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Sunday Reader Questions

Sunday Reader Questions: Any Good Debit Card Rewards Programs Left?

October 14, 2012

TPG reader Edward asks a more general question about debit card reward programs: “I was reading your blog while looking for a debit rewards program. Can you recommend any debit card rewards programs?” Unfortunately, while debit cards used to be a lucrative way to rack up points, the Dodd-Frank act has made miles- and points-earning [...]

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(Video) Sunday Reader Question: What is the Best Way to Maximize Earning Delta MQMs?

October 7, 2012

This week I decided to answer a question from fellow New Yorker, Kirk, who asks about maximizing Delta MQMs: “I fly JFK to SFO at least once a month and am looking for a way to maximize the MQM (Medallion Qualifying Miles) I earn. I will hit Gold Medallion status on the return leg of [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: Is It Possible to Buy a Car Using a Credit Card to Maximize Points?

October 7, 2012

TPG reader Rob asks: “Are there any creative ways to pay for a new or used car with a credit card – i.e. say you want to pay cash for that new Volvo SUV, or the new BMW, or Chevy or Audi for that matter, is there a way to pay for the entire purchase [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: Is It Worth It to Redeem for First Class Over Business Class On An Award to Paris?

September 30, 2012

TPG reader Jacob is in a great situation – he’s raked in a ton of American Airlines miles and wants to redeem them for a premium-class ticket to Europe. His question has to do with how to get the best value out of his hard-earned miles (and which airline to redeem them on) now that [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: To Consolidate Frequent Flyer Miles or Not?

September 30, 2012

TPG reader Ryan asked a question this week about booking a family trip using miles and points: “My family and I are moving to London next year and I’ve been trying to build up enough points so that we can travel over on award tickets. By that time we will have easily built up enough miles [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: What is the best way to unload Membership Rewards points?

September 23, 2012

This week TPG reader Dawn asked for advice on how she should unload her Membership Rewards points before her account is closed: “I have been a member of Amex since 1991 and almost as long with Membership Rewards.  I am in jeopardy of losing my current balance of 685K Membership Rewards points and am trying [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: Which Credit Card is Best for Large Purchases?

September 23, 2012

TPG reader Craig is looking for advice on which credit card is best to make a big purchase on: “I am looking to make a fairly expensive purchase for my parents’ anniversary and wanted to see what credit card (of the ones I have) would help me get the best value in terms of points.  [...]

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(Video) Sunday Reader Question: Best Strategy- Chase Ultimate Rewards vs Starwood Amex vs Hyatt

September 16, 2012

This week TPG reader John asks a question comparing the value of Ultimate Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest points as well as the Starwood and Hyatt programs: “Do you value Ultimate Rewards points or Starwood points more? Would it be beneficial to use Ultimate Rewards points for airline awards and Starwood for hotel or Ultimate Rewards for [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: How to Prepare For a US Airways and AA Merger

September 16, 2012

TPG reader Nancy asks a question about the possibility of a merger between US Airways and American Airlines: “With the possible upcoming merger of US Airways and American Airlines, is now a good time to get both a US Airways and American Airlines credit card to take advantage of the bonus from each before one [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: Donating Miles to a Friend

September 16, 2012

TPG reader John asks an interesting question about the best way to transfer miles to a friend in need: “I have a friend who just received news that he has stage 4 cancer.  His treatment will require travel from South Florida to New Jersey.  So many of us want to give away travel points from Amex, [...]

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(Video) Sunday Reader Question: Points and Friends- How to Handle Reimbursement

September 9, 2012

This week we have a question from an anonymous reader regarding proper reimbursement for sharing points with friends: “If you use points to book a flight for you and a friend or a hotel room that a friend shares, what do you think is the appropriate protocol for sharing the cost? For instance, if you [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: Disputing Negative Information on Credit Reports

September 9, 2012

TPG reader David asks: “My wife recently had trouble getting approved for cards. I got a copy of her credit report and found out that there have been a number of late payments on her student loan, which her parents are responsible for. Have you had any history or know if that is something that [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: Additional Cardholders and Future Credit Card Bonuses

September 9, 2012

TPG reader Ketan asks: “I got a United Explorer Card and a flyer came in the mail offering 5,000 bonus miles if I add an authorized user.  If I do that, if in the future that person wants to have their own card, will they still qualify for getting a sign-up bonus for the Explorer [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: How to Keep Credit Card Accounts Active

September 2, 2012

TPG reader Richard asks: “After combing through the interwebs, I haven’t found a definitive answer on whether banks will close credit accounts that aren’t being used. Is this just due to activity? I charge 1 dollar on each card I have every month via Amazon gift card to myself but I don’t know if this [...]

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(Video) Sunday Reader Question: Airlines Miles vs. Hotel Point Value

August 19, 2012

TPG reader Jeremy asks: “In general, is it more valuable to accumulate hotel points or airline miles (assuming you’re maximizing each)? In other words, if you had to pick only one bucket, which would be worth more to your budget?” The easy answer would be to collect Starwood Preferred Guest points, which can be redeemed [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: Amex Point Posting & Extended Payment Option Promotion

August 19, 2012

Update: Get 50,000 Membership Rewards points with Business Rewards Gold when you spend $5,000 in the first three months of Card membership. Here’s a question from TPG reader George about American Express Membership Rewards points and the Extended Payment option: “I jumped on the last 75,000 bonus (no longer active) for the Amex Business Gold card, and I’ve [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: Which Wallet To Use For Travel

August 12, 2012

TPG reader Dani asks an interesting question regarding what wallet to use while traveling: “Considering you love to carry so many credit cards, what wallet do you use when you travel?  Do you just carry the bare minimum in cash when traveling since you use your cards so frequently?” I do have more credit cards than [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: Risk Of Losing Miles When Canceling A Card

August 12, 2012

TPG reader Grayson asks an important question about the risk of losing miles when cancelling a credit card: “Do I need to worry about losing the significant number of miles I have in my account if I want to cancel the United Explorer card? One stated benefit of the card is that miles won’t expire, [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: The Value of 5,000 AA Miles

August 12, 2012

TPG reader Izzie asks a question about car rentals and the worth of 5,000 points: “I will be going to Maui for my honeymoon and I’m looking to rent a car from August 26th till September 3rd.  I found the cheapest price for a full size on Dollar’s website for $209.92.  But on Avis’s website I [...]

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Video Sunday Reader Question: What Are Your Top 3 Travel Credit Cards?

August 5, 2012

This question comes in from TPG reader Chris: “If you had to pick only 3 cards, with at least one of them being an American Express product, what would they be?” As always, the answer really depends on what you want to redeem your points for, and what you value – awards without blackout dates, [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: Using Points at the Four Seasons Maui

August 5, 2012

TPG reader Robbie asks a great question about perks and benefits at non-points hotels: “Do you know any way to get discounts or free nights at the Four Seasons Maui? I  am going for my honeymoon end of this month and would love to be able to stay at there.” There are a few different [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: How Many Chase Cards One Person Can Have

July 29, 2012

TPG reader Frank asks: “I have five Chase cards: Amazon, Priority Club, Hyatt, Sapphire Preferred and Freedom. I wanted to see if you know if there is a limit to how many Chase cards one person can have? I do not use the Amazon card but I have not canceled it since it does not [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: Any Upcoming American Express Delta Transfer Bonuses?

July 29, 2012

TPG reader Mark asks a question many of us have been wondering: “Do you have any idea when another deal will come out where you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Delta SkyMiles and receive a bonus such as the deal posted last summer?” The short answer is: not that I’m aware of. [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: Transferring Small Amounts of Points

July 29, 2012

This question came in from TPG reader Mark: “I have a Starwood Amex, and am also considering getting a Amex Premier Rewards Gold card. With both cards, there are ample opportunity to transfer points to partner airlines for flights. Being a bit new to this, my general  question is about whether transferring small batches of [...]

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