Your approach to travel awards

[FIREshrink]

One card worth looking at for the bonus, but not ongoing usage, is the US Bank Altitude Reserve. Very similar, though inferior, to CSR. But the first year bonus is very large, and in addition we’ve enjoyed the free GoGo inflight internet passes. Between Global Entry, Priority Pass Select (with free and generous food allowance at certain restaurants), and inflight internet, even coach flying is starting to feel tolerable again. But we will cancel after the first year, since CSR is superior in almost every respect.

[ScientistPhysician]

Remember, when you redeem miles, you should aim to get at least $0.02 per point. Good value is >$0.03 per point. That means use miles for award tickets and upgrades, NEVER BUY MAGAZINES, WINE CLUBS, AMAZON CARDS, FOOD, ETC WITH MILES, which awards <$0.01 per point.

One perk not discussed is that when you buy travel with chase points through the CSR portal, not only do you get a 50% bonus redemption, but the ticket is "purchased", so you will get award miles, status miles, and premier qualified dollars. That actually can make it worth it, even though the chase UR point is only being valued at $0.015/point.

[Molar Mechanic]

PhysicianOnFIRE wrote:

Molar Mechanic wrote:

$450 for the first user, $75 for each authorized user.

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If you each have your own card, I wouldn’t bother with the companion card. Seems the ROI is not so good on that one. And a companion card counts towards Chase’s 5/24 rule.

 

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I didn't realize that was the case regarding the 5/24 rule.  I'm not sure if it's worth messing with though.  I play the miles game, but don't really maximize my efforts with dual cards, etc.

[PhysicianOnFIRE]

Rogue Dad, M.D. wrote:

PhysicianOnFIRE wrote:

Where do you get $525? Unless something has changed, it’s a $450 annual fee with a $300 travel credit apiece. P 

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You sure it’s $300 per person and not per account?

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Per account.

As I hollered in my post, "No Companion Cards!" It's much better for each spouse to get their own account / card based on household income. Rewards are often 10x juicier for a new account versus a companion card.

 

[PhysicianOnFIRE]

Rogue Dad, M.D. wrote:

PhysicianOnFIRE wrote:

Where do you get $525? Unless something has changed, it’s a $450 annual fee with a $300 travel credit apiece. P 

Click to expand…

You sure it’s $300 per person and not per account?

Click to expand...

Per account.

As I hollered in my post, "No Companion Cards!" It's much better for each spouse to get their own account / card based on household income. Rewards are often 10x juicier for a new account versus a companion card.

 

[PhysicianOnFIRE]

Molar Mechanic wrote:

$450 for the first user, $75 for each authorized user.

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If you each have your own card, I wouldn't bother with the companion card. Seems the ROI is not so good on that one. And a companion card counts towards Chase's 5/24 rule.

 

[artemis]

DynamicHipScrew wrote:

Do the airline memberships that everyone is referring to require a fee?

 

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Airline frequent flyer programs are free to join.  Credit cards that earn frequent flyer miles have a fee, though.

[RogueDadMD]

PhysicianOnFIRE wrote:

Where do you get $525? Unless something has changed, it’s a $450 annual fee with a $300 travel credit apiece. P

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You sure it's $300 per person and not per account?

[stellardoc1]

Priority pass select is not for CSP, only for CSR.

[Molar Mechanic]

$450 for the first user, $75 for each authorized user.

[billy]

I love the chase sapphire reserve, but also got it when it had the 100k bonus.  Still worth the fee though, and I like that it automatically finds the travel expenses to refund the 300/year so I dont have to submit requests over and over again.

[PhysicianOnFIRE]

DynamicHipScrew wrote:

Do the airline memberships that everyone is referring to require a fee?

 

We love our Sapphire Preferred and are thinking of upgrading to the Reserve. However, I’m iffy on the $525 annually for my wife and I to have cards.

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Where do you get $525? Unless something has changed, it's a $450 annual fee with a $300 travel credit apiece. Plus you can get Global entry ($100 each) reimbursed once, making it a $50 effective annual fee each if you don't have the Global Entry status yet.

[radonc23]

DynamicHipScrew wrote:

Do the airline memberships that everyone is referring to require a fee?

 

We love our Sapphire Preferred and are thinking of upgrading to the Reserve. However, I’m iffy on the $525 annually for my wife and I to have cards.

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With the change from 100k bonus to 50k bonus, the CSR is not as valuable, however as someone who's primary interests are dining/travel, the 3x points are fantastic. Reserve gives you TSA pre-check (so does Preferred), Priority Pass (so does Preferred), CDW waiver for car rental (so does Preferred). most of the benefits are the same. The differences are that CSR gives you 1.5x value for travel, while CSP gives you 1.25, and 3x points for dining/travel vs 2x for CSP.

For one person, fee is $450. $300 will be refunded as travel credit. So, now the price difference is $95 for CSP vs $150 for CSR.

At about $3000 spending on dining and travel, you'd have 9,000 CSR points, and 6,000 CSP points. That 9000 points is $135 in CSR travel and $75 in CSP travel, so that's about where you hit your break even.

[DynamicHipScrew]

Do the airline memberships that everyone is referring to require a fee?

 

We love our Sapphire Preferred and are thinking of upgrading to the Reserve. However, I'm iffy on the $525 annually for my wife and I to have cards.

[q-school]

StarTrekDoc wrote:

You may want to expand on the southwest cards to get the companion pass since you travel with four. With three cards per person and timing it right, you can have nearly continual coverage with it and plenty of points on bonuses alone to fund flughts. And Chase ultimate as backup transfers to swa.

We then use Hyatt place since it has two queens and a sofa bed for the four of us and breakfast too. Hyatt card like you have and again Chase Sapphire and ink to funnel additional points.

We used to be huge spg fans but moving away from them right now for hotel stays with the loss of the business card club access upcoming. Still will keep it for the point transfer bonuses though that Chase ultimate doesn’t cover adequately.

One other thing not mentioned since I see american in there. British airways avios can be highly useful for direct hauls. Shame aa isn’t strong out of San Diego. Cause we’re million milers from the years back on spend credits ????

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which three cards for sw?  thanks