Just upgraded to CSR myself. The math doesn’t math as good as it does with some of my other annual fee cards tbh, but I’ll try it for a year. Have 5 trips that I’ll be able to access the lounges
This is wild. I didn’t think you’d upgrade the Sapphire Preferred after talking about it for a while and I hope it works out for you. I thought I’d enjoy the 50% boost in the portal but the $550 annual fee scared me away
I will say I have a delta Amex platinum card and I do get often upgraded on flights , however , I never get upgraded with Marriott only late check out with Gold Status . However , having no loyalty to Hyatt , they have already let me check in at 12 am once , and once semi upgraded me to a higher floor. Between the Amex platinum and chase I’m liking chase better between the two . Airline wise American has been cheaper and easier to get money from them with volunteering, but delta has been the best experience overall . Hyatt has been the best hotel wise for me chain wise and that’s sad because I have 20 Marriott nights already this year . Great video
I am tempted to upgrade from the CSP to the CSR as a test run. As you mentioned, people who only have personal cards view the CSP as the gateway to Hyatt and justify the $95 fee and most of what I hear is that people don’t even use the $50 hotel credit through the portal which leaves the effective annual fee at $95. With the CSR being $550 and having the $300 very easy to use travel credit, this leaves the effective annual fee at $250…..(not factoring in AUs, which I would have to) if you view the $95 as the cost of doing business with Chase / Hyatt then the value you need to get from the CSR is the $250 - $95 =$155. None of these numbers will rock the boat but these thought exercises are fun.😂
CSP will be getting an in branch welcome offer of 85,000 points. Started on 4/26. I know videos about the CSR but the CSP has a better intro offer in branch for new customers
The Etihad lounge at IAD was the coolest lounge I also liked the one in Boston that is worth checking out. Spent 3 hours there on a layover and had a great time the food is bomb 💣
I just did a product change to the reserve card. I already see some travel credits on my statement from my recent trip to Cancun. It's worth the cost to me.
I don’t have personal experience with booking through the Chase portal, but pro’s advise to confirm your hotel reservation booked through the portal is also posted on the hotel’s reservation system. They also advise on flights booked through the portal, you have to contact the portal if there are problems with your flight and it’s better to book directly with the airline. Maybe the portal is ok for a simple domestic nonstop flight but more complicated itineraries might be better booked directly with the airline. I’d consider a CSR if they opened a desperately needed Sapphire lounge in Miami.
Yeah there are some factors when booking with portals but I think the talking heads in the game have way overblown those concerns. So many people saying these things don’t understand that when you book a flight on the portal you include your loyalty number so the flight appears on your app and it’s very easily managed. I wouldn’t use the portal exclusively but then again, I don’t have any real concerns. I know how to book an alternative flight just fine.
I was scared to use the CSR portal but gave it a shot for an upcoming trip to Europe in a few weeks. It was a somewhat complicated itinerary that involved different arrival and departure airports. Everything showed up in my British Airways app, and so far looks like it's all a go. I haven't had to make a change yet, but seems like it will be smooth. The Chase portal was pretty clunky, and took a lot of fiddling to find a good deal, but it was there.
Interesting how different consumers have different uses for these cards. For me, the points ecosystem is a just a pain to deal with and frankly I usually don’t bother. The $300 travel credit is great. BUT Priority Pass restaurants were worth HUNDREDS of dollars to me every year. So I’m just the opposite of you, I’m downgrading due to the loss of the PP restaurant benefit….no decent food anymore, there’s not enough Sapphire lounges yet, and basic PP lounges suck.
Bon voyage Luke… LGA sapphire one of the best lounges I’ve ever been to. Unfortunately my standards will never be the same since Al Safwa. But LGA is my favorite US lounge. IAD and BOS always a good time too. But I’d say so far my favorite is LGA. (IAD is a little small, has like 1 shower I think…).
Not sure about others but definitely interested in your Amsterdam and Swiss trip. Saving points to go once my kids are a bit older. Would appreciate your feedback on your experience and travel recommendations. Thanks
Wow. I live next to two of rhose lounges but im still reticent. I have plans to burn up my PP calendar year benefit before my summer trip. Maybe my wife will love it and push for the CSR. The tough part about LGA and JFK is the lack of airside connection between terminals. I hope you get a chance to check one of them out.
First of all...Yay Malta! It's one of the best places I've visited. Secondly, I just got back from Belgium where I used the hell out of the CSR. Between the 3X on dining and the twice a day 3X Uber rides, it was fantastic. Totally solid card! Welcome to the dark side.
I’ve watched two videos this week from other credit card” influencers” that were 100% speculation, they had zero actual real world experience with what they were talking about. Automatic thumbs down. I really appreciate your straightforwardness and honesty.
I'm about to apply in branch for the elevated SUB of 75k, finally activating all my UR points. Looking forward to global entry, never had it or TSA pre before. And lots of lounges where I frequent!
Actually very very good point about the travel insurance. Especially with my crazy travel lifestyle in Europe, where you have extreme flexibility to just travel, the one way flight protection did work out once, vs Amex that would have never paid out. Also for that Hilton diamond, 100% agree! I was about to cry when I visited to my home country of Japan last week, got upgraded to a suite bigger than my first family home where 5 of us slept in ONE ROOM SMALLER than the whole suite I have to myself that I got for free via Amex Hilton Diamond status. Unless you’ve experienced it, don’t think anyone can comment Lastly, I think the points multipliers only benefit outside the US. In and out of the US, 4x back on Amex Gold on food and groceries is unbeatable at 8% return. However outside with less Amex acceptance, it drops down to 2% on my catch all non-Amex spend on my Apple Card.
I just dont see it. CSP is 🗑...but its $95 of trash vs $550 of 🗑(or $250 if u wanna play that way) I just dont see myself making up the difference with 1.5 vs 1.25for the 1 or possibly 2 portal bookings per year. The lounge access may do it for me once they add a few more, but by then maybe cap1 will have added more too. Thanks for the video, always great to see different setups. Maybe u can start renting bikes and come out ahead. 😊
@@LukesPointsandMilesthat is def 1 advantage of Chase up and downgrades. Can test it out! Once I get the INK preferred I think my CSP will finally go away too!
I bought travel insurance for a 30-day trip to the Philippines just after COVID. I paid about $100, and I actually felt good having it. Sapphire Reserve leaves $250 after the $300 travel credit. You might say that you're paying $250 for a whole year's worth of travel insurance. That's a lot better than $100 per month, or $1200/year. Even if I only use the $15 UberEATS monthly credit, that leaves just $60 from the $550 annual fee. Sapphire Reserve is a great deal. ❤❤🎉🎉🎉
I knew u would cross over at some point but the instacart credit is so easy to get value from. I get $14.25 in value every month. (Free tide detergent for laundry days 😅) Also the doordash $15 credit every 3 months is also a free lunch in my eyes
I am considering keeping my CSR for BOS airport Chase Sapphire lounge access. I am tempted to product change from CSR to CSP because of the Priority Pass restaurant benefit ending June 30, 2024. Capital One Venture X business credit card still has the PP restaurants benefit. If I visit friends in Plano or family in Richardson I can visit the C1 lounges in DFW. Now if only there were a Chase Sapphire lounge in TPA and DFW.
Sad live near LAX/OC airports PP sucks here removed restaurants and no CSR Lounge. CSR benefits expire also. Moving to Amex Gold and Amex Blue Business Plus then Platinum and BILT. Cap1 didn't give me a Venture X even though I have checking and savings accounts with them.
I’ve used the$300 credit on sapphire reserve downgraded to a freedom got a fee refund and after that statement closed upgraded a different freedom card and then used the $300 travel credit on that new sapphire card and keep it for the next year good trick to get Chase to pay u $50 to have a sapphire reserve
Funny thing, I been saying once elevated SUB returns for CSP or CSR I’d apply. Now here, not interested. I’m sure a big part is going to a Chase branch is nowhere convenient for me. And subs are meh. Also, targeting USBAR next. CAP/CSR not with a new acct hit or hard pull. And they’ll be sock drawered regardless The Long game…😐
@@LukesPointsandMiles overhyped yes (but still solid card). But it’s part of my end game/exit plan. Far easier to get it now than in 2 yrs, after who knows how many cards/pulls and once my (international) travel is completed. Have u made a vid on how/why USBAR is “overrated”. Other than no transfer partners and bank is a pain in a, I’m curious to hear more.
Going all in on chase over C1 and Amex with the wife as 2 player game. Would maybe make the move later on for the other two if getting sign up bonus makes sense for us
@@LukesPointsandMiles I really like the venture x but I don’t think we spend enough to separate our spending on two different credit card companies. Could use that travel credit every year tho easily
@@Flyin5013 that’s interesting. I don’t think I’ve heard anyone say that before. If you’re paying ok expert mode, they share partners. I think it ok to have both and focus on one. The other being a back up
Great video. Glad you’re joining. I’ve always thought CSR was the best card of the Big 3 (AmexP, C1V, and CSR). I gotta say I’m really liking the portal too. in several situations, I’ve looked to transfer points to Hyatt, only to find out that there are no available award nights on the days that I’m looking. However, in the portal, I’ve always been able to find the hotels I’m looking for, whether it be Hyatt, IHG, or other such as Hilton. Of course, I use this more for domestic options than overseas options. But still, the portal has done well for me so far, despite whatever everyone says about using it.
To be honest as far as Amex is concerned as long as you use a qualified Amex card to pay the fees on all of those trips then YES that is technically considered a round trip! I just researched the insurance page by page for a new video I’m dropping. Hope this helps
I will look again tonight. The platinum card at least on one of the benefits is specific for round trip but then it was vague language on what a round trip is and I’m 100% sure I used different cards on this next trip for different bookings. Haha
@@OfficialChadsMoneyMinutes it’s just a little tricky because visa infinite doesn’t have that type of language. Honestly I’m sure Amex would take care of it.
Before watching the video, I assumed you’re getting it to say you had it at least nowadays to then bash it again in a year 😂 Although when you were mentioning adding more simplicity to your life in the past, I actually thought you’d get this card then. Yes I think you’re right about the Amex Travel protections, everything that I’ve ever read says your scenario would work, but again, who really knows until any of us do it, and then actually have a problem to even be able to and have to use it 😂 Damnnn going for the Palladium haha! Either way, I’m interested to see what you think after a year or so Luke!
10:43 Gee whiz. Don't forget that AUS has CSL ... mostly outdoors & a grab-N-go (beverages are canned, food dispensed from vending-type machines). Not luxurious ... free/included is pretty cool
Just wish they would add a rental car status or hotel status. Or very least other options to lower the annual fee more easily than just the 300 flight credit. But that lower the fee matters little just want status
@@LukesPointsandMiles yeah but unfortunately the footprint of that is very small. At this rate we're about to wait 10 years to even get decent size. I've never seen a sapphire lounge then I have one in los Angeles lol. They're kind of behind the eight ball but they added more like status. It would help a lot because there's really no point for most people to even get reserve over the preferred. Like I want to get the reserve but only a few lounges is n't going to entice me yet? Maybe one of the Las Vegas one and the Phoenix one open. Maybe I'd consider it
Say it ain't so Luke 😂 I hope I see you on a Lyft bike doing wheelies somewhere taking full advantage of that lyft pink membership 🚴♀️ I just can't see how "most" people offset the annual fee with this card. The CSP isn't good, but that 50 hotel credit drops the cost a little for access to Chases partners. And if you have priority pass with another card, you get one pass each year to a Chase lounge.
Oh no I totally agree with you. But I need the card for a year so I can possibly bash it. I don’t think I can make up the AF and I don’t think it will last more than the 1 year
I thought about doing this, but I can only justify it with the $15/m instacart credits. Unfortunately, they say that credit is only until July, 2024. I’m waiting to see whether they renew or what they replace that credit with
@@bruceedwards3844 if you’re talking about changing to a sapphire reserve, using the credit and then downgrading, that’s not something I’m interested in talking about on the channel.
@@LukesPointsandMiles Such behavior is very common for the Amex Platinum card. Posters frequently point out in late Nov. early Dec. that now is the time to sign up for the Amex Platinum card so one can double dip the credits.
Thanks for the video. I have the amex platinum the capital one venture x and the chase sapphire preferred. I am thinking about canceling the chase.I preferred and having my wife apply for one. In my situation the chase sapphire reserve it's not in the cards
Are you doing anything like downgrading Preferred to a second Flex and then getting Reserve with new welcome offer or just straight up upgrade of the preferred?
I'm not into "Trifectas" but I think the Wells Fargo cards are very good cards and i think once they add a few transfer partners, they would be a great choice for most folks. I would recommend their cards.
@LukesPointsandMiles all travel benefits of CSR at a lower AF. Your Freedom cards already give you some multipliers from the CSR which is wild and illustrates how bad the CSR is.
@@SolidLiquidFox I’m familiar with the card but I’m not interested in ever getting it. It wants terrible mainly because it wants Marriott points and I don’t think the card will be around in its current form for much longer. I honestly think it’s a bit overrated and folks that aren’t Marriott loyalists are kinda forcing it
@@SolidLiquidFoxbruh. FOR NOW. It’s gonna be public again and it’s not gonna keep the outsized “value”. Regardless, I don’t want Marriott pts. And I try to avoid staying with them. 👎
I plan to upgrade next month myself. Shifting my focus to short inexpensive weekend getaways so the 10x booking thru the portal looks like a win. And the travel protections will give me a piece of mind since I'll be doing some US domestic flights for medical treatment. I'm loving it and addicted to this game...since I already had $ budgeted in cash for my medical treatment I opened up and already hit the bonuses for Hyatt & American Airlines cards. Major thanks for your content!
hey luke i got a quick question. i fly chicago to guadalajara about once a year and maybe a domestic flight every other year. i was wondering what would be the better duo/trifecta (capital one/chase/ wells fargo) i dont care about lounge access, rental cars or hotels. i wouldn’t benefit from amex as i would only use about $400ish in credits. i just need flights as i stay with family. i fly southwest domestically. they have a hub in chicago and they are cheap. anyways, would transferring points through british airways and booking an american airlines be generally cheaper than just booking a flight with cash to guadalajara. (there’s not a lot of options to guadalajara) i fly viva airbus. i don’t have any point transferring cards and i don’t really know much about the space. i’m considering getting the csp, the wells fargo autograph journey, or the venture one. i don’t care about flying first class or anything fancy as long as i get there😂
Well honestly with your specific case, I would suggest no annual fee cash back cards. You could get several other earn 5% and use that for your flights. But think Chase is a great inexpensive way to do this as well. I’d recommend the CSP for the protections and Southwest partnership. I’d also get the freedoms flex and the freedom unlimited. If you are interested in biz cards I’d highly recommend the ink cards as well! Hope this helps. Feel free to use my card link!
The infinite ink loop is where you pick a frequency and you constantly apply for, get them bonus on ink cards. 💳. Canceling when it makes sense. Basically Chase doesn’t seem to mind folks churning ink cards
Please give a link for the Amex stipulation that it must be a round trip, not a one way, open jaw, etc. I called Amex and they said it could be one way (for baggage coverage).
It’s in the terms and conditions for the platinum card. I’m not home so I won’t be linking the Amex site anytime soon. If you’ve never read the T&Cs and the protections I think it’s worth reading through them just in case
I personally think, for me, the combo of the green and platinum is better. But I am curious, do you think I should complete my chase trifecta, I'm just missing the Freedom Unlimited? I'm over 5/24 and have to garden, or should I wait for an elevated offer on another card? I'm currently waiting for an elevated offer on the Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum, currently at 50k miles, but they had one for 80k miles. I know you don't hold loyalty to airlines, but I like to fly Delta and JetBlue for the experience and treatment that frankly other airlines don't give me.
i dont think airline cards are worth it unless you are flying like weekly or more. I would not bother with the Freedome Unlimited. The Platinum / Green Combo is killer but it sure it pricey!!
@@LukesPointsandMiles Yeah, that makes sense. So hotel cards would be your go to? Hilton cards are giving some nice offers now. Would you go Hilton, Marriott, or Wyndham? And yes the Green and Platinum combo is pricey, but worth it for me, I use the coupons and come out ahead. I use the airline fee credit every year on JetBlue upgrades, bags, and fees, I get the Uber credit, the Walmart+ credit is nice here cus Walmart delivers faster than Amazon where I live, and the entertainment credit covers my Disney+
@@VictorMartinez-zf6dt I love hotel cards. But I’ve never gotten much value on the Marriott side. I focus on Hiltons but I’ve seen some great Wyndham redemptions in South America.
@@ismaelmendoza7652 looks like he has a bunch of my videos on there. I tried to report it to RU-vid so let’s see how it goes. Super appreciate you sir!!
Jealous! I want CSR but I'm only 2 years and some months into my CSP. I use CSP to bank my UR from my other Chase cards and I don't have a P2 what would you recommend doing with any points accumulated there when I downgrade to get the CSR in a few years.
You can upgrade to the CSR now if you like. You can also just move your Chase points to another UR point earning card if you ever down grade and then move them back over to Sapphire after opening
My kid just accepted UT-Austin. I need some help. I tend to stay at Hilton & fly United. I just got a United Explorer Card and already hit the 50k bonus. I was looking at a Hilton card and the CSR. Luke HELP!!! I need a card for local spend and domestic flight/hotel spend domestically. I'll probably be buying 10 flights a year and 10+ hotel stays. What card should I get to put ALL the household spend on in order to maximize flights/hotels to/from SDF/AUS ? BTW...our normal everyday card has been the Citi Custom Cash for years. Perhaps I should get a AMex or CapOne card instead for my situation?
@@krs1905 csr is just really northeast focused. Which is ok since I generally connect there on my way to / from Europe. I should be able to visit them soon