Who else has the Platinum, Gold, AND CSR?
Oct 22, 2018, 2:30 pm
#46
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: EWR
Programs: World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, UA Mileage Plus
Posts: 1,255
Totally agreed. We all get our own life styles and different point valuation. In economics, this is called Utility Function. F=F(x1,x2,x3... Xn). There are many variables. We certainly respect each one's economic valuation.
With family members, we keep like 50 to 60 credit cards. I pay more than $3,000/year AFs alone. We are happy to pay that since we get positive returns from all the cards we keep. Chase CSR is one of them and it anchors our UR system.
When I book any air or hotel, I have several weapons I can pull. AmEx MR for airfare, hotel points for hotel. Then Chase UR and its travel portal is always there if we need it.
If I get $1,000 out of the system, I'll be happy to pay a $68 cost. It makes me happy.
With family members, we keep like 50 to 60 credit cards. I pay more than $3,000/year AFs alone. We are happy to pay that since we get positive returns from all the cards we keep. Chase CSR is one of them and it anchors our UR system.
When I book any air or hotel, I have several weapons I can pull. AmEx MR for airfare, hotel points for hotel. Then Chase UR and its travel portal is always there if we need it.
If I get $1,000 out of the system, I'll be happy to pay a $68 cost. It makes me happy.
How much is your annual CC spend and how is it split up amongst your cards?
Oct 22, 2018, 2:37 pm
#47
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
I’m not convinced you have a good understanding of what you are earning, what you are redeeming, and the value you are creating vs the amount you are spending on annual fees. None of what you’ve written above in your several posts shows that you understand what has been very clearly laid out to you.
How much is your annual CC spend and how is it split up amongst your cards?
How much is your annual CC spend and how is it split up amongst your cards?
Oct 24, 2018, 12:50 pm
#48
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Moderator action
A few posts have been removed or edited.
PLEASE: write about American Express or Chase products, policies and practices, but not about each other.
PLEASE: make your point only once. Repetition doesn't benefit anyone. It's not that others did not understand your position. They genuinely disagree. Accept this, even if you think they are making a grievous error.
PLEASE: write about American Express or Chase products, policies and practices, but not about each other.
PLEASE: make your point only once. Repetition doesn't benefit anyone. It's not that others did not understand your position. They genuinely disagree. Accept this, even if you think they are making a grievous error.
Last edited by mia; Oct 24, 2018 at 5:32 pm
Oct 27, 2018, 6:22 am
#49
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Asia Pac
Programs: AA UA DL AS CXDM JL NH Hilton Hyatt Marriott SPG IHG
Posts: 545
No disrespect intended. However, with all of the AFs you pay, I wonder what quantifiable benefits are you receiving, vs it being a status symbol or perceived benefit. We can debate it back and forth all day with some fact, and some subjectivity. The amount of overlap seems pretty high. I wonder if I removed 5, maybe even 10 cards from your portfolio, what you would really miss out on.
But this is the greatness of it all. Everyone has a different profile and there is a card for everyone. Assigned valuations have become too much of convoluted topic IMO. To me, who mainly travels domestically, I use my UR for cruises with a lowly 1.5 cent valuation. A cruise is a big expense that I have no other way of eliminating its charge. Hotels are paid for by Hilton or IHG points from work travel unless it is cheap enough to just buy. The wild card for me is flights. I can't get over spending more than I need to there, no matter how "good of a deal" it is. $200 coach works. My upcoming trip has a roughly $2000 price tag, paid in points, with plenty of points left over, and a $200 flight out of pocket. Minimal out-of-pocket expenses for frequent trips that interest me is my best valuation.
But this is the greatness of it all. Everyone has a different profile and there is a card for everyone. Assigned valuations have become too much of convoluted topic IMO. To me, who mainly travels domestically, I use my UR for cruises with a lowly 1.5 cent valuation. A cruise is a big expense that I have no other way of eliminating its charge. Hotels are paid for by Hilton or IHG points from work travel unless it is cheap enough to just buy. The wild card for me is flights. I can't get over spending more than I need to there, no matter how "good of a deal" it is. $200 coach works. My upcoming trip has a roughly $2000 price tag, paid in points, with plenty of points left over, and a $200 flight out of pocket. Minimal out-of-pocket expenses for frequent trips that interest me is my best valuation.
In my case, the AFs paid are well worth the benefits I get in return, and if I have to choose between "paying more AFs" and "being inconveninced", I'd always go for paying more AFs.
Oct 27, 2018, 12:23 pm
#50
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Former UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 576
I am debating if I need the CSR. If I downgrade the CSR to a Freedom, I could upgrade it if I needed to use the 1.5x platform.
I just picked up the Platinum business. This is in addition to my CSR, CIP and Hilton Aspire. In the long term, I think the CIP and the Aspire card will work well for me. I should pick up a card covering international restaurants.
PS I suspect that the Marriott gold status derived from the Platinum is not worth much even in Asia.
PPS The gold card has limited value to me. Most of my spend is overseas. The gold card bonuses are limited to the USA.
I just picked up the Platinum business. This is in addition to my CSR, CIP and Hilton Aspire. In the long term, I think the CIP and the Aspire card will work well for me. I should pick up a card covering international restaurants.
PS I suspect that the Marriott gold status derived from the Platinum is not worth much even in Asia.
PPS The gold card has limited value to me. Most of my spend is overseas. The gold card bonuses are limited to the USA.
Oct 29, 2018, 4:43 am
#51
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 354
Sorry if someone already brought this up... but CSR UR redeemed for travel are typically worth more than 1.5cpp. For example, redeeming 33.3k UR for a $500 plane ticket may also get you ~5k flier miles as well (depending on airline, seat, and elite status of course). From there we can do our own math depending on how we value the miles.
Oct 29, 2018, 4:46 am
#52
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 354
I am debating if I need the CSR. If I downgrade the CSR to a Freedom, I could upgrade it if I needed to use the 1.5x platform.
I just picked up the Platinum business. This is in addition to my CSR, CIP and Hilton Aspire. In the long term, I think the CIP and the Aspire card will work well for me. I should pick up a card covering international restaurants.
PS I suspect that the Marriott gold status derived from the Platinum is not worth much even in Asia.
PPS The gold card has limited value to me. Most of my spend is overseas. The gold card bonuses are limited to the USA.
I just picked up the Platinum business. This is in addition to my CSR, CIP and Hilton Aspire. In the long term, I think the CIP and the Aspire card will work well for me. I should pick up a card covering international restaurants.
PS I suspect that the Marriott gold status derived from the Platinum is not worth much even in Asia.
PPS The gold card has limited value to me. Most of my spend is overseas. The gold card bonuses are limited to the USA.
Oct 29, 2018, 5:22 am
#53
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Programs: Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards
Posts: 191
Sorry if someone already brought this up... but CSR UR redeemed for travel are typically worth more than 1.5cpp. For example, redeeming 33.3k UR for a $500 plane ticket may also get you ~5k flier miles as well (depending on airline, seat, and elite status of course). From there we can do our own math depending on how we value the miles.
I don't care about flying premium cabin which is how most people value those points very high. I just want to travel the world... if 120,000 gets me either flying first class (hypothetically) or 2 round trips tickets to Europe on Economy, I'd choose the latter.
Now, having said that, Mia brilliantly suggested to me in another post to look for those underserved or smaller airports. I save my points for this. I have friends in Seville and flights over there are usually cost $1,300-$1,400 (sometimes $900 during low season) and 60,000 points RT on United sounds good to me.
Oct 29, 2018, 6:33 am
#54
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
By that standard money would also be worth more than face value. When you buy a revenue ticket, with money or with points, you are purchasing both transportation and reward credits toward future travel. That doesn't change the value of the currency used to make the purchase.
Oct 29, 2018, 6:53 am
#55
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 354
By that standard money would also be worth more than face value. When you buy a revenue ticket, with money or with points, you are purchasing both transportation and reward credits toward future travel. That doesn't change the value of the currency used to make the purchase.
Oct 29, 2018, 6:57 am
#56
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: EWR
Programs: World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, UA Mileage Plus
Posts: 1,255
By that standard money would also be worth more than face value. When you buy a revenue ticket, with money or with points, you are purchasing both transportation and reward credits toward future travel. That doesn't change the value of the currency used to make the purchase.Look at it similarly to the Business Platinum 35% rebate. Your MR are only “worth” 1cpp, as you need 100MR per $1 to make the redemption but you are getting 35 MR back for every 100 you spend. When making this type of redemption we say you’re getting $0.0154 value per MR point.
Oct 29, 2018, 8:14 am
#57
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Neither redemption is worth $0.015/point.
If I redeem 60,000 points for a $900 revenue ticket the value appears to $0.015/point, but it is less because I gave up the 4,500 points I would have earned buying a $900 ticket with American Express Platinum. I really redeemed 64,500 points, and the value is $0.01395.
If I transfer 60,000 points to a frequent flyer program and redeem for an award ticket the redemption value is also less than $0.015 because I need to make a similar adjustment for the points/miles I could have earned by paying -and- flying. This calculation is more complicated because it depends on my elite status with the airline, but it will be less than $0.01395. However, an award ticket is often more flexible than a revenue ticket because the cost to cancel it is low.
In any event, I would not redeem points or miles for a $900 ticket. I would use money.
If I redeem 60,000 points for a $900 revenue ticket the value appears to $0.015/point, but it is less because I gave up the 4,500 points I would have earned buying a $900 ticket with American Express Platinum. I really redeemed 64,500 points, and the value is $0.01395.
If I transfer 60,000 points to a frequent flyer program and redeem for an award ticket the redemption value is also less than $0.015 because I need to make a similar adjustment for the points/miles I could have earned by paying -and- flying. This calculation is more complicated because it depends on my elite status with the airline, but it will be less than $0.01395. However, an award ticket is often more flexible than a revenue ticket because the cost to cancel it is low.
In any event, I would not redeem points or miles for a $900 ticket. I would use money.
Oct 29, 2018, 11:10 am
#58
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
Neither redemption is worth $0.015/point.
If I redeem 60,000 points for a $900 revenue ticket the value appears to $0.015/point, but it is less because I gave up the 4,500 points I would have earned buying a $900 ticket with American Express Platinum. I really redeemed 64,500 points, and the value is $0.01395.
If I transfer 60,000 points to a frequent flyer program and redeem for an award ticket the redemption value is also less than $0.015 because I need to make a similar adjustment for the points/miles I could have earned by paying -and- flying. This calculation is more complicated because it depends on my elite status with the airline, but it will be less than $0.01395. However, an award ticket is often more flexible than a revenue ticket because the cost to cancel it is low.
In any event, I would not redeem points or miles for a $900 ticket. I would use money.
If I redeem 60,000 points for a $900 revenue ticket the value appears to $0.015/point, but it is less because I gave up the 4,500 points I would have earned buying a $900 ticket with American Express Platinum. I really redeemed 64,500 points, and the value is $0.01395.
If I transfer 60,000 points to a frequent flyer program and redeem for an award ticket the redemption value is also less than $0.015 because I need to make a similar adjustment for the points/miles I could have earned by paying -and- flying. This calculation is more complicated because it depends on my elite status with the airline, but it will be less than $0.01395. However, an award ticket is often more flexible than a revenue ticket because the cost to cancel it is low.
In any event, I would not redeem points or miles for a $900 ticket. I would use money.
Oct 29, 2018, 11:37 am
#59
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
It's an intriguing thought experiment to imagine a life in which we had four children, but that's not how my decision making process works. I do not think, "I need to redeem for $0.02+ per point," nor do I think, "I want to achieve the maximum value per point." Instead, I know that we will fly between Miami - London a certain number of times each year, I know what those tickets typically cost, and how to reduce the cost by using rewards. I do not redeem points for less because I know I will be able to use them for that purpose.
Last edited by mia; Oct 29, 2018 at 12:33 pm
Oct 29, 2018, 1:21 pm
#60
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
It's an intriguing thought experiment to imagine a life in which we had four children, but that's not how my decision making process works. I do not think, "I need to redeem for $0.02+ per point," nor do I think, "I want to achieve the maximum value per point." Instead, I know that we will fly between Miami - London a certain number of times each year, I know what those tickets typically cost, and how to reduce the cost by using rewards. I do not redeem points for less because I know I will be able to use them for that purpose.
If your logic works, you'll be paying for the $1,200 ticket out of pocket and leave your points stacked at AmEx? Just because it is just 1.5 CPP? This is very common overseas travel airfare. It can easily add up for a large family.