I thought I would post that my new EMV Chip equipped Chase Sapphire Preferred Card arrived this afternoon. Realizing that the world is upside down with United’s devaluation inarguably lowers the value of Ultimate Rewards points a tiny bit, I’m still glad it’s here. Pretty fast turnaround from yesterday. Just to put one Chase rep induced rumor to bed, the chip is not somehow “embedded” in the card and not invisible….it looks just like any other chip card.
Well, here it is. I do have to wonder how much longer we will have to wait for true Chip & PIN? Also, they sent a handy little postage paid envelope to return my old card. Has anyone ever tried to destroy one of these things? Yikes!
MJ, November 1, 2013
Yep, doesn’t quite have that same “ding” when you tap it on the table. I guess I can’t fault them… would be awfully tough to embed a chip into a metal card. :/
MJ, we just received our cards today…disappointed that they are NOT metal like the old ones! It’s a heavier plastic than normal cards, but it’s not the same as the non-chip card. I guess my “swag” level is going to drop a bit with a normal plastic card… 🙂
Seriously? Mine is metal. Feels exactly the same.
Hmmmm. You know….. I wish you hadn’t told me that. Now that you mention it, it isn’t quite the same. It’s not a regular plastic card, but it isn’t the same. Or maybe this is all in my head. 🙂
“Has anyone ever tried to destroy one of these things?” http://upgrd.com/blogs/doublewidesfly/is-this-card-indestructibly.html
I called to request for one and was told it is only offered on the Visa version of the card. I have the MC version. 🙁 They offered to switch mine to a Visa but I would then have to carry 2 cards to shop at Sam’s club.
Thanks for the heads up! Cards are in the mail!
Is the new card plastic or metal?
Evan, it’s metal just like the old one.
ETA: See later comments…. close to metal, but not quite.
I would call the devaluation quite substantial. What is a UA mile or UR point now worth? 1.25 cpm? certainly 20-30% less than in October
No doubt true. However, if your primary use for them is high cost short haul flights in some US markets via the BA-AA partnership, this is less tragic. Personally, I had visions of LH F in my future. Whether I am able to do that again….well…depends. My leisure time is pretty much booked for the next year.
Hah I figured as much that the rep was incorrect! With all this United lousy news past couple of days it certainly does make the card less valuable for transferring miles to UA for *A partner flights but having the card with the chip is better than nothing for us from the United States even if it requires a signature.