Colonel Heero

As of a few weeks ago, a phone CSR advised me an option to downgrade CSP to regular CS. I think that's still on the table.

For me, if FU will earn UR, I'll definitely get it the first day it come out. Freedom + FU + CSP + Ink Cash seems to be a killer combo.

This could be the first good evolution of Freedom franchise since they discontinued the Freedom Plus (Chase Exclusive benefit used to be ok, but that's gone too)

Dieuwer

Where do you get it will be a 1.5 UR card??
It seems it will be a plain vanila 1.5% cash back card. No nothing Ultimate Rewards.

http://www.reuters.com/article/jpmor...-idUSL2N169026

Colonel Heero

Chase have been calling their UR cards cashback, even in press releases. I'll be optimistic about that... Chase does not have a current card that does real cash back only. Using UR seems logical. I guess we'll find out once some one leak the full brochure or sign up page...

mia

The current Freedom cards are marketed as "cash" rewards, but they are actually UR points with a fixed $0.01 each redemption option, unless you transfer them to a CSP, Ink or other UR card. The assumption is that the new card will be structured the same.

fastpoint

As posted on The Points Guy from Chase this morning:

" Chase Freedom Unlimited customers will earn points through the Ultimate Rewards program in the same way our Freedom customers do today"

Read more: http://thepointsguy.com/2016/03/chas...#ixzz41fKl2SKN

Need

Wow, I may have to switch from my United MPC to this one. 1.5 UR >> 1.5 United Miles.

godlovesugly

So I'm well past 5/24 -- would it be worthwhile to switch the Freedom to Freedom Unlimited if/when available? I have the CSP and 1.5 UR on all purchases is a great deal and beats the CSP for all non-bonused spend. Obviously having both the Freedom for 5x and Unlimited would be ideal but I don't see how it's possible.

Colonel Heero

He didn't list source, but the wording sounds official. My hope is high Woohoo!

This is a good point. I wonder how FU may cannibalize all the co-branded cards that only earn 1pt/$. United, Marriott, BA, IHG etc. Granted these cards were never good for 1x spend but now they become even worse. For those who spend enough to pay AF on these card, I would imagine many can easily justify paying CSP's AF for the additional 0.5% on 1x spend.

If I'm in your shoe, I would not want to convert away from regular Freedom unless it is absolutely certain that it remain open for new application. I would hate to miss out on possibility of having both. Maybe you can open a non UR card like Slate, Amazon, etc before April (today the 5/24 still only apply to UR cards only) and convert it later?

Dieuwer

If true, then Chase Freedom Unlimited will be better than their current Freedom for anything not in a 5% category. And it will be equal or better than the AMEX Everyday, assuming 1.5 UR > 2 MR.
What I don't understand though is why Chase makes this so... complicated. They could have easily made the current Freedom card 1.5% on everything + 5% rotating categories. Why create a completely new credit card?

Happy

I hope we can PC the cobranded cards to this.

pointchaser93

This is awesome for a lot of people now that it's confirmed the card will earn UR. We can switch from current Freedom without wasting an app for 5/24 purposes and get 1.5 on all MS activities. If you have an Ink, much of the 5x categories can be replicated via GCs at office stores.

Churnman

Help me understand why I should value this card beyond what I have or in complement to. Also, wish the sign up bonus was a little more enticing.

I already have Ink and Sapphire for UR.

I have Arrival for 2% on any spend. Why would I put spend on a 1.5% when I can put it on a 2%? Show me why I might want 1.5% in UR instead of 2% Arrival. I currently do the most of my non-cat spend on the Arrival and then use those points for various travel needs especially for lodging not affiliated with a program (for instance villa rentals). I'm open minded so appreciate ideas on making the 1.5 card more valuable via points transfers. I mainly use AA for award flights and for hotel programs: Marriott, IHG, SPG and Hilton. Most of the time I find myself just cashing out UR even though that's just 1:1. Inspire me.

kdm31091

Yes, if you are just going to cash out the UR points, then I wouldn't bother with the new Freedom Unlimited. You're correct, 2% beats 1.5%, although Arrival does have the annual fee to take into consideration.

But for cash, there are better options than Freedom Unlimited.

pointchaser93

Transferring to United usually gives me a redemption value in the 3-4 cents range, bringing the total return to 4.5-6 for a 1.5/pt card. Hyatt can get decent returns in certain cases as well.

littlewinglet

Some of us do a lot of shopping at the malls LOL, and with the new earning rate, the cost per point comes out to 0.56 cents, which is lower or equal to any INK 5x method involving office store GCs. Plus a hell of a lot easier to liquidate.