Heads Up: New United Explorer Card Benefit - No Foreign Transaction Fees
May 22, 2013, 4:34 pm
#46
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
Most important aspect of the change: New D. Barretts.
Last edited by iluv2fly; May 22, 2013 at 4:42 pm Reason: merge
May 22, 2013, 6:01 pm
#47
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Chicago: ORD, MDW
Programs: United Million Mile Flyer, Hilton Silver, Marriott Gold, DL, AA WN
Posts: 514
Indeed, this is the first genuine improvement in my overall relationship with UA in a long, long time. Everything else has been net degredation.
Since we're so used to other shoes dropping around here, though... higher annual fee? Cap on fee-free overseas spend? Something else to neutralize the benefit? Can't help but think there's another "enhancement" coming...
Since we're so used to other shoes dropping around here, though... higher annual fee? Cap on fee-free overseas spend? Something else to neutralize the benefit? Can't help but think there's another "enhancement" coming...
Well said!
May 22, 2013, 6:18 pm
#48
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ka ʻĀpala Nui, Nuioka
Programs: NEXUS/Global Entry, Delta, United, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hertz
Posts: 18,039
After internal discussion with fellow UA moderators, we've determined that the best place for this announcement is the Credit Card Programs Forum as this particular benefit doesn't directly impact MileagePlus point earning, redemption, or benefits while travelling on a United flight.
FlyinHawaiian, Co-Moderator
United MileagePlus Forum
FlyinHawaiian, Co-Moderator
United MileagePlus Forum
May 22, 2013, 6:53 pm
#49
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: BOS
Programs: MP,MR Silver,Avis
Posts: 848
NOOOOO!!! Thanks to a helpful FTer, I just found out that my Travelex prepaid card is now a piece of junk. It stopped working at the end of April, so now I have to cash it out and find something new for my trip in two and a half weeks.
May 22, 2013, 7:27 pm
#50
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 18
After internal discussion with fellow UA moderators, we've determined that the best place for this announcement is the Credit Card Programs Forum as this particular benefit doesn't directly impact MileagePlus point earning, redemption, or benefits while travelling on a United flight.
FlyinHawaiian, Co-Moderator
United MileagePlus Forum
FlyinHawaiian, Co-Moderator
United MileagePlus Forum
I would have never seen this announcement if it was originally started in this forum.
May 22, 2013, 7:52 pm
#51
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: BOS
Programs: MP,MR Silver,Avis
Posts: 848
Same here. I actually went looking in the United forum after I got the email to see if anyone had posted it yet, and was going to post it there if it wasn't already there.
May 22, 2013, 9:18 pm
#52
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 583
That is the earning rate of the $395 / year MP Club Card. Your travel and dinning spend would have to be close to 50% of your annual spend on the Sapphire to reach a 1.5% earning rate.
($10,000 Travel and Dinning Spend + $10,000 general spending = 30,000 UR ( 32,100 after 7% annual dividend )
Also, the MP Explorer Card actually comes with a higher level on the insurance / protection benefits.
For example, the MP Explorer has Roadside Assistance that actually pays for service ( coverage for $50 each time ) , the CSP merely help you call a tow operator
the MP Explorer's Purchase Protection is up to $10,000 / purchase ( Reimbursement for damaged / stolen purchases for 90 days ), the CSP has a $500 / purchase limit
the MP Explorer' price protection allows price-match with non-auction Internet price , the CSP only price-match printed ads. ( e.g. You buy something in a store and you see in 89 days Amazon . com has the same thing for less you can file a claim for the difference if you buy it with the Explorer card )
May 22, 2013, 10:54 pm
#53
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: BOS
Programs: Chase Ultimate Rewards
Posts: 624
10,000 bonus miles for $20,000 spend makes the earning rate of the card 1.5% , if you spend exactly 20,000
That is the earning rate of the $395 / year MP Club Card. Your travel and dinning spend would have to be close to 50% of your annual spend on the Sapphire to reach a 1.5% earning rate.
($10,000 Travel and Dinning Spend + $10,000 general spending = 30,000 UR ( 32,100 after 7% annual dividend )
Also, the MP Explorer Card actually comes with a higher level on the insurance / protection benefits.
For example, the MP Explorer has Roadside Assistance that actually pays for service ( coverage for $50 each time ) , the CSP merely help you call a tow operator
the MP Explorer's Purchase Protection is up to $10,000 / purchase ( Reimbursement for damaged / stolen purchases for 90 days ), the CSP has a $500 / purchase limit
the MP Explorer' price protection allows price-match with non-auction Internet price , the CSP only price-match printed ads. ( e.g. You buy something in a store and you see in 89 days Amazon . com has the same thing for less you can file a claim for the difference if you buy it with the Explorer card )
That is the earning rate of the $395 / year MP Club Card. Your travel and dinning spend would have to be close to 50% of your annual spend on the Sapphire to reach a 1.5% earning rate.
($10,000 Travel and Dinning Spend + $10,000 general spending = 30,000 UR ( 32,100 after 7% annual dividend )
Also, the MP Explorer Card actually comes with a higher level on the insurance / protection benefits.
For example, the MP Explorer has Roadside Assistance that actually pays for service ( coverage for $50 each time ) , the CSP merely help you call a tow operator
the MP Explorer's Purchase Protection is up to $10,000 / purchase ( Reimbursement for damaged / stolen purchases for 90 days ), the CSP has a $500 / purchase limit
the MP Explorer' price protection allows price-match with non-auction Internet price , the CSP only price-match printed ads. ( e.g. You buy something in a store and you see in 89 days Amazon . com has the same thing for less you can file a claim for the difference if you buy it with the Explorer card )
Edit: and you need to spend $25,000/year to get the bonus miles (for the public offer).
May 22, 2013, 11:16 pm
#54
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 583
You're also forgetting the fact that UR points are flexible. I almost always transfer my UR points to United, but what happens if United redemptions become less valuable? There is something to be said for flexibility.
Edit: and you need to spend $25,000/year to get the bonus miles (for the public offer).
Edit: and you need to spend $25,000/year to get the bonus miles (for the public offer).
I am aware of that quality of the UR program.
I am just arguing that the earning rate of 1.4% ( corrected to reflect the bonus requires $25k spend ) is not so pathetic and that to match said earnings rate on a CSP will require one's Travel and dinning spend to be more than 35% of their total spend ( corrected to reflect the bonus level for the MP card )
And also that the MP Explorer provides higher protection benefits than the CSP does, which may make the UA MP card a better card (depending on how much importance one accord to said benefits )
May 23, 2013, 2:31 pm
#55
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: HHonors Gold, Marriott Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, OZ*G, AA Gold, AS MVP
Posts: 1,874
Frankly, if I think I might need to make use of purchase protection for a given purchase, I just pull out my AmEx instead, despite the forex fee if buying something overseas. Their claims process is a lot easier to deal with.
This is a moot point, though- I called in to try to increase the limit on my Explorer card and they decided that not only did I not warrant the increase, I had too much credit with them, so the card was completely cancelled. That'll teach me to try to get more than what I'm given.
This is a moot point, though- I called in to try to increase the limit on my Explorer card and they decided that not only did I not warrant the increase, I had too much credit with them, so the card was completely cancelled. That'll teach me to try to get more than what I'm given.
May 23, 2013, 6:48 pm
#56
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 153
Frankly, if I think I might need to make use of purchase protection for a given purchase, I just pull out my AmEx instead, despite the forex fee if buying something overseas. Their claims process is a lot easier to deal with.
This is a moot point, though- I called in to try to increase the limit on my Explorer card and they decided that not only did I not warrant the increase, I had too much credit with them, so the card was completely cancelled. That'll teach me to try to get more than what I'm given.
This is a moot point, though- I called in to try to increase the limit on my Explorer card and they decided that not only did I not warrant the increase, I had too much credit with them, so the card was completely cancelled. That'll teach me to try to get more than what I'm given.
May 23, 2013, 8:40 pm
#57
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 110
Frankly, if I think I might need to make use of purchase protection for a given purchase, I just pull out my AmEx instead, despite the forex fee if buying something overseas. Their claims process is a lot easier to deal with.
This is a moot point, though- I called in to try to increase the limit on my Explorer card and they decided that not only did I not warrant the increase, I had too much credit with them, so the card was completely cancelled. That'll teach me to try to get more than what I'm given.
This is a moot point, though- I called in to try to increase the limit on my Explorer card and they decided that not only did I not warrant the increase, I had too much credit with them, so the card was completely cancelled. That'll teach me to try to get more than what I'm given.
Since then I've decided to out everything on my Club card. Where as in the past I used my Amex just for Costco purchases even that I don't anymore. Instead of getting 1x MR that are next to useless for me, I just buy Costco cash cards on their website using the Club card for 1.5 miles. MR points are getting less valuable in my opinion, so much so that every mailer they send me is always 'Get 25,000 bonus Membership Rewards, good for $250 in gift cards!'
May 24, 2013, 12:05 am
#58
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: HHonors Gold, Marriott Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, OZ*G, AA Gold, AS MVP
Posts: 1,874
Well, then we value things differently. In my case, I've been quite willing to give up rewards (I only have a Costco AmEx) on purchases of breakable things in favor of the near-painless purchase protection claims process ever since an agonizing failed attempt to claim on a damaged laptop with my MP Explorer (while I still had it) compared to my easy and successful claim on a broken cellphone with my Costco AmEx.
That and this experience does not make me want to recommend Chase. I understand denying a request for an increase, not so much turning around and asking me to dramatically slash my existing credit with them when I had just applied and was auto-approved for a new card only days prior.
That and this experience does not make me want to recommend Chase. I understand denying a request for an increase, not so much turning around and asking me to dramatically slash my existing credit with them when I had just applied and was auto-approved for a new card only days prior.
May 24, 2013, 12:33 am
#59
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,461
I am aware of that quality of the UR program.
I am just arguing that the earning rate of 1.4% ( corrected to reflect the bonus requires $25k spend ) is not so pathetic and that to match said earnings rate on a CSP will require one's Travel and dinning spend to be more than 35% of their total spend ( corrected to reflect the bonus level for the MP card )
And also that the MP Explorer provides higher protection benefits than the CSP does, which may make the UA MP card a better card (depending on how much importance one accord to said benefits )
I am just arguing that the earning rate of 1.4% ( corrected to reflect the bonus requires $25k spend ) is not so pathetic and that to match said earnings rate on a CSP will require one's Travel and dinning spend to be more than 35% of their total spend ( corrected to reflect the bonus level for the MP card )
And also that the MP Explorer provides higher protection benefits than the CSP does, which may make the UA MP card a better card (depending on how much importance one accord to said benefits )