Wife wants CSR but is it worth it?

[Anonymous]

lol, good to know. I will be frequening DFW and ATL clubs from now on, I may have more to say about it later.

For more accurate assessment for OP, i guess next we need to have an idea about where and how he travels.

[Green456]

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@Shadowfactor wrote:
How do you plan on redeeming the points if you get the CSR ? Southwest and Hyatt are really the only decent options left. BA is an decent program but it’s not unique to chase so it shouldn’t be a deciding factor given CSR’s earn rates are behind other travel card.

You should take a look at the transfer partners chase has to offer as that’s how you obtain the most value out of the card. The portal is a safety net at 1.5CPP so 4.5% return on dining and travel. Not outstanding but not terrible either.

Chase has an easy to use travel credit which leaves the AF at $150 net. PP is almost worthless in the US unless at a restaurant “lounge” so if you don’t plan on international travel. I wouldn’t assign much value to that perk.

Chase really shines if you’re the type of person that stays in Hyatt’s and flies southwest. Mainly domestic travel. It has decent insurance for travel.

The biggest thing with picking a travel card is how you will utilize the points. You’re collecting this “currency” and you want to be able to spend it how you want.

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We like to stay at hotels, mostly Homewood Sweats. We also going to fly ocassionally between NYC and Kentucky.

[SouthJamaica]

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@Green456 wrote:

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@Shadowfactor wrote:
How do you plan on redeeming the points if you get the CSR ? Southwest and Hyatt are really the only decent options left. BA is an decent program but it’s not unique to chase so it shouldn’t be a deciding factor given CSR’s earn rates are behind other travel card.

You should take a look at the transfer partners chase has to offer as that’s how you obtain the most value out of the card. The portal is a safety net at 1.5CPP so 4.5% return on dining and travel. Not outstanding but not terrible either.

Chase has an easy to use travel credit which leaves the AF at $150 net. PP is almost worthless in the US unless at a restaurant “lounge” so if you don’t plan on international travel. I wouldn’t assign much value to that perk.

Chase really shines if you’re the type of person that stays in Hyatt’s and flies southwest. Mainly domestic travel. It has decent insurance for travel.

The biggest thing with picking a travel card is how you will utilize the points. You’re collecting this “currency” and you want to be able to spend it how you want.

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We like to stay at hotels, mostly Homewood Sweats. We also going to fly ocassionally between NYC and Kentucky.

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If you stay at Homewood Suites a lot you could get value out of the Amex Hilton Ascend card.

[longtimelurker]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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Yes it's worth it. You get a $300 credit, making the annual fee $150.   

$4700 x 3% = $141, meaning just the travel component makes the card essentially free.  

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Well, you should also take into account you could earn $94 on this spend with a plain free 2% card, so you are still $100 down just on that.   But as you say, there are many other things to take into consideration.

[iced]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I wouldn't call PP wortheless. They do have presence in many large airport in US.

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Not worthless, but not far from it. PP (and Centurion) lounges are frequently at/near capacity around the clock, and you can wait in line for a toilet or a seat in a lounge just as often as you do in the terminal. Unless you binge on the snacks and drinks, there's not a lot of difference most of the time.

[iced]

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@Shadowfactor wrote:
How do you plan on redeeming the points if you get the CSR ? Southwest and Hyatt are really the only decent options left. BA is an decent program but it’s not unique to chase so it shouldn’t be a deciding factor given CSR’s earn rates are behind other travel card.

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I'm ok with word going around that UA (and more importantly the entire *A available through them) isn't a decent option. More available award seats for me.

[Green456]

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@Anonymous wrote:

1. assign large value on lounge access/free airport food, and/or

2. have other chase cards whose points can be redeemed for travel at 150% value

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So does this mean that Chase Freedom gives 2.25% back instead of 1.5?

[Anonymous]

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@Green456 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

1. assign large value on lounge access/free airport food, and/or

2. have other chase cards whose points can be redeemed for travel at 150% value

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So does this mean that Chase Freedom gives 2.25% back instead of 1.5?

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yes, freedom unlimited will earn 2.25% when you transfer the points to CSR and book travel through chase portal.

[kdm31091]

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@longtimelurker wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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Yes it's worth it. You get a $300 credit, making the annual fee $150.   

$4700 x 3% = $141, meaning just the travel component makes the card essentially free.  

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Well, you should also take into account you could earn $94 on this spend with a plain free 2% card, so you are still $100 down just on that.   But as you say, there are many other things to take into consideration.

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This. Don't forget this point OP.

If you're on the fence with the premium cards like CSR (which are great for the right person and spend), you should always consider free or lower cost alternatives.

[redpat]

Well if it’s lounge access and perks get Amex Plat and citi Exec AA.

Exec AA you can add up to 10 AUs so share the cost w/ others plus priority access for checking bags and security at most airports.  Plat gets you delta, centurion and escape lounges plus Marriott and Hilton Gold status.  You can net the

cost to be lower than CSR $150.