Aug 18, 2015, 8:20 am

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Last edit by: BuBu4

Please read this Wiki before posting questions in the thread.

What's the difference between the Ink Bold & Ink Plus cards?

Ink Bold is no longer available. It was a charge card (pay balance in full each month), but it has been discontinued and many accounts were converted to Ink Plus cards with the same account numbers.

Ink Plus is a revolving credit card. It allows you to earn and redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points (including transfering UR points to air/hotel/rail partners).

What are the best current Ink Plus offers?

The Ink Plus card is no longer available for new applicants. There is a separate thread for The Ink Business Preferred card.

Links for non-targeted Ink Plus 60K offer ($5,000 spend/3 months; annual $95 fee not waived)
Landing page; original application page, current application page.

Landing page; application page.

Landing page; application page.

Landing page; current application page.

There is a report of a 70k offer for the Chase Ink Plus available only through your local Chase Bank office, extended to August 20, 2016. If you recently accepted the 60K offer, you may be able to get the extra 10K simply by asking for it.

There is a no-fee, UR-earning Ink Cash card: https://creditcards.chase.com/ink-bu.../ink-cash-card

Are there are any rules or restrictions to keep in mind when applying for an Ink card?
What is the "5/24" policy?
Are targeted offers exempt from the 5/24 policy?
If my application isn't approved instantly, should I call in?
How can I determine the deadline for meeting the spend requirement to earn the signup bonus?
Once I meet the card's spend requirement, how soon will I receive my signup bonus points?
After being denied, how long should I wait before applying again for the same card?
How long should I wait after closing my card before applying again for the same card?

See the wiki & current discussion at Applying for Chase Credit Cards, 2017 onward.

Are there special earning categories?

Yes. You earn 5 points per dollar on the first $50,000 spent annually at office supply stores, and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services. (Sirius XM Radio also qualifies.)

In addition, you earn 2 points per dollar on the first $50,000 spent annually at gas stations and for hotel accommodations when purchased directly from the hotel.

NOT ALL Ink cards earn the 5x and 2x bonus categories above. Not "Old Ink Bold" that earns 7,500 bonus points for $25,000 spend, 15,000 points for $50,000, and 25,000 points for $100,000 spend.

What merchants qualify for 5 points/dollar spent?

Merchants that qualify:

AnswerConnect (Ref)
AT&T monthly bills @ website (Direct entry) (Ref, Ref, Ref)
Boost Mobile (Ref)
Cablevision (Ref)
CallingMart.com (Direct entry)
CardCash.com (PayPal) (Ref, Ref)
CashStar/Staples @ staples.cashstar.com (Ref)
Charter Spectrum/Time Warner Cable monthly bills (Ref, Ref)
Comcast (Ref)
Cox Internet subscription (Ref)
Cricket Wireless (Ref)
Digital River MyCommerce/vorpX (PayPal) (Ref)
DirecTV (Ref, Ref)
Dish Network (Ref, Ref)
Dropbox (Ref)
eBay/PayPal Digital Gifts (PayPal) (Mastercards only) (Ref)
GiftCard Mart (PayPal) (Ref)
GoDaddy.com (Ref, Ref)
Google Fiber (Ref)
Gyft.com (PayPal) (Ref)
Half.com (PayPal) (Ref)
Hetzner.de (PayPal) (Ref)
HTC Vive @ store.us.HTCVive.com (Direct entry) (Ref, Ref)
Hulu (Ref, Ref, Ref)
INIZ (PayPal) (Ref)
LivingSocial.com (PayPal) (Ref)
MileagePlus X/OfficeMax @ app (YMMV ref, Ref)
MileagePlus X/Staples @ app (YMMV ref, Ref)
Netflix (Ref, Ref, Ref, Ref)
Nvidia GeForce Now (Ref)
Office Depot @ B&M, officedepot.com (Direct entry) (Ref)
OfficeMax @ B&M, officedepot.com (Direct entry) (Ref)
OneDrive (Ref)
Republic Wireless (Ref)
RingCentral (Ref)
Sirius XM (Ref, Ref, Ref)
Sling TV @ sling.com (Ref, Ref, Ref, Ref)
Spotify.com (Ref, Ref, Ref, Ref, Ref)
Sprint (Ref)
Staples @ B&M, staples.com (Direct entry) (Ref)
TiVo monthly bills (Ref, Ref)
T-Mobile monthly bills (Ref, Ref, Ref)
UPrinting.com (Ref)
Verizon (Ref)
Verizon Wireless (Ref)
Virgin Mobile (Ref)
VirginMobileUSA.com (Direct entry, PayPal) (Ref)
Vudu.com (Ref, Ref)

Merchants that DO NOT qualify:

Adobe Acrobat DC (Ref)
Amazon Prime music and video (Ref)
Apple iTunes/Apple Music subscription
AT&T phone and equipment orders (Ref, YMMV ref)
CardCash.com (Direct entry) (Ref)
CashStar/Office Depot @ officedepot.cashstar.com (Ref)
CashStar/Panera Bread @ panerabread.cashstar.com (Ref)
Charges at Cricket Wireless Store
eBay/GiftCardMall (PayPal)
eBay/SVM Gift Cards (PayPal)
eGifter.com (Ref)
Giftcard Zen (Direct entry) (Ref)
Google Cloud Platform @ cloud.google.com (Ref)
Google Drive (Ref)
Google Project Fi @ fi.google.com (Ref, Ref, Ref)
Gyft.com (Direct entry)
H2O Wireless (Ref)
Newegg.com (PayPal) (Ref)
Oculus.com (Ref)
OfficeMax in-store pickup @ officedepot.com (Ref)
eBay/PayPal Digital Gifts (PayPal) Visa Cards Only (Ref)
Plastiq telecom (Ref)
Playstation Vue (Ref)
RingPlus.net (Direct entry)
Seashells @ shopseashells.com (Ref)
SWYCH app (using INK and Paypal) (Ref)
T-Mobile.com phone and equipment orders (Ref, Ref, Ref)
Todoist.com (Ref)
Venmo (Direct entry) (Ref, Ref)
Walmart.com (PayPal) (Ref)

Where can I find the Ink Plus Guide to Benefits?

See https://www.chasebenefits.com/ink10311.

What are the rules for transferring UR points to other users or to my own air/hotel/rail accounts?

See the separate discussions in

Closing Ink Plus cards

It is possible to pay the annual fee for the Chase Ink Plus business card, then close the account and get a refund of the fee up to 6 months after it was charged. This provides a total of 18 months of earning up to 5X points for free. Make sure your points are transferred out (either to another UR account owned by you or a spouse, or to an air/hotel partner) before you close the account.

Previous Discussion Threads:

Chase Ink Business Card Questions

Chase Ink Bold, Plus & Cash cards

Chase Ink Plus is now available

Chase Ink Business Cards - July 2015- Present

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Mar 29, 2016, 9:44 am

#826

NttDocomo

Join Date: Sep 2010

Location: SFO

Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat

Posts: 275

Hi Everyone, some data point on my applications and also an inquiry on next step. I applied for both Ink and a personal card, got auto approved for the personal and denied for Ink. When called recon they said I just had a new account opened and with other Chase cards, there is sufficient credit (I told them about separating expenses and Ink's benefits for my business but they won't give in). Similar to the above post, it seems they are getting strict on approving cards.

Now my question is my wife is in the same situation, her personal card and Ink application are still with the two weeks pending message. Should I call in before the personal cards get approved so to increase my chance of getting Ink approved? I waited based on suggestion that I should not call in but it seems have another card approved before Ink jeopardize the chance of approving Ink?

If the personal card later become approve while the Ink still pending, should I still wait or call in?

Thanks very much for any tips and help. Good luck on your application.

Mar 29, 2016, 10:04 am

#827

Superguy

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jan 2005

Location: BWI

Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold

Posts: 15,180

Quick question - how does the travel insurance work on the Ink Plus?

I'm going to Seoul for business this week, and the Seoul Conrad has a smoking rate - but it's also prepaid. I know weather is generally covered if I miss, but what about a mechanical?

I'll be flying BWI-DFW-ICN on AA in F. The main thing I want to avoid is booking the room and being on the hook for the rate and no showing. I'm flying out early morning, and then hitting the only flight DFW-ICN flight. So I'm concerned about missing that.

Any advice?

Thanks!

Mar 29, 2016, 10:20 am

#828

StatusChallenged

Join Date: Jan 2016

Programs: AA, Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton

Posts: 501

Applied in-branch, was told I'd hear back in a few days, do I expect an email? Does anyone know how long a decision usually takes? I have some big purchases coming up that I'd like to take care of sooner than later.

Mar 29, 2016, 6:25 pm

#829

beltway

Join Date: Feb 2003

Location: On strike

Posts: 8,135

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superguy

Quick question - how does the travel insurance work on the Ink Plus?

There's a link to the benefits guide in the wiki above.

Mar 30, 2016, 9:32 am

#830

BritishUnited2014

Join Date: May 2014

Posts: 15

Quote:

Originally Posted by StatusChallenged

What does the automated status line tell you?

Mar 30, 2016, 2:16 pm

#831

dawkins20

Join Date: Jan 2011

Posts: 60

Reasons to keep Ink Bold

I have the Ink Bold that I have used for 2+ years and put 15-30k spend on it monthly on average in business purchases. Limit is something like 75k. I was considering applying for the Ink Plus and dropping this card to get the 60k bonus. Is there any reason not to do so? It looks like the card benefits are similar, the only concern I have is that the limits may not be sufficient on the Plus since its a credit card rather than charge card.

Mar 30, 2016, 2:22 pm

#832

Superguy

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jan 2005

Location: BWI

Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold

Posts: 15,180

Quote:

Originally Posted by beltway

There's a link to the benefits guide in the wiki above.

I know, but it didn't answer the mechanical question.

After talking to Chase it comes down to this: if you're out money on pre-paid hotel, etc, due to weather, they'll cover it. If it's mechanical, they won't.

Mar 30, 2016, 3:10 pm

#833

trueblue84

Join Date: Oct 2015

Posts: 115

I had applied for Ink Plus as sole proprietarship back in Oct 15 and got a denial letter a month later with reason that too many accounts were opened, had a late payment (in 2013) etc.

How long would be wise to wait before re-applying again? I want to get it before 5/24 rule kicks in.

Thanks in advance.

Mar 30, 2016, 9:21 pm

#834

StatusChallenged

Join Date: Jan 2016

Programs: AA, Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton

Posts: 501

Quote:

Originally Posted by BritishUnited2014

What does the automated status line tell you?

I got the 30 day waiting message instead of the 7-10 day message

Mar 31, 2016, 8:43 am

#835

levilevi

Join Date: Aug 2012

Location: Dreamland

Posts: 928

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawkins20

I have an Ink Bold for a few years now and from what I can tell, late last year they basically switched it to look exactly like the Ink Plus with regard to a credit line, etc - it does not seem to be a traditional charge card anymore.. I had assumed it was system-wide - and you mention you have a 75k "limit" - so operationally, whats the difference?

Mar 31, 2016, 10:19 am

#836

StatusChallenged

Join Date: Jan 2016

Programs: AA, Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton

Posts: 501

Updated that they would let me know in 7-10 business days in writing - i should call in now right?

Mar 31, 2016, 1:50 pm

#837

stuckbtwstations

Join Date: Feb 2015

Posts: 29

Just got approved for the Ink Cash today after applying yesterday! I was pretty pessimistic going into it after hearing that the 5/24 was being instated in March (I'm way over), putting really minimal numbers for a "business", and expecting having to wait for a long time to hear anything. To my surprise I just received an approved email not 24 hours later than applying and receiving a pending!

Mar 31, 2016, 4:39 pm

#838

ycc777

Join Date: Dec 2006

Programs: SPG Plat, Hyatt Diamond, UA, AA, DL, BA, CX

Posts: 491

I applied and got approved about 6 months ago but somehow, I still get solicitation from them every other month for the 60k waived fee offer. So tempting.

Mar 31, 2016, 9:17 pm

#839

ninim2200

Join Date: May 2014

Location: SoCal

Posts: 2,164

5%+2% question

Sorry in advance if this has been asked before, but i saw the extra 2% for using the Ink card online to purchase at staples, in the terms it exclude Gift cards from this bonus, i did my own test run and purchased a VGC and a target GC using online direct links and it only shows the 5% bonus in the temporary earned points and was wondering if i will get the extra 2% when my statement closes. Thank You.