The party is over.

[djrez4]

I appear to have reached my limit with Chase.

They approved me for a Mileage Plus Explorer card this afternoon, but wouldn't push through the Ink Plus application, saying I'd applied for too many Chase cards specifically, and cards in general, in the last 12 months.

I've been dishing advice to everyone else over the past couple of days.  It's time to heed it myself.

So, in the spirit of introspection, I've reduced my signature image from "every single card I have"/Costanza:

to the current cards I intend to carry and use on a regular basis:

You'll notice the Explorer is not there.  Once I hit the bonus spend, it will remain around only for free bags, priority boarding, and the secret-squirrel access to more award seats.  With baggage fees at $25 for the first bag, the card pays for itself in four solo flights (two with my wife).  But, it gets no spend because, even on United flights, the CSP earns better.

So there you have it folks.  Rez is in the garden.  And I'm not mad about it, either.

[afbar1114]

also remember you get two passes to the united club each year worth $100 so if you use those as well your good to go. I use mine on a daily basiasis but not as much as i do wtih the freedom or CSP as i feel those points help me more 

[09Lexie]

Congrats on the Explorer! You know you have an impressive line up and might as well heed your own advice.
See ya in the garden!

[tinuviel]

Welcome to the club... see you in the garden!

[djrez4]

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@afbar1114 wrote:

also remember you get two passes to the united club each year worth $100 so if you use those as well your good to go. I use mine on a daily basiasis but not as much as i do wtih the freedom or CSP as i feel those points help me more 

---

I forgot about those.  Bonus!

I also have Lounge Club access through the Ink, so I'm covered pretty much anywhere.

[bribro]

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@djrez4 wrote:

You'll notice the Explorer is not there.  Once I hit the bonus spend, it will remain around only for free bags, priority boarding, and the secret-squirrel access to more award seats.  With baggage fees at $25 for the first bag, the card pays for itself in four solo flights (two with my wife).  But, it gets no spend because, even on United flights, the CSP earns better.

So there you have it folks.  Rez is in the garden.  And I'm not mad about it, either.

---

This was my first thought as well, but I have decided to still put United flights/charges on my MP Explorer card, along with any car rental because of the primary CDW. The award rates are similar (2x vs. 2.14x) but I justify missing out on that 0.14% with the hope that this additional spend on the card will incentivize Chase to give me a better retention bonus when my AF comes due.

I do want to keep this card because I've had good luck with CPUs on award tickets. My favorite was booking a RT domestic saver award for 25k UR points (no booking fees because of my UA status). I got bumped to first class for both legs, so in that particular case I got what was a $3,500 RT first class ticket for 25k UR points. Not bad.

[bribro]

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@afbar1114 wrote:

also remember you get two passes to the united club each year worth $100 so if you use those as well your good to go. I use mine on a daily basiasis but not as much as i do wtih the freedom or CSP as i feel those points help me more 

---

Be careful not to fall for the cost vs. value logic trap. You can buy one day United Club passes on eBay for $16, so that's a good approximation of their true value.

[Cdnewmanpac]

Rez- just remember that the free bags are only if you use the MP explorer to purchase the tix. Not enough to have the card. So putting tix on CSP=no free bag. Also, as bribro mentioned, this is my goto card for car rentals. Primary coverage is worth $95/year to me alone.

[afbar1114]

---

You'll notice the Explorer is not there.  Once I hit the bonus spend, it will remain around only for free bags, priority boarding, and the secret-squirrel access to more award seats.  With baggage fees at $25 for the first bag, the card pays for itself in four solo flights (two with my wife).  But, it gets no spend because, even on United flights, the CSP earns better.

So there you have it folks.  Rez is in the garden.  And I'm not mad about it, either.

---

in order to get those benefits you MUST book the ticket on your united card.

[djrez4]

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@bribro wrote:

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@djrez4 wrote:

You'll notice the Explorer is not there.  Once I hit the bonus spend, it will remain around only for free bags, priority boarding, and the secret-squirrel access to more award seats.  With baggage fees at $25 for the first bag, the card pays for itself in four solo flights (two with my wife).  But, it gets no spend because, even on United flights, the CSP earns better.

So there you have it folks.  Rez is in the garden.  And I'm not mad about it, either.

---

This was my first thought as well, but I have decided to still put United flights/charges on my MP Explorer card, along with any car rental because of the primary CDW. The award rates are similar (2x vs. 2.14x) but I justify missing out on that 0.14% with the hope that this additional spend on the card will incentivize Chase to give me a better retention bonus when my AF comes due.

I do want to keep this card because I've had good luck with CPUs on award tickets. My favorite was booking a RT domestic saver award for 25k UR points (no booking fees because of my UA status). I got bumped to first class for both legs, so in that particular case I got what was a $3,500 RT first class ticket for 25k UR points. Not bad.

---

I see the benefit of your method, but your calculation neglects the fact that booking the same United revenue flight through the UR portal gets you 3.21 points per dollar with the CSP.  A UR portal United purchase with the MP Explorer earns you one mile and one point - UR United purchases code as tripchrg.com, not United.  Does that change your metric?