Will the United devaluation change your credit card strategy?
Nov 27, 2013, 1:00 pm
#91
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,818
I wonder if you can pay your taxes or medical bills with this...
Nov 30, 2013, 2:51 am
#92
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 940
Will the United devaluation change your credit card strategy?
Yes. While I find united to be a convenient option with its decent amount of award availability, I have had some subpar experience flying it in recent years.
I flew in united first (internationally) last year and the service was underwhelming at best due mostly to service. I once had to call in to change a ticket another time while abroad and the phone agent had major problems explaining certain UA policy, and had a long back and forth with me (not a pretty phone bill for that call). It's the only airline to have lost (delayed) my luggage so far (and I had a business meeting the next day). I have had better experience flying elsewhere.
The devaluation does affect my strategy, in that I have more second thoughts about transferring UR to united and instead to on other partners. I also wiped out the rest of my UA balance (for a trip planned before the devaluation), so i am not sure if I want to rebuild my UA balance (though I will still spend as usual) and will likely keep a small balance if possible for "rainy day"
I flew in united first (internationally) last year and the service was underwhelming at best due mostly to service. I once had to call in to change a ticket another time while abroad and the phone agent had major problems explaining certain UA policy, and had a long back and forth with me (not a pretty phone bill for that call). It's the only airline to have lost (delayed) my luggage so far (and I had a business meeting the next day). I have had better experience flying elsewhere.
The devaluation does affect my strategy, in that I have more second thoughts about transferring UR to united and instead to on other partners. I also wiped out the rest of my UA balance (for a trip planned before the devaluation), so i am not sure if I want to rebuild my UA balance (though I will still spend as usual) and will likely keep a small balance if possible for "rainy day"
Last edited by BOShappyflyer; Nov 30, 2013 at 8:40 am
Nov 30, 2013, 9:16 am
#93
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: UA--no longer 2P as of 3/2012 and don't even care. Never thought I'd say that.
Posts: 781
Yes
Since the devaluation, we only use our UA Chase card for groceries (double miles), plus we only use our Chase Sapphire for dining (double points) and have both gotten AmEX's that we use for everything else.
Nov 30, 2013, 10:08 am
#94
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Globalist, M life Gold, IHG Spire
Posts: 918
Add me to the list of people leaving home without it. From a rewards POV, a lot of other cards have stepped up their game, so the UA Chase card was getting questionable before the devaluation. Now, using a different card is a no brainer.
Sure, some of us will keep the card for a while for the benefits, but as far as actually charging purchases, nope, other cards get my business.
I can't imagine ever going back to it. No matter how many miles they offer, I know there is always another devaluation around the corner.
Sure, some of us will keep the card for a while for the benefits, but as far as actually charging purchases, nope, other cards get my business.
I can't imagine ever going back to it. No matter how many miles they offer, I know there is always another devaluation around the corner.
Nov 30, 2013, 4:42 pm
#95
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
In this case, the AA miles and especially the US miles, carry a real cost Sunken it might, but this is real money - you pay 0.01 per mile minimum when you "shared" the US miles. Why would you pay to just for the sake of hoarding miles? Should only pay when you have an immediate need to use the miles.
Nov 30, 2013, 4:47 pm
#96
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
I think I am going to plan a 2 1/2 week trip around the world in Business class with my wife and 2 kids.
I was planning to do this way back for our honeymoon but the wife doesn't like traveling. I will have to make the case that it may be our last chance before further devalue!
I was planning to do this way back for our honeymoon but the wife doesn't like traveling. I will have to make the case that it may be our last chance before further devalue!
Go a place or 2 and stay in Very Nice hotels to have some pampering instead of rushing around in 2 1/2 weeks to just burn some of your miles and points - totally pointless to do so, no punt intended.
Nov 30, 2013, 5:37 pm
#97
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 684
Dec 1, 2013, 9:10 am
#98
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: UA--no longer 2P as of 3/2012 and don't even care. Never thought I'd say that.
Posts: 781
Dec 11, 2013, 2:12 pm
#99
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 96
What are the best cards post United devaluation?
Looking to apply for more cards, I've pretty much just churned through most of the chase cards and have a starwood. I'm looking to spend all my points before united devaluations. I'm assuming for domestic travel UR will still be good through Avios+United and Southwest through SPG. What cards should I now churn for best international travel? I'm not going to specify one area, but I mostly travel to Europe but also looking to travel to South America and maybe Asia in next year.
Dec 11, 2013, 8:19 pm
#100
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 115
Looking to apply for more cards, I've pretty much just churned through most of the chase cards and have a starwood. I'm looking to spend all my points before united devaluations. I'm assuming for domestic travel UR will still be good through Avios+United and Southwest through SPG. What cards should I now churn for best international travel? I'm not going to specify one area, but I mostly travel to Europe but also looking to travel to South America and maybe Asia in next year.
Determine where you want to go and when, then look at the points that will get you there the easiest. Then apply for those cards and earn the miles needed.
Dec 11, 2013, 9:23 pm
#101
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 236
Looking to apply for more cards, I've pretty much just churned through most of the chase cards and have a starwood. I'm looking to spend all my points before united devaluations. I'm assuming for domestic travel UR will still be good through Avios+United and Southwest through SPG. What cards should I now churn for best international travel? I'm not going to specify one area, but I mostly travel to Europe but also looking to travel to South America and maybe Asia in next year.
Jan 23, 2014, 12:42 pm
#103
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UR, SPG, HHonors Gold
Posts: 65
Value of United MileagePlus points post-devaluation vs UR/MR/SPG points?
So right now I have a Chase Sapphire Preferred card, but since it only gives back 1 point per dollar for non-travel/dining spending, I'm looking for a second card for general spending.
The top of my list WAS the United MileagePlus Club Card for its 1.5 points/dollar rewards rate. But then I learned of the devaluation of United's Star Alliance awards, and I started to reconsider. Would I be better off getting an SPG Amex or Mercedes Platinum Amex instead? Or should I just put general spending on the Sapphire Preferred, even though the United devaluation hits the value of UR points, too?
EDIT:
I almost forgot about the Barclaycard World Arrival card. Are MR/SPG points worth more than 2.2 cents each? Since that's the Barclaycard's rate of return.
The top of my list WAS the United MileagePlus Club Card for its 1.5 points/dollar rewards rate. But then I learned of the devaluation of United's Star Alliance awards, and I started to reconsider. Would I be better off getting an SPG Amex or Mercedes Platinum Amex instead? Or should I just put general spending on the Sapphire Preferred, even though the United devaluation hits the value of UR points, too?
EDIT:
I almost forgot about the Barclaycard World Arrival card. Are MR/SPG points worth more than 2.2 cents each? Since that's the Barclaycard's rate of return.
Last edited by Locke42; Jan 23, 2014 at 12:48 pm
Jan 23, 2014, 2:46 pm
#104
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,818
So right now I have a Chase Sapphire Preferred card, but since it only gives back 1 point per dollar for non-travel/dining spending, I'm looking for a second card for general spending.
The top of my list WAS the United MileagePlus Club Card for its 1.5 points/dollar rewards rate. But then I learned of the devaluation of United's Star Alliance awards, and I started to reconsider. Would I be better off getting an SPG Amex or Mercedes Platinum Amex instead? Or should I just put general spending on the Sapphire Preferred, even though the United devaluation hits the value of UR points, too?
EDIT:
I almost forgot about the Barclaycard World Arrival card. Are MR/SPG points worth more than 2.2 cents each? Since that's the Barclaycard's rate of return.
The top of my list WAS the United MileagePlus Club Card for its 1.5 points/dollar rewards rate. But then I learned of the devaluation of United's Star Alliance awards, and I started to reconsider. Would I be better off getting an SPG Amex or Mercedes Platinum Amex instead? Or should I just put general spending on the Sapphire Preferred, even though the United devaluation hits the value of UR points, too?
EDIT:
I almost forgot about the Barclaycard World Arrival card. Are MR/SPG points worth more than 2.2 cents each? Since that's the Barclaycard's rate of return.
SPG still has great partners (AA, AS, Middle Eastern Airlines, SPG itself, Air Canada, SQ, etc).
MR is a little inferior to SPG's partners, IMO. So UR, SPG, and MR are all great to me, IMO. Just depends what partners you like the most.
Jan 23, 2014, 3:33 pm
#105
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UR, SPG, HHonors Gold
Posts: 65
It really depends on that travel partners you like. UA's premium cabin award chart is bad, but the economy chart is still good. Hyatt is still relatively good as well, and WN isn't bad still.
SPG still has great partners (AA, AS, Middle Eastern Airlines, SPG itself, Air Canada, SQ, etc).
MR is a little inferior to SPG's partners, IMO. So UR, SPG, and MR are all great to me, IMO. Just depends what partners you like the most.
SPG still has great partners (AA, AS, Middle Eastern Airlines, SPG itself, Air Canada, SQ, etc).
MR is a little inferior to SPG's partners, IMO. So UR, SPG, and MR are all great to me, IMO. Just depends what partners you like the most.
For international flights to Asia, I've traditionally flown Cathay and Singapore, but most of the Asian airlines are pretty good anyway, so again, I'm not too picky. For flights to Europe, I have no experience, so as long as they're good quality I won't complain.
For hotels, I'd ideally want to invest my spending in a company that (a) has a lot of relatively inexpensive domestic hotels where I can earn points on my business trips, and (b) a lot of high quality international properties in Europe and Asia where I can redeem my points. For example, while Hyatt is valuable for UR redemptions, they only have 400 hotels worldwide, and they tend to be expensive, so I can't really earn Hyatt points on business trips because even if they are available, they'll probably be too expensive for my company to approve.
What I really don't want to do is spread my points earning over too many non-transferable programs, because I don't want orphan points laying around.
I may get both the United Club Card for the perks and the SPG Amex for the spending. That would give me the perks I want (access to Star Alliance lounges) AND the flexibility of transferable points for less than the annual cost of a Mercedes Benz Platinum Amex.