I love credit cards so much! v2.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[Lain]

I haven't been keeping up on here very well lately, but I remember seeing something a week or so ago about downgrading a current CSR to a Freedom, then upgrading a different Freedom to a CSR to get the $300 travel credit again. I'm just checking that I will definitely be able to upgrade my current Freedom Unlimited to a new CSR, right? The credit limit is good at $10K, so it would meet that requirement. Is there any reason they would say no to that? I called Chase a little while ago and got cold feet. The agent totally talked me into keeping the current CSR. I totally felt like...

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https://www.disboards.com/threads/i...r-addl-details.3729982/page-831#post-60430367

https://www.disboards.com/threads/i...r-addl-details.3729982/page-833#post-60431228

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Check the DISchurners news thread.

So I'll quote all of those here just for anybody that wants to read through...

It seems from what @disneymagicgirl said this requires an AMEX plat so for somebody sporting an AMEX ED and/or AMEX BBP or Gold or BGR but no Plat, probably not an option I guess?

Normally if I were in the know on this, I'd write up a quick bulleted guide. If we think this is something to benefit the group, perhaps somebody can do that. Otherwise I'll just let it go since it's not really for me, haha. If my wife could get a Plat we'd just get Schwab and cash-out that way.

EDIT: adding this comment from @Lain to cap this off as one comment with all the pertinent info: You'll need a Platinum or Business Platinum to access Amex's Fine Hotels & Resorts program. Amex recently added a Pay With Points option for FHR to redeem MR at 1 cpp.

TPG trigger warning: Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts Stays Are Now Bookable With Points

Anyone have any experience with cancelling a hotel stay that was prepaid with MR points? I had redeemed a bunch of MR for a 1 night stay in NYC, then found an inexpensive (for NYC) room for cash, so I cancelled the room I had paid for with MR. When I originally booked the prepaid room it showed as a charge for $300 (making up numbers) and then a MR credit of $300 to cover the charge (for this redemption I was getting .01 per point). I cancelled the reservation, and now I have a vendor credit for $300, and my MRs haven't been returned. Is this a thing? Did I just inadvertently cash out MRs at .01 per point? Trying to decide if I want to call them and see if I can get my MRs back - I have a use for them, but I could also use the $300 cash, so not sure I want to correct it.

No, I cancelled with Amex, but it showed up on my statement as "vendor credit" with no vendor specified.



This was a fine hotels rate, and it was fully refundable (MR bookings aren't always, but most of the Fine Hotels rates I've looked at are). Guess I should have read the fine print more carefully. Cashing out isn't a terrible answer - I've got a few $$ hotel stays coming up because I'm hoarding points, so this will offset some of that. Good to learn my lesson when the consequences aren't that significant! I'm looking to use MRs for some more substantial hotel bookings for our Europe trip, so I better be dead sure about dates etc. before I book, even if they are refundable!

It was .01 per point - so $500 for 50,000 points. Better than their usual .006 for MRs you get for most hotels. For the free breakfast, potential upgrade (we've gotten nice rooms - not necessarily suites, but usually nice) and late checkout, we like using their rates, whether its cash or points. Also, they count for points/status if you are a rewards member, so my FHR rates on Marriott properties count for Marriott elite status, even if they are paid with MR points.

Still cash! My points never reappeared, and the credit is still there offsetting other charges. I thought about calling to get the points back, but decided I'd rather have the credit, so I never followed up. Seems like it works.

 

[kandb]

Wilton, CT (Fairfield County). My parents sold our house in 7/98 for $1.475 million. It sold last year for $1.255 million. If you look at the Federal Housing Finance Agency's housing price index, Connecticut is a disaster (a lot of companies have left because of taxes).

Yeah, I live in NJ and the same thing is happening here. They are taxing people out of the state. Bad politicians helping it along. Our housing prices are still high and we love living here in spite of the high taxes. We also have a great school system and are 30 minutes from NYC. We have no interest in moving but hoping the cost of living slows down.

 

[Lain]

Is this being done with a specific card? Via some AMEX travel portal. While it was “discussed” it would be nice if somebody laid it out straight. It honestly doesn’t matter to me but I also can’t follow the strategy nor could I advise somebody on how to do it with that I’ve seen posted (unless I missed something when perusing the thread earlier on my T ride).

You'll need a Platinum or Business Platinum to access Amex's Fine Hotels & Resorts program. Amex recently added a Pay With Points option for FHR to redeem MR at 1 cpp.

TPG trigger warning: Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts Stays Are Now Bookable With Points

 

[afan]

I saw Disneyland Paris hotels on use AA miles. I really want to go in 2020 and hopefully we can “afford” the Disneyland Paris hotel.

I'd make sure and check all the various country sites before booking with points/miles. They do a lot of deals, we did a stay 2 get 2 with 5 day ticket. Also there isn't really a way to get discounted tickets and they generally just do packages, though you can get a room only it's not really beneficial because the only deal would be with an AP discount. I'd make sure that you can get tickets too, but I'd for sure compare it to all the various sites. It worked out best for us to book on the US site but I made sure and check the other big ones, France, UK, Germany and maybe one other that I can't remember. You can book on any as long as you are fine with the currency conversion.

 

[havaneselover]

Just went to AA admirals club in clt with a co-worker. Wish I hadn’t—so big compared to the priority pass lounges.

 

[kandb]

Wow, I got the new Marriott Bonvoy card around 6 weeks ago. First bill was $4606 (had a $4K car repair bill) and my balance is now $496 and I just checked my Marriott rewards account and they already gave me the 100,000 points. I also got 20K points when I referred my husband for the card. We are going out west in August and I got a Springhill Suites for 12,500/night for family of 5 with full breakfast for 3 nights. The rate of that hotel was around $125/night, so I only used 37,500 points when it would of cost almost $400. Some hotels are really high points but others are not. No AF the first year either.

 

[Haley R]

Yeah I’m definitely booking all my stuff for Tokyo as soon as the window opens in August, which is why I’m trying to bulk up Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt balances before then!

What type of room are you gonna go for?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Wow, I got the new Marriott Bonvoy card around 6 weeks ago. First bill was $4606 (had a $4K car repair bill) and my balance is now $496 and I just checked my Marriott rewards account and they already gave me the 100,000 points. I also got 20K points when I referred my husband for the card. We are going out west in August and I got a Springhill Suites for 12,500/night for family of 5 with full breakfast for 3 nights. The rate of that hotel was around $125/night, so I only used 37,500 points when it would of cost almost $400. Some hotels are really high points but others are not. No AF the first year either.

This may not work for your trip but keep in mind the 5th night is free so if you made that a 5 night trip you’d get almost $700 value out of 50,000 pts!

Also - glad to see you’ve branched our from your previous professed love of cashing out for restaurant gift cards Some of these programs can provide some pretty nice rewards.

 

[Haley R]

Dh got a call from the relocation specialist yesterday so we got more information about that. He also got a call from the realtor today and they set us up on their website. We only see 12 houses we're REALLY interested in, but when we bought our current house we really only looked at 5-6 other houses so it should be okay. I called my parents tonight and they are going down with us next weekend to look! I'm really excited that they wanted to come and that their schedule is free. Dh's new company pays for him and I to go for 4 nights/5 days. They cover airfare, meals, hotel, rental car, and other travel expenses. So of course with us trying to meet Dh's CIP MSR we booked everything on that (including my parent's tickets/hotel). We get reimbursed for me and Dh's expenses so works out great! We're also staying at a Hampton which is a Hilton brand and my parent's room has my honors account on it so we'll get points from both rooms.

I am SO excited to go down and look at houses. It really doesn't feel real to me yet, but it will when we actually fly down. We're flying into MCO and out of Sanford. There weren't a lot of options for us to get a nonstop flight (yes I mean nonstop) and the prices just kept going up. We did get $39 flights down with Frontier, but we are flying Allegiant back.

 

[kandb]

This may not work for your trip but keep in mind the 5th night is free so if you made that a 5 night trip you’d get almost $700 value out of 50,000 pts!

Also - glad to see you’ve branched our from your previous professed love of cashing out for restaurant gift cards Some of these programs can provide some pretty nice rewards.

Wow, I didn't know that. It actually might work because the first night I was going to pay for a hotel that was a little closer to Albuquerque airport but we could definitely just check in to the one we are booked at for the 3 nights and can add a night on because we are going out west for 2 weeks. Do I just book the 5 nights with points and the 5th night would be point free? Do I need to call? Thanks for this, I didn't know about it.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Wow, I didn't know that. It actually might work because the first night I was going to pay for a hotel that was a little closer to Albuquerque airport but we could definitely just check in to the one we are booked at for the 3 nights and can add a night on because we are going out west for 2 weeks. Do I just book the 5 nights with points and the 5th night would be point free? Do I need to call? Thanks for this, I didn't know about it.

If you go in and try to book you should see that the total points price is the same for 4 nights and 5 nights. You don’t have to call or do anything special. It’s a nice and easy to use benefit

 

[CyndiLouWho]

The Omaha zoo is something else. With all the work they have been doing lately its even getting better. I grew up in the Chicago land area and going back there to the zoo now is just not what I remember as a kid. LOL. Totally spoiled on the zoo here.

Wow, really? I’ve never been to Omaha but Chicago has 2 highly regarded zoos. I mean it’s not San Diego, so some things are not possible but they are still pretty great. I’ve been to SD and Beijing zoos, will have to consider Omaha.

DH has been denied for AA Business card twice now. 1st time it said "too many inquiries". So, I waited about 6 months and tried again. Just got the letter in the mail. It was denied because 'they couldn't verify his information". What the heck. It has his SS # and says Sole Proprietor... what is to verify??? I may have DH call on this. He does have an actual "business" of shrink wrapping boats on the side in the fall and makes about $4500 a year doing this. So, he could talk to them legitimately - just seems so stupid..

I think this is why DH was denied. He first got a message that they needed more info but when he called Sunday they told him to call during the week. I checked the online status check today and it's now a denial.

 

[kandb]

This may not work for your trip but keep in mind the 5th night is free so if you made that a 5 night trip you’d get almost $700 value out of 50,000 pts!

Also - glad to see you’ve branched our from your previous professed love of cashing out for restaurant gift cards Some of these programs can provide some pretty nice rewards.

I went and booked the 5 nights at the Springhill Suites. It would of been $796 before taxes for the 5 nights and I got it for 50K points. Thank you again for letting me know. It looks like a really nice hotel as well.

 

[magickingdomprincess]

Ok, "late" night chat #3 done. Fingers crossed!

 

[amalone1013]

I saw July cc double dips on dcl today at *gt rates. It was only $4k for me and the 3 littlest kids like July 7 or something. It was a 5 night. I have said this a couple times this year, but I think they are discovering their “ceiling” of what they can charge. There have been some surprising gt rates come about.

Unfortunately I don’t have $4k for that unless I cancel my May wdw trip and use those funds. Boo.

I think you should look at a June double dip

I saw Disneyland Paris hotels on use AA miles. I really want to go in 2020 and hopefully we can “afford” the Disneyland Paris hotel.

That would also make me feel less bad about blowing my arrival plus points on a priceline deluxe deal for WDW because I had a thought of saving them for a DLP hotel...

 

[amalone1013]

Wow, really? I’ve never been to Omaha but Chicago has 2 highly regarded zoos. I mean it’s not San Diego, so some things are not possible but they are still pretty great. I’ve been to SD and Beijing zoos, will have to consider Omaha.

I LOVE THE OMAHA ZOO
Lol
Since this all came up earlier now I'm seriously considering trying to make a trip soon. I'm going to aim for May or June I think

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I went and booked the 5 nights at the Springhill Suites. It would of been $796 before taxes for the 5 nights and I got it for 50K points. Thank you again for letting me know. It looks like a really nice hotel as well.

You're welcome!! I have done my good churning deed for the day now

Also FYI: From what you've shared, you're getting over 1.5cpp on that redemption, that is a GREAT get!!! Many of us struggle to find a value of 0.7cpp on Marriott and you're getting over twice that

 

[mmmears]

My Platinum Saks credit hasn't posted yet & it's been nearly a week... Hope they are just behind in posting.

Mine took about 2-3 days after the charge went from pending to a real charge. That was just a few weeks ago, so pretty recent DP.

Just went to AA admirals club in clt with a co-worker. Wish I hadn’t—so big compared to the priority pass lounges.

I've only been in 2. I don't even remember much about the one in SFO, but the one at JFK (international flight are) was really large and had great views.

 

[calypso726]

Many of us struggle to find a value of 0.7cpp on Marriott

This is where I get frustrated with most hotel point redemptions. Free night certs are easy for me since I can easily find a FN at a hotel that costs more than the AF. Redeeming actual points is tough. The Al Maha redemption was well over 2 cents pp. Looking at the rates for next March and even at the increased 85k per night it is still over 2 cpp. That's an easy decision since I'd never pay $1300 - $1800 per night for a hotel.

When I take a look at my favorite staycation Marriott on the beach it is about $250 - $310 per night or 50k points. That's .005 - .006 cpp. I can't bring myself to do it. I'd sooner find the less expensive dates, pay OOP, get the $300 Bonvoy credits and earn points for the stay or blow a FN cert on it if I really want the date. I think I'm at a point where I've gotten super picky about hotel redemptions if I have to use points. I know what I CAN get with them so anything less than that doesn't give me the same thrill. #travelhackingproblems