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10% here and then hope and pray another 15% or 20% ebay flash sale happens could sum up to some pretty good savings, No?
Does anyone know when this deal will end?
One question on this:
So I don't do a lot of travel. But I do international travel couple of times a year from US to India. Usually I get return ticket for under $700. Will transferring points be able to get me a ticket any cheaper? If you wouldn't know first hand, is there a way to find out myself?
Don't know india off hand- you can try this site though:
that'll give you an idea how many miles you can get a fare for in points, then see the "cheapest" option for transfers from chase that is listed and compare.
For international coach it may or may not beat the portal (you can easily check the portal price if you have any chase card)
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from SDislife
:
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Also, for Hyatt redemptions, what would a typical night in terms of points cost like?
Eg. if at a particular location, I can get a decent hotel, say holiday inn or something for $100 a night, will using these points get a better hotel for UR points less than worth $100 in cash?
Thanks for the help
It won't usually be "cheaper" in cash price than a cheap hotel will be, it's more like you'd be getting a $200+ a night hotel for UR points only worth $100 if taken as cash. If that's worth it to you or not is your call.
You'd need to check Hyatts website for the specific place you want to go (and what dates you want to go- as that impacts pricing too) to see what it costs in points vs cash to judge.
I've seen some Hyatt bookings where you get WELL north of 2 cents a point, and some where you're more in the 1.4-1.8 cent range.
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from tripredagus
:
Could you help me with the math? CSR card is $450 annually, if you count the $300 travel credit then that's $150 out of pocket.
If you're not keeping the CSR long term then your math is already off.
You can use the CSR travel credit twice- so it's $150 in pocket first year (though you have a smaller window than you used to to use it a second time for 'free')
Plus the $100 GE credit, so $250 in pocket.
Plus the 50,000 signup bonus, worth at least $750... so $1000 in pocket (potentially a lot more with premium transfers).
But ok, let's say you plan to keep the thing, let's look at that math...you still get $20/yr value from the GE credit (since you need it once every 5 years so $100/5)
$130 out of pocket annually... so over say those 5 years it's $650 out of pocket.
Which is less than the original signup bonus was worth. So you're STILL profitable over having not gotten the card at all before counting ANY other benefits of it.
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from tripredagus
:
At a 1.5x UR rate, that means you need to earn 10,000 points annually to break even.
If you use no other chase card, sure.
But the freedom earns 5x on common categories, up to 30,000 points on 6k spend a year.
Which is worth $300 cash...or $330 with this 10% GC bonus.
But run through a CSR for travel it's worth at least $450.
Oh, look, you're another $120 or $150 a year ahead without spending anything on the CSR.
Ditto the 5x spend you should be putting on a Chase Ink Cash (5x on phone, cable, internet, and anything from office supply stores- including gift cards to OTHER places, which include SW airlines, airbnb, amazon, and more)
(and ditto the 5x spend if you have a second freedom card, as some people do... or the 1.5x on Freedom Unlimited, which with the 50% bonus from chase means you're getting a minimum of 2.25% back on NON category spend when used for travel, or nearer 3% for coach airline transfers)
Then you're ahead further on the 3x point bonuses you'd otherwise have put on a lesser-bonus card on the CSR.
Oh, and you also get free primary rental car insurance (which is usually not offered on other cards- and usually not free when it's offered)
You also get free roadside assitance
You also get free Priority pass membership to airport lounges with unlimited guests.
You also get various premium travel insurances.
Maybe any of those last 4 have value to you, maybe they don't... but even without them you're way ahead of the annual fee over 5 years compared to not having the card and only get 1-1.1 cents a point, assuming you travel even once in a while.
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from rbraden
:
This analysis is why I typically just sell my miles. I can get the 1.5x multiplier on travel, but I feel like the prices are often inflated somewhat to compensate. I've gotten 1.4cents a piece in the past, and that's cash up front...no need to wait and book a trip that I may be able to get through another portal cheaper.
If you transfer to airlines there's no need to worry about portal inflation (though most find you can book same/similar price as anyplace else via the portal FWIW)
With southwest for example you get roughly 1.4-1.6 cents a point with transfers- or double that if you have the companion pass.
I don't think I've ever gotten less than about 2 cents a mile for even coach airline ticket transfers (and not always to southwest- avios remains a good option for domestic short haul for example), and I've gotten quite a bit more for some premium airfares and hotel bookings.
You realize the reason Bruce is offering you buy your points is that they're worth more than he's paying for them and he's reselling them to other people for travel bookings for a profit, right?
You realize the reason Bruce is offering you buy your points is that they're worth more than he's paying for them and he's reselling them to other people for travel bookings for a profit, right?
Absolutely. I understand the game, I just don't travel that much (at least not when my work isn't paying for it), and would rather have the cash sometimes.
You can use the CSR travel credit twice- so it's $150 in pocket first year (though you have a smaller window than you used to to use it a second time for 'free')
No sir. This has been fixed a while ago. The $300 travel credit no longer switches over on Dec 31 (therefore giving it to you twice on your first year), but rather on your anniversary date. So even your first year you get the $300 exactly once.
Also, for Hyatt redemptions, what would a typical night in terms of points cost like?
Eg. if at a particular location, I can get a decent hotel, say holiday inn or something for $100 a night, will using these points get a better hotel for UR points less than worth $100 in cash?
Thanks for the help
I guess it depends on how much you value your points but I also see it as I'd rather use points I've obtained than spend cash. Recently, I booked a studio suite at the Hyatt for 5K points a night for 5 nights. If I paid cash, that'd cost $812 (from their site) with taxes and fees for the 5 nights. I used 25K or equivalent to $250.00 cash value (if you cashed out on Chase). So I see it as I booked a $136 hotel room for $50 a night. I read that when using points, Hyatt doesn't charge you the fee so I'm hoping that's true.
No sir. This has been fixed a while ago. The $300 travel credit no longer switches over on Dec 31 (therefore giving it to you twice on your first year), but rather on your anniversary date. So even your first year you get the $300 exactly once.
Incorrect.
You use it exactly twice.
You have 60 days from when the annual fee posts to do so and get the annual fee fully refunded- so it's a narrower window than before- but you absolutely can still do it.
You have 60 days from when the annual fee posts to do so and get the annual fee fully refunded- so it's a narrower window than before- but you absolutely can still do it.
What? I think we're talking about 2 different things here. Also wouldn't the AF refund only be applicable if you were to PC to CSP (or Freedom) - in which case you don't get the $300 anyway.
What? I think we're talking about 2 different things here. Also wouldn't the AF refund only be applicable if you were to PC to CSP (or Freedom) - in which case you don't get the $300 anyway.
I'm not sure what you're talking about.
I'm talking about using the $300 CSR travel credit twice with one annual fee.
Which you can still do, as long as you use the second $300 credit in less than 60 days from the AF posting- and then downgrade it and get the AF refunded in full.
(since my original comment was about if you only keep the card 1 year, and double dip the $300 credit).
If you are keeping the card long term instead then you just use it each year as normal, and get the "double dip" second use in whatever your LAST year of having it is, assuming you ever have a last year, with the same 60-day window to work within.
(and the window is actually potentially almost 90 days depending on your statement dates but should never be LESS than 60)
I'm talking about using the $300 CSR travel credit twice with one annual fee.
What I am talking about is when the card originally came out, the credit re-upped on new years. So if you opened the card in say March and the first $300 became available, your AF posted in April. Then you used up the $300 before NYE, on NYE you got another $300 which as long as you used it up by end of March and then cancelled/downgraded you effectively got 2 x $300's for just 1 AF.
This is no longer the case since you now get $300 on your anniversary - so in the scenario above you would get your $300 in March, pay your AF in April, nothing happens on NYE, you get your next $300 next March. So I'm gonna assume you mean as long as I use that 2nd $300 within 60 days, I can do a PC to Freedom and get my 2nd April AF refunded.
What I am talking about is when the card originally came out, the credit re-upped on new years. So if you opened the card in say March and the first $300 became available, your AF posted in April. Then you used up the $300 before NYE, on NYE you got another $300 which as long as you used it up by end of March and then cancelled/downgraded you effectively got 2 x $300's for just 1 AF.
This is no longer the case since you now get $300 on your anniversary - so in the scenario above you would get your $300 in March, pay your AF in April, nothing happens on NYE, you get your next $300 next March. So I'm gonna assume you mean as long as I use that 2nd $300 within 60 days, I can do a PC to Freedom and get my 2nd April AF refunded.
Right. That's what i said in the first place.
You still get to use the $300 credit twice- you just have a smaller window in which to do so (between 60 and 90 days depending on your statement date).
if you have no travel planned at that time you can always just buy a gift card directly from an airline or hotel chain, which should code as travel and be refunded by the credit, and then use the GC later.
you're missing the 5% chase freedom bonus. So people who have the Freedom card for the 5% bonus categories aren't doing anything wrong. It's not good for everyday spend, agreed.
this quarter is great with 5% PayPal, Chase Pay, and grocery stores
Gotcha. Agreed on the benefit of putting spend on bonus categories. 97% of my spend is typically unbonused (outside of the cell, internet, cable tv I put on my Ink card for 5X) so I generally use the card with the most valuable currency (SPG or UR with 1.5x).
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Does anyone know when this deal will end?
So I don't do a lot of travel. But I do international travel couple of times a year from US to India. Usually I get return ticket for under $700. Will transferring points be able to get me a ticket any cheaper? If you wouldn't know first hand, is there a way to find out myself?
https://www.awardhacker
that'll give you an idea how many miles you can get a fare for in points, then see the "cheapest" option for transfers from chase that is listed and compare.
For international coach it may or may not beat the portal (you can easily check the portal price if you have any chase card)
Also, for Hyatt redemptions, what would a typical night in terms of points cost like?
Eg. if at a particular location, I can get a decent hotel, say holiday inn or something for $100 a night, will using these points get a better hotel for UR points less than worth $100 in cash?
Thanks for the help
You'd need to check Hyatts website for the specific place you want to go (and what dates you want to go- as that impacts pricing too) to see what it costs in points vs cash to judge.
I've seen some Hyatt bookings where you get WELL north of 2 cents a point, and some where you're more in the 1.4-1.8 cent range.
You can use the CSR travel credit twice- so it's $150 in pocket first year (though you have a smaller window than you used to to use it a second time for 'free')
Plus the $100 GE credit, so $250 in pocket.
Plus the 50,000 signup bonus, worth at least $750... so $1000 in pocket (potentially a lot more with premium transfers).
But ok, let's say you plan to keep the thing, let's look at that math...you still get $20/yr value from the GE credit (since you need it once every 5 years so $100/5)
$130 out of pocket annually... so over say those 5 years it's $650 out of pocket.
Which is less than the original signup bonus was worth. So you're STILL profitable over having not gotten the card at all before counting ANY other benefits of it.
But the freedom earns 5x on common categories, up to 30,000 points on 6k spend a year.
Which is worth $300 cash...or $330 with this 10% GC bonus.
But run through a CSR for travel it's worth at least $450.
Oh, look, you're another $120 or $150 a year ahead without spending anything on the CSR.
Ditto the 5x spend you should be putting on a Chase Ink Cash (5x on phone, cable, internet, and anything from office supply stores- including gift cards to OTHER places, which include SW airlines, airbnb, amazon, and more)
(and ditto the 5x spend if you have a second freedom card, as some people do... or the 1.5x on Freedom Unlimited, which with the 50% bonus from chase means you're getting a minimum of 2.25% back on NON category spend when used for travel, or nearer 3% for coach airline transfers)
Then you're ahead further on the 3x point bonuses you'd otherwise have put on a lesser-bonus card on the CSR.
Oh, and you also get free primary rental car insurance (which is usually not offered on other cards- and usually not free when it's offered)
You also get free roadside assitance
You also get free Priority pass membership to airport lounges with unlimited guests.
You also get various premium travel insurances.
Maybe any of those last 4 have value to you, maybe they don't... but even without them you're way ahead of the annual fee over 5 years compared to not having the card and only get 1-1.1 cents a point, assuming you travel even once in a while.
With southwest for example you get roughly 1.4-1.6 cents a point with transfers- or double that if you have the companion pass.
I don't think I've ever gotten less than about 2 cents a mile for even coach airline ticket transfers (and not always to southwest- avios remains a good option for domestic short haul for example), and I've gotten quite a bit more for some premium airfares and hotel bookings.
You realize the reason Bruce is offering you buy your points is that they're worth more than he's paying for them and he's reselling them to other people for travel bookings for a profit, right?
You realize the reason Bruce is offering you buy your points is that they're worth more than he's paying for them and he's reselling them to other people for travel bookings for a profit, right?
Absolutely. I understand the game, I just don't travel that much (at least not when my work isn't paying for it), and would rather have the cash sometimes.
Eg. if at a particular location, I can get a decent hotel, say holiday inn or something for $100 a night, will using these points get a better hotel for UR points less than worth $100 in cash?
Thanks for the help
Incorrect.
You use it exactly twice.
You have 60 days from when the annual fee posts to do so and get the annual fee fully refunded- so it's a narrower window than before- but you absolutely can still do it.
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You use it exactly twice.
You have 60 days from when the annual fee posts to do so and get the annual fee fully refunded- so it's a narrower window than before- but you absolutely can still do it.
I'm not sure what you're talking about.
I'm talking about using the $300 CSR travel credit twice with one annual fee.
Which you can still do, as long as you use the second $300 credit in less than 60 days from the AF posting- and then downgrade it and get the AF refunded in full.
(since my original comment was about if you only keep the card 1 year, and double dip the $300 credit).
If you are keeping the card long term instead then you just use it each year as normal, and get the "double dip" second use in whatever your LAST year of having it is, assuming you ever have a last year, with the same 60-day window to work within.
(and the window is actually potentially almost 90 days depending on your statement dates but should never be LESS than 60)
see this for more info-
http://pointsyak.com/benefits/can...el-credit/
I'm talking about using the $300 CSR travel credit twice with one annual fee.
This is no longer the case since you now get $300 on your anniversary - so in the scenario above you would get your $300 in March, pay your AF in April, nothing happens on NYE, you get your next $300 next March. So I'm gonna assume you mean as long as I use that 2nd $300 within 60 days, I can do a PC to Freedom and get my 2nd April AF refunded.
This is no longer the case since you now get $300 on your anniversary - so in the scenario above you would get your $300 in March, pay your AF in April, nothing happens on NYE, you get your next $300 next March. So I'm gonna assume you mean as long as I use that 2nd $300 within 60 days, I can do a PC to Freedom and get my 2nd April AF refunded.
Right. That's what i said in the first place.
You still get to use the $300 credit twice- you just have a smaller window in which to do so (between 60 and 90 days depending on your statement date).
if you have no travel planned at that time you can always just buy a gift card directly from an airline or hotel chain, which should code as travel and be refunded by the credit, and then use the GC later.
this quarter is great with 5% PayPal, Chase Pay, and grocery stores
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