Delta Amex....never had an issue w/ using miles. Pay for as much as possible on this card then pay it off. First class to Maui last year on miles, and to LV next week, in addition to a few other regional places from time to time.
Credit Cards Rewards
- Thread starter catfanbrad
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I get you guys are stuck checking bags with your wives, so just stay out of our way.
Meh, I'd say that joke which started 15 years ago as a semi-sheltered college kid has run it's course.. Approaching 100 flights at this point ...as a non business-traveling 36 year old, I'd say I have a pretty decent handle on things by now.
Amazingly, not once have I ever encountered no bin space as a result of non-priority boarding.
Our checked didn't arrive once (San Juan), and it was indeed awful. Just part of the deal, assume everyone gets touched a time or two at some point. Taking a week vacation without checked baggage simply isn't an option if you are a heterosexual traveling with a partner.
Amazingly, not once have I ever encountered no bin space as a result of non-priority boarding.
Our checked didn't arrive once (San Juan), and it was indeed awful. Just part of the deal, assume everyone gets touched a time or two at some point. Taking a week vacation without checked baggage simply isn't an option if you are a heterosexual traveling with a partner.
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These new overhead bin designs may make storage limitations go away or at least be greatly reduced:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/overhead-bins-that-actually-fit-bags-1444840178?alg=y
I dunno man. How am I supposed to believe an article in the Wall Street Journal, about an engineer from Boeing had his bag taken away from lack of overhead bin space, over Bbdk- who has almost 100 flights under his belt. Probably made the story up.
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I've literally been flying since I was 5 years old when we moved from our home country to settle in the united states. I also lived in Arizona for some time and flew back to the east at least 4 times a year and have probably flown well over 500 times. I've had my overhead not fit one time, and they checked it for me planeside and I just picked it up as I walked out of the plane. I've had my checked bags not get back to me twice, both international flights where the connecting flight in germany or belgium were really close to our landing time and we had to run to get them and I pretty much knew I was SOL. They were both delivered to me at 8AM the following morning.
Do not at all understand the people that are paranoid about their bags fitting or get all hot and bothered about checking in their bags, but in general people are just annoying I guess. Also don't understand the people that all hop out of their seats when the plane lands and just stand in the isle like a bunch of idiots waiting for the plane doors to open for 10 minutes. Never understood that. Also don't get people that enjoy boarding a plane early. Nothing better than getting a headstart at sitting in your cramped airplane seat instead of the airy airport!
But I also have no clue what the hell you guys are talking about with airline rewards points. I'm a southwest member that gets points, but I don't have their credit card. I feel like I've been completely missing out but it also seems rather complicated.
Do not at all understand the people that are paranoid about their bags fitting or get all hot and bothered about checking in their bags, but in general people are just annoying I guess. Also don't understand the people that all hop out of their seats when the plane lands and just stand in the isle like a bunch of idiots waiting for the plane doors to open for 10 minutes. Never understood that. Also don't get people that enjoy boarding a plane early. Nothing better than getting a headstart at sitting in your cramped airplane seat instead of the airy airport!
But I also have no clue what the hell you guys are talking about with airline rewards points. I'm a southwest member that gets points, but I don't have their credit card. I feel like I've been completely missing out but it also seems rather complicated.
^ you must have missed the WSJ article, then.
Priority boarding, or it looks like you're stuck traveling with no luggage, bub. Hopefully your destination will have a store where you can purchase all new things LOL.
Priority boarding, or it looks like you're stuck traveling with no luggage, bub. Hopefully your destination will have a store where you can purchase all new things LOL.
Two bad situations got me a lot of credit card debt: unnecessary spending in my early 20's, long term unemployment in my late 20's.
So I haven't even used a credit card in probably two years. Would like to have one that I pay off monthly but I don't even know if that's an option for me right now. Two of my cards recently had their credit limit increased without me asking for it, so I assume my credit isn't complete dogshit.
So I haven't even used a credit card in probably two years. Would like to have one that I pay off monthly but I don't even know if that's an option for me right now. Two of my cards recently had their credit limit increased without me asking for it, so I assume my credit isn't complete dogshit.
Also have to add that SkyMall going bankrupt is a travesty and makes traveling much worse. And also surprised it lasted as long as it did, but man what enjoyable and ridiculous reading that was.
Also I met one of the "top doctors in america" people that are in those magazines - payed a cool 15K to be named one of those. Always figured it was some stupid marketing thing but still kind of nice to have it confirmed.
Also I met one of the "top doctors in america" people that are in those magazines - payed a cool 15K to be named one of those. Always figured it was some stupid marketing thing but still kind of nice to have it confirmed.
Sign up on Credit Karma, you can view your 'Transunion' & 'Experian' scores for free, with no inquiry.
They are not FICO (the real deal) scores, but I've compared them to my actual FICOs for a few years now, and it's pretty damn close...certainly good enough to get a gauge on where you stand & also track your inquiries.
Getting a credit card and paying it off monthly is a great way to rebuild that score.
I think I have about 15 active cards, no telling how many closed.
Citi Dividend, AMEX Blue Cash, AMEX Citi, Chase Hyatt, Chase Marriott, Chase Freedom, Chase Sapphire Preffered, Chase SW Personal and Biz, a few Citi Hiltons, Citi AA Exec Plat, Discover it x2, Wells Fargo 5x CB.
Rotate those categories.
Credit Karma
Citi Dividend, AMEX Blue Cash, AMEX Citi, Chase Hyatt, Chase Marriott, Chase Freedom, Chase Sapphire Preffered, Chase SW Personal and Biz, a few Citi Hiltons, Citi AA Exec Plat, Discover it x2, Wells Fargo 5x CB.
Rotate those categories.
Credit Karma
If you're 700+, feel free to go ahead and do 2-3 new cards every 91 days...just be mindful to spread them out amongst different banks/bureaus -- lots of good info/strategy on this from the sites Anth mentioned earlier.
...overall, your score will continue to rise.
The best time is for a newbie, b/c you have endless options available.
...overall, your score will continue to rise.
The best time is for a newbie, b/c you have endless options available.
Also, if those old cards (or any others) you have don't have annual fees....keep them open FOREVER -- helps with your avg credit age.
I need a card that will get me and the wife to jamaica, bahamas, etc. I don't fly domestic and I only want 1 card. What you got?
Been telling my wife that I am getting a CC with airline miles since I read this thread about a year ago. Finally getting around to getting one for a trip next April and realized I have no idea WTF I am doing, like most things in life. Since everybody on the Paddock knows everything, figure this is the logical place to go for advice.
You've come to right place for sure. Money advice is some of the best info given on here. You should get 5 credit cards with airline miles. Maybe even start a LLC to maximize the benefits
I charge everything on a fidelity 2% back card and pay it off monthly. Rewards $ go into my ira.
Excellent observation. Your Paddock prides itself on offering the :
richest posters.
finest bourbons.
greatest beers.
grandest vacations ever conceived by western inhabitants.
fastest automobiles and motorcycles available in the United States.
fairest Beyoncés.
coolest photography.
coldest winters.
hottest summers.
most profitable investment advice.
crispiest pizza.
spiciest chicken.
freshest burgers.
juiciest fruits.
worldliest political advice
The list goes on. Enjoy, my friend. Aloha.
1 Southwest card for each of you will get you to both places (50K points each) potentially multiple times if you book in advance or during a sale.
Capital One GM card - 5% of your purchase in points you can use towards the purchase of a new GM vehicle. I've maxed it out twice and used it on new car purchases - saved $2600 the first time and $3000 the last time.
Somewhat related--What's the best strategy if you have a bunch of points in a standard rewards program and you want to transfer to a frequent flyer program, etc. to maximize their value?
I basically ignored my AmEx Rewards for the last couple of years, but I've been reluctant to use those points to book travel directly through them. It seems like there has to be a better value out there, right?
I basically ignored my AmEx Rewards for the last couple of years, but I've been reluctant to use those points to book travel directly through them. It seems like there has to be a better value out there, right?
I lost my status the first half of last year and it sucked. I was put in group 4/5 boarding and there were quite a few times I didn't have bin space, had to check my bags and was a real pain in the ass waiting on my bag. I couldn't get my status back fast enough.
Since this thread has been brought back from the dead, maybe someone can clarify an earlier post.
The poster said that your credit score will go up if you have a 700+ credit score and go out and get a bunch of credit cards. Is this true?
I have been working to rebuild my credit from some mistakes in my early 20's. Have it a little over 700 now but my understanding is that you do not want to have a bunch of credit cards even if you pay them off monthly. This coming from my quicken loans credit specialist guy.
Should also say that I have recently sold my home and wil be purchasing another once I find one I like. Hence the reason for quicken loans assistance. Maybe his reasoning is related more to debt/income ratio.
Just curious. Any info would be helpful. Thanks.
The poster said that your credit score will go up if you have a 700+ credit score and go out and get a bunch of credit cards. Is this true?
I have been working to rebuild my credit from some mistakes in my early 20's. Have it a little over 700 now but my understanding is that you do not want to have a bunch of credit cards even if you pay them off monthly. This coming from my quicken loans credit specialist guy.
Should also say that I have recently sold my home and wil be purchasing another once I find one I like. Hence the reason for quicken loans assistance. Maybe his reasoning is related more to debt/income ratio.
Just curious. Any info would be helpful. Thanks.
Over time, it's absolutely true -- assuming you don't carry high balances and make timely payments.
If you are in the middle of the home buying process, it could become an issue b/c if you start taking out a bunch of credit cards while they are underwriting -- but otherwise, no.
Lenders these days get pissed off it you deposit $4 and can't document where it came from, so keep your accounts quiet until your loan is funded.
If you are in the middle of the home buying process, it could become an issue b/c if you start taking out a bunch of credit cards while they are underwriting -- but otherwise, no.
Lenders these days get pissed off it you deposit $4 and can't document where it came from, so keep your accounts quiet until your loan is funded.
Definitely don't want to open up new credit lines during (or prior to) a home purchase or refi. I knew someone that was in a home purchase and took out a line of credit to buy furniture, and it caused problems. They key on credit cards is to keep the utilization below (or around) 15% of your limit. So if you have a $20k limit, don't have a balance over $3k. There is a myth that carrying a balance helps improve your credit, that's a myth. If you can pay it every month, then do it.
Yep, HAVING credit improves your scores, not carrying a balance. If you have no annual fee cards, cut them up & keep them open forever -- or as long as the company allows you to. Eventually, they may shut them down for non-use -- but, it helps with your credit age/utilization.
If you've never had to check your bag because of bin space filling up, you've either been lucky or only fly SW. I fly 2-4 times a month and I see it frequently. It also sucks if you have to put your bag 20 rows behind where you're sitting because that's the only available spot. Then you have to wait for damn near everyone to deplane before you can make your way back there to get it.
It's not usually a big deal with SW because many more people check their bags since there isn't a fee for that. I'd say that on 75% of my Delta flights they're taking people's luggage and checking it if you're not in Zone 1 or better. Of course zone 1 with Delta is actually the fourth group that can board.
It's not usually a big deal with SW because many more people check their bags since there isn't a fee for that. I'd say that on 75% of my Delta flights they're taking people's luggage and checking it if you're not in Zone 1 or better. Of course zone 1 with Delta is actually the fourth group that can board.
Not sure what I was waiting for....but just got approved for the Chase Sapphire card. Pretty excited about it...card seems like a beast. Those that have the card...do you find that you're booking reward travel through Ultimate Rewards or transferring points to airline & hotel partners more often?
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