Credit Cards

Category Archives for Credit Cards.

New Capital One 33.3% Bonus Transferring Miles to Qantas

by Gary Leff on September 15, 2019

Sep 15 2019

Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card and Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business cardholders gained the ability to transfer to airline frequent flyer miles late last year. Now they’re launching their 5th transfer bonus of the year: a one-third (33.3%) bonus on transfers to Qantas.

Qantas is useful for inexpensive short distance awards on oneworld airlines, and for redemptions on partners like El Al and Emirates – and they don’t charge miles or a fare for infant travel on awards.

How the $600 Per Year British Airways Visa Award Travel Statement Credit Works

by Gary Leff on September 14, 2019

Sep 14 2019

This was the first airline card I know of to ever offer a 100,000 point initial bonus offer, and there’s currently an offer to earn up to 100,000 Avios.

The card now comes with up to $600 back each year when you redeem awards. It offers a statement credit for taxes and fees when redeeming British Airways Avios for BA transatlantic flights originating in the U.S.

Holy Markup: Hotel Charged a Man Nearly $70,000 for a Beer, and It’ll Take 10 Days to Get His Money Back

by Gary Leff on September 7, 2019

Sep 07 2019

We all know how overpriced minibars can be. And in major cities you have to take out a second mortgage to afford a cocktail in the bar, too. In one case that turns out to be literally true. Insult to injury? The foreign transaction fees.

50 Years Ago Today the First U.S. ATM Machine Started Dispensing Cash

by Gary Leff on September 2, 2019

Sep 02 2019

Which machine can claim to be the first modern ‘ATM’ is somewhat disputed, but certainly the modern cash dispensing ATM in the U.S., manufactured by Docutel, began 50 years ago today at Chemical Bank in Rockville Center, New York. An ad read, “On Sept. 2, our bank will open at 9:00 and never close again!”

New American Airlines 60,000 Miles + Companion Ticket Offer

by Gary Leff on August 27, 2019

Aug 27 2019

Barclays has been running an interesting new cardmember offer for their AAdvantage Aviator Red Mastercard that includes both miles and a companion ticket. I’ve confirmed that the offer will end August 31. The new offer is better — 60,000 miles and a companion ticket.

British Airways Visa Takes On Award Surcharges With New Statement Credit

by Gary Leff on August 27, 2019

Aug 27 2019

Chase has announced two major changes to the British Airways Visa, without taking anything away: faster earning and taking on high taxes and fees on awards. The important takeaway is that the card will let you redeem British Airways Avios with less of a blow from the carrier’s surcharges. As a result, the card can add value even when you’re redeeming transferred Chase or American Express points.

Chase Adds Points Transfer Partner Emirates Skywards

by Gary Leff on August 25, 2019

Aug 25 2019

Chase has added Emirates Skywards as a points transfer partner. You can also transfer American Express and Capital One points to Emirates.

Here’s how redemptions on Emirates works – how many points, where to find award space, what you can accomplish with their miles.

Why is Chase’s Sapphire Preferred Offering a 60,000 Point Initial Bonus?

by Gary Leff on August 22, 2019

Aug 22 2019

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card was the ‘it’ card several years ago and it remains just as good. It had a generous initial bonus, earned double points on travel and dining, came with primary collision coverage when you rent cards, and points transfer to a variety of airline and hotel points programs.

So why the need to increase the bonus to 60,000 points after $4000 spend in the first 3 months of cardmembership?

Chase Killing the Standalone Chase Pay App

by Gary Leff on August 21, 2019

Aug 21 2019

The mobile payments market is going to converge on a much smaller number of players. Success requires adoption at scale, and while it may not be a winner take all market — Visa, Mastercard, American Express and even Discover have been able to co-exist and both Apple Pay and Samsung Pay are stronger — there’s not room for every entrant to succeed.

Three 40% Membership Rewards Transfer Bonuses: British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus

by Gary Leff on August 1, 2019

Aug 01 2019

American Express is offering a 40% bonus on transfers from Membership Rewards to British Airways through October 1. They’re also offering the same 40% bonus on transfers to Iberia and to Aer Lingus, all of which are owned by the same company. I find that you need to log in to your Membership Rewards account to see the transfer bonuses.