Category Archives for Credit Cards.
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.
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.”
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.
It’s now possible to earn Star Alliance Gold status through credit card spend alone, and to earn transferable Star Alliance points in the Star Alliance Rewards program.
Star Alliance has launched its first stand-alone credit card, in the Australian market. This is expected to expand.
The bet is that the bank will lose money on interchange, but make money on APR. They’re looking for customers who will revolve. Banks lose money on some customers (who pay off their bills each month) while making money on those who pay monthly interest charges.
In the final sketch of the Elon Musk episode Saturday Night Live last year, Musk suggested creating a currency based on “whatever we say it’s based on.” Now the Dogefather has filed paperwork for Twitter to get into the payments business.
In a Q&A today with advertisers, he described users “link[ing] their online bank account to Twitter” and offering “extremely compelling money market account to get extremely high yield on your balance.” They’ll also offer a debit card and other services.
In addition to a biggest-ever bonus there are changes to the card’s earning, and benefits – including to the $99+tax annual companion pass.
In our deeply divided world, where we can’t seem to decide whether Elon Musk is a hero to the left (electric cars and solar energy) or villain (since if he allows former President Trump to trashpost on twitter that’ll be a threat to democracy, though it likely helps the political fortunes of Democrats), there’s one thing we can all come together over. Taylor Swift. Hero to the alt-right and to the cultural left.
Two weeks ago Paypal introduced language into its terms and conditions that allowed them to withdraw $2500 from your account for each time they believed you “promot[ed] misinformation” or you sent, posted or published “messages, content, or materials that, in PayPal’s sole discretion, (a) are harmful, obscene, harassing, or objectionable.”
After an online backlash they pulled the language from their update. They called it a mistake, but once the internet outrage died down they brought it back.
October 1 was the inaugural Bilt Rewards ‘Rent Day’. There were some smashing deals, and they promised to be back monthly.
They’re back with some great offers including elite status with United Airlines – literally for everyone.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
