The Random Thoughts Thread

[azgreg]

I don't want to adult today.

[UAEebs86]

I don't want to adult today.

Take a number

[Chicat]

I don't want to adult today.

Take a number

Taking a number sounds suspiciously like adulting.

[MrMeow]

Can anyone recommend the best credit card that offers points towards free air travel. There seems to be so many of them. Air travel would be primarily on American, btw.

Sorry, didn't know where else to put this

[Chicat]

We’ve only had Chase Sapphire so I have nothing to compare it against but we did use it for flights and hotels on our trip last March to Arizona. Only had to spend eleventy bajillion dollars to get a couple free tickets and nights!

[azgreg]

We use a SW Airlines Visa. Our round trip tickets to Miami last summer were covered by points.

[cpt]

Why doesn't anyone sell a thermostat for the shower? You set the temperature, the water turns on and then beeps when it hits your temperature. You get in. It adjusts if necessary to maintain the constant temperature.

Million dollar idea.

[gronk4heisman]

Can anyone recommend the best credit card that offers points towards free air travel. There seems to be so many of them. Air travel would be primarily on American, btw.

Sorry, didn't know where else to put this

I use the AAdvantage, it does have a $99 fee but I got it waived the first year. We also use it for a business which makes the $99 fee worth it so it may not be worth it with the volume we use it at. Not sure if it is worth it as a personal card, but it definitely racks up the miles and status way faster than flying.

[MrMeow]

Can anyone recommend the best credit card that offers points towards free air travel. There seems to be so many of them. Air travel would be primarily on American, btw.

Sorry, didn't know where else to put this

I use the AAdvantage, it does have a $99 fee but I got it waived the first year. We also use it for a business which makes the $99 fee worth it so it may not be worth it with the volume we use it at. Not sure if it is worth it as a personal card, but it definitely racks up the miles and status way faster than flying.

Thank you. What personal expenses count for points? If good for points, I would charge everything on it: mortgage, food, gas, utilities, insurance ... everything I could. Also, are the blackout dates excessive?

[gronk4heisman]

Can anyone recommend the best credit card that offers points towards free air travel. There seems to be so many of them. Air travel would be primarily on American, btw.

Sorry, didn't know where else to put this

I use the AAdvantage, it does have a $99 fee but I got it waived the first year. We also use it for a business which makes the $99 fee worth it so it may not be worth it with the volume we use it at. Not sure if it is worth it as a personal card, but it definitely racks up the miles and status way faster than flying.

Thank you. What personal expenses count for points? If good for points, I would charge everything on it: mortgage, food, gas, utilities, insurance ... everything I could. Also, are the blackout dates excessive?

All expenses count for points, some count for additional points based on promotions (like restaurants 5x or hotels). I have not had any blackouts date issues ever so I can not comment on them or if they even exist, you just have higher points needed for tickets on certain flights. I definitely get upgraded a lot with the card and get premium seats that come with free premium drinks which more than make up for the card fee among the other features.

[UAEebs86]

Can anyone recommend the best credit card that offers points towards free air travel. There seems to be so many of them. Air travel would be primarily on American, btw.

Sorry, didn't know where else to put this

Here's some good resources:

https://thepointsguy.com

https://www.doctorofcredit.com

Look for a nice big sign on bonus. You will have to charge everything to it for a few months to make the minimum spend.

We have the Capital One Venture X, and had AmEx Gold until they jacked the annual fee up to $325, so downgraded to Green.

A lot of the cards with annual fees give you enough travel credits to pay for most of the fee. Venture X is $395, but you get $300 travel credit, they will pay for TSA Pre-check or Global Entry, etc.

We have tons of points but haven't cashed them in yet, so I'm no help there as to which card is best. Trying to get two lie flat seats to NZ/OZ at some point.

Clark Howard who gives financial advice on radio/TV/podcasts says most of the airline cards aren't worth it unless you live in one of that airline's hubs.

[MrMeow]

Can anyone recommend the best credit card that offers points towards free air travel. There seems to be so many of them. Air travel would be primarily on American, btw.

Sorry, didn't know where else to put this

Here's some good resources:

https://thepointsguy.com

https://www.doctorofcredit.com

Look for a nice big sign on bonus. You will have to charge everything to it for a few months to make the minimum spend.

We have the Capital One Venture X, and had AmEx Gold until they jacked the annual fee up to $325, so downgraded to Green.

A lot of the cards with annual fees give you enough travel credits to pay for most of the fee. Venture X is $395, but you get $300 travel credit, they will pay for TSA Pre-check or Global Entry, etc.

We have tons of points but haven't cashed them in yet, so I'm no help there as to which card is best. Trying to get two lie flat seats to NZ/OZ at some point.

Clark Howard who gives financial advice on radio/TV/podcasts says most of the airline cards aren't worth it unless you live in one of that airline's hubs.

Thanks, Eebs, I'm trying to get as much free travel on American as I can. I live in Greensboro NC now, and American flies out of here. A friend in Sacramento highly recommends the Southwest card, but I would have to drive to Raleigh (over an hour) to fly with Southwest. The Citi AAdvantage card shown on one of the sites you included looked great until I read the comments. Citi seems to decline people with great credit regularly with no reason given. I don't need the hard pull facing that b.s. I'll keep looking, but many thanks for the information.