topic Re: Altitude Reserve, Delta gift card? in Credit Cards

Altitude Reserve, Delta gift card?

Caught750 — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 15:34:51 GMT

Am I safe to use the travel credit to buy a Delta gift card? Does this fit into the stuff that gets cards shut down?

Also is it calendar year or card member year?

Re: Altitude Reserve, Delta gift card?

Remedios — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 15:36:47 GMT

@Caught750 wrote:
Am I safe to use the travel credit to buy a Delta gift card? Does this fit into the stuff that gets cards shut down?

There is only one way to find out and you may not want to find out that way.

They are less twitchy now, but I wouldn't.

You already know it's risky with them, why chance it.

You travel plenty, use your credits in a way that is not going to give you headaches.

Re: Altitude Reserve, Delta gift card?

FinStar — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 15:39:00 GMT

@Caught750 wrote:
Am I safe to use the travel credit to buy a Delta gift card? Does this fit into the stuff that gets cards shut down?

Also is it calendar year or card member year?

No clue on this one. I don't have the 🧦Precious yet. But, I bet @Anonymous, @K-in-Boston, @UncleB or @Remedios might know 😁

Re: Altitude Reserve, Delta gift card?

Caught750 — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 15:39:57 GMT

There are some circumstances that may limit travel this year (buying a house and DS #2 is on his way) so I'm looking for ways to use the credit and not lose it.

Re: Altitude Reserve, Delta gift card?

Remedios — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 15:49:48 GMT

At ARs inception, they were shutting accounts for $20.00.

You dont hear about that much any longer, not because they've changed their policy, but because most cardholders who wanted to keep their cards have stopped.

Nothing may happen, or they might smythe you down.

I value it, so I dont play with it.

It would certainly be an interesting DP, but not the one I'd be willing to provide.

Re: Altitude Reserve, Delta gift card?

Remedios — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 15:51:40 GMT

I dont speak for @K-in-Boston or @UncleB but I speak for @Anonymous and he said no

😐

Re: Altitude Reserve, Delta gift card?

imaximous — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 15:52:49 GMT

@Caught750 wrote:
Am I safe to use the travel credit to buy a Delta gift card? Does this fit into the stuff that gets cards shut down?

Also is it calendar year or card member year?

I put a ton of spend on this card, but I'm not going to advise on buying giftcards because I'd hate for you to lose your card over that.

Credit is member year -- not calendar year.

Re: Altitude Reserve, Delta gift card?

Caught750 — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 15:52:55 GMT

Thanks for the feedback guys!

Re: Altitude Reserve, Delta gift card?

K-in-Boston — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 15:53:59 GMT

It resets by cardmember year, not calendar year. Anything in travel seems to trigger it, including real time redemption, so cashing out 21,667 points for travel with RTR would not only offset the charge with a $325 credit but would also trigger the travel credit.

I'm not sure if buying a Delta egift card on desktop would trigger it or not. (Mobile would not since that gets processed by a 3rd party. The charge comes from Delta on desktop.) The only thing I could say is try a $50 or $100 gift card and see if it triggers RTR; if it does and it's at the 1.5x rate it should also trigger the travel credit. I don't recall previous Amex statements stating that it was a gift card, and think it looked more like an Atlanta to Atlanta flight, and since ticket purchases are excluded with Amex it no longer triggers the incidentals credit.

I just read the fine print for the travel credit on AR and it doesn't exclude gift cards. It would be a genuine purchase directly with the airline, and not like trying to get around an incidentals credit.

Credit does not apply for transactions posting as Convenience Checks, Balance Transfers, or Advances (including, but not limited to, wire transfers, traveler’s checks, money orders, foreign cash transactions, and ATM disbursements).

Re: Altitude Reserve, Delta gift card?

K-in-Boston — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 15:55:49 GMT

@Remedios wrote:
At ARs inception, they were shutting accounts for $20.00.
You dont hear about that much any longer, not because they've changed their policy, but because most cardholders who wanted to keep their cards have stopped.
Nothing may happen, or they might smythe you down.
I value it, so I dont play with it.
It would certainly be an interesting DP, but not the one I'd be willing to provide.

A lot more replies came in while I was typing my reply, but despite what I just wrote it's also not a DP I want to provide either. 😂

Re: Altitude Reserve, Delta gift card?

Caught750 — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 15:57:06 GMT

Agreed, I'm hesitant to try it which is why I asked but I won't be traveling much this year either.

Re: Altitude Reserve, Delta gift card?

K-in-Boston — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 15:58:11 GMT

When is your anniversary?

Re: Altitude Reserve, Delta gift card?

Caught750 — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 15:58:44 GMT

March

Re: Altitude Reserve, Delta gift card?

K-in-Boston — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 16:05:17 GMT

Weekend getaway on plane or boat? Other than possibly going for gift cards (like Remedios said no recent reports of shutdowns, but given the history...), I'm not sure. If you have any later plans this year you could always do a prepaid hotel booking if the amount is enough and RTR is set up for hotels.

Re: Altitude Reserve, Delta gift card?

Caught750 — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 16:07:53 GMT

RTR is set up for hotels but we have absolutely nothing planned. With closing eating up pretty much all of the cash we can part with and DS arriving there is a pretty slim chance of even a weekend this year. 2021 is a different story but maybe a single weekend at most this year.

Re: Altitude Reserve, Delta gift card?

imaximous — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 16:11:29 GMT

@Caught750 wrote:
RTR is set up for hotels but we have absolutely nothing planned. With closing eating up pretty much all of the cash we can part with and DS arriving there is a pretty slim chance of even a weekend this year. 2021 is a different story but maybe a single weekend at most this year.

Worst case scenario, if you have enough points, you could use them to pay your AF at least so it doesn't come out of your pocket. 35k points for the $400 AF, I believe.

Re: Altitude Reserve, Delta gift card?

K-in-Boston — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 16:12:44 GMT

Any family members flying in for DS's arrival? Maybe you could buy tickets and they could reimburse you? Or you could pay to upgrade them? Just trying to think of ways to not completely abandon the credit. I'm assuming that you have enough mobile spend to make the AF worth it even without using the travel credits?

While not a great value by any means, miles purchases should be eligible for the credit. Despite what I said earlier about despite what I said (LOL) if I were in your shoes I probably would end up going for the gift card purchases. But my risk tolerance is probably higher than it should be when it comes to credit sometimes.

Re: Altitude Reserve, Delta gift card?

Caught750 — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 16:12:59 GMT

@imaximous wrote:
@Caught750 wrote:
RTR is set up for hotels but we have absolutely nothing planned. With closing eating up pretty much all of the cash we can part with and DS arriving there is a pretty slim chance of even a weekend this year. 2021 is a different story but maybe a single weekend at most this year.
Worst case scenario, if you have enough points, you could use them to pay your AF at least so it doesn't come out of your pocket. 35k points for the $400 AF, I believe.

Ive been considering that possibility

Re: Altitude Reserve, Delta gift card?

AverageJoesCredit — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 16:13:02 GMT

@FinStar wrote:
@Caught750 wrote:
Am I safe to use the travel credit to buy a Delta gift card? Does this fit into the stuff that gets cards shut down?

Also is it calendar year or card member year?
No clue on this one. I don't have the 🧦Precious yet. But, I bet @Anonymous, @K-in-Boston, @UncleB or @Remedios might know 😁

What the fico! I can quote on mobile now

Also, wtfico, @FinStar you dont have a 🧦 card? Mind 🤯

Re: Altitude Reserve, Delta gift card?

Caught750 — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 16:18:07 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
Any family members flying in for DS's arrival? Maybe you could buy tickets and they could reimburse you? Or you could pay to upgrade them? Just trying to think of ways to not completely abandon the credit. I'm assuming that you have enough mobile spend to make the AF worth it even without using the travel credits?

While not a great value by any means, miles purchases should be eligible for the credit. Despite what I said earlier about despite what I said (LOL) if I were in your shoes I probably would end up going for the gift card purchases. But my risk tolerance is probably higher than it should be when it comes to credit sometimes.

K, at this point (while I love US Bank and Altitude) a lot of my spend is AmEx as I've been focusing on MR. I hate to say it but I may either risk it, try to PC, or close (😭) as I don't know if it's justifiable at the moment.

We don't have family that can't drive (the ones that are farthest) refuse to fly and drive 8 hours.

I'm having a hard time deciding on what to keep, PC, or close. AR was a dream card and it's a favorite but I will admit to questioning its longevity for me.