The Milenomics Podcast Network

Milenomics² Podcast Episode 205: The Status Trap, Fluz News, and More

Added 2023-09-23 23:35:17 +0000 UTC

0:19 “A Simpler and More Rewarding Skymiles”

Seems to be the straw the broke the camel’s back of even the most addicted loyalists (at least that’s what people are saying)
Can still earn your way to status via credit card spend, but it takes a lot more spend (FM summary)
Lounge visits from credit cards are now capped per Medallion-year, but per-card access might provide enough access for card-heavy Amex enthusiasts. 10 visits per Delta Reserve card, 6 per Amex Platinum card (how is this simpler? FM summary)
I’d say I’m not chasing Delta status through spend, but who am I to say they won’t introduce a welcome bonus for say the Reserve cards that includes a significant number of MQDs?
Broaden the Discussion: Consider Hyatt and other programs. How is the Be Your Own Elite program performing in 2023?

11:09 Amex Delta Card Changes

12:45 Fluz Multi-Use Virtual Card Zoom Update Notes

Rolling out soon on a user by user basis
Generate as many multi-use cards as you'd like, for each of your favorite merchants
Each card is "tied" to merchant it's first used with
Funding source is Fluz Balance
Fluz Balance = Cash Balance + Gift Card Balance + Rewards Balance
MC and VGC will be available
Will appear under Virtual Cards -> Brand Card
Looks like 1% for VGC and 1.5% back for MCGC (based on preliminary demo)
Coming Soon
Low/medium/high funds availability indicator to gauge likelihood of decline
Another VGC BIN coming soon, and "many more" after that

16:38 Capital One Venture X Business

Previously only available from a banker
Can apply online: Direct Link
150,000 for $30,000 in 3 months
$395 AF not waived first year
$300 per card year credit for travel booked through CapOne portal, said to claw back if booked and cancelled
10,000 anniversary points, starting after first year
Business card said to be not included on personal credit report
There’s supposedly a refer a business program (link) but when I try to generate a referral from my Spark Business Plus card it says “Sorry, you're not eligible for this program right now.”
Currently having a Spark Business Plus seems to make one ineligible for the Venture X Business (OMAAT) but if you’ve had it before it seems like you’re eligible? So is this motivation to cancel the Spark Plus Cash card I haven’t been using?
All in all: This sounds like a complicated mess

20:00 Q4 2023 5x Categories

26:29 Eastern Bank: Up to $600 Checking Bonus

Direct Link
Unique structure: $600 bonus for $15,000+ in direct deposit over 90 days
Things like PayPal said to be excluded from being considered as direct deposit
New accounts only, limited service area, etc. But first I’ve seen this kind of bonus.

Follow up

28:30 US Bank Leverage Churning Updates

Card #1 recently turned 1 year old
To celebrate I cancelled it, and received a $95 refund of the annual fee.
I currently hold card #2, approved back in Episode
2 days after cancelling card #1 I went in and applied for a new Leverage card.
Denied. Letter said reasons were Number of recently opened trade lines and number of recent inquiries on consumer report. I only used my SSN, no EIN for this application.
I’ll let this sit for a bit and then apply again in a few months. I think I might have been too ambitious on churning it.

31:12 Update: US bank missing $15k checking account bonus

In the words of Maxwell Smart, “I missed it by…..that….. much.”
They never responded to my phone call and open case.
Instead I put in a CFPB complaint and about 6 days later they replied with a letter explaining the situation.
Was unsure a CFPB complaint would apply to a business account, but it was responded to
My issue was I deposited $700 or so off a credit card and then $14,800 via ACH.
My initial deposit was not counted as new money, it was a US Bank CC card charge
While I don’t appreciate their literal reading of the terms, I missed this by $200, and that’s ultimately my fault.
Takeaway: even with a business account the CFPB helped get me some response without wasting any of my time on hold
Account is now closed!

35:09 Approved: Citi Business AA card.

Applied for my P2 who has the most AA miles right now.
Went pending and 2 days later auto approved.
65k AA miles for $4k
2x on some fun categories (1.65 cents per AA or less with fluz)
A really great card for AA miles
Doing this and buying GC.com angle we went over a week ago seem like the best solution to getting more AA miles.

38:04 Cell Phone Fun

I’ve started playing around a lot more with my cell plan as I’ve started closing Business Platinum cards. It didn’t matter much when I had lots of cell phone credits. Now I don’t so I’m back to fun and games with plans/phones.
Currently on Helium Mobile for 30GB/month of 5G data for $5gb/month (tmobile) + a second line of talk/text/data.
I wouldn’t trust Helium Mobile with my real number.
Probably almost no customer support.
Geographically locked to only Miami customers for now.
More plans I like:
I enjoy using US Mobile who offers 50 days free.
US Mobile has priority data and a choice between verizon (5g) or Tmobile (5G)
Pooled data plans for families ($2/gb plus $8 per line, tax included).
Most of my family could probably split 6gb a month ($30 for 3 lines with US Mobile)
Business platinum credits post for USmobile. Pooled data can be bought in batches with different Business Platinum cards to use up credits.
I would trust US Mobile with my ‘real’ number.
Mint Mobile 3 months unlimited plan for $45 for 3 months ($15/mo)
Churning phones for my kids via prepaid sign up offers at other providers allows kids to get really cheap android devices for netflix and games.
More on #cell-phone-deals and on Manifesto Episode 5.