Chase Sapphire Reserve; 100,000 points signup bonus

[chesebert]

DW just got approved...should have the card next week. Fingers crossed for the fancy box...

Need to do some serious thinking about how to meet the minimum spending requirement, again.

[TomTX]

After all my fingernail-biting time waiting on a decision for mine, DW was instant approved today.

[ooeei]

Got approved immediately. Waiting for the card.

Thanks Scandium.

And I just got the card.Less than 48 hours after I applied (applied 21st evening)

Unlike others, looks like I got the metal card. Much heavier than the other plastic credit cards I have.
But no fancy box, just the UPS envelope with the Chase envelope  in it.

Let the fun begin.

Same here, metal card in an envelope.  It's very luxurious and all, but plastic cards are fine with me.  It actually still feels pretty much like a thick plastic card, very flexible.  No problem with the envelope for me either, one less thing to throw away.

[robtown]

I completed the spend requirement with a family cruise.  My first payment is Oct 3rd.   They gave me 3x on the purchase.   Last night my account status indicated I'd get the 100k points next billing cycle.

Check out the beefed up benefits.    The damaged/stolen coverage, the price match,  return guarantee,  and just about every category with a time limit has a longer one than an average card.  As Mustachians you should now about and use these benefits.

My pass is activated but I don't know when/how to get the actual card.   I've always wanted to check out a lounge,  my wife, who travels for work, says they are very nice.

[TomTX]

I completed the spend requirement with a family cruise.  My first payment is Oct 3rd.   They gave me 3x on the purchase.   Last night my account status indicated I'd get the 100k points next billing cycle.

Check out the beefed up benefits.    The damaged/stolen coverage, the price match,  return guarantee,  and just about every category with a time limit has a longer one than an average card.  As Mustachians you should now about and use these benefits.

My pass is activated but I don't know when/how to get the actual card.   I've always wanted to check out a lounge,  my wife, who travels for work, says they are very nice.

You should be getting the pass in the mail, nominally 2-3 weeks, but Chase had something like 20x as much demand as anticipated for CSR, so who knows.

[dragoncar]

I completed the spend requirement with a family cruise.  My first payment is Oct 3rd.   They gave me 3x on the purchase.   Last night my account status indicated I'd get the 100k points next billing cycle.

Check out the beefed up benefits.    The damaged/stolen coverage, the price match,  return guarantee,  and just about every category with a time limit has a longer one than an average card.  As Mustachians you should now about and use these benefits.

My pass is activated but I don't know when/how to get the actual card.   I've always wanted to check out a lounge,  my wife, who travels for work, says they are very nice.

VISA infinite.  The best benefits until MasterCard introduces MC infinity times infinity plus one

[dragoncar]

So when is the $450 charged?  On your first closing date?  Mine says next closing date not available!

[chesebert]

Within days of card arrival. <insert evil Chase laugh>

[Dollar Slice]

So when is the $450 charged?  On your first closing date?  Mine says next closing date not available!

Mine was charged on day 1.

[dragoncar]

We've had our cards since Mon/Tue and no annual fees yet.  Maybe they won't charge me until I receive my fancy box

[kudy]

Mine was charged on day 1.

Odd. I got signed up for my card on Sept 2nd, and haven't been charged yet.

My pass is activated but I don't know when/how to get the actual card.   I've always wanted to check out a lounge,  my wife, who travels for work, says they are very nice.

You should be getting the pass in the mail, nominally 2-3 weeks, but Chase had something like 20x as much demand as anticipated for CSR, so who knows.

I "signed up" for the pass on September 2nd, and received it in the mail today - 15 business days later. Very excited to try a lounge experience for the first time in Vegas in 2 weeks!

[Nothlit]

I believe the annual fee posts on the 1st day of the calendar month following account activation. So those who got cards this month should see it Oct 1. Or maybe Oct 3 since the 1st is a Saturday.

[dragoncar]

I believe the annual fee posts on the 1st day of the calendar month following account activation. So those who got cards this month should see it Oct 1. Or maybe Oct 3 since the 1st is a Saturday.

Something to look forward to...

[nottoolatetostart]

Wanted to pop in to say thanks for this heads up. We opened one for my husband last Saturday and got it on Tuesday. UPS envelope only.

[TomTX]

So when is the $450 charged?  On your first closing date?  Mine says next closing date not available!

Mine was charged on day 1.

Have not gotten charged as of yesterday.

[EnjoyIt]

Wife and I just got our new CSR cards last week - only the plastic version though, apparently demand has been so huge the metal cards are backed up at the moment.

For those worried about meeting the spend I just wanted to post a couple quick tips that I use to meet the minimums when churning without succumbing to 'unnecessary/wasteful' spending:

-Prepay some kind of monthly expense you were going to pay over the next year anyway (if you have the money to pay it up front, and there isn't a fee to use a CC).  The money I use to cover the prepayment is just sitting in a savings account as part of an emergency fund earning practically zilch anyway, so missing out on the peanuts in interest isn't a heart-breaker. Just repay yourself monthly to rebuild the account.  For example on my wife's new CSR card we just payed our daughters entire year of pre-school tuition up front.  They had no problem charging me the full amount and the minimum spend is done on one card. 

-For those who spend for work (travel, client entertainment/expense account, etc) and have a company card to do so, check if they will let you use a personal card instead and get reimbursed (companies my friends and I have worked for are all over the map on their policies).  I usually use my corp card because it's far less of a pain in the A, but I switch to a personal when I need to manufacture spending.  I have to jump through more hoops with documentation and such, but it's worth the effort for the 'free' spending.  Would hit the minimum on my new CSR in a couple months just from that.

-For family members who don't care about maximizing points or don't use credit cards, if you know they have a large purchase coming ask if you can charge it and have them just give you cash/check.  I've met the spend on several cards over the years just by doing this with close family members - booking plane tickets for them, buying big appliance type items, etc.  With online shopping/travel booking these days it literally takes almost zero effort.  There is actually a benefit for them as well that older/non-tech oriented family members who don't get CC benefits have no idea about - a lot of CC's offer pretty solid consumer and travel protections.

These methods can help for the couples wondering how to hit $8k in the 3-4 months left we have this year....the way the travel credit works it behooves couples to try and get both cards this year to double up, especially if you are only considering having the CSR for 1 year.

Or if all of that fails, just send someone you trust money via Square Cash for a 3% fee with a cc and have them pay you back. Yeah you're paying 3%, but that's nothing compared to the rewards you can get. For some people this is the only way to meet the spend.For others this is just worth it to do so they don't have to keep track of the spending over a couple months.

Some other ways to spend that are a bit less costly
1) Buy gift cards to your local grocery store - free
2) Buy gift cards to Home Depot or Lowes whichever you frequent.  Check some online sites and you may find them at 5-10% off
   2a) You can buy gift cards for most large business you frequent often.  Eventually you will use them up.
3) Pay mortgage or other bills online that don't accept credit card for 2.5% fee via plastiq.com
4) Pre-pay federal taxes via pay1040.com for a 1.87% fee.  Even if you don't owe federal taxes you can always overpay and get refund when you do your taxes the following year.

Personally I think if time is running short on your three months, buying gift cards to your favorite grocery store is the easiest and cheapest way to reach your minimum spending requirement.  Even the most frugal mustachian must eat and will spend that cash down eventually.

[dragoncar]

I had some spending to do, but Amazon was the cheapest.  Plus I got 5% back on Amazon with my discovercard.  So I used discover, since 5% is more than the 2-3% I'll have to pay for other churning methods

[TomTX]

Wife and I just got our new CSR cards last week - only the plastic version though, apparently demand has been so huge the metal cards are backed up at the moment.

For those worried about meeting the spend I just wanted to post a couple quick tips that I use to meet the minimums when churning without succumbing to 'unnecessary/wasteful' spending:

-Prepay some kind of monthly expense you were going to pay over the next year anyway (if you have the money to pay it up front, and there isn't a fee to use a CC).  The money I use to cover the prepayment is just sitting in a savings account as part of an emergency fund earning practically zilch anyway, so missing out on the peanuts in interest isn't a heart-breaker. Just repay yourself monthly to rebuild the account.  For example on my wife's new CSR card we just payed our daughters entire year of pre-school tuition up front.  They had no problem charging me the full amount and the minimum spend is done on one card. 

-For those who spend for work (travel, client entertainment/expense account, etc) and have a company card to do so, check if they will let you use a personal card instead and get reimbursed (companies my friends and I have worked for are all over the map on their policies).  I usually use my corp card because it's far less of a pain in the A, but I switch to a personal when I need to manufacture spending.  I have to jump through more hoops with documentation and such, but it's worth the effort for the 'free' spending.  Would hit the minimum on my new CSR in a couple months just from that.

-For family members who don't care about maximizing points or don't use credit cards, if you know they have a large purchase coming ask if you can charge it and have them just give you cash/check.  I've met the spend on several cards over the years just by doing this with close family members - booking plane tickets for them, buying big appliance type items, etc.  With online shopping/travel booking these days it literally takes almost zero effort.  There is actually a benefit for them as well that older/non-tech oriented family members who don't get CC benefits have no idea about - a lot of CC's offer pretty solid consumer and travel protections.

These methods can help for the couples wondering how to hit $8k in the 3-4 months left we have this year....the way the travel credit works it behooves couples to try and get both cards this year to double up, especially if you are only considering having the CSR for 1 year.

Or if all of that fails, just send someone you trust money via Square Cash for a 3% fee with a cc and have them pay you back. Yeah you're paying 3%, but that's nothing compared to the rewards you can get. For some people this is the only way to meet the spend.For others this is just worth it to do so they don't have to keep track of the spending over a couple months.

Some other ways to spend that are a bit less costly
1) Buy gift cards to your local grocery store - free
2) Buy gift cards to Home Depot or Lowes whichever you frequent.  Check some online sites and you may find them at 5-10% off
   2a) You can buy gift cards for most large business you frequent often.  Eventually you will use them up.
3) Pay mortgage or other bills online that don't accept credit card for 2.5% fee via plastiq.com
4) Pre-pay federal taxes via pay1040.com for a 1.87% fee.  Even if you don't owe federal taxes you can always overpay and get refund when you do your taxes the following year.

Personally I think if time is running short on your three months, buying gift cards to your favorite grocery store is the easiest and cheapest way to reach your minimum spending requirement.  Even the most frugal mustachian must eat and will spend that cash down eventually.

Buy Lowe's cards from the Lowe's website via the Chase portal and get a bonus 3x points from Chase :D

[ender]

4) Pre-pay federal taxes via pay1040.com for a 1.87% fee.  Even if you don't owe federal taxes you can always overpay and get refund when you do your taxes the following year.

Keep in mind this is an effective fee of only 0.87% -- you get 1% cash back with this card at a minimum.

I will keep this in mind for our amex card that we're working, after the CSR and CSP I'm finding it a bit harder to easily hit $3k/3 months :P

[EnjoyIt]

4) Pre-pay federal taxes via pay1040.com for a 1.87% fee.  Even if you don't owe federal taxes you can always overpay and get refund when you do your taxes the following year.

Keep in mind this is an effective fee of only 0.87% -- you get 1% cash back with this card at a minimum.

I will keep this in mind for our amex card that we're working, after the CSR and CSP I'm finding it a bit harder to easily hit $3k/3 months :P

Amex business plat has $20k spend in 3 months for 150K points. I prepaid a bunch of taxes for the year to reach min spend. I also paid for tuition for the semester and between the two easily hit $20k.

[chesebert]

How do you apply if you have no business?

[undercover]

How do you apply if you have no business?

It's not a business card.

[llorona]

Thank you for posting this. I just applied online and received instant approval. Since our health care insurance alone is $800/month, charging $4K in 3 months should be pretty easy.

The $450 annual fee is hard to swallow, but the travel credits will come in handy for two upcoming trips. What really drove the decisions, however, was the 125,000 Chase Freedom & Ink points that I've saved up. The way I'm understanding it, if I transfer those points over to the Chase Sapphire Reserve account, they'll be worth 1.5x the amount when I redeem them for travel. Yah!!!

[katsiki]

The travel credit posted the same day that the airfare posted.  That's great.

So far, this is a great card.

[TomTX]

The travel credit posted the same day that the airfare posted.  That's great.

So far, this is a great card.

Yes, I have travel credits matching my 2 hotel stays, same date.

[HAPPYINAZ]

Thank you for posting this. I just applied online and received instant approval. Since our health care insurance alone is $800/month, charging $4K in 3 months should be pretty easy.

The $450 annual fee is hard to swallow, but the travel credits will come in handy for two upcoming trips. What really drove the decisions, however, was the 125,000 Chase Freedom & Ink points that I've saved up. The way I'm understanding it, if I transfer those points over to the Chase Sapphire Reserve account, they'll be worth 1.5x the amount when I redeem them for travel. Yah!!!

That's great!  I am enjoying transfering my CSP points to the CSR also.  Nice added benefit to make points on other Chase cards worth more!

I love how the travel credits come off automatically.  That's nice customer service right there! 

[bryan995]

Currently staying at the Ritz Carlton in Maui thanks to our CSR points.
Flew through security with TSA pre-check, and waited in the VIP lounge compliments of CSR.
Flight was booked compliments of Virgin America points from the VA credit card sign up bonus :)

I wanted the Andaz, but it was $550/night... whereas we found the Ritz for $350/night
So we cashed in 23,300 points ($233) x 1.5 for the needed $350.
(Note - they still charge $22 parking + $35 resort fee ... err)

Garden View


Pool / Ocean

[aschmidt2930]

Thank you for posting this. I just applied online and received instant approval. Since our health care insurance alone is $800/month, charging $4K in 3 months should be pretty easy.

The $450 annual fee is hard to swallow, but the travel credits will come in handy for two upcoming trips. What really drove the decisions, however, was the 125,000 Chase Freedom & Ink points that I've saved up. The way I'm understanding it, if I transfer those points over to the Chase Sapphire Reserve account, they'll be worth 1.5x the amount when I redeem them for travel. Yah!!!

Transferring them is definitely a nice value, but I do want to mention (for some who may not be aware), that even a 1.5x redemption rate isn't always the best use of these points.

For example, there's a 1:1 transfer with United.  60,000 points gets one from the US to Europe and back with two "open jaws" which basically means short flights around Europe.  I recently redeemed 60,000 points this way, flights that would have cost about $1900 without points.  This put the value of each Chase point at 3.2 cents.  Of course, the time of year and destinations involved will heavily influence this, but it's important to run the math before booking.

[NYCMustachian]

Currently staying at the Ritz Carlton in Maui thanks to our CSR points.
Flew through security with TSA pre-check, and waited in the VIP lounge compliments of CSR.
Flight was booked compliments of Virgin America points from the VA credit card sign up bonus :)

I wanted the Andaz, but it was $550/night... whereas we found the Ritz for $350/night
So we cashed in 23,300 points ($233) x 1.5 for the needed $350.
(Note - they still charge $22 parking + $35 resort fee ... err)

Garden View


Pool / Ocean

Looks amazing! How many nights are you staying there? I'm trying to get an idea of what I can use my bonus points for once I get them.

Also, what do you mean by x1.5? Do the points go further if you use them towards certain purchases?

[andy85]

Looks amazing! How many nights are you staying there? I'm trying to get an idea of what I can use my bonus points for once I get them.

Also, what do you mean by x1.5? Do the points go further if you use them towards certain purchases?

if you redeem through the Chase portal they are 1.5x
so instead of 100k points being worth $1000, they are really worth $1500

[NYCMustachian]

Looks amazing! How many nights are you staying there? I'm trying to get an idea of what I can use my bonus points for once I get them.

Also, what do you mean by x1.5? Do the points go further if you use them towards certain purchases?

if you redeem through the Chase portal they are 1.5x
so instead of 100k points being worth $1000, they are really worth $1500

Cool! Thanks!!

[ender]

Some tickets are more through the portal than direct booking, though, FYI. So you might find 20% more cost vs 1.5x redemption benefit.

Still good, but not quite a full 1.5x benefit.

[thd7t]

Some tickets are more through the portal than direct booking, though, FYI. So you might find 20% more cost vs 1.5x redemption benefit.

Still good, but not quite a full 1.5x benefit.

Up thread, some people said that Chase will match rates found on other sites. It may require a phone call.

[mathlete]

With as big as this thread is, I'm sure it has been mentioned before, but a good way to meet the spending requirement is to move up any charitable donations you may have had planned for later on down the line. That was a big help for me.

[crentist]

couple quick questions and this is prob common sense to most.
I just received my reserve card.  Do you get the $300 travel credit immediately?  And if so, If I book a flight for February 2017 do I get the 2016 credit? Or does it get reimbursed for 2017?

[Dollar Slice]

couple quick questions and this is prob common sense to most.
I just received my reserve card.  Do you get the $300 travel credit immediately?  And if so, If I book a flight for February 2017 do I get the 2016 credit? Or does it get reimbursed for 2017?

As soon as the charge shows up on the card, it is credited. Basically instant. You basically never get charged for it at all, up to the $300 limit (and you get $300 for 2016 as well as $300 for 2017).

[JoJo]

couple quick questions and this is prob common sense to most.
I just received my reserve card.  Do you get the $300 travel credit immediately?  And if so, If I book a flight for February 2017 do I get the 2016 credit? Or does it get reimbursed for 2017?

As long as you book/charge the trip in 2016 it should get credited then.  I booked a bunch of airbnbs, and the credit showed up as soon as they were charged.

[crentist]

Appreciate the responses!

[Tetsuya Hondo]

My wife applied for the CSR and got an extra card in my name.

I had hoped to do two separate accounts for each of us and then banking 200,000 points. But, can I still apply for my own account now?

[chesebert]

My wife applied for the CSR and got an extra card in my name.

I had hoped to do two separate accounts for each of us and then banking 200,000 points. But, can I still apply for my own account now?

so long as you are within 5/24 limit, for which your authorized user account will be taken into account as part of the limit.

[katsiki]

If one is an AU now but is removed prior to applying for a CSR (or any Chase card), does Chase still count that AU as part of 5/24?  ie you're an AU for a few months to meet the spend and then no longer an AU for a couple of months before applying.

I have seen conflicting info on this.  TIA!

[dragoncar]

My wife applied for the CSR and got an extra card in my name.

I had hoped to do two separate accounts for each of us and then banking 200,000 points. But, can I still apply for my own account now?

I heard the extra card costs ($70?) for the CSR.  Just a heads up as it was surprising to me since it's usually free on most cards.

[tooqk4u22]

My wife applied for the CSR and got an extra card in my name.

I had hoped to do two separate accounts for each of us and then banking 200,000 points. But, can I still apply for my own account now?

I heard the extra card costs ($70?) for the CSR.  Just a heads up as it was surprising to me since it's usually free on most cards.

I think its $75.  How is it possible that they can send a AU card instead of one in her own name.  I was planning on doing the same.  Anybody else have experience with spouse applying for a separate card?

[Hvillian]

I applied on Sunday, and did not get immediate approval; however, the Reserve Card Account showed up this morning in my online account (Yes!).

I am just about a month clear of the 5/24 rule, and already have 3 Chase Cards (CSP, Freedom, IHG).  It looks like Chase automatically shifted most of my available credit from the CSP and Freedom cards to the Reserve.  IHG was unchanged, and oddly enough still has the highest limit.  No physical Reserve card yet, but will be looking out for the envelope.

[JoJo]

Yesterday, I received both my physical Priority Pass & Global Entry cards, thanks to the CSR.  The PP has an expiry exactly 1 year out.  Next year I was planning on going nomadic and be out of the country most of each year so I'll have to find a way to get a card I can actually use if I have no way to get the physical card if I'm out of the country (not worth it for my family to have to mail it to me somewhere in the world).

[JLee]

Does Chase's 5/24 rule also factor in non-Chase products? I've found conflicting information online -- if it's just Chase, I should be good as of Nov 1st...

[dragoncar]

My wife applied for the CSR and got an extra card in my name.

I had hoped to do two separate accounts for each of us and then banking 200,000 points. But, can I still apply for my own account now?

I heard the extra card costs ($70?) for the CSR.  Just a heads up as it was surprising to me since it's usually free on most cards.

I think its $75.  How is it possible that they can send a AU card instead of one in her own name.  I was planning on doing the same.  Anybody else have experience with spouse applying for a separate card?

Both my wife and I got separate cards.  I don't think they really know or care if two applicants are married besides having the same address or last name

[ender]

But you will almost assuredly get charged for the authorized user on both.

[dragoncar]

But you will almost assuredly get charged for the authorized user on both.

Are you talking to me?  We didn't set up any AU on our cards

[Nothlit]

Does Chase's 5/24 rule also factor in non-Chase products? I've found conflicting information online -- if it's just Chase, I should be good as of Nov 1st...

According to /r/churning it includes all cards, not just Chase cards. I'd take that as pretty definitive.