Tag Archives: Credit Cards

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My 2 Unsuccessful Retention Offer Calls for Chase Marriott Bonvoy Premier Plus Business & AMEX Gold

Good morning everyone, I hope your week is going well. Yesterday, I called Chase and American Express about 2 credit cards that had annual fees that just posted. When I called Chase about my Chase Marriott Bonvoy Premier Plus Business Credit Card (no longer available for sign up or product change), I told the rep that the $99 annual fee just posted to my account and that I wasn’t using this credit card very much since I use my JPMorgan Chase Ritz Carlton Credit Card (no longer available for sign up, but can be product changed into) for my Marriott purchases.  I asked the rep if they were able to waive the annual fee. The rep looked for retention offers and said there were no offers available.  For reference, in past years, I have received retention offers of $50 or $100.

Generally, I prefer to keep credit cards that are no longer available, unless there is a very good reason to close or product change them to another credit card, so I decided to keep the card open.  With that said, I can easily get more than $99 of value with the 35K Marriott Free Night Certificate that comes with this credit card each year. In fact, I already redeemed my 35K FNC for a stay later this month that costs more than $200.

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Travel with Grant Turns 10 Years Old + 10 x $10 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

Good afternoon everyone, I hope your week is going well.  Travel with Grant just turned 10 years old!  Yup, I started this blog on May 1, 2013 and I can’t believe I’ve had a travel blog for 10 years (I really can’t believe I have done anything for 10 years, let alone blogging). To celebrate this special occasion, I wanted to give away 10 x $10 Amazon Gift Cards to my readers.

To enter the giveaway…

Leave a comment on this post by 11:59pm PT on May 3 telling me about your favorite article / topic covered on Travel with Grant.  I will select 10 winners by Friday, May 5 and email them a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

Good luck to everyone who enters the giveaway and here’s to 10 more years!

P.S. In case you were wondering, here are the 9 other blogiversary posts I wrote throughout the years:

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Last Call: See My Presentation at FTU Virtual Seminar on Saturday, April 29 ($25) or Free with Online Annual Membership

Good afternoon everyone, happy Friday!  If you are not busy tomorrow, Saturday, April 29, I highly recommend attending the FTU Virtual Seminar (tickets available for $25) or free if you have the FTU Online Annual Membership.  The seminar starts on Saturday, April 29, at 8am PT / 11am ET.  I have attended all of the FTU Virtual Seminars over the last 2+ years and they are always well done, educational, and entertaining – and I am sure this seminar will be no exception!  Here is the schedule for the event.  If you need one more reason to attend, I will be presenting on “Credit Cards 201: Before, During, and After Application Tips” where I will share my more advanced credit card application tips.

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5 Buy Miles / Points Promos Ending Soon: United (100%), Choice Hotels (40%), Air France / KLM (100%), Air Canada (85%) & JetBlue (50%)

Good afternoon everyone, happy Friday!  I was working on my Buy Miles & Points Page and found 5 offers that end in the next week.  Always check the math to make sure that buying miles & points makes sense for you.  Do not buy miles & points speculatively unless you have a use in mind.  With that said, here are 5 offers that end soon.

Up first, United Airlines is offering up to a 100% bonus, depending on the number of United Airlines MileagePlus Miles you purchase. This offer expires today – April 28.

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See My Presentation at FTU Virtual Seminar on Saturday, April 29 ($25) or Free with Online Annual Membership

Good afternoon everyone, I hope your weekend is going well.  If you are not busy this Saturday, April 29, I highly recommend attending the FTU Virtual Seminar (tickets available for $25) or free if you have the FTU Online Annual Membership.  The seminar starts on Saturday, April 29, at 8am PT / 11am ET.  I have attended all of the FTU Virtual Seminars over the last 2+ years and they are always well done, educational, and entertaining – and I am sure this seminar will be no exception!  Here is the schedule for the event.  If you need one more reason to attend, I will be presenting on “Credit Cards 201: Before, During, and After Application Tips” where I will share my more advanced credit card application tips.

a man smiling for a picture

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