Free points for balance transfers?
Jun 6, 2013 | 4:56 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: ATX
Programs: AA EP, USAir Chairman, MR Lifetime Plat
Posts: 275
Free points for balance transfers?
I just got my Barclays USAir card. I had planned on transferring $10k over to it (for the free points), but learned the hard way today that there's a 3% fee!!
I'm obviously not going to spend $300 on $10k miles.
Is there another program out there where I can transfer this $10k balance and get some free stuff (miles/points/cash/etc)?
It's too late to apply for another one as my bill is due next week (I held off paying it until I got my USAir card) but I have a few cards (Amex Blue, both Uniteds, Marriott Rewards, Discover, etc.).
Thanks!
I'm obviously not going to spend $300 on $10k miles.
Is there another program out there where I can transfer this $10k balance and get some free stuff (miles/points/cash/etc)?
It's too late to apply for another one as my bill is due next week (I held off paying it until I got my USAir card) but I have a few cards (Amex Blue, both Uniteds, Marriott Rewards, Discover, etc.).
Thanks!
Jun 6, 2013 | 10:08 pm
#3
Moderator: Travel Buzz
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 3,177
Most, if not all, cash equivalents (checks drawn on the credit card) and balance transfers DO NOT give points. Also, the "free" usually includes a transfer fee, but not interest. The best transfer fee I've seen is 1%, and there are some 2% going around from Chase, too.
Jun 7, 2013 | 8:01 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: ATX
Programs: AA EP, USAir Chairman, MR Lifetime Plat
Posts: 275
Thanks guys. It's been awhile since I've looked to play the balance transfer game, so I'm just not up to speed on current promotions (they kinda suck--guess they've gotten wise to us, lol). I'll just pay off the balance and be done with it.
Jun 7, 2013 | 8:15 am
#6
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS Titanium / Marriott Plat / IHG Plat / HH Gold
Posts: 404
Some of the Barclays US cards do. The 40K Chairman's Preferred that used to be available was one of them - that's how they sold it as up to 60K points (40K first use + up to 10K balance transfer + 10K anniversary). The current public offer also awards miles for balance transfers.
Jun 7, 2013 | 8:20 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Northeast USA
Posts: 305
Some of the Barclays US cards do. The 40K Chairman's Preferred that used to be available was one of them - that's how they sold it as up to 60K points (40K first use + up to 10K balance transfer + 10K anniversary). The current public offer also awards miles for balance transfers.
Jun 7, 2013 | 8:27 am
#8
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS Titanium / Marriott Plat / IHG Plat / HH Gold
Posts: 404
Yeah, I'll be doing the same thing. Sure it isn't a winning proposition in the points game but I need to take advantage of the long 0% APR period. Might as well pick up some points along the way, especially soon to be AAdvantage ones.