Lazy Points of the Week
Not much happening this week, so we’ll keep it short!
Story of the week
The $30 bonus from Rakuten I mentioned two weeks ago was pretty good, but if you procrastinated on signing up, you’re in luck:
Rakuten is now offering $40 in cash back after spending $40 through the site, a great way to make that holiday shopping just a bit more affordable.
Other card and points news
Online queuing for Centurion lounges. Amex’s Centurion Lounges are famously crowded and can be tough to get into, but at least Amex is moving to make the wait less painful. Per View from the Wing, Amex is introducing the ability to sign up for an entry waitlist in the app, rather than have to wait in a physical line just to join a waitlist.
Citi adds extended warranties to some of our favorite cards. We already love the Double Cash (2% cash back on every purchase) and the Custom Cash (5% on your highest spending category, up to $500 in purchases), and Citi is making those cards even better by adding extended warranty protection to purchases made on them. This is a minor change, but a great addition to some cards with great earning rates but historically lackluster protections.
Sign up bonus of the week
Although I’m not a huge fan of the Citi Strata Premier, it boasts excellent earning power, raking in 3x points on dining, gas, flights, hotels, and groceries. If you can take advantage of the card’s $100 credit toward $500+ hotel stays booked through Citi, it can be a solid option. And with a current bonus of 75,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months, now is a pretty good time to pick it up if it’s one you’re interested in.
Previously highlighted cards with bonus offers still available:
•$200 Amazon gift card on the Amazon Prime Visa
•70,000 miles on the AA Aviator
The 70,000 on the Aviator is enough for a roundtrip flight to Japan from most US airports, and 75,000
Lazy tip of the week
Did you know you can “return” products without actually sending them back? (Sometimes. Don’t abuse it.) The New York Times explains.