The story has been to promote categories that are not doing well (or promotional payment from certain companies). It is sort of an interesting window to where people are cutting spending due to whatever economic issues or where credit use is not consistent (considering Chase does such a high percentage of card transactions --- 20% or more US marketshare?). I agree that unlike previous years, I tend to not max out the $1500 quarterly spend on the cards anymore, but that is ok. I don't have a need to stack gift cards (which many department stores do sell like Kohls) so I am okay with the organic opportunity as it arises.

So, only Flex will stack for Chase Travel at a total of 9% UR, but you will have to wait until the statement closes to see it because it doesn't post at a transaction level, only on the statement totals. This does not work for Chase Freedom OG Visa which does not get the extra credit. What I don't know is if Chase will extend the $100 Chase Travel offer into next quarter. I doubt it, but if they did, it could create some very interesting deals for "simple" travel such as airplane tickets which tend to be less price varying for me versus direct airline purchases. Or if anyone didn't get in their theme park ticket purchases this quarter under the 5x for Live Entertainment, there will be another opportunity there via the Chase Travel activities website.

PayPal is useful. I know many like to use it for third-party tax payments, but it tends to be also helpful for any categories that almost no one gives bonus for online shopping such as insurance, utilities, services, etc. Both Target and Walmart also take it online, so you can use it there as those are otherwise excluded merchants from many cards that offer an online shopping category (which is not even 5% for most cards that bonus offer it anyway).

The message is clear though that Chase is getting the card volume even without putting must have categories, so it is hard to determine why they would subsidize $75 per account (at base cash redemption) unless it was volume going elsewhere. I like they are trying to offer categories that others don't offer instead of just doing gas, Amazon or restaurants all the time.