Credit Cards

Category Archives for Credit Cards.

Delta Opens The Kimono On Their SkyMiles Credit Card, Now About 1% Of The Whole Country’s GDP

by Gary Leff on June 28, 2023

Jun 28 2023

Before the pandemic the American Airlines co-brand portfolio had the largest charge volume, but American, United and Delta were all over $100 billion annually. Delta now says they’re “approaching 1% of U.S. GDP” on their co-brand cards, which would be ~ $255 billion.

Inflation helps, but it’s reasonable to think they’re suggesting they’re around $200 billion in annual charge volume on Delta Amex cards. Even if American and United are lagging Delta’s growth surely then these three airline co-brands are now taking a slice out of more than 2% of U.S. GDP.

Capital One Has New Design-Focused Hotel Collection, Better Benefits Than Booking Direct?

by Gary Leff on June 27, 2023

Jun 27 2023

At the beginning of the year, Capital One launched their premium hotel collection with extra benefits for Venture X cardmembers. Now they’re extending this to a new type of hotel and crucially these are available to Venture X, Venture X Business, Venture, and Spark Miles cardmembers.

Up To $25 In Lyft Credits From Bilt Rewards (Free To Join)

by Gary Leff on June 26, 2023

Jun 26 2023

Bilt Rewards, the program that rewards you for paying rent, has the most lucrative partnership with Lyft. You earn their transferable points for rides you would take anyway, in addition to points earned on your credit card for the spending. For Rent Day – Bilt has lucrative special offers on the first of every month – Bilt and Lyft are offering free ride credit. All Bilt members are eligible for a $10 ride credit Members with the Bilt Mastercard receive a $20 ride credit If you ride Lyft on July 1 (Rent Day) you get an additional $5 credit. Link your Bilt and Lyft accounts in the app, if you haven’t already, and you should because you earn Bilt points for your rides and this is better in my view than earning Delta, Hilton or…

People Who Say ‘Credit Card Rewards Are Scams’ Are Scamming You

by Gary Leff on June 26, 2023

Jun 26 2023

Rewards are not for everyone. If you can’t be strategic, if you can’t handle your finances, then you shouldn’t play. Dave Ramsey profits off scams but also has advice that is helpful to a segment of the population that can’t manage money. The problem is that Ramsey thinks it applies to everyone, and he’s wrong.

The Biggest Reason Not To Get A New Credit Card (How Many Of You Does This Apply To?)

by Gary Leff on June 21, 2023

Jun 21 2023

There are some situations where getting one card precludes you from getting something else, whether it’s the best deal on a mortgage (usually not an issue, but always best to be safe before applying) or another credit card. When there’s a tradeoff you have to consider which choice delivers more value to you.

Citi AAdvantage Executive Card Fee Increases: Some Published, More To Come

by Gary Leff on June 21, 2023

Jun 21 2023

Back in the fall I wrote that Citi would be ending the benefit of no annual fee authorized users with Admirals Club access, and likely raising the annual fee on the card itself as well. The ability for a single $450 annual fee to generate 11 cards (primary plus up to 10 authorized user cards) each with the ability to enter Admirals Clubs and also bring up to two guests was simply too good a deal.

NEW: 20% Transfer Bonus From Chase To Air Canada Aeroplan

by Gary Leff on June 15, 2023

Jun 15 2023

Chase is offering a 20% bonus on transfers from Ultimate Rewards to Air Canada Aeroplan through July 31, 2023.

Congressional Bill Cracking Down On Credit Card Rewards Gets Re-Introduced

by Gary Leff on June 8, 2023

Jun 08 2023

Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) have re-introduced their bill to crack down on credit card interchange. That’s the cost businesses pay to accept credit cards. Since banks and card networks like Visa and Mastercard make money on each transaction, they spend money to encourage those transactions. That’s what funds credit card rewards. It’s even to a large extent what funds the airlines, when carriers like American often don’t make money flying planes but ultimately earn money selling their miles to banks. Reducing interchange reduces card rewards. Of course if that were somehow good for the world, it would be tough to argue for our miles and points. But it isn’t good for the world. Countries that have capped interchange haven’t seen prices fall to consumers. Consumers are used here a fig leaf…

United Airlines And Chase Handing Out Bonus Miles To Encourage “Everyone To Fly With Pride”

by Gary Leff on June 5, 2023

Jun 05 2023

I think this is great. If this is something you want to support, you can earn more miles doing so. And if it’s not, you can ignore the offer. Of course in 2023 it’s not so simple.

June Bilt Rent Day: Free Business Class For 2 On Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, And Free Points

by Gary Leff on May 29, 2023

May 29 2023

Bilt Rewards, the program that lets you earn transferable points paying rent, turns two. And each month they offer rich promotions the first of the month for ‘Rent Day’. This month you can instant win 100,000 Bilt points or points for Virgin or Emirates business class roundtrips for two, on top of points for trivia and double points on card spend.