I take some time every few months to make sure that Sharon and I are using the best cards to maximize the points we earn on everyday expenses. Picking which card to use at the supermarket, drugstore, gas station, and online can vary due to several situations:
- Needing to reach a minimum spending requirement on a new card
- Limited time category or spending bonuses.
- AMEX offers (or Chase offers)
When I use a specific card because of a bonus, I’ll check my account to ensure the points or bonuses are posted accurately. Banks don’t award bonus points for several reasons, but the main one is if the business isn’t coded properly. If a restaurant is also a caterer, your purchase may not trigger a bonus in the dining category.
Most times these things work against you and either you have to fight with the bank for the points or say that it’s not worth the time and effort.
Occasionally you’ll get bonus points when a charge codes in a bonus category you weren’t expecting.
Such was the case when Sharon used her AMEX Green card to pay for a fishing trip.
She earned 3X Membership points because the charge was posted as a travel expense. I love the AMEX Green Card because it has one of the broadest definitions of what counts as travel.
Eligible travel purchases including airfare, hotels, cruises, car rentals, campgrounds, trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, tours, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, subways, on third party travel websites, and on amextravel.com.
I’m not sure where a party fishing boat fits into that description but I’m not complaining. It is a boat and takes you somewhere, so I guess that’s a form of travel or maybe it’s considered a tour?
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
2 comments
I’ve had Epic ski passes code as travel on the Amex Green.
It was a fishing cruise!