American Express and Delta announced back in October of 2019 that changes would be coming to all 4 personal co-branded credit cards as well as the business versions. These effects take place on January 30, 2020. Since these changes are about to kick in. I thought it would be a good time to dive into these changes. Let’s take a peek.

Sign-Up Bonus

Since American Express only allows you to earn one sign-up bonus per lifetime on each product. Equally, you want to try and earn a sign-up bonus when it is at or near its highest offer. The public offer always starts off at around 40,000 SkyMiles after $3,000 of spending within the first 3 months of account opening. We have seen as high as 75,000 SkyMiles with $5,000 of spending within the first 3 months of account opening. I would strongly suggest waiting for one of the higher offers. As part of the sign-up bonus you will also receive 10,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs). These are put towards Elite Status with Delta Airlines.

Moreover, you can generally get a great sign-up bonus by using a referral link. Use our LINK, just click on “VIEW ALL CARDS WITH A REFERRAL OFFER” and you’ll currently get 75,000 Delta SkyMiles after you spend $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. This current promotion ends 01/29/2020. We will see if there will be an increased offer coming on 01/30/2020 to help promote the new versions of these cards.

In addition, the best strategy is to use a computer to go onto Delta.com and purchase a $100 gift card. Because, if you try this from your phone or tablet that the credit will not kick in. Why this is I don’t know. But don’t chance it. You may even want to use incognito mode.

If you really want this card the best strategy is to apply for this card by January 29, 2020. By doing this you will get the current $450 annual fee. If you apply on January 30, 2020 or later the higher annual fee of $550 will be in effect.

Delta SkyMiles Platinum Benefits

We will look at the benefits this card will have effective January 30, 2020.

• 3X on Delta Purchases
• Complimentary Access to the Centurion Lounge
• Delta Sky Guest Passes
• Complimentary Upgrades
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
• Status Boost
• Companion Certificate
• MQD Waiver
• Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding
• Concierge
• First Checked bag free

What is Status Boost?

If in any calendar year you spend $30,000 or more on your Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card you will receive 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs). You can earn this up to four times in one calendar year. So, if you spend $120,000 or more in a calendar year you can earn 60,000 MQMs. Delta defines the calendar year ending on December 31 of any year. The purchase must post to your account on December 31. MQMs are not redeemable. They count towards earning Elite Status with Delta. If you have this credit card you probably already have or are planning on earning Delta’s highest loyalty program. Diamond Medallion Status.

Companion Certificate

Every card anniversary month. So, beginning on your 1^st year anniversary holding this card. You will receive a Companion Certificate in your account on Delta.com in your renewal month. This certificate can be used for travel within the United States only with some exceptions when it comes to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands. You only pay the taxes and fees, no more than $75. If traveling across the country the value of the ticket you would be getting more than covers the $250 annual fee.

Delta Sky Club Access

These lounges inside airports allow you and complimentary access to these lounges when traveling on a same-day Delta flight. This is a unique perk of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card. If you are traveling on an airline other than Delta, you may still access the Sky Club for a cost of $39. You may also bring up to two guests to enter for $39 per person. Children under 2 years of age may enter for free with the Card Member. You will have to pay for this with your Delta SkyMiles Platinum Credit Card, so be sure to carry it with when traveling. Card Member and guests must be flying on same-day Delta or Delta partner flight. Generally, the $39 fee is not worth the cost of admission. If you happen to have a long layover or had a flight cancellation it’s better than sitting around in the terminal. But Ultimately, you’ll have to decide if he cost is worth it.

Each year with this card you will receive two complimentary guest passes for the Delta Sky Club. These one time passes expire one year from the date of issuance. So if you don’t use them, you lose them. You as the card holder will have to be present with your guests. So you can’t just give these passes to your friends as a gift. The guests must also be travelling on a same day Delta flight or Delta operated flight.

This benefit has a lot of restrictions. But if you have this card you are flying Delta every time you are in the skies anyway. This shouldn’t be too hard for you to use if say taking your family on a vacation.

The Centurion Lounge Benefit

One of the more luxurious perks of this card if you will is the complimentary access to all locations of The Centurion Lounge. Same rules apply as for the Delta Sky Club Access. Must be traveling on a same day Delta flight or partner flight. The eligible flight must be booked on a U.S. issued American Express charge or credit card. How they determine if this was done, I’m not sure. I guess they will have access to your itinerary and receipt.

Overall Thoughts

The assumption I am making is that if you have this credit card you already fly Delta or are about to start flying Delta on a very regular basis. Probably monthly. Overall the benefits I feel more than cover the annual fee if you visit lounges. This is a great card to help you reach the Elite Diamond Medallion Status. The earning categories are lack luster in my opinion only have a Delta earning multiplier. The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card has better earning categories in my opinion and you could partner that card with say The Hilton Honors Surpass card with gives you 10 visits to Priority Pass lounges each year and pay only about $350 per year in annual fees instead of the $550 annual fee with this card. Like with any card, run the numbers for any credit card you are considering to see if it makes sense for you.

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American Express and Delta announced back in October of 2019 that changes would be coming to all 4 personal co-branded credit cards as well as the business versions. These effects take place on January 30, 2020. Since these changes are about to kick in I thought it would be a good time to dive into these changes. While the overall changes are more negative than positive. This card still comes with some nice benefits and an amazing perk. Let’s take a peek.

Sign-Up Bonus

Since American Express only allows you to earn one sign-up bonus per lifetime on each product. You want to try and earn a sign-up bonus when it is at or near its highest offer. The public offer always starts off at 35,000 SkyMiles after $1,000 of spending within the first 3 months of account opening. We have seen as high as 75,000 SkyMiles with $2,000 to $3,000 of spending within the first 3 months of account opening. I would strongly suggest waiting for one of the higher offers.

You can generally get close by using a referral link. If you’d like to use our LINK, just click on “VIEW ALL CARDS WITH A REFERRAL OFFER” and you’ll currently get 75,000 Delta SkyMiles after you spend $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. You will also get a $100 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new card within the first 3 months. This current promotion ends 01/29/2020. We will see if there will be an increased offer coming on 01/30/2020 to help promote the new versions of these cards.

The best strategy is to use a computer to go onto Delta.com and purchase a $100 gift card. Data points suggest that if you try this from your phone or tablet that the credit will not kick in. Why this is I don’t know. But don’t chance it. You may even want to use incognito mode.

If you really want this card the best strategy is to apply for this card by January 29, 2020. By doing this you will get the current $195 annual fee. If you apply on January 30, 2020 or later the higher annual fee of $250.

Delta SkyMiles Platinum Benefits

We will look at the benefits this card will have effective January 30, 2020.

• $250 annual fee
• 3X Miles at Hotels
• 3X Miles on Delta Purchases
• 2X Miles at Restaurants
• 2X Miles at U.S. Supermarkets
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Fee Credit
• Companion Certificate
• First Checked Bag Free for you and up to 8 passengers traveling with you on the same reservation
• Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding
• No Foreign Transaction Fees
• Delta Sky Club Access for $39
• Status Boost

What is Status Boost?

If in any calendar year you spend $25,000 or more on your Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card you will receive 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs). You can earn this up to twice in one calendar year. So, if you spend $50,000 or more in a calendar year you can earn 20,000 MQMs. Delta defines the calendar year ending on December 31 of any year. The purchase must post to your account on December 31. MQMs are not redeemable. They count towards earning Elite Status with Delta.

Companion Certificate

Every card anniversary month. So, beginning on your 1^st year anniversary holding this card. You will receive a Companion Certificate in your account on Delta.com in your renewal month. This certificate can be used for travel within the United States only with some exceptions when it comes to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands. You only pay the taxes and fees, no more than $75. If traveling across the country the value of the ticket you would be getting more than covers the $250 annual fee.

Delta Sky Club Access

These lounges inside airports allow you and up to two guests to enter for $39 per person. Children under 2 years of age may enter for free with the Card Member. You will have to pay for this with your Delta SkyMiles Platinum Credit Card, so be sure to carry it with when traveling. Card Member and guests must be flying on same-day Delta or Delta partner flight. Generally, the $39 fee is not worth the cost of admission. If you happen to have a long layover or had a flight cancellation it’s better than sitting around in the terminal. But Ultimately, you’ll have to decide if he cost is worth it.

Overall Thoughts

As mentioned at the outset of this post this card still packs some power. That Companion Pass is hard to beat. Checked bags on Delta run you a smooth $30 per bag each way. If you and your travel buddy each check a bag that would cost you $120. Those two perks alone more than cover the $250 annual fee. To get the lower annual fee of $195 in year one be sure to apply by January 29, 2020.  What do you think about this Card?

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American Express and Delta announced back in October of 2019 that changes would be coming to all 4 personal co-branded credit cards as well as the business versions. These effects take place on January 30, 2020. Since these changes are about to kick in I thought it would be a good time to dive into these changes.

Sign-Up Bonus

Since American Express only allows you to earn one sign-up bonus per lifetime on each product. You want to try and earn a sign-up bonus when it is at or near its highest offer. The public offer always starts off at 30,000 SkyMiles after $1,000 of spending within the first 3 months of account opening. We have seen as high as 75,000 SkyMiles with $2,000 to $3,000 of spending within the first 3 months of account opening. I would strongly suggest waiting for one of the higher offers.

You can generally get close by using a referral link. If you’d like to use our LINK and You’ll currently get 60,000 Delta SkyMiles after you spend $2,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. You will also get a $50 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new card within the first 3 months.

The best strategy is to use a computer to go onto Delta.com and purchase a $50 gift card. Data points suggest that if you try this from your phone or tablet that the credit will not kick in. Why this is I don’t know. But don’t chance it. You may even want to use incognito mode.

If you really want this card the best strategy is to apply for this card by January 29, 2020. By doing this you will get the current $95 annual fee waived for your first year. If you apply on January 30, 2020 or later the higher annual fee of $99 kicks in and is not waived in year one.

Delta SkyMiles Gold Benefits

We will look at the benefits this card will have effective January 30, 2020.

• $99 annual fee
• 2X Miles at Restaurants
• 2X Miles at U.S. Supermarkets
• 2X Miles on Delta Purchases
• $100 Delta Flight Credit, after you spend $10,000 in a calendar year
• First Checked Bag Free for you and up to 8 passengers traveling with you on the same reservation
• Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding

Overall Thoughts

As mentioned at the outset of this post this card is perfect if you fly using Delta at least twice a year as a solo traveler or once a year with a travel buddy. Checked bags on Delta run you a smooth $30 per bag each way. If you and your travel buddy each check a bag that would cost you $120. That more than pays for the $99 annual fee. To avoid the annual fee in year one be sure to apply by January 29, 2020. It’s also a great card to get your feet wet and earn some increased earnings at the supermarket and gas station while enjoying some nice travel benefits. This is a keeper card in my book.

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What is the Southwest Companion Pass?

If you’re unfamiliar with what the Southwest Companion Pass is check out our other post here or this video for a full break down and the best strategy. But simply put, this companion pass allows you to bring a plus one on any paid or reward flight for up to 2 years. You need to earn 125,000 rapid rewards points in one calendar year to ge it. It’s truly the best travel hack available and it’s easier to get than you might think. The easiest way is through credit cards.

Southwest partners with Chase for all of their credit cards. Something to keep in mind if you have opened 5 or more credit cards in the last 24 months. If you have you wont be approved for a Southwest credit card.

What are the Two Best Credit Cards to Earn The Southwest Companion Pass?

Now these can be subjective. But if your goal is to earn the Southwest Companion Pass that means you plan on flying Southwest frequently. So, with that in mind, don’t you want to get the most out of every flight?

I knew you would say a resounding yes!

To earn the companion pass fast and easy you need to open two of these Southwest credit cards. You will need to open up one personal credit card and one business credit card. Now you might be thinking, I don’t own a business. Well, if you sell anything online that is considered a business. 

For the personal credit card you will want to get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card which comes with a $149 annual fee. For the business version you will want to get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card which comes with a $199 annual fee. 

• 

So now you have two cards in your wallet that are costing you $348 per year. Is it worth it? Absolutely! Let’s look at the numbers.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card Benefits

Let’s take a look at the personal credit card first. What do you get for $149 per year? After the 75,000 point sign-up bonus which is worth about $1,125, here is what else you will get:

• 7,500 points every anniversary ($112.50 value)
• Four Upgraded Boardings per year when available ($30-$50 value per pass)
• $75 Southwest annual travel credit
• 20% back on inflight drinks and WiFi
• 2 points per $1 on Southwest Airlines purchases

Since you won’t receive your 7,500 points until your year one anniversary we won’t include that into our valuation. I also don’t value the boarding passes at $30. I value those at a modest $10 since I would easily pay that amount. So that means in year one you are getting a whopping $1240. Now once those points have been used. Does it still make sense to keep this card?

Now we can include those 7,500 anniversary points as those can be used to redeem for flights. Just on the value of the points and the annual travel credit alone you are already at $187.50 which gives you more than the $149 annual fee. Add in $40 worth of value for those 4 boarding passes and based on my value you’re sitting at $227.50 worth of value. This card more than pays for itself and this is the one I always recommend to apply for between the three.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card Benefits

Now let’s take a look at the Business credit card. What do you get for $199 per year? After the 70,000 point sign-up bonus which is worth about $1,050, here is what else you will get:

• 9,000 points every anniversary ($135 value)
• Four Upgraded Boardings per year when available 
• Inflight Wifi Credits (limited to 365 $8 credits per year)
• $100 Global Entry or TSA Pre-Check statement credit every 4 years
• 3 points per $1 on Southwest Airlines purchases
• 2 points per $1 on social media and search engine advertising, Internet, cable, and phone service

Since again on this card you won’t receive your 9,000 points until your anniversary we won’t include that in our year one valuation. We also use the same value for the boarding passes. We now have have a couple more things to add that we get with this card. We get those inflight WiFi credits as well as that $100 Global Entry Credit. Even though it is every 4 years, we will include that in the year one valuation instead of averaging it out over 4 years. Now the inflight credits are going to be based on how many times you fly. If you are getting the companion pass the plan is to fly as often as possible. For the sake of this article we will use a consevative number of 6 flights to use that credit. That means in year one you are getting $1,238 worth of value.

Now let’s look at year two and beyond. Without the signup bonus value and the global entry credit. But we now get to add the value of the 9,000 rapid reward anniversary points. The value of everything comes to $223. Which is $24 more than you’re paying for the annual fee. 

Final Thoughts

If you already fly Southwest or plan on it. These two cards are must adds. We’ve done the math and know the value you are getting more than covers the cost of the annual fees. All that’s left to do now is to plan your trip.

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What is Lyft Pink?

This is a membership program that Lyft is advertising as a membership that elevates the Lyft experience for its users with preferred pricing. It is being launched at a price of $19.99 per month. This membership will auto renew every month and you can cancel anytime. This membership is also only currently available in the United States.

What are the Perks?

• 15% off unlimited car rides
  Save on every car ride you take — any time, anywhere. 
• Priority airport pickups
  Get picked up faster at the airport when it’s busy.
• Relaxed cancellations
  We’ll cover three cancel fees per month if you rebook within 15 minutes.
• Surprise offers
  Get seasonal discounts and exclusive savings.
• Waived lost and found fees
  We’ll take care of the return fee every time. 
• Bikes and scooters
  Enjoy 3 free 30-min. bike or scooter rides per month (in select markets).

How do these Perks work?

We will take a look at some of these perks and explain how they work according to Lyft. Since this is a brand new service we don’t have much information on the real life application of this just yet. This information is taken from the frequently asked questions section of the lyft website.

• How do priority airport rides work?

When it’s busy at applicable airports, we’ll match you with a closer driver. This perk only applies to Standard Lyft rides and does not apply to airports where Fast Match is available such as LAX, LGA, MDW, MSY, PDX, and SAN. Lyft cannot guarantee a faster pickup.

• How does relaxed cancellation work?

If you cancel and rebook a ride within 15 minutes, we’ll credit you the cancellation fee up to 3 times per month. You’ll see the credit in your account after you finish your rebooked ride and rate the driver.

• How does the bike and scooter perk work?

For a limited time, Lyft Pink riders get 3 free 30-minute bike or scooter rides per month in certain markets. Rides must be booked using the Lyft app. Bike perks are available in the New York Metro Area, San Francisco Bay Area (via Bay Wheels), and Washington DC Metro Area (via Capital Bikeshare). Scooter perks are available in Austin, TX, Denver, CO, Los Angeles, CA, Miami, FL, Minneapolis, MN, Oakland, CA, San Diego, CA, San Jose, CA, and Washington DC.

• How does the lost and found perk work?

Lyft will automatically waive the lost item fee after you report a lost item. This perk has unlimited uses.

Who is Lyft Pink for?

This new membership program is promoted towards those who use Lyft 2-3 times per week. Obviously with any membership program you will need to do the math to see if it makes sense for you. If you use Lyft on a regular basis you probably know about the average cost for your rides. 

Overall Thoughts

The perks themselves seem to make sense. But seem to be limited and restricted as it is just getting started. If you’re someone who uses Lyft regularly this membership might make a lot of sense for you. If you’re someone with a Chase credit card in their wallet. You will be happy to know that in addition to know that you can get 1 year free with the Chase Sapphire Reserve. You can also earn points and cash back with these other Chase cards. What are your thoughts on Pink Lyft?

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If you have been thinking about applying for a Southwest Credit Card now is the perfect time to apply. All 3 personal credit cards have an increased sign-up bonus. You’ll have to hurry though as this limited time offer ends 02/10/2020. You can earn up to 75K sign-up Bonus on all 3 southwest credit cards. These signup bonuses only put you 50,000 points away from earning the coveted Southwest Companion pass. In this article we will take a quick look at how to earn those 75,000 points and the benefits of each card.

The three personal cards are the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card, and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card. All three cards come with the same tiered sign-up bonus. So the card you go with will come down to which benefits you want. 

How to Earn the 75K Sign-Up Bonus

It is a tiered sign-up bonus. You’ll earn 40,000 points after you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months of when you open the account. Then You’ll earn an additional 35,000 points for an additional $4,000 spent in the first 6 months of account opening. Totaling $5,000 spent in the first 6 months of account opening. Which should be attainable for most.

What Each Card Comes With

What to Know Before Applying

You won’t be able to earn these sign-up bonuses if you already have a personal Southwest credit card. You are only allowed to have one open at a time. You also can not have earned the sign-up bonus on a Southwest personal credit card in the last 24 months. Also, if you have opened 5 or more credit cards within the last 24 months Chase won’t approve you for a new credit card.

Overall Thoughts

There is no better time than now to apply for one of these cards to be well on your way to having plenty of points for travel or 60% on your way to earning that Southwest Companion Pass. So, what do you think about these increased sign-up bonuses and which credit card will you get?

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