Chase Archives - Your Mileage May Vary

Are Credit Card Concierge Services Worth Anything?

Many credit cards offer access to a concierge. “So what?” you might ask (I know that’s what Sharon would say) (Note from Sharon: Yup!). Well, a concierge may be able to help with your vacation plans or get tickets for shows or concerts you couldn’t get yourself. Being an obsessive planner, I never found much value added by talking to a concierge. They’ve often just sent me cut and paste lists from Yelp! or TripAdvisor, and that’s something I can do myself. But if you’re the type that’s too busy to look up good restaurants in San Francisco near your hotel, this might be an excellent service for you.

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Credit Card Review: United Explorer Card (MileagePlus)

Airline co-brand credit cards provide cardholders with benefits very similar to ones earned by the most frequent flyers with status. This is one reason why I never feel a need to go for any type of status with airlines. I’ve noticed there’s one airline credit card, in particular, while providing perks to cardholders, also puts restrictions on using them that make it seem to be an imposition to utilize them instead of being a courtesy provided for carrying the card in your wallet. Continue reading “Credit Card Review: United Explorer Card (MileagePlus)”

Starbucks Is Sending A Targeted Offer To Members Who Don’t Know What Their Stars Are Worth

I’ve never been intrigued by the Starbucks Rewards credit card. Chase has gradually increased the signup offer for the card from 2,500 Stars to 4,500 Stars and eventually to the current offer of 6,500 Stars if you spend $500 on the card in the first three months.

While I viewed the current offer as being worth up to $400 if you took advantage of the sweet spots of the Starbucks Rewards program, they could be worth much less if you redeem your stars for less valuable rewards.

I guess Chase and Starbucks think that the most loyal Starbucks customers don’t know how to get good value from the Starbucks Rewards program, so they’ve come up with a new offer.

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The Cards I Am Now Using For Travel Expenses

I have a quandary. I’m no longer sure what card to use for my travel expenses. It used to be pretty clear cut. There was the card I used when I wanted to get travel protection. I had a card that earned the most points for expenses that other cards didn’t cover. I even had a card to use for my tolls and UBER expenses.

Well, things change. Some cards devalue while others become more valuable. So where do I sit right now when it comes to travel charges?

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How Many Guests Can You Bring Into A Lounge With Priority Pass Select? It’s Complicated. (Updated October 2019)

Priority Pass is a program that provides access to airport lounges and business suites as well as gives credits you can use at airport restaurants. While you can buy a membership in the program, most people from the United States have a Priority Pass Select card by having a credit card that provides membership as a perk. That’s where things get interesting. While the access to the club may be limited due to capacity issues, the cardholder will get in by showing their Priority Pass card (or a digital card if available). If you want to bring in a guest, each card has rules that are worded slightly differently and those small differences may cost you an additional $32 for each extra guest.

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