topic Re: Altitude Reserve RTR Questions in Credit Cards

Altitude Reserve RTR Questions

Caught750 — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 13:03:18 GMT

Hey guys, a few questions for people with experience. I have about 60,000 points and my full travel credit still. I want to use an OTA to buy Disney tickets which will make it code as travel.

My questions; will the $325 come off immediately or can I use RTR to cover the charge before the credit triggers? Also, say a ticket is $400 do I need 40,000 points or do I need the lesser 26,666 points for the RTR option to be triggered? Lastly, when using RTR will I still get points for the purchase?

Thanks for any information you guys have!

Re: Altitude Reserve RTR Questions

imaximous — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 13:41:03 GMT

@Caught750 wrote:
Hey guys, a few questions for people with experience. I have about 60,000 points and my full travel credit still. I want to use an OTA to buy Disney tickets which will make it code as travel.

My questions; will the $325 come off immediately or can I use RTR to cover the charge before the credit triggers? Also, say a ticket is $400 do I need 40,000 points or do I need the lesser 26,666 points for the RTR option to be triggered? Lastly, when using RTR will I still get points for the purchase?

Thanks for any information you guys have!

The travel credit ($325) takes longer to process than RTR. The travel credit may take between 2 and 5 days after the charge posts, so if it stays pending for a while, it may also delay the credit.

As an example, here's how it'd work combining both travel and RTR credits. Purchase $400 of a qualifying RTR transaction, and you get a text message right away with the required points. You respond, "REDEEM" and the credit posts right away. If you check your card activity a little later, you'll see a pending credit for $400 already. Then, a couple of days after the purchase posts, the travel credit will show as well, so you kinda 'double dip.'

You don't need 40k points, you'll need the amount of points at the 1.5x conversion, so 26,6xx points will trigger RTR.

Re: Altitude Reserve RTR Questions

Caught750 — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 13:43:56 GMT

Awesome! Just to confirm I can use RTR at the lower level and avoid the credit processing? Then the credit can be used elsewhere when RTR isn’t used?

Re: Altitude Reserve RTR Questions

imaximous — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 13:52:14 GMT

@Caught750 wrote:
Awesome! Just to confirm I can use RTR at the lower level and avoid the credit processing? Then the credit can be used elsewhere when RTR isn’t used?

The travel credit ($325) posts automagically, so you can't control that one. It will post even if you use RTR to redeem your points. It doesn't work like a purchase eraser, but simply a credit in your favor. However, if you don't want to use both your travel credit and RTR for the same purchase, you can ignore the RTR text and save your points for later.

Re: Altitude Reserve RTR Questions

Caught750 — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 13:55:12 GMT

Okay now I follow, it’ll just drop the balance by $325 regardless. We have enough points for 2 of the 3 pass packages. The credit will cover most of the third. Do you know if you still get points for the purchase when you use RTR?

Re: Altitude Reserve RTR Questions

imaximous — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 13:58:22 GMT

@Caught750 wrote:
Okay now I follow, it’ll just drop the balance by $325 regardless. We have enough points for 2 of the 3 pass packages. The credit will cover most of the third.

Yes, but here's another FYI, if you don't have enough points to cover all 3 packages in a single transaction, do not buy all at once. RTR isn't a partial redemption either. If you don't have enough for the entire purchase, RTR will not trigger and you won't be able to use any points. I'd break up the purchase so you can cover 2 packages with RTR points, then make a separate purchase to use your travel credit.

The only way to redeem your points partially is by using the USB travel site, but I'd advise against that unless you happen to find a better deal on their travel portal.

Re: Altitude Reserve RTR Questions

Caught750 — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 14:08:38 GMT

Yes I remembered seeing that, thanks for the reminder! I’ll order one and allow the credit to post, then order the other 2 and use RTR. I checked and didn’t see anything at all, let alone something competitive, on their portal.

Re: Altitude Reserve RTR Questions

Anonymous — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 14:33:46 GMT

@imaximous wrote:
The only way to redeem your points partially is by using the USB travel site, but I'd advise against that unless you happen to find a better deal on their travel portal.

Is the travel portal subpar. That's what I am trying to find out before getting my daughter to apply. She would be using the card outside the US when RTR doesn't seem to be an option. So if the portal is overpriced or something, card is less appealing!

Re: Altitude Reserve RTR Questions

Caught750 — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 14:36:15 GMT

I don’t find the portal to be subpar. It’s run through Expedia similar to Chase’s portal. They have a lot of different options and I found some “off the beaten path” stuff in the Disney area on there that looked fantastic. It just didn’t have the actual tickets to Disney, at least not that I found.

*Edit for grammar

Re: Altitude Reserve RTR Questions

Shadowfactor — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 16:25:23 GMT

US bank does not consider OTA to be travel related for the credit. I can’t comment about RTR. They do have that other travel category for RTR but not sure what it entails.

Be prepared to call.

As far as the portal goes, it’s much better domestically then internationally but it’s still not bad internationally.

Re: Altitude Reserve RTR Questions

imaximous — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 22:00:24 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@imaximous wrote:
The only way to redeem your points partially is by using the USB travel site, but I'd advise against that unless you happen to find a better deal on their travel portal.
Is the travel portal subpar. That's what I am trying to find out before getting my daughter to apply. She would be using the card outside the US when RTR doesn't seem to be an option. So if the portal is overpriced or something, card is less appealing!

Nothing wrong with the portal. In fact, last year I posted a comparison for rental cars and the USB portal had a much cheaper price than any other site through the same rental agency. I think I compared USB, Costco Travel and Alamo directly. USB was cheaper by a lot. You should definitely compare prices before making a purchase.

The reason why I said I advise against using the portal is that if the prices are equal, you should use RTR to redeem points because you can earn points on the purchase. If you buy with points on the portal, you don’t. Also, for those with certain status, it may make sense to book directly.

Re: Altitude Reserve RTR Questions

imaximous — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 22:09:42 GMT

@Shadowfactor wrote:
US bank does not consider OTA to be travel related for the credit. I can’t comment about RTR. They do have that other travel category for RTR but not sure what it entails.

Be prepared to call.

As far as the portal goes, it’s much better domestically then internationally but it’s still not bad internationally.

Yeah. I’m not sure about travel agencies. I don’t think I’ve made a purchase using the AR where the travel agency processed the payment. It’s always been a pass-through charge, so the purchase is finally processed by the airline and such.

For OTAs, you could use the Prestige. It’s weird they don’t advertise the 5x for travel agencies, but only airfare and dining. It’s one of those hidden benefits I found out by accident.

Re: Altitude Reserve RTR Questions

Shadowfactor — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 22:23:25 GMT

@imaximous wrote:
@Shadowfactor wrote:
US bank does not consider OTA to be travel related for the credit. I can’t comment about RTR. They do have that other travel category for RTR but not sure what it entails.

Be prepared to call.

As far as the portal goes, it’s much better domestically then internationally but it’s still not bad internationally.
Yeah. I’m not sure about travel agencies. I don’t think I’ve made a purchase using the AR where the travel agency processed the payment. It’s always been a pass-through charge, so the purchase is finally processed by the airline and such.
For OTAs, you could use the Prestige. It’s weird they don’t advertise the 5x for travel agencies, but only airfare and dining. It’s one of those hidden benefits I found out by accident.

Wait, you’re saying that OTA’s that process the charge themselves for say hotel bookings instead of passing it through give 5X points ?

I know that OTA’s that pass the charge along to the merchant for processing will code as such.

clarification please!

Re: Altitude Reserve RTR Questions

imaximous — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 22:45:05 GMT

@Shadowfactor wrote:
@imaximous wrote:
@Shadowfactor wrote:
US bank does not consider OTA to be travel related for the credit. I can’t comment about RTR. They do have that other travel category for RTR but not sure what it entails.

Be prepared to call.

As far as the portal goes, it’s much better domestically then internationally but it’s still not bad internationally.
Yeah. I’m not sure about travel agencies. I don’t think I’ve made a purchase using the AR where the travel agency processed the payment. It’s always been a pass-through charge, so the purchase is finally processed by the airline and such.
For OTAs, you could use the Prestige. It’s weird they don’t advertise the 5x for travel agencies, but only airfare and dining. It’s one of those hidden benefits I found out by accident.
Wait, you’re saying that OTA’s that process the charge themselves for say hotel bookings instead of passing it through give 5X points ?

I know that OTA’s that pass the charge along to the merchant for processing will code as such.

clarification please!

Yes. OTAs will give you 5x if they process the charge. Travel Agencies is part of the 5x earnings, but for some reason, Citi has it in the fine print of the benefits and not on their main page. Look here... https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/additional-info/citi.action?ID=AdditionalInfo-CitiPrestige

Since I needed to verify this info when I came across it, I also ran a search. Here’s one I quickly pulled from Flyertalk, but if you search “Citi Prestige 5x travel agencies,” there are also a couple of blogs that mention that. I’m not sure if I’m allowed to link to those sites, so here’s Flyertalk only.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/citi-thankyou-rewards/1961922-any-citi-prestige-holders-receive-not-receive-5-points-per-expedia-etc.html

Re: Altitude Reserve RTR Questions

Shadowfactor — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 23:13:21 GMT

You think they would advertise that more.

I had been using the premier for OTA’s as the main screen where it lists the bonuses never mentioned OTA.

Re: Altitude Reserve RTR Questions

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 01:56:20 GMT

Hey guys what does RTR stand for? Didn’t see it on the common abbreviations thread.

Re: Altitude Reserve RTR Questions

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 02:34:50 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Hey guys what does RTR stand for? Didn’t see it on the common abbreviations thread.

RTR is Real-time Rewards, a feature of the Altitude card.

Re: Altitude Reserve RTR Questions

NRB525 — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 03:50:49 GMT

Is it proven that you must have the full AR points required to redeem a specific travel charge? I seem to recall some examples where if you have some small amount of points ( say 1,000 ) and run a charge for $100 on airfare, that should allow you to use the 1,000 points for a $15 credit?

There are minimum dollar values for car rental and hotels, before it starts to consider, but that’s a different threshold than simple points available. And you probably would not be able to book through the USB portal without adequate points.

Re: Altitude Reserve RTR Questions

Shadowfactor — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 04:33:09 GMT

@NRB525 wrote:
Is it proven that you must have the full AR points required to redeem a specific travel charge? I seem to recall some examples where if you have some small amount of points ( say 1,000 ) and run a charge for $100 on airfare, that should allow you to use the 1,000 points for a $15 credit?

There are minimum dollar values for car rental and hotels, before it starts to consider, but that’s a different threshold than simple points available. And you probably would not be able to book through the USB portal without adequate points.

According to the T&C you must have the full amount of points to trigger the text.

I fully understand lots of things work that are excluded in the T&C, but I feel like it would have been mentioned on FT by now. I’m subscribed to the mega thread, I don’t read every email I get from that thread but I do often enough that I feel like I would have seen something in the past year.

Re: Altitude Reserve RTR Questions

imaximous — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 13:27:53 GMT

@NRB525 wrote:
Is it proven that you must have the full AR points required to redeem a specific travel charge? I seem to recall some examples where if you have some small amount of points ( say 1,000 ) and run a charge for $100 on airfare, that should allow you to use the 1,000 points for a $15 credit?

There are minimum dollar values for car rental and hotels, before it starts to consider, but that’s a different threshold than simple points available. And you probably would not be able to book through the USB portal without adequate points.

Just to piggyback on Shadowfactor's response, you do need to have the points to cover the full purchase if you want to redeem using RTR. I've had plenty of charges where I didn't have enough points, so I never got the text. Latest one was a hotel stay this past weekend for just over $1,200. I have more than enough to cover the minimum $500 for hotels, but not nearly enough for $1,200. No text to redeem partial points.

On the portal, you can combine your points with cash, so you could use whatever you have available and pay the rest with a card. There's a minimum of 1,000 points that you need to use.