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@Citylights18 wrote:Which I'd argue it would make more sense just to earn the points with the AMEX Platinum and transfer them over to Hilton 1:3 rather than daily drive a Hilton card (unless you had nothing better for restaurants, gas and grocery).
While the bonus is on, absolutely. When you're getting 1x on Platinum for restaurants during normal times, no way. Aspire is 7x US restaurants. The Surpass and Hilton no-AF are similar on gas, grocery, dining (you don't want to do 1:3 Platinum transfers, you want to spend on the Hilton card).
That being said... there's no way I am flowing AMEX->Hilton regularly when things like round-the-world trips in business/first class are six digit miles in various programs (with first digit likely being crooked if you want to do 35,000+ miles of flying) that are AMEX travel partners. Which is why that 100k+10x groceries/gas promo is so valuable, in my mind (even cashing out via Schwab I guess). You have a lot of options for those points. And that's why I would be putting spend on that over a Hyatt or Hilton card. It's a SUB worth a couple of thousand dollars, even minus annual fee. There are very few things worth passing up fat AMEX balances for. I just don't see midlevel Hyatt status by itself as being one of them.
I'm a little sad that I'm apparently excluded from the SUB promo for having a Platinum in 2009 (maybe my Ch. 13 is messing it up? It's odd that they'd be tracking for that long...), but OTOH this probably means I'll steer for a Marriott Brilliant next in early 2021, and it's more likely I'd hold a Marriott card long term (probably the $95 one) than a AMEX Platinum...
@notmyrealname23 wrote:
@Citylights18 wrote:
@notmyrealname23 wrote:
@Citylights18 wrote:I'm 5/24 until July 1st at the very least. But I always like to have something that I'm working on. Hyatt I have until 3/1/22 to hit Explorist which I think it a huge advantage so I'm going to go for that.
WoH Explorist is basically a points bonus and a couple of executive lounge upgrades (and a decent number of Hyatt hotels aren't doing executive lounges). I've had the status for years based on a corporate match some years ago + MLife Gold match that I cross match every year to retain that status without stays (though I haven't had the lounge upgrades for a couple of years- not enough stays). I've maybe gotten a nicer room occasionally out of the deal, plus the points bonus (TBH, MLife Gold is more useful for my travel because I stay at MGM properties occasionally in Vegas- though MLife Gold isn't very useful either, MLife barely knows you exist until Noir- it was mostly good for free parking at MGM properties pre-pandemic).
WoH Explorist is pretty useless compared to Hilton Gold if we're looking at midlevel hotel statuses- I've been Hilton Gold over the years as well so I feel pretty confident saying that (I've scored upgrades to suites as a Gold, not so much as an Explorist). WoH Globalist is where it's at (but I don't stay in any chain enough to get a status like that through natural travel)- you're getting actual suite upgrades you can use in advance at the time of reservation, waived resort fees, breakfast.
I can't say I'd pass up AMEX points I'd value at a couple thousand dollars in cash for WoH midlevel status, but it takes all kinds I guess. I admit to being curious as to your use case that makes it worth it.You can match WoH Explorist through the whole industry.
WoH Explorist to M Life Gold
M Life Gold to Caesar Diamond
Caesar Diamond to Wyndham Diamond
Wyndham Diamond to Hilton Gold
It depends how you plan to use Hyatt. If the goal is business traveler you might not see as much benefit from Explorist but if the goal is to use it for suite upgrades at resorts it might be valuable.
Some things:
- you know the AMEX Platinum (that you'd be be getting if you jumped on that offer) gives you Hilton Gold, right? Which can also be matched to Wyndham/Caesars?
- Suite upgrades are not a benefit for Explorist.
https://world.hyatt.com/content/gp/en/tiers-and-benefits.html#charts
You don't get suite upgrade instruments until you hit 50 nights (and at that point you're REALLY close to Globalist at 60 nights anyway).
- Signup bonuses count too. That's 100,000 AMEX + 10x for 6 months on groceries/gas for that Platinum card. That's a lot to pass up.
One of my considerations of going with Hyatt over Hilton was that Wydham is no longer offering the status match.
The M-Life to Hyatt relationship is pretty tight. That will get you matching into the casinos. You can book them online with Hyatt points.
You are right that Explorist is not suites but room upgrades. I don't know why I keep saying that.
question about the "once in a lifetime welcome offers" for AMEX.
I just got a 100K targeted offer for The Business AMEX Platinum, and I want that version of the card. The personal card I wanted is the Schwab version, but I've been waiting for a targeted offer and/or to get a couple other Chase cards. I'm at 2 of 5 on Chase's 5/24.
Could I also apply for the personal version and get both offers ... I'd apply in the same month (now)?
I could get either version with my wife as the primary holder - if that makes this possible.
edit - as i keep thinking about this, my inclination is to apply for the targeted business offer and keep waiting for the 100k targeted schwab version. still not sure how i want to split these up between me and my wife - need to see if she also got the 100k offer under her business login. thinking she should have the business version and me with the schwab. she flies more, and i prefer cash over points in most situations.
@K-in-Boston wrote:
@wasCB14 wrote:
@K-in-Boston wrote:
@851 wrote:I buy groceries and gas from Costco. Would Costco qualify for the "10X MRs on grocery and gas for the first $15,000 in six months"
edit - might be moot if Costco does not accept AMEX today.
Warehouse clubs (Costco, BJ's, Sam's Club) and superstores (Walmart, Target) will not count as grocery. Yes, Costco only accepts Visa in-store these days. Gas will only count if done at a store coding as a gas station; usually warehouse club and grocery branded gas stations will not trigger gas categories; although with the latter there is a possibility that Stop & Shop, Kroger, Safeway, etc. gas station may code as grocery if they don't code as gas. LOL
So far I have done all my Costco shopping in person and have only used Instacart to buy from traditional supermarkets. Sometimes Instacart purchases appear as "Instacart" and other times they appear as the supermarket itself. It has counted as "supermarket" either way.
I suppose you could place an order for Costco delivery through Instacart and might get 10x that way if it coded as Instacart. But I haven't tried that yet.
The prices would be a bit higher than in the warehouse and you'd have to pay fees and a tip, but the great 10x earn rate may reduce the effective cost of delivery enough that you find it worthwhile.
Even though I have a very good mask, with rising COVID cases I expect to have future Costco orders delivered and can report back eventually.
*And I assume you'd have to go through the Instacart website itself, rather than the Costco website and it's "Same Day Delivery Powered By Instacart" option.
Great point! Found out the hard way on the first delivery order from BJ's that it codes as Instacart and I got 1% back instead of 5% using the BJs card, but it does trigger the 4x grocery category on Amex Gold which is at least 6.16% for me so that actually worked out better!
We'll have to see how this works out, but I have potentially found something wonderful.
I was able to place an order for "Same day Delivery Powered By Instacart" on Costco.com using my Amex Platinum. I had thought their website was still "everything but Amex" but I guess this is a niche exception or something. The site layout very closely mirrors Instacart's.
I opted for this over using Instacart.com because even with a paid Instacart membership, the Instacart.com prices are nominally about 12% higher than Costco.com delivery prices (which are, in turn, higher than in-warehouse prices). Add 2% for Instacart's service fee and another 2% for not getting the Executive rebate (which I think I get...my membership number was required to place the order), and the price premium is about 16%.
16%/9x additional MRs over a base 1x...I like MRs but with little travel in the near future I wasn't too eager to effectively buy them at 1.78 cpp.
However...the pending charge I see is not Costco.com but Instacart.com.
The point being...it may be possible to get the mid-tier "delivery for Costco members" prices while paying with Amex Platinum and earning 10x.
@wasCB14 wrote:75k MRs is simple enough.
$300 in restaurant spend...more than makes up for not using a 2020 airfare extras credit. Adjust a little for alternative rewards on other cards.
~$600 conventional supermarket spend * 6 months = $3600 spend.
3600 * 7 = 25,200 MRs more than from EDP.
That comfortably beats a plain 100k offer for me.
What's the 7 multiple? I'm doing similar analysis but I used 10, so assuming EDP already gives you 3x, so you used 7x to factor the difference
@K-in-Boston wrote:Saw this over at DOC.
- 75,000 Membership Rewards for $5,000 spend in six months.
- 20% statement credit for the first $1500 of restaurant spend (up to $300) in first year.
- 10X MRs on grocery and gas for the first $15,000 in six months!
While it would be a stretch for the average consumer to reasonably max out the gas and grocery spend, if one were to do all three above, that's potentially $300 and 231,500 Membership Rewards on top of the usual credits for $21,500 spend! 😮
Am I right that you could minimize spend to $16,500 because the $5K and $15K can actually overlap? Or is there some requirement that the 10x on $15K actually be different than the $5K for 75K MR?
Another question - How does this offer compare to a targeted offer of:
ie - which is more valueable: 50K additional MR on the $5K spend or $300 credit on $1500 spend?
edit - if I'm solving this correctly, then the 50K MR would have to be valued at 0.6 cents to be worth $300. They're worth $1000 if you value at 2 cents. I have zero MR points today, and I don't know how I would actually value them yet. Either way, am I going about this right?
@851 wrote:
@wasCB14 wrote:75k MRs is simple enough.
$300 in restaurant spend...more than makes up for not using a 2020 airfare extras credit. Adjust a little for alternative rewards on other cards.
~$600 conventional supermarket spend * 6 months = $3600 spend.
3600 * 7 = 25,200 MRs more than from EDP.
That comfortably beats a plain 100k offer for me.
What's the 7 multiple? I'm doing similar analysis but I used 10, so assuming EDP already gives you 3x, so you used 7x to factor the difference
I got 25k MRs a few months ago to re-upgrade my sockdrawered ED back to EDP. To avoid clawbacks or being denied future SUBs, I keep upgraded cards for a partial year and then a full year...so I plan to have EDP until around August 2022, then PC back to ED. Upgrading will not be hugely lucrative, but 25k and a bit in extra rewards still beats the ~$170 or so in total annual fees over this period.
7x is indeed 10x minus 3x. Since I'm "locked into" a card that earns 3 for the duration of the 6 month promotion, the Platinum really only provides an additional 7 points.
@851 wrote:
@K-in-Boston wrote:Saw this over at DOC.
- 75,000 Membership Rewards for $5,000 spend in six months.
- 20% statement credit for the first $1500 of restaurant spend (up to $300) in first year.
- 10X MRs on grocery and gas for the first $15,000 in six months!
While it would be a stretch for the average consumer to reasonably max out the gas and grocery spend, if one were to do all three above, that's potentially $300 and 231,500 Membership Rewards on top of the usual credits for $21,500 spend! 😮
Am I right that you could minimize spend to $16,500 because the $5K and $15K can actually overlap? Or is there some requirement that the 10x on $15K actually be different than the $5K for 75K MR?
Another question - How does this offer compare to a targeted offer of:
- 125,000 Membership Rewards for $5,000 spend in six months.
20% statement credit for the first $1500 of restaurant spend (up to $300) in first year.- 10X MRs on grocery and gas for the first $15,000 in six months
ie - which is more valueable: 50K additional MR on the $5K spend or $300 credit on $1500 spend?
edit - if I'm solving this correctly, then the 50K MR would have to be valued at 0.6 cents to be worth $300. They're worth $1000 if you value at 2 cents. I have zero MR points today, and I don't know how I would actually value them yet. Either way, am I going about this right?
Unless you have a Schwab Platinum, a Business Platinum, or a Business Gold Amex (which can make other options more attractive)...the best way to redeem MRs is likely to be through transfers to frequent flyer programs.
As best I can tell...
The supermarket promo is for extra rewards, not a statement credit. That all counts as spending and can overlap with the $5k.
Airfare "extras", streaming/wireleass, and Saks get reimbursed at 100% within the cap, so the amont of the credit doesn't count.
Dining only gets reimbursed at 20%, so $1500 should still count as $1200.
One nice thing is that Amex bonuses tend to post very quickly once you've earned them.
You should also make some allowance for the possibility of needing to return some item you've bought with the card, cancelling travel plans, or getting a refund in some other capacity. Unless you're paying utility bills or estimated taxes, it's good to put a little more than minimum spend on the card.
@wasCB14 wrote:
The point being...it may be possible to get the mid-tier "delivery for Costco members" prices while paying with Amex Platinum and earning 10x.
Confirmed. 9 extra points per dollar just posted.
Not to say it isn't going to be a little YMMV.
Now I need to figure out how MR points work ... went for the 125K and 10x offer.
Question about verifying MR points posting. Do you see the corresponding points next to each transaction on a statement? Or do you see total points earned per statement? And do you have to log into a separate reward site, or just your regular Amex login account?