Check Your Credit Cards for Annual Fee Refunds, Retention Offers and New Category Bonuses

The economy is in a definite downturn due to COVID-19, and many people are doing far less traveling and less travel-related spending than normal.

In response, credit card companies are working hard to entice people to keep their credit cards rather than close their accounts.

Many of the big card issuers have proactively issued statement credits or other bonuses, or added temporarily enhanced benefits for all customers of certain cards.

For other card issuers or other credit cards, customers need to call and ask about offers to see what they may be targeted to receive.

Many cards are offering additional bonuses in categories in which those cards historically have not offered bonuses.  This is to encourage customers to use the card more.  For example, Chase is offering 5 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on grocery store purchases for the new few months.  Similarly, American Express is offering 4 Delta Sky Miles per dollar on grocery store purchases with their Delta co-branded cards.

Another benefit is that the travel credit on certain cards can be triggered for spending that is not travel-related.  For example, the Citi Prestige card $250 travel credit can be used at supermarkets and restaurants.

This post is a heads-up, not a comprehensive roundup of all the changes on the major cards.

In light of recent changes, it behooves all of us to check our credit card portfolio and figure out which cards make the most sense for certain types of spending.

Sample articles with more details:

The Points Guy - temporary perks on Amex cards

Marketwatch - annual fee partial rebates on certain cards

Frequent Miler - COVID-related Credit Card Benefit Enhancements - Ultimate Guide 

The Best Cash Back Business Credit Cards

There are lots of credit cards that earn generous amounts of travel rewards.  Likewise, there are lots of cash back-earning credit cards.  And there are lots of business credit cards aimed at small business owners.

What there is NOT a lot of, is cash back business cards.  In the past few days, I researched cash back business credit cards and came up with what I believe are the three best such cards available to American customers.

Reminder:  One need NOT have a business tax ID (aka EIN) to get approved for a business card.  Generally speaking, a history of at least a few years' worth of revenue and expenses of a few thousand dollars annually at minimum, along with a solid (740+ certainly should do the trick) credit score should result in approval of a business credit card application to most of the major U.S. credit card issuers - Amex, Chase, Citi, Capital One, and others.


Reminder:  personal credit cards can be used for 'business spend' just as easily as business cards can.  There are not a lot of practical differences between personal and business credit cards.  One of the big ones is that business credit cards often lack some of the consumer protections that are required by law to be provided on personal credit cards.  Authorized user cards can be ordered for personal cards, just as with business cards.  And hundreds of thousands of dollars of spend can be put on personal cards, just as with business cards -- assuming proper credit line and management of it.

The Best Three Cash Back Business Credit Cards

Of these three options, the Amex one I can refer; the other two I cannot.  All three cards will allow pretty solid accumulation of cash back via spending.  And all three have at least a $500 signup bonus after hitting the minimum spend in first three months.

• Capital One Spark Cash
• Amex Blue Business Cash
• Chase Ink Cash

Capital One Spark Cash

Pros

• 2% cash back on everything, no limit - to my knowledge, the only business card on the market like this
• $500 signup bonus after $5k spend.
• Additional $1,500 signup bonus after $50k total spend in first year.

Cons

• $95 annual fee after first year.
• No category bonuses, just straight 2% on everything.

More Information

• https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/C1SCbiz/#Goto

Amex Blue Business Cash

Pros

• No annual fee
• 2% cash back on first $50k purchases per year
• $500 cash back signup bonus ($250 after $5k spend fairst 3 months, another $250 after another $10k spend in first year)

Cons

• Only 1% cash back on purchases beyond $50k in a year

Referral
My referral link (click 'all business cards to find the Blue Business Cash.  I recently got the Blue Business Plus.  http://refer.amex.us/JASONWuBSY?XLINK=MYCP.  

More Information

• https://www.doctorofcredit.com/american-express-blue-business-cash-card-500-sign-up-bonus-available-via-incognito/
• https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/AmxBBC/#Goto

Chase Ink Cash

Pros

• No annual fee
• $500 signup bonus (usually only $300) after $3k spend
• Great bonus categories:  5X office supplies ⚬ 5X cellular/landline/cable (on up to $25,000 in total purchases in 5x categories annually)
• 2X gas and restaurants (up to $25k annually)
• Besides being able to use as cash back, technically the card earns Ultimate Reward points which can be super handy (e.g. if you have a Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve personal card, and could combine the points and use toward paid travel thru Chase travel portal

Cons

• Only 1% cash back on non-category bonused stuff

More Information

• https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/CIC/#Goto
• https://www.doctorofcredit.com/chase-ink-cash-500-public-online-offer/

Analysis

• Which is best for you?  That depends on your own personal circumstances.  How much will you spend, and how much in various categories.  You will have to decide which is best for your usage.
• Will you spend enough to offset the $95 annual fee on the Spark Cash?
• The category bonuses on the Chase Ink Cash are potentially very lucrative, if you'll have spend in those categories.  Otherwise, it probably isn't the best choice.
• If you are going to spend well beyond $50k a year, Spark could be the best bet - although you won't recover the $95 annual fee until you hit $60k spend, vs. the Amex no annual fee card.
• Blue Business Cash may be the safe bet for starters - unless the category bonuses on Chase Ink Cash can be leveraged.

Heads-up: Delta gift cards 10% off at Costco.com

Costco.com is selling $500 and $1,000 Delta electronic gift cards for 10% off.  $450 for the $500 GC and $900 for the $1,000 GC.

I was not aware that Costco sold Delta gift cards.  This may be a limited time item.

Terms:

• Member only item

• Works on Delta Air Lines Marketed Flights or Delta Vacations Packages that Include Air Transportation

• Limit 3 per Member

• Delivery via email

https://www.costco.com/delta-air-lines-$500-egift-card.product.100523609.html
https://www.costco.com/delta-air-lines-$1,000-egift-card.product.100531773.html

Delta Amex Card - Sign up By 1/29/2020 to Avoid Annual Fee Increases

This week, American Express announced changes to their Delta Amex credit cards.  Among the changes is annual fee increases for all of the Delta-branded Amex cards.  Some benefits have been improved or added, though this post does not delve into all the changes.  This post is a heads-up that signing up now makes sense, to get the card before the annual fee increases take effect.

The changes take effect on Jan 30, 2020.  

Also, this week, Amex announced higher-than-normal sign-up bonuses for its personal Delta Amex credit cards.  (The business versions of the Gold, Platinum, and Reserve Delta Amex cards currently have mediocre sign-up bonuses; only the personal versions are worth signing up for right now.)

These good sign-up bonuses are typically offered twice a year. These offers were previously offered 1st quarter 2019.

The increased bonuses for the Platinum and Reserve card are currently available only via referral from existing cardholders.  The Gold card signup bonus is the same via referral as the public offer.  

Please click my link if you are interested in any of the offers below.

http://refer.amex.us/JASONWc8CN?XLINK=MYCP

After clicking the referral link, click the 'View all Cards with a Referral Offer' link, then click the 'Looking for a Personal Card?' link to see the personal Delta Amex cards.

Background Reading

Frequent Miler and Rene's Points both have decent recaps and analysis of the changes.  Many of the changes are positive and many are negative.

For current cardholders it is really a personal decision as to how the card changes affect your own decision whether to cancel, keep, downgrade, or replace one card with another.  For me, the loss of 15k bonus SkyMiles at $30k and another 15k miles at $60k is a major blow.  That, along with the annual fee increase, has me feeling that the Reserve card is no longer worth it.

My bottom line analysis is that post-changes, the Platinum card makes more sense than the Reserve card for most folks.  More details available in the articles below:

https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/delta-credit-cards-huge-changes-coming/https://renespoints.boardingarea.com/2019/09/30/major-changes-and-higher-fees-coming-to-delta-american-express-cards/https://renespoints.boardingarea.com/2019/09/30/my-thoughts-on-the-new-delta-american-express-benefits-fees-and-more/

Travel Accessory Hot Deal - Universal Power Adapter $10

Universal Power Adapter for International Travel - $10

Amazon has a great price on a travel adapter that works in several different countries.  $10 each after applying the coupon code.

Coupon discount works for quantities greater than 1, which is often NOT the case.  Great stocking stuffer idea.

Please support my local soccer club by doing your Amazon shopping through the Amazon Smile link for Lowell Area Select Soccer Organization!  Go to https://smile.amazon.com/ch/38-3359604 and AmazonSmile donates to Lowell Area Select Soccer Organization whenever you purchase stuff from Amazon.

This is a typical model with a wall plug and also 4 USB ports - two x 2.4 amps + two x 2.1 amps.  Charge multiple USB devices at the same time.

https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Travel-Adapter-EPICKA-Including-Charging/dp/B074QMDBXF

Discount code:  enter code ZEATOQ8O on the Checkout screen to reduce the price from $17 to $10

$15-20 is a typical, decent price for an international power adapter.  10 bucks is about as cheap as these models go

Last Day for Increased Delta Amex Credit Card Signup Bonuses

Weds April 3rd - today - is the last day to get higher-than-normal signup bonuses for several Delta-branded American Express credit cards.

The increased bonuses for new customers are available only via referral from existing cardholders.  Please click my link if you are interested in any of the offers below.

http://refer.amex.us/JASONW2rUF?XLINK=MYCP 

After clicking the link, click the View all Cards with a Referral Offer to see the other Delta Amex personal credit cards.  To see the Delta Amex business credit cards, click the Looking for a Business Card? link

Recap of Current Signup Bonuses - Delta Amex Personal Credit Cards

• Gold Delta SkyMiles card:  60,000 SkyMiles + $50 statement credit after $2,000 spend in first 3 months.  Annual fee waived first year, then $95/yr
• Platinum Delta SkyMiles card:  75,000 SkyMiles + 5,000 MQMs (toward elite status earning) + $100 statement credit after $3,000 spend in first 3 mos.  $195 annual fee (NOT waived first year)
• Delta Reserve card:  75,000 SkyMiles + 5,000 MQMs after $5,000 spend in 3 mos.  $450 annual fee (NOT waived first year)
• Blue Delta SkyMiles card - this is NOT a good card.  Signup bonus is only 10,000 miles after $500 spend in first 3 mos.  No annual fee.  Earning rate is only 1/2 SkyMile per $1 on most purchases except Delta purchases - terrible

Recap of Current Signup Bonuses - Delta Amex Business Credit Cards

The business cards have signup bonuses that are in some cases better than the personal cards, although not everyone may be comfortable applying for a business credit card.  For some reason, the increased signup bonuses are not working via referral link, but they are still publicly available.  Click the Frequent Miler article below for links to the application pages

• Gold Delta SkyMiles Business card:  70,000 SkyMiles + $50 statement credit after $4,000 spend in 3 mos.  Annual fee $95/yr waived first year
• Platinum Delta SkyMiles Business card:  80,000 SkyMiles + 5,000 MQMs + $100 statement credit after $6,000 spend in 3 mos.  $195 annual fee (NOT waived first year)

Background reading

https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/increased-referral-offers-on-delta-personal-cards/
https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/inceased-delta-biz-offers-now-too/

[DEAL GONE] Detroit to Hawaii $355+ Round Trip Apr 2019 - Feb 2020 on United Airlines

UPDATE: This sale is expired :(

$355+ Detroit to Hawaii Apr 2019 - Feb 2020

Book now and decide later!  PLEASE follow this advice if you are interested in this deal.  This sale could end at any moment.  Flights have a 24-hour free cancellation period after booking.

Too many people wait and try to contact friends and get things arranged and figure out logistics before booking the flights, then come back to book once everything is 'set' and they discover the cheap flights are gone.

Detroit (DTW) to Hawaii:

• From $355 round trip in basic economy
• From $445 round trip in regular economy

To These Hawaiian Airports

• Honolulu (HNL)
• Kona (KOA)
• Lihue (LIH)
• Kahului (OGG)

Context

Christmas timeframe is excluded from this fare sale.  Otherwise, dates are widely available from today through Feb 2020.

This is a great price to Hawaii and includes summer travel.  One- or two-stop flights from DTW.  United does not fly nonstop from DTW to Hawaii.

This is as good or better than Hawaii flights from Toronto, which is usually a much cheaper origin than Chicago or Detroit.

Secret Flying reported this deal on March 28 (though their post is dated March 29).

Search on Google Flights and click through on desired flight to book directly with United.

Google Flights Search - Regular Economy

Selecting one carry-on bag from the search filter eliminates basic economy itineraries from the results

Sat 3/30 - Mon 4/8 $450 (regular economy) - last-minute Hawaii spring break trip for cheap!

Fri 8/23 - Sat 8/31 $445 (regular economy) - summer travel before school starts

Tues 11/19 - Thur 11/28 $445 (regular economy) - Thanksgiving timeframe

Google Flights Search - Basic Economy

Mon 12/30 - Sat 1/11 $393 (basic economy) - New Years week

Fri 1/31 - Sat 2/15 $359 (basic economy)

Background

Secret Flying - Detroit to Hawaii from $355 round trip