I've never seen a continental offer in mail here in DFW/DAL country!

The only MW card I've found gives 12,500...not 15,000. Also, I read the t/c's on all of the cards and none of them specify that you have to have the higher fee card to get the credits. In fact, I got my first SW card with the $39 fee and did receive the 16 rewards credits. The SW biz card only has a $59 fee. Here is what each card says regarding the bonuses:

Continental Card
2. BONUS MILES Please allow approximately 6 to 8 weeks after your first purchase for bonus miles to post to your account. First purchase includes purchases, balance transfers, or any checks that are used to access your account. To qualify for bonus miles, account must be open and not in default at the time of fulfillment. This bonus offer is valid only for first-time Continental Airlines cardmembers with new accounts. Existing Continental Airlines cardmembers/accounts are not eligible. Only one bonus per account.

Southwest Personal Card
In certain circumstances, you may receive a Visa Classic card with different credit availability instead of a Visa Signature card. Some Classic card rewards and benefits are different from the Signature card rewards and benefits. Classic card rewards do not include the 2 Reward Dollars for each $1 of net purchases at participating Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Preferred Hotel and Rental Car Partners or the 2,400 Reward Dollars (2 Rapid Rewards credits) Annually after your anniversary. Classic card benefits include the bonus offer(s) described in this offer. The Classic card and Signature card have annual fees of $39 and $59, respectively. Once your account is opened, please see Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Visa Program Rules and Regulations and your credit card benefits materials for details.

The Southwest Business Card gives you a link to look at the fees associated with the card. The only membership fee option is the $59!!!

Midwest Card
There are two cards that I can find out there. The first one has a $49 fee and gives you 12,500 miles on your first purchase + up to 10k miles for balance transfers. The second card has no fee and gives you 5,000 miles on your first purchase + up to 10k miles for balance transfers.

Sooooooooo...with the MW card you would essentially be paying $49 for an extra 10 RR credits vs the $0 fee card. Still not a bad deal IMO. However, it still only gets us to 92 RR credits. (I was off in my earlier numbers...I've edited that post to reflect 20 RR credits for 10,000 AGR/50,000 CHP instead of 10 RR credits). So now if we can find a card that gives 15,000 miles up front...then we're all set and the CP is in sight for anybody who wants it. Me...I'll just get the 72 credits I need and be on my way!

This is a great find....I'm assuming that if I didn't want to hassle with the CO Credit Card, but I already had 25K One Pass miles, I could just morph these into 50 SWA Credits via this process? (given the 25K Transfer limit on Amtrak)?

Is this correct?

I was going to buy my way into a CP using about 250K Marriott Rewards points, but this is much better....

Yes.

Targetted. The style of the letter and envelope looks exactly the same as all the others they send, so I thought I should give people here a heads up not to dismiss any CO junk mail you get.

If your goal is maintaining CP, I advise doing the entire deal as you describe, but bank the points with Choice instead of pushing everything ASAP to RR. When next October rolls around, push over just enough Choice points to put you over the top for CP renewal. After the next CP is issued, then push over the rest.

Remember, any credits earned over the 100 required for CP in the 12-month qualification period do not count toward your next CP. Hence my advice to bank and convert as needed.

Now, if valuation or redemption changes come down the pike, you may be forced to convert it all at once, but that is just speculation at this time.

Curbcrusher, thanks for the good advice, as usual^. I'm starting the process today and will keep everyone advised of the progress/success.

Also thanks to ClimbGuy for posting!

Deleted - duplicate message.

I've seen multiple comments from CEO Kelly in recent weeks/months that we can expect to see changes to the RR program "in the near future." This could certainly be one of them.

Hmm...very interesting thought. I called RR and asked them if I could transfer points from 2 Choice accounts to the same RR account. She said the decision is up to Choice but that they've had people do that in the past and it wasn't a problem.

Why? Choice is paying for the RR. Why would Southwest care if Choice is too good to their customers?

I believe they were referring to CP qualification, not Choice Privileges transfers.

I wouldn't rush to get some of the less generous cards (i.e. Midwest, Choice) unless you absolutely need the miles now. 20k points for a new card is becoming pretty standard (UA, AA, CO, Alaska, Marriott) and I have seen UA and AA promos this year offering 21k-25k. Even Chase/WN visa has gone from 4 credits (+5 for balance transfers) to 16+8 = 24.

I would agree that there is no reason to transfer to WN any more than the minimum needed for a CP. In fact, if you have upcoming travel plans and don't need a CP immediately, you can transfer even fewer points from AGR.

As for banking miles, that's never really a good strategy given the continuous devaluation that we've seen in many programs over the last few years. That being said, if you do have extra miles, I would feel safe parking them at either CO or possible Amtrak, the former because there is currently no restrictions on transfers into Amtrak (and doubt that will change), and the latter because there are many transfer and spending options. In general I would not park with Choice as the generous RR conversion rate is unlikely to last and then you will be stuck with points at a relatively mediocre chain

However, there is one circumstance where parking with Choice makes sense: You transfer the max 25k from AGR to Choice in 2007, then transfer whatever is needed from CHoice to WN for a CP (parking the remainder). Then on 1/01/08 you transfer 25k more from AGR to Choice, and again transfer to WN ASAP for next year's CP. And hope the rules don't change in the next 3 months.

17,500 miles if you sign up for chase free checking and get the continental airlines debit card ($25 annual fee).

Just to get this straight. The "choke point" is limit of 25k AMTRACK pts to Choice?

Otherwise, I can move more miles from CO to AMTRACK before end of year and then on 1 Jan move another 25k from AMTRACK to Choice.

Yes, I understand to let Choice points sit until I need them for requal. for CP.

By the way, where is the info on AMTRACK web site about moving points to Choice Rewards??

Thanks