This was super informative! I've never had a credit card that charges a fee before but I'm starting to think it might be worthwhile. I don't think I could make the $4,000 in one month, though, so maybe I'll think about this in the future :)
Hey Ellie thanks for the comment, I’m glad you’re liking the content! These cards can definitely be worthwhile if you can make them work for your individual situation. Also, the minimum spend ($4,000) to get the bonus is over the first three months, I don’t know of any card that only gives one month to meet the spend. Most are between 3 and 6 months depending on the card.
I’m going to be putting out more newsletters on different cards over the next several weeks so be sure to check those out. There may be a different card that makes more sense than the Sapphire Preferred.
Hi Jeff, or should I say Jebba? Your newsletter was so wonderful and informative; hope you don't mind me asking a question. I use my United Mileage Plus Chase card for almost all of my purchases and use the "miles" for upgrades or free tickets on United. Upgrades are pretty difficult to come by these days even being a 1K flyer, but I do use them for free tickets for family vacations, but wondering if the Saphire card is better? I try to fly exclusively on United if possible, but sometimes Air France and Delta. Let me know if I am not supposed to be asking any questions; I'm sure I could figure it out doing a bit of work! We had so much fun last weekend watching the game with your parents, hope they get a win tonight! xoxo Wendy
Hi Wendy, first, you can absolutely continue to call me Jeff haha. Second, you're always welcome to ask questions, I love when people are involved in the newsletters!
Since you are primarily flying United, I think it makes the most sense to continue to using your United Card rather than get a Sapphire card. The problem with trying to get complimentary upgrades based on status alone is that there at TONS of 1K flyers out of SFO. You will often be competing with 15 or 20+ other people on a flight that may only have a few seats available for complimentary upgrades.
Are you using your United Plus Points to try and upgrade when you buy or have already bought a ticket? Here is the link to a good article talking about how to use Plus Points to secure upgrades, if you aren't already trying this method. If using Plus Points to upgrade is new for you, I think you may have more luck considering you will have a decent amount as a 1K status member.
The article talks about enabling "expert mode" when searching United flights, which will only come up when looking at the cash prices (it won't show when looking at flights using miles, but you can just switch back and forth between "cash" and "miles" searches). Using this, you may find flights where you can book it, and instantly confirm an upgrade to premium economy or business class!
With regards to if the Sapphire card is better for you, in this instance I'd say probably not. I'm guessing the spend on your United card helps to get 1K status, and you are likely getting more points when flying United with a United card than you would with the Sapphire card. The points you would get on other spending categories outside of buying United flights would probably be negligible between the two cards.
This was super informative! I've never had a credit card that charges a fee before but I'm starting to think it might be worthwhile. I don't think I could make the $4,000 in one month, though, so maybe I'll think about this in the future :)
Hey Ellie thanks for the comment, I’m glad you’re liking the content! These cards can definitely be worthwhile if you can make them work for your individual situation. Also, the minimum spend ($4,000) to get the bonus is over the first three months, I don’t know of any card that only gives one month to meet the spend. Most are between 3 and 6 months depending on the card.
I’m going to be putting out more newsletters on different cards over the next several weeks so be sure to check those out. There may be a different card that makes more sense than the Sapphire Preferred.
Hi Jeff, or should I say Jebba? Your newsletter was so wonderful and informative; hope you don't mind me asking a question. I use my United Mileage Plus Chase card for almost all of my purchases and use the "miles" for upgrades or free tickets on United. Upgrades are pretty difficult to come by these days even being a 1K flyer, but I do use them for free tickets for family vacations, but wondering if the Saphire card is better? I try to fly exclusively on United if possible, but sometimes Air France and Delta. Let me know if I am not supposed to be asking any questions; I'm sure I could figure it out doing a bit of work! We had so much fun last weekend watching the game with your parents, hope they get a win tonight! xoxo Wendy
Hi Wendy, first, you can absolutely continue to call me Jeff haha. Second, you're always welcome to ask questions, I love when people are involved in the newsletters!
Since you are primarily flying United, I think it makes the most sense to continue to using your United Card rather than get a Sapphire card. The problem with trying to get complimentary upgrades based on status alone is that there at TONS of 1K flyers out of SFO. You will often be competing with 15 or 20+ other people on a flight that may only have a few seats available for complimentary upgrades.
Are you using your United Plus Points to try and upgrade when you buy or have already bought a ticket? Here is the link to a good article talking about how to use Plus Points to secure upgrades, if you aren't already trying this method. If using Plus Points to upgrade is new for you, I think you may have more luck considering you will have a decent amount as a 1K status member.
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/how-to-use-united-pluspoints/
The article talks about enabling "expert mode" when searching United flights, which will only come up when looking at the cash prices (it won't show when looking at flights using miles, but you can just switch back and forth between "cash" and "miles" searches). Using this, you may find flights where you can book it, and instantly confirm an upgrade to premium economy or business class!
With regards to if the Sapphire card is better for you, in this instance I'd say probably not. I'm guessing the spend on your United card helps to get 1K status, and you are likely getting more points when flying United with a United card than you would with the Sapphire card. The points you would get on other spending categories outside of buying United flights would probably be negligible between the two cards.
kinda thought the ginny pics at the end of newsletters was my thing but the more the merrier