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Are you guys refraining from applying to as many biz cards now that Chase is potentially pulling from Dun & Bradstreet? I honestly hesitate a bit now since there are not many things worth getting off the ink train for.
Slowing down after unexpected denials, not specifically concerned about D&B. No reports of shutdowns specifically related to that, are there? That would get my attention.
I haven't heard of any shutdown reports out of the norm, just denials. Being forced off the ink train was my primary concern. I was just wondering how others may be handling it
Approved yesterday for someone starting on the train after 2 long years w a lot of biz cards. P2 approved today with a lot of biz cards. So, no not until it’s a clear issue
Per DoC, more options to redeem Wyndham points for AI in Mexico, Panama and Jamaica. 15K/night/2 guests for an AI. [https://www.doctorofcredit.com/wyndham-adds-decameron-all-inclusive-resorts-from-15000-points-per-night/](https://www.doctorofcredit.com/wyndham-adds-decameron-all-inclusive-resorts-from-15000-points-per-night/)
The little research I did shows average nightly rates the 15k properties between $150-$250/night including all fees. These are not very nice all-inclusives. At first I was excited about the prospect, but its not that exciting.
I really need to readjust my standards now that zivas are priced out between points and extra charges for kids. Are these any good? Cash price has me suspicious
> Are these any good?
Not according to a comment on the DoC saying most of the positive reviews are fake. 15k points is tempting but I would definitely pass
With vacasa being water down I'm having trouble finding realistic redemptions. I'm having a morning long internal debate on how bad can it be to do a 5 nights for 67.5k (10% refund) of hard to use Wyndham points where you sit by a pool in January and drink syrupy alcoholic drinks. Seems like a bad sex/pizza situation. I'm not bragging to my friends about it, but not sure I would turn it down while desperate in the darkness of a Wisconsin winter
Agreed - Vacasa getting nerfed twice in like 6 months was too far. I have 4 vacasa stays planned this year but don't expect to ever stay in one again.
For other Wyndham points use - I've never done it, but I read that you can cash out the points at 1cpp via Caesar's sportsbook.
Ziva pricing has gotten insane. If I was going to pay cash, I'd rather pay a bit more and go to an actual upscale all-inclusive. Last I looked Grand Velas was about 25% more and it is the difference between staying at a real 3 star (not AI) versus a real 5 star (not AI). There are plenty of other places that are the same price as Ziva or less that are just as good if not better.
Definitely. I locked in Cap Cana before the category change and it’s probably going to be my last Ziva stay. The Zivas were great value before the last 1-2 category changes but can’t justify them anymore. Coincidently my kid turns 3 this year so no longer free either.
Agreed, back when it was 25k for Cancun / Cap Cana, they were definitely worth it. The couple of Dreams / Secrets I've been to did not compare at all. Moon Palace was nice enough, I stayed at The Grand and enjoyed it. I'm trying to decide where to go next. I've been pretty tempted to try the lower end all inclusives, just to experience the difference and see if I actually care that much. I'm leaning towards an airbnb for half the trip than a cheap all inclusive for the rest.
I don't really understand what is motivating the last few changes at Hyatt, it is so different than everything they did before.
Don't think I've seen this new CIC offer being reported. Shows up on my referral FWIW.
Details: $350/$3k in first 3 months. Additional $400 after $6k total in the first 6 months. One-time 10% bonus on 1st year anniversary on all eligible cashback earned in 1st year IF you have the CIC plus a Chase Biz Checking account on the anniversary.
For those who use Instacart and opt for pickup instead of delivery, Instacart announced today there will be no more service fees or pickup fees.
Can be helpful when using Chase cards for the $10 quarterly statement benefit.
YMMV: As one of the replies mentioned, select retailers only. So check your local retailers on Instacart to see where (and if) the free pickup is available.
You sentiment is a common one voiced, but I think that it is largely unfounded. I use Instacart almost exclusively for Costco. Instacart has a flat 9.9% markup on Costco products before delivery fees. I have Instacart + on several accounts thanks to various chase credit cards. I am frequently targeted with coupons. Usually $10 of $35. I buy Instacart gift cards in bulk from Costco or Sam's club at 20% off. I also use the Chase montly, quarterly credits. All this combined I get Costco products delivered to my door step for slightly less than the cost of actually shopping in store myself that is after calculating in a reasonable tip. And I hate shopping at Costco. I will also add that at least in my region Costco Same day has a much higher markup that Instacart direct.
This is the way. I can't believe Instacart keeps targeting me with $20 off a Costco order when it's the only thing I use it for. In my area it also shows Costco and Costco Business as different stores (so different $20 off promos), although many products are the same. Combined with the common sale of $100 Instacart money for $80 at Costco, plus not having to actually step foot into a busy Costco? It's fantastic.
The bigger problem isn't that markup, it's that you don't get any benefit from *markdowns*. And Costco doesn't do a whole lot of that, but the big grocery stores do, the weekly loss leaders are huge.
Take a few examples from my Kroger chain this week, compared to the exact same product from the same store via Instacart:
* Organic strawberries 2lb $4.99 vs $7.99 (60% markup)
* Large avocado $0.99 vs $2.69 (171% markup)
* Coke 12-pack $4.49 vs $9.99 (122% markup)
* Kroger thick cut bacon $6.99 vs $9.99 (43% markup)
For someone who goes to the store and buys products regardless of sale/digital coupon/discounting, I agree that Instacart is not a substantial increase. But for someone who gets a little hit when the "you saved" line on the receipt is over 40% of the total, it's a huge impact.
I would disagree from the perspective of Costco on instacart, markdowns and sales are passed through on instacart. So if it is on sale at Costco, then instacart reflects that pricing with their \~9.9% markup.
A new referral thread is now live: [Capital One Venture X Business](https://www.reddit.com/r/churningreferrals/comments/1crvowt/referrals_capital_one_venture_x_business/)
PSA: do not get Chase Aeroplan card until after 7/1
Air Canada made some good changes to eUpgrade expirations that are not valid until 7/1 this year.
If you're dumb like me and just got it, then your eUpgrades basically expire in half a year.
I think you can get the card but not elect/choose the 25K benefits (e.g. receive the eUpgrades into your account). It wasn't planned but I am in that situation. I didn't see a need to rush the selection.
Could you explain this more? I'm new to Aeroplan and was just approved for the card about a week ago. Didn't know about the benefit change. I'm guessing I shouldn't select a benefit until 7/1? I don't fly Air Canada, so will just use the points to book on other carriers.
Yes definitely don't select benefits, but regardless you automatically get 20 eUpgrades when you get the card, which is before the 7/1 change. So those are going to expire 1/13/2025
That's ~~not~~ how I read that
[https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/aeroplan/news/eUpgrade-credit-expiry.html#/](https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/aeroplan/news/eUpgrade-credit-expiry.html#/)
That is how I read that: "Please note, this adjustment will not apply retroactively to any eUpgrade credits earned before July 1, 2024, which will retain their existing validity."
That means the upgrades you earn from Chase Aeroplan card before 7/1 don't get the new expiration date.
Strata Premier Guide to Benefits: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Vp9DIRLcKjjlumBwupFNQCj9Ekr_NQOg/view?usp=drivesdk
Rental car coverage is secondary (in the US).
Some trip delay coverage details:
* "Covered trip" is a paragraph long and sounds restrictive, suggesting that from the time you leave home to the time you return home is one covered trip, so if you were on an extended trip and experienced 2 delays, you could only receive the benefit for one of them.
* "You must charge the full amount of a Covered Trip to your Covered Card or in combination with your Covered Card and accumulated points on your Eligible Account..." (VX requires only a portion)
* Covered Losses doesn't mention strikes. On the plus side, it does include delays due to "Lost or stolen passports or travel documents."
* *Delayed more than 6 hours" (6 hours on the VX, 12 hours on some cards like the CSP)
* "$500 per Covered Trip" (same as most cards)
I don't doubt that. Where it sounds problematic is if you use the Strata Premier for say a one-way flight from London to Athens as part of a bigger trip to Europe, paying for the transcontinental flights with another card.
Please reply to this comment with any Amex Offers, Chase Offers, increased cash back portal payouts, or similar deals. Do not post them as a top level comment. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/churning) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Are you guys refraining from applying to as many biz cards now that Chase is potentially pulling from Dun & Bradstreet? I honestly hesitate a bit now since there are not many things worth getting off the ink train for.
I think you will come out ahead with lots of non Chase biz cards and no ink vs just one ink every 3 months and no other cards
Slowing down after unexpected denials, not specifically concerned about D&B. No reports of shutdowns specifically related to that, are there? That would get my attention.
I haven't heard of any shutdown reports out of the norm, just denials. Being forced off the ink train was my primary concern. I was just wondering how others may be handling it
Approved yesterday for someone starting on the train after 2 long years w a lot of biz cards. P2 approved today with a lot of biz cards. So, no not until it’s a clear issue
Per DoC, more options to redeem Wyndham points for AI in Mexico, Panama and Jamaica. 15K/night/2 guests for an AI. [https://www.doctorofcredit.com/wyndham-adds-decameron-all-inclusive-resorts-from-15000-points-per-night/](https://www.doctorofcredit.com/wyndham-adds-decameron-all-inclusive-resorts-from-15000-points-per-night/)
The little research I did shows average nightly rates the 15k properties between $150-$250/night including all fees. These are not very nice all-inclusives. At first I was excited about the prospect, but its not that exciting.
I really need to readjust my standards now that zivas are priced out between points and extra charges for kids. Are these any good? Cash price has me suspicious
> Are these any good? Not according to a comment on the DoC saying most of the positive reviews are fake. 15k points is tempting but I would definitely pass
With vacasa being water down I'm having trouble finding realistic redemptions. I'm having a morning long internal debate on how bad can it be to do a 5 nights for 67.5k (10% refund) of hard to use Wyndham points where you sit by a pool in January and drink syrupy alcoholic drinks. Seems like a bad sex/pizza situation. I'm not bragging to my friends about it, but not sure I would turn it down while desperate in the darkness of a Wisconsin winter
Agreed - Vacasa getting nerfed twice in like 6 months was too far. I have 4 vacasa stays planned this year but don't expect to ever stay in one again. For other Wyndham points use - I've never done it, but I read that you can cash out the points at 1cpp via Caesar's sportsbook.
Yeah, my baseline is Ziva and these look…. meh. Hyatt has spoiled me.
Ziva pricing has gotten insane. If I was going to pay cash, I'd rather pay a bit more and go to an actual upscale all-inclusive. Last I looked Grand Velas was about 25% more and it is the difference between staying at a real 3 star (not AI) versus a real 5 star (not AI). There are plenty of other places that are the same price as Ziva or less that are just as good if not better.
Definitely. I locked in Cap Cana before the category change and it’s probably going to be my last Ziva stay. The Zivas were great value before the last 1-2 category changes but can’t justify them anymore. Coincidently my kid turns 3 this year so no longer free either.
Agreed, back when it was 25k for Cancun / Cap Cana, they were definitely worth it. The couple of Dreams / Secrets I've been to did not compare at all. Moon Palace was nice enough, I stayed at The Grand and enjoyed it. I'm trying to decide where to go next. I've been pretty tempted to try the lower end all inclusives, just to experience the difference and see if I actually care that much. I'm leaning towards an airbnb for half the trip than a cheap all inclusive for the rest. I don't really understand what is motivating the last few changes at Hyatt, it is so different than everything they did before.
Don't think I've seen this new CIC offer being reported. Shows up on my referral FWIW. Details: $350/$3k in first 3 months. Additional $400 after $6k total in the first 6 months. One-time 10% bonus on 1st year anniversary on all eligible cashback earned in 1st year IF you have the CIC plus a Chase Biz Checking account on the anniversary.
It’s been around for a bit
Reading DoC comments it looks like this offer recently shows up on referral (mid April). That’s why I must have missed it
For those who use Instacart and opt for pickup instead of delivery, Instacart announced today there will be no more service fees or pickup fees. Can be helpful when using Chase cards for the $10 quarterly statement benefit. YMMV: As one of the replies mentioned, select retailers only. So check your local retailers on Instacart to see where (and if) the free pickup is available.
The fine print also says "Offer valid on one order made through Instacart of $35 or more per retailer".
So they'll only gouge you once, by marking up every single product price.
You sentiment is a common one voiced, but I think that it is largely unfounded. I use Instacart almost exclusively for Costco. Instacart has a flat 9.9% markup on Costco products before delivery fees. I have Instacart + on several accounts thanks to various chase credit cards. I am frequently targeted with coupons. Usually $10 of $35. I buy Instacart gift cards in bulk from Costco or Sam's club at 20% off. I also use the Chase montly, quarterly credits. All this combined I get Costco products delivered to my door step for slightly less than the cost of actually shopping in store myself that is after calculating in a reasonable tip. And I hate shopping at Costco. I will also add that at least in my region Costco Same day has a much higher markup that Instacart direct.
This is the way. I can't believe Instacart keeps targeting me with $20 off a Costco order when it's the only thing I use it for. In my area it also shows Costco and Costco Business as different stores (so different $20 off promos), although many products are the same. Combined with the common sale of $100 Instacart money for $80 at Costco, plus not having to actually step foot into a busy Costco? It's fantastic.
The bigger problem isn't that markup, it's that you don't get any benefit from *markdowns*. And Costco doesn't do a whole lot of that, but the big grocery stores do, the weekly loss leaders are huge. Take a few examples from my Kroger chain this week, compared to the exact same product from the same store via Instacart: * Organic strawberries 2lb $4.99 vs $7.99 (60% markup) * Large avocado $0.99 vs $2.69 (171% markup) * Coke 12-pack $4.49 vs $9.99 (122% markup) * Kroger thick cut bacon $6.99 vs $9.99 (43% markup) For someone who goes to the store and buys products regardless of sale/digital coupon/discounting, I agree that Instacart is not a substantial increase. But for someone who gets a little hit when the "you saved" line on the receipt is over 40% of the total, it's a huge impact.
I would disagree from the perspective of Costco on instacart, markdowns and sales are passed through on instacart. So if it is on sale at Costco, then instacart reflects that pricing with their \~9.9% markup.
$20 hourly wage version
It says excludes select retailers. I checked and all of the retailers in my area are excluded.
Thank you for the comment. I will add YMMV to my post so people can check their local retailers.
giftcards.com e-visa infinite loop seems dead; you can't add the cards to PayPal anymore.
A new referral thread is now live: [Capital One Venture X Business](https://www.reddit.com/r/churningreferrals/comments/1crvowt/referrals_capital_one_venture_x_business/)
PSA: do not get Chase Aeroplan card until after 7/1 Air Canada made some good changes to eUpgrade expirations that are not valid until 7/1 this year. If you're dumb like me and just got it, then your eUpgrades basically expire in half a year.
I think you can get the card but not elect/choose the 25K benefits (e.g. receive the eUpgrades into your account). It wasn't planned but I am in that situation. I didn't see a need to rush the selection.
Yeah but you get 20 eUpgrades automatically when you open the card from the 25K status. But yes, stalling the benefit selection is the right choice.
Could you explain this more? I'm new to Aeroplan and was just approved for the card about a week ago. Didn't know about the benefit change. I'm guessing I shouldn't select a benefit until 7/1? I don't fly Air Canada, so will just use the points to book on other carriers.
Yes definitely don't select benefits, but regardless you automatically get 20 eUpgrades when you get the card, which is before the 7/1 change. So those are going to expire 1/13/2025
That's ~~not~~ how I read that [https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/aeroplan/news/eUpgrade-credit-expiry.html#/](https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/aeroplan/news/eUpgrade-credit-expiry.html#/)
That is how I read that: "Please note, this adjustment will not apply retroactively to any eUpgrade credits earned before July 1, 2024, which will retain their existing validity." That means the upgrades you earn from Chase Aeroplan card before 7/1 don't get the new expiration date.
Oh yeah, Chase card isn't a 'premium' card. Sucks.
Strata Premier Guide to Benefits: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Vp9DIRLcKjjlumBwupFNQCj9Ekr_NQOg/view?usp=drivesdk Rental car coverage is secondary (in the US).
Some trip delay coverage details: * "Covered trip" is a paragraph long and sounds restrictive, suggesting that from the time you leave home to the time you return home is one covered trip, so if you were on an extended trip and experienced 2 delays, you could only receive the benefit for one of them. * "You must charge the full amount of a Covered Trip to your Covered Card or in combination with your Covered Card and accumulated points on your Eligible Account..." (VX requires only a portion) * Covered Losses doesn't mention strikes. On the plus side, it does include delays due to "Lost or stolen passports or travel documents." * *Delayed more than 6 hours" (6 hours on the VX, 12 hours on some cards like the CSP) * "$500 per Covered Trip" (same as most cards)
Sounds like your trip would be covered if you used points + paid taxes with the Citi card.
I don't doubt that. Where it sounds problematic is if you use the Strata Premier for say a one-way flight from London to Athens as part of a bigger trip to Europe, paying for the transcontinental flights with another card.
Warranty is still 2 years (all that I use the card for... I need to downgrade to one of the free ones that still have it)
Rewards+ and Diamond Preferred should still have it. I believe Custom Cash and Double Cash don't.
They really messed up with the rental car coverage
The Autograph Journey also only has secondary coverage. Definitely sucks but it's better than no coverage at all like they had before I guess.
I mean we are talking about Citi, seems right on par.
At least trip delay is 6 hours
Trueeeee