Credit Cards

Category Archives for Credit Cards.

American Express Opening Centurion New York In Midtown With Food By Chef Daniel Boulud

by Gary Leff on January 14, 2023

Jan 14 2023

American Express has been opening a network of airport lounges over the past decade, because that’s where their cardmembers are. After initially trialing the first Centurion lounge with Centurion cardmembers only in Las Vegas, the program expanded significantly. New York is their biggest market, and it looks like they have a new space coming, at least initially for Centurion cardmembers only.

Centurion New York is expected to open in March on the 55th floor of One Vanderbilt, about a block from the Hyatt Grand Central (former Grand Hyatt), featuring food by Daniel Boulud.

[Now Live] New Simon Malls Cash Back Card Offers Up To 5% Back

by Gary Leff on January 12, 2023

Jan 12 2023

We now have full detail on stores earning 5% back: JCPenney; Aeropostale; Brooks Brothers; Nautica; Forever21; Reebok; Eddie Bauer; Lucky Brand (brands earn 5% at Simon malls and online) as well as gilt.com, ruelala.com, and shoppremiumoutlets.com. 3% and 5% categories are capped at $10,000 spend annually.

Chase Aeroplan Credit Card Adds ‘Pay Yourself Back’ Feature

by Gary Leff on January 11, 2023

Jan 11 2023

When the Aeroplan® Credit Card from Chase launched they said they’d be adding a ‘Pay Yourself Back’ feature with points worth 1.25 cents apiece towards paid travel. That feature starts January 13, 2023.

While there’s a cap of 50,000 points annually you may redeem this way, that cap does not apply in 2023.

Here Are My New Year’s Day Miles And Points Errands

by Gary Leff on January 1, 2023

Jan 01 2023

Now that the year has reset, so have a number of credit card benefits, and elite ‘tasks.’ Here’s what I went through first thing in the morning on New Years Day.

Capital One Venture X Priority Pass Cards Losing Airport Restaurant Credits

by Gary Leff on December 2, 2022

Dec 02 2022

Capital One is eliminating non-lounge airport facilities from Venture X Priority Pass cards effective January 1, 2023. This follows a similar move by American Express in summer 2019.

As a result, Capital One Priority Pass cardholders will not longer be able to swipe their cards for $28 credits at participating restaurants. Chase, by contrast, will still cover restaurant swipes for their Sapphire Reserve cardmembers.

Low Cost Carrier Avelo Launches Deal To Promote Capital One Venture Cards

by Gary Leff on November 30, 2022

Nov 30 2022

In order to be an attractive co-brand partner you need a large base of customers who are loyal to your brand. And ideally you have a currency and benefits those customers are willing to accelerate with their spend. There’s just not a huge opportunity on day one.

So Avelo has an interesting workaround. They’re not yet in a place to generate that sweet, sweet co-brand cash. But they can earn a commission on credit card signups.

Bilt: Full Week Of 6X Dining, 4X Travel, 2X On Other Spend

by Gary Leff on November 22, 2022

Nov 22 2022

The Bilt Mastercard, the no annual fee card that lets you earn points paying rent at no cost (up to $100,000 per year) and earns double points on travel and triple points on dining, earns even more one day a month for “Bilt Rent Day,” but for this month it’s running a full week thanks to Black Friday.

Bilt Launches World’s First 100% Bonus With A 1:1 Transfer Partner?

by Gary Leff on November 22, 2022

Nov 22 2022

Bilt Rewards is offering the first-even 100% transfer bonus with a partner that normally has a 1:1 ratio, at least the first that I’m aware of in twenty years.

Barstool Sports Founder Brags To Rite Aid Cashier About His 44 Million Amex Points

by Gary Leff on November 16, 2022

Nov 16 2022

The founder of Barstool Sports, David Portnoy, flexed on social media showing himself buying a pack of gum with a Black Card for $1.59 – and the terminal displays his available Membership Rewards balance of 44,403,931 points.

Sure, you can use Amex points at Rite Aid. It’s a poor value, but it’s an opportunity to show the balance in an ironic setting. The employee comments “you probably could go on a trip” and Portnoy boasts “I’ve gotta be a league leader with points.”

New Recursive Merchant Funded Offer From Chase And Lyft

by Gary Leff on November 15, 2022

Nov 15 2022

We’ve seen American Express load up on merchant-funded offers to show substantial cash value to cardmembers, while raising annual fees. We’ve seen Chase do the same – think DoorDash and Lyft right before the pandemic, while announcing a fee increase on the Sapphire Reserve card.

These offers can be hard to make last. Eventually the brand reaches as many customers as they are likely to reach, and no longer benefits from offering continued discounts. So issuers need a funnel of new offers to replace the ones they lose.