CSP-Freedom Combo?

[kwinks]

Hello,

so I've read on this site that having a chase checking, the freedom, and csp is a great combination and what not, but I don't understand why or how? Anyone willing to elaborate. I have all three but don't see what is so great about having the 3.

on a side note don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE chase!

[Omri]

The Freedom has great earning potential with the 5x points on category purchases. With checking, you get more out of that, with 1.1x UR points for all purchases and 5.1x for category purchases AND if you were grandfathered in, 10 points per transaction. You can then transfer those points over to the CSP to transfer to airline rewards miles.

In short, the Freedom allows you to earn lots of points, the Chase Checking increases the amount of points you earn with Freedom, and CSP improves the value of the points by allowing you to turn them into airline miles (typically United).

[kwinks]

O thanks! But that really only works if buying through ultimate rewards mall right? Sucks, because the prices there are kind of high.....

-___-

[SwiftTone]

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@kwinks wrote:

O thanks! But that really only works if buying through ultimate rewards mall right? Sucks, because the prices there are kind of high.....

-___-

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No, this is on any purchases.

So a $1.00 of coffee will earn you 1% of that $1, 10 cents, and 10% of those points at the end of the year which totals out to $0.121 in rewards

[kwinks]

Sorry I wasn't clear. 

I meant that I can only buy discounted airfare through ultimate rewards, which is always more expensive than say orbitz...figures

[ryanbush]

1% of a Dollar is .01  so it's 1 cent not 10

[ryanbush]

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@kwinks wrote:

Sorry I wasn't clear. 

I meant that I can only buy discounted airfare through ultimate rewards, which is always more expensive than say orbitz...figures

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You can transfer your points directly to the airlines FF program, there is typically more value doing that then there is buying the airfare with points

[kekrre]

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@kwinks wrote:

Sorry I wasn't clear. 

I meant that I can only buy discounted airfare through ultimate rewards, which is always more expensive than say orbitz...figures

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And on top of what ryanbush said, you can buy airfare through other discounted providers through the rewards mall.

I bought tickets through Travelocity at 1 point/dollar (base), 1 point/dollar (travel bonus), plus 2 points/dollar (UR Mall through Travelocity) for a total of 4 points/dollar spent.

Right now, bonuses for discount travel providers are:

Expedia - 1 extra point/dollar

Hotwire - 2 extra point/dollar

Priceline - 1 extra point/dollar

Travelocity - 2 extra point/dollar

Orbitz - 1 extra point/dollar

I don't know if all of these qualify for the base 2x for travel, but Travelocity did.

[Omri]

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@kwinks wrote:

Sorry I wasn't clear. 

I meant that I can only buy discounted airfare through ultimate rewards, which is always more expensive than say orbitz...figures

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You are right that you only get the 25% bonus on points if you book travel with points through UR. So, say, if you have 40k UR points, you can book $500 through UR.

What I'm doing, however, which is frequently better, is transferring a ton of points to United frequent flyer miles through the "points transfer" option with CSP. My 60k UR points become a free round trip ticket to Europe (well, I have to pay like $60-70 in airport fees and such) that would normally cost at least $1,200 if I paid cash. So I essentially am getting 2 cents value for each point. Points transfer to partner airlines is definitely the way to go with CSP!

[FutureBillionaire]

Is there a newer version of the trifecta?  Or is it completely gone if you aren't grandfathered in?