds good value, what the real cost of your MS spend is when you factor in fees.

Now that I think about it, the majority must be losing or why would credit card companies back up The Points Guy? They are obvious making money off these people rushing to sign up who don't know what they're doing. If everyone was playing the game like us, the credit card companies would've probably done away with credit card bonuses as it would be a major loss.

It's hard to say how the money is split and what favors, etc are done for each other. You've got the Banks, Mastercard/Visa/Amex, and the Airlines/Hotels.

We know the merchant has to give a percentage of the credit card sale to the banks and CC's. If it's 3%, that's a lot of cash on billions-trillions of spend.

I wonder if they get to write off the points/awards redeemed as a loss for tax purposes as well?

Post: #43

Gorgiass, where did you get the $1000/50k points deal? On the link it says spend 2k in 3 months and get 25k sign on points.