need 17,000 MRs in the next couple months, can't get most bonuses
Jul 30, 2012, 5:31 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: ORD
Programs: AA LTG, Marriott LTP. 50% Delta LTS, Working on Hyatt LTD
Posts: 676
need 17,000 MRs in the next couple months, can't get most bonuses
Hey all, I borrowed 60k MR points last year to get my 1MM before Dec 1 with AA, now I have 2 months to spend $17k on stuff, or spend $462 to "buy out" the MR point deficit.
It's my wife's card, and she's got a PRG 75,000 and a Business Plat 100,000 (last year). Anything out there which she won't get DQ'd (from having gotten the previous offers) for that makes sense in this situation?
Also, any ideas other than a new CC?
It's my wife's card, and she's got a PRG 75,000 and a Business Plat 100,000 (last year). Anything out there which she won't get DQ'd (from having gotten the previous offers) for that makes sense in this situation?
Also, any ideas other than a new CC?
Jul 30, 2012, 5:42 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: AMEX Plat, AAdvantage Gold, UA, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 963
There is a way to make MR from FX Transfers (maybe targeted) for business.
If you could justify sending money from US Business Bank to an overseas bank (must be 1 currency to another, not USD to USD account, so they make a little vig).
15K for first transfer, 15K for completing 3 more transfers after that, free from transfer fee for 6 months then $10 per transaction.
Note - I did get an interview over the phone to assess if I had genuine need for the service, so consider that before this option being viable.
If you could justify sending money from US Business Bank to an overseas bank (must be 1 currency to another, not USD to USD account, so they make a little vig).
15K for first transfer, 15K for completing 3 more transfers after that, free from transfer fee for 6 months then $10 per transaction.
Note - I did get an interview over the phone to assess if I had genuine need for the service, so consider that before this option being viable.
Jul 30, 2012, 1:28 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: DFW
Posts: 684
There is a thread about getting 2,500 MR for watching a Bose sound system demo, and 20k MR if you buy one. If you're looking for a sound system, this could take care of the deficit in one shot. If not, 2,500 for watching seems like a decent start.
Bose MR Thread
Bose MR Thread
Jul 30, 2012, 2:02 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Pasadena, CA
Posts: 182
Refer a friend for 5,000 points, or sign up for extended payments for 5,000 points. Either may take a long while to post, but if you need them and call the helpline they may shunt it forward. Also, if you haven't done so already, hit the $30,000 annual spend on the PRG, and you'll get a bonus 15,000.
Jul 31, 2012, 4:34 am
#5
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: All of them
Posts: 214
Refer a friend for 5,000 points, or sign up for extended payments for 5,000 points. Either may take a long while to post, but if you need them and call the helpline they may shunt it forward. Also, if you haven't done so already, hit the $30,000 annual spend on the PRG, and you'll get a bonus 15,000.
You may also want to try to get a retention bonus. People are reporting getting anywhere from 5k-50k for retention. Here's the thread: Retention Bonuses
Jul 31, 2012, 7:46 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: DC
Posts: 195
The Blue Card has a 10,000 MR Point sign-up bonus. $1K spend in 3 months. The card is kind of unexciting, but it has no annual fee, and I think you're eligible for the bonus as long as you don't already have a Blue card. (Make sure you apply for the regular Blue, not Blue Sky, Blue Cash, etc.)
Jul 31, 2012, 9:15 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Southern Bavaria, Germany
Programs: LH Blue, BA Blue, Hyatt Gold
Posts: 1,517
What´s about a card referral bonus
My next thought would be an American Express Card for one of your relatives.
Just to "cash-in" the MR reward points and then cancelling the Card after the use of one year or so. So you only invest one annual fee for issuing that card.
This is an info how this works in Germany:
http://www.americanexpress.com/germany/mgm/default.cgi#
Think you have a similar opportunity to get referral bonus for your card and the relative (who is new cardmember).
Other opportunity would be to prepone some daily purchases. If you have a department store or grocery story where you buy your food and products for daily needs you may buy some
git certificates and use it on your own.
So just check your department store/grocery store if he sells shopping vouchers/certificates and then buy them. Pay them with the credit card. This should be reflected as a normal transaction at a store and not as cash withdrawel. And then use it for the daily purchases.
Just try it with a very low amount and then look how this will appear on your statement. Would be my idea to get 2,000-3,000 points without buying anything senseless.
Hope this helps and let´s know about the result.
Just to "cash-in" the MR reward points and then cancelling the Card after the use of one year or so. So you only invest one annual fee for issuing that card.
This is an info how this works in Germany:
http://www.americanexpress.com/germany/mgm/default.cgi#
Think you have a similar opportunity to get referral bonus for your card and the relative (who is new cardmember).
Other opportunity would be to prepone some daily purchases. If you have a department store or grocery story where you buy your food and products for daily needs you may buy some
git certificates and use it on your own. So just check your department store/grocery store if he sells shopping vouchers/certificates and then buy them. Pay them with the credit card. This should be reflected as a normal transaction at a store and not as cash withdrawel. And then use it for the daily purchases.
Just try it with a very low amount and then look how this will appear on your statement. Would be my idea to get 2,000-3,000 points without buying anything senseless.
Hope this helps and let´s know about the result.
Jul 31, 2012, 9:55 am
#9
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SNA
Programs: hilton gold,hyatt
Posts: 208
i too borrowed 60k in may 2012 to use avios 50% transfer and now i owe 6k,but i have close to 8 months to pay it off.Even i am looking for options ,i am thinking if i dont get 6k in next 8 months then i will just buy for 175 dollars.which seems easier option than spending 6k.
Aug 1, 2012, 2:53 am
#11
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Southern Bavaria, Germany
Programs: LH Blue, BA Blue, Hyatt Gold
Posts: 1,517
@Newbieflyer1 & OP: Some other options available
I *remember* one dedicated link that the US mint wants to enhance the circulation of 1 US Dollar coins instead of 1 US Dollar bills.
So you can order 1,000 coins and then use it for normal purchases in shops and so on. This should be reflected as a normal transaction.
But don´t use that method to often. The other dedicated link here at FT states that it would trigger a Financial Review if used to often.
But this would deliver 1,000 points without buying anything.
Hope this helps.
One phrase:
In German you would say "Mühsam ernährt sich das Eichhörnchen" so you have to collect the points in small increments and not get the 17,000 or 6,000 needed points only with one transaction.
So you can order 1,000 coins and then use it for normal purchases in shops and so on. This should be reflected as a normal transaction.
But don´t use that method to often. The other dedicated link here at FT states that it would trigger a Financial Review if used to often.
But this would deliver 1,000 points without buying anything.
Hope this helps.
One phrase:
In German you would say "Mühsam ernährt sich das Eichhörnchen" so you have to collect the points in small increments and not get the 17,000 or 6,000 needed points only with one transaction.
Aug 1, 2012, 4:33 am
#12
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...-shipping.html
The US Mint stopped selling coins at face value about a year ago.
