topic Re: Potential for CSP+EDP in Credit Cards

Potential for CSP+EDP

mongstradamus — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 21:27:52 GMT

I think i am going to finally leave the garden to apply for a new card to accrue some reward points. What are peoples thoughts on using an very simple EDP+CSP combination. If i am able to hit 30 swipes fairly easily. I was thinking of running EDP for Gas, groceries, and everyday spending that isn't travel, dining, or online shopping via UR mall. Is that an viable option to accrue some UR and MR points.

Re: Potential for CSP+EDP

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 22:07:04 GMT

@mongstradamus wrote:
I think i am going to finally leave the garden to apply for a new card to accrue some reward points. What are peoples thoughts on using an very simple EDP+CSP combination. If i am able to hit 30 swipes fairly easily. I was thinking of running EDP for Gas, groceries, and everyday spending that isn't travel, dining, or online shopping via UR mall. Is that an viable option to accrue some UR and MR points.

Sure, Why not?

Re: Potential for CSP+EDP

jsucool76 — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 22:09:43 GMT

Great combo if you are customers of partners to both programs.

Re: Potential for CSP+EDP

mongstradamus — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 22:21:51 GMT

@jsucool76 wrote:
Great combo if you are customers of partners to both programs.

i decided to bite the bullet i don't think amex will ever offer me an signup bonus for either EDP or PRG. I will take the 15k offer from EDP, i think i should be able to make up for it pretty quickly. Just some napkin math i did for amount of spending i do with gas and groceries per month and being able to hit 30 swipes an month. I should be able to get at least 50k MR points an year. I will take that. I think MR and UR cards cover most of the major airlines out there. Only problem i forsee is the horrible choices of hotels. Hyatt being the only viable partner. Marriot, hilton, IHG just have horrible values for me. Will see how that goes I may pick up SM or something down the road if i want cash back.

Re: Potential for CSP+EDP

jsucool76 — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 23:03:10 GMT

@mongstradamus wrote:
@jsucool76 wrote:
Great combo if you are customers of partners to both programs.
i decided to bite the bullet i don't think amex will ever offer me an signup bonus for either EDP or PRG. I will take the 15k offer from EDP, i think i should be able to make up for it pretty quickly. Just some napkin math i did for amount of spending i do with gas and groceries per month and being able to hit 30 swipes an month. I should be able to get at least 50k MR points an year. I will take that. I think MR and UR cards cover most of the major airlines out there. Only problem i forsee is the horrible choices of hotels. Hyatt being the only viable partner. Marriot, hilton, IHG just have horrible values for me. Will see how that goes I may pick up SM or something down the road if i want cash back.

Might be better getting the hyatt credit card for hotels in addittion to the CSP. The annual free night should more than cover the AF, and the 2 free night signup bonus is also pretty great.

Re: Potential for CSP+EDP

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 23:55:00 GMT

Sounds reasonable, plus use Freedom on 5% categories to get the extra UR (not a lot but useful!)

Re: Potential for CSP+EDP

js0319 — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 02:06:22 GMT

I'm using the EDP and CSP combo, and those are really the only two cards I want to use. I would love to have the Freedom to use for the rotating categories and rack up the UR points faster, but I'm waiting until I get a pre-approval with terms other than the current 22.99%.

Re: Potential for CSP+EDP

mongstradamus — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 02:24:59 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Sounds reasonable, plus use Freedom on 5% categories to get the extra UR (not a lot but useful!)

yeah i have freedom for that use!!! EDP doesn't get an lot of love around here i think because of the lowish signup bonus. If you can meet that 30 swipe bonus i think you can rack up an crap ton of MR that way.

Re: Potential for CSP+EDP

mongstradamus — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 02:26:11 GMT

@jsucool76 wrote:
@mongstradamus wrote:
@jsucool76 wrote:
Great combo if you are customers of partners to both programs.
i decided to bite the bullet i don't think amex will ever offer me an signup bonus for either EDP or PRG. I will take the 15k offer from EDP, i think i should be able to make up for it pretty quickly. Just some napkin math i did for amount of spending i do with gas and groceries per month and being able to hit 30 swipes an month. I should be able to get at least 50k MR points an year. I will take that. I think MR and UR cards cover most of the major airlines out there. Only problem i forsee is the horrible choices of hotels. Hyatt being the only viable partner. Marriot, hilton, IHG just have horrible values for me. Will see how that goes I may pick up SM or something down the road if i want cash back.
Might be better getting the hyatt credit card for hotels in addittion to the CSP. The annual free night should more than cover the AF, and the 2 free night signup bonus is also pretty great.

the problem i have with Hyatt card and hyatt in general is the lack of hyatt properties outisde the US. I am probably going to have the revisit the idea of getting an spg card not just for the awesome airline travel partners , but the ability to stay in spg hotels with points.

Re: Potential for CSP+EDP

jsucool76 — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 02:34:00 GMT

@mongstradamus wrote:
@jsucool76 wrote:
@mongstradamus wrote:
@jsucool76 wrote:
Great combo if you are customers of partners to both programs.
i decided to bite the bullet i don't think amex will ever offer me an signup bonus for either EDP or PRG. I will take the 15k offer from EDP, i think i should be able to make up for it pretty quickly. Just some napkin math i did for amount of spending i do with gas and groceries per month and being able to hit 30 swipes an month. I should be able to get at least 50k MR points an year. I will take that. I think MR and UR cards cover most of the major airlines out there. Only problem i forsee is the horrible choices of hotels. Hyatt being the only viable partner. Marriot, hilton, IHG just have horrible values for me. Will see how that goes I may pick up SM or something down the road if i want cash back.
Might be better getting the hyatt credit card for hotels in addittion to the CSP. The annual free night should more than cover the AF, and the 2 free night signup bonus is also pretty great.
the problem i have with Hyatt card and hyatt in general is the lack of hyatt properties outisde the US. I am probably going to have the revisit the idea of getting an spg card not just for the awesome airline travel partners , but the ability to stay in spg hotels with points.

Just found this offer. Seems like a good deal =] http://sheratonclubroom.com/?EM=SIAMEXCLUB_MEDIA_NA_SH_CLB_EN

Re: Potential for CSP+EDP

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 03:23:54 GMT

@mongstradamus wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Sounds reasonable, plus use Freedom on 5% categories to get the extra UR (not a lot but useful!)
yeah i have freedom for that use!!! EDP doesn't get an lot of love around here i think because of the lowish signup bonus. If you can meet that 30 swipe bonus i think you can rack up an crap ton of MR that way.

I think it got a positive reception here from several people: as you say, if you can use MRs well, it is hard to beat at 1.5MR on uncategorized spend.

But without a bonus, or a huge CL, AND an AF, its "mass" appeal here will be limited!

Re: Potential for CSP+EDP

mongstradamus — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 03:28:41 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@mongstradamus wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Sounds reasonable, plus use Freedom on 5% categories to get the extra UR (not a lot but useful!)
yeah i have freedom for that use!!! EDP doesn't get an lot of love around here i think because of the lowish signup bonus. If you can meet that 30 swipe bonus i think you can rack up an crap ton of MR that way.
I think it got a positive reception here from several people: as you say, if you can use MRs well, it is hard to beat at 1.5MR on uncategorized spend.
But without a bonus, or a huge CL, AND an AF, its "mass" appeal here will be limited!

I did some napkin with how much i spend on groceries and gas per month and looks like pretty big fit. Gas and groceries i almost hit my 30 swipe limit. Worse thing that can happen is i try it out for an year and it doesn't work out i can downgrade to regular ED, which can still transfer to airline partners!!

Yeah 15k signup bonus isn't the best in the world. In my particular situation if i don't get the best CL , i will transfer over my BCE CL over to EDP CL if they allow for that.

Re: Potential for CSP+EDP

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 03:31:12 GMT

@mongstradamus wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@mongstradamus wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Sounds reasonable, plus use Freedom on 5% categories to get the extra UR (not a lot but useful!)
yeah i have freedom for that use!!! EDP doesn't get an lot of love around here i think because of the lowish signup bonus. If you can meet that 30 swipe bonus i think you can rack up an crap ton of MR that way.
I think it got a positive reception here from several people: as you say, if you can use MRs well, it is hard to beat at 1.5MR on uncategorized spend.
But without a bonus, or a huge CL, AND an AF, its "mass" appeal here will be limited!
I did some napkin with how much i spend on groceries and gas per month and looks like pretty big fit. Gas and groceries i almost hit my 30 swipe limit. Worse thing that can happen is i try it out for an year and it doesn't work out i can downgrade to regular ED, which can still transfer to airline partners!!

Yeah 15k signup bonus isn't the best in the world. In my particular situation if i don't get the best CL , i will transfer over my BCE CL over to EDP CL if they allow for that.

I know we've discussed this before, my only caveat in general is that people need to make sure that their spend is enough to get decent rewards on both programs, otherwise stick to one!

Re: Potential for CSP+EDP

mongstradamus — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 03:38:10 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@mongstradamus wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@mongstradamus wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Sounds reasonable, plus use Freedom on 5% categories to get the extra UR (not a lot but useful!)
yeah i have freedom for that use!!! EDP doesn't get an lot of love around here i think because of the lowish signup bonus. If you can meet that 30 swipe bonus i think you can rack up an crap ton of MR that way.
I think it got a positive reception here from several people: as you say, if you can use MRs well, it is hard to beat at 1.5MR on uncategorized spend.
But without a bonus, or a huge CL, AND an AF, its "mass" appeal here will be limited!
I did some napkin with how much i spend on groceries and gas per month and looks like pretty big fit. Gas and groceries i almost hit my 30 swipe limit. Worse thing that can happen is i try it out for an year and it doesn't work out i can downgrade to regular ED, which can still transfer to airline partners!!

Yeah 15k signup bonus isn't the best in the world. In my particular situation if i don't get the best CL , i will transfer over my BCE CL over to EDP CL if they allow for that.
I know we've discussed this before, my only caveat in general is that people need to make sure that their spend is enough to get decent rewards on both programs, otherwise stick to one!

yes thats an good point. I think i need to find the breakpoint where EDP makes it worth it. I did some basic number crunching i am pretty sure i will be near cap of groceries and probably put in around 200 bucks an month with gas an month. If worse come to worse i find out after an year it doesn't work out for me i will only be down 95 bucks. not the end of the world.

Re: Potential for CSP+EDP

gercredit — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 03:28:11 GMT

Hey guys,

I also think I might go for this combo in the future, as I am currently using the BCP for my groceries.

One question, what is the best combination of MR and UR points, is that the transfer to BA(Avios) or am I missing a transfer partner for both programs?

Thanks,

gercredit

Re: Potential for CSP+EDP

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 03:29:53 GMT

@gercredit wrote:
Hey guys,

I also think I might go for this combo in the future, as I am currently using the BCP for my groceries.
One question, what is the best combination of MR and UR points, is that the transfer to BA(Avios) or am I missing a transfer partner for both programs?

Thanks,
gercredit

Tell me more about MR to Avios.

Re: Potential for CSP+EDP

gercredit — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 03:36:50 GMT

Yeah sorry, I meant of course the Executive Club.

But as far as I know the ExeClub points and avios points can be transferred to each other right?

Re: Potential for CSP+EDP

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 03:37:36 GMT

@gercredit wrote:
Yeah sorry, I meant of course the Executive Club.
But as far as I know the ExeClub points and avios points can be transferred to each other right?

1:1 ?

Re: Potential for CSP+EDP

gercredit — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 03:38:34 GMT

as far as I know yes:

http://catalogue.membershiprewards.ca/l2Category.mtw?imrTransferType=Travel&categoryName=ca_frequent_traveller_participants

Transfer your Membership Rewards points to Avios points with the British Airways Executive Club. You can use your Avios towards worldwide reward flights, hotel stays and more. You can also use your Avios on qualifying flights with our oneworld® alliance partners.

Re: Potential for CSP+EDP

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 03:40:05 GMT

@gercredit wrote:
as far as I know yes:
http://catalogue.membershiprewards.ca/l2Category.mtw?imrTransferType=Travel&categoryName=ca_frequent_traveller_participants
Transfer your Membership Rewards points to Avios points with the British Airways Executive Club. You can use your Avios towards worldwide reward flights, hotel stays and more. You can also use your Avios on qualifying flights with our oneworld® alliance partners.

A double transfer.....I suppose it's doable. It'd make my 40,000 MR's a TON more valuable, that's for sure.