Best Credit Card for Maintenance Fees

[vacation dreaming]

I think this question is worth revisiting every year. I personally love the Chase Sapphire Reserve card for travel, but the Chase Marriott Boundless card should be considered for Marriott maintenance fees. The Reserve card earns Chase points which are very flexible, the Marriott card is good if you know you will use the points for hotel stays. What does everyone think?

 

[jmhpsu93]

Depends on what you're chasing down. Points, status? I know last year I used my Marriott Southwest Visa for a big part of it as I was trying to get enough points for Companion Pass, and Rapid Rewards points have a predetermined value. This year I'm nowhere near CP so will be using my Marriott Chase Visa for 6x/$ Bonvoy points.

 

[mjfehl]

We always use the Marriott card historically, but now that I'm lifetime Platinum, chasing status doesn't do much for me. The points are nice though.

If there is a better recommendation out there to pay them, I'd love to hear it though.

 

[dioxide45]

We've always used the Marriott Visa from Chase. Perhaps it is possible to squeeze a few extra percent of value using something else, but that really isn't worth my time to research and have to mess with a different card.

 

[jwalk03]

I use a Marriott card. The 6X points are a good value. I don't use a Marriott card for anything other than Marriott spend though.

 

[mjm1]

We have used our Marriott Visa in the past, but will probably use our Chase Sapphire Reserve this year as it provides travel insurance for free ($199 value if bought via MVC) in addition to 3x points per dollar. We have been leveraging the Chase points for Hyatt stays of late, which provides a nice return.

 

[jwalk03]

We have used our Marriott Visa in the past, but will probably use our Chase Sapphire Reserve this year as it provides travel insurance for free ($199 value if bought via MVC) in addition to 3x points per dollar. We have been leveraging the Chase points for Hyatt stays of late, which provides a nice return.

Would the credit provided travel insurance apply to a timeshare expense? I am skeptical that would be covered, but have never actually tried it of course.

 

[vacation dreaming]

We have used our Marriott Visa in the past, but will probably use our Chase Sapphire Reserve this year as it provides travel insurance for free ($199 value if bought via MVC) in addition to 3x points per dollar. We have been leveraging the Chase points for Hyatt stays of late, which provides a nice return.

These are both excellent points. I need to learn more about how to best maximize the Hyatt points transfer.

 

[mjm1]

Would the credit provided travel insurance apply to a timeshare expense? I am skeptical that would be covered, but have never actually tried it of course.

In the Guide to Benefits provided by Chase it states that “Covered trip means any prepaid tour, trip or vacation when some portion of the cost for such travel arrangements less rewards … has been charged to your account.” I called them and confirmed it would be covered. Fortunately we haven’t ever needed to submit a claim.

 

[grupp]

I use either a chase card that gives 3 points per dollar or Marriott card that gives 6 Bonvoy points.

 

[GrayFal]

In the Guide to Benefits provided by Chase it states that “Covered trip means any prepaid tour, trip or vacation when some portion of the cost for such travel arrangements less rewards … has been charged to your account.” I called them and confirmed it would be covered. Fortunately we haven’t ever needed to submit a claim.

They are changing the conditions, instead of “some portion“ it will now be only the portion that is paid with the CC.
example, I used gift cards to pay for a Princess cruise and the last $1,000 on CSR card. It used to cover the whole cruise, now it will only cover $1,000.
example, use FF a miles to book flight, pay taxes with CC. Now there will be limitations about what you can recover.

I still think it is a good deal but just be aware of the changes

 

[GetawaysRus]

A bit more involved, but if you're willing to do the footwork....

1. Use Chase Ink card to buy $200 VISA or MC gift cards at office supply store. I ONLY buy these when Staples or Office Depot has them on a no-fee sale. Ink gets you 5 Chase UR points per dollar. I try to buy 9 $200 gift cards on each trip to the store.
2. Cards need to be registered online so they can be used online. The URL is on the rear of the card.
3. Pay MFs online with the gift cards, $200 at a time.
4. Transfer Chase points from Ink card to Sapphire card.

 

[dioxide45]

A bit more involved, but if you're willing to do the footwork....

1. Use Chase Ink card to buy $200 VISA or MC gift cards at office supply store. I ONLY buy these when Staples or Office Depot has them on a no-fee sale. Ink gets you 5 Chase UR points per dollar. I try to buy 9 $200 gift cards on each trip to the store.
2. Cards need to be registered online so they can be used online. The URL is on the rear of the card.
3. Pay MFs online with the gift cards, $200 at a time.
4. Transfer Chase points from Ink card to Sapphire card.

Are you getting more points/$ because it is office supply? Why not just pay the MFs directly with the Ink card?

 

[GetawaysRus]

Yes.

Ink: 5x at office supply store. No bonus for travel expenses.
Sapphire Reserve: 3x for travel expenses

So I get a 2 point boost. But it's extra work and time.

I can also pay lots of other things with those gift cards.

 

[Dean]

Clark Howard was touting the Primary coverage auto insurance portion of the Chase Sapphire products just this week.

 

[Huskerpaul]

Yes.

Ink: 5x at office supply store. No bonus for travel expenses.
Sapphire Reserve: 3x for travel expenses

So I get a 2 point boost. But it's extra work and time.

I can also pay lots of other things with those gift cards.

This would be the Chase Ink Cash. There is also an Ink Unlimited card and a Chase Ink Preferred card. I use the Chase Ink Preferred for travel because you get 3x points like the Sapphire Reserve, but the AF is $95 for the Ink rather than $550 for the Reserve. You also get the primary coverage on rental cars.

 

[Fasttr]

This would be the Chase Ink Cash. There is also an Ink Unlimited card and a Chase Ink Preferred card. I use the Chase Ink Preferred for travel because you get 3x points like the Sapphire Reserve, but the AF is $95 for the Ink rather than $550 for the Reserve. You also get the primary coverage on rental cars.

But for the Ink cards, I believe the car usage needs to be for “business purpose”….where the Reserve it does not.

 

[mjm1]

We always use our Chase Sapphire Reserve for car rentals. Fortunately we’ve never needed to submit a claim.

 

[GetawaysRus]

This would be the Chase Ink Cash. There is also an Ink Unlimited card and a Chase Ink Preferred card. I use the Chase Ink Preferred for travel because you get 3x points like the Sapphire Reserve, but the AF is $95 for the Ink rather than $550 for the Reserve. You also get the primary coverage on rental cars.

Yes, that's right. I should have been more specific.

The Chase Ink cards are all business credit cards. If you don't really own a business, think creatively about how you might qualify for one. Do you rent your timeshare? Do you sell things on eBay? Are you self-employed? Maybe you have a side-hustle? It's not that hard to come up with a "business" that might qualify you for an Ink card.

 

[pedro47]

A bit more involved, but if you're willing to do the footwork....

1. Use Chase Ink card to buy $200 VISA or MC gift cards at office supply store. I ONLY buy these when Staples or Office Depot has them on a no-fee sale. Ink gets you 5 Chase UR points per dollar. I try to buy 9 $200 gift cards on each trip to the store.
2. Cards need to be registered online so they can be used online. The URL is on the rear of the card.
3. Pay MFs online with the gift cards, $200 at a time.
4. Transfer Chase points from Ink card to Sapphire card.

I liked that idea

 

[paxlin]

From what I can tell, MVC maintenance fee will not get the point bonus for Marriott spend anymore.
Does MVC maintenance code as travel when charged to Chase Sapphire Reserve?

 

[daviator]

From what I can tell, MVC maintenance fee will not get the point bonus for Marriott spend anymore.
Does MVC maintenance code as travel when charged to Chase Sapphire Reserve?

With Bonvoy credit cards? I think you are mistaken, charges from MVC and Vistana are still treated as Marriott spend. Just charged some MFs a week ago and got 6x Bonvoy points for the spend.

i don’t think this is likely to change.

 

[easyrider]

Clark Howard was touting the Primary coverage auto insurance portion of the Chase Sapphire products just this week.

This is the main reason for our AMEX Bonvoy Card. I do like the free night hotel stay that offsets the card fee.

Bill

 

[dioxide45]

With Bonvoy credit cards? I think you are mistaken, charges from MVC and Vistana are still treated as Marriott spend. Just charged some MFs a week ago and got 6x Bonvoy points for the spend.

i don’t think this is likely to change.

I think the bonus they were referring to had something to do with travel related spend. Bonuses for certain spend categories. Not the multiplier for Marriott spending.

 

[jwalk03]

From what I can tell, MVC maintenance fee will not get the point bonus for Marriott spend anymore.
Does MVC maintenance code as travel when charged to Chase Sapphire Reserve?

It certainly qualifies as Marriott spend on the Marriott cards. Can’t speak to if it qualifies as travel on the Sapphire Reserve or not.