Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card

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Welcome Bonus

The Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card is offering 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. This is one of the highest offers ever offered for the card.

These are not the same type of miles that you would earn from an airline credit card. But they can be used for up to $750 in value when you book travel through Capital One, or against travel purchases.

Capital One also has 15 partner airline and hotel programs, which can be the best option to maximize the value of your points.

Here are the 1:1 ratio travel partners:

1:1 Transfer Ratio

  • Aeromexico Club Premier
  • Aeroplan®
  • Asia Miles
  • Avianca LifeMiles
  • British Airways Executive Club
  • Choice Privileges®
  • Emirates Skywards
  • Etihad Guest
  • Finnair Plus
  • Flying Blue
  • Qantas Frequent Flyer
  • Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
  • TAP Miles&Go
  • Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
  • Virgin Red

The last option is to redeem miles for gift cards.

You should familiarize yourself with a specific loyalty program before transferring your miles.

LEARN HOW TO APPLY

Bonus categories

You’ll earn the following rates:

  • Unlimited 2 miles per $1 spent on purchases.
  • Unlimited 5 miles per $1 spent on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel.

Getting 5X on the travel portal is nice if you’re not paying more for your travel purchases compared to other sites.

The 2X miles on all other purchases make this a good everyday card, especially with no limit on how much your card can earn. It could also be a great way to cover taxes.

That almost sounds like only certain categories related to business purchases will qualify but actually this will earn 2% on all purchases.

LEARN HOW TO APPLY

Perks

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a $95 annual fee, but also gets you some extra perk that could make it worth keeping it pas the first year.

You can get credit of $100 for the application fee for Global Entry or TSA Pre-check when you pay with the card.

The card comes with two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounge locations or a partnering Plaza Premium Lounge. For the rest or the year, you get a special entry rate of $45 per visit after that.

As a travel focused card, it provides trip protection including rental car coverage, travel accident insurance and round-the-clock travel assistance services if your card is lost or stolen. And if you travel abroad, you don’t pay foreign transaction fees.

Advertiser Disclosure: UponArriving has partnered with affiliate partners and may receive a commission from card issuers. UponArriving does not display all credit card offers and affiliate relationships may impact how offers are presented. 

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analysis & recommendations are UponArriving’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. 

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card Review

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is loaded up with some interesting benefits like a travel credit, upgraded boardings, and right now it comes with a very solid limited-time welcome bonus!

Let’s take a look at all of the features of this card to see if it might be worth it for you to jump on this offer while it lasts.

Southwest Priority Credit Card

First, here are some highlights for the Southwest Priority Credit Card.

  • 3X on Southwest purchases
  • 2X on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
  • 2X on internet, cable, phone services, and streaming
  • $75 Southwest annual travel credit
  • 7,500 anniversary points each year
  • Four Upgraded Boardings per year when available.
  • 25% back on in-flight drinks, WiFi, messaging, and movies
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Earn tier qualifying points towards A-list Status
  • $149 annual fee

Not your typical premium card

When we think of premium travel rewards credit cards, it’s usually a card with a hefty $400+ annual fee that offers airport lounge access among other valuable travel perks.

But this card is different.

Southwest doesn’t have an airport lounge network so there’s no surprise that lounge access is not a perk here.

Instead, the additional value justifying the “semi-premium” price is going to come from the travel credit, upgrades, discounts, and the anniversary points.

These are benefits that could be very worthwhile to Southwest flyers but may not be as attractive to people who don’t normally fly Southwest.

I’ll discuss all of those in detail below.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Southwest Priority Credit Card Features

Welcome bonus

  • 75,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months.

Offer no longer available.

The 75,000 Rapid Rewards after spending $3,000 in the first three months is a great offer.

That puts you only 50,000 Rapid Rewards short of the Companion Pass requirements which you could easily meet by also going for a business card like the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card which is currently offering 60,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months.

Just make sure that you hit your spend requirements after your December statement closes so that you can take advantage of this perk for as close to two years as you can get. (If you don’t want to risk anything, just wait until January of 2023 to meet your bonus.)

Bonus spending

  • 3X on Southwest purchases
  • 2X on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
  • 2X on internet, cable, phone services, and streaming

Earning 3X on Southwest is solid but you might want to consider using a different Chase card for some of these categories.

That way, you can earn more points and have the added benefit of flexibility for transferring your points.

For example, I use the following Chase cards to rack up more rewards:

  • Chase Sapphire Reserve (3x on dining and travel)
  • Chase Freedom Unlimited (1.5X on every single purchase)
  • Chase Freedom Flex (5X on quarterly purchases)
  • Chase Ink Cash (5X on office supply stores, telecommunications)

$75 Southwest annual travel credit

The $75 Southwest annual travel credit can be used on airfare which essentially gives you a $75 discount every year if you fly Southwest.

Many people have also used this credit on gift cards although you probably always want to check on the latest data points before you do that.

The credit will automatically be applied to your account when your Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Priority Card is used for purchases (excluding Upgraded Boardings and inflight purchases).

Ultimately, this credit helps to offset the $159 annual fee down to $84, which makes this card much more attractive.

7,500 anniversary points each year

The Southwest Priority Card earns 7,500 anniversary points each year on your account’s anniversary. 

All of the Southwest cards offer anniversary points each year and this bonus is 1,500 more Rapid Rewards than what the Premier offers and 4,500 more than what the Plus offers.

If you value Southwest Rapid Rewards at 1.5 cents per point, then 7,500 anniversary points amounts to $112.50 in value received each year.

So with the $75 travel credit and the $112.50 in annual Rapid Rewards, that’s value at $187.50 received each year from the perks which already offsets the annual fee.

Four Upgraded Boardings per year when available

The Priority Card will offer you four upgraded boarding positions which are upgrades to Business Select boarding (A1-A15).

If you’re not aware, Southwest doesn’t offer a traditional business class or first class experience. They offer something called Business Select, which allows you to receive priority boarding.

This means you can grab the seats at the front of the airplane or within the emergency exit rows where the seats have a little more leg room or where you can grab a row with only two seats.

The amount of seats with more legroom/privacy depends on whether you’re flying on a 737-700 or 737-800. You can find out more information about the different types of seats in my Tips for Flying Southwest.

The amount of money it costs to upgrade depends on the length of the journey but you usually pay $30 to $50. So getting four upgraded boardings per year when available could be worth anywhere from $120 to $200. That’s quite a bit of value.

I know a lot of people don’t care for Southwest since there’s no true business class but I’ve always enjoyed upgrading and then grabbing one of the couple seats in the emergency exit row so Brad and I have our own row.

So I wouldn’t sleep on this benefit if you fly Southwest, but if you don’t usually fly with them, this isn’t exactly a very enticing upgrade benefit.

It’s worth noting that when you upgrade you’re usually not given the other Business Select perks like a free drink.

Also, unlike the cheaper Southwest cards you do NOT get the two free Early Bird passes.

25% back on in-flight drinks, WiFi, messaging, and movies

Even though your Southwest $75 credit is not good for in-flight purchases, they do offer you a 25% discount on many of these purchases which is nice.

No foreign transaction fees

Both the Southwest Premier and the Priority Credit Card do not come with foreign transaction fees.

Earn tier qualifying points towards A-list Status

You’ll earn 1,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs) for each $10,000 in purchases annually. There is no longer a limit on this earning potential!

TQPs can be used to count toward qualification for A-List or A-List Preferred status.

You need 35,000 tier qualifying points or 25 qualifying one-way flights per calendar year to qualify for A-List Status. A-List Members enjoy:

  • Priority boarding
  • Priority check-in and security lane access
  • 25% more Rapid Rewards points earned on each flight (A-List Preferred receives a 100% bonus)
  • Free same-day standby
  • Dedicated A-List Member phone line

$149 annual fee

The Southwest Priority Credit Card comes with a $149 annual fee. Compare that to the Premier which has a $99 annual fee and Southwest Plus which comes with a $69 annual fee.

As you can see, it’s very easy to offset the $149 annual fee with the perks offered by this card.

N569WN Southwest Airlines 2002 Boeing 737-7CT serial 33656 / 1246
Photo by Tomás Del Coro.

Not available to all

It’s important to remember the rules for Southwest credit cards that state:

This product is available to you if you do not have a current Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card and have not received a new Cardmember bonus within the last 24 months. This does not apply to Business Card and Employee Credit Card products.

That last sentence is very important since the Business Southwest credit cards are excluded.

That means that if you’re striving for the Companion Pass then one of the best things that you can do is go for the business card and one of the personal cards.

Subject to 5/24

It’s also worth noting that the new Southwest Priority Credit Card is subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule, so if you’ve opened 5 or more credit cards in the past 24 months you won’t be eligible for the card.

Is it worth it?

The Priority Card’s benefits will clearly offset the annual fee for a lot of people, so I think it’s a great travel rewards card for Southwest flyers.

Cover photo by BriYYZ via Flickr.

American Express CID (CVV) Code Guide [2022]

When it comes to finding your security code for your American Express card, things aren’t always so straightforward, especially if you are used to other cards like those from MasterCard and Visa. That’s because American Express does things a little bit differently when it comes to credit card numbers and security codes.

In this article, I’ll break down the difference between an American Express security code and other codes you might find on cards like a Visa or MasterCard.

What is the American Express CID (CVV) code?

The CID (card identification number) is the four digit number located on the front of your American Express card.

Tip: Check out the free app WalletFlo so that you can optimize your credit card spend by seeing the best card to use! You can also track credits, annual fees, and get notifications when you’re eligible for the best cards!

CVV codes overview

CID/CVV codes actually started out in the UK and they were initially an 11 character alpha numeric code. Eventually, the concept was adopted by the UK Association for Payment Clearing Services and they streamlined the code into the three digit code we are familiar with today. MasterCard started to use them in 1997, American Express in 1999, and Visa in 2001.

You might be wondering what exactly is the point of a credit card security code?

These codes can serve a few different purposes.

The main purpose is that these codes confirm with the merchant that you are actually in possession of the card. This is especially important for online purchases where you cannot supply a signature, pin, or any other type of in-person verification.

It’s possible that somebody could take an imprint of your credit card or obtain your credit card number through some other type of means and attempt to fraudulently use your card to purchase something.

If the fraudulent actor is required to supply the security code but they don’t have your card to get the number, then this enhanced security measure can help prevent fraud.

This can work well for a few reasons.

First, your CID is not stored on your EMV chip or magnetic strip. This means that merchants cannot obtain your CID simply by swiping your card, which helps cut down on credit card fraud.

Furthermore, your CID cannot be stored by a merchant when making an online purchase. (This is one reason why you are sometimes required to input your CID when auto populating your credit card account number.)

Since merchants can’t store your security code, in the event of a data breach you don’t have to worry about your security code being taken.

So these numbers can help heighten the security of your account.

Unfortunately, with the prevalence of phishing scams, a lot of fraudsters have been able to obtain CIDs so they are not quite as effective at preventing fraud as they used to be.

Also, not all merchants require CIDs and some fraudsters can simply guess the three or four digit code so these security numbers aren’t full proof.

Where are the credit card security codes located?

The credit card security code on your credit card could be located in a different place depending on the type of credit card that you have.

For American Express cards, as mentioned, the CID is a four digit code found on the front of the card, usually on the right side.

American Express CVV number on card.
American Express CIDs are located on the front of the card.

But for other types of credit card issuers, typically you will find the security code on the back of the credit card where you find other details like the expiration date.

In a lot of cases, the security code will be directly to the right of where you would supply your signature and on some cards the three digit code will actually be inside the signature box/signature panel.

Sometimes the credit card will actually spell out the words “security code” so that you know you are looking at your security code number but in other cases you may simply find a three digit code.

The security digits should not be embossed like your credit card number or name and expiration date. This is to prevent people from obtaining your security code if they are able to take an impression of your card.

Three digit code for American Express cards

One area of confusion that comes in with American Express is what the three digit code on the back of those cards is.

American Express three digit code on back of card.
An example of the three digit security code on an Amex card.

American Express takes extra steps to secure your credit cards by providing you with the security code on the front which is a four digit code and an additional security code on the back which is a three digit code.

When you are asked to provide your CID/CVV (or main security code) for your card, you will input the four digit number on the front of the card.

But other situations will arise when you need to provide the three digit code on the back of an American Express card. Typically, you will only have to do this when dealing with American Express.

For example, if you are trying to redeem points, American Express may ask you to supply the three digit number on the back of your card.

Different types of security codes

In case you didn’t know, there are a few different types of names for the security codes associated with your credit card.

Here are some of the more well-known security codes that you might encounter:

  • CVV Number (card verification value)
  • CSC (card security code)
  • CAV (card authentication value)
  • CVD (card verification data)
  • CID (card identification number)
  • CVC or CVC2 (card verification code)
  • CVV2 (card verification value code, 2nd generation)

Some payment networks like to use specific types of names. For example, American Express refers to the four digit code as the CID and Discover may do the same.

But other payment networks may go with different types of names. For example, MasterCard will refer to it as the CVC and Visa may refer to it as the CVV.

Just remember that when it comes to American Express, anytime you see something mentioned about a security code related to a purchase, it’s almost always asking you about the four digits on the front of your card.

Final word

If you ever need your security code to confirm a purchase for your American Express card, simply use the four digit number on the front of your Amex card.

But be prepared to use the three digit code on the back of the card if you are ever dealing with American Express as they may use that for an additional security feature.

How to Get A Capital One Credit Line Increase (Tips) [2022]

Capital One has some of the best credit cards out there. The only problem is that sometimes you are not given a credit limit big enough for your spending needs (or desires).

When this happens, all is not lost and you still have an opportunity to request a credit line increase.

But there are certain things you need to know about this process in order to maximize your odds of getting approved, especially when it comes to Capital One. 

In this article, I will tell you everything you need to know about getting a Capital One credit line increase, including things like hard pulls/inquiries, phone numbers, and what to do if denied. 

How to request a Capital One credit line increase

You can request a Capital One credit line increase online by going here.

Once you follow that link, click on the link shown below and you will be prompted to sign in to your Capital One account and input the details discussed further below.

After submitting your details, you might receive a decision immediately or your application might go under manual review.

If your application goes under manual review and you’ve signed up for paperless documents, you’ll receive a letter in the Online Document Center (ODC) in three to five days. If you haven’t signed up for paperless documents, you’ll receive a letter via mail within seven to ten days of your request.

Also, note in some cases (usually not common) you might have to send in your information for verification and that can add another seven to ten days to the process.

Tip: Use the app WalletFlo to give you auto-reminders of when to request credit limit increases!

If you want to request a Capital One credit increase via phone then you can call the phone number: 1-800-955-7070. I’m not sure if there’s a backdoor number for credit line increases but that number should do the trick. 

Capital One credit line increase application

After signing into your account, you should see the pop up for entering in your information for a credit line increase request. The pop-up will ask you to input the following details:

  • Total annual income
  • Employment status
  • Occupation
  • Monthly mortgage or rent
  • How much you spend on all of your credit cards each month
  • How much you will spend on your Capital One card in a month
  • Maximum desires line of credit

Keep in mind that in some cases Capital One might request for you to verify the information that you’ve input, so consider that when inputting details like income and rent. 

Income

Income is one of the biggest factors when it comes to credit limit increases. Yet, many people are not aware of how they can include income from other people in order to increase their approval odds. This is known as “accessible income” and you can read more about it here.

Capital One is very transparent about accessible income and here is what they state you can include:

  • Personal income, which is income you have earned, including full-time, part-time, or seasonal jobs, self-employment, interest or dividends, retirement and public assistance.
  • Shared income, which is money from somebody else that is regularly deposited into your individual account or into a joint account that person shares with you. If you are 21 or over, you may also include somebody else’s income that is regularly used to pay your expenses.
  • Optional Income: Alimony, child support or separate maintenance income doesn’t need to be included, unless you want it to be considered.

If you’re applying for a credit line increase for your Spark business credit card, you’ll need to provide your total annual income.

Employment status

You will have the option to choose from the following:

  • Employed: You work full or part time for a company or business you don’t own.
  • Self-Employed: You own a business where you work full-time or part-time.
  • Unemployed: You aren’t currently employed full-time or part-time and don’t own a business, even if you’re collecting unemployment benefits or public assistance.
  • Retired: You no longer work full-time or part-time, but currently have a source of income or are living off of savings or other retirement benefits.
  • Student: You’re enrolled in classes full time (even if you have a full-time job).
  • Other: None of the above apply, or you’re unemployed but do have regular access to income from somebody else.

I don’t have hard data on how these categories affect your odds but obviously choosing something like unemployed, where you may not have an income stream, could raise some red flags to a bank that is trying to lend you credit. So be truthful but also aware of how your chosen options will affect your approval odds.

Occupation

Again, I’m not sure how relevant your occupation truly is to your credit line increase. 

Monthly mortgage or rent

This information is very important to banks because it will tell them more about your monthly financial obligations. If you have a lower income with a high monthly mortgage or rent, then your odds of getting a good credit limit increase will begin to go down.  If you don’t have a monthly mortgage or rent payment, you can enter $0.

Monthly spend

Capital One will ask you to input the estimated monthly spend for all of your credit cards and for the card that you are requesting a credit line increase with.

This is important data for Capital One because they want to see if it will be worth it to grant you a credit line increase based on your estimated spend and how profitable of a customer you will be. 

If your estimated monthly spend is at the same level as your current credit limit, then that will not tell Capital One that you have a crucial need for a credit line increase. However, if your current credit line is only 50% of your proposed spending then that will be a trigger for Capital One that you probably need a credit line increase. 

Maximum desired line

This is where you will enter your maximum desired credit line. So if your current credit limit is $5,000 but you desire a $10,000 dollars credit line, then you will input $10,000. Capital One will approve you for the maximum amount of credit that they can and then you will have an opportunity to choose a lower credit limit if you wish. 

Eligibility

Certain people will not be eligible for a credit line increase with Capital One. 

Three months old

If your account is not at least three months old, chances are you will not be eligible for a credit line increase with Capital One. Many other banks have minimum time requirements and it is often a good rule of thumb to wait six months until after you have been approved for a credit card to request a credit line increase. 

Change in credit limit over last six months

If you have had a credit line increase or decrease in the last six months, you will likely not be eligible for a credit line increase. This includes if you merge/consolidate Capital One credit card accounts, so keep that in mind. 

At the same time, if you were denied for a credit line increase, you don’t have to wait six months. In that case, you might put in a request every 90 days or so. 

Secured credit cards

If you have a secured credit card you may not be eligible for a credit limit increase.

Automatic increases

There is something known as the “Capital One Credit Steps program” that offers you a credit limit increase after you make a certain amount of on-time payments.

Typically, you’ll start off with a very low credit line (maybe of like $300 with a card like the Capital One Platinum Credit Card) and then the credit limit will be automatically increased if you meet the requirements. 

Tips for a Capital One credit limit increase

If you want to increase your odds of being eligible for a Capital One credit line increase, there are certain things that you can try.

Spend big on your card

One of the biggest tips I have is for you to put spend on your credit card. And by spend, I don’t just mean buying a stick of gum every five months.

If you want a credit limit increase, Capital One will want to see that you are using their credit card on a regular basis. So in the months leading up to your request, you should be putting as much spend on your card as you possibly can. 

Pay off a high balance

Another factor that Capital One is going to look at, is how often do you pay off high balance. For example, it will look really good if you constantly run up your credit line up to 80% or 90% and then pay off that entire balance for each month.

This is the best way to show Capital One that you truly need a credit line increase based on your spending and this is something that other banks often look at as well. It might also help give you a little nudge if you set up auto pay to pay off your balance in full.

Merge your credit limits

Some people struggle to get a credit line increases and so what they do is simply combine credit limits. So for example if you had a Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card and a Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card , you might be able to move the credit over from your Quicksilver over to your Venture card. You find many online reports of people doing this like this person who combined a $6,000 and $10,000 credit limit. 

Update: Capital One might be restricting merged credit limits now.

How much of an increase to request?

You might be wondering how much of a credit line increase you should request. Should you go big and ask for something like a 200% increase or should you play it more conservatively and go with the request around 25% of your credit limit? 

I typically recommend for people to request an increase of around 25% to 35% of their current credit limit. However, if you have a low credit line such as $1,000 or $2,000 then you might want to go much higher than that. I will say that based on my research and personal experience, Capital One seems to be one of the slower-moving issuers when it comes to credit line increases. 

If you make your request online and want a lower amount, you’ll be able to tell them the amount you would like before accepting the increase. So my advice would be to go higher rather than risk going lower. 

Capital One should NOT conduct a hard pull

Capital One will not conduct a hard pull on your credit report when requesting a credit line increase.

What to do if denied for a credit line increase

If you are not approved for a Capital One credit line increase then there are some steps you might want to take. The first step is to review your denial letter, and see the reasons for why you were denied a credit line increase. In some cases, you can actively work to address these things or simply wait for the necessary amount of time to pass.

Here is some insight into what the different letters might mean.

Your Capital One account is too new

This just means that you need to wait at least three months to request a credit line increase. Typically, you should wait approximately 6 months to make your credit line increase request.

There has recently been a change to the credit line on this account

This means that you have waited less than six months from the time of the last change to your credit line. Again, you must wait at least half a year to make your request.

This Capital One account was recently past due

If you have made a late payment in the last 12 months, chances are you will not get approved for a credit limit increase. Also, this might depend on the severity of your late payment. If you miss a late payment by 30 days you won’t have to wait as long as someone who missed a payment by 60 days.

You can use Capital One Credit Wise to check your credit report to see if you have late payments.

Your average monthly payment has been too low

Capital One may not want to increase your credit limit if you are not going to be able to pay off your balance. If you see this reason and your rejection letter, it just means that you were not paying off enough of your monthly bill. Ideally, you would be running a lot of charges on your card each month and paying them off 100%. If you are only making minimum payments then your odds of getting an increase go down dramatically.

Recent usage of this account’s existing credit line has been too low

As pointed out for, Capital One wants to see that you are using a lot of your credit line. Try to come close to maxing it out each month and paying the entire balance off (ideally before the card reports your balance to your credit report). 

The credit reporting agency has reported a recent credit delinquency

This just means that you messed up somewhere and have a late payment with another creditor on your credit report. Again, if this delinquency came in the last 12 months, you may have difficult issues trying to get a credit line increase. 

Your current credit score is too low. Please see the back of this letter for determining factors.

This is pretty straightforward, it just means that your credit score is too low. You should look into different ways to increase your credit score if this happens. Read more about these rejection reasons here. 

Have a good reason for requesting a higher limit

Although it is not always necessarily required for you to have a legitimate reason for requesting a credit limit increase (especially when doing it online) it won’t ever hurt your odds to have a good reason. A common reason for wanting a higher credit limit is if you have a major purchase coming such as a:

  • Honeymoon
  • Wedding
  • Family vacation, etc. 

This just helps to get the bank added confidence and assurance that this is a planned out move and that you have thought out your request. You could also just tell the bank you’re trying to improve your credit score, since that’s a pretty reasonable reason for wanting more credit. 

Credit line increases with other issuers

You might also be interested in reading about getting credit limit increased with other issuers. 

Final word

Overall, the process for getting a Capital One credit line increase is pretty simple. You first need to make sure that you are putting substantial spend on your card and ideally you would be paying off a high percentage of your credit line in full every month.

Make sure that all of your employment/income information is up-to-date and that you’re including as much income as necessary. And finally, be sure to wait the sufficient amount of time necessary to get an increase.

How to Downgrade the Chase Sapphire Preferred [2022]

At some point you might consider downgrading, product-changing, or cancelling your Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

There are a number of factors that you want to consider before deciding which route to take, however. 

Here’s everything you need to know about how to downgrade the Chase Sapphire Preferred. (For the full review of the Sapphire Preferred click here.)

How do you downgrade the Chase Sapphire Preferred?

You can downgrade or product change your Sapphire Preferred card by calling the number on the back of your credit card or by sending in a secured message.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Downgrade and product change options

With the Sapphire Preferred, you have a number of options to downgrade or product change your card to. But there are also some cards that you cannot switch to.

No co-branded cards

Chase only allows you to product change your Sapphire Preferred to other Chase “house” cards.

This means that you can’t product change a Sapphire Preferred to a co-branded credit card like the Chase Southwest card or the Chase Hyatt card, for example.

downgrade the Chase Sapphire Preferred
There are a hand full of product change/downgrade possibilities for the Sapphire Preferred.

Downgrade to a no-annual fee Sapphire

You can downgrade the Chase Sapphire Preferred to the no-annual fee version of the Sapphire. This is the one Sapphire card you can’t apply for online or even in-branch and can only get via a downgrade/product change.

This card will still earn 2X on dining and travel but you won’t get the full set of benefits and you’ll be subject to foreign transaction fees.

Also, one of the biggest perks that you lose is the ability to transfer your Ultimate Rewards to travel partners, so keep that in mind.

There should be no minimum time period you have to wait to downgrade your Sapphire Preferred to this card.

However, occasionally reps might tell you that you must wait 12 months to downgrade. If that happens, you may want to call back again and speak with another rep.

Product change to a Freedom card

You can product change (essentially downgrade) your Sapphire Preferred card to the Chase Freedom Flex or the Chase Freedom Unlimited.

The Chase Freedom Flex earns 5X the points on rotating quarterly categories, such as groceries, gas, and dining, while the Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5X on all purchases.

These cards also earn 3X on dining and drug stores in addition to earning 5X on the Chase Travel Portal.

Both of the Freedom cards come with no annual fee but you will once again lose your ability to transfer your points to travel partners.

Also, note that you will be required to wait one year to product change the Sapphire Preferred to a Freedom Card.

You can sometimes get around this by first downgrading your Sapphire Preferred to the no annual fee version and then product changing to a Freedom card. (These 12-month restrictions are a result of The Credit CARD Act of 2009 and not specific to Chase.)

Multiple Freedom cards?

It’s worth noting that Chase will allow you to hold multiple Freedom cards (even the same type of Freedom).

So if you already have a Chase Freedom, you could still product change your Sapphire Preferred to the Freedom so that you end up with two Freedom cards in your wallet.

Chase Freedom product change
The Chase Freedom card

Sometimes people receive pushback when trying to do this, however.

If a representative will not allow you to product change because that will leave you with two of the same Freedom cards be sure to hang up and call back again to speak with another representative.

Eventually, you will probably find someone who will do it for you.

Product change to a Slate

You could also try to product change to the Chase Slate, though if you’re trying to earn rewards, that’s probably not a great option since it doesn’t earn Ultimate Rewards.

The main perks of the Slate are its 0% interest and no fee balance transfer perks. If you product change to it, you’ll still receive balance transfer offers but they won’t be as lucrative as the welcome offer with no balance transfer fee.

5/24 Rule

All of the Chase house cards are subject to the 5/24 Rule, so if you have opened up 5 or more accounts in the past 24 months, you won’t be able to get them (subject to some exceptions).

This is why product changing is so important because it’s often the only way to get some of these very valuable credit cards (for those who already hold Chase credit cards).

Upgrade Sapphire Preferred to the Sapphire Reserve?

You can also upgrade your Sapphire Preferred to the Sapphire Reserve.

Since the Sapphire Reserve is a Visa Infinite card, Chase might require you to have at least a $10,000 balance to convert.

Also, you’ll usually be required to wait one year before you can upgrade from the Sapphire Preferred to the Sapphire Reserve.

When you should cancel your Sapphire card

Because there are so many options for product changes and downgrades, you rarely need to cancel a Sapphire credit card. However, there is at least one situation when it would make sense.

Chase recently implemented a new rule which does not allow you to receive two Sapphire products at once.

In addition, you must wait 24 months from the time of receiving a bonus on a Sapphire card in order to earn an additional bonus from another Sapphire card.

This means that you will need to cancel your Sapphire card or product change it to a Freedom if you were going to try earn an additional sign-up bonus with another Sapphire card.

Tip: Check out the free app WalletFlo so that you can optimize your credit card spend by seeing the best card to use! You can also track credits, annual fees, and get notifications when you’re eligible for the best cards!

Downgrading Sapphire Preferred FAQ

Can you get the sign-up bonus when product changing?

No, Chase will not allow you to earn the sign-up bonus when you decide to product change a card.

Does Chase pull your credit when product changing?

No, Chase should not pull your credit whenever you product change or downgrade a new credit card, so your credit score should not feel the effect of any hard pull.

Does product changing count as a new account?

No, when you product change, you’ll keep the same card number, account opening date, and your credit limits should remain unchanged.

Thus, changing from a card like the Sapphire Preferred to a Freedom should have no affect on your credit score.

Can you product change the Sapphire Preferred to a business card?

No, Chase will not allow you to product change from a personal credit card to a business credit card (such as the Chase Ink Business Cash).

Will I get the annual fee refunded if I product change?

If you product change your card within 60 days of paying the annual fee, you’ll be refunded 100%. If you product change after 60 days, you’ll receive a prorated refund.

Note that this is different from cancelling a Chase card. If you cancel a Chase card within 30 days of the annual fee hitting you’ll be refunded but if you wait longer than 30 days, you won’t get a prorated refund.

Final word

Downgrading or product changing the Chase Sapphire Preferred can be a smart move depending on your goals. Always think about how these moves will affect your ability to transfer points to travel partners since that’s one of the main perks you can lose.

 

Amex Credit Limit Increase Guide: (How to Request) [2022]

Getting an Amex credit limit increase is pretty straight forward. However, there are a few things you should know like how big of an increase you should request and how long you need to wait before requesting your increase.

This article will walk you through everything you need to know about American Express credit limit increase requests.

What is an Amex credit limit increase?

An Amex credit limit increase is an easy (and sometimes instant) way to increase the spending limit on your credit card by increasing the amount of available credit you have access to.

Tip: Use the app WalletFlo to give you auto-reminders of when to request credit limit increases!

Why would you want an increased credit limit?

There are a few reasons why you might want to increase your credit limit.

Increased spend power

An increased credit limit has the obvious benefit of increasing your spending power.

With a higher credit limit, you will obviously be able to make larger purchases and spend more on your card. This is great if you have spending discipline and will not be tempted to spend more than you can pay back.

Increasing your credit score

Getting a credit limit increase is also a great way to decrease your utilization and therefore raise your credit score. Utilization is 30% of your FICO credit score and it is based on how much of your total credit limit that you are using.

So for example if you have a $10,000 total credit limit and you are using $5,000 of that $10,000 limit, then your utilization is 50%. You typically want your utilization to be under 30% although I recommend to keep it under 10%.

By getting a credit limit increase you can decrease the percentage of your credit limit that you are using (i.e., your utilization) and therefore lower your utilization and improve your credit score. This is one of the easiest ways to instantly boost your credit score.

How do you get an Amex credit limit increase?

To request an Amex credit limit increase, log-in to your online account and click on “Account Services.”

Next click on “Increase Your Credit Limit.”

Requesting a credit limit increase online is easy.

You’ll be taken to a screen where you’ll need to enter in details to process your request.

Verify your card

On this screen, first verify that you’re requesting a credit limit for the right Amex card. You’ll see the name of the card and the last five digits of the card in the top left corner of the screen, as well as in the middle of the screen.

Enter your new proposed credit limit

You’ll be able to see your current credit limit for that card and then there will be a field for you to enter in your proposed new credit limit. Note that you are entering the amount for your desired total credit line for that card not the amount of the credit limit increase.

So for example if you have a $5,000 credit limit and you would like it increased to $10,000 then you should enter $10,000 in that field.

Related: What Does Amex’s “Member Since” Date Really Mean? 

Verify your income

You’ll also be asked to verify your annual income. You usually will not be required to submit verifying documents for your income but once you start requesting higher credit limits, the odds of being forced to send in tax documents increase, so keep that in mind. This is especially true if you don’t have a long history with American Express.

(Typically, you may need to start submitting documents when your credit limits approach $25,000 and beyond.)

Also, note that income includes wages, retirement, investments, rental properties, etc. Alimony, child support, or separate maintenance need not be revealed if you do not wish to rely upon it.

If you are 21 years or older you can include all income available to you. This is known as “accessible income” and you can read more about that here. 

When you are finished, click “Continue” at the bottom of the page.

You might be instantly approved for a credit limit increase or you might have to wait to hear back from Amex.

How soon can I increase a credit limit increase?

You can request a credit limit increase once your account has been opened for at least 60 days. There are some reports of people having to wait 90 days now so you might need to wait a little longer if you want to be safe. 

However, if you’ve had a card with American Express for at least six months, you might be able to request a credit limit increase as soon as you’ve been approved for your new card — some have been able to request a credit limit increase within 60 days of opening their cards.

How much of a credit limit increase can I get?

Typically, the maximum you’ll get from a credit limit increase is 3X your current credit limit. You can find many reports online of customers receiving 3X increases on their credit limit (or near 3X increases). So if you have a $5,000 credit limit, the max you will likely be allowed is a $15,000 credit limit (or a $10,000 increase).

Generally speaking, it is better to ask for more than you need because a lot of times banks will meet you in the middle. So if you have a $2,000 credit limit and you would like to be increased to $4,000 then I would probably ask for an increase to a $6,000 credit limit, while being completely prepare to only get an increase to $4,000.

How often can I get credit limit increases?

If you were approved for a credit limit increase you can try to request another increase six months later but note that getting approved for a second credit limit increase is often more difficult the second time around.

If you’ve had a substantial rise in your income then you’ll probably stand a much better chance of having success. So be sure to update your income appropriately when you make your second request.

What Amex cards can I request a credit limit increase for?

Credit limit increases for charge cards

Credit limit increases are for credit cards and not charge cards. In case you are not familiar, American Express has several cards that they issue known as “charge cards.”

These are cards that don’t have a preset spend limit and are intended for you to pay off the entire balance each month.

Examples of American Express charge cards are:

The interesting thing about charge cards is that sometimes American Express grants something called “Pay Over Time.” This is a perk that allows you to carry a balance on a charge card much like you could carry a balance on a credit card.

With Pay Over Time, you get an “effective credit limit” aka a “spend limit” and that spend limit can grow over time. The best way to increase the credit/spend limit for a charge card is to simply gradually increase your spend over time. Eventually, American Express will note your spending habits and recognize that you are in need of a spend limit increase.

You can also pre-pay your purchases on a charge card and that will free up your credit limit for that card. So for example, if you have been limited to $10,000 for your spending limit, you could make a $5,000 payment before you make any purchase and your new effective credit limit would be $15,000.

Credit limit increases for personal and business credit cards

Credit limit increases can be requested for both personal and business credit cards. Here are some popular Amex cards that you might request a credit limit increase for:

  • American Express Cash Magnet Card
  • Amex EveryDay Credit Card from American Express
  • The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express
  • Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
  • Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
  • Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express
  • Gold Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card from American Express
  • Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
  • The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
  • Platinum Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card from American Express
  • SimplyCash Plus Business Credit Card from American Express

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Amex Credit Limit Increase FAQ

What is the 7 to 10 day message?

After requesting your credit limit increase, you might receive a 7 to 10 day message. This often means that you will be denied your requested credit limit increase but not always.  

If you’d like to call in to check on the status of your credit limit increase you can call 800-567-1083 or 866-314-0237. They may or may not be able to tell you conclusively about the decision.

What if I’m denied a credit limit increase?

If Amex does not honor your request for a credit limit increase, all of your hope is not lost. You’ll just need to wait 90 days to try the process again.

They should tell you why your request was denied and those reasons will usually be the same type of reasons for denying a normal credit card application (e.g., too many hard inquiries, too high of utilization, etc.). So pay attention to why you were denied and try to adjust those factors before you apply again.

Do you get a hard pull with an Amex credit limit increase?

Amex will perform only a soft-pull on your credit report when you request a credit limit increase.

This is great because a hard pull would result in a temporary drop in your credit score but a soft pull will have no effect on your credit score. Because of this, many people request these credit limit increases without thinking too much about it.

Will Amex automatically increase credit limits?

Yes, Amex, like some other issuers, will automatically increase credit limits from time to time. If you regularly use a lot of your credit limit and then pay off that balance, you might be increasing your odds of getting an auto credit limit increase.

The trick here is to come very close to your credit limit each month and pay off that entire balance. Spending habits like that send a clear message to the bank that you need more credit and that you can responsibly manage your credit by paying off your balance each month.

Is it worth it to request a credit limit increase?

Because Amex will not conduct a hard pull on your credit report, you really have nothing to lose by requesting a credit limit increase.

The only people who have anything to worry about are those people that fabricate their income because Amex could request them to verify that income and that could lead to an interesting situation where credit limits could be lowered.

So it goes without saying, never lie about your income on a credit card application. 

Do other issuers allow you to request credit limit increases?

Yes, many other issuers will allow you to request a credit limit increase and you can read about their policies below:

Barclays
Capital One
Chase
Citibank

Final word

Amex credit limit increases are easy to request and I would recommend people consider getting them in order to increase their spending power and also lower their utilization. Just make sure you’re aware of all of the timing restrictions since there are several of them.

How to Cancel American Express Cards (Avoid These Mistakes!) [2022]

Sometimes you get to a point where you just no longer need a credit card. In those instances, you might be very tempted to proceed with canceling your card. However, before you choose to cancel your card you need to be mindful of some factors.

In this article, I will show you how to cancel your American Express cards, but I will also provide you with some tips and tricks to think about before you pull the trigger on canceling a card. In many cases, you will be better off not canceling a card so you definitely want to check out this article before taking any action.

How to cancel American Express cards

There are different ways that you can cancel your American Express credit cards. I will explain each of these methods below but make sure that you keep reading to get some insight and tips on why you should not cancel your cards in certain instances.

How to cancel via phone

One of the easiest methods to cancel your cards is to simply call the phone number on the back of your card. You can also call the customer service phone number 1(800)528-4800 but you may need to have all of your card details with you. 

Cancel American Express cards online?

You cannot cancel American Express cards online through your account. However, it is possible to cancel your cards via chat.

Cancel American Express cards via chat

Simply log in to your account and then pull up the chat feature which you can find in the bottom right corner of your screen. After a secure connection is established, you can enter in the reason for your chat which in this case would be canceling a card.

Chat feature showing how to cancel

As you type in cancel you should see “cancel a card” automatically populate and once you select that reason, a representative will appear in the chat and will want to inquire about what card you would like to cancel.

Most likely, they will send you some disclosure information that you need to read about the closure of your account and then once you agree to the terms, your card will be closed.

Re-opening a canceled Amex card

In the event that you change your mind and realize that you actually did not want to cancel your American Express card you still may have a way to re-open the card.

If you have canceled the card within the last 30 days, American Express will likely allow you to re-open that card. However, you will most likely have to pay a $25 fee in order to reinstate the card. Worth noting, this reinstatement fee will not apply towards your annual fee.

Losing your Membership Rewards

In order for you to keep your Membership Rewards you will need to have at least one active Membership Rewards earning card. If you fail to keep at least one of these cards open then you will lose everything.

One of the best strategies for doing this is to open up the Amex EveryDay card which has no annual fee but still earns transferable Membership Rewards. This way, you never have to worry about paying an annual fee just to keep your points alive.

This Amex EveryDay card is special because it is one of the only cards that allows you to transfer points out to travel partners while not having to pay an annual fee. 

Preserving your credit score

Whenever you cancel a credit card, there is a chance that you could hurt your credit score in a couple of ways. The most immediate way that you could impact your credit score is via your utilization.

Utilization

Utilization is how much of your overall credit limit that you are currently using. So for example if you had an overall credit limit of $50,000 and you were currently in debt $25,000, then you would have a utilization of 50%. Generally, you want to keep your utilization at at least 30% or below although I recommend to keep it at 5% to 10%. 

When you cancel your card you are removing credit lines and that could increase your utilization and thus hurt your credit score. So you really need to be mindful about what effect that your cancellation will have on your available credit. 

Something that you can do to prevent the damage done by this is to ask American Express if you can transfer credit from one credit card to another. In that case, you can transfer a good portion of that credit line and keep it alive so that you only end up losing a small amount of available credit.

If you are ever canceling an American Express card with a very high credit limit, this is usually a very smart move.

Credit history

Another way that your credit score can be impacted is by lowering the average age of your accounts. Credit history makes up 15% of your FICO score, and the most influential factor of that is the age of your oldest account. This is why you never want to cancel the oldest account that you have.

Currently, FICO allows a canceled account to continue to age for several years even after it is canceled. But after that, it will fall off your credit report entirely. So while your average age of accounts might not be immediately impacted by a cancellation, down the road your credit score will be impacted by it.

So be sure to have a long-term perspective when it comes to canceling credit cards. Otherwise, you could be setting yourself up for trouble down the line.

Payment history

The most important factor in your FICO score is payment history and it makes it 35% of your credit score.

By keeping your card open and making on-time payments every month you are able to continue to build up your payment history. So just keep it in mind that if you cancel your card you no longer will be able to improve this factor with that card. 

If you have late payments currently on your credit report and you don’t have many other cards with good payment history to help “dilute” those late payments, then you should highly consider keeping your card active.

Canceling cards can have a big impact on your credit score.

Avoiding annual fees with retention offers

A huge driver for why people cancel their cards is because they don’t want to pay the annual fee. This is really understandable for cards that have annual fees in the $200-$500 range. But did you know that you can avoid these annual fees sometimes or at least get them effectively cut down?

You can do this by getting something known as a retention offer. These are offers that go out and are usually based on things like your spend in a given year and also your history with American Express.

So let’s say that you have put $50,000 worth of spend on a Platinum Card and you have had that card for a handful of years.

In that case, you could expect to get some kind of offer with the annual fee waived, partially waived, or given an offer of Membership Rewards.

Sometimes you might have to put additional spend on your card to earn the Membership Rewards but other times they will just give them to you outright.

You don’t always have to put a significant amount of spend on the card to get a retention offer, though. But generally the more spend you put on it the better your odds of getting a retention offer. Click here to find data points on past retention offers.

To inquire about a retention offer the easiest way is to just simply call the number on the back of your card and let them know that you were thinking about canceling your card but wanted to see if there are any incentives to prevent you from canceling.

Some people just out right ask for retention offers and you can do that if you feel comfortable doing that but other times you might have more luck going with a more subtle approach. 

A quick phone call could result in a waived annual fee!

Canceling before the annual fee

I highly suggest that you avoid canceling your American Express cards before you have been hit with the annual fee. For example, some people like to cancel American Express cards right after they receive a welcome bonus.

Doing this could really hurt your relationship with American Express.

It could potentially lead to your account being under review which means that your earnings in other cards could be at risk for getting shutdown. Also, you may not be eligible for other bonuses in the future if you partake in this. 

Getting refunded for the annual fee

If you cancel the card within 30 days after the statement containing your annual fee, you can get a full refund. Keep in mind that American Express no longer prorates annual fees if you wait until after 30 days to cancel. They can be very strict about this timeframe so even waiting one day longer could put you at risk for paying that annual fee.

Tip: If you product change outside of the 30 day window you likely will still get a prorated refund. So product changing can be a smart way to save yourself on the annual fee if you have decided to no longer use that card after that 30 day window.

Downgrading

Rather than cancel a card you might simply just want to downgrade the card. This is one of the easiest methods for avoiding an annual fee and it very simple to do.

For example, if you had a card like the Amex EveryDay Preferred and you wanted to avoid the annual fee you could simply downgrade to the Amex EveryDay. 

One issue with changing to a different credit card though is that you could remove yourself from eligibility for the cards welcome bonus. Another thing to note is that you cannot downgrade or product change between personal and small business cards. 

If you would like automated assistance when trying to figure out downgrade options, then I would create a free account with the new credit card tool WalletFlo. Once you input the cards you have, you can see options for upgrading and downgrading and the corresponding annual fees. It’s very handy and easy to use.

Charge cards

American Express is known for its charge cards which are cards that don’t have a set credit line and instead require you to pay them off every month (although you can enroll in programs like Amex Pay Over Time). 

If you have American Express charge cards there are some additional considerations. You should not have to worry about utilization because most credit reports do not factor in charge card credit lines into your utilization. However, your average age of accounts can still be affected in the same way with charge cards. 

Something that you should know about the charge cards is that you cannot convert them into credit cards.

So for example if you had the American Express Gold Card and you wanted to convert that into the Amex EveryDay Card that is not possible. Instead, you will need to downgrade from one charge card to another charge card.

If you are looking to downgrade a charge card then a popular option will be to look at the American Express Green Card — if you were looking to avoid the higher annual fee of the Platinum Card or the Gold Card then this can be a good option.

Upgrading

If you are thinking about closing a card, the last thing you probably want to do is upgrade the card.

But in some cases you can get some very lucrative offers for upgrading your cards with American Express. For example, many people get special offers to upgrade the Hilton Surpass to the Hilton Aspire and they get a great bonus to go along with that. 

Sometimes you can end up coming up with a lot of extra value that will easily offset any annual fee that you would be paying. So don’t forget to entertain the possibility of upgrading if you are on the brink of canceling a card.

Total number of credit cards

Finally, American Express will limit many people to a total of four credit cards although some people are able to get more.

In some cases, you may need to cancel a credit card so that your total number of cards will be under four in order to make yourself eligible for another credit card.

In this case, you would likely want to consider canceling your newest card first so that your oldest card can continue to age.

But in some cases, you may be getting so much value from your newest cards that you don’t want to cancel those. So it often comes down to a balancing act of: how much value are you getting from your cards versus how much value do you think you will get from the age of your account?

Final word

There’s a lot to consider before choosing to cancel American Express cards. Basically you want to make sure that you have considered the following:

  • You are not losing your Membership Rewards
  • Impact on your credit score
  • You have inquired about retention offers
  • You know your product change and downgrade potential
  • You’ve checked about upgrade offers

Chase Sapphire Reserve Lounge Access Policy Explained [2022]

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of the hottest premium credit cards with a number of solid perks, including Priority Pass airport lounge access. I’ve used its Priority Pass membership a countless number of times and it is still one of the few cards that I always keep in my wallet.

But what exactly can you expect with Chase Sapphire Reserve lounge access and what access do guests get? 

This article will explain everything you need to know about the Sapphire Reserve’s lounge access policy for cardmembers and guests. I’ll also show you how to find a list of Priority Pass lounges in the US and around the globe and offer up some alternative options for lounge access.

What is the Chase Sapphire Reserve airport lounge access policy?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers Priority Pass Select airport lounge access for you and up to two guests.

Priority Pass offers different types of memberships but the type of membership given to Chase Sapphire Reserve holders is Priority Pass Select, which is essentially the equivalent of “Prestige” which would normally cost you $400 and wouldn’t even allow free guests. So this is an extremely valuable perk just in terms of its monetary value.

Considering that the annual fee for the Reserve is $550, and that you can use the $300 travel credit and $60 DoorDash credit to offset that annual fee down to $190, it is like getting a $400 membership for well under $200 (assuming you take advantage of other perks of the credit card).

Chase Sapphire Reserve lounge access.
Priority Pass membership tiers.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

What are Priority Pass lounges?

Priority Pass is a global network of airport lounges that number over 1,300. You can search for a list of Priority Pass lounges in various cities here.

Priority Pass lounges vary in quality and services offered.

Some Priority Pass lounges might offer clean showers, hot food items, complimentary alcohol, modern decor, spacious multi-floor seating, and inspiring views of the tarmac. At these lounges you will be loving life and at peace with the universe (even with flight delays).

Other Priority Pass lounges may consist of merely a large, dim room with canned sodas, chips, and some painfully slow internet. At these lounges you will not be living life and not be at peace with the universe (and yes, flight delays will have you questioning your life choices).

Still, even though the quality differs among Priority Pass lounges, I’ve been overall pleased with my Chase Sapphire Reserve lounge access, especially while traveling abroad. I’ve visited some very nice lounges that have offered me some crucial rest when I needed it the most. The key is to always do research so that you know if you will have a lounge at the airport you are traveling through.

Bidvest Premier Lounge in Cape Town, South Africa.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Priority Pass guest policy

The Chase Sapphire Reserve was unique when it was released in that it offered Priority Pass access to the cardholder and to every guest traveling on the same itinerary.

Yes, you could walk into a lounge with 10 other people and everybody could get in as long as you were all on the same travel itinerary. So as you can probably imagine people abused this benefit to death. Literally.

Chase ended up revising their policy so that card holders were limited to only two guests per visit, which is the current policy. 

It’s worth noting that most lounges have their own policy when it comes to allowing folks in. Typically, they will follow the guest policy attached to your membership but at times, “due to capacity,” they could limit the entrance of guests.

Heck, they could even turn you, the cardmember, around and not allow you to enter the lounge if they are too full. Some lounges will have dedicated hours when Priority Pass members are not given access so watch out for those, too.

Chase Sapphire Reserve lounge access
The Club Lounge at MCO.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Priority Pass restaurant access

There are quite a few restaurants that are part of the Priority Pass lounge network. At these restaurants, you can get a credit of around $30 that you can use toward food or beverages which is quite nice.

Some cards with Priority Pass do not allow you to receive these credits for these restaurants but with the Chase Sapphire Reserve you definitely get these credits.

How it works is that you scan your Priority Pass card or app and then scan your boarding pass at the beginning of your meal. Sometimes the server will ask you if you are a Priority Pass member but other times you can just call it to their attention.

They should clarify the amount of your dining credit and then you simply can order whatever you want and apply that credit to food or drinks. The only thing you can’t apply the credit to is tips.

Hitting up these restaurants is great at airports that don’t have lounges or even at airports that do have lounges but are overran with other guests.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Priority Pass restaurant in Tucson Airport.

Accessing arrival lounges or lounges upon arrival

Some Priority Pass lounges will allow you to access the lounge when you arrive at the airport so you don’t always have to be departing.

For example, let’s say that you fly from Seattle to Los Angeles. When you arrive in Los Angeles, it is possible that you could get access to a Priority Pass lounge. Lounges may not always allow folks to enter when they are arriving so you can’t always count on this.

Then there are also arrival lounges — these are lounges that are dedicated to passengers arriving at the airport and of course you will be allowed in if that lounge is a part of the Priority Pass network.

Priority Pass arrivals lounge at SIN.

Do authorized users get Priority Pass?

Each authorized user will get their own Priority Pass so they can get access into airport lounges along with two additional guests. The annual fee for each authorized user is $75 so you could consider this a heavily discounted Priority Pass membership.

This is the most valuable benefit for Chase Sapphire Reserve authorized users, though there are some other perks as well.

How to sign-up for Priority Pass

You cannot forget to activate your Priority Pass membership after you get approved for the Sapphire Reserve because it does not automatically get activated. If you forget to activate, not only will you not have a lounge membership but you will officially be a Reserve newb.

Once you have your Sapphire Reserve online account setup, log-in and go to Ultimate Rewards.

Form there, click on “Card Benefits” and then the “Activate Now” button. That will activate the benefit for you and any authorized users you have added to your account.

Your membership will remain active until you close the card.

If you add your authorized user after activating the card for yourself, just call in to Chase and let them know what you’re trying to do.

Remember to bring your Priority Pass Card!

Merely holding the Sapphire Reserve credit card in your possession will not be enough to get you access into the lounge. For this reason, I always advise people to bring along their physical Priority Pass card which gets mailed out to you.

And although it’s possible to gain access with the app (“the digital membership card”), not all lounges will take the digital card. And there is always the chance that their computers are not working properly or something along those lines.

Here is what Priority Pass states about bringing your card:

All lounges accept the physical membership card and the majority of our 1300+ lounges also accept the Digital Membership Card. To avoid any disappointment, we recommend you always carry both cards with you when traveling.

So I always try to keep my physical card on me when traveling. It’s just good practice.

Chase Sapphire Reserve lounge access

What if I forget my card?

If for some reason you forget to carry your Priority Pass card with you, you can charge the lounge access on your Sapphire Reserve and Chase might reimburse you for the expense. Keyword “might.”

I’ve been told they will do this, but I would not 100% rely on this (especially more than once) because this sounds like something where your mileage could vary.

If you do end up doing this, simply call the number on the back of your card or send them a secure message explaining to them how you misplaced or forgot your card and how you would like to request a reimbursement for the lounge entrance fee. And then cross your fingers.

Other lounge memberships

It’s worth noting that only approximately 5% of Priority Pass lounges are located inside the US. Yes, you heard that right only 5%.

And while there are more Priority Pass lounges popping up all the time, many feel that the domestic lounges are much too crowded.

Therefore, if you want to maximize domestic airport lounge access with credit cards, you might want to consider some other options. Below are a couple of options that will have you relaxing stress-free in some great lounges all around the US.

American Express Centurion Lounges

My favorite lounges to visit when traveling in the United States are the American Express Centurion Lounges. These are definitely some of the nicer domestic lounges and you can typically find the following features:

  • Hot food items
  • Complementary quality cocktails
  • Showers
  • Quality service
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Swanky decor
  • Some even have spas

You can only get access to these lounges if you have a qualifying card.

Qualifying cards include the American Express Platinum Card, the Business Platinum Card, and the Centurion Card, also known as the American Express Black Card.

The Platinum Card comes with a Priority Pass membership but it does not offer you access to Priority Pass restaurants in airports which is a bit of a bummer (you get a host of other lounge memberships though).

The annual fee for the Platinum Card is $695 which is expensive but you can offset this annual fee with several credits like the $200 airline credit, $200 Uber credit, and $100 Saks credit. Also, the Platinum Card is simply loaded with additional benefits and you can read more about those here.

Hong Kong Centurion Lounge.

Co-branded credit cards

Maybe you are more of the loyal type and interested in getting airport lounge access with just one airline. For example, maybe you live next to a United hub and frequently pass through that airport. In that case, maybe you would be interested in getting a United Club membership?

Well, you are in luck because you can use cards like the United Club Card to get an annual membership into United Club lounges.

Other airlines like Delta and American Airlines also have credit cards that will offer you lounge access.

Sapphire Reserve airport lounge FAQ

What are Priority Pass lounges?

Priority Pass lounges are part of a global network of airport lounges that number over 1,300. At these lounges, you might find clean showers, hot food items, complimentary alcohol, modern decor, and inspiring views of the tarmac.

How many guests can you bring into a Priority Pass lounge?

You are allowed to bring in two additional guests for free.

Do you get access to Priority Pass restaurant credits?

Yes, you can often receive a $30 credit that you can use toward food or beverages.

Do you have to activate your lounge membership?

Yes, you will have to activate your Priority Pass membership after you get approved for the Sapphire Reserve.

Final word

Overall, the Chase Sapphire Reserve lounge access is solid in that you get Priority Pass Select along with restaurant access and guest access. But, if I were primarily concerned with lounges, I’d look heavily into the Platinum Card since it offers broader access to other lounges.

9 Reasons Business Credit Cards are Worth It

Advertiser Disclosure: UponArriving has partnered with affiliate partners and may receive a commission from card issuers. UponArriving does not display all credit card offers and affiliate relationships may impact how offers are presented. 

A lot of people don’t realize the enormous value that they can get from business credit cards.

Sure, there’s the obvious value from those lucrative welcome bonuses they offer but the value extends well beyond earning lost of miles and points. 

This article will take you through nine different ways that business credit cards are worth it and why you should consider going for them.  

1. Great welcome bonuses

Business credit cards often offer higher welcome bonuses than personal cards.

For example, with the Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card you can earn 100,000 Ultimate Rewards after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months.

Compare that to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offering 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months.

By earning these huge welcome bonuses, you’ll be able to accumulate high balances in various reward programs quickly and be able to take advantage of those amazing business class and first class redemptions more often.

The drawback is they that they do often require more spend to hit these welcome bonuses so that’s something you have to be on the lookout for.

2. They don’t report to your personal credit report

Many business credit cards do not report to your personal credit report. For example, small business credit cards from Chase, Amex, Bank of America, Citi, Wells Fargo and others will not show up on your personal credit report as new accounts.

However, some like those from Capital One will sometimes report to your personal credit report.

This is very important for a few reasons, which I’ll get into below.

Business cards from American Express will NOT report to your personal credit report.

3. Stay under 5/24

By signing up for business cards that don’t report to your personal credit report, you can fly under the radar longer with Chase since those cards won’t count towards your Chase 5/24 status.

The Chase 5/24 rule does not allow you to be approved for certain Chase cards if you’ve opened up five or more new credit cards (or revolving accounts) in the past 24 months.

This is a harsh rule because it means you might not be eligible for some of the best travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

But by picking up business cards, you can remain under 5/24 for a very long time or you can slowly work your way to getting to 4/24 so that you can pick up at least one card subject to the rule.

4. Won’t lower your credit score (as much)

Since you won’t have new accounts showing up on your credit report, you won’t have to worry about your credit history dropping due to a lowered average age of accounts.

Your credit history only makes up 15% of your FICO score and your average age of accounts is the second most important factor for that category, so this isn’t a huge factor in your credit score.

But when you’re opening up a lot of cards, any help you can get to lengthen your average age of accounts is good to take advantage of.

But do keep in mind that the credit inquiries from business credit cards will still show up on your personal credit report. The effect of those hard inquiries will diminish after 90 days or so and they usually only impact your score by a handfull of points.

5. Easier to cancel cards

If you ever need to cancel your business card, it won’t affect your average age of accounts so you don’t have to worry about trying to keep these cards open like you would a personal card.

This is a huge advantage if you’re facing a high annual fee but you’re not able to get the fee waived or receive a retention offer.

6. Won’t affect your credit utilization

Sometimes things come up and you might need to put a large purchase on a credit card that you don’t have the funds to immediately pay back.

Well, if you do this on a business card that is not reporting to your personal credit report then you won’t have to worry about it affecting your credit utilization, which makes up 30% of your FICO score.

There are business cards which offer 0% APR and are perfect for these situations. You can avoid paying interest AND you can avoid hurting your credit score with a high balance.

7. Makes award travel more sustainable

By picking up business cards here and there, it will make award travel more sustainable for you in the long-run.

Your credit score will be in better shape and you’ll be able to capitalize on more opportunities as they appear, whether they are for personal or business credit cards.

We’ve been able to put together a couple of amazing round the world trips and there’s no way we would’ve been able to make those happen without hopping on several business business credit cards over the years.

Premium redemptions are much easier when utilizing business credit cards.

8. Solid perks

Some of these business cards offer perks that are rare to find on similar cards.

For example, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card both offer primary rental car coverage and they have no annual fee.

This is virtually impossible to find with other no annual fee credit cards.

The Chase Ink Preferred’s cell phone protection will protect you against damage, theft, or involuntary and accidental parting of your cell phone when you use your Chase Ink Preferred to pay your phone bill.

The protection requires a $100 deductible per claim and allows a maximum coverage limit of $600 per claim and $1,800 dollars per 12 month period.

Other times business cards can open up special opportunities like the Southwest Rapid Rewards Business Credit Cards. 

Chase prevents applicants from picking up two personal Southwest credit cards which makes obtaining the coveted Southwest Companion Pass more difficult.

But with the Southwest Business Credit Cards, you can get a personal and a business card allowing you to still earn the Companion Pass with only two credit cards. 

9. Extra bonus earning potential

Business credit cards often allow you to earn bonus points in categories that personal credit cards just don’t offer.

For example, the Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card earns 3X on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on:

  • Travel
  • Shipping purchases
  • Internet, cable and phone services
  • Advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines

The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card will earn you 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary year at:

  • Internet, cable and phone services
  • Office supply stores

If you’re already earning bonus points on things like dining and travel, then business cards can allow you to supplement your earning with your internet, cable, and phone bills, in addition to things like shipping or gift cards from office supply stores.

Final word

Business credit cards play a vital role in maximizing credit card rewards. They allow you to go much further in award travel and to mitigate the damage to your credit report in the process. If you are serious about optimizing your miles and points, then business credit cards should be involved in your strategy somehow.

Featured business credit card welcome offer:

Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card — Earn 100,000 Ultimate Rewards after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months.

Advertiser Disclosure: UponArriving has partnered with affiliate partners and may receive a commission from card issuers. UponArriving does not display all credit card offers and affiliate relationships may impact how offers are presented. 

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analysis & recommendations are UponArriving’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. 

Make Out like a Bandit with Amex FHR

Advertiser Disclosure: UponArriving has partnered with affiliate partners and may receive a commission from card issuers. UponArriving does not display all credit card offers and affiliate relationships may impact how offers are presented. Amex Disclosure: Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

There’s nothing better than wiping out an entire annual fee with one use of one perk.

Below, I’ll show you an example of how to make out like a bandit with the American Express FHR benefit. It’s all based on a special offer that is still active and that you can still take advantage of if you have the right credit card.

Amex FHR program

Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts, also known as “Amex FHR,” is a luxury hotel program that offers special perks at world-class properties all around the globe. 

The perks are very similar to what you receive as a typical hotel elite member but the perks get even sweeter as you’ll see below.

When you stay at an FHR property, you’ll receive the following:

  • Noon check-in, when available
  • Guaranteed 4pm late check-out
  • Room upgrade upon arrival, when available
  • Daily breakfast for two people
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Special amenity unique to each property

If you want to take advantage of FHR, you’ll need to have a card like The Platinum Card® from American Express.

Free breakfast courtesy of FHR.

Making FHR even sweeter

With the addition of the $200 hotel credit on the Platinum Card, it’s now more tempting for cardholders to utilize FHR. As long as you book the prepaid route, you’ll trigger the $200 credit which essentially gives you a $200 discount.

Many popular luxury resorts in the desert drop their prices by a large margin when those crazy summer temps arrive which can work out very well with this credit.

Last year, I used this credit to cover a $200 stay at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson and this year I used it to cover a night at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix.

It’s a really cool historic property that every US president has stayed at since Hoover and was known for being a hotspot for Hollywood stars like Marilyn Monroe.

It also has unique qualities like a mystery room that once housed a hidden speakeasy and the resort boasts a thrilling (by my standards) 65 foot drop water slide.

You can check out the full review of my Arizona Biltmore stay here.

With all of the taxes and fees, the first night came out to $336 so with the $200 FHR credit I was out of pocket about $136 (earned 5X on the $136).

The slide at the Biltmore is no joke.

Finding special promotions

Another way to sweeten the FHR deal is to find properties offering special promotions.

You can often find properties offering additional benefits like the third night or fourth night free or offering you property credits that stack in addition to the $100 property credit you receive automatically.

We jumped on a promotion offered at the historic Arizona Biltmore which offered a $250 property credit on top of all of the other benefits. (This offer is going through October so you still have time to take advantage of it.)

So going back to the $136 out-of-pocket I spent for the first night at the Arizona Biltmore….

Take a look at the line-up of credits that came along with that:

  • $60 FHR breakfast credit
  • $50 Diamond food and beverage credit
  • $100 FHR Property food and beverage credit
  • $250 FHR Promotional Property credit
  • Two free drink coupons up to $25 in value each

All of that was just for the first night so we had $510 to spend in food and beverage credits in 24 hours.

The biggest challenge was actually using the credit but luckily, my brother-in-law accompanied us one night so we didn’t leave anything unspent.

The annual fee for The Platinum Card® from American Express is $695 (rates & fees).

So it’s pretty crazy that with the $200 credit and all of the special $500+ FHR benefits, I offset the entire annual fee with a one night stay — at least from a value received perspective.

Arizona Biltmore check-in FHR papers

Adding other cards to the mix

You can also make these FHR redemptions workout by utilizing other credit cards.

For example, for the second night we used one of our free night certificates issued from the Hilton Aspire.

Our upgraded room total ended up coming out to around $488 with all taxes and fees so that was pretty good value for the free night certificate.

Obviously, we didn’t receive all the FHR benefits but we did get a $50 food and beverage credit and the additional night helped us to really enjoy the resort a lot more.

The other great thing about the Aspire and Hilton resorts like this is that you can use the $250 resort credit. So you could use that towards the room rate or for charges such as the resort fee.

The Los Muertos cocktail.

Final word

Benefits like the FHR program can already be really lucrative. But when you can combine these with additional credits and time them with special promotional offers, the value you receive can start to get ridiculous. If you can handle the desert heat, look for amazing deals to use this credit in the desert during the summer.

If you want to take advantage of FHR, look into a card like The Platinum Card® from American Express.

Advertiser Disclosure: UponArriving has partnered with affiliate partners and may receive a commission from card issuers. UponArriving does not display all credit card offers and affiliate relationships may impact how offers are presented. 

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analysis & recommendations are UponArriving’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. 

Amex Disclosure: Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

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