re: Credit Card Rewards and Points Discussion

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So you're spending 120k Starwood on hotel, and that's going to earn you Aeroplan miles?

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So I converted 120K SPG to 360K Marriott. Then used all of those Marriott points to book Marriott nights + flights package 1 that gets you 7 nights at Cat 8 + 120K miles at an airline of your choosing. Options were Alaska, American, Aeroplan and a couple others. I would have transferred to Alaska had it not been for the current promotion on Aeroplan. Promotion is 35% bonus miles on hotel > air transfer.

My initial plan was to do 5 nights at the Wailea resort for 160K Marriott (54K SPG) plus last 2 at Ritz Kapalua using FNCs. I conservatively value the FNCs at say 12K SPG points a night since thats how much I would have traded to get those bringing me to 78K SPG for 7 nights. I figured paying an incremental 42K SPG points to earn 162K Aeroplan miles was worth it. So I went for it.

Aeroplan is typically good for flying biz to Europe or Southern South America. Both 110K RT with minimal YQ. That is where I plan to use these. Another ancillary benefit is that since Aeroplan can only be earned through AmEx MR, this frees up at least 162K MR for me to use on ANA instead.

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I'm eyeing using my American miles on Cathay. I was looking at their award availability and unless it's phantom it's pretty wide open to be usable for business class. I might get use of it after all.

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That's an awesome redemption if you get to do it. F or J on Cathay or JAL. Both of which will get you to North/SE Asia. Rural China or Nepal would both be pretty cool.

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SPG's sign up of 25k points looked like 2 nights at a nice hotel. Congratulations on earning enough points for the nights in Maui. I'm jealous.

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Yes. 2x Personal and Biz gets you to 140K between you and your SO and gets you on your way with SPG, if you catch it when the 35K offer comes around. Also not a bad card to MS on even at 1x. Also, both personal and biz marriott cards have 100K offers from time to time. If you and SO got 4 of those total, then thats another 133K bringing you to 273K total. Doable if you have the heart for it

Did you do $0 revenue for Amex business?

I haven't hit them up like Chase

Ah ya.

I really should have gone for the Biz for our trip to Peru.

Welp, guess I'll do it before they are pulled.

Sorry let me clarify.

I mean I should have went for the biz version of SPG credit card to cover all my nights at Tambo Del Inka. And that I should get the card before it is inevitably discontinued in favor of Marriott's program.

From HNL you should definitely fly biz. Once over 6 hours I think it starts to be worth it more and more.

I used Avios for LIM to CUZ on LATAM.

Might have better luck with UR to LIM.

Yes, Asia is the tits. I will definitely update folks if I pull the trigger on that.

Yes you're on the right track.

However, recently a friend of mine was declined for CSR because they said you just got the CSP. They suggested he apply in a few days and he should get it. Just something to keep in mind.

Here is what I would do:
You: CSR + SW plus
Spouse: CSP + Freedom Unlimited

After 1 month:
You: SW premier + United 70K (or Marriott 80K/100K)
Spouse: CSR + United 70K (or Marriott 80L/100K)

Evidence suggests that Chase Business cards dont count towards 5/24. This is why I would apply for Chase Ink Preferred for the 80K points.

Again, this will still keep you at 4/24. Few months later you can apply for UA to get to 5/24, then apply for one of the others you mentioned as none of those are affected by 5/24.

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Also, I remember the reserve had a 100,000 point sign up bonus last year..think we might see it again?

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From what I remember hearing, they lost a ton of money on this.

People found out quickly that

$1150 = (2x $300 Travel Reimbursement) * (100,000 Point Signup) - $450 Annual Fee


Quite a few people cancelled the card well before the second AF hit