Is There An Opt Out Option, Bank of America?

I detailed here that one of the credit cards I recently applied for was the Bank of America Alaska Airlines credit card. The sign-up bonus was 25,000 miles after your first use. The miles sign-up bonus us great, but I really wanted $119 companion fare for an upcoming trip. I didn't get instant approval, but the card arrive a few days later.

Ever since, Bank of America has been mailing me stuff about the various features of their credit card. Most of the junk went straight to the shred pile until I received this insert below. What caught my attention was that I would receive "up to 5 miles per $1 spent at participating restaurants."

My initial reaction was cool, a feature I did not know about the card. That was until I turned over the flyer and read # 4: "Your Visa Card will be automatically enrolled in Mileage Plan Dining Rewards by Rewards Network and a Welcome Kit will be sent to your explaining your restaurant earning opportunities"

Really, your going to automatically enroll me? No choice? No opt-out?

Why am I making a big deal out of this, you might ask? Typically  Dining Rewards offers you a bonus to sign-up and spend a certain amount of money in your first 30 or 90 days. The bonus is typically only for new members. My gut tells me that there will be no bonus offer in my welcome kit.

I love Dining Rewards. I have written about it here and encourage people to sign-up for it. It takes minimal time, but has the potential for big rewards. Eat out, take a quick survey, earn miles/points.

What bothers me is the automatic sign-up for Dining Rewards! I could see this being a new trend with credit card companies, because it saves Dining Rewards money. Automatically signing people up reduces the need for spending extra miles on luring people to join with attractive sign-up bonuses. This is one time I hope I am wrong.....

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Most Recent Credit Card Applications

Important Note: We talk about credit card sign-up bonuses on our blog because they are an important part of the “game.” Any credit card links in this post will be public application links taken from the issuer's direct website. We do not earn income from you applying from the links. Similarly, please take an extra minute or two before applying for credit cards. If you do not pay your credit card balance off every month then you should stay away from this aspect of the game. Credit cards can lead to major long-term problems if not used correctly. I encourage you to read my post on Young People and the Chains of Credit Card Debt for more details.  

This week, I broken one of the golden rules of credit card churning: thou shall only apply for credit cards once every 90 days!

Yes, I applied for credit cards within 90 days of my last churn. Unlike last time, I decided not to churn after midnight. I learned my lesson and my success was the same 2 instant approvals and 1 pending.

The reason why I decided to apply for credit cards prior to my 90 days was simple: need. As I previously mentioned, I am planning on going to Alaska with Cash Back Boy, in July. We still have not booked our tickets and prices have gone up, and up and up. Then I had an idea: the Bank of America Alaska Credit card.

Strangely, the benefit that I want out of this credit card is not the points, but rather the companion ticket. Once approved, the card offers it owner a $99 ($117 with taxes) companion pass. This will reduce the cost of the airline tickets to Alaska dramatically for the two of us. Here is the public link to apply.

Of course, this is the application that I got a Pending Decision. Crossing my fingers as I need this the most.

The second card I applied for is the Chase Priority Club Visa.

I decided to get this because I will be cancelling a few Chase cards in the next month or so. Also, I received an email with an 80,000 offer, which is better the typically 60,000 offer. One can find the normal 60,000 offer here. If you Google, one can find a link to an offer for 80,000 points.

Result: Instant Approval

The final credit card I applied for was the American Express Delta Gold. I decided to do the 45,000 mile offer; instead, of the normal 30,000 mile offer. This will help me clear another section of the my Delta GrandSlam. I have previously written here about American Express Delta Gold section of the GrandSlam and how to get this 45,000 mile offer.

Warning: To get the 45,000 mile offer, one will need to go to a third party site. I had to refresh the
              application page two or three times before the third page appeared.

Result: Instant Approval.

Getting 2 instant approvals out of three is excellent. I just wish one of them was the Alaska Airways card. I am crossing my fingers and toes that I get approval for that card. Otherwise, Cash Back Boy is going to have to apply for his first points card.

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Great Change to e-Miles

Back in January, I wrote about receiving an email from e-Miles indicating positive changes were on its way. I wrote about it here. Overall, the change was that you would soon be allowed to transfer miles to a number of different airlines/programs; regardless, of which one you signed up. Previously, one could only deposit miles into the airline that they sign-up for.

Last night, I was playing around with their site and I noticed that the change is now live!!! I signed up for Delta miles (no longer available), but I now have the ability to deposit miles with the following companies:

United: 1:1

Hilton: 1:2

US Airways: 1:1

AirTran: 500: .5 credit

Priority Club: 500 : 750

Frontier: 1:1

Alaska: 1:1

Southwest: 1:1

Another major change is that I can deposit more than 500 miles at a time. Previously, one could only transfer 500 miles, once a quarter. Now, they have options to transfer 500, 1000, 2000, 3000 at one time.

Last night, I moved 500 miles into my Southwest Rapid Rewards account. Crossing my fingers that they count towards my Companion Pass total….I’ll report back.

e-Miles are now worth a little more to me. It’s very rare that a rewards program makes a change for the positive. Thanks e-Miles for making the program better!!!!

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Alaska Airlines Baggage Guarantee

One night this week, I spent way to much time on Alaska Airline's website trying to plan my getaway to Alaska. Before that night, I knew very little about Alaska, but after a few hours doing research, I think I was wrong here to declare US Airways, the best airline for newbies. That is for another post.

One of the things I learned about Alaska Airlines is that they have a baggage guarantee.

A guarantee that within 20 minutes of your plane parking at the gate, you checked bag will be at the baggage carousal. If it takes longer than 20 minutes, you are entitled to a $20 Discount Code for use on a future Alaska Airlines or 2,000 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan bonus miles. To get either, one needs to see an Alaska Airlines Representative within 2 hour of your plan landing.

One can learn more about their guarantee here.

From my research, Alaska started this guarantee back in 2010. Since it is still available, the airline must not be losing a ton of money due to the guarantee. Why haven't other airlines followed suit with the guarantee? My guess is that they know that they can't do it. It had to come down to the cost, that the guarantee would cost them more than the good.

I very rarely check a bag when I fly. Even if I get a free checked bag, I don't like waiting for my luggage. When I land, I like to be out of the airport as quick as possible. With this guarantee, I may be more likely to check a bag.

Here are the nitty gritty details:

Terms and Conditions

• Baggage Service Guarantee is valid on flights operated by Alaska Airlines (flights 001 - 999), Horizon Air (flights 2000 - 2999), and SkyWest (flights 3450-3499), except for flights arriving from Mexico, and flights between Anchorage and Dutch Harbor.
• Offer is not valid for checked items delivered to the oddsize/oversize baggage claim area (e.g. checked pets, golf clubs, skis, surfboards, assistive devices, firearms).
• Offer is not valid for non-revenue space available travelers, including Alaska Airlines employees and dependents, Guest Pass travelers and employees of other airlines traveling on industry discounted tickets.
• Alaska Airlines reserves the right to suspend the Baggage Service Guarantee in the event of airport baggage system malfunction, severe weather, or other conditions out of the airlines' control that prohibit timely baggage delivery.
• One Baggage Service Guarantee voucher per qualified passenger, for one or more checked bags.
• Baggage Service Guarantee voucher must be redeemed at alaskaair.com by the date provided on the voucher.
• Baggage Service Guarantee vouchers are transferable but may not be redeemed for cash, bartered, or sold.
• If you elect to redeem your Baggage Service Guarantee voucher for Mileage Plan miles, your miles will post to your Mileage Plan account within 3 days.
• $20 Discount Code must be applied at alaskaair.com toward purchase of a ticket on Alaska Airlines by the date provided within the terms and conditions printed on the voucher. Not redeemable at ticket counters or through travel agent.
• Additional terms & conditions apply if you elect to redeem your Baggage Service Guarantee voucher for a Discount Code. Please visit our About Discount Codes page at alaskaair.com for additional information.

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