My daughter also likes her Chase Sapphire but is considering changing because of the cost, and because they changed the rules for the lounge (she used to get to bring 2 guests). They do use the other perks too ($200 in travel credit, lounges overseas).
I’m giving up my Southwest card because the fee is just too high. I’ll keep the United one for one more year to see if it is worth it (probably not) but I really don’t spend enough to earn a ticket every year and the luggage benefit isn’t worth the fee. However, United just added a direct flight to Abilene TX, where my daughter lives and without the card you only get an ‘under the seat’ bag (no roller bag) and no choice of seat, so… I’ve also been flying to Savannah once a year and have always gone SW (they only lost my luggage once! but I’m still wearing all the clothes I got on that trip) but now learn that there are non-stop United flights so I think that’s my new airline of choice.
Very interesting. I usually fly on United, and I’ve never seen them strictly enforce the carry-on luggage rules. It’s quite common to see people bringing two large bags—one of them almost the size of my checked luggage—and I assume they end up storing them in the overhead bins.
I’m a small person and can’t lift a carry-on into the overhead bin, so I typically just bring a bag that fits under the seat and check one bag instead which is free because I have a United credit card.
I flew United last year through ORD, there were tons of announcements that baggage space was at a minimum and that the gate staff will enforce the rules.
Maybe it’s airport specific? Since ORD is a huge United hub.
I had to squash my Garrett’s popcorn onto my tote. I was very sad.
There is a notice when you buy the ticket that if you bring a roller bag that won’t fit under your seat, you have to pay $65 at the gate. Do they actually charge you? I don’t know.
The United credit card gives me a free checked bag and a carry on, so that saves me about $40 each way, plus I get seat selection. On SW with a SW card, it gives one checked bag and seat selection in premium (bigger but not huge).
Do any non-Airline cards give flight benefits like free checked bag or seat selection? I don’t think Capital One does (but the lounge is nice)
I am aware of those brackets/steps, thanks to info here on CC a few years ago. Honestly I can see me being coordinated enough to take advantage. (LOL - I’m the person who broke her glasses last week taking a large but EMPTY suitcase down off a high shelf. It was while helping to clean out an apartment… at home with my own gear I might have been smarter.)
”IMO, the best perk of travel cards are the miles for free flights and upgrades, not for checked bags.” - Agreed. We mostly have had our United Chase explorer Visa for the miles, though admittedly they don’t add up as quickly now that my husband is retired and not flying to Japan a few times a year. Checked bags is usually not a factor since we like to travel light on most travel. But on winter trips to Mexico resort, we do check a bag (with sunblock, lots of bathing suits, dresses etc) - that’s a $70 savings toward our annual fee. Also the annual United Club freebie visit is quite nice, saves us an airport restaurant bill.
The Delta Reserve card is a circular benefit for us b/c I get flying miles with spend, and the multiplier for spend to MQDs is 1:10 so that plus Delta purchases has gotten me to Diamond status for the past 2 years, and the Diamond status in turn gives a higher ratio for flying miles earned on flights, plus the lounge access plus 4 guest passes to the lounge, free checked bags (with both the card and the skymiles medallion level) priority boarding with both also, and the card gives a free companion ticket which easily covers the cost of the card, not to mention the choice benefits (one of which is $$ back on the credit card of your each diamond medallion) and the medallion status gets a complimentary automatic upgrade, so I pay for coach and upgrade to comfort plus- I think I could pay for comfort plus and upgrade to first class, but not sure), etc etc. So for me, as long as I am in a Delta hub, it pays th have the Delta Amex Reserve card. My DH has the Delta platinum card at no extra cost but because its attached to my card I still get the 1:10 spend to MQDs ratio even though he doesn’t have the reserve card.
That little step on the side of the seat doesn’t give me enough support to lift my carryon. I can do it only if I step on to the aisle seat with both feet. So far one checked bag has worked for me. I remind myself that I am retired so I have time to wait at the bag carousel.
I need to look into Delta. Unfortunately, United has many more flights SFO-EWR. Even though I have premier status and has a priority tag on my suitcase, it seldom comes out in the first batch.
Years ago I got a Jet Blue credit card. Hardly ever use it (and just had to yesterday, to avoid deactivation). But when the kids were in college, it was ever so handy to have them charge flights or other parent-approved expenses to the card. What I did not realize is that MY timely payments (phew) actually helped THEIR credits rating/
One thing I just realized the Delta Reserve card has, is $250 back once a year if you book a hotel through Delta Stays. Not sure if this is new. Usually we book through the Marriott system, but shoot, if we have to book one random hotel room for $300, we book through Delta Stays and get the credit.
Not sure if you use this, but it’s a benefit I hadn’t realized.
I haven’t used it, TBH, b/c like you I book directly with the hotel chain. Delta stays is really Expedia and if we need to make a change it worries me. And I think for what it’s worth it’s a $200 credit not 250.
Meant to add, apparently there was a great deal with Delta stays on the Delta website recently, which I did not take advantage of because as I said, tend to be a little cautious when it’s a third-party Vendor. I believe it requires prepayment and it may or may not be refundable. I’ve seen people say both.
I’m definitely cautious, because I never book through third party vendors. However, an upcoming hotel that I booked through them, it was pre-pay, but refundable. We have until three days prior to cancel the hotel, and if we cancel after that, they charge one night. I’ve booked Marriotts where I have to cancel a couple of days out or lose one night also.
This was a situation where a Marriott wouldn’t work out anyways. They’ve already credited $250 to my card. They are also crediting MQDs to my husband’s account for this.
Perhaps that is an older benefit, and they have increased it to $250? They change things around periodically. I know they credited my account and also my husbands, when we booked through his card, with $250. I just went on the Amex site and looked at Rewards and Benefits, and it shows $250 Delta Stays credit, congratulations, etc. Then you can click on the fine print and it mentions the $250. I was thinking maybe this was a promotion, but it doesn’t say that, so perhaps they merely increased the value.
