Tag Archives: American Airlines

Updated List of my 23 Open Credit Cards

Updated 3/25/2014 @ 10PM: New cards added and old cards updated.

Which Credit Card

Grant’s Credit Cards

Keeping track of your credit card numbers, expiration dates, customer service numbers, sign up bonuses, annual fees, and more is important.  If you want to keep track of all your credit cards, feel free to download and use my Credit Card Organizer Template.xlsx file.

Chase:

  1. Ink Bold MasterCard Business – opened in April 2012, paid $95 annual fee after reconsideration call offered statement credit
  2. United Airlines – opened in May 2012, paid $95 annual fee after reconsideration call offered miles
  3. Marriott Premier – opened in August 2012, paid $85 annual fee for free night certificate
  4. Hyatt Hotel – opened in November 2012, paid $75 annual fee for free night certificate
  5. Southwest Premier – opened in August 2013, received Companion Pass
  6. IHG Hotel – opened in November 2013, moved credit from Marriott Premier card
  7. Freedom – converted from Sapphire (Basic) in December 2013 (read post)
  8. Ink Bold Visa Business – opened in March 2014, planning on closing my Ink Bold MasterCard before the annual fee posts
  1. Amazon – closed November 2012, moved credit line around
  2. British Airways – closed November 2012, moved credit line around
  3. Sapphire Preferred – downgraded in August 2013 to Chase Sapphire (Basic)
  4. Sapphire Basic – converted in December 2013 to Chase Freedom credit card

See the entire list here.

$100 American Express Platinum Travel Fee Reimbursement Credit, AMEX Everyday Cards, and a PetCo AMEX Offer

AMEX Plat Card

$100 American Express Platinum Travel Fee Reimbursement Credit, AMEX Everyday Cards, and a PetCo AMEX Offer

As you probably already know, American Airlines and US Airways lounges are no longer accessible with the American Express Platinum Charge Cards.  I was able to call American Express tonight and have them credit my account $100 towards travel fee reimbursements – like bag fees, changes fees, airline lounge access, day passes, etc. for any American Airlines charge.

I had previously selected Southwest Airlines as my reimbursement airline back in early January, but was still able to get the $100 travel fee reimbursements.  The representative said that my card was ready to go, but that I should wait a day or so before making any reimbursable charges to the card.  For the best results, it is recommended that you call the number on the back of the card, go through the phone tree, and get to the account closure department.  Once there, I mentioned that the American Airlines lounges were a big draw of the card and after a few minutes chatting, he offered the $100 travel fee reimbursement.  Besides the Delta lounges and Centurion lounges (which I have yet to visit), you also get free access to Priority Pass lounges which are great for when you travel, especially internationally.  I have a few international trips coming up in the next few months, so I didn’t want to lose the Priority Pass lounge access.

Side note, Amol from Hack My Trip (link) posted that he is trying to purchase a $100 American Airlines gift card with his American Express Platinum card to see if the purchase qualifies for the travel fee refund.

While on the phone, I asked the representative if the AMEX Everyday and AMEX Everyday Preferred credit cards were active.  He said that he just signed someone up 10 minutes ago, so that sounds like the sign up links are working.   Continue reading →

Travel with Grant Meet Up Next Saturday Night (March 29) at In-N-Out (Tustin District)

In-N-Out Logo

Travel with Grant Meet Up Next Saturday Night (March 29) at In-N-Out (Tustin District)

For those of you free next Saturday night (and located in Orange County / LA County / San Diego County), come join me and a few of my travel-hacking friends for a “meat meet and eat” at In-N-Out.  Myself and Travel Summary hosted our first meet up at this In-N-Out a few months ago (link) and I have been getting requests for another one ever since.  I haven’t talked to Travel Summary about this, but I was planning on meeting there from 6-8pm, but the last one lasted until close to 10pm since we had so much to talk about.

In-N-Out Address

If you are interested in attending, please leave a comment below so I can see how many people are interested. Continue reading →

a woman with blonde hair and a green shirt

5 Credit Card Applications, 4 Approvals, 3 Reconsideration Calls, 2 Business Cards, and 1 Pending Application

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I did a 5 card app-o-rama early Thursday morning and here are my thoughts, suggestions, tips, tricks, and ways to improve your reconsideration calls.

Always have a plan and stick to your plan.  You don’t have to sign up for credit cards the first day or week to get the sign up bonus.  Most bonuses last a few weeks or months and often come back a few times throughout the year.  I always recommend waiting at least 3 months since your last credit card application (or app-o-rama in my case) before your next app-o-rama.  My last app-o-rama was on November 18 (link) and I got the following 6 cards:

  • US Bank Club Carlson Personal Credit Card
  • Bank of American Alaska Airlines Personal Credit Card
  • American Express Platinum Mercedes Benz Personal Credit Card
  • Citi Dividend Cash Back Credit Card (converted old Citi AA Card)
  • Chase IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card
  • Hilton Honors™ Surpass® Card from American Express (upgraded from American Express Hilton HHonors Credit Card)

Since my last app-o-rama, there have been a few new cards on my radar.  When planning your app-o-rama, make a list of all the cards you want to get.  Then organize them in the order in which you want to get them.  Ask yourself, “If I could only get 1 card, which card would it be?” For me, that was an easy question.  I am going for the Citi American Airlines Executive Credit Card with 100,000 American Airlines miles after spending $10,000 in 3 months.  Continue reading →

March App-O-Rama Thoughts: Hawaiian Airlines (35,000 Miles), Discover It ($150 Cash Back), Barclays Arrival ($440 Cash Back), Chase Ink Bold Visa (50,000 UR Points), Citi AA Executive (100,000 Miles), and US Bank Olympics Flex Points ($400+ Travel Credit)

Which Credit Card

March App-O-Rama Thoughts: Hawaiian Airlines (35,000 Miles), Discover It ($150 Cash Back), Barclays Arrival ($440 Cash Back), Chase Ink Bold Visa (50,000 UR Points), Citi AA Executive (100,000 Miles), and US Bank Olympics Flex Points ($400+ Travel Credit)

Wow, what a title.  I expect my Google Search traffic to go through the roof now.  Anyways, my last app-o-rama was in early November (post), how I upgraded an AMEX Hilton HHonors to an AMEX Hilton HHonors Surpass (post), and my surprise approval of an AMEX Mercedes Benz Platinum card (post).  If you want to see which 19 cards I currently have open, check out this list.

Since I typically wait at least 3 months between App-O-Ramas, I am starting to plan for my next round of credit card applications.  Here is what is on my mind:

1 – Barclays Hawaiian Airlines Credit Card – 35,000 Hawaiian Airlines miles after spending $1,000 in 3 months

I’m not sure if this is a coincidence or if they were reading my mind, but I literally got this email 2 hours ago.  Unfortunately (for me), this card is no longer issued by Bank of America.  Barclays is now the credit card issuer.  Barclays has never approved me for a card, so I have approximately a 1% chance of be approved.

Hawaiian Airlines Credit Card Offer Barclays Hawaiian Airlines Card

Continue reading →