Need advice from experienced travel hackers
Nov 21, 2012, 1:17 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,224
Need advice from experienced travel hackers
On November 14, 2012 I did my first app-o-rama for the following cards:
-Chase Sapphire Preferred (40k points; 3k minimum spend in 3 months)
-Barclay's USAir Mastercard (40k miles after 1st purchase)
-Chase United MileagePlus Explorer (50k miles; 1k minimum spend in 3 months)
-Hilton HHonors American Express (40k points; $750 minimum spend in 3 months)
My question is, how would I spread my spending on these cards in order to get the most value?
For example, I will be purchasing the following in the coming months:
- 2 airline tickets to, either Egypt and Russia, or India and Germany
- hotel accommodations for these two 2-week vacations
- a home theater costing between $700-$1,000
- 2 Blu Ray disk players
- a blender
- all my bills, groceries, and entertainment (including fine dining)
I have my own ideas about what to charge on what card and where, but I'd like some feedback from some of the members on this forum who have more experience than me.
-Chase Sapphire Preferred (40k points; 3k minimum spend in 3 months)
-Barclay's USAir Mastercard (40k miles after 1st purchase)
-Chase United MileagePlus Explorer (50k miles; 1k minimum spend in 3 months)
-Hilton HHonors American Express (40k points; $750 minimum spend in 3 months)
My question is, how would I spread my spending on these cards in order to get the most value?
For example, I will be purchasing the following in the coming months:
- 2 airline tickets to, either Egypt and Russia, or India and Germany
- hotel accommodations for these two 2-week vacations
- a home theater costing between $700-$1,000
- 2 Blu Ray disk players
- a blender
- all my bills, groceries, and entertainment (including fine dining)
I have my own ideas about what to charge on what card and where, but I'd like some feedback from some of the members on this forum who have more experience than me.
Nov 21, 2012, 1:25 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: DFW
Posts: 1,145
On November 14, 2012 I did my first app-o-rama for the following cards:
-Chase Sapphire Preferred (40k points; 3k minimum spend in 3 months)
-Barclay's USAir Mastercard (40k miles after 1st purchase)
-Chase United MileagePlus Explorer (50k miles; 1k minimum spend in 3 months)
-Hilton HHonors American Express (40k points; $750 minimum spend in 3 months)
My question is, how would I spread my spending on these cards in order to get the most value?
For example, I will be purchasing the following in the coming months:
- 2 airline tickets to, either Egypt and Russia, or India and Germany
- hotel accommodations for these two 2-week vacations
- a home theater costing between $700-$1,000
- 2 Blu Ray disk players
- a blender
- all my bills, groceries, and entertainment (including fine dining)
I have my own ideas about what to charge on what card and where, but I'd like some feedback from some of the members on this forum who have more experience than me.
-Chase Sapphire Preferred (40k points; 3k minimum spend in 3 months)
-Barclay's USAir Mastercard (40k miles after 1st purchase)
-Chase United MileagePlus Explorer (50k miles; 1k minimum spend in 3 months)
-Hilton HHonors American Express (40k points; $750 minimum spend in 3 months)
My question is, how would I spread my spending on these cards in order to get the most value?
For example, I will be purchasing the following in the coming months:
- 2 airline tickets to, either Egypt and Russia, or India and Germany
- hotel accommodations for these two 2-week vacations
- a home theater costing between $700-$1,000
- 2 Blu Ray disk players
- a blender
- all my bills, groceries, and entertainment (including fine dining)
I have my own ideas about what to charge on what card and where, but I'd like some feedback from some of the members on this forum who have more experience than me.
Barclays-Pack of gum and you are done
Sapphire--start putting all your bills on it now, not sure what they are, but should add up quickly.
Chase United--If you can, fly United and buy your tickets with the card, pretty sure you get extra points for the spend with United.
Hilton Amex--Stay at a few hiltons and use this card, but also i'd put your electronics spend on this one. They extend the warranty by an additional year...the other cards may do the same, i'm just not sure or aware.
Nov 21, 2012, 1:36 pm
#4
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Last edited by guv1976; Nov 21, 2012 at 4:59 pm
Nov 21, 2012, 1:37 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,224
This is what I used:
https://www.theexplorercard.com/MPYoureIn30kAFW.aspx
However, when I click on this now, I also get a 30k offer because it recognizes my computer. To get the higher offer I had to erase my history and cache.
https://www.theexplorercard.com/MPYoureIn30kAFW.aspx
However, when I click on this now, I also get a 30k offer because it recognizes my computer. To get the higher offer I had to erase my history and cache.
Nov 21, 2012, 2:05 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,224
Personally, it is a pretty easy spend:
Barclays-Pack of gum and you are done
Sapphire--start putting all your bills on it now, not sure what they are, but should add up quickly.
Chase United--If you can, fly United and buy your tickets with the card, pretty sure you get extra points for the spend with United.
Hilton Amex--Stay at a few hiltons and use this card, but also i'd put your electronics spend on this one. They extend the warranty by an additional year...the other cards may do the same, i'm just not sure or aware.
Barclays-Pack of gum and you are done
Sapphire--start putting all your bills on it now, not sure what they are, but should add up quickly.
Chase United--If you can, fly United and buy your tickets with the card, pretty sure you get extra points for the spend with United.
Hilton Amex--Stay at a few hiltons and use this card, but also i'd put your electronics spend on this one. They extend the warranty by an additional year...the other cards may do the same, i'm just not sure or aware.
Nov 21, 2012, 2:11 pm
#7
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,224
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Travel and domestic dining on Sapphire Preferred. Drug store, supermarket, monthly landline and cellphone bills, and gasoline purchases on HHonors Amex for double points. Domestic car rentals, if any, on UA Explorer Card, for primary LDW.
I'd also put the electronics purchases on the HHonors Amex. While I think all of these cards offer extended warranty protection, the protection goes away if you cancel the card. Since the basic HHonors Amex card has no annual fee, you can keep it open indefinitely, to keep the extended warranty protection alive.
Any charges in foreign countries should go on cards with no forex fee, like the UA Explorer card.
Travel and domestic dining on Sapphire Preferred. Drug store, supermarket, monthly landline and cellphone bills, and gasoline purchases on HHonors Amex for double points. Domestic car rentals, if any, on UA Explorer Card, for primary LDW.
I'd also put the electronics purchases on the HHonors Amex. While I think all of these cards offer extended warranty protection, the protection goes away if you cancel the card. Since the basic HHonors Amex card has no annual fee, you can keep it open indefinitely, to keep the extended warranty protection alive.
Any charges in foreign countries should go on cards with no forex fee, like the UA Explorer card.
You point about putting electronics on the Hilton is well taken, and I can put the blender and 2 Blu Ray players on it. But, but won't I get more value by shopping for these items through the Chase portal?
Also, while the Hilton card has no annual fee, and can be held indefinitely, I was thinking of churning this card, also.
Any thoughts?
Nov 21, 2012, 2:20 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Posts: 4,904
Whoa whoa whoa...
UA Explorer card, I'm pretty sure, HAS a forex fee. The darling Sapphire Preferred is the one with no forex.
joer1212, just look at what card has what bonuses. Sapphire Preferred is travel/dining. UA is United purchases (which Sapphire Preferred still beats). AMEX HHonors is grocery, supermarkets, phone bills, gas, and anything that might need purchase protection.
Cannot churn Amex easily. Instead, wait for Amex to offer you a points upgrade to Surpass for $75.
UA Explorer card, I'm pretty sure, HAS a forex fee. The darling Sapphire Preferred is the one with no forex.
joer1212, just look at what card has what bonuses. Sapphire Preferred is travel/dining. UA is United purchases (which Sapphire Preferred still beats). AMEX HHonors is grocery, supermarkets, phone bills, gas, and anything that might need purchase protection.
Cannot churn Amex easily. Instead, wait for Amex to offer you a points upgrade to Surpass for $75.
Nov 21, 2012, 2:50 pm
#9
Join Date: Oct 2012
Programs: AS MVP, BA
Posts: 300
Use the chase sapphire preferred to buy plane tickets if not flying united for the 2x travel bonus. Try using Chase ultimate rewards mall for booking these tickets.
Put sat TV/cell/internet bills on hhonors amex.
Put bills that arent sat tv/phone internet on United.
Use chase sapphire on all dining. Spread out miscellaneous spending on other cards to meet spend req.
Put sat TV/cell/internet bills on hhonors amex.
Put bills that arent sat tv/phone internet on United.
Use chase sapphire on all dining. Spread out miscellaneous spending on other cards to meet spend req.
Nov 21, 2012, 5:04 pm
#10
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Mea culpa! You're absolutely right: it's the CSP that has no forex fee; the United Explorer card has a 3% forex fee. But it's the Explorer card that has primary LDW for rental cars.
Sorry for the error. I've deleted the offending post, since the FT WAP would not let me edit out the incorrect information.
Originally Posted by amolkold
Whoa whoa whoa...
UA Explorer card, I'm pretty sure, HAS a forex fee. The darling Sapphire Preferred is the one with no forex.
joer1212, just look at what card has what bonuses. Sapphire Preferred is travel/dining. UA is United purchases (which Sapphire Preferred still beats). AMEX HHonors is grocery, supermarkets, phone bills, gas, and anything that might need purchase protection.
Cannot churn Amex easily. Instead, wait for Amex to offer you a points upgrade to Surpass for $75.
UA Explorer card, I'm pretty sure, HAS a forex fee. The darling Sapphire Preferred is the one with no forex.
joer1212, just look at what card has what bonuses. Sapphire Preferred is travel/dining. UA is United purchases (which Sapphire Preferred still beats). AMEX HHonors is grocery, supermarkets, phone bills, gas, and anything that might need purchase protection.
Cannot churn Amex easily. Instead, wait for Amex to offer you a points upgrade to Surpass for $75.
Sorry for the error. I've deleted the offending post, since the FT WAP would not let me edit out the incorrect information.
Nov 21, 2012, 5:42 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,224
UA is United purchases (which Sapphire Preferred still beats). AMEX HHonors is grocery, supermarkets, phone bills, gas, and anything that might need purchase protection.
Cannot churn Amex easily. Instead, wait for Amex to offer you a points upgrade to Surpass for $75.
Nov 21, 2012, 6:04 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,224
Use the chase sapphire preferred to buy plane tickets if not flying united for the 2x travel bonus. Try using Chase ultimate rewards mall for booking these tickets.
Put sat TV/cell/internet bills on hhonors amex.
Put bills that arent sat tv/phone internet on United.
Use chase sapphire on all dining. Spread out miscellaneous spending on other cards to meet spend req.
Put sat TV/cell/internet bills on hhonors amex.
Put bills that arent sat tv/phone internet on United.
Use chase sapphire on all dining. Spread out miscellaneous spending on other cards to meet spend req.
If you were in my shoes, would you charge your tickets on the United Card and get 2X miles or on the Sapphire (through U.R. mall)?
Nov 21, 2012, 10:24 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,224
Yes, good point. I probably will end up purchasing my airline tix with the Sapphire. But, on what card should I charge my hotel stay? The Hilton Amex?