The Milenomics Podcast Network

Milenomics² Podcast Episode 216: New Year, New Cards and More

Added 2024-01-23 20:39:28 +0000 UTC

0:30 How Are We Doing on 2024 Travel Credits?

BofA Elite
- So Slow to post here. Last year I did a gym payment jan 5, posted jan 12. This year….
Amex Platinum
- I have SO many of these that reset, and between dell and airline incidentals I’m struggling on when the credits will post. Late start didn’t help, I did some when I got home
- Don’t forget: Last year’s Platinum $200 FHR credits need to be cancelled a while AFTER the card closes.
Amex Hilton
- I can’t be bothered right now. Set a reminder for Feb for this one.
Amex Business Gold
- Fluz seems broken. Listener and all around great guy Garth recommends target GC from Staples. I like that. 95% of the incidental and should ‘just work’

9:30 How are we doing on Dell Credits?

14:00 Fluz Follies

21:40 JetBlue Spirit Acquisition Blocked

24:00 Department of Corrections/Louse of the Week

AA flight credits aren’t going to 18 months. They’re just 6 months more for people with an AA account, and people without an AA account only have 6 months to use credits. So people with AA accounts get 12 month expiry from the time of booking, which is the same as it has been. Can you believe that?

27:20 Approved: Morgan Stanley Platinum 80,000

The way things are going with difficulty of Business Platinum/Gold approvals thought it was prudent to go for this for P2
Instant approval, no pop-up even while already having 2 of these

30:00 Approved: CapitalOne Venture X Business

Can apply for this online, but I tried twice and was denied each time
Thought it was because an old Spark Business card hadn’t cleared out but even after waiting a couple months still wasn’t approved
New policy: If you want to apply through a banker (presumably to improve approval odds) you need to apply through a banker in your region. If you applied with a banker out of your region previously, ask for an introduction.
Quick phone chat, link to application, instant approval
150,000 for $30k in 3 months + another 150,000 for $500,000 first year (won’t go for that)

34:10 Approved: US Bank Leverage

35:30 Amex Triple Dip Turning Into an Upgrade/Downgrade

Wife is not able to get a new Business platinum (pop-up)
She also can’t get a new Business gold.
So does the upgrade/downgrade of a Platinum back to gold allow her new employee cards?
And extending this–on my side I have a Business platinum triple dip I can downgrade instead ot an all new business gold for 5x15k
This is a different way to think about closing an Amex card–and is really a condition that exists because of the new 90 day popup/NLL link shortage.

43:40 Think Fast!

Should I get another Discover card?
What’s an easy way to keep miles/points from expiring (Marriott specific here for me, but broadly).

55:00 [Yet Another] College Visit

AA Flights
AA award ticket pricing remains the last useful thing in miles domestically.
Alaska MVP 100K upgrade on AA award ticket worked brilliantly!
Saw that I was indeed one slot ahead of my wife on the waitlist since she had AA Platinum and Alaska MVP Gold 100K is one notch above that
Great observability and result: Both upgraded to First BOS-PHL on the outbound
Not that big of a deal but I have to say: The A321neo is a very nice First cabin. Significantly nicer than typical Delta First they run up an down the east coast
Downside of booking with miles: No cash upgrades offered
The likelihood of upgrade depending on size of First cabin. 20 seats on way down (upgraded). Just 8 on way back (not upgraded).
National Car Rental: Thumbs Up
I’m a big Hertz guy due to familiarity and good corporate discount, but rates in State College were kinda high. Around $85/day w/Hertz.
Flanked to National that had $60/day for smallest car, just $65/day for “Luxury” car that was supposed to be a 3 Series or A4. Got a brand new Audi A6. Best rental car ever.
Returned 26 hours later with no additional charge.