Is $40 Worth Missing Out on 1,750 Points?

Over Martin Luther King Weekend, I am taking a little trip south. The sole purpose of the trip is to use my 2 free Hilton night certificates that were expiring from my Hilton Citi card.

My free night certificates cover the first 2 nights of the trip leaving me to pay 1 night out of pocket. The cost of the 3rd night is about $175. On Saturday and Sunday, the cost of the room was about $250 a night, not a bad use of the certificates. My dilemma is how to pay for the 3rd night at the hotel.

My choices are my JetBlue American Express and Citi Hilton Hhonors Reserve Card.

You may be wondering my JetBlue American Express card. Its an odd choice. American Express has a great promotion known as AMEX Sync, which offers cash off at particular merchants if you spend $Xs. One of my offers is $40 off if I spend $175 at a Doubletree.

Since my stay is at a DoubleTree, this is a great time to use this offer. The downside of using my JetBlue AMEX is that I won't earn HHonor points for the money put on the credit card.

On the other hand, if I use the Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve card, I will earn Hilton points on my credit card spend for the hotel night. With the Reserve card earns 10 points per $1 spent at the Hilton portfolio.

My $175 hotel room with earn me 1,750 points. However, by using my Reserve card, I lose out on the $40 savings from AMEX.

Therefore, I ask...$40 or 1,750 Hilton Honors points? Which one would you choose?
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1 Stay = 14,543 Points

Last weekend, I had a 2 night stay at a Hilton Conference Center. Overall, the stay was good except for the lack of hot water one morning.

On Tuesday, I checked my Hilton account and learned that I earned 11,643 points from 1 stay.

As you can see, the points earned cam from multiple different sources.

First, I earned 7,000 points from the most recent Hilton promotion, as I wrote here. 1,000 points per night (2,000) + 5,000 points for staying 2 nights = 7,000!

Then the base points come from my bill. You earn 10 pts per $1 spent at the hotel minus certain expenses like taxes. I spent $266.50 at the hotel. That earned me 2,665 points.

Next, as a Gold member, I earn a 25% bonus on the base points. 2,665 x 25% = 663.

The last way I earned points is the 50% Bonus on Base Points is from choosing the Points & Points option. This option earns you an additional 5 Bonus Points per $1 spent.

Overall, the haul was pretty nice, but where did the last 2,900 points come from. Great question! One of the most important decisions on any trip is which credit card to use. This decision was easy for me. The card I used was the Citi Hilton Reserve:

The card earns you 10 points for every $1 spent on a Hilton Portfolio.

My $290 stay earned me 2,900 points from the credit card.

Credit Card - 2,900 points

Hotel Stay - 11,543 points

Total: 14, 543

A great haul for 1 stay at a Hilton!

What is the most points you have ever earn in 1 stay?

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Whats in My Wallet & Sock Drawer

The Frequent Miler had an article about which annual fee cards he is planning on keeping. It got me thinking about my own credit cards.

Quite a few are up for their annual fee and its time to make some decisions. Do I keep the credit card and pay the annual fee or singing “na na na, hey hey good-bye,” to it. The decision is not easy, because I deduct credit card annual fees from my travel budget. They are an expense to my travel hobby/addiction. Keep to many and the annual fees can add up quickly.

Here is a list of all the credit cards in my possession and my thinking at the moment of keeping or canceling:

Keeping:

Banana Republic (no annual fee)

Hilton AMEX (no annual fee)

US Airways World Mastercard (no annual fee – oldest credit line)

Capitol One Card (no annual fee)

Chase Hyatt ($79 annual fee – free night on anniversary)

Chase Priority Club ($49 annual fee – free night on anniversary)

US Bank Club Carlson ($75 annual fee - 40,000 point anniversary bonus)

Undecided:

Chase Sapphire ($95 – 7% dividend every January – last years’s: 1500 points)

Chase Southwest – Personal ($99 annual fee, 6,000 miles anniversary bonus)

Chase Southwest – Business ($99 annual fee, 6,000 miles anniversary bonus)

Alaska Airlines ($75 annual fee, $99 companion pass each anniversary)

US Airways Premier World Mastercard ($89 annual fee, - 10,000 miles anniversary bonus)

Bye Bye

Chase British Airways ($99 annual fee)

Chase United Airways ($95 annual fee)

Delta AMEX ($95 annual fee)

Citi American Airlines ($95 annual fee)

Last weekend, I wrote that one of the keys to a great credit card is a bonus on the anniversary especially if there is an annual fee. As reflected above, those credit cards with annual fees that I am keeping offer me that anniversary bonus. I have great credit, use my credit card frequently and always pay my bills on time, I should be reward for keeping their credit in my rotation. Yes, that sounds spoiled, but every time I swipe their card, they earn money. And I swipe alot!

As stated above, one of the main reasons I let cards go is the hit to my travel budget from the annual fees. If I kept all the cards above, the annual fees would be over $1,000 or 1/3 of my travel budget. Wasting a 1/3 of my travel budget on credit card annual fee is crazy.

The decision to keep or cancel a credit card is an important part of the game. Annual fees are not going away anytime soon. To succeed in this game, one must way the cost associated with having a credit card vs. the benefits that you receive from it.

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Look What I Got In My Mailbox

Yesterday, my mailbox was filled with many diffrent things.

First, an offer from my Banana Republic Visa:

The offer is 5 Points per $1 at Grocery Stores and 3 Points per $1 at Restaurants. I might take them up on the grocery offer, as I don't have a card now offering more than 1 point. This offer is from May 1st until June 30th. No registration required.

The next thing is my new razor from Dollar Shave Club. I decided to move up to the $6 blade from the $1 blade. I like the $1 blade, but I wanted to see if there was a difference.

Also, there cards that they include every month are hilarious. This month's is: "Your Mother-In-Law Should Be Irritating. Not Your Razor." He He He . . . 

The final thing was a letter from my Hilton AMEX letting me know about the changes to Hilton AXON rewards. Many people have written about it here, here, and here. However, I found the letter a little cold and   plane rude.

The last line is the one that is the one that stings the worse:

          "If you are not satisfied with these changes you can cancel your account by calling us at
           1-800-297-1000 before June 15, 2013. If you cancel, the changes won't impact your account.
           However, you won't be able to use your Card for new transactions and you'll still have to pay down
           your balance."

Telling me accept this change or we'll shut down your card is no way to win loyalty, American Express! Your acting like United, now.

 





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Paying for this Weekend

I am off today to the wonderful Stamford, Connecticut Hilton for a conference.

Don't be jealous! While in Stamford, I can eat at numerous chain restaurants, wait in line for possible tickets to today's taping of Jerry Springer Show or wonder around their shopping mall with a posse, like I did as a teenager.

I have decided to pay for this weekend using the Hilton Amex, which earns me 6 points per dollar spent at Hilton. I previously was going to use my Chase Sapphire and earn 2 points per dollar spent, but after reading this article by the The Miles Professor. She details in the article, how you can earn up to 40 Hilton Honors points per dollar. Actually, her entire series on Hilton Honors has been killing it. I think mine will be closer to 35 points per $, but that is still pretty good for a 2 nights that are being reimbursed~

Wherever your travels take you, even if its a short walk from your bed to your couch, have a Great Points Earning Weekend!!!

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AMEX Small Business Saturday - Who I Supported!

Saturday was a super bus day for me. I had to go to work, because my boss is on vacation. Normally, no big deal, but I had never tried to get to my office building on a weekend. It turned out to be an adventure involving two buses and a cab. (Remember, I live a car free diet). After spending a few hours preparing for the upcoming week, I headed home and only at that point I remember its Small Business Saturday.

Yes, I know I made a post about it, but the transaction takes 2 steps. 1) Registering and 2) Making a purchase. I wonder how many people registered for the promotion and forgot to make the purchase. Well, I turned out not to be one of them, because I took the metro one extra stop to a small restaurant, Rabbit Grill. Rabbit Grill is located at the Clarendon Metro stop, directly across the street and around the corner.

In full disclosure, I have never eaten at this restaurant. I have always wanted to, because it looks very cool inside.

Also, the restaurant's menu looks amazing too. (website menu here)

Sandwiches, salads, and entrees all under $20, and not the typical sandwiches or salads either. The menu makes my mouth water.

However, I had dinner reservations that night and was not hungry. I remember reading Mommy Points saying she used her $25 credit on gift cards, last year. That's what I did with my $25 credit, I bought a gift card for a future meal. I will write a review of the restaurant, when I eat there.

Ok, so this is a points blog and you are wondering whats the angle on this deal. Well, I double dipped on this promotion. (Whats a double dip? Its when you earn two things for doing one thing). On this deal, Rabbit Grill is a member of Restaurant Rewards, so by buying the gift card, I also got Hilton Honor points. 

$25 = 200  Hilton Points....free points by getting free gift card! (Double Dip Baby!)

To be successful in this game, one needs to think about points at every transaction. 

I hope you had a fun Small Business Saturday!!!

AMEX Small Business Saturday (Limited Enrollment)

I know this has been blogged about to death. I told myself that I was not going to write about it. However, after the nth time talking to family and friends about Small Business Saturday and hearing the small question, "What is Small Business Saturday?" I decided it was time for a quick post.

A little back story:

In 2010, AMEX decided to it was time to support the Small Business that make up the fiber of the American economy. The idea was that typically the Friday after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday, is the start of the high shopping season and increased revenue for the big stores. AMEX declared that the Saturday after Thanksgiving, to be further known as Small Business Saturday. 2010 was the depth of our economic recession and small business's were failing at a rapid rate. AMEX decided to give a $25 statement credit for AMEX members who make a purchase on Small Business Saturday at a participating small business. The program was a HUGE success and gave a ton of great publicity to AMEX (Many small businesses dislike AMEX because of their high surcharges, so it was also a great way of getting some goodwill from small business owners).

Ok, back to the promotion.

If you have an AMEX credit card, not a prepaid card or corporate card, you can are eligible to participate.

Here are the simple steps to participate:

1)  Go to this website to register. You will have to enter your credit card number. Some people have 
      reported registering multiple cards. The program has a limit, but as of Thanksgiving evening at 9pm,
      my friend was able to register. You have to register by 11:59PM MST on November 24, 2012.

2)  After registering, you will receive an email confirming you are registered. If you don't get this email, go
     back to the website and retry to enter the card. If you are registered, the website will let you know that
     you are registered.

3)  Pick a small business to shop at. You can see a list here via zip-code.

4)  Shop! (My favorite part!!!) Use the enrolled AMEX card to spend $25 or more in a single, in store
      transaction at a small business on November 24th. You have to spend $25 or more to get the $25
      statement credit.

5)  Smile. When you get the email that says you have qualified for the $25 credit. I usually get the email
     within an hour of making a purchase.

This Saturday I will be out shopping at small businesses in Arlington. I will make one $25 purchase with my AMEX card and then I will make the rest of my purchases with VISA/Mastercard branded cards, the fees are cheaper on small business!!!

My First Major Credit Card Churn

At the end of July, I completed my first major credit card churn.

Someone who completes a credit card churn applies for multiple credit card applications on a regular basis to get as many frequent flyer miles as possible. They apply for a card, spend the minimum amount necessary, get the frequent flyer miles, cancel the card a year later, and then do it all over again.

In the past, I would apply for one or two new credit cards every three or four months. However, in July, I thought I would go for four credit cards. A possible big risk, but the rewards would be huge.

The four credit cards I applied for are:

Chase Hyatt –  Sign-up Bonus: 2 Free Nights, 2 Paid Night Upgrades, $75 statement credit all after the 

                          first purchase, $75 annual fee.

Chase United Explorer Card – Sign-up Bonus: 50,000 miles after spending $1,000 in 3 months

                                                   (I was targeted for this offer), $95 annual fee, waived for first year

Hilton Amex – Sign-up Bonus: 50,000 miles after spending $750 in 3 months, no annual fee

US Airways MasterCard – Sign-up Bonus:  40,000 miles after first purchase $95 annual fee, waived for 

                                             first year

Now the downside of my recent credit card churn. I checked my credit using CreditKarma (more about this website in a future post) and my credit has dropped by 10 points. A 10 point drop is expected by adding four new cards to one’s credit report.  My credit should bounce back to it original 775 score by December, just in time for my next churn.

As I stated Wednesday, I finished my spend requirements for these cards already, so I am back to using the British Airways Credit Card trying to hit that second 25,000 bonus. 

Was it difficult? No way. 

Was it worth it? Oh, yes. This recent credit card churn netted me almost 4 round-trip tickets to anywhere in the United States or close to 2 one-way tickets in business class to Europe or Africa plus at least 4 free hotel nights all for about 1 hours worth of work.

Credit card sign-up bonuses can increase point balances to levels that travel dreams become reality!