Will you be cancelling your CC Visa?
Jun 4, 2015, 9:51 am
#46
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Florida
Programs: IHG, American airlines , BA club and others
Posts: 81
@Nirvana91 I agree! This card and CC program are not for everyone. If you absolutely hate their properties and have a ton of points in another loyalty scheme, there is no reason to hang on to the card.
I am more of an opportunist when it comes to loyalty points. I like to collect them as long as the price is right. I feel in the case of CC renewal fee, the price is right...for now. You never know if you end up needing a hotel by the airport and Club Carlson just happens to have one for 9,000 or 15,000 points per night. The program doesn't have a whole lot of "destination" type redemptions in US, which is its greatest weakness. Still, overall, it's totally doable to get your money's worth out of the fee, and then some.
I definitely wouldn't hang on to those points long-term, though. I don't have a lot of confidence in that program. They announced that Park Inn in Orlando was supposed to be 9,000 points per night on June 1st., but then they kept it at 15,000 points level. When there is a choice as what hotel program to use, CC points will be the ones I will try to burn first.
I am more of an opportunist when it comes to loyalty points. I like to collect them as long as the price is right. I feel in the case of CC renewal fee, the price is right...for now. You never know if you end up needing a hotel by the airport and Club Carlson just happens to have one for 9,000 or 15,000 points per night. The program doesn't have a whole lot of "destination" type redemptions in US, which is its greatest weakness. Still, overall, it's totally doable to get your money's worth out of the fee, and then some.
I definitely wouldn't hang on to those points long-term, though. I don't have a lot of confidence in that program. They announced that Park Inn in Orlando was supposed to be 9,000 points per night on June 1st., but then they kept it at 15,000 points level. When there is a choice as what hotel program to use, CC points will be the ones I will try to burn first.
Jun 4, 2015, 8:26 pm
#47
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
I definitely wouldn't hang on to those points long-term, though. I don't have a lot of confidence in that program. They announced that Park Inn in Orlando was supposed to be 9,000 points per night on June 1st., but then they kept it at 15,000 points level. When there is a choice as what hotel program to use, CC points will be the ones I will try to burn first.
If the CC works I think depends on how much $$ you need to spend to get that so called free room. So MSing with the CC may in certain circumstances be very profitable, although not nearly as it was up to now. Then if all that is needed is a room and one doesnt expect to be spending any length of time at the hotel itself then CC may be worthwhile. In some cases where it costs say 15K for the night that will mean MSing $3K doubt youd find any other program where $3k can score you a night(OK SPG Cat 2 on a Fri/Sat night)
Pt is in under some condtions it still may be useful, Many 1 nighters by a European airport, it just may come in handy. Will miss the BLU @ ZRH, @ 70K I can make other options workout better but MSing will get me the room for $112 max, so if loaded with bags its the best option, flying light wil stay elsewhere
Jun 5, 2015, 5:44 am
#48
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Florida
Programs: IHG, American airlines , BA club and others
Posts: 81
I take it you dont collect SPG either, after all every yr on Devaluation day a bunch of hotels that went down end up going back up the next day.Others that werent listed as going up ended up going up etc etc. My pt is Club C isnt the only program when it comes to cat levels do double takes very fast
If the CC works I think depends on how much $$ you need to spend to get that so called free room. So MSing with the CC may in certain circumstances be very profitable, although not nearly as it was up to now. Then if all that is needed is a room and one doesnt expect to be spending any length of time at the hotel itself then CC may be worthwhile. In some cases where it costs say 15K for the night that will mean MSing $3K doubt youd find any other program where $3k can score you a night(OK SPG Cat 2 on a Fri/Sat night)
Pt is in under some condtions it still may be useful, Many 1 nighters by a European airport, it just may come in handy. Will miss the BLU @ ZRH, @ 70K I can make other options workout better but MSing will get me the room for $112 max, so if loaded with bags its the best option, flying light wil stay elsewhere
If the CC works I think depends on how much $$ you need to spend to get that so called free room. So MSing with the CC may in certain circumstances be very profitable, although not nearly as it was up to now. Then if all that is needed is a room and one doesnt expect to be spending any length of time at the hotel itself then CC may be worthwhile. In some cases where it costs say 15K for the night that will mean MSing $3K doubt youd find any other program where $3k can score you a night(OK SPG Cat 2 on a Fri/Sat night)
Pt is in under some condtions it still may be useful, Many 1 nighters by a European airport, it just may come in handy. Will miss the BLU @ ZRH, @ 70K I can make other options workout better but MSing will get me the room for $112 max, so if loaded with bags its the best option, flying light wil stay elsewhere
I'm extremely picky when it comes to annual fees. My only "keeper" cards at the moment are Chase IHG, Club Carlson Visa and Wyndham Visa (new offer that comes with 15,000 points each year). I prefer to use my credit pulls on miles or cash back sign-up bonuses, so by "buying" hotel points via renewal, it frees me to pursue other offers. Of course, I plan to leverage them during holidays or high season.
I don't really bother to accumulate any points via everyday spending. My energy is always spent on whatever new card I'm working on at the moment. You are right, it can still make sense to accumulate CC points for Cat 1 or Cat 2 properties, though, I probably wouldn't bother. But then again, we don't travel that often. For someone on the road constantly and paying out-of-pocket for hotels, CC card can still make sense.
Also, I didn't mean to imply that CC is the only program that plays games with its members. Far from it! Frankly, I don't trust any of them. That's why I subscribe to "earn and burn" philosophy. Still, given a choice, I consider SPG the lesser of two evils, if it makes sense.
Jun 5, 2015, 7:11 pm
#49
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: NY, NY
Posts: 695
Will you be cancelling your CC Visa?
I have both the personal and business cards, meaning annual fees of $135, and earning 80,000 points. Over two years that gets me enough points to get a few nights in New Orleans for less than it would cost for one night on a paid stay, which is what I am aiming to use them for. So for me, the cards are still worth it.
Jun 6, 2015, 7:43 am
#50
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: MD/DC
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, TK Gold
Posts: 1,536
I have both the personal and business cards, meaning annual fees of $135, and earning 80,000 points. Over two years that gets me enough points to get a few nights in New Orleans for less than it would cost for one night on a paid stay, which is what I am aiming to use them for. So for me, the cards are still worth it.
Despite not following my own advice (still sitting on too many miles and points myself), the goal is to earn and burn.
I doubt that CC can do another massive devaluation as they did this month (there is really no way to do such a thing apart from re-engineering the program completely), but I would not be surprised to see rate creep, which always happens in the places you want to go to.
Jun 6, 2015, 8:39 am
#51
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: NY, NY
Posts: 695
Will you be cancelling your CC Visa?
I hope so too, and I agree on the earn & burn, though time is the scarcest of resources unfortunately. I am counting on the fact that in the next fourteen months or so there will be no further devals (my billing cycle is in June, so by August of next year I will have all the points I need to make the booking). Hope blooms ever eternal :-)
Jun 9, 2015, 2:34 pm
#52
Flyertalk Evangelist and Moderator: Coupon Connection and Travel Products
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Milton, GA USA
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum Elite, Hyatt Discoverist, Radisson Elite
Posts: 19,040
Aug 17, 2015, 11:15 am
#55
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: AGH
Posts: 5,971
No, the points in your Club Carlson account will stay where they are when you cancel the card.
Club Carlson transfers to some airlines, in my opinion using a terrible ratio (I think 10:1)
You used to be able to get gift cards and prepaid Visas:
http://www.clubcarlson.com/fgp/redeem/home.do
You used to be able to get gift cards and prepaid Visas:
http://www.clubcarlson.com/fgp/redeem/home.do
Aug 17, 2015, 4:26 pm
#56
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: BA Avios, UA MP, AA, Choice, Club Carlson
Posts: 1,096
So other threads have pointed to random folks getting a free night out of no where with a letter attached. I have not complained nor received a letter or free night. I think I might just cancel at renewal just for that...any one know how they cherry picked folks to get it or not?
Aug 17, 2015, 5:47 pm
#57
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: Kettle Class
Posts: 796
I did not receive a letter, however I got an e-mail today with an E-certificate good for a night at (seemingly) any Club Carlson property. Give it a couple more days.
So other threads have pointed to random folks getting a free night out of no where with a letter attached. I have not complained nor received a letter or free night. I think I might just cancel at renewal just for that...any one know how they cherry picked folks to get it or not?
