Comments on: Credit card sign-up day and getting ready for the weekend!

By: Pat

Pat — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:45:17 +0000

I would think that most people at the DO would be awake by 5:30 PM regardless of their home time zone.

By: Gary

Gary — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:09:59 +0000

Sure, keep a UA Visa at no fee. Honestly, I do as well. I don’t put any spend on it really, except earlier in the year I received a promo “spend $45k on the card by X date and recevie 30k bonus miles” so I opened a Citi checking account and charged $50k to the card and paid it right off.

But to the extent you’re figuring out whose card to sign up for among a limited set bast on best bonus, then I wouldn’t zero in on United. That is all…

By: chitownflyer

chitownflyer — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:33:16 +0000

Lucky, United Platinum Visa accounts opened before September 1, 2006 are eligible for a full $140 fee waiver only for 1Ks, but Chase changed their policy for 1Ks whose accounts were opened after September 1, 2006, and they only receive a $60 waiver of the $140 annual fee. Also, Chase does not allow you to churn the United Platinum Visa again and again, so the 30K bonus miles and 5K EQMs are a onetime deal for opening the account. However, you could open a MP Signature Visa, and then open a United Platinum Visa at a later date, and you should receive the signup bonus for each card as they are separate and distinct, as seems to be the case from Flyertalk reports. The benefits of the United Platinum Visas are 1 EQM for every $1 spent at united.com with an annual maximum of 5000 EQMs for united.com purchases, and this does cover tickets issued by web support. If you spend 35K in a calendar year, you will receive 5000 EQMs as well. PM me if you have any questions.

By: lucky

lucky — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:21:45 +0000

@ Gary — I plan on using the SPG Amex as my primary card for spending, but wouldn’t it make sense to have a UA MP Visa given that it has no annual fee, not for the churning but to actually keep? FWIW I don’t have another Visa card, so for certain promos that require Visa cards it seems to make sense, no?

By: Gary

Gary — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:19:14 +0000

Though if it were me I’d focus on earning something other than UA miles, you pick up those from your flying.

Maybe some Amex points? US miles?

By: lucky

lucky — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:10:21 +0000

Didn’t realize that, thanks guys! Visa Signature card it is!

By: gobluetwo

gobluetwo — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:40:32 +0000

July is Michigan Craft Beer Month, with many “festivities” being held in Ann Arbor (mainly at places like the Arbor Brewing Company and Grizzly Peak, I believe).

And an fyi, you can easily get the first year fee waived, but, as Gary says, it’s no longer waived for 1Ks going forward.

By: Gary

Gary — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:32:09 +0000

I suggest you NOT sign up for the United Visa Signature Platinum Class.

1) My recollection is that 1Ks who have had the card are grandfathered with the full fee waiver, but new applicants get only the $60 credit (some have had success pushing, but it’s not automatic)

2) You don’t need the bonus EQMs. Save the card — and the EQM signup bonus — for a year when those will help you

3) Go for the Visa Signature if you haven’t had it, the Visa Signature Business, and the Visa Signature Gold Class… all come with fee waivers the first year anyway, 1K or not, generous signup bonuses…. why go for the more expensive card you don’t need, waste the bonus eqm’s, and have to deal with fighting for the full fee waiver?