Dec 5, 2016, 7:41 pm
Last edit by: sdsearch
Post 15 has a link to a Doctor of Credit (blog) post from a source at Chase which indicates nothing is changing in 2017.
Post 54 has a link to a Reddit page where the 2017 Q1 and 2017 Q2 categories are listed.
But as of early December, there is not yet any official word from Chase.
In past years, the next year's quarters were not announced until mid-December, so it's not necessarily indicative of anything much that the 2017 quarters have not yet been officially announced as of early December.
Post 54 has a link to a Reddit page where the 2017 Q1 and 2017 Q2 categories are listed.
But as of early December, there is not yet any official word from Chase.
In past years, the next year's quarters were not announced until mid-December, so it's not necessarily indicative of anything much that the 2017 quarters have not yet been officially announced as of early December.
Rumor: Chase Freedom 5% categories gone by end of 2016
Nov 19, 2016, 10:17 pm
#16
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
2017 categories still not posted with ~6 weeks to go. Did they delay the announcement like this last year?
Nov 20, 2016, 10:52 am
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chase...l#post25849917 (starting at post 231)
the new calendar is always announced (every year) around 15 December. So since that's still weeks away, I don't see anything it not yet being announced as being a "delay".The new calendar is simply on a different schedule than per-quarter clarifications/signups for a current calendar.
Nov 20, 2016, 11:52 am
#19
Join Date: May 2015
Location: LAX, BUR
Programs: AS,AA,JB, HH Gold, Starriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Explorist, Global Entry
Posts: 1,933
Any idea/word if the month of December will get an additional bump up in percentage like last year's Amazon to 10%?
Ive been waiting in case Costco might.
Ive been waiting in case Costco might.
Nov 21, 2016, 8:43 am
#20
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 15
I never understood why the Freedom was not changed to what the Freedom Unlimited was to begin with. There isn't much "freedom" when you are bound to rotating categories each quarter. It won't be much of a loss for me though. Once they dropped movie theaters and now Amazon the only use I have for it is the gas category.
Nov 21, 2016, 8:50 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
I never understood why the Freedom was not changed to what the Freedom Unlimited was to begin with. There isn't much "freedom" when you are bound to rotating categories each quarter. It won't be much of a loss for me though. Once they dropped movie theaters and now Amazon the only use I have for it is the gas category.
I'd much rather be able to earn 5x on Freedom sometimes than never be able to earn more than 1.5x ever on anything.
Chase makes money because so many people don't limit their spending on Freedom to only where they get the bonus, and so for those people Chase has to hand out less bonus than on Freedom Unlimited. Chase makes more money when they hand out less bonus (if the card used just as much), so while for those of us who follow the categories it's better to use the card only there, for Chase it's better if people use the card everywhere and only get 5x here and there.
Meanwhile, if you like movie theaters, they might come back next year, we don't know yet. Amazon might even come back sometime. Just because they didn't come back this quarter, we have no idea yet what the bonuses will be in 2017's quarters. Just because a quarter bonus ended for this year does not indicate whether it will repeat again next year or not.
Nov 21, 2016, 9:31 am
#22
Join Date: May 2015
Location: LAX, BUR
Programs: AS,AA,JB, HH Gold, Starriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Explorist, Global Entry
Posts: 1,933
Nov 21, 2016, 11:41 am
#23
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: New York, NY, USA
Programs: UA 1K - 2.1MM, HH LT Diamond, IHG Diamond, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 766
When I upgraded my Freedom Visa Platinum to Signature level, the letter referred to the product as "Freedom Ultimate". Also, the "Freedom" logo on Chase Online Banking changed to the Chase logo. These may be clues that they will be rebranding the product before year's end.
Nov 21, 2016, 11:52 am
#24
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 398
Because everyone's different. I only use Freedom for the rotating categories, so I earn 5x on all my Freedom purchases. I would have no interest in a Freedom Unlimited, because i wouldn't know when to use it. (I have plenty of other cards to use "when there's no bonus anywhere else", and Freedom Unlimited wouldn't win there. It's only because of 5x that Freedom wins in certain categories in certain quarters.
I'd much rather be able to earn 5x on Freedom sometimes than never be able to earn more than 1.5x ever on anything.
I'd much rather be able to earn 5x on Freedom sometimes than never be able to earn more than 1.5x ever on anything.
Nov 21, 2016, 12:11 pm
#25
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,785
The only card I could thinking of is the SPG Amex. Only because 1 SPG converts to 3 MR points. Too bad it will probably last another year and that would be it.
Nov 21, 2016, 12:34 pm
#26
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: VA
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold, Marriott Silver, Choice Privileges Gold, National Exec
Posts: 192
Nov 21, 2016, 12:42 pm
#27
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,785
Yes I understand. But I do think 3 Marriott Points are more valuable than 1.5 UR or Membership Reward Points in traveling. Especially when used to buy Travel Packages (with Miles and Hotel Stays). I spent a lot on everyday spending so I am constantly looking for good points return on everyday spending.
Nov 21, 2016, 12:43 pm
#28
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 398
There's the usual suspects out there for non-bonus spend, but always good to stay informed.
Nov 21, 2016, 4:42 pm
#29
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: UA GOLD MM,WN CP A+list, HH Gold,MR LT Titanium
Posts: 2,184
Nov 26, 2016, 7:47 pm
#30
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: COS - Colorado Springs, CO
Programs: Hilton Diamond. National Biz Exec. AMX Plat. CSR. Bonvoy Brilliant. Delta Reserve.
Posts: 162
If the 5% categories go, I go. I have plenty of cards to pick up the slack.