4th Quarter Chase Bonuses

Chase continues to exceed my expectations for spend options on many of their cards. I hope you've received these as well!  Emails today noted the following for the 4th quarter:

United Card: 10x points on Gas purchases and 5x points for Amazon and Grocery purchases up to $1500 from 10/1 through 12/31

IHG Card: 10x points on Gas purchases and 5x points for Amazon and Grocery purchases up to $1500 from 10/1 through 12/31

Marriott Card: 10x points on Gas purchases and 5x points for Amazon and Grocery purchases up to $1500 from 10/1 through 12/31

World of Hyatt: 10x points on Gas purchases and 5x points for Amazon and Grocery purchases up to $1500 from 10/1 through 12/31

Don't forget to sign up via the email links in each message!

Cards in my wallet right now (2022)

Happy New Year!

The ongoing pandemic has posed many challenges though for my current card lineup things stayed relatively stable. I'm hoping for the same in 2022 based on current offers.

Cards in my Wallet:

Chase Sapphire Reserve - one of the best earning cards with 3x points for travel and 3x for dining

Chase Freedom - Quarterly bonus categories give 5x points and pairs with Sapphire

Chase World of Hyatt - 4x Hyatt points per stay make this one of the best for hotel stays, 2x for restaurant/transit

Chase IHG Rewards Club Select (no longer available) - Platinum Elite status plus free night every cardmember year

Chase United Mileage Plus Select (no longer available) - 3x miles on United purchases plus EQM, 2x gas/grocery/dining + Star Alliance purchases

Chase Biz Plus (replaced with Business Preferred) - 5x points at office supply and phone, 2x on gas station and hotel

Chase Biz Cash - 5x points at office supply and phone, 2x points on gas stations and restaurants

Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless - 6x points at Marriott properties; 3x Gas/Grocery/Dining up to $6k, 1 Elite Night credit per $5k spent; 2x points on other purchases; No Foreign Transaction Fee

Chase British Airways - 3x Avios on BA purchases; 2x on hotels; No Foreign Transaction Fee

Citibank Premier - 3x points on travel including gas stations; 2x on dining/entertainment

Citibank AA Biz Platinum - 2x American Airlines miles on purchases plus free checked bag and priority boarding; 2x on gas stations

Citibank AA Mileup - 2x American Airlines miles on flights, plus 2x miles for grocery purchases, No Annual Fee

Citibank Double Cash - 2% cash back on all purchases, though the transfer option to Citi ThankYou Points makes this card strong for all non-category spend, No Annual Fee

American Express Hilton card - 7x Hilton points on stays, 5x points dining/gas/grocery, 3x all other purchases, complimentary Silver status, No Annual Fee

American Express Hilton Surpass - 12x Hilton points on stays, 6x points on dining/grocery/gas, 3x points on all other purchases; complimentary Gold status

Discover It card - 5x points/cash on quarterly bonus categories, link to Amazon.com purchases, No Annual Fee

Bank of American Alaska Airlines card - 3x miles on Alaska purchases, $99 companion fare


I still value many of these for the no annual fee, and others have perks/free nights that make them excellent to hold. 

Are you looking to upgrade any specific cards this year?

Summer Chase Bonus offers

I continue to be impressed by the offers extended by Chase for regular credit card spend.  Hopefully most of you have received these as well!  Over the last two weeks there have been notifications about offers through this summer for several cards: 

United Card: 7x points on United purchases and 5x points for travel/gas station purchases up to $1500 from 5/15 through 8/15

IHG Card: 9x points on IHG purchases and 5x points for travel/gas station purchases up to $1500 from 5/15 through 8/15

British Airways Card: 9x points on British Airways/family purchases and 5x Avios for travel/gas station purchases up to $1500 from 5/15 through 8/15

Marriott Card: 10x points on Marriott purchases and 5x points for travel/gas station purchases up to $1500 from 5/15 through 8/15

This is all in addition to the previously announced offers that are good through 6/30.  Don't forget to sign up via the email link for each!

Additional Chase Bonus Points offers

In October 2020, Chase made bonus points promotions available to help during the pandemic.  These were additional categories beyond normal spending/bonus and had specific thresholds.

I've received more emails with bonus points offers for regular spend through June 30th - if you have these Chase cards, don't forget to sign up using the email links in each invite.

Hyatt Card: 5x points at Grocery/Restaurants on up to $1500 in combined spend through 6/30

United Card: 5x points on up to $1500 in combined spend through 6/30

IHG Card: 5x points on up to $1500 in combined spend through 6/30

British Airways Card: 5x points on up to $1500 in combined spend through 6/30

Marriott Card: 5x points on up to $1500 in combined spend through 6/30

Chase Bonus Points Promotions through March 2021!

Back in October 2020, Chase was very proactive with bonus points promotions given everything going on with the pandemic.  At the time these seemed to be the best offers for regular spend for the quarter.  

This morning I received several emails with more bonus points offers for spend at gas stations, grocery stores, and drug stores through March 31st - if you have these Chase cards, make sure to sign up via the invite email links.

Hyatt Card: Spend $3000 in combined purchases to receive 5000 Hyatt bonus points through 3/31

United Card: 5x points at Gas/Grocery/Drug Stores on up to $1500 in combined spend through 3/31

IHG Card: 5x points at Gas/Grocery/Drug Stores on up to $1500 in combined spend through 3/31

British Airways Card: 5x points at Gas/Grocery/Drug Stores on up to $1500 in combined spend through 3/31

Marriott Card: 5x points at Gas/Grocery/Drug Stores on up to $1500 in combined spend through 3/31

Cards in my Wallet Right now (2021)

Happy New Year!

2020 was particularly challenging with the pandemic, however, I was still able to do a few card swaps to increase my points balances.  I'm expecting a fairly stable card cache for 2021 given where offers are currently. 

Cards in my Wallet:

Chase Sapphire Reserve - one of the best earning cards with 3x points for travel and 3x for dining

Chase Freedom - Quarterly bonus categories give 5x points and pairs with Sapphire

Chase World of Hyatt - 4x Hyatt points per stay make this one of the best for hotel stays, 2x for restaurant/transit

Chase IHG Rewards Club Select (no longer available) - Platinum Elite status plus free night every cardmember year

Chase United Mileage Plus Select (no longer available) - 3x miles on United purchases plus EQM, 2x gas/grocery/dining + Star Alliance purchases

Chase Biz Plus (replaced with Business Preferred) - 5x points at office supply and phone, 2x on gas station and hotel

Chase Biz Cash - 5x points at office supply and phone, 2x points on gas stations and restaurants

Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless - 6x points at Marriott properties; 2x all other purchases; No Foreign Transaction Fee

Chase British Airways - 3x Avios on BA purchases; 2x on hotels; No Foreign Transaction Fee

Citibank Premier - 3x points on travel including gas stations; 2x on dining/entertainment

Citibank AA Biz Platinum - 2x American Airlines miles on purchases plus free checked bag and priority boarding; 2x on gas stations

Citibank AA Mileup - 2x American Airlines miles on flights, plus 2x miles for grocery purchases

Citibank Double Cash - 2% cash back on all purchases, though the transfer option to Citi ThankYou Points makes this card strong for all non-category spend, No Annual Fee

American Express Hilton card - 7x Hilton points on stays, 5x points dining/gas/grocery, 3x all other purchases, complimentary Silver status, No Annual Fee

American Express Hilton Surpass - 12x Hilton points on stays, 6x points on dining/grocery/gas, 3x points on all other purchases; complimentary Gold status

Discover It card - 5x points/cash on quarterly bonus categories, link to Amazon.com purchases, No Annual Fee

Bank of American Alaska Airlines card - 3x miles on Alaska purchases, $99 companion fare, great travel partner mileage redemption options


Many of these are no annual fee cards though I still value certain cards for the benefits compared to the yearly fee.  

Are there any card must-have's on your list?

The Cards in my Wallet right now

I'm often asked about how many credit cards I have since I play the points and miles game regularly.  I often look for the best bonuses and options for regular spend along with what extra perks match my travel habits/plans - this is the best way to use the cards without getting yourself into debt trouble.  Pay off each one every month!

Having cards open actually does help your credit score provided you don't keep running balances.  30% of your credit score is utilization and 35% is your payment history.

Cards in my Wallet

Chase Sapphire Reserve - one of the best earning cards with 3x points for travel and 3x for dining

Chase Freedom - Quarterly bonus categories give 5x points and pairs with Sapphire

Chase World of Hyatt - 4x Hyatt points per stay make this one of the best for hotel stays

Chase IHG Rewards Club Select (no longer available) - Platinum Elite status plus free night every cardmember year

Chase United Mileage Plus Select (no longer available) - 3x miles on United purchases plus EQM, 2x gas/grocery/dining + Star Alliance purchases

Chase Biz Plus (no longer available) - 5x points at office supply and phone, 2x on gas station and hotel

Chase Biz Cash - 5x points at office supply and phone, 2x points on gas stations and restaurants

Citibank Premier - 3x points on travel including gas stations; 2x on dining/entertainment

Citibank AA Biz Platinum - 2x AA miles on purchases plus free checked bag and priority boarding; 2x on gas stations

Citibank AA Mileup - 2x AA miles on flights plus 2x miles for grocery purchases

American Express Hilton card - 7x Hilton points on stays, 5x points restaurant/gas/grocery, 3x all other purchases

American Express Gold Delta card - 2x miles on Delta purchases, $50 statement credit

Discover It card - 5x points/cash on quarterly bonus categories, link to Amazon.com purchases

Bank of American Alaska Airlines card - 3x miles on Alaska purchases, $99 companion fare

I keep a spreadsheet for all of these cards with sign-up dates, times, cancellations, and annual fee notes.  This helps me know where I stand each year and how keeping or cancelling a card might affect my overall portfolio.  In general I'm always evaluating based on what deals may be present; there is always a new app for points!

IHG Devalues Free Anniversary Night via Credit Card

One of the best all around values for credit cards has been the Chase IHG Visa - this card gives you a variety of perks (including status) along with an Anniversary Free Night good for any property within the IHG portfolio.

That is until now.

Gary is reporting via a user that the Anniversary Free night has been devalued only for properties under the 40,000 point threshold.  Ouch.

You can find a list of the properties where it won't work here:

https://www.ihg.com/content/us/en/deals/partner-offers/anniversary-free-night

At only $49 for the annual fee, this card was in my portfolio for the value it brings at overseas properties.  Looks as though I will be searching for another option!

New IHG Promotion: It's Go Time

Starwood isn't alone!  IHG is also joining the promotion party and offering a new set of possibilities for stays and other activities entitled "It's Go Time":

It's good to see options from other hotel groups - maybe this is the start of a good year for extra point earning!

New addition to my earning game: IHG

I successfully added another travel/points option to my portfolio this month - the IHG Mastercard.  While most of the main points bloggers tend to look down on the value of these points, I see a great card that will help with grocery purchases as well as supplement my stay options at hotels overseas.  I always seem to run into Holiday Inn or Intercontinental properties, so why not have that option?

Here were the details:

60,000 Bonus Point

After you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. This bonus offer is available to you as long as you have not received a new cardmember bonus for this product in the past 24 months.

Earn 5 points per $1 spent when you stay at our hotels

Earn 2 points per $1 spent on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants

Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases

10% rebate on IHG Rewards Club point redemptions

- Up to 100,000 points back each year.

Annual Free Night Worldwide (no property restriction!)

No Foreign Transaction Fees

Platinum Elite Status for as long as you're a cardmember

Not bad!