Is the Venture 100K Offer Worth a 5/24 Slot? | Ask Us Anything | Ep 31

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We had all kinds of interesting questions in today’s Ask Us Anything Live, analyzing the Capital One Venture Card’s worthiness as one of the 5/24 slots (46:36​), credit card cancellation best practices (22:25), and so much more. Watch the full episode below or click each individual timestamp to link directly to each question in YouTube.

5:27 – Appreciated this week’s mailbag (using Disco 3% to buy IHG points). A good reminder that opportunity cost is everywhere. What are some other good ways to use cash back to supplement loyalty programs?

11:03 – Wondering if there is any way to use my guest of honor and a suite upgrade award for them? I’m looking to book for my friends honeymoon at the Hyatt regency Waikiki

12:36 – If I added P2 as an AU to my platinum card (with the $0 gold card option), will she also get 10x gas/grocery for the first 6 months?

14:23 – ​First time searching ANA for biz class to Europe. The search is only showing me availability on Swiss (high surcharges). Searched many dates. Am I missing something?

17:59 – ​Hi guys – can you get Suite upgrades with Marriott Platinum if you pay for your stay with a 7 night certificate or by using the credit card certificates? Thanks

20:54 – Hi guys! I noticed some Alaska SFO-JFK nonstop flights that were available a few weeks/months ago seem to have disappeared. Do you think this is a permanent cutback on routes bc of overlap w AA?

22:25 – How can I cancel credit cards without affecting my credit score or upsetting the banks? Can I apply for a Chase business card even if I’m over 5/24? Do business cards count towards 5/24?

27:17 – Hi, if I cancel my American Express card how quickly does this update in their system for a new approval? I will need to cancel a card to get below five credit cards.

29:20 – ​Recently got the AMEX platinum card after your post about earning up to 225k + other perks. Do grocery and gas purchases count as 10x only AFTER initial $5k? & how do I get the $200 home decor credit?

33:36 – ​Hey Greg and Nick, what are you most excited about in the miles and points game as of today? Thank you 

35:45 – ​Hey guys – wondering how you guys (I guess only Nick) plan to use the Hilton resort credits from the Aspire card?

37:00 – ​Hey Guys, like Nick, I have a young child who is not vaccinated, so international travel is difficult. Looking for suggestions for my plethora of Marriott and Hilton FNCs that expire in August.

41:04 – Hi Guys! My UR Pay Yourself Back screen is showing 3 days left on all purchases, even those made a few days ago. Thoughts?

41:57 – ​My husband passed away a few months ago. He had 600,000 Marriott points (and 10 Suite Night Awards). Should I call Marriott to transfer to me? Are they likely to do this, or should I use them asap?

43:40 – What do you recommend as the best card to book a cash stay at a Hyatt Zilara? Going with a group of friends and I’m handling the booking.

46:36 – Hey guys thoughts on honestly burning a 5/25 slot on a Capital One Venture. Im struggling with pulling this trigger!

55:01 – ​Follow-up question (to Q5)… Is it possible to “upgrade” Marriott certificates? (old ones)… I have category 5 but would like to upgrade to category 6… possible?

55:55 – My Hilton business comes with a free weekend night after 15,000 in spend. it seems tempting. Should I spend my way to a free weekend night. Already spent 3,500.

57:20 – ​Do you think Marriott will extend certs expiring 8/21?

58:55 – What do you think of a $695 Capital One card? Do you think Chase and Amex will start sweating? Lol

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DSK

The answer at minute mark 12:36 went a bit fast for me. In reading over the Terms and Conditions of the AMEX Platinum offer, AMEX appears to distinguish between Additional Cards (the ones that cost $175 for three) and Gold Cards that are no charge, and the T&Cs seem to say only Basic and Additional Cards are eligible for the 10 times on groceries( i.e., no Gold Cards). Is that not the way AMEX is interpreting it? I think that was the point of the original question (which didn’t come from me, but is relevant to me since my wife does the grocery shopping and trying to figure out whether this is a $550 first year expense or a $725 first year expense).

Greg The Frequent Miler

My interpretation is that ALL AU cards (even Gold AU cards) will earn 10X

Chris

Thanks for the quick mention of GC Galore, wasn’t aware of Mr. Pepper’s site. I was able to get some tasty items at Speedway although it wouldn’t trigger the free breakfast sandwich. Thanks to you I will max out the Freedom and Discover quarterly bonuses and may even do some Premier spending to up my Thank You point balance.

Jay

On the Wyndham business card account, I have two accounts/cards to select from in a drop-down to the top right — my recollection is that one is completely blank and matches my card #, one shows transactions but doesn’t match my card number. Not sure if Greg might be experiencing that. Had success testing the waters on a small but tasty item a couple weeks back.

Greg The Frequent Miler

Thanks, but that’s not it. I had been checking both the “Company Account” and the “Wyndham Biz” account (which I think is the nickname I gave for my card).

Transactions from last week finally showed up today. Some are on the Wyndham Biz view and all are on the Company Account (which my log-in defaults to). Hopefully now that the wheels are greased, things will show up sooner? Unfortunately I haven’t yet seen a single pending transaction — including the purchase I made today.

RS_WI

Dunno if it was due to the question for which Greg gave ‘advice’ on in the application (RE carrying balances…) but I just applied and got instant approved w/ $10k+ CL. Nick, you made such a great point about why someone shouldn’t remain on the fence about applying for an effective 7x earn/SUB.
Merging this into my existing huge Cap1 points balance and their awesome recent changes, I am over the moon. $20k spend is no issue.

Greg The Frequent Miler

Awesome!