To me, the bonus is not what matters in the end. I am looking at close to $50k in airfare purchases for business travel this year (previously all on Delta). The United card (like my SkyMiles AMEX) offers 2x points on United purchases. Hotel loyalty is not really important to me, neither is credit card churning and having to manage 5, 10, 15 credit card application/cancellation hassles. I just want a few very useful and practical travel cards that fit with my annual airfare spending. (100,000+ United miles per year + BIS miles vs a 40-50k one time initial bonus and another credit hard to think about - for me the card conversion makes more sense)

Links:

World

http://www.mastercard.us/credit-card-world.html

World Elite

http://www.mastercard.us/credit-card-world-elite.html

Why do you believe this is true? I have an Ink Bold card with a silver logo marked "World", and a Citi Chairman card with a Red/Orange logo marked "World Elite".

You're right - the silver foil logo must just be their latest marketing iteration - even Visa seems to be putting a silver foil logo on some of their cards (not referring to the hologram).

So the only real differences between the World and World Elite are the "special" products / services you are invited to use? Looks like purchase protection, rental insurance, ... etc. are the same for both versions?

Moderator action
 

Several fragmentary discussions about converting Chase cards from one rewards program to another, or from fee to no-fee version, have been combined.

I tried this very thing yesterday with business cards. Chase wouldn't allow it since it it is a "partner" card. The only options were the two Ink cards, not the Ink Bold. Ink Bold required a separate app.

Anyone have any luck converting their legacy United card to a Freedom card?

Freedom to Sapphire Preferred
 

I have 8 month old Chase freedom card.
As I'm on travel job want to convert it to any one of the Sapphire Preferred or MileagePlus Explorer card
Will Chase allow to convert instead of applying a new card

Why not apply and take the perks, if declined go for a lower credit limit, and quit Freedom on your own terms....keep both...double your pleasure..

If you convert you do not get the bonus.

Agree with above. The Chase Freedom is definitely a keeper.

Can you downgrade Chase Marriott card to fee-free version?
 

Does anyone know if there is a fee-free version of the Chase Marriott card to which one can downgrade?

Thanks!

There is a lower annual fee version with less benefits. ($45)

Most people here keep the higher fee version. The annual free night is easily worth the $85

Thanks for the info. I personally don't think it's worth it since the hotels I used to use the free night cert for are now Category 6.

Conversion Experience
 

I've had a United MileagePlus Visa Signature from Chase ($60 annual fee) for a few years now (thanks for that 60k signup bonus!) and started looking into current offers to convert my card. The Club Card seemed pretty good, especially considering I just spent $450 on a club membership.

My card fee just renewed in May ($60) and I just purchased a Club membership ($450). They'll reduce my new $395 membership fee by the $60 pro-rated and then refund my $450 for the Club membership (takes 4 to 6 weeks typically).

So, this works out pretty good. Plus two bags free instead of one every time I fly, no foreign transaction fees, 2x points on United travel purchases and 1.5x points on all other purchases (1x points for everything on old credit card).

Only downside is that I don't get the $95 statement credit, but, that's fine with me as I have plenty of cards and don't need any more.

It was a quick and painless process with no credit check or application process. My new card is supposed to show up in 3 to 5 business days and new Club card shortly after that.

It's not only for the free night (even though it usually does make it up for the $85 fee). If you think it's worth it for the Premier card, you do get 15 elite nights, 5 extra points per dollar spent at Marriott and an extra elite night credit for every $3K spent. If it's not all that important, then cancel the card. I've been looking also and there is no free Marriott CC (so far at least).