I have definitely received points from purchases where I used different credit cards, or gift cards.

I have too. The problem now comes with one of my purchases not posting.

Yes, but unfortunately these will not be Companion-Pass-Qualifying points, as have all other transfer partner points heretofore (Choice, Wyndham, Diners, etc.).

Diminishes the value to a max of exactly 1.666 cents, and a worrisome omen.

Do you have to use UR to book airline tickets ?
 

If you want to use your points towards airline tickets or use companion ticket, do you have to use the Ultimate Rewards site ? If so is it more expensive than expedia/orbitz/airline website ?

I believe you have to use the Ultimate rewards site. However, in my case it was a really good deal. I needed a one way flight from BHM to PDX. The cost in miles after conversion was less then kayak for coach, and I was able to book first class for less! (I was flying continental in case it's relevant, over the thanksgiving holiday) :D

It really surprised me how fair the redemption was.

I also have a Citi thank you premier card and I was able to rent a car for about 40% less through their reward site using my points as it would have been using carrentals.com apples to apples.

So to me both cards were more than worth it.

I think you are talking about using UR or TY points for travel redemption. These are built-in features to get extra value per point.

For Premium UR (Sapphire Preferred, JPM Select, Ink Bold), you will get 25% more, i.e. 1 point = 1.25 cent.

For TY Premier, you will save 25% thus get 33% more, i.e. 1 point = 1.33 cent.

This way TY points worth more. However, for many, miles value more than 1.33 cent and this is where the transfer feature of Premium UR shines: 1UR = 1 CO/UA/KE/WN/Hyatt etc.

Moreover, it's straightforward to earn 2+ TYP per dollar on all spending, but more challenging to average 2 URP unless using the card very selectively.

I cannot agree any more.

There are times I forgot which card I should use to maximize the points. I had used Sapphire Preferred exclusively for dining when we were in HKG recently for 2 weeks. Upon return I should have switched to Freedom which earns 5% for dining till 12/31/11. But I totally forgot until 2 or 3 dines later. :(

For this matter I truly miss the Schwab 2% card. The simplicity has value.

purchase made on hotwire does not count as travel spending
 

just found out that the hotel purchases made on hotwire dose not count as travel spending and won't earn 2X points on those spending, CSR said hotwire is under 'Direct Marketers-Not elsewhere classified' , but for airfare purchases through hotwire, since the transactions go through airlines directly instead of hotwire, it will earn 2X points.

I sent a secure message to customer service. The CS Rep said that I didn't check-out properly through the UR Mall, but he would give me my requested points as a courtesy gesture ^. I know I clicked through the mall, but maybe it is because I had visited groupon prior without? Do you need to do something like use a new window, exit firefox, safari, or clear your cookies prior to going through the mall to make sure the transaction logs correctly?

Isn't Hotwire in the mall already for extra points?

My Sears gift cards did not even post to my Chase card yet. I used the sapphire site and then switched to the INK BOLD. SEARS tells me they are in the mail, and chase tells me that they are in pending status for a week and likely to not ver be posted , and drop off unless SEARS does some creative billing.

In any event I did not get them yet , and I need the $2000 to finish 5K Ink Bold spend grrrr

You should be able to receive both the travel category bonus (offered by Chase) -and- points for using the mall (offered by the merchant), but if Hotwire is coded differently the category bonus will be lost on transactions billed using their identity.

Exactly, I did not receive the 1 bonus point for hotwire spending on Sapphire card since hotwire is coded as 'Direct Marketers-Not elsewhere classified'.

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