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

[wanderlust7]

I come seeking your advice! And I wouldn't be honest if I didn't say I am in awe of your miles mastery!!


Recently issued card and the only card we are routinely using:

01/19 - AMEX Delta Skymiles
Other Cards open / willing to replace:
04/06 - AMEX BlueSky
05/17 - VISA Slate
Our credit scores are in the upper 7s / low 8s. We have had some credit issues early in our marriage so we kept the older AMEX card open for credit longevity. I don’t think this is necessary anymore. We have completed all our credit transactions for our primary residence and our DVC was paid in full (except for downpayment on CC - paid off), not financed.

• We are probably looking at putting $2K - $3K per month on routine purchases. We shop primarily at COSTCO for household goods and gas.
• We will occasionally carry a balance, but we have the means to pay off monthly.
• We are flying out of PHX. My business travel takes me to the upper mid-west quarterly, thus the DELTA card. DH used to do a LOT of business travel on Southwest, but no more. His travel is sporadic, and if regional would be on Southwest
• Do you have a preference of Frequent Flyer program? Yes, me: Delta Skymiles. Both of us: Southwest. DH has United also.
• Does SOUTHWEST service your airport? Yes.
• Do you have a Hotel Rewards program preference? No.
• Do you currently have any travel points in any program?

Delta Skymiles: 87,838
Southwest: Nominal. We used pts to fly to MCO in July 2019

• We are closing on our DVC resale membership and looking to maximize our CC usage for flights:
  
  
  • First trip: Aulani /HNL in Sept 2020. We will be traveling from PHX with a party of 8 (5 adults, 3 kids).
  • The direct flight is on Hawaiaan air is prefferrable. However, we could fly Delta and Southwest is also an option. We will be paying for all 8 flights. A card that is non-airline specific would also work. I am not sure how to maximize this trip to build points for our future trips to WDW.
  • Our next trip would be from PHX to MCO in March 2021. Our usual part of travel is 2 adults and 3 kids. We will most frequently be traveling from PHX to MCO. Southwest goes direct. I am hoping that with our 8 flights to Hawaii that we would have enough miles to off-set this trip.
  • Our long term plan is WDW every 18 months - 2 years for a week long trip.

I welcome your expertise!! THANK YOU!! (and I have no idea why I cannot unbold this post! forgive me!)

Hi and
Most of us here start with Chase cards...which would be perfect for your Costco shopping.

If you and your DH are willing to open business cards Chase has the Chase Ink Preferred CIP which offers a 80k UR bonus after a $5k spend in the first 3 months..if you open one...then send your DH a support link....between the 2 cards you would earn...190URs

If you would rather stay with personal cards...the Chase Sapphire Preferred CSP offers a 60k UR bonus after a $4k spend....if you both open a card with the spend and support link you would earn 143 URs

Since you fly SW it sounds like you would benefit from a SW Companion Pass...you get it by earning 110,000 RR points in a calendar year....which can be done by opening a SW personal and SW business card

I’m sure others will also help out with their thoughts as well

To add on to what @palhockeymomof2 posted, many things that you might not think of as a "business" can count. Selling on eBay, babysitting, tutoring, rentals, etc. You would apply as a sole proprietor and use your SSN as the tax ID/EIN. Your name as the business name (don't get cute and make up some name).

Both the Chase Ink Preferred (business card) and Chase Sapphire Preferred (personal card) come with 1.25 redemption on your points when used for travel through their portal (run by Expedia). So if you got those 190k URs, it would be worth $2375 for travel (flights, hotels, cruises, car rentals, even tickets/activities - but they've taken out everything Disney). Or flat out $1900 cash. Or you can transfer point for point to SW.

If you plan to do a lot of redemption through the portal, you may want to consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve (personal card). But the bonus is 50k UR and no support link. That comes with 1.5x travel redemptions. So those 190k URs would be worth $2850. The annual fee is $450, but comes with $300 travel credit that's easy to use. Also comes with TSA Precheck/Global Entry credit and Priority Pass (airport lounge access).

You can't get both the Chase Sapphire Preferred (CSP) and Reserve (CSR) within 48 months of each other unless you use a loophole - see the Dischurners site if interested. Other option would be to get the CSP first for higher bonus, then product change to CSR a year later.

Chase has a rule where they won't approve you for any of their cards (personal or business) if you have 5 or more new cards (from any issuer) within the last 24 months (the 5/24 rule). They only look at cards on your personal credit report. Most business cards don't report to your personal credit report. There are some banks that are exceptions, but Chase and American Express do not. This is why business cards are very attractive if you want to really get into the game.

 

[Marshmelo]

Question that I thought maybe this group could help me with. Citi has sent me a couple mailers with an invitation to switch my thankyou preferred card to rewards+. Should I do this? From what I can tell the main difference for me would be getting 2 points per dollar on grocery and gas stations instead of restaurants and entertainment. Also the rewards+ would round up to nearest 10 points. Has anyone made this switch? Is it better?

 

[PolyRob]

Part of the reimagining is the end of Future World. I really hope they rethink parts of that (like destroying the Land pavilion). I feel exactly like you do; I can deal with the buildings but the Fountain is upsetting. It is such a great open area and at night with the palm trees. Epcot has always been my favorite park and now I am wondering if that will stay the same. It just makes me sad. And seriously at the Epcot Tour they went on how when they put the fountain in all the nations from the World Showcase brought water of their own to put in it. And how there is all the symbolism in the concrete around it. To just take it out now seems ludicrous.

The end of Future World is definitely sad. I will miss the fountain and that music soundtrack (I assume it will be removed, no confirmation yet). Anytime I watch a vlog and hear it in the background I smile. I believe in the latest information from D23 that The Land should remain safe in the "World Nature" neighborhood.



Living with the Land also just received an update to it's screens at the end of the ride. Fingers crossed the pavilion remains safe besides the new video upstairs and upgraded paint/flooring! I also think Soarin' will need to change at the end because Epcot will look different, but I am ok with that. Those fake fireworks are terrible!

 

[wanderlust7]

With all the car seat trade in events going on or coming up, I am thinking about trading in an old infant seat to get a travel carseat for DD3. Does anyone have any recommendations for carseats that are easy to transport through airports, then gate check? I'm looking for something inexpensive, lightweight, and not too wide (so it will easily fit in our car seat backpack). Ideally, it would convert from a forward facing carseat to a highback booster. It doesn't need to rear face.

I had my eye on the Cosco Finale, but it says the minimum weight is 30 lbs. DD3 is tiny and just hit 26 lbs. Does anyone have any ideas?

We used to use the Cosco Scenera on flights. Very lightweight and came with a carrier bag (that especially made it so much easier!).

You probably already know about the Walmart trade in event? $30 gift card, great deal! Glad we still have old car seats lying around, lol.

 

[PolyRob]

@PolyRob what is the “break even” for Tables in Wonderland? Can I get it when we upgrade to APs?

Someone also posted a way to get Deluxe Dining package and do some more expensive meals but just doing adult in child for the first part of a split stay. Was it @kmc8826? How do we do fast pass reservations if DH and DS aren’t listed in the room?

For TIW, it depends because you do get some discounts by having the AP. But disregarding any AP discounts you would get, it's $750 to break even. We always get it because it includes alcohol and AP discounts do not.

For the DxDP trick, I think you need multiple rooms to make it work. Put 1 adult and kids in the room with the plan, and all others in the other room. Since credits are pooled, you can pay kids prices and use the credits for anyone including adults. I wouldn't leave any family members off the reservation if you're all in one room though. Unless someone else has a different experience I'd love to hear how you do it!

At @marsh0013 and I are exactly the same! The $750 breaks even, but you get more with TiW. There are a few extra participating locations ( Swan and Dolphin restaurants, value/mod food courts, etc) and alcohol is included. Some will say you have to double it and you start savings at $1,500+, but you can make a spreadsheet looking at all your dining locations factoring in the 10% or 20% where applicable and see what your real number would be (somewhere in between). I always come out ahead with TiW having a group of adults that occasionally get a drink here or there and goes 4+ times a year. I also do a Luau annually and a HDDR every trip that I am there for a whole week so the 20% really helps with dining shows compared to the 10%!

I also think the same thing with the DxDP. You can do two rooms and share the pooled kid credits across adults because you pay less for it up front. All of my calculations for adults who dine at signatures comes out horribly with any dining plan so I have never purchased one. I can absolutely see how it would save you money for kids with character meals, but that isn't my specific case. Something you could also consider it a split-stay. I've seen math where people front load trips with character meals to use up dining credits and then they have until midnight of checkout from the first split to use the remaining credits. I believe this is even what @SouthFayetteFan is considering with his YC/CR split.

 

[PolyRob]

Now that I have caught up here, I have to pull out my work laptop and do some stuff for tomorrow. Crazy, right?

 

[CoP Luv]

I chose to change it to a CIC. No AF and gets 5x UR at office supply stores and phone/internet, 2x at gas stations. I think the phone insurance is not as good if that is important to you.
My CIP #2 , I will probably cancel at 1 year.

Thanks! I was looking at downgrading, but wasn't sure if that was the best way to do it.

I’d say this depends on your future strategy. You could downgrade to CIU or CIC. If it has a high CL though you might want to reduce that to allow for future biz card approvals. You can always close it later so I’d downgrade initially until you’re sure what the right answer is. You can’t reopen it later lol.

My future strategy at this moment is "How can I get to New Zealand in 2022 and Paris in 2023?"

Short term, it's to finish the CIP MSR, and the figure out what to do with Amex since my Amex Plat AF comes up in Dec (I think...it was a mid November app...so do I qualify for the triple dip?) So I will probably get another Amex card after the CIP to keep my Amex points...Then, it's off to see what to do with DH. He's at 3/24.

I like URs the most since that's what I have been using for the longest time and find them easy to redeem and transfer. We both now have 100k+ MR since we got the Plats over the last year. I am not too much of a fan of hotel cards since we aren't tied to a specific brand. And I don't want to keep track of all of that.

@CoP Luv - the CIC does not have cell phone insurance. Whatever you do, just switch your cell phone bill over to CIP2, which does.

My cell phone auto pay is the only thing on my Amex Plat. I haven't even looked into cell phone coverage through them. I should probably check into that, right?

 

[3 DD love princesses]

Why, oh why! Do school uniform shirts need to be white? I cannot get the salsa stain out of DS’s polo to save my life. Looks like I’ll helping with DH’s Hilton MSR by getting more shirts.

I use dr spot from the basin. Works great and 2/3 kids always stain their uniforms And clothes.

I come seeking your advice! And I wouldn't be honest if I didn't say I am in awe of your miles mastery!!


Recently issued card and the only card we are routinely using:

01/19 - AMEX Delta Skymiles
Other Cards open / willing to replace:
04/06 - AMEX BlueSky
05/17 - VISA Slate
Our credit scores are in the upper 7s / low 8s. We have had some credit issues early in our marriage so we kept the older AMEX card open for credit longevity. I don’t think this is necessary anymore. We have completed all our credit transactions for our primary residence and our DVC was paid in full (except for downpayment on CC - paid off), not financed.

• We are probably looking at putting $2K - $3K per month on routine purchases. We shop primarily at COSTCO for household goods and gas.
• We will occasionally carry a balance, but we have the means to pay off monthly.
• We are flying out of PHX. My business travel takes me to the upper mid-west quarterly, thus the DELTA card. DH used to do a LOT of business travel on Southwest, but no more. His travel is sporadic, and if regional would be on Southwest
• Do you have a preference of Frequent Flyer program? Yes, me: Delta Skymiles. Both of us: Southwest. DH has United also.
• Does SOUTHWEST service your airport? Yes.
• Do you have a Hotel Rewards program preference? No.
• Do you currently have any travel points in any program?

Delta Skymiles: 87,838
Southwest: Nominal. We used pts to fly to MCO in July 2019

• We are closing on our DVC resale membership and looking to maximize our CC usage for flights:
  
  
  • First trip: Aulani /HNL in Sept 2020. We will be traveling from PHX with a party of 8 (5 adults, 3 kids).
  • The direct flight is on Hawaiaan air is prefferrable. However, we could fly Delta and Southwest is also an option. We will be paying for all 8 flights. A card that is non-airline specific would also work. I am not sure how to maximize this trip to build points for our future trips to WDW.
  • Our next trip would be from PHX to MCO in March 2021. Our usual part of travel is 2 adults and 3 kids. We will most frequently be traveling from PHX to MCO. Southwest goes direct. I am hoping that with our 8 flights to Hawaii that we would have enough miles to off-set this trip.
  • Our long term plan is WDW every 18 months - 2 years for a week long trip.

I welcome your expertise!! THANK YOU!! (and I have no idea why I cannot unbold this post! forgive me!)

Others have already said this but if you are willing to do business cards I’d go for the CIP. Then if you are in 2 player mode you can get even more. Use the UR for travel at 1.25 or transfer them to your SWA or United. The CIP would get you 80k sign up bonus for $5k spend in 3 months. If you Both get a CIP you could end up with at least 190k UR. Check out the dischurners when you are ready to apply for a card.

 

[apollodi]

We used to use the Cosco Scenera on flights. Very lightweight and came with a carrier bag (that especially made it so much easier!).

You probably already know about the Walmart trade in event? $30 gift card, great deal! Glad we still have old car seats lying around, lol.

Yes I do know about the Walmart event! I usually do the Target 20% off coupon, but the Walmart promo will work out much better for me. I'm actually hoping to avoid the Scenera because of its low height limit. Wanted to get a few more years out of the seat before DD3 got too tall! She's only 26 lbs but not that short- about 36.5 inches. Finding pants and shorts that fit her is a nightmare, lol.

Hopefully the Walmart deal will be a gift card I can use for anything. Then I can buy groceries with it and mentally "bank" the $30, and apply it toward a seat in a few months when we are flying next.

 

[amalone1013]

I can pull a 75k plat offer from DHs referral link for myself...

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

Ooh. You thinking now or wait to triple dip?

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

I sure hope these weren't some kind of false approvals...has such a thing ever happened?

With Amex you never know!! I sure hope not!!!

At @marsh0013 and I are exactly the same! The $750 breaks even, but you get more with TiW. There are a few extra participating locations ( Swan and Dolphin restaurants, value/mod food courts, etc) and alcohol is included. Some will say you have to double it and you start savings at $1,500+, but you can make a spreadsheet looking at all your dining locations factoring in the 10% or 20% where applicable and see what your real number would be (somewhere in between). I always come out ahead with TiW having a group of adults that occasionally get a drink here or there and goes 4+ times a year. I also do a Luau annually and a HDDR every trip that I am there for a whole week so the 20% really helps with dining shows compared to the 10%!

I also think the same thing with the DxDP. You can do two rooms and share the pooled kid credits across adults because you pay less for it up front. All of my calculations for adults who dine at signatures comes out horribly with any dining plan so I have never purchased one. I can absolutely see how it would save you money for kids with character meals, but that isn't my specific case. Something you could also consider it a split-stay. I've seen math where people front load trips with character meals to use up dining credits and then they have until midnight of checkout from the first split to use the remaining credits. I believe this is even what @SouthFayetteFan is considering with his YC/CR split.

That’s what I’m looking at a split stay and loading some more expensive character type meals up front but I’d probably have to do a throwaway campsite for DH and DS.
Other option in TiW. DH and I def like to get a few drinks so if it was an approved place we could just order 2 drinks and it’s be 20% off?

 

[punkin]

.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Update on my World of Hyatt Free Night. Card opened on 7/7/2018, AF charged 8/1/2019. Free night has exp of Sep 5, 2020. I am sure it was not in my account on Sept 5, but whatever. So about 60 days from opening anniversary, about 8 weeks to post because I swear I looked yesterday.

It occurred to me reading this that I should try to go for the FN on my Hyatt card since I already spent 6k on it this year meeting MSR. How easy are the free nights to use? I honestly still don’t know that much about Hyatt, but I’m wondering if I earned it this year could I use it in Hawaii next year if I time it right.

Now that I have caught up here, I have to pull out my work laptop and do some stuff for tomorrow. Crazy, right?

Ugh, that was me this morning. Trying to get ahead before we leave for Disney and of course I have a TON of work right now.

 

[3 DD love princesses]

Sitting here watching the game. I miss the Marriott free points each week. That was a nice deal

 

[disfanforlife]

Chase has a rule where they won't approve you for any of their cards (personal or business) if you have 5 or more new cards (from any issuer) within the last 24 months (the 5/24 rule). They only look at cards on your personal credit report. Most business cards don't report to your personal credit report. There are some banks that are exceptions, but Chase and American Express do not. This is why business cards are very attractive if you want to really get into the game.

What about Citi Biz? They don't count in the 5/24 Chase rule do they?

 

[amalone1013]

Ooh. You thinking now or wait to triple dip?

Shhhh I just want it now because I'm impatient. I could probably do an elevated gold referral for myself for now and wait on a Plat...

 

[alryan]

Do you just buy the $500 VGC and have it mailed to you, then go to FD/DG and load it to Serve?

Yes, it was that easy. If you go through Rakuten there is 1% back and free shipping. So after that cash back it only cost $.95 per $500. I always change my pin so did that and loaded to Serve. I was a little nervous about mailing that large amount of gift cards, but so far so good. When I went to make my second purchase I saw if you order $2000 or more you have to have it delivered with a signature.

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

Shhhh I just want it now because I'm impatient. I could probably do an elevated gold referral for myself for now and wait on a Plat...

Would you like me to enable? Maybe you won’t pull as good of an offer again? Would you use the triple dip for airline? They are all a bit more tricky nowadays? But this still get the saks credit......
I do love my gold card

 

[Haley R]

Now that I have caught up here, I have to pull out my work laptop and do some stuff for tomorrow. Crazy, right?

DH is working right now on his computer too