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Citi has been throwing around bonuses and new features on its ThankYou cards. Let’s dive in on what I missed in a fortnight on the road.
What I’ve been up to in miles and points:
- Delta waived the $200 per person change fee on my credit card companion certificate. Yes, the $200 fee applies to the companion as well. Call center agents not so accommodating, rather it is the ‘request refund’ on the website that sometimes pays dividends and while you wait a few days for the response the ticket is not canceled.
- I am no longer canceling award tickets on the United website. I have had numerous errors on ones for myself, some the miles came back but phantom itineraries stay in my account. Now, one for my wife, that should have no change fees because came from my platinum account, got hit with a $200 fee that still waiting for my refund. Never had issues calling in except lack of paper trail.
- It is so pleasant to go to Target and CVS in Los Angeles. I even got the chance to treat Bengali Miles Guru to dinner, he is in to so many things it is eye-popping to hear his exploits at a tender, young age. Based in NY, my temptation to get into heavy MS is tempered and even he warns of the mind-numbing time suck.
- I presented at FTU Dallas on Advanced Tricks with Credit Cards (not shared online), All About Delta SkyMiles, The Secrets of Renting Cars at Home and Abroad, and Extreme International Travel. Next FTUs are in DC in August and Dallas again in September.
- I am typing this on a LAX-JFK flight on AA, trying not to have my screen broken by a women in front of me, despite the extra economy plus whatever AA calls it space, constantly thrusting herself into the back of the seat, already at full recline. $448 one-way ticket, better earning on AA for me as Platinum than Delta Diamond and United Platinum. Nice plane. Maybe I will fly AA more.
Citi:
- The ThankYou Premier cards now has a 50,000 point bonus you can earn up front and new features including annual fee lowered from $125 to $95 and 3x on travel (both Doctor of Credit). I will go for one, actually may go for one and then a second 8 days later, no idea if they will approve a second. Only current card I know for sure to do that is the AA Executive.
- Citi Prestige has a public 50,000 point offer and targeted 100,000 point offer (both Doctor of Credit). My favorite premium travel credit card, I got it from a branch last fall to get the $350 annual fee, if you have a Citigold Checking account you may be able to save the branch hassle (Doctor of Credit, again).
- Citi & AT&T have a new card that has a potential $650 bonus. I don’t like dealing with mobile carriers though will investigate this as an alternative to trying for two ThankYou Premier cards (Doctor of Credit). One angle is to paid with Google’s Nexus phone and new phone service (Miles to Memories).
- Citi and Visa won Costco by giving nearly 0% acceptance fees (View from the Wing).
Other credit cards and banks:
- Am I Killing My Credit Score by Opening Bank Accounts? (Plane2Port).
- Chase Slate becomes the only card to give free Experian FICO score. See also Complete List Of Places To Get Free FICO Scores (both Doctor Of Credit).
- Seems Chase business card approvals not only tough for Ink, United is getting hard too, and I just canceled my card (Frugal Trave Guy).
Airlines:
- The full version of Priority Pass is losing United Airlines (MileCards).
- The Lesser Known AA Off-Peak Routes (and how to trick it) (Travel Is Free).
- How to Search for Award Space on the New ANA Website (Live and Let’s Fly).
- An Alternative to the ANA Tool (Canadian Kilometers).
Hotels:
- IHG’s new promo Share Forever stinks, even for new account. Huge night requirements. Kimpton stays won’t count, by the way (Loyalty Traveler).
- Focusing on Club Carlson triple points for my business trips.
- Hilton brand standards (PFDigest).
- What if Travelodge UK joined Wyndham Rewards? (Loyalty Traveler).
MS:
- CashBackMonitor adds an awesome new feature. Here’s why you should care (The Frequent Miler).
- Hawaiian Airlines MileFinder Now Available on Safari (Point Chaser). I have never gotten around to doing this.
Education:
- Pizza in Motion posted his FTU talks, All About AAdvantage and Introductory Comparison of Hotel Status.
Things I don’t do:
- Reselling is not going to enter my life. Doctor of Credit had My First Reselling Experience: Fail.
- Running. Running with Miles has launched his Running Round the World with Miles Event. The snarks came out. On balance, the ripple effects of these stunts I think are often positive.
In tribute:
- My favorite Belorussian blogger is hanging it up The Opportunity Cost of Being a Miles and Points Blogger, see the case Leana makes and the discussion in the comments (Miles for Family). I still haven’t posted my Belarus travelogue and she is not happy.
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@plane2port – I have been trying to decide whether or not to cancel all by Barclaycard cards in order to get new ones approved. Seems about the only way for frequent churners. I don’t do the kind of MS needed to exploit the value, what I do is focused on big spend bonuses on cards like Fairmont $12k annually for the free night.
Thanks for the mention! Like you, I am a “hobby blogger” but its still nice to get affirmation via page views. Speaking of credit cards, have you been putting your Priceline 2% into use lately? Basically it’s working like the Arrival+ now but as always you can redeem for statement credit on ANYTHING, with no FTF and the extra 0.2% kicker on travel rewards. I get annoyed when something that should be coded as travel, like airport parking, is not coded correctly by Arrival. If they would make the Priceline VISA chip and pin it would be the best card… Read more »
Any chance you’re going to share any of those FTU tips in blog form? You’re probably one of the most knowledgeable people when it comes to credit cards, but we don’t get nearly enough content from you about it – although perhaps that’s just because you write about things you find more important.
I hope Leana decides to keep blogging and just does less of it, even if it’s just the periodic post here and there.
@William Charles – maybe I am just a wuss, but my feeling on the credit cards is if I post the slides then I attract the crazies and when I do the blog for fun not any serious profit, then it will take away too much of my fun to deal with that hassle. Out in the sunlight most people are reasonable and never had a negative interaction at an event like FTU, maybe back in their basements these are the haters, I don’t know. I used to write more on it, I never had time to go all-in and… Read more »
Stefan, I appreciate the mention! You really made me laugh when I saw the pingback, so thank you for that. Say what? My favorite Belorussian blogger ? That’s like saying “my favorite president of Belarus during the last 20 years.” I bet not too many will get that joke. I’ve enjoyed interacting with you, and always thought your blog was unique. I hope you don’t lose that. Oh, I actually just had a guest post on Doctor of Credit. I might be like Phoenix rising from the ashes now and again. Or not. It’s nice not to have the pressure… Read more »
@Leana – hey, I was reading that Belarus’ economy is doing comparatively well compared to the other members of Putin’s economic union. The classic Lukashenko quip, ““There are dictators a bit worse than me, no? I’m the lesser evil already.”