topic Re: DINING Credit Card Strategy - CSR (3% current) vs UBER (4% w/no AF) vs AMEX Gold (4% w/AF) in Credit Cards

DINING Credit Card Strategy - CSR (3% current) vs UBER (4% w/no AF) vs AMEX Gold (4% w/AF)

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 23:30:19 GMT

Don't get me wrong. I am not tossing my CSR. But wondering how people are planning to move their spend with those 4% cards floating around...

Thoughts?

(Cell phone insurance thread upcoming)

Re: DINING Credit Card Strategy - CSR (3% current) vs UBER (4% w/no AF) vs AMEX Gold (4% w/AF)

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 23:37:10 GMT

I have both the Amex Gold and the Uber Visa. Currently, I plan to use the Amex Gold 4x MR points for dining spend. Use the Uber Visa 4% CB as a backup for restaurants that don't accept Amex.

Re: DINING Credit Card Strategy - CSR (3% current) vs UBER (4% w/no AF) vs AMEX Gold (4% w/AF)

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 23:39:24 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I have both the Amex Gold and the Uber Visa. Currently, I plan to use the Amex Gold 4x MR points for dining spend. Use the Uber Visa 4% CB as a backup for restaurants that don't accept Amex.

Sounds wicked smart! Not sure I'll be able to get the UBER Visa this year with 5/24 (It is a Chase card, right?) - Can you use the UBER Visa internationally? With no foreign transaction fee? Also, you use the cell phone protection on it?

Re: DINING Credit Card Strategy - CSR (3% current) vs UBER (4% w/no AF) vs AMEX Gold (4% w/AF)

wasCB14 — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 23:57:00 GMT

Uber is from Barclays. It has no FTF.

What is your rationale for saying URs and MRs are both worth 1 cpp each?

If you're redeeming MRs for flights at 1 cpp, you can redeem URs for (in the vast majority of cases) 1.5 cents each.

If you're redeeming MRs for cash, they're not worth 1 cpp each (Schwab card excepted at 1.25 cpp), while URs are worth 1 cpp cash.

If you're transferring to partners efficiently, Uber falls far behind the others for dining spend.

For dining, I think the best card is now PRG, but CSR isn't far behind.

Re: DINING Credit Card Strategy - CSR (3% current) vs UBER (4% w/no AF) vs AMEX Gold (4% w/AF)

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 00:00:09 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I have both the Amex Gold and the Uber Visa. Currently, I plan to use the Amex Gold 4x MR points for dining spend. Use the Uber Visa 4% CB as a backup for restaurants that don't accept Amex.
Sounds wicked smart! Not sure I'll be able to get the UBER Visa this year with 5/24 (It is a Chase card, right?) - Can you use the UBER Visa internationally? With no foreign transaction fee? Also, you use the cell phone protection on it?

It's a Barclays card, not subjected to 5/24. Not that hard of a card to get. Got mine with a TU FICO 8 of 653. It has no foreign transaction fee and it's also a chip and pin card, great for kiosks and terminals aboard.

Re: DINING Credit Card Strategy - CSR (3% current) vs UBER (4% w/no AF) vs AMEX Gold (4% w/AF)

mongstradamus — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 23:58:43 GMT

@wasCB14 wrote:
Uber is from Barclays. It has no FTF.

What is your rationale for saying URs and MRs are both worth 1 cpp each?

If you're redeeming MRs for flights at 1 cpp, you can redeem URs for (in the vast majority of cases) 1.5 cents each.
If you're redeeming MRs for cash, they're not worth 1 cpp each (Schwab card excepted at 1.25 cpp), while URs are worth 1 cpp cash.
If you're transferring to partners, Uber falls far behind the others for dining spend.

I think at the very least UR/mR should 1.5 cpp, so thats where Uber can get trumped by both PRG and CSR.

As far as what I am going to do with dining thats a very good question. I have been lazy and haven’t looked at what my dining spend per year is , I would have to run the numbers and see if PRG is worth the 4x in dining. I presently am just using CSP/ink cash right now for 2x dining. I know its not the best value but i need to run the numbers. Also i need to get some more chase cards before going over 5/24 before I even think about getting PRG.

Re: DINING Credit Card Strategy - CSR (3% current) vs UBER (4% w/no AF) vs AMEX Gold (4% w/AF)

wasCB14 — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 00:08:48 GMT

PRG kind of seems alluring, but the numbers say I should avoid it.

-I got a bonus on it in 2014, so no bonus this time.

-The marginal value of the dining rewards vs. CSR is limited.

-My traditional grocery spend is limited (near a Costco).

-I'm not a regular customer at the participating dining partners, so that perk isn't worth much to me.

Add it all together, and it would really be a worthless app for me.

Re: DINING Credit Card Strategy - CSR (3% current) vs UBER (4% w/no AF) vs AMEX Gold (4% w/AF)

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 00:17:49 GMT

OP—I’m in the grandfathered 4% Savor No AF boat, so that’s where dining and entertainment goes. Freedom and Discover get dining during their 5% quarter.

The exception is for work travel and dining for which I’m reimbursed, and that goes on CSP for the UR points.

Re: DINING Credit Card Strategy - CSR (3% current) vs UBER (4% w/no AF) vs AMEX Gold (4% w/AF)

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 00:20:16 GMT

That Savor OG deal is sweet! I have the AMEX Plarinum so at least I have a solid basis for where to use those MR rewards I earn. Also, in a major city, the $120 food bonus is easy.

@Anonymous wrote:
OP—I’m in the grandfathered 4% Savor No AF boat, so that’s where dining and entertainment goes. Freedom and Discover get dining during their 5% quarter.

The exception is for work travel and dining for which I’m reimbursed, and that goes on CSP for the UR points.

But I hear you!

Re: DINING Credit Card Strategy - CSR (3% current) vs UBER (4% w/no AF) vs AMEX Gold (4% w/AF)

redpat — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 01:48:26 GMT

CSR is basically SD’d right now except for international travel and chase’s shopping portal.

Amex now has overtaken my wallet Gold & EDP, Plat for 5x fights, biz plat for 1.5x over 5k, BGR 3x & 2x and Hilton for Hotel stays.

The main source of UR points are now from my ink+.

It’s been a good run Chase but Amex now leads the race of travel cards and rewards, IMO.

Re: DINING Credit Card Strategy - CSR (3% current) vs UBER (4% w/no AF) vs AMEX Gold (4% w/AF)

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 01:50:28 GMT

I fly Southwest, So I will lean on Chase towards the end of the year for the CP bonuses.

@redpat wrote:
CSR is basically SD’d right now except for international travel and chase’s shopping portal.

Amex now has overtaken my wallet Gold & EDP, Plat for 5x fights, biz plat for 1.5x over 5k, BGR 3x & 2x and Hilton for Hotel stays.

The main source of UR points are now from my ink+.

It’s been a good run Chase but Amex now leads the race of travel cards and rewards, IMO.

Re: DINING Credit Card Strategy - CSR (3% current) vs UBER (4% w/no AF) vs AMEX Gold (4% w/AF)

shiftomnimega — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 05:06:35 GMT

I have the Uber and the Amex Gold now. My thought process is I still need minimum spend on this Gold, but I can still get that 20% credit for the first few months. I use a grandfathered Savor as a back up card to the gold now. The physical Uber card is physically in the sock drawer, but I still use it for Lyft rides (take that), subscriptions, and cell phone bill.

In the long term, I expect to keep the Gold in my pocket to build up MR points as I am traveling much more for personal reasons these days. My intent is to use the MRs for more comfortable flights.

Re: DINING Credit Card Strategy - CSR (3% current) vs UBER (4% w/no AF) vs AMEX Gold (4% w/AF)

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 06:34:50 GMT

@shiftomnimega wrote:
I have the Uber and the Amex Gold now. My thought process is I still need minimum spend on this Gold, but I can still get that 20% credit for the first few months. I use a grandfathered Savor as a back up card to the gold now. The physical Uber card is physically in the sock drawer, but I still use it for Lyft rides (take that), subscriptions, and cell phone bill.

In the long term, I expect to keep the Gold in my pocket to build up MR points as I am traveling much more for personal reasons these days. My intent is to use the MRs for more comfortable flights.

I too like the idea of the Gold being used for 2 more categories of spend for MR points to complement my Platinum

Re: DINING Credit Card Strategy - CSR (3% current) vs UBER (4% w/no AF) vs AMEX Gold (4% w/AF)

UpperNwGuy — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 08:13:10 GMT

The title of this thread is just plain wrong. The CSR gives 4.5%, not 3%, for dining.

Re: DINING Credit Card Strategy - CSR (3% current) vs UBER (4% w/no AF) vs AMEX Gold (4% w/AF)

redpat — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 08:57:58 GMT

+1. It’s points.

Right now the 40% MR Avios transfer bonus gives me more than 11% or better if you covert points on a percentage basis.

Re: DINING Credit Card Strategy - CSR (3% current) vs UBER (4% w/no AF) vs AMEX Gold (4% w/AF)

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 09:00:51 GMT

4.5pts only when redeemed for travel on Chase portal. But they are 3pts earned. (For anyone following). Each rewards program has sweet spots.

Re: DINING Credit Card Strategy - CSR (3% current) vs UBER (4% w/no AF) vs AMEX Gold (4% w/AF)

UpperNwGuy — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 12:39:26 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
4.5pts only when redeemed for travel on Chase portal. But they are 3pts earned. (For anyone following). Each rewards program has sweet spots.

That's wrong, too! Nearly all the point transfer options yield redemptions of 1.5% and often higher. I am willing to guess that between 90 and 95 percent of cardholders redeem either through: (a) the travel portal or (b) point transfers to airline and hotel partners. All of them earn at least 4.5% for dining.

I can't imagine anyone getting this card and redeeming the points for cash at 1%. That wouldn't cover the annual fee.

Re: DINING Credit Card Strategy - CSR (3% current) vs UBER (4% w/no AF) vs AMEX Gold (4% w/AF)

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 12:40:43 GMT

I'm only interested in cash back, so my GF no annual fee Savor at 4% fits my profile perfectly.

Re: DINING Credit Card Strategy - CSR (3% current) vs UBER (4% w/no AF) vs AMEX Gold (4% w/AF)

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 17:54:21 GMT

All good.

Re: DINING Credit Card Strategy - CSR (3% current) vs UBER (4% w/no AF) vs AMEX Gold (4% w/AF)

wasCB14 — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 18:03:26 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
It's not 'wrong'. Go pick on someone else's thread. There is literally no reason to keep coming here and yelling about it. You and I value those points the same. That does not change how they are earned. 3pts/$1 Period. End of story. 4.5pts value when spent on certain categories. Just like the MR points count for more in % promos.

If you want a meaningful discussion comparing three different rewards programs, it's important to get the basic facts right *and not to conflate "x" with "%"*.

As I mentioned in post #4, you're using one set of assumptions to value MRs and a conflicting set of assumptions to value URs. You say MRs are worth 1 cpp (requiring a flight redemption through Amex) and yet say URs are only worth 1 cpp (when they are worth 1.5 cpp on ANY travel booked through Chase).