Welcome back to Junk Mail Saturday! This is where I will review some of the junk mail (both postal and e-mail) that was received through the week. We call it “junk mail” but many times there are some golden nuggets in there (more often than not, they are targeted to specific individuals) so hopefully this will help you as we look at what the offers are. I have seen some very funny ones and some great ones. Feel free to send me yours to be included as well!
Junk Mail Saturday
I arrived home tonight and felt like quite a strange person as I walked to my mailbox – I was actually really hoping I had junk mail! See what looking for points and miles can do to you! Anyway, the post office did not disappoint!
Citibank and FIA Card Services
The Offer: These were different card offers but I lumped them together because they are basically the same offers. Because I hold cards with both of these banks and do not use them that often, they send me promotional offers each month. These offers are 0% balance transfer offers through March of 2014. The balance transfer fee is 3%.
The Fine Print: If you miss a minimum payment, your promo APR will default to the normally high APR (16.99%). In addition to that, if the balance is not paid off by the end of the promotional period, you will owe the accumulated interest at the default rate.
The Summary: These offers reach most credit card holders and are decent offers if you are carrying balances on cards with higher interest rates or if you have a bill coming up that is a non-typical bill (something like a large cary repair payment). I normally place these promotional checks into my drawer in case of just some type of unexpected bill that comes up. It is a nice, just-in-case piece of paper.
The Verdict: Average
Citibank American Airlines AAdvantage
The Offer: Earn 40,000 miles after making $3,000 in purchases during the first 3 months of card membership. In addition, receive your first checked bag free, priority boarding with Group 1 privileges, 25% savings on in-flight purchases, and double miles on eligible purchases. The $95 annual fee is waived for the first year.
The Fine Print: American Airlines AAdvantage miles will appear as a bonus in your AAdvantage account 8-10 weeks after you have met the purchase requirement. This offer is only valid for new applicants for a Citi/AAdvantage account applied for by April 30, 2013. The offer is valid through April 30, 2013.
The Summary: This is actually the best available offer that has clear terms as to the amount of miles received as a bonus. There is a link for an application page that has given many of the applicants 50,000 miles but there is no landing page for it so many people feel more comfortable applying for the visible offer (which is the 40,000 mile offer). This offer is not targeted. Anyone can go to this link to apply (I do not receive a commission for this card) and receive the offer. I think this is a good offer, especially since they have merged with US Airways and you should be trying to accrue as many miles in both programs as possible to get a good total. 40,000 miles is a off-peak award to Europe in coach (my recent trip to Sri Lanka with Cathay Pacific would have been 55,000 miles in business, 62,500 miles in first class).
Verdict: Very Good
Allstate / MileagePlus
The Offer: Earn up to 4,500 bonus award miles. United MileagePlus and Allstate have partnered to reward the applicant with up to 4,500 United miles. This offer is not targeted – potential applicants can call 866-705-4397 to earn the miles.
The Fine Print: You will earn 2,500 bonus miles when you switch your auto insurance to Allstate and another 2,000 bonus miles when you switch your home insurance to Allstate. Offer expires April 14, 2013 and the applicant must provide his/her United MileagePlus number during the quote process.
The Summary: If you are in the market for new insurance or you had been thinking about switch providers (maybe even to Allstate), this would be a good offer to take advantage of. Make sure that you get a quote with Allstate with this promo and get a separate quote without providing your United number. Since they require your MileagePlus number when you get the quote, they may be upping the premiums to pay for those miles. It is not worth the 4,500 miles if you are having to pay more in money for that offer.
Verdict: Average
