I love credit cards so much!

[kidsfirsttrip]

I did MS for the Marriott Gold by spending the 35k on my spg personal... only to get the luxury card and amex plat biz haha.
I think the 75k requirement is too much for me to MS(although i did 45k MS in the last 6 months.)

I do think i want hyatt status now, i find myself staying there the most when it comes to point redemption.

edit: actually i MS more than that, id say a total of 55k.

Yeah 75k is too rich for my blood but i would MS for the 2nd free night. Wow 55K in 6 mos is a lot and you don’t do MOs anymore right?

 

[Chancery8]

redditors are mostly young adults with no kids... id say a vast majority of disney peeps lurks. haha.

Haha, you got me. I am one of those reddit lurkers! Those threads seem a bit mean to newbies, so I never dared post anything there. This thread is much better IMO.

 

[Albort]

Yeah 75k is too rich for my blood but i would MS for the 2nd free night. Wow 55K in 6 mos is a lot and you don’t do MOs anymore right?

no MOs. u lose 1% + your time and driving.
i was doing about 3.6k a week for about 2 months, the walmarts around me are very YMMV, sometimes i spend more time trying to get rid of them.
i do mostly Gift Card churning and buy groups... both of them are usually 70% done at home.

 

[CoP Luv]

If I am reading this correctly you are landing in Miami, wanting to eat at the airport and then leave the airport for a stay in Miami? If so I believe PP requires you to have a boarding pass for an outbound flight the same day you use the pass, thereby making your meal a no-no. Whether or not they check for a boarding pass is YMMV. I have only used PP in cafes at PDX and have never been asked to show one.

You are reading correctly, however on a previous trip, I arrived at MCO, went to the PP Lounge, showed my boarding pass (which originated elsewhere), grabbed a cup of soup, a pop, and left. No issues. Everytime I have used PP, my boarding pass has been checked, so I am assuming it would be as well. But since my scenario would be a restaurant, I was just curious if there were any DPs out there on this, since there is only "same-day boarding pass" language on both Amex and CSR PP websites. I wouldn't spend a lot of money at an airport restaurant if we didn't get the benefit and would go somewhere else to eat, but trying to plan accordingly.

I know I am probably beating a dead horse but I'm still scratching my head over the Disney resorts getting taken off URs. I just don't get it. If Chase and Disney are feuding, and that is why they were pulled, then why were the Swolphin resorts pulled also?? They aren't Disney branded. Other SPG/Marriotts/Westins are still on UR's and in the Orlando area. Other resorts, like WBC, that are on Disney property are still on UR's. I just don't get it and now that I need to book a resort, I'm completely annoyed and mad!

Also, there were Disney resorts showing for me on Hotwire and Priceline and those are all gone now as well. I'm doubly ticked about that as well

I don't like it either. For awhile, I was having a tough time finding Disney on Expedia when the change with Chase happened. It seemed like I had to search for each individual hotel to get them to show up, instead of being a "WDW" search. WBC was off of UR for awhile too, and then it came back on it was only for individuals that are listing their timeshare (not sure how that started on all of these travel sites either). I finally found WBC (the timeshare) under vacation rentals a few weeks ago, but for our same dates, the price/night went up $100 from before the Expedia change.

I can't believe they aren't on HW!! I got a fantasic last minute deal in the fall. Ugh.

 

[Judique]

I already have some points left over from spend and reward points so could I combine the new 35k with those? I know that is probably a dumb question, but don't know what the restrictions are. Thanks for the reply!

No, can't combine points with free night to make a bigger free night if that's what you mean. Sorry! I do like your idea though.

Nice to know there's a group here that gets how exciting that is!

We all feed of each other's excitement - it got me 5 or 6 cards last year.

I still believe the only reason they were scratched was to slow down the redemption of URs. It apparently worked.

It may have worked for a minute but people on here are starting to just go ahead and redeem at the lower 1 for 1 rate for Disney. I guess that is also saving them money.

redditors are mostly young adults with no kids... id say a vast majority of disney peeps lurks. haha.

The vast majority of people who read Dis are lurkers for the most part. You just have to look at the 'views' for each thread

 

[wendow]

I can't believe they aren't on HW!! I got a fantasic last minute deal in the fall. Ugh.

The Disney resorts are still bookable through Hotwire but they have disappeared from the ‘mystery deals’ for my dates. I think I waited too long.

 

[CoP Luv]

First, make sure that what he's booking takes Amex before you get an Amex card. I'm not up to speed on the best biz offers but some personal suggestions that would be worth counting against x/24 status to me are
-Barclay Arrival+ 70,000 points plus AF waived first year (a great offer on this one) $5k spend
-Capital One Savor $500 cash, AF waived 1st year, $3k spend
-Captial One Venture 50K points, AF waived first year. $3k spend (points wipe out travel exp at $.01 value)

Thanks for the ideas! I'm not sure exactly what he is booking yet, but definitely something to keep in mind. I have seen so many posts about these cards, but not sure if we should dip into another currency. I don't know much about them since I have been focusing on URs, and now MR.

I have no info on the lounge...

I would downgrade to another CF (if you want to get a CFU someday) or a CFU if you don't want to get one in the future. No reason to close that account, it will keep it available if you want to product change in the future. IF you have too much Credit Limit just reduce it to $1,000 or something on that card.

If I'm reading everything right do NEITHER of you have a CIP? With $10,000 to spend...why not 2 CIPs?? One of you apply, get the card, refer the other immediately and then spend the $10k!

Sorry, I typed CSP because that's what I was thinking of, instead of CIP.

So yes, I have a CIP instead of a CSP. That's why I was thinking of downgrading to a CSP, but would that restart my bonus clock for Sapphire products? I could refer DH to a CIP, but I don't think he would go for the "business" idea.

What is the ideal time between apps? I did the Amex Plat in mid-Nov 2018, in case we want to get two new cards. I am at 5/24 (CSR, Disney, IHG, CIP, Amex Plat) but will have one drop off in a few days (or is it after statement close?)

I have a hard time maxing out the CF each quarter, so that's why I was thinking of getting the CFU as my everyday, non-bonus, non-MSR card. Can I not go CSR --> CFU?

We are depleting our UR stash (probably down to about 50k, but I know it will go back up) for our upcoming trip and have no trips on the horizon. After another week or so, my 100K MR bonus will hit.

 

[CoP Luv]

The Disney resorts are still bookable through Hotwire but they have disappeared from the ‘mystery deals’ for my dates. I think I waited too long.

That stinks. I had that happen on a trip a little over a year ago. So many people were getting great deals on HW in the weeks before my trip, and my timeframe never came up. This past trip, I did get lucky and booked one night at ASSp. It worked out because I was staying at ASMo for the rest of the trip, I could easily transfer, I was by myself so I didn't really care and it was only $52. Win.

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

no MOs. u lose 1% + your time and driving.
i was doing about 3.6k a week for about 2 months, the walmarts around me are very YMMV, sometimes i spend more time trying to get rid of them.
i do mostly Gift Card churning and buy groups... both of them are usually 70% done at home.

I’ve been doing them at S+S and buying at Walgreens with the 5% back plus 1% from pei. Otherwise it’s becoming more time consuming so I get it. Dabbled in gc reselling with the Happy card but otherwise can’t find a deal to make it wothwhile either

 

[Albort]

I’ve been doing them at S+S and buying at Walgreens with the 5% back plus 1% from pei. Otherwise it’s becoming more time consuming so I get it. Dabbled in gc reselling with the Happy card but otherwise can’t find a deal to make it wothwhile either

they come and go... you can always join groups, they usually post the deals and u get in on them. (currently its on a stand still with no good deals).
i also have a few sites bookmarked but they mainly come from groups.

Easy to max out with those Chase offers and Amex offers too so i check those quite often.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Thanks for the ideas! I'm not sure exactly what he is booking yet, but definitely something to keep in mind. I have seen so many posts about these cards, but not sure if we should dip into another currency. I don't know much about them since I have been focusing on URs, and now MR.



Sorry, I typed CSP because that's what I was thinking of, instead of CIP.

So yes, I have a CIP instead of a CSP. That's why I was thinking of downgrading to a CSP, but would that restart my bonus clock for Sapphire products? I could refer DH to a CIP, but I don't think he would go for the "business" idea.

What is the ideal time between apps? I did the Amex Plat in mid-Nov 2018, in case we want to get two new cards. I am at 5/24 (CSR, Disney, IHG, CIP, Amex Plat) but will have one drop off in a few days (or is it after statement close?)

I have a hard time maxing out the CF each quarter, so that's why I was thinking of getting the CFU as my everyday, non-bonus, non-MSR card. Can I not go CSR --> CFU?

We are depleting our UR stash (probably down to about 50k, but I know it will go back up) for our upcoming trip and have no trips on the horizon. After another week or so, my 100K MR bonus will hit.

Downgrading won’t reset any clock. Your CSR/CSP bonus eligibility clock is 48 months from when your CSR bonus posted regardless

I’d figure out how to convince your husband on the CIP. That would be a crazy lucrative opportunity for 105k+ URs.

I’d probably downgrade to CFU for now. You can always upgrade to back to CSR or CSP in the future I’d necessary for a redemption

 

[GlamMistress]

Live look at me at work this entire week:

On another note - and this is random - DH got a mailer from AADvantage and he is targeted for complimentary Platinum Pro status through May 15. I'll sign him up later tonight and this will be handy when we fly to MIA for our Disney cruise later this month (which can't get here soon enough. See point one of this message).

DH has the Barclay Aviator, put no spend on the card and I immediately cashed his 60,000 signup bonus for Barcelona.

Does Delta do status match? Because we have some flights with them coming up and that would be nice I guess.

 

[mhartman09]

I still believe the only reason they were scratched was to slow down the redemption of URs. It apparently worked.

This is where my brain goes too. It's all that really makes sense but then I think, "are there really THAT many people redeeming UR's for Disney??". I know a lot of people (in my family and among friends) who have Chase cards and use UR's, and only my aunt and myself redeem for Disney. And reading through r/churning, doesn't seem like most there are chasing points for Disney. Seems odd to target the Disney peeps.

I thought the same way as @gottalovepluto on this. I know I haven't redeemed a single UR since Disney hotel removal from the portal. However, I suppose I'm in the minority with that.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I thought the same way as @gottalovepluto on this. I know I haven't redeemed a single UR since Disney hotel removal from the portal. However, I suppose I'm in the minority with that.

I haven’t redeemed a single UR ever...as crazy as that sounds lol!

I transferred all of them to SW a few years back and I’ve hoarded my whole new stash.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Thanks for the ideas! I'm not sure exactly what he is booking yet, but definitely something to keep in mind. I have seen so many posts about these cards, but not sure if we should dip into another currency. I don't know much about them since I have been focusing on URs, and now MR...

As far as the Arrival+ and Venture the points are valued at $.01/point since they are redeemable towards travel charges you make on your credit card at that rate. The Venture has travel partners so I guess it could be considered a new currency but the transfer ratios suck.

 

[GlamMistress]

Ok but wait there's more. I just thought "what the heck" and checked the AA promotions website aa.com/yourpromotions and logged in as me... and I was targeted for free gold status, so I enrolled in that too.

Everyone should check that website to see if you are eligible.

ETA: well of course TPG wrote about this 7 hours ago so you've all probably discussed it. Remember I'm in a vortex of hell at work this week so I'm just behind!

https://thepointsguy.com/news/american-airlines-elite-status-giveaway/

 

[Haley R]

I had some in November. You might get a freebie if it's your birthday. It's some very expensive ice cream and I didn't really like the flavor I chose.



Amex SPG Biz gives you a 35K free night. Swan/Dolphin are 50K. Do you ever stay in hotels anywhere besides Disney? If you never stay in a hotel other than at Disney, then it's not much good for you.

What flavor did you choose

 

[Judique]

What flavor did you choose

Something that had a half a cup of pecans in the bottom of the cup. I do like pecans - just not so many in ice cream. I don't remember the name as I'm a 'give me that one there' while I point at it type of person.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

I thought the same way as @gottalovepluto on this. I know I haven't redeemed a single UR since Disney hotel removal from the portal. However, I suppose I'm in the minority with that.

So far I’ve used URs to stay at Wyndham Bonnet Creek in December. We also booked the Marriott Royal Palms using URs for this March...

 

[Haley R]

Something that had a half a cup of pecans in the bottom of the cup. I do like pecans - just not so many in ice cream. I don't remember the name as I'm a 'give me that one there' while I point at it type of person.

I’m more of a plain or classic person when it comes to ice cream. I like cookies and cream, cookie dough, and mint chocolate chip