Sapphire v. MileagePlus Explorer
Mar 28, 2013, 10:15 am
#76
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 771
Hey JordanDawg, wow, we run into each other again, lol. Anyways, do you know if I HAVE to book with my Explorer card in order to waive my baggage fee? I've read on FT that others book flights with a different card (in my case I would use CSP on UR Travel for 3x of course) but still use the Explorer's card while checking in for the waived baggage fee. This true?
TIA again
TIA again
I don't have any experience using the UR travel to advise you if this will apply to you. I know it'll be nice to get teh 3x and still get the benefit of the card. IN order to ensure you get bag for free i would buy the ticket with the card..thats the way technically its suppose to work.
Mar 28, 2013, 9:55 pm
#77
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA MileagePlus (Premier Gold); Hilton HHonors (Gold); Chase Ultimate Rewards; Amex Plat
Posts: 6,680
on the MPE, the collision coverage is primary. i.e. they pay everything, my insurance doesn't get involved unless there's a liability claim. on the sapphire, it's secondary...hence my dilemma (whether to pay with the MPE and get the primary insurance, or the sapphire and get the extra rewards points for travel).
And if something does happen, you'll end up dealing with an annoying trail of paperwork either way. I had a small but very noticeable scrape on a rental car once, that didn't end up hitting my deductible, but I had to deal with correspondence between the MasterRental insurance and the rental car company for a couple of months.
Aug 11, 2013, 8:53 pm
#79
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: UR, MR, United, SPG
Posts: 78
The only reason to book with the Mileage Plus Explorer is to get a free checked bag, which you already get being a 1K. So you might as well use the CSP, and dont forget to book through travelocity to get 2 extra UR pts/$
Aug 11, 2013, 9:35 pm
#80
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LAX/SNA
Programs: AA, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,887
The checked bag is tied to your MP number, not the card.
Aug 12, 2013, 9:08 am
#82
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Cambridge, MA
Programs: AA EXP, UA1k, AmEx Plat, Global Entry & Pre✓
Posts: 852
Aug 12, 2013, 9:09 am
#83
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Cambridge, MA
Programs: AA EXP, UA1k, AmEx Plat, Global Entry & Pre✓
Posts: 852
So, how many points in total do you get if you book through travelocity, because don't you get double points for travel already?
Aug 12, 2013, 9:27 am
#84
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 384
https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...t=2&iCELL=6B12
2+2=4. UR Mall bonuses are in addition to the standard rewards.
Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles every calendar year you spend at least $25,000 on your Card.
Aug 12, 2013, 9:30 am
#85
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
You must book through the Travelocity link in the Ultimate Rewards Mall, as discussed here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chase...solidated.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chase...solidated.html
Aug 12, 2013, 3:41 pm
#86
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: UR, MR, United, SPG
Posts: 78
Have you been able to have a free checked bag when booking with another credit card? Earlier this year I booked a ticket with a different card while still holding the MP Explorer, but was not given a free checked bag for the trip.
Priority Boarding is definitely linked to your MP number though.
Priority Boarding is definitely linked to your MP number though.
Aug 12, 2013, 7:06 pm
#87
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LAX/SNA
Programs: AA, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,887
Have you been able to have a free checked bag when booking with another credit card? Earlier this year I booked a ticket with a different card while still holding the MP Explorer, but was not given a free checked bag for the trip.
Priority Boarding is definitely linked to your MP number though.
Priority Boarding is definitely linked to your MP number though.
Aug 15, 2013, 9:28 am
#88
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
Does having both Sapphire and Explorer cards make any sense
Hello everybody,
I have both Sapphire and Explorer cards. Plus I have Ink Bold card too but that was obtained just for personal business expenses so it is outside of this conversation.
Question is - does it make any sense to keep both cards with the following situation in place:
- I am based in SIN, I do need a card with no foreign transaction fees for my daily expenses and vacation travel.
- for all my company business expenses I have to use AMEX card and travel agency to book flights.
- 70% of my flights are on UA and the rest - TK.
That's pretty much it. With the situation above can I safely cancel my Explorer card w/o endangering my status or potential earning of miles?
I have both Sapphire and Explorer cards. Plus I have Ink Bold card too but that was obtained just for personal business expenses so it is outside of this conversation.
Question is - does it make any sense to keep both cards with the following situation in place:
- I am based in SIN, I do need a card with no foreign transaction fees for my daily expenses and vacation travel.
- for all my company business expenses I have to use AMEX card and travel agency to book flights.
- 70% of my flights are on UA and the rest - TK.
That's pretty much it. With the situation above can I safely cancel my Explorer card w/o endangering my status or potential earning of miles?
Aug 15, 2013, 9:31 am
#89
Join Date: Sep 2012
Programs: HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Diamond, DL Diamond, UA Silver
Posts: 107
You would get the same points/$ on the CSP vs the Explorer for all Dining and Travel expenses. The only advantage to the explorer card is the no checked luggage fee and earlier zone boarding (but it doesn't matter if you already have status with UA). And I believe the explorer card gives you 2 passes to the lounge annually but that's not worth much imho.
Aug 15, 2013, 10:10 am
#90
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,818
Hello everybody,
I have both Sapphire and Explorer cards. Plus I have Ink Bold card too but that was obtained just for personal business expenses so it is outside of this conversation.
Question is - does it make any sense to keep both cards with the following situation in place:
- I am based in SIN, I do need a card with no foreign transaction fees for my daily expenses and vacation travel.
- for all my company business expenses I have to use AMEX card and travel agency to book flights.
- 70% of my flights are on UA and the rest - TK.
That's pretty much it. With the situation above can I safely cancel my Explorer card w/o endangering my status or potential earning of miles?
I have both Sapphire and Explorer cards. Plus I have Ink Bold card too but that was obtained just for personal business expenses so it is outside of this conversation.
Question is - does it make any sense to keep both cards with the following situation in place:
- I am based in SIN, I do need a card with no foreign transaction fees for my daily expenses and vacation travel.
- for all my company business expenses I have to use AMEX card and travel agency to book flights.
- 70% of my flights are on UA and the rest - TK.
That's pretty much it. With the situation above can I safely cancel my Explorer card w/o endangering my status or potential earning of miles?
Maybe it will be of some use to you:
If I had to choose just one, no doubt the CSP is the winner for me. However, there are reasons i'd consider the MPE as well...
As an UA elite, you'll benefit 5 main things from the MPE:
1. Bonus 10K miles at $25K spend
2. Two Lounge passes
3. Primary car insurance for rentals.
4. CPU on domes. award travel
5. PQD waiver for stati (plural for status? lol)
If you value these 5 things for $95 AF, then keep the card in addition to your CSP.
As non-UA elite, these are the main benies in addition to #1-4:
6. Free Checked bag (this alone can be worth a ton depending on how you travel).
7. Priority Boarding
8. EXTRA Saver (XN) award availability! (unofficial benefit however, some consider this to be worth $95 alone)
Then the "little" things that no one really considers:
9. Inside Access (competing with Amex Platinum's By Invitation OnlyŽ)
10. Luxury Hotel & Resorts (competing with Amex Platinum's Fine Hotels & Resorts)
11. Purchase protection is $10,000 per claim up to $50,000 a year (same as Amex Platinum). CSP is only $300 per claim up to $50,000 a year. The per claim makes a huge difference as you usually need purchase protection on large items.
As an UA elite, you'll benefit 5 main things from the MPE:
1. Bonus 10K miles at $25K spend
2. Two Lounge passes
3. Primary car insurance for rentals.
4. CPU on domes. award travel
5. PQD waiver for stati (plural for status? lol)
If you value these 5 things for $95 AF, then keep the card in addition to your CSP.
As non-UA elite, these are the main benies in addition to #1-4:
6. Free Checked bag (this alone can be worth a ton depending on how you travel).
7. Priority Boarding
8. EXTRA Saver (XN) award availability! (unofficial benefit however, some consider this to be worth $95 alone)
Then the "little" things that no one really considers:
9. Inside Access (competing with Amex Platinum's By Invitation OnlyŽ)
10. Luxury Hotel & Resorts (competing with Amex Platinum's Fine Hotels & Resorts)
11. Purchase protection is $10,000 per claim up to $50,000 a year (same as Amex Platinum). CSP is only $300 per claim up to $50,000 a year. The per claim makes a huge difference as you usually need purchase protection on large items.