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Marriott has announced changes to its loyalty programs which now include SPG and Ritz. The changes extend to participation, how loyalty programs and points are earned, and to the participating credit cards (Chase and Amex). I'd like to get the collective wisdom of CB pros to understand the right plays and actions to take for greatest advantage. I've seen other related posts on this topic, but there is not one that seems to gather in all items; if I've missed a topic thread that already does so, please let me know. We travel now (mostly domestic, with 1-3 annual trips internationally), and will be doing more travel in the future. Goals for us are to: - Get value and rewards (cash and or points) for our spend and travel behavior / loyalty. - Get lounge access during trips Our CRA scores are all over 800, and there is not an issue meeting the spend requirements for premium cards. Currently, wife and I are both Marriott members (10 years), with gold elite status, and are both members of the SPG program. Our related CCs include: Chase Marriott Chase Sapphire Preferred Costco Visa Amex Blue Cash Preferred Questions: Which card(s) to get to leverage the changes and benefits: SPG card Ritz card Amex Platinum Chase Sapphire Reserve Thanks for your help.

Hey fellow credit addicts. So I have been reading a TON about MS lately and how some issuers freak out and close your card.. Thing is, I want to get my end of year Reward deals on a few cards and just maximize rewards in general on some other cards but am worried about AA. The issuers in question are: Barclays (Lol, probably most risky?), Capital One (read a couple account closures here lately although the OPs were not very informative as to what they did to cause it), and Discover. My CL on Barclay and CO are quite large, Discover under $5k. So any info on what issuers tend to be the most lenient with this especially as a one timer? To be specific I am looking to send money using PayPal to my partner, because from what I've read those two issuers code that as spend (I know Barclay does as my friend did this exactly to hit his 50,000 points on Arrival and boom, worked fine). I'm not sure how Cap1 Quicksilver codes this. another alternative is the whole gift card buying but I dont like doing that. Most important which lenders are known to take AA for this? Is sending money via PayPal even considered MS? Is there a better way to do it? Any info would be appreciated -- as well as any additional suggestions to hit spends and/or maximize rewards! Thanks all

What are your plans for Chase after full 5/24 implementation? I was considering a strategy with my wife where one of us doesn't open more than 4 cards over 24 months and the other apps for a lot of cards, but I'm not sure yet. Here's the plan for our current Chase cards: Me: Ink Plus-keep United MileagePlus Business-keep since it may open up more saver award space CSP-if I ever get back in with Citi, this is going to become a Freedom Unlimited Freedom-keep Marriott-keep for the free night Hyatt-keep for the free night British Airways-I will try to PC to a Freedom Unlimited for a few months. If that doesn't work, move the limit to my CSP and close the card. My wife: British Airways-try to PC to a Freedom Unlimited and if that doesn't work, move limit to Marriott Marriott-keep for the free night One thing we might consider if my wife not applying for too many cards for the next 24 months and then trying to get an IP and CSP. I think we need to wait just over a year at this point to get under that number.

I've been on e-rewards for years although then past year I have not been doing many of the surveys. I mostly just cash out when I reach the highest HHonors reward level; about once a year or so. Lately I've been wondering if I should maximize these opportunities. What other sites do folks use?

This is a reference thread meant to track the current best offers on the Citi AAdvantage credit cards, and also retention and other bonus offers. If you have an update, please copy (not quote) the entire content of the most recent post and add your information. Current Best Offers: Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World EliteTM MasterCard® 75K miles for $7,500 spending in 3 months, $450 AF NOT waived the first year Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® MasterCard® 50K miles for $3,000 spending in 3 months, $95 AF waived the first year Citi® / AAdvantage® Gold MasterCard® 25K miles for $750 spending in 3 months, $50 AF waived the first year CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World MasterCard® 50K miles for $3,000 spending in 3 months, $95 AF waived the first year As with all Citi cards, American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles not available if you have had the same Citi® / AAdvantage® card opened or closed in the past 18 months. YMMV with the business card. Retention Offers: Date (month-year) / Card / Offer / Accepted or Declined 8-15 / Platinum Select / 1K bonus miles for each of the next 16 months if $1K or more is spent, $95 statement credit for $95 spending / Accepted Bonus Offers: Date (month-year) / Card / Offer / Accepted or Declined 8-15 / Executive / 15K bonus miles for spending $5K in 3 months / Accepted

This thread is for the best mileage / point signup and bonuses we can find and share. Post them here. We are taking over FT. Oscar Mike

Do airline miles cards (e.g. Capital One) allow you to combine miles with existing miles you have through an airline?

Targeted offer - watch your spam box! Dear Occam, You already earn miles for every purchase with your new US Airways Dividend Miles® MasterCard® . And with this special offer, your card is now more rewarding than ever. Earn 15,000 bonus miles when you spend over $750 in new purchases each month in February, March and April.1Make every purchase count! Every purchase gets you closer to getting away. Fill up your gas tank. Dine out. Book your next vacation. Even monthly expenses, like cell phone and utility bills, earn miles when you pay with your card. Start racking up the miles! Just use your card every time you make a purchase to take advantage of this great offer. You'll be redeeming your bonus miles for award travel in no time at all! 1 Offer is valid for select cardmembers and is not transferable. You will earn 15,000 bonus miles after you charge over $750 in net retail purchases (purchases that are not returned or rescinded) each month from February 1, 2014 through April 30, 2014. If you do not spend over $750 in any of the 3 months of the promotion you will not be eligible for any bonus miles as part of this offer. To receive your bonus miles, your account must be open and in good standing. Purchases made during periods when your account is delinquent, your balance exceeds your credit line or your account is otherwise not in good standing as defined in your Credit Card Cardmember Agreement do not qualify for this offer. Your bonus miles will appear on your statement up to 6-8 weeks after the end of the promotion. Net retail purchases do not include such things as the purchase of money orders, traveler's checks, foreign currency, lottery tickets, gambling chips, wire transfers, person-to-person money transfers or using the account to obtain a cash advance.

"American Airlines and US Airways began Tuesday to let passengers earn and redeem frequent-flier miles on either airline." http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2014/01/07/us/ap-us-travel-brief-american-airlines-changes.html?hp If you don't have the Barclay's US Airways Dividend Miles MC (or maybe if you do ) better get one fast.