Will the United devaluation change your credit card strategy?
#1
Will the United devaluation change your credit card strategy?
I've been riding the Chase train for a while, getting great value out of UA awards. However, with this horrible devaluation I'm strongly considering Amex/MR (ANA, AC, Avios, SQ) and SPG/Citi (AA) for future transfers... How will the UA changes affect your points earning strategy?
#2
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 260
Definitely making me re-consider my UA-for-anything-International policy.
One thing for sure is that I won't make the effort to hit the 25k spend on my Chase UA CC next year to get the extra 10k miles. That spend was already teetering on the brink of not being worth it. Now it's fallen off the cliff
One thing for sure is that I won't make the effort to hit the 25k spend on my Chase UA CC next year to get the extra 10k miles. That spend was already teetering on the brink of not being worth it. Now it's fallen off the cliff
#3
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny AZ
Programs: HH Diamond, Sixt Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott/SPG Gold .....
Posts: 3,202
While UA is still very convenient for me I will shift spending to a BA Chase (up to 100k after 20k spend / 30k = companion ticket) so offset the higher cost to fly business to Europe.
#4
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 1,389
I'll definitely be putting less spend on Chase UR-earning cards, but my strategy won't change much. I've always been diversifying spend so I can adapt to horrendous changes like this. As long as AA can hold off on a devaluation, I can spend time accruing AA miles and burning UA miles.
#5
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: UA 1K MM, HHonors Diamond,PC, Marriott Rewards Gold
Posts: 1,111
Will the United devaluation change your credit card strategy?
Cancel the club card tomorrow, dumping miles and moving to AA EXP where I'm treated like a GS ought to be.
#7
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: CMH
Posts: 231
Will the United devaluation change your credit card strategy?
Just got my $395 bill for the club card today, after I pay off my purchases from yesterday I'm going to call in to cancel it. Think I'm going to play with my PRG until the next September when I hope to apply for a 30k SPG
#10
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,522
I've been riding the Chase train for a while, getting great value out of UA awards. However, with this horrible devaluation I'm strongly considering Amex/MR (ANA, AC, Avios, SQ) and SPG/Citi (AA) for future transfers... How will the UA changes affect your points earning strategy?
Did like the 2x bonus on dining on CSP and the periodic 5x gas bonus on Freedom.
#11
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 568
Will the United devaluation change your credit card strategy?
With this bad news I guess I've been quite lucky in timing. I've spent about UA 800k miles in last year (messaging from Paris) with 2 biz round trips on Turk to Africa booked for next year. I am pretty much cleaned out of UA (was lamenting, now not) but have been building miles in UR and Amex. Will spend more on Amex and cancel the UA and perhaps Sapphire card.
#13
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 432
#14
I've been thinking about this all day, and I'm leaning towards shifting most of my spend to Amex (PRG). We fly to Turkey fairly regularly (family) and I like to save up for J redemptions. United had the advantage here (100k, no fees).
After devaluation the same ticket will cost 140k using United. But with AC, it will cost 105k + $73.90 in taxes/fees (on TK), not bad at all. Or with ANA, it's 85k + $321.40. Either way, MR partners now provide the best value. I don't think AA/OneWorld has any good options here.
My CSP AF is due next month, and I was planning on keeping it before the news, but I may just cancel... I would forgo my annual dividend, and I'd miss having a good travel card with no foreign fees. It's going to be a touch decision, because if I shift most of my spend to Amex PRG and use CSP for merchants that don't take Amex and foreign spend, I'm still not sure it'll justify the $95 AF.
After devaluation the same ticket will cost 140k using United. But with AC, it will cost 105k + $73.90 in taxes/fees (on TK), not bad at all. Or with ANA, it's 85k + $321.40. Either way, MR partners now provide the best value. I don't think AA/OneWorld has any good options here.
My CSP AF is due next month, and I was planning on keeping it before the news, but I may just cancel... I would forgo my annual dividend, and I'd miss having a good travel card with no foreign fees. It's going to be a touch decision, because if I shift most of my spend to Amex PRG and use CSP for merchants that don't take Amex and foreign spend, I'm still not sure it'll justify the $95 AF.
#15
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 432
I just got the CSP and Ink cards, so this devaluation definitely hurts. I'll be spending more on my SPG card, and won't be renewing either Chase card as I had planned to. I'll probably make more transfers to Hyatt and WN for domestic travel as well