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re: Chase Sapphire Holders - convenient way to get max point redemption without travel
Posted on 9/4/20 at 5:17 pm to LSUregit
Posted on 9/4/20 at 5:17 pm to LSUregit
JFK is impossible 
I never found more than one on ANAs own site or United. Never more than two seats in business.
Could have just been the time of year, hence I went biz class.
ANA first class using their miles is a no go value wise as you mentioned.
Sucks I had to cancel. Hopefully 2022 for that. Three seats would be great.
I never found more than one on ANAs own site or United. Never more than two seats in business.
Could have just been the time of year, hence I went biz class.
ANA first class using their miles is a no go value wise as you mentioned.
Sucks I had to cancel. Hopefully 2022 for that. Three seats would be great.
0
Posted on 9/4/20 at 5:20 pm to Lsut81
Amex has all the good airline partners that Chase has left (VA, BA, Iberia), plus a few more like ANA, Avianca and the new launch of Aeroplan where you can get some outsized value.
United pricing wasn't always great but the devaluation outweighs the convenience now. Though my last search yielded normal pricing but that's probably COVID related and not something I want to count on
United pricing wasn't always great but the devaluation outweighs the convenience now. Though my last search yielded normal pricing but that's probably COVID related and not something I want to count on
This post was edited on 9/4/20 at 5:30 pm
Posted on 9/4/20 at 5:44 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
quote:
Less than 90k points RT business class to Europe/Japan? Yes please.
Wait what? Is that through ANA? What is availability like?
Posted on 9/4/20 at 5:49 pm to igoringa
quote:
Wait what? Is that through ANA? What is availability like?
ANA on ANA metal to Japan is very easy to get. 2 seats in biz checking all international gateways is pretty wide open and follows patterns. For example, IAH had returning flights from Japan on 3/4 certain days a week. You just have to learn it. My outbound was Seattle. The great benefit is you can book 350 days out with ANA miles which makes seats pretty much guaranteed. If you want to book with VA or United only 330 days out.
However, as you know if these routes all come back is unknown.
ANA to Europe is leveraging Star Alliance.
Right now Turkish air basically has 4 biz seats open every day into 2021 on almost all routes so that's who I booked to Croatia.
Booked all the way from home airport to IAH-IST-ZAG and DBV-IST-IAH-home.
United domestic legs are economy but that's a short flight.
In miles that was 264k (88*3) If I booked that with United it would have been 360k minimum.
This post was edited on 9/4/20 at 6:02 pm
Posted on 9/4/20 at 6:40 pm to Carson123987
I bought all the new appliances for my home with my points. Timing worked out great for me.
Posted on 9/4/20 at 7:30 pm to Lsut81
Over the past 5 yrs, I've accumulated over 20 million pts from all the various banks. Got out the game during Covid but probably will resume sometimes next year. I now primarily only use UR for Hyatt tranfer. Amex MR has great airline transfer if that's your thing. I love exploring Asia so MR to ANA has been my go to. 45-60k econ or 80-95k biz with a free stopover is hard to beat.
My second ANA round the world trip (only 125k pts) this year was scrapped due to Covid. For next April, I was able to book Houston to Singapore (straight flight in business) on Singapore Airlines, with stopover few days in Bali, return business on EVA air for 80k pts & couple hundred dollars per person.
- Also with a Schwab Plat, I was able to transefer for $1.25/ pt. Ended up investing it since it was just sitting there and doubled my money lol.
My second ANA round the world trip (only 125k pts) this year was scrapped due to Covid. For next April, I was able to book Houston to Singapore (straight flight in business) on Singapore Airlines, with stopover few days in Bali, return business on EVA air for 80k pts & couple hundred dollars per person.
- Also with a Schwab Plat, I was able to transefer for $1.25/ pt. Ended up investing it since it was just sitting there and doubled my money lol.
Posted on 9/4/20 at 8:09 pm to LSUregit
The new Chase Freedom & Chase Flex will be no annual fee at 5x at grocery stores and 5x on travel booked through the Chase portal. Can buy gift cards at 5x at grocery stores not to mention save on groceries as well. Transfer to Sapphire to transfer partners or for 1.5x. Could also do the same with Chase Ink Cash but not everyone has a qualifying business and Chase isn't approving anyone right now for business cards.
I find AMEX MR is great for those once a year biz class int'l redemptions but they're hard to find as mentioned above. I did ANA RTW, 125K for biz class around the world is straight up impossible to beat but so tough to find availability and realistically most people don't have time to take a month off to make a trip like that more than once.
UR much simpler to use at a reasonable value for everyday trips. Paying cash for most Hyatt's during COVID since prices are so low, but that's best value there is in most situations. Buying domestic flights at 1.5x points and still earning airline miles is nice when the points rate is equivalent, and it makes paying for a 5* hotel a little easier when it's divided by 1.5 points.
I find AMEX MR is great for those once a year biz class int'l redemptions but they're hard to find as mentioned above. I did ANA RTW, 125K for biz class around the world is straight up impossible to beat but so tough to find availability and realistically most people don't have time to take a month off to make a trip like that more than once.
UR much simpler to use at a reasonable value for everyday trips. Paying cash for most Hyatt's during COVID since prices are so low, but that's best value there is in most situations. Buying domestic flights at 1.5x points and still earning airline miles is nice when the points rate is equivalent, and it makes paying for a 5* hotel a little easier when it's divided by 1.5 points.
This post was edited on 9/4/20 at 8:23 pm
Posted on 9/4/20 at 8:27 pm to LSUregit
quote:
I've accumulated over 20 million pts from all the various banks
Subtract those AA mailers
quote:
I love exploring Asia
Best region to visit by far.
Posted on 9/4/20 at 10:23 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
I’m still salty from those AA bastards lol. I also manage my wife and parents’ account so that’s included. They give me free range as long as I take them on some awesome vacations.
Posted on 9/5/20 at 7:51 am to Carson123987
Have you tried this? They don’t block gift card purchases?
Posted on 9/5/20 at 8:01 am to Carson123987
quote:
How does this help us? Whole Foods sells Amazon gift cards. Say I want a new $1000 gizmo. I just need to go buy (2) $500 Amazon gift cards at Whole Foods, pay myself back with points, and because of the extra point value, I’m only getting deducted 33,333 points for each gift card instead of 50,000. $1000 purchase becomes a $666 purchase. Groovy
This assumes that Whole Foods will let you buy the gift card using a credit card and that Chase won't shutdown your account. YMMV. Probably okay doing it once but anything more than that and you are probably pushing fraud notice with Chase.
This post was edited on 9/5/20 at 8:09 am
Posted on 9/5/20 at 9:51 am to TheChiefHasArrived
quote:
new Chase Freedom & Chase Flex
The Freedom Flex looks worth having. They will apparently offer:
5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
5% on rotating quarterly category
3% on dining takeout purchases and delivery
3% on drug stores
1% on other purchases
It becomes available September 15th and will have no annual fee
Posted on 9/5/20 at 11:00 am to AndyJ
quote:
They don’t block gift card purchases?
Why would they? The purchase codes as a grocery store, they’re not looking at what you buy
Posted on 9/5/20 at 11:01 am to hiltacular
quote:
This assumes that Whole Foods will let you buy the gift card using a credit card
I’ve bought multiple $250 amazon cards at Whole Foods using a credit card
quote:
and that Chase won't shutdown your account
Posted on 9/5/20 at 12:38 pm to Carson123987
Yea I've purchased thousands of dollars of gift cards at Winn Dixie by my house and they all code as grocery stores
Posted on 9/5/20 at 1:40 pm to TigerTatorTots
It's only something I've heard is an issue with Amex. Not Chase.
I imagine there's probably a way to make them come down on you, but that usually involves purchasing so many GCs and cycling your credit limit way past your reported income.
I imagine there's probably a way to make them come down on you, but that usually involves purchasing so many GCs and cycling your credit limit way past your reported income.
This post was edited on 9/5/20 at 1:42 pm
Posted on 9/5/20 at 1:47 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
It’s the most common Manufactured Spending method for people that churn cards for sign up bonuses. AmEx is the ONLY one I’ve seen stories about on reddit, but even then, it’s usually a slap on the wrist
Chase doesn’t care about you buying 3 or 4 $500 cards. Split up the purchases over a week if you’re nervous
Chase doesn’t care about you buying 3 or 4 $500 cards. Split up the purchases over a week if you’re nervous
Posted on 9/5/20 at 1:49 pm to Carson123987
Ya, I've been at it for many years.
Chase has shut people down for various techniques. At this juncture I've forgotten half the ways people have gotten taken out.
FT was where I usually read the reports. No idea what reddit is reporting.
With two incomes (get each card bonus twice) and spending I haven't needed to MS in a while. I just take advantage of category bonuses and portals. Now that my kid is old enough to require a seat I may have to get more aggressive.
Chase has shut people down for various techniques. At this juncture I've forgotten half the ways people have gotten taken out.
FT was where I usually read the reports. No idea what reddit is reporting.
With two incomes (get each card bonus twice) and spending I haven't needed to MS in a while. I just take advantage of category bonuses and portals. Now that my kid is old enough to require a seat I may have to get more aggressive.
This post was edited on 9/5/20 at 1:53 pm
Posted on 9/5/20 at 2:17 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
What are some of the better portals? I hold CSR Amex platinum and a few others - haven’t rightsized yet since I don’t travel for work as much now (obviously)
Posted on 9/5/20 at 2:40 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
Yeah I wasn’t responding to you specifically, just a general post for the thread. I know you’ve been at this a while. You were in every credit card thread before I even knew what churning was
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