Another 60,000 AA Miles from Citi

In late 2015, Emily received a targeted offer via mail from Citi.  Apply for a new American Airlines AAdvantage card and receive 60,000 AA miles after spending $3K in 90 days.

She met the spend requirements, received the 60,000 miles, and we used them to fly to Abu Dhabi.  We cancelled that card in late 2016 and unbelievably, Citi is back with the same targeted offer 60 days later.  Not one but two pieces were received in the mail this past week.

The offer is identical:

• 60,000 AA miles after spending $3K in 90 days
• $95 annual fee waived for the first year
• No language around the offer only being valid if you haven't had the card for 24 months (standard Citi language)

Not only is this a great offer but Citi's loosening their grip on people churning this card.  Emily's already been approved and we'll likely meet the spend requirement in April.  I suspect that the 60,000 miles will post no problem given the extent Citi has gone (multiple direct mail pieces) to win back her business.  If so, that will be 3 bonuses from this card in <3 years.  I'll report back once the miles post.  Check your mail as this is a great offer! 

New Marriott & Hilton Amex Offers

Amex is out with some pretty lucrative Amex Offers for stays at Marriott & Hilton properties.

Earn 3,500 Amex Membership Rewards Points after spending $250 at Hilton or Curio Collection hotels and resorts.  The offer is good for one-time use through 4/15/2017.  I had this offer on my Amex Business Platinum.

Earn 3,000 Amex Membership Rewards Points after spending $200 at Marriott properties (almost all brands) by 2/28/17.  This offer is good for two uses.  I had this offer on my Amex Everyday card.

I randomly have both a Marriott and Hilton stay coming up so will get to take advantage of two of these offers.  That's 6,500 additional MR points.

I value MR points around 2 cents so that's like $130 in travel value for spend that I would have made anyway.  Yes, I'll divert the spend to these cards from my Chase Sapphire Reserve (3x on travel and dining) but I'm still coming out way ahead even if I'm giving up 2x points on $450 in pend (900 points).

10 Free GoGo Passes With Amex Business Platinum

The Amex Platinum offers a number of perks that offset the $450 annual fee.  The business version of the card has a few different perks that are worth considering in your valuation of the card offering.

One of the benefits is 10 free GoGo internet passes per calendar year.  So if you get the card in 2017, you'll get 10 free passes in 2017 and 2018...all for one annual fee.

To get the passes added to your GoGo account, you'll need to go to this website.  Enter your card information, GoGo account credentials, and the 10 passes will be instantly added.  This will take you two minutes max.

I flew Delta last week and was able to use 2/10 free passes during the trip.  The internet would have cost $9.95 per flight so if you use that as your benchmark, this is a $200 benefit associated with one Amex Platinum annual fee.  Add the $200 annual travel credit, (typically) large sign-up bonus, Amex centurion access, and Global Entry fee waiver, and you can get a ton out of value out of the $450 annual fee.

Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria Needs Some Work

Last week, I stayed at the Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria for a one night business trip.  The hotel is new, was close to my meeting, and was priced competitively so I decided to give it a try.

I landed at IAH around 6:30 and took an Uber to the hotel.  The Galleria is far out and the weather in Houston was terrible so it took nearly an hour.

I arrived at the hotel and was pleasantly surprised.  Check-in was smooth and I had my keys in a matter of minutes.  While the bar looked fun, I was tired and had some work to do so headed upstairs to order room service.  I ordered a Caesar Salad and a side of fries.  Simple enough or so I thought.  I was quoted 25 minutes which seemed fast - having served room service in two hotels in two different parts of the country, not sure why anyone would quote 25 minutes.  Strike one.

I got to work and 45 minutes later figured I'd call down to check on my order.  They said they were working on it and that it would be up shortly.  20 minutes later and no knock on the door so I called down again.  This time, I was told that the server was in the elevator.  This is a 14 story property and my room was on the 8th floor.  How long of an elevator ride could that be?

After 15 minutes, I called down again.  I was put on hold while they checked with the kitchen.  I was told that the server had 3 stops on his way up and I was last...the knock on the door should come soon.  By this time, it was nearly 9PM and I was hungry.  Finally, after more than 80 minutes my salad showed up (no fries).  The server was apologetic but I never saw those fries.

I had an early meeting and the weather was supposed to be bad again.  I filled out the door hangar for a 6:30 breakfast.  Same thing in the morning.  I had to call multiple times before my order showed up around 7:20.  I had to be out the door at 7:30.  Strike two

Hyatt's Twitter team (@Hyatt Concierge) was helpful during the process and I ended up with 5,000 HGP points for the inconvenience.  This is a new hotel so I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt.  But this is basic stuff - if you're going to be a business hotel, you have to help people get food, get it fast, and get it on time.  That's the whole point.  In the scheme of things, these are small details.  But in the moment, certainly a PITA and something I hope the hotel improves.

Amex Platinum Delta SkyMiles $100 Statement Credit

In the past year or so, Emily and I have picked up 6 Delta SkyMiles Amex cards.  With the miles, I was able to book a roundtrip business class award to Seoul and we'll have north of 200,000 miles leftover for another trip in the future.

All of the Delta Amex cards come with a Delta statement credit of sorts.  The Gold cards offer a $50 statement credit (first year annual fee waived) on a Delta purchase while the Platinum cards offer a $100 statement credit along with a $195 annual fee.

I figured that I'd need to make a $50 or $100 purchase to trigger the credit in each case.  I found out last week that I was wrong.  For the past credits, I've bought gift cards which triggered the credit and then used them for Delta flights.  So no big deal.

Taxes and fees for my award ticket came to around $88.  I put the charge on Emily's Platinum Delta card figuring the fees would be fully refunded and I'd find something in the future to trigger the remaining $12 credit.  To my surprise, the entire $100 statement credit posted to the account.

So if you don't value the statement credit as cash, buy something small on Delta (lowest gift card denomination is $50) and you'll get the entire statement credit.  That makes this a moneymaker on the gold cards where the annual fee is waived for the first year.  Wish I would have known this on card number one vs. six!

Earn 15x United Miles Per Dollar

For one day only, United's MileagePlus Shopping is offering 15x at a number of stores.

15x is pretty close to 30% off in my book so this is a good to great deal depending on what other discounts/promos you may be able to stack and your needs.

I'm focusing on Neiman Marcus as I was able to add the $50 off $200 Amex Offer to 7 of my/Emily's Amex cards.  I've already used one (on a gift card) and am waiting to validate that I earned miles from the Alaska Mileage Plan 15x bonus last week.  Based on reports and past experience, I suspect I will.

I'm going to go ahead and buy another $200 e-gift card today.  That will definitely trigger the $50 off so no matter what I will be saving $50 on future purchases (clothing, gifts, etc...)  Assuming the 15x comes through, I'll end up with 3,000 miles...when I redeem the gift card in the future, I should be able to triple dip by earning miles/points on the future purchase.

If you were planning to buy something from one of these stores anyway or have an Amex offer on your account, I would definitely take advantage of this deal today.

Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve Card $50 Statement Credit

Citi's offering a $50 statement credit (targeted) for adding an authorized user and spending $3,000 on the card by 3/31/2017.  While I won't be taking advantage (too many other spending requirements to meet) this is actually a decent deal if you don't have anywhere better to put the spend.

The card earns 10x points on Hilton spend, 5x on airfare and car rentals, and 3x everywhere else.

Even if all of your spend is unbounded (unlikely) you'd be earning 9,000 Hilton HHonors points and $50.  I value the HHonors points around .6 cents/point so you're getting $104 in value from $3,000 in spend.

That's a roughly 3.5% return.