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

[speedyfishy]

OT but Oga’s Cantina is now taking reservations up to 180 days out. Got some for my wedding trip.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

I have a question,
I opened the Southwest business card, the one that earns your 80,000 points after minimum spend. I made the minimum spend on July 22, I was wondering if anyone knows when my points will post to my Southwest account? Also, I believe I also need to earn 110,000 points in the same calendar year to earn the companion pass is that correct? We don’t fly often but will probably fly this November. Thanks!

They usually post to your SW account a few days after the statement closes

Yes you need to earn and have the points post to your RR account in the same calendar year so by 12/31/19...

 

[jaysraptor]

It's been a rough couple weeks for me. We had a family reunion and my Mom passed away suddenly surrounded by her family. We were sitting around the campfire listening/singing one minute, she started making a coughing sound, I went over to her, watched her take a few breaths, told her I loved her, and that was it. No pulse, eyes were fixed and dilated, and I had to tell everyone she was gone. It wasn't a total shock, my Mom has had over 10 heart attacks and strokes starting at the age of 47. Her last stroke was almost 5 years ago, and it has been a struggle. Deep down I knew the next one was only a matter of time. Although she tried to keep a good attitude she has been praying for God to take her to heaven for a long time. Even though she never officially became a DNR, she said she would never have the strength to go through another stroke. So even though I knew it was best for her it was not easy to look at my step dad and say just let her go.

But I have much to be thankful for. She is now at peace and is reunited with my brother who passed away at 17. I counted up 8 Disney trips we've been able to take with her, including the first one 6 weeks after a ruptured aneurysm, a condition that many don't survive. I'm thankful for this community, it's been nice to read here and take my mind off things. The weird thing is we planned this family reunion so that the next time we got together it wouldn't be for a funeral. We were more thinking of my 95 year old grandma, but God had other plans. Here's one of my favorite pictures. Our first Disney trip after that ruptured aneurysm.

Sorry for your loss. Losing a parent is never easy. Not a day goes by that I don't think of my dad who passed almost 13 years ago.

 

[Chancery8]

It's been a rough couple weeks for me. We had a family reunion and my Mom passed away suddenly surrounded by her family. We were sitting around the campfire listening/singing one minute, she started making a coughing sound, I went over to her, watched her take a few breaths, told her I loved her, and that was it. No pulse, eyes were fixed and dilated, and I had to tell everyone she was gone. It wasn't a total shock, my Mom has had over 10 heart attacks and strokes starting at the age of 47. Her last stroke was almost 5 years ago, and it has been a struggle. Deep down I knew the next one was only a matter of time. Although she tried to keep a good attitude she has been praying for God to take her to heaven for a long time. Even though she never officially became a DNR, she said she would never have the strength to go through another stroke. So even though I knew it was best for her it was not easy to look at my step dad and say just let her go.

But I have much to be thankful for. She is now at peace and is reunited with my brother who passed away at 17. I counted up 8 Disney trips we've been able to take with her, including the first one 6 weeks after a ruptured aneurysm, a condition that many don't survive. I'm thankful for this community, it's been nice to read here and take my mind off things. The weird thing is we planned this family reunion so that the next time we got together it wouldn't be for a funeral. We were more thinking of my 95 year old grandma, but God had other plans. Here's one of my favorite pictures. Our first Disney trip after that ruptured aneurysm.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Your post got me all emotional, so I can only imagine how you feel. That photo of your mother is beautiful. She looks so happy, I'm sure she just spread joy everywhere she went.

 

[shairpdrh]

@alryan so sorry for your loss. The joy in that picture is an amazing thing after such a serious event. This is a good reminder to appreciate the trips we get to take with my parents.

 

[PolyRob]

BoA account update. Payroll ran yesterday so I had to look. My DD successfully updated

 

[shairpdrh]

OT but Oga’s Cantina is now taking reservations up to 180 days out. Got some for my wedding trip.

And it has a hold page

 

[amalone1013]

BoA account update. Payroll ran yesterday so I had to look. My DD successfully updated

Mine too!

 

[speedyfishy]

And it has a hold page

Yeah, I had to wait a bit. lol what else is new

 

[Psychodisney]

It's been a rough couple weeks for me. We had a family reunion and my Mom passed away suddenly surrounded by her family. We were sitting around the campfire listening/singing one minute, she started making a coughing sound, I went over to her, watched her take a few breaths, told her I loved her, and that was it. No pulse, eyes were fixed and dilated, and I had to tell everyone she was gone. It wasn't a total shock, my Mom has had over 10 heart attacks and strokes starting at the age of 47. Her last stroke was almost 5 years ago, and it has been a struggle. Deep down I knew the next one was only a matter of time. Although she tried to keep a good attitude she has been praying for God to take her to heaven for a long time. Even though she never officially became a DNR, she said she would never have the strength to go through another stroke. So even though I knew it was best for her it was not easy to look at my step dad and say just let her go.

But I have much to be thankful for. She is now at peace and is reunited with my brother who passed away at 17. I counted up 8 Disney trips we've been able to take with her, including the first one 6 weeks after a ruptured aneurysm, a condition that many don't survive. I'm thankful for this community, it's been nice to read here and take my mind off things. The weird thing is we planned this family reunion so that the next time we got together it wouldn't be for a funeral. We were more thinking of my 95 year old grandma, but God had other plans. Here's one of my favorite pictures. Our first Disney trip after that ruptured aneurysm.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope you find comfort in your memories!

 

[striker1064]

Thanks! I was thinking this would make a good family gift for older daughter who likes to play but who doesn't own one. She comes and plays younger daughters and sometimes borrows it. Then I saw the price on Dell which is way higher with the added accessory and wondered if they had new versions. We got the first one for $270 plus tax when Toysrus was going out of business. I play no games but the adult kids love them.

Oh! I can help with this.

So you have the original Nintendo Switch. The box is white with red on the sides, as I recall.

The Switch Lite (total missed opportunity not calling this the Light-Switch, tbh) is up for preorder now. It comes in 3 or 4 different colors. It's cheaper - $199.99 - and the biggest difference is it is smaller, the controllers on the side do not come off (so it literally does not do the thing its namesake says), and there is no dock so you cannot play on the TV.

There is a new model of the original Switch coming as well. This box is all red and looks noticeably different than the original Switch. This version has a better battery life. I don't know exactly when these will hit shelves, but it will be soon and if you're buying one, this is the one to get. It should be the same $299.99 price as the original console.

The rest of the bundles as far as I know are made by stores. There was I think briefly a bundle with Super Smash Bros but it was more expensive.

Personal opinion - the Switch is pretty rad.

 

[alryan]

I’m so sorry for the loss of your Mom....sending

I am so sorry for your loss!

I'm so sorry. I'm glad she was surrounded by her loved ones.

I’m very sorry for your loss.

@alryan - So glad you were there to share that last 'I love you'. Sounds like she would have known she was loved and surrounded by her family. My condolences to you all.

I am so sorry for your loss

It's so very difficult to see a parent with health issues struggling. You know it will happen eventually yet you feel almost guilty for wanting them to no longer be in pain.

Yesterday was my mother's birthday. She would have been 77 this year. She died almost 10 years ago after a horrible year with ovarian cancer. My dad and her older sister were with her. I had just left to pick up my kids at school.

Thank you all!! I know I missed some, still can't figure out the multi quote from different pages. @LuckyMamaInDE you hit the nail on the head. So many conflicting emotions! I'm sorry for your loss. Even though 72 seems way too young, working as an RN in a long term care facility did help me prepare. Every day I see people who are just praying for God to take them home, or stoke survivors who live for years with little quality of life. Families who are in tears that they ever put a feeding tube in a stroke survivor. Even at 72 my Mom had a good life, not always easy, but a good life...and that I can thank God for.

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

The Residence Inn in the Seaport district is a great hotel - it is much more interesting than most Residence Inns - in an old brick building that they have retrofitted to be very cool and modern. I've spent way too many nights there - there was a time when I was traveling to Boston for a couple of days every other week and that was my go-to hotel. Lots of great restaurants around there (more now than there were back when I visited frequently, actually). I would have guessed it would be more points than that - definitely a great use of a 35k cert!

Oooh good to know!

Ha - I was thinking of you guys swinging by to buy some Marriott GCs with your Amex Offers or Brilliant credit. Finding hotels that sell the physical card at the front desk seems to be increasingly rare.

Ha now swing by and stay a night!!

I just spent the last week there on a staycation. Been living in Massachusetts for 11 years and figured it was time to do the tourist thing. Hotel was great and had a really enjoyable week. DW works in the Seaport area so she really enjoyed the 5 minute commute to the office.

I used my 7 night cert from the old flights and nights deal to stay here - room was going for over $400/night plus tax so a pretty solid value I think.

Cool! What touristy things did you do?

I think what prevents the Amex pop up is probably a bit more complicated than putting spend on all your cards. There are a lot of theories out there trying to figure out Amex’s algorithm for triggering the pop up.

Some people think Amex is looking for you to maintain the same level of spend as you had during the MSR period, but that’s just nuts and I certainly don’t maintain that level of spend on every one of my cards every month. I do maintain a high level of spend (high cost of living) with Amex, collectively, every month.

Others suggest if you get the pop up, to bring up your levels of spend to where they were while meeting MSR, and increasing spend to get rid of the pop up seems to help, i.e., those who have gotten rid of the pop up say they increased their spend on existing Amex cards, but it seems YMMV because it’s not clear how much spend will get rid of the pop up, whereas some people have reported just using the cards again for everyday spend was enough, while others have put thousands of dollars of new spend on their cards and still can’t get rid of the pop up.

Then there’s a debate whether you need to put spend on all of your cards or just any card will do. For people with 5 or 10 open Amex cards, putting spend on every card is logistically difficult and presents a lot of opportunity cost because that spend could be used towards cards with better category bonuses or MSRs on new cards.

I do continue to spend on an Amex card after meeting MSR, but I taper off my spend on the new cards within a few months and move that spend to my Amex Gold (4x MR restaurants/4x MR supermarkets), BGR (3x MR gas), Bonvoy Biz (4x Marriott gas), and BBP (2x everywhere) for better category bonuses. This helps to put several thousand dollars of spend mostly on the Gold and BBP every month. I also have a Plat, 2 Biz Plats, a legacy SPG/Bonvoy, and Bonvoy Brilliant. The “sock drawered” cards mostly see less than $100 in charges each month using Amex Offers and credits and non-bonus category spend just to keep them active. But that’s certainly no where near the levels of spend that I put on them while meeting MSR.

So far, no pop ups.

ETA: Then I think of people who maintain high levels of spend with Amex, generally, due to MS. They’ll grab all the cards for their SUBs, but many of the cards they’ll open don’t have category bonuses that are conducive to MS, e.g., a Plat will get you 5x on flights but 1x at the supermarket or office supply store and no incentive to hit a certain spend for some status or free night. A card like that would go in the sock drawer and see little continuing spend. But cards like the Gold, EDP, and even BBP would see a lot of MS spend because of the usefulness of their categories. And all that spend on just a few cards seems to ward away the pop ups.

So true I keep wanting to figure out the secret recipe to get rid of the pop up. Can't seem to shake DH's. I've been ok so far but AMEX makes me so nervous!

Thanks. I was able to find flights both ways for 15,000 each so can do the flights. Just have to figure out the hotel thing.

We already have other vacations planned for next year and they are going on a cruise with all the kids/grandkids in January 2021 so I know they are saving for that. So, thought it would be nice if they could come with almost free..

Someone else on this thread did a review of the Renessiance and said good things. I think the Marriott would be in a better location and it's beachfront. I stayed at the Hilton and really liked that area - more high rise hotels but a lot of restaurants and shops across the street and you can walk up and down to any hotel and just explore very safely.

So I got a Jetblue card offer for DH today from Barclays that says he was "pre-selected" for it and it has a personal code for him to put in to apply online for the card. It's 50k miles for 1k spend, which would actually be great for us since we fly Jetblue to MCO. I'm assuming that "pre-selected" for Barclays is not the same as "pre-approved?" I'm getting ready to close DH's Barclays AA Biz but wondering if I should apply before I do that, or after? I've put no spend at all on that card other than the first purchase last year, and Barclays denied me for Jetblue Biz last year due to lack of spend. However, Barclays also only gave me a 1k credit line while they gave DH a 14k credit line on the Barclays AA Biz.

Would love some advice on this. I would be willing to burn a 5/24 slot for DH for this card.

I think you'd be better off canceling the JetBlue. Bar-Cray seems to be one of the only companys that people successfully churn after canceling vs getting multiple cards. I believe @wendow had that experience

 

[tink1970]

@alryan

I am so sorry for your loss. Your mother looked like a lovely person who knew how to give and receive joy. Hugs and prayers during this time of adjustment.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Is your daughter doing a semester abroad or going to school there full time? My son wants to study in England for a semester hopefully next year. He is going to be researching and talking to his advisor about it this year.

She's going full time and about to start her third and final year. English schools are three years for most subjects. She absolutely loves it and will probably stay over there to get her masters. I highly recommend it--such a phenomenal experience. Plus there's the excuse for travel

 

[alryan]

-

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Are referrals possible from your account? I've been thinking about doing this instead of next CIP but would need to be able to refer to get to the 110,000 points needed for the CP.

No support links for the 80k RR business card....the other SW personal and business do have them

 

[schmass]

@alryan I am so sorry for your loss. Wishing you peace and comfort during this time.

 

[afan]

Enjoyed meeting @wendow and her family. They are all as lovely as she makes them seem @Judique we did match with both having pink on too .