The Milenomics Podcast Network

Milenomics² Podcast Episode 193: Assessing the Value of Chase Ultimate Rewards, an Evolving Game, and Amex Penalty Box Woes

Added 2023-05-11 06:10:53 +0000 UTC

0:33 Follow-Up: Ultimate Rewards and Pay Yourself Back

This game moves quickly sometimes.
Last week I was looking to clean up my UR situation
After getting approved for a CSP I went ahead and applied the next day for a CSR and was also approved (After some verification of my date of birth)
I’ll have even more UR to deal with, but with a clear path forward: Consolidate and pay myself back at 1.25 cents.
Wild how prevalent the 1.5 Cent per UR ‘yardstick’ has become–even when it is almost impossible to get that in true value now (Add in discussion of your MIL Flight?)
https://frequentmiler.com/chase-pay-yourself-back/ has good historical info as well as current options.

15:02 Fluz Updates

1-Time Mastercards still blocked
Signs of life on 1-Time Visas with PPBP
Still great for minimum spend when the card in question has categories with bonuses.
Zoom call last week was a bust…may take until Q3 for the changes
In the meanwhile load/cashout up to 40k a month seems like the best thing to do.

20:05 Follow Up: How is it that Taekus seems like the least risky option around right now?

Taekus has been around for a while now, and with Fluz sputtering I’ve been using it more
In hindsight I should have been doing both fluz and Taekus
As a product Taekus feels…. Better than most of the services we use. How is that?

23:15 First Republic Fails/Is Acquired by Chase (NYTimes)

30:40 Hyatt Acquires Mr and Mrs Smith (Press Release)

34:04 Follow-Up: Churning US Bank Leverage Card

Before the bank fails I wanted to get a second one of these. Has been approx 8-9 months since I last was approved. Currently hold one
Applied and …. Pending
A few days later I received the standard approval message: An email asking me to use my card in a mobile wallet. (So weird)
I’ll get to work on the min spend.
Would love the Business checking $750 offer as well (link)

37:30 Amex Penalty Box Woes

Wanted to earn another +5x grocery on one of my wife’s Personal Gold cards
Tried applying for a Delta Personal Reserve, got pop-up saying that for no particular reason I wasn’t eligible for the welcome bonus (I’ve never had the card)
We’ve seen this before. What to do?
Could try applying head-on for same card but thought it wise to apply for yet another co-branded business card while that seems to be working

41:16 Amex Reconsideration

Closed Hilton Business (without spending $15,000 on it this year)
A couple days later, applied for yet another Bonovy Business. Declined.
Called shortly after 6a MST on a Monday (when the new account department opens)
Rep said to call back after 9a EST when the business reconsideration team is available
Called back and after a few times on hold was able to get approved while on the call
This is different than what I usually get where the new account rep submits for reconsideration and you hear later
I think I like it better this way: One-call closure and no waiting beyond that

43:31 Plucky Airline of the Week: Bermudair (OMAAT)