topic Re: CSP and CSR free for two years in Credit Cards

CSP and CSR free for two years

NRB525 — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 23:25:03 GMT

The Chase Sapphire Preferred has no AF for the first year. One cannot upgrade to the Chase Sapphire Reserve until after 12 months. Generally the advice here is to upgrade just after 12 months pass.

I called to upgrade my CSP to CSR a couple weeks ago, which is almost 17 months since the CSP was opened, and so the sequence of Upgrade has nearly played out:
1) Instant conversion to CSR and begin earning 3 UR
2) Paid for an AirBNB stay
Paid for a Lyft ride
3) Received $300 Travel credit on the two items
4) Activated the actual CSR card
5) Received the prorated credit of the $95 AF, more than half of that refunded
6) Expect to be billed about half the CSR AF.

End result should be two years without AF, and 3UR earning the rest of the year. Going forward I expect to keep the card as is, but a nice “bonus” for a bit more free time.

Re: CSP and CSR free for two years

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 00:06:22 GMT

@NRB525 wrote:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred has no AF for the first year. One cannot upgrade to the Chase Sapphire Reserve until after 12 months. Generally the advice here is to upgrade just after 12 months pass.

I called to upgrade my CSP to CSR a couple weeks ago, which is almost 17 months since the CSP was opened, and so the sequence of Upgrade has nearly played out:
1) Instant conversion to CSR and begin earning 3 UR
2) Paid for an AirBNB stay
Paid for a Lyft ride
3) Received $300 Travel credit on the two items
4) Activated the actual CSR card
5) Received the prorated credit of the $95 AF, more than half of that refunded
6) Expect to be billed about half the CSR AF.

End result should be two years without AF, and 3UR earning the rest of the year. Going forward I expect to keep the card as is, but a nice “bonus” for a bit more free time.

Wasn't sure where the "free" was coming from. Because you get the $300 credit even though you only have the card half the year? If you converted in the very last part of the second year (providing you have the travel events during that period) you would do even better, paying more of the $95 and less of the $450! The issue is that you lose the 3x earning for the period you don't convert, just as you did. (And no PP etc, if that matters)

Re: CSP and CSR free for two years

K-in-Boston — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 01:16:00 GMT

Awesome when it works out that way and takes the sting out of no SUB for a PC. Similar experience with my SPG Luxury PC.

Re: CSP and CSR free for two years

coreysw12 — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 03:30:59 GMT

I don't think the CSP has no AF the first year.... at least for me, they just charged me an AF after getting my card only a month ago. Maybe that was an old promo they don't offer anymore?

Edit: Looking at the Chase website, indeed the annual fee for CSP is not waived in the first year (anymore?). Maybe it used to be, maybe they got rid of that promo around the same time they bumped the SUB from 50k to 60k? Sort of makes sense if that's the case, as 10k points versus a waived $95 AF are basically worth the same value, give or take. Chase probably decided that more SUB points sounds more enticing than a waived 1st-year AF.

Re: CSP and CSR free for two years

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 03:10:11 GMT

Just pulled this off too! Congrats!

Re: CSP and CSR free for two years

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 03:38:25 GMT

@coreysw12 wrote:
I don't think the CSP has no AF the first year.... at least for me, they just charged me an AF after getting my card only a month ago. Maybe that was an old promo they don't offer anymore?

Edit: Looking at the Chase website, indeed the annual fee for CSP is not waived in the first year (anymore?). Maybe it used to be, maybe they got rid of that promo around the same time they bumped the SUB from 50k to 60k? Sort of makes sense if that's the case, as 10k points versus a waived $95 AF are basically worth the same value, give or take. Chase probably decided that more SUB points sounds more enticing than a waived 1st-year AF.

I too just recently got a CSP (late last month) and I definitely got charged an AF.

Re: CSP and CSR free for two years

NRB525 — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 04:15:50 GMT

@coreysw12 wrote:
I don't think the CSP has no AF the first year.... at least for me, they just charged me an AF after getting my card only a month ago. Maybe that was an old promo they don't offer anymore?

Edit: Looking at the Chase website, indeed the annual fee for CSP is not waived in the first year (anymore?). Maybe it used to be, maybe they got rid of that promo around the same time they bumped the SUB from 50k to 60k? Sort of makes sense if that's the case, as 10k points versus a waived $95 AF are basically worth the same value, give or take. Chase probably decided that more SUB points sounds more enticing than a waived 1st-year AF.

That's true now. Sorry for your loss

The same game can be played, you just need to wait longer into the second year to upgrade to CSR

Re: CSP and CSR free for two years

NRB525 — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 04:19:18 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@NRB525 wrote:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred has no AF for the first year. One cannot upgrade to the Chase Sapphire Reserve until after 12 months. Generally the advice here is to upgrade just after 12 months pass.

I called to upgrade my CSP to CSR a couple weeks ago, which is almost 17 months since the CSP was opened, and so the sequence of Upgrade has nearly played out:
1) Instant conversion to CSR and begin earning 3 UR
2) Paid for an AirBNB stay
Paid for a Lyft ride
3) Received $300 Travel credit on the two items
4) Activated the actual CSR card
5) Received the prorated credit of the $95 AF, more than half of that refunded
6) Expect to be billed about half the CSR AF.

End result should be two years without AF, and 3UR earning the rest of the year. Going forward I expect to keep the card as is, but a nice “bonus” for a bit more free time.
Wasn't sure where the "free" was coming from. Because you get the $300 credit even though you only have the card half the year? If you converted in the very last part of the second year (providing you have the travel events during that period) you would do even better, paying more of the $95 and less of the $450! The issue is that you lose the 3x earning for the period you don't convert, just as you did. (And no PP etc, if that matters)

Yes I am discounting the Priority Pass. The true issue is, you lose 1 UR additional during the time period, and only on Travel and Dining. The replacement is cash savings on the AF, and depending on how one values UR points, might be a wash. Since I am overextended on too many travel card setups, I'm counting it a win

Re: CSP and CSR free for two years

coreysw12 — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 04:29:48 GMT

@NRB525 wrote:
@coreysw12 wrote:
I don't think the CSP has no AF the first year.... at least for me, they just charged me an AF after getting my card only a month ago. Maybe that was an old promo they don't offer anymore?

Edit: Looking at the Chase website, indeed the annual fee for CSP is not waived in the first year (anymore?). Maybe it used to be, maybe they got rid of that promo around the same time they bumped the SUB from 50k to 60k? Sort of makes sense if that's the case, as 10k points versus a waived $95 AF are basically worth the same value, give or take. Chase probably decided that more SUB points sounds more enticing than a waived 1st-year AF.
That's true now. Sorry for your loss

The same game can be played, you just need to wait longer into the second year to upgrade to CSR

Good point!

And that's ok, 10k more points or no first-year $95 AF, six of one and half a dozen of the other, I don't really look at it as either a loss or a gain, they just shifted sign up promos from one thing to another

Re: CSP and CSR free for two years

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 12:40:28 GMT

Upping to a CSR right before a trip takes all the sting out of that AF. I upgraded in the morning. A charge for a rental car came through that afternoon before they’d even shipped my new card, instant $300 credit.

I wish every very company made their credits so easy to obtain.

Re: CSP and CSR free for two years

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 18:39:49 GMT

@NRB525 wrote:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred has no AF for the first year. One cannot upgrade to the Chase Sapphire Reserve until after 12 months. Generally the advice here is to upgrade just after 12 months pass.

End result should be two years without AF, and 3UR earning the rest of the year. Going forward I expect to keep the card as is, but a nice “bonus” for a bit more free time.

So would you say that between 15-18 months is about the right timing for an upgrade, given that you can take the travel credit?

Also any travel would have to be done by the end of the year I assume, not the account anniversary date.

@coreysw12 wrote:
Chase probably decided that more SUB points sounds more enticing than a waived 1st-year AF.

I prefer the waived AF, as it gives me that time to evaluate whether or not I can justify it. If teh perks/spend cancel out the AF, then I feel it's worth keeping. Especially on $450. The CSP @ $95 isn't as bad, because if you're only bale to cancel out half of it, it's still under $50.

ATM I could never offset the CSR AF, I just don't travel or spend that much to take advantage of the credits. Having an extra 10K MR but not getting the AF waived, is essentially like paying for them. IMO

Re: CSP and CSR free for two years

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 20:47:59 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@NRB525 wrote:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred has no AF for the first year. One cannot upgrade to the Chase Sapphire Reserve until after 12 months. Generally the advice here is to upgrade just after 12 months pass.

End result should be two years without AF, and 3UR earning the rest of the year. Going forward I expect to keep the card as is, but a nice “bonus” for a bit more free time.
So would you say that between 15-18 months is about the right timing for an upgrade, given that you can take the travel credit?
Also any travel would have to be done by the end of the year I assume, not the account anniversary date.

@coreysw12 wrote:
Chase probably decided that more SUB points sounds more enticing than a waived 1st-year AF.
I prefer the waived AF, as it gives me that time to evaluate whether or not I can justify it. If teh perks/spend cancel out the AF, then I feel it's worth keeping. Especially on $450. The CSP @ $95 isn't as bad, because if you're only bale to cancel out half of it, it's still under $50.

ATM I could never offset the CSR AF, I just don't travel or spend that much to take advantage of the credits. Having an extra 10K MR but not getting the AF waived, is essentially like paying for them. IMO

Right, but AFAIK, the CSR AF was never waived, and I think this is pretty common with cards of that AF level. (I think one of the Amex Plat varients does or used to waive the fee the first year, but most do not)

Re: CSP and CSR free for two years

coreysw12 — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 22:13:19 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@coreysw12 wrote:
Chase probably decided that more SUB points sounds more enticing than a waived 1st-year AF.
I prefer the waived AF, as it gives me that time to evaluate whether or not I can justify it. If teh perks/spend cancel out the AF, then I feel it's worth keeping. Especially on $450. The CSP @ $95 isn't as bad, because if you're only bale to cancel out half of it, it's still under $50.

That's probably why they changed it, they didn't want the people who were just signing up for the SUB and then canceling it right before the first annual fee.

CSR AF is only $55/yr more than the CSP. Of course that assumes you spend over $300/year in travel, but that should apply to everyone who has that card since it is a travel card after all - people who don't even spend $300/year on travel really don't have any business getting a CSR card.

Re: CSP and CSR free for two years

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Jun 2019 23:10:59 GMT

Generally I do have at least $300 a year in travel expenses, except for this year as my Japan trip was canceled do to a medical precedure.

Even still, I also usually spread out the cost of travel across several cards to lessen impact of util. And to take advantage of certain travel coverages per card. I just don't want to work that hard or spend the time trying to find ways to offset AF on too many cards. lol

Amex Gold, CSP, and AAdvantage are enough for me right now. Not to mention the recently acquired Bonvoy Biz that starts billing next year.