I love credit cards so much!

[AmyAnne]

That happened to me this summer. I was using an old iPhone4 too, but it was soooo slowwww and I was getting so frustrated not being able to use things like Apple Pay. So, I upgraded to a new iPhone SE. It has touchID so can use Apple Pay. I will never need a super fancy phone like the X, but my little SE has made my life so much easier!

I *think* you should still be able to use ChasePay.

I am strangely emotionally attached to my current phone. It's my second smart phone - before this one, I had an iPhone that I didn't want to give up either but eventually had no choice when it got too old to update.

I definitely can use Chase Pay on my desktop as lots of retailers have it as a payment option. DH has a new-ish iPad that I might see about using Apple Pay on.

 

[wendow]

That happened to me this summer. I was using an old iPhone4 too, but it was soooo slowwww and I was getting so frustrated not being able to use things like Apple Pay. So, I upgraded to a new iPhone SE. It has touchID so can use Apple Pay. I will never need a super fancy phone like the X, but my little SE has made my life so much easier!

I *think* you should still be able to use ChasePay.

I have the iphone SE. Great little phone! I love mine too. I use Chase Pay on it.

 

[KJeff90]

I heard that I could find some great answers from great Credit Card experts here. I've gotten great responses on my thread, but thought I'd give it a try and get some input here as well.

My Original Thread, with Responses:
My Strategy for Getting Airfare for 2 "FREE" (LAX>MCO) with the JetBlue Plus MasterCard?

I recently applied for the JetBlue Plus MasterCard, and was lucky enough to get approved(credit line is kind of irrelevant, at least I think so for now). There was an introductory offer of 30,000 TrueBlue Points that is awarded after $1,000 spend within 3 months. That ship has sailed, and awarded as of the past few days.

The card also has a nice point-based system that awards 6x points for every dollar spent on JetBlue.com purchases, 2x points for every dollar spent on restaurant/grocery purchases, and 1x for every dollar spent on any other purchase. I also get the added perk of getting 50% off purchases made in flight, and checked bags for me and up to 3 people on the flight confirmation number(up to ~$100 savings each way).

I've divided up my upcoming WDW trip for 8 (Link to the pre-trip report is featured in my signature) into three things that need to be purchased: admission, resort reservation package(includes dining), and finally airfare. I was thinking that by strategically purchasing each of the three categories, it could result me in airfare for 2(maybe 3), round trip, for free with points.

For the package and admission, I would normally get 1 point/dollar; but I'm buying Disney Gift cards at Target/Food4Less/Other Grocery Stores to get double points. Then I'll use those gift cards for paying off the balance of our package/purchasing admission for 4 individuals.

Also, I've broken up the airfare bookings into 3 groups:
-First myself and the three others who would be benefiting from a free checked bag. We'd get x6/dollar, plus an additional x6/dollar for my individual ticket as the standard TrueBlue account allows.
-Then, based on how many points accumulate with the previous purchases(and the cost, in points, for airfare) I can get either the 2 or 3 into one group for free airfare, and then pay for the 1 or 2 people I need to pay for out of pocket(before the free airfare ones are booked, of course).

That's my plan of attack, but I was wondering what others think. Is there a better way to optimize and get maximum pointage/free airfare? I value thoughts, and would love to hear if anyone else has experience with the JetBlue Plus MasterCard, JetBlue, or credit cards of this nature.

 

[hsmamato2]

I think that's my apple wallet problem...old phone! I have iphone 5s,and no intention of upgrading as long it still works..... so I guess I'm limited to newer devices and online apple pay options if I want to max that category..... I'm not going to sweat it. OT from that subject..... I've been reading my own post questions here to clarify my thoughts.... I think I'm going to 'mess with' my own accts and keep Dh's 'clean for the next year anyway if I applied for JB Barcs,and the Barcs Arrival, do they allow two apps together? (I have great credit) I'm tossing these two around still,and I want both, but the Jb one is going away very soon so I have to make a decision. From what I've read the points don't expire,so I could find a use for them I'm sure. OH!! I forgot to ask.... In the past DH and I always got the AU/spouse card. Now I'm rethinking that (we always did it to meet the spend organically) think it would work to get on in teen sons name as AU,and DH can use it too if needed?(different first names tho)

 

[WVMomof3]

So when you go to generate a referral link now for Southwest - the facebook option is GONE and it only generates 40k links. This whole thing might have been a strange mistake on Chase's part. I'm not trying to start a conspiracy/panic here but I assume Chase could shut down those 50k links at any time so if getting a 50k Southwest Plus or 50k Southwest Premier card is important to you - I'd move quickly. (Of course I also know nothing and they could go up to 60k next week too hahaha). Good Luck everybody - I find myself saying this a lot lately: make the choice that's best for you!

Gahhhh!! I finally sit down this morning to put my referal links on the reddit group and I try starting with the SW cards and I can't figure out why I only generate 40,000 offers when everyone said it was 50. I went to the link you referred us to about generating FB links, and I couldn't figure that out either. Now I see why. Grrrrrrrrrr

On another note, how do you generate the links to put on the group? The only way I could figure out my link is to tweet it. Is that the only way to get it immediately? Or am I missing something?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Gahhhh!! I finally sit down this morning to put my referal links on the reddit group and I try starting with the SW cards and I can't figure out why I only generate 40,000 offers when everyone said it was 50. I went to the link you referred us to about generating FB links, and I couldn't figure that out either. Now I see why. Grrrrrrrrrr

On another note, how do you generate the links to put on the group? The only way I could figure out my link is to tweet it. Is that the only way to get it immediately? Or am I missing something?

I usually use the Twitter or Facebook option. If I tweet it, just click the link and copy website address for the application (then you can delete the tweet if you don't want it out there). On Facebook I just share it as private so only I can see it and then copy the website address for the application.

 

[amalone1013]

@Albort What San Diego hotel were you looking at a few pages back? I need to book one night there in April and can't decide...

 

[marsh0013]

The southwest referral thing is really weird. I always get my links from the Chase refer a friend site, I never had to choose Facebook or twitter, the page would just give me the link. Now it's only going me the option for Facebook or twitter.

But the links I got previously still say offer not valid (40k) and to continue on to current offer, which is still showing 50k. They were my same links I previously had there I double checked.

 

[peel]

Some people just don’t have the self-control or discipline to use credit cards without racking up debt. Even if they theoretically have enough income to cover what they’re buying. Obviously those people should never try playing this game.

Personally I wouldn’t be doing this if I hadn’t started using YNAB (You Need A Budget - budgeting software) and gotten to the point where I know all of my expenses are covered in advance, all of my credit card charges are accounted for in the budget, and I can set every single bill to Autopay so I don’t have to worry about it. Otherwise I’d never be able to keep track of all of these cards and be sure I can pay them in full and on time every month. And I don’t have nearly the amount of cards that I know some of you have!

OT- but do you use YNAB 4 still or new YNAB? I was trying to transition to new YNAB on 1/1/18 so I wouldn't have to manually input transactions anymore, but I am not liking it much. Aside from a bit of different format, CC different, reimbursed expenses different, the transactions import really slowly.

Same here--YNAB is the only reason I feel comfortable doing this. I'm still using YNAB4. It's like part of the family now! I actually like to manually input transactions because it keeps me very aware of where our money is going, but I totally understand the allure of auto import. I've been thinking about switching to the new version because I know 4 won't work forever. Really worried about the mobile app breaking at some point. This might be a good time to make the switch since it's the beginning of the year, but I'm not excited to start paying a monthly fee. I was told back when they first launched nYNAB that they would honor the original lifetime price no matter when I decided to make the switch, but after all this time I'm not holding my breath that they'd still be willing.

 

[peel]

The southwest referral thing is really weird. I always get my links from the Chase refer a friend site, I never had to choose Facebook or twitter, the page would just give me the link. Now it's only going me the option for Facebook or twitter.

But the links I got previously still say offer not valid (40k) and to continue on to current offer, which is still showing 50k. They were my same links I previously had there I double checked.

Me too. If you check the links in my post on Reddit you'll still find 50K offers.

 

[CandyCane31]

Long time lurker, first time "i love credit cards so much!" poster. Usually over in the Disney Gift Card deals thread from two years ago. I learned so much over there, and now I am foraying into the CC miles world.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I heard that I could find some great answers from great Credit Card experts here. I've gotten great responses on my thread, but thought I'd give it a try and get some input here as well.

My Original Thread, with Responses:
My Strategy for Getting Airfare for 2 "FREE" (LAX>MCO) with the JetBlue Plus MasterCard?

So it seems like your question is how to get as much free airfare as possible. Are you paying for all 8 of these people? Have you booked any flights yet? I looked at your flights on Jetblue and it seems like they are 13,700 pts each leg. So your signup bonus with Jetblue covers 2 flights, maybe 3 if you're able to find ways to earn some extra points. You can google how to earn extra Jetblue points but truthfully the only way to earn them fast is through credit card signup bonuses.

The best answer IMO to get free flights would be to get another credit card. You could split your trip between 2 airlines. There's no guarantees that the price of flights (and pts required) will remain the same but currently you could get 50k or 60k Southwest points depending on which card you pick and that could cover 5 or 6 one way tickets (based on the current price of 9,377 pts for your dates).

If your dead set on Jetblue both ways you could look into AMEX Membership Rewards earning cards which transfer to JetBlue at a rate of 2.5:2.0 - this isn't exactly the best use of those points BUT it could help you out. I honestly think in your situation though the Southwest card would go a whole lot further. Good Luck.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

The southwest referral thing is really weird. I always get my links from the Chase refer a friend site, I never had to choose Facebook or twitter, the page would just give me the link. Now it's only going me the option for Facebook or twitter..

Do you mean it's only giving you the option for Email or Twitter? The Facebook option is the one that disappeared for most people (and was the one where you could generate a 50k link.

EDIT: And yes the 50k links that people generated a day or 2 ago are all still currently working. Hopefully they continue to work, the problem is people that didn't do it a day or 2 ago now can't get a 50k link generated so they're out of luck as most people would prefer the 50k/$2k link vs the 40k/$1k link.

 

[Lain]

I heard that I could find some great answers from great Credit Card experts here. I've gotten great responses on my thread, but thought I'd give it a try and get some input here as well.

My Original Thread, with Responses:
My Strategy for Getting Airfare for 2 "FREE" (LAX>MCO) with the JetBlue Plus MasterCard?

I took a peek at your thread and agree with @Angrose, but you've already addressed her reply. I'll add that if and when you are ready to apply for the American Express Premier Rewards Gold, note that Amex signup bonuses are generally once per lifetime per card, so it's in your interest to get the best signup bonus offer your first and possibly only time. For the Premier Rewards Gold, that's 50,000 Membership Rewards points, which are transferrable to JetBlue's TrueBlue program at 250 Membership Rewards points = 200 True Blue points. Occasionally, Amex will run a transfer bonus promotion that offers a 25% bonus for a rate of 250:250. Also, the Premier Rewards Gold comes with a $100 airline fee credit, and if you choose to apply this credit towards JetBlue, you can charge certain airline incidentals to your Premier Rewards Gold and get reimbursed up to $100. You won't be able to get reimbursed for JetBlue gift cards, but can charge things like baggage fees and Even More Space seat upgrades.

Do you have a spouse who could also apply for the JetBlue card? Right now the bonus is at 60,000 points for the same $1,000 spending requirement: https://www.barclaycardus.com/apply/Landing.action?campaignId=2245&cellNumber=28

Also, you get 3x JetBlue points if you click through their portal when shopping at Amazon.

American Express Membership Rewards also transfer to JetBlue. Perhaps look into the AMEX Premier Rewards Gold card is a good introductory card and the annual fee is waived for the first year. Right now the bonus is only at 25,000 points though so if you can wait for a higher bonus then I would do that.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll definitely bring this up in that post.


I did a test transaction at the local Target for a $50 Gift Card. Then I checked my account on the Barclay site, and it credited 100 TrueBlue Points.


Unfortunately I don't have a spouse to take advantage of that new offer. I applied for the card just before the 60,000 points offer released(and while the apparent 40,000 points offer was being offered). I asked Barclay if they could match either offer, but came up short. I realized later that Barclay usually, if they do, match offers within 30 days of opening the account. I found out a bit too late.

I'm well aware of the 3x TrueBlue points when shopping with Amazon... and it's amazing! When you think about it, I get the 3x points through the portal, then an additional 1x points by using the JetBlue Plus card.... which equals 4x True Blue points when shopping with Amazon.

While applying for another card would be nice, I feel like it could be a bit more than I can handle right now.

I see part of your strategy is to use your JetBlue card to buy gift cards at grocery stores, and that you're aware of earning 3x TrueBlue points when going through JetBlue's portal to shop on Amazon. I also see that you're in LA. Do you have an Albertsons or Safeway that sells lots of gift cards nearby? Instead of buying only Disney Gift Cards at grocery stores, I'd suggest trying this:

(1) Go to Albertsons/Safeway (they often offer 2x gas rewards bonuses on gift cards usable at Chevron/Texaco) and buy an Amazon gift card, thus earning 2x TrueBlue points and 2x gas rewards points towards cheaper gas;
(2) Load the Amazon gift card to your Amazon account;
(3) Go through JetBlue's Amazon portal, now use that Amazon gift card credit to buy an Albertsons/Safeway gift card, earning you another 3x TrueBlue points on the same money (the Albertsons/Safeway gift card should arrive in 1-2 days if you have Prime);
(4) Take the Albertsons/Safeway gift card to your local store and use it to buy a Disney Gift Card,* earning you another 2x gas rewards on the same money.
(5) OR use the Albertsons/Safeway gift card to buy another Amazon gift card to keep churning the same money for gas rewards and TrueBlue points until you're ready to "cash out" for Disney Gift Cards as in Step 4.
(6) TrueBlue points from shopping on Amazon takes 30 days to post.

*I'm in the Bay Area where we have Safeway (same company as Albertsons). Using a Safeway gift card to buy third-party gift cards like Amazon and Disney (but not prepaid Visa/MC/Amex gift cards) is allowed by Safeway's point of sale systems, so the transaction should also be allowed by Albertsons. However, many of my local Safeway stores have signs up that limit the amount of gift cards you can buy in a transaction or daily (be reasonable, please don't go doing this at $500 or $1000 at a time that'll draw attention to yourself and others in this game -- besides the largest denomination of Albertsons/Safeway gift card sold by Amazon is $100); and some stores do not allow gift card purchases at self checkout.

I try to always use self checkout for this because it puts less eyes on what you're trying to do. You scan the Amazon or Disney gift card's big barcode (for Amazon, you may have to rip open the perforated window to expose the barcode), which adds the card to your cart and activates the gift card; when you're ready, click pay -- the register may call over the self checkout attendant who has to punch in his or her code to authorize the sale; when the attendant goes away, press pay with card (whatever the debit/credit card button is), and swipe your Albertsons/Safeway gift card like a credit card to pay; the system might take a few seconds, but then will apply your payment and print out a receipt. When I've had to go through a cashier to buy a gift card, paying with a gift card, I did have one cashier pause the transaction then go around asking other cashiers and his manager if I could use a Safeway gift card to pay for a transaction containing gift cards, and the manager said it's allow. But YMMV.

Try a small test run first to see if this strategy works for you, and if it does you've learned a little trick to stack rewards. But PLEASE, always keep your transactions reasonable and under the radar. Don't ruin a good thing for yourself and others. AND PLEASE, if you have any questions, please ask here, don't ask the store (or bank, or whatever). If you or too many people ABUSE this, it will get SHUT DOWN.

 

[peel]

Do you mean it's only giving you the option for Email or Twitter? The Facebook option is the one that disappeared for most people (and was the one where you could generate a 50k link.

Through Chase Refer-a-friend, I was given a direct link to copy/paste without having to choose email or a social media outlet.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Through Chase Refer-a-friend, I was given a direct link to copy/paste without having to choose email or a social media outlet.

So on Southwest for Chase ReferAFriend on Monday people had the following options: Email (no idea what offer); Facebook 50k; Twitter 40k; Immediate Copy your link 50k.

From what I know now when somebody goes to the same ReferAFriend page for Southwest you only receive the Email and Twitter options. Facebook and the Immediate copy options have been removed. That's why there's some question as to whether the 50k release was an accident as they've removed those options now.

 

[peel]

Wow, I tried it yesterday afternoon and it gave me a direct link, but I just went back and don't get that link anymore. I see the Email/FB options. So it was working until mid-afternoon yesterday.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Wow, I tried it yesterday afternoon and it gave me a direct link, but I just went back and don't get that link anymore. I see the Email/FB options. So it was working until mid-afternoon yesterday.

Yep - that's what I was saying in this post:

So when you go to generate a referral link now for Southwest - the facebook option is GONE and it only generates 40k links. This whole thing might have been a strange mistake on Chase's part. I'm not trying to start a conspiracy/panic here but I assume Chase could shut down those 50k links at any time so if getting a 50k Southwest Plus or 50k Southwest Premier card is important to you - I'd move quickly. (Of course I also know nothing and they could go up to 60k next week too hahaha). Good Luck everybody - I find myself saying this a lot lately: make the choice that's best for you!

It's unfortunate for anybody who didn't get to generate their link prior to yesterday evening. And like I said - not trying to cause a panic or anything but if those links were released in error they could be shut down. Anybody that does apply from the 50k screen should definitely be safe tho - no worries there! I'd still grab a screenshot to protect myself though.

 

[peel]

Yep - that's what I was saying in this post:

It's unfortunate for anybody who didn't get to generate their link prior to yesterday evening. And like I said - not trying to cause a panic or anything but if those links were released in error they could be shut down. Anybody that does apply from the 50k screen should definitely be safe tho - no worries there! I'd still grab a screenshot to protect myself though.

Sorry, I missed the part about it being yesterday.
Always take a screenshot!!! (I forget nearly every time. )

 

[WVMomof3]

It figures, I am always a day late and a dollar short. lol I sat down yesterday to put my links up but decided to catch up on this thread first. I had about 4 or 5 days worth of posts to go through and it took me hours! By the time I was done catching up, I had to move on to life. So tried again this morning and this is what happens. Oh well.

BTW, every other card gave me the direct link option today. Just not the 2 Southwest cards.