This view of a gorgeous sunset on an awesome cruise was paid for with Chase Ultimate Rewards points!
For better or worse, I’m a loyal Delta flyer. Delta’s co-branded American Express cards sort of come with that territory. But Chase’s credit cards, however, are starting to pique my interest (especially now that I’m finally dipping under 5/24!) when it comes to actual point accrual and redemption. And their low to no annual fees sure are interesting, too. Continue reading
Discovering a great mileage run deal from your home airport or city is always fantastic.
But what if you live somewhere like Omaha, Bismarck, or Casper — and most of the good runs begin in Chicago, New York, Vegas, or somewhere in California?
Take a positioning trip to wherever your mileage run starts!
While not ideal, it may be your only choice. (Don’t forget Adam at Juicy Miles can personalize an MQM or MQD run for you!)
“But that’s more time and money!” you may fear.
Time, yes.
Money? Maybe not. Or at least, not as much as you think. Using some points and credit card benefits, it can be done. Continue reading
The Flagship Delta Sky Club in SEA
The past year has been brutal. It started with the wildly popular and successful American Express Centurion lounges gutting the value of the clubs by limiting the access to only 3 hours before flight for holders of the Amex Platinum personal (learn more and compare) or business cards (learn more and compare). They also dumped access upon arrival and limited spa access to 1x per visit from unlimited based on availability. The latter two really are the biggest impact and reduction in value for the sizable annual fees the cards charge. Amex really could have made better choices and I feel many have chosen not to renew their cards due to these harsh changes. A mistake IMO because the cards still offer huge value to those who know how to utilize them.
Last week we learned that “The Club” Lounges, that are part of the Priority Pass network, have chosen to copy the horrid Amex Centurion lounge access rules starting 1 September 2019. Continue reading
(©iStock.com/fizkes)
If you’re based in Minneapolis-St. Paul — or travel there — prepare for TSA security line headaches at MSP. Continue reading
(Photo: ©iStock.com/ceazars)
Need some luggage, a laptop case, or backpack for the upcoming school year? Check your Amex cards for an eBags Amex Offer — and stack with cashback portals! Continue reading
Monday’s post about airline gift cards no longer (reliably) crediting back as part of Amex Platinum and Amex Gold airline incidentals wasn’t happy news for most people. Continue reading
$50 Delta.com Gift card credit seems really DEAD now sad to say!
Well, this stinks. At the first of the year (as I have year, after year, after year – after year) I tested buying with a computer Delta e-gift cards for my Amex Platinum Cards (learn more here) travel credit rebate. I did this for a number of reasons. First, I tend to fly Delta a lot and it is nice to lock in the credits because Delta gift cards never expire (you just have to track them yourself – no way to save them on Delta.com). I could choose another airline for credit (that still works with gift cards) but why when this works.
My new cards over the past few months!
I started getting reader reports that at some point during 2019 this long, long, long term way of locking in value died. So I tested early in June with a new Amex Platinum card (learn more here) and… Yep… It worked just fine. This is in spite of the T&C from Amex about what qualifies:
“Statement Credits: Incidental air travel fees must be charged to the Card Member on the eligible Card Account for the benefit to apply. Incidental air travel fees charged by both the Basic and Additional Card Members on the eligible Card Account are eligible for statement credits. However, each Card Account is eligible for up to a total of $200 per calendar year in statement credits across all Cards on the Account. Incidental air travel fees must be separate charges from airline ticket charges. Fees not charged by the Card Member’s airline of choice (e.g. wireless internet and fees incurred with airline alliance partners) do not qualify for statement credits. Incidental air travel fees charged prior to selection of a qualifying airline are not eligible for statement credits. Airline tickets, upgrades, mileage points purchases, mileage points transfer fees, gift cards, duty free purchases, and award tickets are not deemed to be incidental fees. The airline must submit the charge under the appropriate merchant code, industry code, or required service or product identifier for the charge to be recognized as an incidental air travel fee. Please allow 2-4 weeks after the qualifying incidental air travel fee is charged to your Card Account for statement credit(s) to be posted to the Account. We rely on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions, so please call the number on the back of the Card if statement credits have not posted after 4 weeks from the date of purchase. Card Members remain responsible for timely payment of all charges. To be eligible for this benefit, Card Account(s) must be not canceled and not past due at the time of statement credit fulfillment.” – From Amex (bold mine)
And when I posted my reconfirmed post a number of readers reported in the comments section of the post they also had success with getting the credit just as I have. But reports, over the past month, have kept coming in that it is now REALLY dead for good. So I re-re-tested.
If you take a look at the screenshot above you will see that my $50 charge from this month, July, has yet to credit (normally it only takes a few days). Grrr…. That stinks!
What I take from this is this: Buying Delta gift cards for the yearly credit may be really dead now — or it may just be a tech hiccup that goes away. Either way, it is no longer a confirmed and a reliable option year after year as it has been for the better part of a decade. So what now.
If you again look at my statement screenshot above you will notice a few credits. These are from the fees from booking an award ticket. That, also as it has for many, many years, is working. Will it keep working? Who knows – but it should. That is how I will now use my credits. But what else should work with Delta?
These should still work in Sky Clubs!
Do note I did not call Amex to see about manually having the credit issued now that it no longer posts. It could work but I really don’t want to go that route (bad things can happen when you call). So, have I missed anything? Are there other Delta related charges you have received credit for that I have missed in my list above? Let us know in the comments below! – René
An Uber driver created a special “conversation menu” for his passengers, offering to talk (or not) about various topics including restaurants, politics, himself, or other options. Continue reading
Any plans to travel late this summer or fall? Booking flights and hotels for winter travel season yet? Well, now is the time start earning enrollment bonuses — and use credit cards points to book holiday travel. Here are some of the best travel credit cards and cashback card welcome bonuses available right now!
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is great for several reasons.
Not to mention, you’ll receive access to the Luxury Resort & Hotel Collection — whose benefits include:
If you used Amex’s Fine Hotels & Resorts in Las Vegas, keep in mind Sin City FHR properties no longer offer resort credit. The Chase Sapphire Preferred — whose annual fee is almost 80% less than the Platinum Card from American Express Platinum (learn more) and Business Platinum Card from American Express OPEN (learn more) scores you more luxury hotel benefits for much cheaper.
Remember that Ultimate Rewards earned through the Chase Sapphire Preferred can be pooled with those from other Chase cards (such as the Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Freedom).
Learn more and read a review about the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
Miles earned through the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (learn more and read a review of this card) can be used with any airline or hotel.
The annual fee is waived the first year. Beginning year two, it’s $95 annually. If you take advantage of the card’s $100 Global Entry credit, you’re not really out of pocket for any annual fees until year three. (If the annual fee really is deal-breaker, check out and consider the Capital One VentureOne credit card.)
You’ll earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3000 on the card within three months of being approved.
Each dollar spent — no matter what category — earns two miles. Except for that hefty 10 points per dollar on Hotels.com purchases booked through Venture’s portal.
Learn more and read a review about the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
What?! Why is a Southwest credit card being recommended on a site that focuses on Delta stuff?!
Simple: its welcome bonus is lucrative for the minimum spend required. You’ll earn 40,000 Rapid Rewards points after spending only $1000 within three months of being approved. Not to mention its annual travel credit makes the card worth more than lower annual fee cards.
The card has a $149 fee — but comes with a $75 Southwest annual travel credit. Essentially, that reduces your “out of pocket” to $74 (assuming you use the travel credit). That basically makes this card $25 cheaper than the lower annual fee Southwest Premier Card — which does not have any travel credit.
Not to mention, you’re annually gifted 7,500 anniversary points starting year two. Just because Southwest and Chase LUV having you as a cardmember.
You’ll also enjoy these additional benefits not available on the other Southwest consumer cards:
The only thing I don’t like about this card are its earnings:
(Seems someone took a page out of the Delta Amex playbook.)
Business-owners: check out the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card — and combine those miles with the Southwest Premier Card to earn yourself a cool 100,000 Rapid Rewards points — which almost qualifies you for A-list status.
Special note to Los Angeles-area travelers on short hops (i.e. Las Vegas, Bay Area, Phoenix, Sacramento, etc): get this card and fly Southwest out of Burbank until construction at LAX is done. Whenever that will be.
Read a review and learn more about the Southwest Premier Card!
The Platinum Card from American Express (personal version).
I know, I know. I griped about the scaling back of Vegas FHR benefits in my section about the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. But if FHR isn’t a big deal to you, consider The Platinum Card from American Express.
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points using your new card to make $5,000 in purchases within three months of being approved. Certainly, the highest minimum spend requirement of the bunch we’ll discuss today. Thewelcome bonus isn’t fantastic — but the card’s benefits are.
Points can be transferred to a number of airlines such as Delta, Aeromexico, Air France/KLM, Cathay Pacific, ANA and more.
The annual fee is also fairly steep: $550. But this card is loaded with perks — taking advantage of them pretty much offsets the fee. (Active duty military and spouses: Amex waives annual fees for you.)
So right there is $525 in annual savings.
The Amex Platinum offers a plethora of airport lounge access — with complimentary meals, snacks, and beverages. In other words, stop paying for airport meals and cocktails where there’s a lounge!
Charge Card
Keep in mind The Platinum Card from American Express (learn more) is a charge card — not a credit card.
Read a review of and learn more about The Platinum Card from American Express.
I swore I’d never get this card (SPOILER ALERT: I did) because, like René and many other travelers, I was upset when IHG majorly devalued the previous card’s yearly anniversary free night at any IHG property worldwide. They’ve since capped the redemption to properties that are 40,000 points and less.
So why did I get this card? The welcome bonus and second anniversary night. Receive 80,000 IHG points after you spend $2000 during the first three months of holding the card. Plus, a hotel room for $89 (the card’s annual fee) is still a good deal. (Note the anniversary night kicks in year two. But you can have some good with the 80,000 welcome bonus points until then)
The card’s complimentary Platinum elite status has scored me a hospitality suite, some minor room upgrades, and plenty of early check-ins and check-outs.
And the card comes with a $100 Global Entry credit every four years.
Again, I hold this card because I received a great welcome bonus — and I also value the anniversary night.
If you hold the old/now-defunct IHG Rewards Club, pool that card’s anniversary night with the IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card‘s. You’re essentially getting hotel night each year for a total of $138.
Read a review of and learn more about the IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card.
Most of us aren’t fans that Marriott torpedoed its own loyalty program. So why is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Visa Signature Credit Card on our list? It offers a nice welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases during the first three months of being approved.
The card’s $95 annual fee can still score you a discounted room with its anniversary night (good at properties up to 35,000 points) that triggers during year two. The card also bestows you complimentary Silver status with Bonvoy.
So the earnings are fairly meh (certainly better than a few other cards). But a nice hotel room for $95 a year is certainly with considering.
Read a review of and learn more about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Visa Signature Credit Card
(Photo credit: ©iStock.com/Maximusnd)
I know several people who like travel cards — but prefer cashback options. Here are a few with great bonus category earings and noteworthy welcome bonuses.
The American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card (learn more)
You’ll earn a $250 statement credit after spending $1000 on purchases within three months of being approved.
Check out these bonus categories:
The $95 annual fee is easily offset if you spend at least $1600 a year between U.S. supermarkets and streaming services.
Read a review of and learn more about the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express.
In addition to an easily met — and generous — welcome bonus, the US Bank Cash Plus Visa Signature Card lets you pick two categories in which you earn 5% back!
When you spend just $500 in the first three months of being approved, you’ll earn $150 cashback!
Another plus (no pun intended) no annual fee!
The US Bank Cash Plus Visa Signature Card rewards you 5% back on your first $2000 spent each quarter on two of the below categories:
Earn 2% back on a below category of your choosing:
Everything else earns you 1% cashback.
I really like what people can do with this card: tons of earning potential and no annual fee.
Read a review of and learn more about the US Bank Cash Plus Visa Signature Card!
Another no annual fee cash back card and easy welcome bonus: $150 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within three months of being approved.
Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories you activate each quarter. The rotating categories include:
Other eligible purchases earn unlimited 1% cash back.
You can redeem your cash back for several options:
Read a review of and learn more about the Chase Freedom card!
Learn more about the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Yet another no annual fee card with a simple welcome bonus: $150 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within three months of being approved.
Bonus Categories
Read a review of and learn more about the Capital One SaverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card.
There you have it! We’ll profile some of these cards in-depth in the coming weeks and also update our list in August.
Looking for something but don’t see it here? Remember to check out a full array of travel rewards and cashback cards!
–Chris
During Delta’s quarterly investors’ call this week, mothership brass revealed a surge in premium seat purchases. But more cushy seats sold = fewer seats for Medallions to enjoy complimentary upgrades. Continue reading
Fresh off posting about the Delta Amex Offer with ten strings attached, we found what appears to be a “compliant” mileage run! Continue reading
During the long, holiday weekend, American Express released an Amex Offer for Delta flights: spend $200, get $40 back. But be wary of almost a dozen disqualifiers.
Click to see terms and conditions.
I received the offer on my Platinum Card from American Express (learn more). My American Express Gold Card (learn more) and Business Platinum Card (learn more) from American Express OPEN did not receive the offer. (Which is fine because my personal Platinum card earns 5x Membership Rewards points on flights purchased directly through Delta!)
So before you buy gift cards, treat seatmates to rounds of cocktails and Flight Fuel on a flight to anywhere, or guest your family into a Sky Club, read these little caveats.
So if you’re looking for a reason to visit one of those three cities, here’s the perfect opportunity! (And possibly a way to save money on a Delta Medallion status match!)
If your home airport is one of those three, it appears a roundtrip to anywhere someplace than the other two does not qualify. For example, if you fly from Boston, only roundtrips to Seattle or Raleigh-Durham will be eligible for the credit. (Doctor of Credit reports there’s another offer from BOS, RDU or SEA to any airport in the USA.)
What’s up with those three destinations? Delta recently crowned Boston its newest hub. Raleigh-Durham is a Delta “focus city.” And I’m pretty sure Delta just wants to crush Alaska Airlines in Seattle.
However —
We’ll see if there are any good Elite Mileage Runs to any of these three cities. (Because there are so many restrictions to this Amex Offer, consider contacting our friend Adam to customize a trip for you!)
We found a mileage run that appears to work with the Amex Offer restrictions!
Hat tip: Points, Miles, and Martinis. (Which, coincidentally, are three wonderful things!)
(Photo credit: ©iStock.com/d25higgins)
American Express appears to have eliminated a key perk of Fine Hotels & Resorts in Las Vegas: no more $100 resort credit. But a much cheaper credit card is here to save us! Continue reading
©iStock.com/Vasyl Dolmatov
While my friends, family, and I enjoyed some Fourth of July festivities Thursday (and rode out an earthquake!) the subject of travel inevitably came up. Continue reading
It’s no secret Delta has been accused caught with upgrade shenanigans (or “shena” as it’s become known).
I’ve personally experienced it twice: once on an LAX to SEA flight about four years ago when I held the number one spot on the upgrade list and they gave it to the number two person.
The second happened last November while traveling with my family.
My wife, daughter, and I spent part of Thanksgiving week in my hometown of Fargo, North Dakota. Our daughter was about a year and a half old. Thus, she traveled as an infant-in-arms.
She took her first flight at the ripe, old age of three months. She’s since been on almost ten trips — and ridden in Delta’s first class nearly 20 times (most of our travels include at least one connection each way). An overwhelming number of those first class experiences were through my Diamond or Platinum Medallion upgrades. A few were paid first class tickets using Membership Rewards and the American Express Business Platinum Card (learn more).
The Fabulous Flying Carleys
We thought the perfect end to such a fun holiday week would be Diamond Medallion complimentary first class upgrades for our MSP to LAX flight home.
While relaxing in the C concourse Sky Club, I monitored the Fly Delta app’s Upgrade & Standby List — partly for the first class upgrade list, partly for the standby list in hopes of a #bumpertunity! (Sadly, the flight wasn’t oversold.)
First class-wise, my wife and I held the top two spots with four first class seats remaining — including a pair together! Perfect!
But many of us know the upgrade list can be volatile: same day change (SDC), last-minute ticket or upgrade purchases, IROPS, or other factors can come into play. We tried not to get our hopes up.
While walking to the gate, the list’s number three holder was upgraded to first class — but we weren’t.
That’s when I decided to start screen-shooting the list.
Then the new number three slot holder — “MOM/R” — was upgraded. Still, we were in the number one and two positions — with two seats remaining.
Hmmm…
Maybe there was a mistake? Or maybe the gate agent cleared upgrades by available seats for some reason instead of Delta’s published upgrade hierarchy? But that couldn’t be — because the two seats together were now gone — only a pair of single seats rows apart remained.
Was shena rearing its ugly head?
I thought about waiting to see what would happen next. Then I remembered something a successful business associate of mine told me is one of his mottos: “If you want something, ask for it. Don’t wait for people to give it to you.”
And that’s what I did.
I approached the gate agent, told him my wife and I were the top two holders on the upgrade list, showed him my family’s boarding passes, and politely pointed out that people further down the list were upgraded.
“Yeah, I was looking at that,” he said. “It’s just — I’ve never upgraded someone traveling with a child.”
“Really?” I asked.
“Yep,” he replied. “Why? Have you been upgraded before with your child?”
“Yes! Many times.”
This seemed to be a great surprise to him.
“You’ve been upgraded to first class with your infant in arms?” he asked again. Did he think I lied? Was he bewildered why other gate agents and the Delta computer system don’t abide by his personal policy?
“More than a dozen times,” I calmly said. “In fact, we were upgraded twice on this trip. You can check the PNR.”
“Oookay,” he said. “But there aren’t any seats together. You’ll have to see if someone is willing to move or trade seats with you.”
I told him that was fine. He cleared the upgrades, printed our new boarding passes, and I rejoined my wife and daughter. (At this point, Is anyone else curious how many families — or anyone else in general — this Delta policy-eschewing gate agent has denied upgrades?)
I was, admittedly, a little hot under the collar about the whole thing. Naturally, I handled it like a mature, rational adult — and vented on Twitter.
Was #1 and #2 on the upgrade list. @delta gate agent didn’t want to upgrade us because we have a toddler.
Thank God I learned this now before I pursued another year of #DiamondMedallion.
— PointsLounge (@PointsLounge) November 24, 2018
.@delta please let people know ahead of time that you don’t give upgrades to people traveling with toddlers.
— PointsLounge (@PointsLounge) November 24, 2018
Many people were just as surprised as we, while the peanut gallery chimed in with their predictable snark.
Once on board, a kind person switched seats so my family could sit together. (Interesting aside: there were, like, three different seat swaps already taking place. Everyone was happy.) Our daughter watched her favorite toddler shows, drank milk, ate her weight in Biscoff cookies, and played peek-a-boo with the flight attendants.
I called the Diamond Medallion Desk a few days later to see if there was a policy — official or informal — about upgrading families flying with infants.
I doubted it but figured I’d check.
I explained the situation to the Diamond Desk agent. When I told her the agent said that he never upgraded someone traveling with a child, she gasped and said “HE WHAT?!”
She said she was certain that wasn’t Delta policy. Nonetheless, she double-checked with a supervisor whom she said was just as shocked. She confirmed that the gate agent was simply making up his own rules.
The Diamond Desk agent checked the flight’s records and confirmed that, indeed, other passengers were upgraded before we were. She apologized profusely and generously deposited 20,000 miles into both my wife’s and my SkyMiles account. That wasn’t why I called, though: I merely wanted to confirm that Delta didn’t have a policy against upgrading families with infants in arms — and to make the airline aware of a specific gate agent taking the rules into his own hands..
Do I have a right to be a little upset? After all, we received our complimentary first class upgrade and ended up sitting together. So why is Chris complaining? you may say.
Well, upgrades are a major perk of any airline’s loyalty program (at least, the airlines that offer more than a coach product). Loyalty program status is important for many of us. Status holders work by flying (and a few also through credit card spend) to make sure we have the best possible shot at getting upgraded. Upgrades are a major reason — if not the reason —so many flyers pursue the highest possible status that they can attain. When a gate agent discriminates against someone, it’s frustrating.
Have you ever been denied an upgrade — or anything else — because you traveled with a child? Should people traveling with children not be upgraded to business or first class? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below. – Chris
