Milenomics² Podcast Episode 193: Assessing the Value of Chase Ultimate Rewards, an Evolving Game, and Amex Penalty Box Woes (Patreon)

0:33 Follow-Up: Ultimate Rewards and Pay Yourself Back

• This game moves quickly sometimes.
• Last week I was looking to clean up my UR situation
• After getting approved for a CSP I went ahead and applied the next day for a CSR and was also approved (After some verification of my date of birth)
• I’ll have even more UR to deal with, but with a clear path forward: Consolidate and pay myself back at 1.25 cents.
• Wild how prevalent the 1.5 Cent per UR ‘yardstick’ has become–even when it is almost impossible to get that in true value now (Add in discussion of your MIL Flight?)
• https://frequentmiler.com/chase-pay-yourself-back/ has good historical info as well as current options.

15:02 Fluz Updates

• 1-Time Mastercards still blocked
• Signs of life on 1-Time Visas with PPBP
• Still great for minimum spend when the card in question has categories with bonuses.
• Zoom call last week was a bust…may take until Q3 for the changes
• In the meanwhile load/cashout up to 40k a month seems like the best thing to do.

20:05 Follow Up: How is it that Taekus seems like the least risky option around right now?

• Taekus has been around for a while now, and with Fluz sputtering I’ve been using it more
• In hindsight I should have been doing both fluz and Taekus
• As a product Taekus feels…. Better than most of the services we use.  How is that?

23:15 First Republic Fails/Is Acquired by Chase (NYTimes)

• Chase took over without service interruption
• Stock became worthless
• Discuss: Where to do real banking?

30:40 Hyatt Acquires Mr and Mrs Smith (Press Release)

• No announcements yet on booking with points
• Some great very expensive hotels.

34:04 Follow-Up: Churning US Bank Leverage Card

• Before the bank fails I wanted to get a second one of these.  Has been approx 8-9 months since I last was approved. Currently hold one
• Applied and …. Pending
• A few days later I received the standard approval message: An email asking me to use my card in a mobile wallet. (So weird)
• I’ll get to work on the min spend.
• Would love the Business checking $750 offer as well (link)

37:30 Amex Penalty Box Woes

• Wanted to earn another +5x grocery on one of my wife’s Personal Gold cards
• Tried applying for a Delta Personal Reserve, got pop-up saying that for no particular reason I wasn’t eligible for the welcome bonus (I’ve never had the card)
• We’ve seen this before. What to do?
• Could try applying head-on for same card but thought it wise to apply for yet another co-branded business card while that seems to be working

41:16 Amex Reconsideration

• Closed Hilton Business (without spending $15,000 on it this year)
• A couple days later, applied for yet another Bonovy Business. Declined.
• Called shortly after 6a MST on a Monday (when the new account department opens)
• Rep said to call back after 9a EST when the business reconsideration team is available
• Called back and after a few times on hold was able to get approved while on the call
• This is different than what I usually get where the new account rep submits for reconsideration and you hear later
• I think I like it better this way: One-call closure and no waiting beyond that

43:31 Plucky Airline of the Week: Bermudair (OMAAT)

• Threatening to fly near-daily from BOS/FLL/White Plains to BDA
• Single, all-business class cabin
• E175 with just 30 seats. Fantastic