Premium travel Credit Cards

[mountainboy]

Thank YOU !

 

[1Kflyerguy]

Not much for us in the South Bay. But we travel really a lot, so I'm sure that we can be in a place each half year to use this. For example, this half will be Vegas and next half (first of 2026) could well be New Orleans as we're there for 13 nights. But we only have 1 CSR (and two Aspire since we can easily get the benefits from that each).

Cheers.

We also live in the South Bay, and noticed the same lack of options. I was looking at Gary Danko in SF for November, but then discovered that not all time slots seem to be eligible. I will continue to explore, though we already booked other places for our November trip. I need to research some of our other trips for next year to see what the options might be to use this credit. At least right now it feels like more effort is required than the Resy credit from Amex.

 

[buzglyd]

I realize this thread has gone WAY off topic but there is an additional Chase dining benefit. $75 off $150 spend.

Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders can save $75 on $150 dining spend with The Infatuation

Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders can get a $75 statement credit when spending $150 with their card linked to The Infatuation.

frequentmiler.com

 

[mountainboy]

At least right now it feels like more effort is required than the Resy credit from Amex.

Agree!
Resy was easy peasy..
Looks like we will have access to this in few weeks. Will dig deeper as we get closer, to use the credits for Q4/H2, '25..

 

[mountainboy]

I realize this thread has gone WAY off topic but there is an additional Chase dining benefit. $75 off $150 spend.

Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders can save $75 on $150 dining spend with The Infatuation

Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders can get a $75 statement credit when spending $150 with their card linked to The Infatuation.

frequentmiler.com

*May post this (& all other CSR, AmEx Platty etc on this NEW thread)..
TY!

Premium travel Credit Cards

I also booked Acre restaurant with the new Chase Sapphire restaurant bonus. Will go there while at Azul because it is closer Cannot wait.

tugbbs.com

 

[buzglyd]

It seems like this is still under HGV. These dining credits in our off topic thread belong to Chase cards.

 

[Eric B]

Perhaps the Vacation Travel Information forum would be more appropriate, @GT75 ....

 

[magmue]

NYT article today: They Each Own 50 credit cards: Should You? (gift link used)

 

[mountainboy]

@daviator , any f/u on your Citi Strata Elite journey?
Looks like some issues for some folks..
TY!

https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/credit/citi-new-premium-credit-card-problems-b99f7642?mod=hp_lead_pos4

 

[mountainboy]

Looks like the WSJ article finally shamed Citi to refund the AF + give SUB w/o the MSR..

Citi Refunding $595 Annual Fee & Waiving MSR On Citi Strata Elite For 4506-C Affected Cardholders

Citi has sent out an e-mail to Citi Strata Elite cardholders affected by the 4506-C form issue informing them of two things

www.doctorofcredit.com

 

[mountainboy]

Looks like Citi/AA issued a new mid-tier card but unfortunately too many useless coupons ('Future personal training' et al)
So much for talking about Chase & Amex making their premium cards coupon books (AmEx has significantly improved the AmEx Platinum & added actually useful credits this time around)..

Citi AAdvantage Globe Card Launch, 90,000

Citi launched a new $350 AAdvantage Globe personal credit card with a 90,000-mile signup bonus and $350 annual fee. 4 Admirals Club passes, $100 flight credit

www.doctorofcredit.com

 

[mountainboy]

Looks like Amex CANADA is limiting number of lounge visits for AmEx Platinum folks for PP lounge access to only SIX PP visits per year, from unlimited starting in 2027...
Fairly aggressive & hopefully doesn't come stateside (realizing not many PP lounges which are 'nice', + lots of other cards which still give unlimited PP visits stateside but not nice to have them cut back, for their premium card in Canada..)...
@cd5 Thoughts?

American Express Canada Adds Limits To Lounge Access (Priority Pass/Plaza Premium)

American Express Canada has announced that starting on January 1, 2027 Platinum cardholders will no longer have unlimited access to Plaza Premium & Priority Pass lounges

www.doctorofcredit.com

 

[mountainboy]

*As the Edit credit goes live for us legacy CSR users, here are some ideas for properties where we can potentially use the credit without paying significantly OOP...
Also many have used points + case, to use some Chase UR pts to lower OOP to 250, to get the 250 credit & net zero OOP...
Fairmont Quebec City & Fairmont Vancouver look very nice (& worth some spend with daily BF x2 & property credit).
Loews Chicago also looks nice.
Vegas (Bellagio & MGM) look like easy/cheap ways of using the credit

20 Best Hotels for Maximizing The Edit by Chase Travel Benefits

The Edit by Chase Travel offers high-end, expensive hotels. Here are 20 affordable properties where your annual credit goes the furthest.

upgradedpoints.com

Chase's The Edit Hotel Credit: What to Know - NerdWallet

Trying to max out Chase's The Edit hotel credit on the Chase Sapphire Reserve card may cost you more money than it saves. Here's what to know before you book.

www.nerdwallet.com

Full Guide to The Edit By Chase - Chase Sapphire Hotel Program [Full 2025 Hotel List & Guide] | AwardTravel

The Edit by Chase (formerly known as the Luxury Hotel and Resorts Collection, or LHRC), is a collection of Chase Sapphire hotels that offer elite benefits without holding elite status at hundreds of hotels worldwide. Here's everything you need to know.

www.awardtravel.co

 

[buzglyd]

Interesting

The credit card coupon book travel game (Chicago getaway via Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card)

A while ago, the Frequent Miler team considered a team challenge where we would each try to do a mini-vacation entirely with American Express Platinum Card® “coupons.” For example, we could use the card’s airline incidental fee credit to travel, use the hotel credits for lodging and in-hotel...

frequentmiler.com

 

[cd5]

Looks like Amex CANADA is limiting number of lounge visits for AmEx Platinum folks for PP lounge access to only SIX PP visits per year, from unlimited starting in 2027...
Fairly aggressive & hopefully doesn't come stateside (realizing not many PP lounges which are 'nice', + lots of other cards which still give unlimited PP visits stateside but not nice to have them cut back, for their premium card in Canada..)...
@cd5 Thoughts?

American Express Canada Adds Limits To Lounge Access (Priority Pass/Plaza Premium)

American Express Canada has announced that starting on January 1, 2027 Platinum cardholders will no longer have unlimited access to Plaza Premium & Priority Pass lounges

www.doctorofcredit.com

The benefits are usually never as good on the Canadian cards as the US ones. I personally am not affected - I have the Amex Bonvoy Brilliant (US card) with Priority Pass Select, Amex Aeroplan Réserve (unlimited NA Air Canada lounges and cafés) and 6 Dragonpass passes with my TD First Class Infinite Travel card. Being in Montreal, I fly AC 98% of the time (to Europe, Mexico and Canadian destinations), Marriott has the most accessible hotels for me, so those cards work best for me.
One has to shop around for the benefits that fit best with one's habits. The Amex Platinum doesn't necessarily "fit" for everyone and probably less now...FYI, if one spends $20k cad or more, current level of lounge access remains available. They're just making it harder for those not doing any spending on the card.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Chase Sapphire Reserve 3x expires on Oct 26. I just received our Vistana MF bill and wondering if we should pay that off prior to the 26th with CSR to get 3x? I won't get 3x Chase points for MF after Oct 26th.

Is this correct?

We are 2 player CSR but may go to 1 player early next year at anniversary. Should we consolidate our 1:50 points into the card we are keeping prior to Oct 26? or does it matter? If I transfer later to the card we keep before downgrading will I lose the 1.5 preference on those points?

 

[1Kflyerguy]

Chase Sapphire Reserve 3x expires on Oct 26. I just received our Vistana MF bill and wondering if we should pay that off prior to the 26th with CSR to get 3x? I won't get 3x Chase points for MF after Oct 26th.

Is this correct?

That depends, if the Vistana MF code as Hotel, then you will get 4x after Oct 26.. so you'd be better off waiting, but I don't know how they code.. Did you pay with the CSR last year? maybe try to see if they listed it as hotel or just travel....

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I cannot find a payment with CSR for Vistana because I usually pay AMEX Bonvoy. Will give it a try before the 26th.

 

[buzglyd]

Chase Sapphire Reserve 3x expires on Oct 26. I just received our Vistana MF bill and wondering if we should pay that off prior to the 26th with CSR to get 3x? I won't get 3x Chase points for MF after Oct 26th.

Is this correct?

We are 2 player CSR but may go to 1 player early next year at anniversary. Should we consolidate our 1:50 points into the card we are keeping prior to Oct 26? or does it matter? If I transfer later to the card we keep before downgrading will I lose the 1.5 preference on those points?

Dump one CSR and get Ink Business Preferred. Still keeps the old travel 3x

 

[CalGalTraveler]

@buzglyd Good idea. Problem is those won't be grandfathered 1.5 toward travel AFAIK if transferred after Oct 2026 but 3x better than 1x if planning to transfer 1:1 to airlines.

 

[bnoble]

The benefits are usually never as good on the Canadian cards as the US ones.

I'm guessing that is at least in part because the swipe fees are lower in CA.

 

[mountainboy]

That depends, if the Vistana MF code as Hotel, then you will get 4x after Oct 26.. so you'd be better off waiting, but I don't know how they code.. Did you pay with the CSR last year? maybe try to see if they listed it as hotel or just travel....

*Per the Marriott CSR thread, it has coded 4x for Marriott MFs for some, YMMV...

 

[mountainboy]

3x better than 1x if planning to transfer 1:1 to airlines.

Or Hyatt which is an excellent redemption & where all/most of my URs have gone; much better value than xfr to airlines for me but YMMV...

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I just made a small payment and it coded as "Travel" and "Sonoran Maint Fee" It doesn't sound like it would code as "hotel" AFAIK.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

I just made a small payment and it coded as "Travel" and "Sonoran Maint Fee" It doesn't sound like it would code as "hotel" AFAIK.

View attachment 117379

Yea, that does not sound promising..