Airline/Hotel Loyalty Programs

[BigFatMeanie]

I’m lifetime Gold with Marriott but I never get to platinum. 50 nights is a lot of nights, man. 75 for Titanium and 100 for Ambassador is a heck of a lot of nights. I don’t want to be on the road that much.

[BigPiney]

I’m lifetime Gold with Marriott but I never get to platinum. 50 nights is a lot of nights, man. 75 for Titanium and 100 for Ambassador is a heck of a lot of nights. I don’t want to be on the road that much.

I have only stayed 30 nights this year, and 10 are with my family. 5 days in NYC, soccer trips. Using the app I have 22 bonus nights and 16 from my credit card for a total of 38. The spring promotion where they double each stay is the way to go.

[Pelado]

The recent addition of American Airlines as a transfer partner of Citi ThankYou points has me considering a slightly different travel rewards points strategy than I have previously employed. The Citi Strata Elite and Premier (and no-longer accepting new applicants) Prestige allow for the 1:1 transfers. Lesser Citi ThankYou cards allow for transfers to non-American programs, but generally at a less-favorable rate. But those lesser cards can be paired with a Strata card to unlock the 1:1 ratio and American transfers.

American doesn't have a big presence at my primary airport (Boise), but Alaska does. And Alaska is now a OneWorld alliance partner of American. So AAdvantage miles can be used to book flights through American on Alaska metal.

So I'm thinking of getting the Citi Strata Premier card (with primarily travel bonus categories) and the Citi DoubleCash card (with 2% on all purchases). I wouldn't probably use the Strata Premier (annual fee of $99) much after getting the sign-up bonus, but I would use the DoubleCash card (no annual fee) for pretty much all my non-bonus category spending.

Anyone have either of those cards? Any problems with this plan? Any possible improvements?

[Jeff Lebowski]

The recent addition of American Airlines as a transfer partner of Citi ThankYou points has me considering a slightly different travel rewards points strategy than I have previously employed. The Citi Strata Elite and Premier (and no-longer accepting new applicants) Prestige allow for the 1:1 transfers. Lesser Citi ThankYou cards allow for transfers to non-American programs, but generally at a less-favorable rate. But those lesser cards can be paired with a Strata card to unlock the 1:1 ratio and American transfers.

American doesn't have a big presence at my primary airport (Boise), but Alaska does. And Alaska is now a OneWorld alliance partner of American. So AAdvantage miles can be used to book flights through American on Alaska metal.

So I'm thinking of getting the Citi Strata Premier card (with primarily travel bonus categories) and the Citi DoubleCash card (with 2% on all purchases). I wouldn't probably use the Strata Premier (annual fee of $99) much after getting the sign-up bonus, but I would use the DoubleCash card (no annual fee) for pretty much all my non-bonus category spending.

Anyone have either of those cards? Any problems with this plan? Any possible improvements?

We have had the double cash card for a few years. Tough to beat 2% on everything. We use other cards for travel/gas/restaurants to get a higher rate, but generally use the Double Cash card for other things. The exception is when we are working a short term spending target to get a sign up bonus. We have done quite a few airline cards in the last 2-3 years. Recently signed up for both the Barclay's AA card and the Citi AA card and got the bonus on both. I got a business card on Citi to get a higher signup bonus.

My next target is the Alaska Airlines card from BoA (hey Clark). Now that I am back in the Alaska fishing rotation, that companion ticket and free bags (fish boxes) is a no brainer.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I have more airline miles than I will likely ever use.

[Pelado]

We have had the double cash card for a few years. Tough to beat 2% on everything. We use other cards for travel/gas/restaurants to get a higher rate, but generally use the Double Cash card for other things. The exception is when we are working a short term spending target to get a sign up bonus. We have done quite a few airline cards in the last 2-3 years. Recently signed up for both the Barclay's AA card and the Citi AA card and got the bonus on both. I got a business card on Citi to get a higher signup bonus.

My next target is the Alaska Airlines card from BoA (hey Clark). Now that I am back in the Alaska fishing rotation, that companion ticket and free bags (fish boxes) is a no brainer.

The business card on Citi - is that the Citi AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard? Or the Citi Business ThankYou Card? Or something else? Do you remember what sign-up bonus you got for it?

Also, do you have a referral code for the Double Cash card? Might as well get you some additional ThankYou points if/when I sign up.

[Pelado]

I have more airline miles than I will likely ever use.

If you don't use them, be sure to transfer them to someone else's account before you pass.

[Jeff Lebowski]

If you don't use them, be sure to transfer them to someone else's account before you pass.

[Jeff Lebowski]

The business card on Citi - is that the Citi AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard? Or the Citi Business ThankYou Card? Or something else? Do you remember what sign-up bonus you got for it?

Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard. 65K miles IIRC.

Also, do you have a referral code for the Double Cash card? Might as well get you some additional ThankYou points if/when I sign up.

Looks like they don't have a referral bonus.

[Pelado]

Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard. 65K miles IIRC.



Looks like they don't have a referral bonus.

Jerks.

[Copelius]

I only fly when someone else is paying, so I am a straight cash guy. I have the Fidelity 2% cash back card, which was an upgrade from the Quicksilver 1.5%. I do gas and dining with Sam's @ 5% and 3% cash back respectively. I had Alaska when I lived up there, but no need anymore since we don't fly. I use the AMEX 2% cash back for my business and Capital One Ink at 1.5% for those that don't accept AMEX (stupid Utah Court System).

[Bo Diddley]

Wells Fargo also has a 2% cash back visa I keep in my wallet.

[Omaha 680]

The recent addition of American Airlines as a transfer partner of Citi ThankYou points has me considering a slightly different travel rewards points strategy than I have previously employed. The Citi Strata Elite and Premier (and no-longer accepting new applicants) Prestige allow for the 1:1 transfers. Lesser Citi ThankYou cards allow for transfers to non-American programs, but generally at a less-favorable rate. But those lesser cards can be paired with a Strata card to unlock the 1:1 ratio and American transfers.

American doesn't have a big presence at my primary airport (Boise), but Alaska does. And Alaska is now a OneWorld alliance partner of American. So AAdvantage miles can be used to book flights through American on Alaska metal.

So I'm thinking of getting the Citi Strata Premier card (with primarily travel bonus categories) and the Citi DoubleCash card (with 2% on all purchases). I wouldn't probably use the Strata Premier (annual fee of $99) much after getting the sign-up bonus, but I would use the DoubleCash card (no annual fee) for pretty much all my non-bonus category spending.

Anyone have either of those cards? Any problems with this plan? Any possible improvements?

Other than you have to fly American occasionally, seems like a solid plan.

[Pelado]

Other than you have to fly American occasionally, seems like a solid plan.

How bad is flying American, really? It's been a while for me - maybe since my mission. I have recent experience with both United and Southwest.

[Jeff Lebowski]

How bad is flying American, really? It's been a while for me - maybe since my mission. I have recent experience with both United and Southwest.

I am flying American more because they now fly out of Provo. Delta is still the gold standard. American is just OK. Their app used to be horrible, but it is better now.