My Week in Points: Into Q2

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I have a weekend at base and trying to catch up:

Summer travel Delta SkyMiles booking for my wife on Korean Air. Something new and odd is happening with the old blackout dates and new peak dates. Also got done mother-in-law’s summer visit, only 2 months this time.
My wife has to work on a date we have used our Amex Delta Platinum companion certificate for a short getaway. Options not great. Rebook fee is $200 per person plus fare difference and must be in eligible class of service and can’t use NYC co-terminals. Or I just cancel the thing and looks like I get $86 back and a lesson (re)learned to not book anything for her that is inflexible. If I pay the change fees, which I doubt, at least I can use all those Delta e-gift cards from my Chase Ritz-Carlton card.
Up to the last day on Monday to cancel my Chase Sapphire Preferred and United Explorer Business to get back the annual fees. CSP will downgrade to another Freedom, have been holding out because have been undecided to park my UR points in Freedom or move all the United, I think I will pull the trigger to United tonight. The UA card I already did the $25k spend this year for status waiver and 10k bonus and anyway still have the personal card so dumping it and hoping to get another later. Have not have luck with Ink approvals, maybe this or Marriott will be easier.
Paid taxes. Not the most rational use of fees, but I have manufactured spend time so I paid at payUSAtax with my and wife’s Amex Delta Platinums to nudge along the annual $50k spend MQM march.
Procrastinating on sorting out a mess with BA. Need a whole post for that.
Reviewed my Q1 hotel points from business travel, looks like things have been posting correctly.
I just had a stay in Saigon which has absurdly expensive chain hotel prices, only one within company city rate was the Intercontinental Asiana Saigon Residences, less than half the price of the connecting Intercontinental. When I saw the word “residences” I was alerted to possible low earnings, and sure enough, Loyalty Lobby noted that from this year, that property and The Residence Suites Dubai earn only 5 points/dollar instead of 10, similar to Candlewood Suites and Homewood Suites. It was nice to have a washer and dryer, but I don’t understand why my money is so much less good in a residence.
My local Target is limiting reloads to one swipe per day, arghh. I can make two trips with shift charges. Only worth it for minimum spend. Part of the price of living in the NY area.
I have to give a Delta SkyMiles presentation at FTU Dallas this weekend and the changes they keep making are head-spinning.

Credit Cards:

Don’t Believe Every Credit Card Offer You See! (Running with Miles). I did not realize how easy it is manipulate the look of a webpage view.
US Bank Cash+ Now Offering $100 Signup Bonus (Doctor Of Credit). Undecided about this card. The charity 5% at $1,500/quarter is nice, messing around with US Bank is frustrating and they frequently devalue this and other cards.
Citi ThankYou Premier Changes Now Include Card Design (View from the Wing). This look on Citi Prestige is so frustrating to use, like many, I have almost given up using the card though will keep it for the benefits. It is not fun to explain to clerks how to swipe the card and that darn thing isn’t even metal.

Airlines:

7 Scamy Things I Hate About Airline Miles & Hotel Points (Travel Is Free). Fuel surcharges irritate me the most.

Hotels:

Radisson Blu Mall of America FireLake Grill House (Loyalty Traveler) reminds me of the spice mix they give to elites as a room welcome amenity.
Unbelievably Cheap Hotel Award Redemptions (Travel Is Free).
Hotel Credit Card Free Night Certificate Comparison Table (Travel with Grant). Nice resource. Good to have certs, easy to forget them.
6 Ways To Get “Amazing” Hotel Deals (Travel Is Free). Bookmarked roomer and will probably forget about it.

On the hobby:

New Linking Out Policy (Doctor Of Credit). I applaud the approach. Different sorts play by different rules. Those not treating it is a two-way street should not expect one-way traffic to their doorstep. Speaking of which, I give my link to IHG Business Rewards new global business booking program (Loyalty Traveler).
The Credit Card Obsessives Who Game the System—and Share Their Secrets Online (Racked). Long piece I saved to read later. Calling credit card bloggers as such seems fair.