Credit Cards

Category Archives for Credit Cards.

Exciting – New Hilton Credit Cards Launching This Week

by Gary Leff on January 14, 2018

Jan 14 2018

With American Express getting exclusivity to issue Hilton co-brand credit cards in the U.S., and Citi’s Hilton cards retired, Amex will be launching new cards and improving benefits this week — expected for Thursday the 18th. The base Hilton Honors American Express Card remains the same but eliminates foreign transaction fees. The Hilton Honors Surpass® Card from American Express is going to become the Hilton Honors American Express Ascend Card. The annual fee goes up from $75 to $95, but it adds 10 Priority Pass free visits per year and a free weekend night each year after spending $15,000 in purchases on the card in a calendar year. And the card looks attractive, too. It’s important to note that if you’ve had the Surpass card, the Ascend card will not be considered a new product.…

Readers: What Are the Cards You’re Using Most?

by Gary Leff on January 13, 2018

Jan 13 2018

I’ve shared with you what’s in my wallet and why.

This is your opportunity to take shots at my strategy, or to offer your own an explain why it makes sense for you. What cards are you using for the most spend?

American Express Improves Membership Rewards Transfer Rate to Hilton

by Gary Leff on January 2, 2018

Jan 02 2018

American Express Membership Rewards points have historically transferred to Hilton at a rate of 1000 -> 1500. So 1 Amex point was worth 1.5 Hilton points.

That’s not a rate I’d want to transfer at. I value Hilton points at 4/10ths of a cent and Amex points at 1.8 cents apiece. Sometimes they’d run bonuses where 1 Amex point would yield 2 Hilton, still not a great deal but better of course.

Here are Secrets Holiday Inn Express Tells Hotel Owners. Now You Know, Too.

by Gary Leff on August 17, 2014

Aug 17 2014

Hotel franchise manuals contain all sorts of interesting tidbits, from the specific details of brand standards (the experience they’re obligated to provide to you as a guest) to how they allocate rooms for reward nights. Back in December I shared juicy tidbits from Best Western’s document. Loyalty Lobby mentioned that the Holiday Inn Express franchise manual (from 2012) could be found online, unprotected. So I googled it. Here is the .pdf. It tells you everything from the maximum price to send a fax or for photocopies, that all Holiday Inn Express hotels must provide complimentary tooth brush, tooth paste, comb, and razor/shaving cream, and that the hotel’s computers must load McAfee protection software, among other items. Here are some of the things that I found interesting. Hotels are required to set aside at least 5%…

Continental’s Premium Credit Card

by Gary Leff on November 18, 2007

Nov 18 2007

The more I look at the Continental Presidential Plus MasterCard from Chase, the more interesting it looks — for a certain segment of frequent flyer. The $375 (gulp!) annual fee, though $300 in the first year, comes with Continental Presidents Club membership – which also gets you access to Northwest and Delta clubs. The similarly priced American Express Platinum card comes with this same lounge access plus access to American Airlines AAdmiral’s Clubs and other benefits (like the Fine Hotels and Resorts program and domestic companion airfare benefit) not matched by this card. However, for flyers seeking elite status on Continental, it offers the best credit card elite status perk I’ve seen with any airline: up to 28,000 elite qualifying miles per year through spending on the card, and best of all you can drop…

New American Credit Card Offers

by Gary Leff on October 7, 2007

Oct 07 2007

Citibank is offering 25,000 bonus miles and first year free for the Ameircan Airlines business and personal mastercards and personal American Express. All cards require $750 in spending within the first four months to qualify for the bonus. These cards can generally be churned every few months, and signing up for all is 75,000 miles at a pop.

New USAirways Business Mastercard

by Gary Leff on October 3, 2007

Oct 03 2007

Juniper Bank, which issues the USAirways Mastercard — one of the better airline mileage card values — now has a business card though it isn’t quite as lucrative. The best offers for the personal card include two years fee-free, 50% bonus miles on first year spending, and 15,000 miles with first purchase. The business card will match the signup bonus but at a $79 annual fee. (There’s a no fee version with just 5000 bonus miles at signup.)

New American Mastercard Offer to Consider — 40,000 Bonus Miles

by Gary Leff on June 2, 2007

Jun 02 2007

American and Citibank are offering up to 40,000 bonus miles with a new American Mastercard. The offer is:20,000 points for spending $750 in 4 months10,000 points for spending $10,000 during the first year10,000 points for $10,000 in purchases during the second yearFirst year fee waived Upside of the offer: lots of points if you can meet the spending requirements (which really aren’t that onerous on a monthly average basis).Downsides of the offer: you need to keep the card past year one (while the fee is waived) in order to max out the miles — so you need to pay $85 in the second year or receive no more than 30,000 miles. The offer is available for both the personal and business cards so you can actually earn 80,000 miles through the special offer… And despite…

Return of the Great USAirways Mastercard Offer

by Gary Leff on April 22, 2007

Apr 22 2007

Free Frequent Flyer Miles points out that the USAirways Mastercard offer of 15,000 bonus miles with first purchaseNo fee for two years50% bonus on all spending the first yearComplimentary USAirways Club pass each year (admit two people)Annual $99 companion certificate (there are some restrictions, but I used mine successfully last month) is still around. Truly a great deal, but don’t bother with the extra 10,000 miles for balance transfers due to the associated fees.As always (and though you’ll rarely need this) it’s a good idea to print a copy of the offer as well as the associated terms and conditions.

Best BA Visa Offer

by Gary Leff on April 18, 2007

Apr 18 2007

The usual offer for a British Airways Visa is 15,000 miles with first purchase, and the card comes with a $75 annual fee.Now there’s an offer of 20,000 miles with first purchase, though still with the fee (unlike the United, American, etc. cards there’s no first year fee waiver). As one Flyertalk member wroteAs you only need 25k round trip to upgrade from WT+ to www.newclubworld.com fully flat beds, and the fares start at $650 rtn incl tax with no co-pay, AND you earn 125% of miles on the WT+ ticket you purchase (making the net cost of a US – Europe rtn upgrade around 15k miles) then yes it’s a great deal. Absolutely worth the $75. If you don’t already have a British Airways account, signing up for the Visa will get you one.