Credit Cards

Category Archives for Credit Cards.

Here’s The Only Way The New Chase-United Credit Card Deal Makes Sense

by Gary Leff on February 23, 2020

Feb 23 2020

I think I’ve figured out why Chase and Visa would agree to give United $400 million more a year – starting right away – for a credit card deal they already had in place for several years.

Much of United’s explanation why made no sense. This new deal isn’t likely to lead to a lot of “portfolio growth” (more cardmembers). They already were introducing new cards, new benefits, and have been running aggressive acquisition bonuses. However 5 words in United’s SEC filing seem to give away the plot.

United’s Explanation Of Their New Chase Credit Card Deal Makes No Sense

by Gary Leff on February 23, 2020

Feb 23 2020

Chase and United are long term partners issuing United-branded credit cards. Their existing deal ran into 2025. They’ve extended the deal into 2029. United says the new deal will increase their revenue this year by $400 million. I’m having a hard time making sense of that number.

United And Chase Extend Credit Card Deal Through 2029

by Gary Leff on February 21, 2020

Feb 21 2020

Chase and United have extended their credit card agreement into 2029. United will remain a Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partner. And Chase is, it seems, paying United more for the miles that it awards to customers – the airline says its bottom line will improve $400 million in 2020 alone.

Barclays Launching An Emirates Credit Card In The U.S.

by Gary Leff on February 13, 2020

Feb 13 2020

Emirates offers a great product. They have some interesting airline partnerships. And they serve a number of U.S. gateways. To make a U.S. co-brand attractive they could take a lesson from the Chase British Airways card and offer a statement credit towards taxes and fees on redemptions each year, as well as offer fast mileage-earning and progress towards elite status along with upgrades on the airline.

Visa Revamping Rates Charged To Merchants, May Affect Card Bonuses Some Banks Can Afford

by Gary Leff on February 6, 2020

Feb 06 2020

Visa is adjusting merchant swipe fees across the board for the first time in a decade. The fees grocers charge will go down. Rates will also be lower for health-care, education and real estate, areas where Visa would like to win market share away from checks. Meanwhile the fee for online (‘card not present’) transactions will go up.

Banks want to bonus small dollar, frequent spend like groceries to get customers in the habit of using their cards, keeping them top of wallet for unbonused spend. The categories where this makes sense to banks though will change based on the revenue associated with each type of transaction.

Special Restaurant Reservations For Chase Cardmembers

by Gary Leff on February 2, 2020

Feb 02 2020

A year ago Capital One launched a relationship with dining reservations site Resy, setting aside tables at great restaurants for cardmembers. American Express went and acquired Resy and now American Express has a much weaker Resy partnership. Capital One quickly went out and partnered with OpenTable.

Yet somehow I didn’t even realize that before these things happened – a full 19 months ago – Chase launched a partnership with restaurant booking site Tock, which sells tickets to restaurants (top end restaurants with limited seating charge you in advance for pre fixe meals through the site).

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Review [2020]

by Gary Leff on January 31, 2020

Jan 31 2020

While other cards have come along and upped their game since Sapphire Reserve’s introduction, this guide should tell you whether it’s still the best card for you to keep top of wallet.

Get Started on a Southwest Airlines Companion Pass In The New Year

by Gary Leff on January 11, 2020

Jan 11 2020

A companion pass is arguably the best deal in all of travel, it allows you to bring a companion along on your Southwest Airlines travels for just the cost of taxes – whether you buy your own ticket with cash or with points.

Now is the best time to prepare to earn one – because if you earn it at the start of 2020 it’ll last nearly two full years.

120,000 Point Signup Offer for Radisson Visa

by Gary Leff on January 11, 2020

Radisson Red Minneapolis - Oui Bar and Kitchen

Jan 11 2020

Back in December there was a first-ever 100,000 point signup bonus offer for the Radisson Rewards Visa.

Now though there’s a 120,000 point offer after $3000 spend within 90 days.

Chase Will Ban Third Party Apps That Use Your Password To Screen Scrape Their Site

by Gary Leff on January 4, 2020

Jan 04 2020

f you use Award Wallet to check your frequent flyer account balances, you give them the username and password for your accounts and with a single click they check your accounts for you (and you can log in with a single click as well).

Award Wallet and other services are going to have to change the way they interact with Chase, and the information they’re able to get may be limited