Chase announces 2020 Q3 bonuses for the Sapphire Credit Cards

Chase Sapphire Update:

Starting July 1 and running through Sept. 30, both chase sapphire cards will earn between 3 and 10 bonus points for every dollar spent on purchases at gas stations, on select streaming services and on Instacart grocery delivery and pickup orders.

Gas stations:
3x on the CSP
5x on the CSR

Streaming Services:
5x on the CSP
10x on the CSR

Sapphire Cardholders will also get up to $50 in statement credits toward an Instacart Express membership, which offers unlimited $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on all orders over $35. There is No activation required for Sapphire cardholders to access these limited-time benefits.

These credits are enough to cover either three months of a monthly membership or up to half off an annual membership.

Today is also the last day to earn bonus points on grocery purchases with Chase Sapphire credit cards. CSP holders can earn 3x and CSR holders can earn 5x, so don’t forget to load up on gift cards today ;-).

*Thoughts: I’m happy to see chase rolling out useful spending bonuses during this covid-19 pandemic, although I will really miss the 5x on groceries!

These 4 credit cards can help you pay off your debt on time!

Do you have existing credit card debt or have accumulated credit card debt due to COVID-19?

STRATEGY: Pay off credit card debt by opening a credit card with an introductory period of 0% APR

One way to alleviate the stress of accumulated credit card debt is to transfer an existing credit card balance to a credit card that offers the benefit of no transfer fees and 0% interest on balance transfers and purchases for a period of time.  An added bonus is that all of the credit cards listed below currently do not have an annual fee! As this article was being published, the Chase Slate card was removed from the Chase website, probably as a result of COVID-19 changes by chase. We added an extra BONUS card that can help you transfer your debt.

1. Amex EveryDay® Credit Card

BENEFITS:

• No balance transfer fee for transfers within 60 days of account opening

• 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers from account opening

• Earn 10,000 membership rewards points after you use your new card to make $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.  If you’re saving money to pay off your credit card debt, but want to take advantage of this introductory offer (which you should), contact The Credit Hacker for creative ways on achieving the minimum spend requirement

• Approx minimum credit score 660-700

2. Chase Slate

* Currently removed from the Chase Website as of 4/16/2020

BENEFITS:

• No balance transfer fee for transfers within 60 days of account opening

• 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers from account opening

• Approx minimum credit score 690

CON:

• No rewards

3. Citi Simplicity Card

BENEFITS:

• Balance Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each credit card balance transfer, whichever is greater

• Get 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers and for 12 months on purchases.  Balance transfers must be completed within the first 4 months 

• Approx minimum credit score 670

CON:

• No rewards

4. U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card

BENEFITS:

• Balance Transfer Fee: Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater.

• Get 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 20 billing cycles.  Balance transfers must be within 60 days from account opening

CON:

• Approx minimum credit score 750

• No rewards

Transferring debt between cards with the same issuer is typically not allowed. 

Please note that introductory rates on credit cards increase SUBSTANTIALLY after the introductory period.  Please check the terms of your credit card agreement.  Minimum credit score thresholds may vary and are at the discretion of the credit card company you’re applying to.  The information provided above is current as of the date of the blog post.

We at The Credit Hacker want to emphasize that we encourage EVERYONE out there to eliminate credit card debt and develop healthy spending habits by utilizing a budget.  The credit cards listed above are a tool to get you out of debt, but the reality is that spending habits may need to be adjusted in order to alleviate the debt that was accrued.

How Airline and Hotel Loyalty programs are changing due to COVID-19, coronavirus.

Given the global situation concerning COVID-19 (the coronavirus), frequent travelers have stayed at home and are practicing social distancing instructions in order to prevent further spread of the illness. As we hope for the safe health of others, we're all dreaming of a return to normal travel. While no one can quite predict when that might be, travel companies have made moves to keep their programs active and members engaged. Here's a list by Ramsey Qubein on what to know about travel loyalty program changes, elite status, and qualifications moving forward.

Accor Live Limitless

Accor’s loyalty program is crediting 50 percent of the status nights and points required to requalify for your current status level. This automatically gets you halfway toward the same status for next year.

Aeroplan

Air Canada is pausing the expiration of miles until May 14, which means if you had miles set to expire before then, they now last until mid-May. Altitude members are receiving additional eUpgrade credits in their accounts, which are valid until May 31, 2021.

Best Western Rewards

Best Western was one of the first to extend status for members until January 31, 2022. This means that your current status remains the same unless you earn a higher level this year. Plus, anyone who was downgraded in status based on travels in 2019 will be boosted to their previous level until January 31, 2022, as well.

Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Club

Cathay is automatically adding monthly increments of points between now and April to get travelers closer to status thresholds even when they cannot travel. In addition, those with lounge passes, upgrade certificates, and Gold Companion Card nominations will receive six-month extensions to use them.

Choice Privileges

Any points set to expire have been extended through the end of May 2021.

Delta SkyMiles

If you have upgrade and companion certificates that were supposed to expire this spring, the validity has been extended through the end of the year.

Emirates Skywards

The airline is lowering elite threshold requirements between now and May 2020 by 20 percent.

Etihad Guest

The airline is delivering bonus tier miles on a monthly basis to pad member balances and help them toward annual elite thresholds during the travel slowdown.

Flying Blue

Miles will no longer expire this year, and for those with status expiring this spring, elite status requirements are being lowered by 25 percent.

Hilton Honors

Any points that were scheduled to expire between now and May 31 will be extended.

IHG Rewards Club

IHG was a first mover in making status easier for travelers. Travelers now have lower requirements to earn elite status. For example, Gold Elite status now requires 7,000 qualifying points (instead of 10,000) or seven qualifying nights (instead of 10) this year to earn status. Top-tier Spire Elite status only requires 55,000 qualifying points (instead of 75,000) or 55 nights (instead of 75).

Marriott Bonvoy

If you have free night or Suite Night awards (used for room upgrades on eligible stays) in your account, these will be extended until December 31, 2021. In addition, any points set to previously expire will be extended to the same date.

Qantas Frequent Flyer

Status is being extended for current elite members by 12 months.

Radisson Rewards

Current elite status has been extended through February 2022, and any upcoming points expiration has been extended through the end of August.

Shangri-La Golden Circle

The current elite status is being extended for another year to December 31, 2021.

Virgin Flying Club

Elite status is being extended by six months.

World of Hyatt

Proposed changes to award categories (the designated number of points needed to redeem for a free night’s stay) will not go into effect this month as planned. Instead, it will be postponed to 2021. That’s good news for stays at many luxury hotels, where the free-night points rate was going to increase.

Why haven’t other brands made adjustments yet?

Given the uncertainty of the current situation, some airlines or hotels may be waiting to see the extent of travel disruption before making an announcement. Even currently announced loyalty program adjustments may change again before the end of the year. As we wait for the curve to flatten, be expecting more change to occur to our favorite hotel and airline programs.