Tag Archives: Bank of America

Random News: How to Connect to Free Boingo Wireless Hotspots, Alaska Airlines Platinum Plus Credit Card Update, and Changing Credit Lines on Chase Credit Cards (Online)

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Random News: How to Connect to Free Boingo Wireless Hotspots, Alaska Airlines Platinum Plus Credit Card Update, and Changing Credit Lines on Chase Credit Cards (Online)

Greetings from San Sebastian, Spain!  Here are some random posts that might interest you…  Have a great Sunday everyone!

On May 31, American Express announced their new partnership with Boingo Wireless to provide free unlimited WiFi at over 1 million Boingo wireless hotspots around the world to all American Express Platinum cardholders (personal, business, and Mercedes Benz versions).

Boingo2

Read the post here.   Continue reading →

Using the Alaska Airlines Credit Card Companion Fare

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Using the Alaska Airlines Credit Card Companion Fare

If you have an Alaska Airlines Credit Card from Bank of America, one of the coolest perks of the card (besides the awesome sign up bonus) is the “Coach Companion Fare” you get every year you are a cardholder.  The terms of the offer say that Companion Fare is $99, but after taxes and fees, you are closer to $120.  Still a great deal, here is how to use the Companion Fare to book your next trip…

Alaska Airlines App

To read the entire article, please click here.

Helping a Friend get out of Credit Card Debt (Part 1)

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Helping a Friend get out of Credit Card Debt (Part 1)

Credit card debt is a serious problem in our society.  It ruins lives, friendships, and relationships.  It is really easy to get into credit card debt, but really hard to get yourself out.

I don’t claim to be a credit card expert, even though I do have 19 credit cards currently open (list) and have never paid a penny in interest, missed a payment, or paid late.  Using credit cards, especially travel credit cards is a cat and mouse game with the credit card companies.  My motto: there is always a winner and a loser; if you are not winning, you are losing.

In reality, the huge sign up bonuses, spending bonuses, targeted bonus offers from the credit card companies are not free.  In the simplest form, those who pay interest to the credit card companies are subsidizing those of us who travel cheaply with the credit card miles and points.  We should all thank our friends/family/strangers for letting us explore the world on their dime.  Thank you everyone!

Anyways, let me get back on track…

I have a friend who had 2 credit cards, a store-branded credit card and a student credit card.  He/she wanted to travel more and see the world (who wouldn’t?), so he/she asked me which credit cards I would recommend for a recent college grad that had good travel benefits and no foreign transaction fees.  It was a simple question to answer.  Get the Chase Freedom credit card (no annual fee, earn 5% cash back on rotating categories, and save your Ultimate Reward Points so when you get the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you can transfer those points to one of Chase’s travel partners).  Then get the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card (no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and a $100 sign up bonus).

Getting approved for both cards was easy and meeting the spending requirement on both credit card was no problem.  Fast forward a few months, and he/she “asked” me to help review his/her finances.  If you have credit card debt, or know someone who does, it can be difficult asking for help because you do not want to feel judged by the amount of debt you have.  Credit card debt is an easy debt to let build up, because there is really no big penalty for not paying in full every time.  When you have more pressing bills to pay every month like rent, car loans, car insurance, and student loans, it seems like your credit card bill gets whatever is left over after paying the previous bills.

I will continue this story after I get home from work.  Stay tuned for my recommendations…

App-O-Rama Updates: Day 1

Which Credit Card

App-O-Rama Updates: Day 1

5:30AM my alarm goes off.  It’s App-O-Rama day!

I turn on my computer and know exactly which cards I am going to apply for and in which order I am going to apply.  In case you didn’t read yesterday’s post, here is my strategy list:

  1. Club Carlson Personal (US Bank) – instant approval!  I guess my ARS and IDA credit report freezes might have worked.  Learn more here.
  2. US Airways Personal (Barclays) – denied!  Why do you hate my Barclays?  I didn’t both calling the reconsideration line, they will tell me that I have too many recent inquires and I have no leverage with them since I have no Barclays credit cards.  Good bye US Airways Card.  Good bye Arrival Card.  Good bye every other Barclays card.
  3. Alaska Airlines Personal (Bank of America) – pending decision.  After a short reconsideration call, I was approved after “sacrificing” my Virgin Atlantic card that had an annual fee coming in a few weeks.
  4. Platinum Mercedes Benz (AMEX) – pending decision.  Called AMEX and was told there was no way to reconsider the app at this time.  I would have to wait 2-3 business days for a response.  My gut feeling is a denial since I already have 4 personal credit cards, but want to sacrifice my Delta or Hilton HHonors card.  Will post an update soon.
  5. Citi Dividend (Citi equivalent of Chase Freedom and Discover It cash back card) – downgraded.  I decided to save a credit inquiry and call Citi and ask them to downgrade/switch my Citi AA AMEX to this card.  The rep told me it could take up to 51 days for the switch to take place.  WTF?!?  Citi, please send me that card soon so I can get the 5% cash back for 4Q 2013.
  6. IHG Hotel Personal (Chase) – pending decision.  I called the Chase reconsideration department, was placed on hold for a few minutes and approved with a low $2,000 credit line.  After moving credit from my Marriott Card, I got my credit line up to $5,000. 
  7. Hilton HH Surpass (AMEX) – skipped.  I am waiting to see what happens to my Platinum Mercedes Benz application before I do anything with this card.  I can always upgrade my AMEX Hilton HHonors to the AMEX Hilton HHonors Surpass card for free online (no credit inquiry).

Side note, I was trying to convert my Chase Sapphire card to a Chase Freedom card this morning but the representative was unable to do so over the phone.  I believe it was because I had a $585 current balance on the card, even though she told me that shouldn’t be the reason.  Later today it turns out that the Chase Freedom card has increased its sign up bonus from 10,000 Ultimate Reward Points to 20,000 Ultimate Reward Points.  I wonder if Chase was updating their servers which is why I couldn’t upgrade.  It is a mystery…

A friend of mine was able to show me a sign up bonus (through Chase’s site) for the 50,000 Ultimate Reward Points for the Chase Sapphire Preferred.  I told him to go for it since the sign up bonus hasn’t been that high in a very long time.  Apparently you can get 5,000 bonus Ultimate Reward Points for adding 1 authorized user to your CSP card too.

All in all, I am pretty happy with my results and love how easy it is to work with Chase.  I look forward to getting my IHG card soon.

IHG Approved

Easy to move credit line from Marriott to IHG card.

Marriott CL Decrease

I will post an update if anything happens to my US Airways card, Platinum Mercedes Benz card, and which year I get my Citi Dividend card.  If you have any app-o-rama questions, let me know.