Last Reviewed: 7/3/2011
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Southwest Airlines has completely revamped their loyalty program (dubbed “Rapid Rewards”) with the goal of making it simpler to use. Here are some of the key selling points of the program:
Last Reviewed: 6/17/2011
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On March 1st of 2011 Southwest Airlines introduced its newly revamped Rapid Rewards loyalty program–replacing the older, more complex program, with something that doesn’t require so much deep thought to understand. This required PlasticIQ to revist its previous estimate of the value of Southwest Airlines points.
Last Reviewed: 6/10/2011
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Recently Amex scrapped the Blue Cash Card, and replaced it with 2 variants: Blue Cash Everyday and Blue Cash Preferred. Generally speaking, Blue Cash Everyday performs similarly to the Preferred version at relatively low levels of monthly spend (around $700 per month) when used on all types of purchases, and can outperform Blue Cash Preferred at spend levels of $500 or less.
Last Updated: 1/5/2012
The folks at PlasticIQ have scoured the web, including competing blogs, in a thorough effort to identify the best balance transfer offers in the marketplace. Note that this post changes often as new offers come online and other offers end, so bookmark this page.
Well, it appears that no-fee 0% APR balance transfer offers, the diamonds of the world of plastic, are making a comeback. Both Discover and Chase have such offers out in the marketplace. In addition, Citi has a nice 21-month promotional balance transfer rate, so all in all we think we’ve identified some of the best balance transfer credit cards around.
Cards with no balance transfer fees and 0% APR are the equivalent of free loans, assuming you play it smart by always paying at least the minimum monthly payment. There are currently 2 fantastic offers available in the no-balance-transfer-fee category: the Discover More and Chase Slate cards.
Discover More No Fee Balance Transfer Offer. This is a fanstatic balance transfer offer. There’s no balance transfer fee and a 12-month 0% promotional APR on balance transfers. After the promotional period ends, your APR will range from 10.99% to 19.99% depending on your credit score.
Apparently Discover only allows you to have 1 Discover credit card at any given time (relatively new policy). Thus, if you want this offer you will have to close out any other Discover card(s) first.
Also note that your balance transfer must post to your account by 7/10/2012, and this offer ends on Feb 28. 2012. Finally, Discover has many card offers floating around the web; to be sure to get the no-fee offer, either read the fine print carefully, or (easier!) just follow our link right above.
Chase Slate No Fee Balance Transfer Offer. It’s a no fee. 12-month 0% APR if you are approved for either the Elite or Premium level of this card (meaning: your credit level is high enough). If you are approved for the Standard level, you’ll only get a 6 month 0% promotional APR (still no fee). You only have 30 days from account opening to transfer the balance if you want to get the promo rate, so don’t dilly dally. After the promo period, your APR will be either 11.99% (elite), 16.99% (premium) or 21.99% (standard).
Also note that this Chase Slate balance transfer offer also gives you a 12-month 0% purchase APR if you are approved at either the Elite or Premium level. If you are approved for the Standard level, you won’t get a promotional APR, just the standard APR of 21.99%.
While sometimes it makes sense to get a 12 month loan for free, there are other situations where you may want a longer-term balance transfer, say 18 or 21 months, and are OK paying the 3% balance transfer fee. Remember, a 3% fee spread out over 21 months amounts to a very low annual interest rate.
Citi Diamond Preferred 21-Month Balance Transfer Offer. While there’s a 3% balance transfer fee on the Citi Diamond Preferred Credit Card, bear in mind that you’ll pay no interest on balances you transfer for a whopping 21 months. That’s some serious piece of mind. You’ll also pay no interest on any purchases you make during the first 21 months–really nice! After the promotional period, your APR will range from 11.99% to 21.99%, depending on your credit level. There’s also no annual fee on this card.
Citi Platinum Select 21-Month Balance Transfer Offer. This balance transfer offer is basically identical to the Citi Diamond Preferred offer. They both offer a 21-month promotional balance transfer and purchase APR of 0%, followed by an APR ranging from 11.99% o 21.99%. Maybe there’s a difference between them, but it’s hard to spot.
Discover More 18-Month Balance Transfer Offer. The Discover More offer provides you with an 18-month 0% APR rate balance transfers and 0% APR on purchases for 6 months. Balance transfers must post to your account by 7/12/2012. There’s no annual fee, but there is the 3% balance transfer fee. After the promotional period ends, your APR will range from 10.99% to 20.99%.
Frankly, in the field of long-duration balance transfers, we like either the Citi Diamond Preferred or Citi Platinum Select the most. The 18-month Discover More balance transfer offer should be treated as a fallback (unless you want to grab both offers!).
The American Express Blue Cash Preferred card is without a doubt one of the best cash back cards out there, if not the best, and according to the PlasticIQ ranking engine, one of the absolute all-around top cards available. Add to that the support provided by Amex, and you may very well be looking at the Muhammad Ali of credit cards. Read the rest of this entry »
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Last Reviewed: 5/12/2011 Read the rest of this entry »
The American Express Blue Cash Preferred card is without a doubt one of the best cash back cards out there, if not the best, and according to the PlasticIQ ranking engine, one of the absolute all-around top cards available. Add to that the support provided by Amex, and you may very well be looking at the Muhammad Ali of credit cards.
