We got a Chase Sapphire card last year because we were going to Europe but it will be $95 to renew and I feel that’s too high. Anyone know of any current incentives being offered?
DH just started a new job with a very small company so he’ll use his personal card and be reimbursed. He travels a lot so we want maximum miles with no international transaction fees.
Appreciate any input! Googling is making my head hurt.
Look at the blog/site maintained by The Points Guy. He outlines all current offers in great detail. There are a couple that will give you 50K or 60K points after $2 or 3K in spending within 90 days. No fee for first year, but $95 fee in second year like the Chase Sapphire.
I have not found a completely free card that offers a large sign-up bonus.
I got a Delta Amex for free the first year with 60,000 poinst but $95 to renew. I am going to ask them if they will waive the renewal fee but if not, I will cancel it - Delta says the points don’t expire.
Delta, American, and United tend to have the cards with promotions as well as free the first year. There are others. I keep thinking I will cancel cards but I fly all those airlines, and between early boarding, a free piece of luggage, and the travel guarantee that comes with charging on those cards for tickets, they all have benefit. I had to cancel a trip on American last winter, with physician note, and they reimbursed me over $200 that would have otherwise been lost. The United card has good car rental insurance and no foreign transaction fee. Delta charges extra per rental. Free miles depends on your credit rating. Check it out on The Points Guy site. There are great advantages with the Chase Sapphire, from what my kids tell me, but I like my luggage and early boarding privileges. Think about what works best in your local airport, and with your destinations.
We do like Chase Sapphire but also have an airline card for its benefits as well. Chase Sapphire has UR points that can be used for any airline and many hotels.
I have the Chase Sapphire and I use that card for most travel related charges. I think if you travel the 95 dollars pays for itself. I also have a Costco Citibank card. The Costco card sent a travel reward card but the cash back is a nice reward. They no longer charge a foreign transaction fee.
Eventually I gave up all my “branded” travel cards for the Chase Freedom card - the others were so restrictive they made it difficult to actually use the points I’d amassed (example: I have an Hawaiian Air card, and while it would let me book online, I’d then get an e-mail saying I couldn’t use the points “for that flight” (every time!) - I’d call and after being on hold and talking nicely to a representative they’d use the "we’ll do it “this time but” story - right now I have enough for a r/t to the islands as well as a companion 50% off but can’t get them to let me use them together (what?)…I hate to say it, but those points may get left on the table, because I’m tired of the game).
Now with the Chase Freedom card I can book any travel I want, any flight, any car rental, any anything, and simply apply my credits to my statement (I have never carried a balance, so I have to be pretty aware that I don’t miss an opportunity). And no fee. I never pay a fee, I’m not that big of a spender!
I am very happy with my Citi DoubleCash card. No annual fee, and 2% back on all categories. It doesn’t get me miles/perks on specific airlines, but 2% adds up to a lot of cash back that I can spend anywhere.
I agree with the suggestion to read The Points Guy’s website; I’ve learned a lot on there. I use a United card because I my city is a hub for them and that’s what I usually fly. I also like the perks, noted above, and you also get two United Club one-time passes a year, which come in handy.
I have heard (though haven’t tried myself) that sometimes when you call to cancel the card, they will waive the fee for one more year. If they don’t immediately offer that, ask to be transferred to the retention dept.
Depends on whether you carry a balance month to month or not. I use the Chase Amazon Rewards Visa, which has no annual fees and no foreign tranaction fees, and I used in in Europe with no issues. The benefits are nice. 5% back for shopping at Amazon, which I do a lot, and 1-3% other places. However, the interest rate on the thing is massive. I pay off the full balance every month, so I don’t actually pay that interest, but if you carry a balance, it may not be worth it.