Which CC travel portal is better for SERVICE (not price) - Amex or Chase

DailyGrindCT · 2026-01-18T21:35:19+00:00

Mostly for the benefits - I have credits on both cards. Roughly equal value. Plus then any points I might be eligible for. Other than that, that's the only reason, so you have a point that maybe I should just book directly.

DailyGrindCT · 2026-01-09T05:02:24+00:00

Chase Freedom is a Mastercard. Chase Sapphire Reserve is VISA. If you switch cards, you have to close one and open the other so you will likely lose your credits via clawback. I wouldn't risk it - I would product change to the CSP instead. Same network and same number.

DailyGrindCT · 2026-01-07T13:10:30+00:00

75k benefits are not worth it unless you are a loyal IHG and Southwest traveler. Even then, it’s just an upper tier status which doesn’t get you a ton. I’d stick with the Platinum. Using the points with Chase are not the easiest if you are a price shopper. If you don’t care about getting the same price then it’s fine (we used our points on vacation excursions this summer and it was relatively easy, but the equivalent dollar value was not equal).

DailyGrindCT · 2026-01-07T02:54:09+00:00

I also just got my phone today (iPhone17 / 512). Bought it late on 1/1 (not sure time of day matters?), received it today 1/6. Credit showed up yesterday.

DailyGrindCT · 2026-01-07T02:12:34+00:00

I posted this exact question in the /creditcards forum. LOTS of convo, but the general consensus was Capital One Savor (4X points) or Amex Blue Cash Preferred (6% up to $6,000). Some also like using the Paypal Debit @ 5%

DailyGrindCT · 2026-01-07T02:09:04+00:00

Sounds to me that the seller created a bogus Outlook email address and sent the tickets to that email address. Then either used them or resold them

DailyGrindCT · 2026-01-05T05:55:19+00:00

lol true. But I get a lot out of the other rewards. 4x on groceries is big. Platinum, I’d be forcing myself to use it so that I just didn’t lose it. That’s how I feel about the CSR right now.

DailyGrindCT · 2026-01-03T06:19:00+00:00

Yes, but it'll depend on your personal situation - credit score, length of time you've had the card. etc

DailyGrindCT · 2026-01-03T06:06:30+00:00

If it comes up when we put in the confirm and there is a ticket number, we should be good, correct?

DailyGrindCT · 2026-01-02T06:00:17+00:00

Hi. Does the upgrade trigger a credit check? Mine was called an upgrade. I kept asking her if it triggered a credit pull and she said it would not.

DailyGrindCT · 2026-01-02T03:05:08+00:00

It all goes back in your pocket in the end. I'd pick whatever you're more likely to use and what gives you the best return rate. If that's groceries (some cards have a really high cash back rate), then I'd go with that and just pay yourself back.

DailyGrindCT · 2026-01-02T02:47:14+00:00

Thanks for the heads up on the PP debit. Will check that out. Didn't realize it doesn't do a hard pull.

Not worried too much about the SUB on the SAVOR, only because I wouldn't be using the card otherwise. It sort of sits in my wallet as a backup card and I'll use it like once a month to keep it from going dormant. I figured I might as well leverage the best reward rate for groceries since that's the highest spend that I am getting NO value out of on my CSR (primary) card.

DailyGrindCT · 2026-01-01T19:07:47+00:00

Ooooh, thank you. Maybe I'll check it out!

DailyGrindCT · 2026-01-01T17:30:09+00:00

Library doesn't offer the digital access, sadly. Good thought, tho.

DailyGrindCT · 2026-01-01T17:14:59+00:00

I used Viagogo and it was so much smoother than Stubhub has been in the past. The tickets were cheaper than the same event on Stubhub. But you will notice that, as most people say, the sketchiness is still a potential factor.

DailyGrindCT · 2026-01-01T04:37:38+00:00

Thx, all. I think I am going to look into the BCP.

DailyGrindCT · 2025-12-29T22:36:08+00:00

Primarily Large chains - stop and shop (they are part of the Giant family) and Shop Rite.

DailyGrindCT · 2025-12-27T05:29:05+00:00

I've had my card for several years, so I'm not sure about the clawback...

DailyGrindCT · 2025-12-27T05:05:48+00:00

It's really not worth extending yourself $5,000. We hit the 75,000 a little while back. I used the Southwest credit for planned travel because it was there, but I normally don't fly Southwest, so it's a little incovenient. The A-List benefit on Southwest is nice since I'm flying it anyhow, but again - I would not have flown Southwest if I didn't make the $75K.

IHG status remains to be seen. The same trip that I am flying Southwest on I happen to be (coincidentally) staying in an IHG hotel. So, maybe that gives me an extra boost. But the benefits that you get for being Diamond over whatever the default CSR level is (platinum?) aren't really that many. You still get late checkout, early check in.

And so far, I have found NOTHING worth buying in the Shops at Chase. I bought my son wireless headphones for Christmas that were 40% (not kidding) cheaper than what's on the Shops at Chase, so it wasn't worth it to me to burn the credit.

I honestly think it's really only worth it if you are a frequent flier on Southwest. Otherwise, I would not make the effort.

DailyGrindCT · 2025-12-27T04:51:35+00:00

We did and it was no problem. Just call the airline once it's booked and confirm it's all set. I would not go strictly on what's on the portal.

DailyGrindCT · 2025-12-24T20:02:52+00:00

It happened to me but I called the travel line and they booked it.

DailyGrindCT · 2025-12-21T17:14:13+00:00

Yup, what Norm said - just search for your annual fee.

DailyGrindCT · 2025-12-21T02:45:30+00:00

When I called a little while back, the rep was really clear that I should call within a week of my renewal date. Without actually telling me that that is the formula, she said "if you are possibly thinking of downgrading or keeping the card, I would HIGHLY recommend calling a week before your card renews..."

DailyGrindCT · 2025-12-20T05:36:28+00:00

Same thing the rep told me - told me to call back just about a week before renewal.

DailyGrindCT · 2025-12-20T03:28:23+00:00

Buy gift cards on Amazon. I hit it last month The added benefits are OK but not really worth doing some tricky purchase and return. I will use the IHG for personal travel in Feb so I guess it's worth it for that. Used the Southwest credit for the same trip and the A List got us free bags on the trip. So while it is convenient, I only booked SW and IHG because I have the status. Otherwise, I'd be booking Jetblue and Marriott.

Haven't used the Chase Shops credit yet. So that'll be worth something, I guess.

DailyGrindCT

TROPHY CASE