MTM Travel - The Fun Side of Points & Travel!

Citibank 29 Million Points Shutdown, Chase Cardholder Gifts, Squeezing in Maui & Chicago Xmas Market

Dec 2, 2024

Shawn and Mark dive into the evolving world of credit card rewards, discussing Chase's customer gifts and the fallout from Citibank's controversial account closure. They compare Hawaiian travel experiences, debating the merits of Oahu versus Maui. The duo also explores how banks are stepping into the role of travel agents, affecting redemption rates and travel perks. Finally, they share their festive adventures at Chicago's Christmas markets, reminiscing about holiday shopping highlights and the allure of European markets.

37:18

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Chase's recent decade loyalty gift reflects the evolving landscape of customer appreciation in credit card rewards programs and their impact on loyalty.

Social engineering proves essential for navigating bank interactions, demonstrating that personal relationships can significantly enhance customer experiences and benefits.

Deep dives

Unexpected Tokens of Appreciation

Chase recently sent a gift to celebrate a decade of loyalty as an Ink cardholder, which highlights the importance of banks showing appreciation to their customers. The package included cookies and brownies adorned with the Chase Inc. logo, reflecting a thoughtful gesture from the brand. While the items received were enjoyable, there was a critique regarding their freshness, demonstrating that even well-intentioned gifts can have room for improvement. This discussion leads to a broader examination of customer loyalty programs and how different banks reward their loyal clients, showcasing the variety of gifts other banks have offered over the years.

Intro

2min

Navigating Credit Card Rewards

17min

Exploring Hawaii: Oahu vs. Maui

4min

Travel Plans and Pricing Adventures

3min

Banks as Travel Agents: A New Frontier

5min

Christmas Markets and Holiday Celebrations

4min

Navigating Deals and Insights on Reselling Challenges

3min

Get an easy $200 from Melio for making your first payment! (Affiliate link. Terms below) https://affiliates.meliopayments.com/travelonpointsteam

Episode Description

In this conversation, Shawn and Mark discuss their experiences with credit card rewards, particularly focusing on Chase's loyalty program and the gifts received for long-term cardholding. They delve into the evolution of credit card rewards, the importance of social engineering in banking, and a recent controversial case involving Citibank's account closure of a high-profile customer. The discussion also touches on the allure and perks of the American Express black card, highlighting the differences in customer service and experience for high-spending clients.

The two also discuss more on Shawn's redemption decision to Hawaii, Mark's small town weekend trip, Chicago Christmas markets and how Black Friday went.

Episode Guide

0:00 Chase cardholder gifts & debating their rules & product changes over the years
10:51 Citibank shuts down customer, takes 29 million ThankYou points
14:55 The best card for high net worth/big spenders?
19:21 Squeezing in multiple Hawaiian islands to a trip?
24:00 Bank travel portals & behind their redemption rates
27:28 Universal Orlando free Express pass - Mark's recent booking experience with FHR
30:38 Visiting the Chicago Christmas markets

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Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

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