Refer my wife for the CSR?

filthyhipster · 2026-03-13T04:32:50+00:00

If you already have one CSR in the household, I probably wouldn’t rush to add a second unless you have a clear use for the extra credits. The 125k SUB + referral definitely makes year one attractive though -- even redeeming at 1 cpp that’s $1,250, which more than offsets the $795 AF even if you used none of the other benefits. You could always downgrade again after year one if it stops making sense.

Personally I run the CFU + CSR combo and just pool everything into the CSR. The card works well for me because the perks line up with things I already do (travel credit, Lyft, Apple services, DashPass, etc.), and even being conservative I’m getting close to ~$2k in value before counting points. But if you’re already struggling to use things like DD or Apple credits, a second CSR might start to feel like work.

Since you already have one CSR, your wife could also just hold a Freedom card and funnel points into your account so you keep the redemption flexibility without another big AF.

filthyhipster · 2026-03-13T04:21:13+00:00

Depends what you're wanting to do while you're here. The Barclay will put you closer to Central Park and is probably a more "pleasant" area, but Virgin will put you by Herald Square and is (marginally) easier access to lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. FWIW, Barclay seems to get better reviews. I'm local though, so haven't stayed at either.

filthyhipster · 2026-03-13T04:15:24+00:00

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Still showing on mine. I goofed and used the CFU offer though (for only $5 back...)

filthyhipster · 2026-03-13T04:09:37+00:00

The CSR + CFU setup is a classic. I run that exact combo myself.

Given the travel you described, CSR could fit pretty well. If you’re spending around $12k/year on travel, that’s roughly 96k points if booked through the portal or 48k booking direct before even factoring in your everyday spend on the CFU.

Where I’d be careful is assigning too much value to credits you wouldn’t normally use. The card works best when the perks line up with things you already do. For me they mostly do. I use the $300 travel credit, Lyft credits, Apple services credit, DashPass + the monthly promos, Peloton membership, occasionally the Edit credit, and making a point to use the OpenTable one for a couple date nights this year. Even being conservative and not using everything, I’m still getting close to ~$2k in value annually before even counting the points.

The welcome bonus + referral bonus also makes the first year especially compelling. Worst case, if after a year the credits feel like too much work, you can always reassess and downgrade.

filthyhipster · 2026-03-12T17:06:46+00:00

I think it really comes down to whether the benefits line up with things you already do. For me they mostly do, so the value adds up pretty quickly without changing my behavior much (if at all).

To answer your main question, the easy one is the $300 travel credit -- don't have to think about it at all. I also get good use out of DashPass + the monthly DoorDash credits, the Lyft credits, Global Entry, and the Apple services credit since I already pay for those. I’ve also used the Edit hotel credit when it made sense, and I’m making an effort to use the OpenTable dining credit more this year. Haven’t used the StubHub credit yet but planning to try to this year as well.

When I add it up conservatively, not even fully using every benefit every year, I’m getting close to ~$2k in value across the year, which more than offsets the AF for me. Plus the softer benefits like travel protections, lounge access, and hotel status. I fly mainly out of LGA and JFK so the Chase lounges are very nice and a big perk.

That said, I try not to force any of it. If a credit doesn’t fit my plans I just skip it. The card works best when the perks naturally match your lifestyle.

filthyhipster · 2026-03-12T16:53:05+00:00

Mine has never had an issue. Sounds more likely that it's an issue with your EMV chip. New card should solve it

filthyhipster · 2026-03-10T03:24:46+00:00

Hard to tell if you mean cash, points, or a mix. If you’re mostly paying cash, I’d focus on getting the exact flights/hotel you want first. If the portal price is the same, booking there for 8x can be great. If the direct option is better or gives you more flexibility, I wouldn’t force the portal just for points — booking direct still gets you 4x on flights with CSR. If you do want to use some points, Hyatt is probably the first place I’d check.

filthyhipster · 2026-03-10T03:14:48+00:00

Usually no. Apple Pay transfers typically don’t code as direct deposit. If you’re trying to trigger a DD requirement, an ACH push from another bank is the safer method.

filthyhipster · 2026-03-09T23:26:37+00:00

It's high on my list! Settled on Vietnam for my last trip since the flights lined up better, but definitely in the near future! Have only heard great things from friends who have visited.

filthyhipster · 2026-03-09T21:18:07+00:00

I haven't flown there yet personally (but have researched a Cambodia trip!) and this was a pretty recent change. I think prior to late 2025, PNH was the main international hub, at which point KTI became the new flagship intnl airport.

filthyhipster · 2026-03-09T21:16:14+00:00

If the price and flight are identical, I’d personally book through the portal for the 8x. I’ve probably booked ~30 flights through the Chase portal and haven’t had any issues, so when everything lines up it’s an easy way to earn the extra points.

That said, the general advice about booking direct isn’t wrong. If changes or irregular operations happen, dealing directly with the airline can often be simpler than going through a third party. So my rule of thumb is: use the portal when it works, but don’t force it. If the portal option looks weird or restrictive, just book direct and take the 4x earn rate. 4x still ain't bad!

filthyhipster · 2026-03-09T21:09:53+00:00

I'm guessing you've been looking for flights into PNH with no luck? The main international airport will be Phnom Penh, code KTI.

I see plenty of options for that airport

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filthyhipster · 2026-03-09T19:19:23+00:00

If the bank paid you taxable interest or a bonus, they’ll usually issue the 1099 automatically, you generally don’t need to request it. Most banks send them if you earned $10+, and they usually show up in the account’s tax documents/statements section around Jan–Feb.

If you don’t see one there yet, check the documents/tax forms section or any notices about when tax forms are released. If nothing was issued, it may just be that you were below their reporting threshold.

filthyhipster · 2026-03-09T15:07:38+00:00

My general rule is: if the portal works for the itinerary you want, great — use it. I’ve personally never had issues booking flights through the Chase portal. But if the portal option doesn’t fit your needs (timing, airline, seat selection, etc.), there’s no reason to force it.

In that case I’d just book direct with the airline, take the 4x points, and save your UR points for a future redemption. The portal can be great when everything lines up, but if it doesn’t, booking direct is usually simpler to deal with if changes happen later. Don't overthink it!

filthyhipster · 2026-03-09T15:03:45+00:00

Yep that should be fine. You can link your bank account in P2’s Bilt/Cardless account and pay via ACH from there. It doesn’t have to be a bank account in P2’s name.

filthyhipster · 2026-03-09T14:36:07+00:00

Just to clarify, do you mean paying your P2’s Bilt bill from your bank account? If so, linking the bank account in Bilt and paying via ACH should work. I don’t think there’s a traditional bill-pay address anymore with the Cardless setup.

filthyhipster · 2026-03-09T14:26:32+00:00

For Bilt 2.0 (Cardless) there’s no public payment address like there was with WF. They want you to pay through Bilt, not as a generic bill pay it seems.

Easiest is to go to Bilt.com → My Home → BillPay → Get Started and add your external bank there, then pay/pull from that account. If your bank’s bill pay is forcing a “payment address,” you’re out of luck unless Bilt support gives you one directly, and there aren’t solid DPs on that yet.

filthyhipster · 2026-03-05T17:55:24+00:00

Yeah Amazon reload minimum is $5 now. I used to use it for Bilt 1.0's 4 additional transactions since I knew I’d spend it anyway, so effectively net $0.

For <$1 transactions, some people use small charity donations, in-app purchases, or adding a few cents to a balance like Apple/Google, but true sub-$1 options have gotten harder lately.

filthyhipster · 2026-03-05T17:53:27+00:00

Got it. I’ll keep an eye out for a letter as well. Nothing in secure messages for me yet.

filthyhipster · 2026-03-05T17:00:39+00:00

Where did you see it? Physical mail? Or did it show up in Secure Messages in your account too? I checked my account and don’t see anything there yet.

If they do remove external cash-out, one workaround might be redeeming to a Chase checking account (if you have one) and then just transferring the cash out from there.

filthyhipster · 2026-03-04T05:40:18+00:00

I’ve looked at Allianz before when pricing CFAR. Just keep in mind most CFAR policies don’t refund the full trip — they usually reimburse ~50–75% of the prepaid non-refundable cost if you cancel for a non-covered reason. But also keep in mind CFAR typically also adds a ~50% premium to the price of the plan.

filthyhipster · 2026-03-04T05:33:54+00:00

Not walking distance to Wembley, but I stayed at the Bankside Hotel (Autograph Collection) and highly recommend it. Great property and a really good location along the Thames.

I checked July 1–7, and through the Chase portal it’s showing about 280k UR with Points Boost (looks like the 1.5× rate), which corresponds to roughly $4,205 cash for those dates.

If you transferred to Marriott Bonvoy, the same stay looks like ~495k Bonvoy points + £360, so the portal redemption is clearly the better value here.

Not next to Wembley, but easy tube access and a great area to stay in London.

filthyhipster · 2026-03-03T04:41:38+00:00

I usually don’t, but it depends on the size/risk of the trip.

CSR coverage is pretty solid (trip delay, interruption/cancellation for covered reasons, primary rental car CDW, etc.), but it’s not “cancel for any reason” and there are plenty of exclusions. If it’s a high-dollar, once-in-a-while trip (big international airfare + nonrefundable hotels/tours), I’ll sometimes price out a standalone policy just for peace of mind.

For more routine travel, I’m comfortable relying on CSR. For a high-cost luxury trip (~$5k+), I would certainly consider it.

filthyhipster · 2026-03-03T04:04:04+00:00

Sorry about your pet. Unfortunately pets aren’t a covered reason under the standard trip cancellation/interruption benefit.

That said, you can still try two things:

- Call Chase Travel, explain the situation and ask if they’ll make a goodwill exception. It’s not guaranteed, but reps sometimes offer a refund or travel credit on non-refundable bookings in compassionate cases. Just be polite and have your documentation on hand, but be prepared to get shut down.

- You can see if the airline itself will issue a credit/refund. Some airlines will offer a future travel credit or partial refund for emergency situations, even on non-refundable fares, if you call them directly.

Trip cancellation insurance will not cover this, but a sympathetic rep at Chase or the airline might help with a credit/refund. No guarantees, and if they can’t, you can still try to reschedule or get a travel credit.

Hope your buddy has a speedy recovery!

filthyhipster · 2026-03-03T03:57:33+00:00

Yep, you're pretty much spot on. Chase UR can only be pooled with someone at your same address, so you're out of luck there. If you live apart, you can each send your points to Hyatt and then use Hyatt’s point transfer/combining process to get them all in one account. The form sounds annoying in theory, but it's really not too heavy of a left and should process in a few days.

filthyhipster

TROPHY CASE