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

[palhockeymomof2]

So... we leave for WDW on 9/20. I'd like to stock up on more gift cards for spending cash on the trip. What's the best DGC strategy available today? My usual go to is to buy walmart GCs at Raise when I can get a decent cash back amount through Ratuken, MrRebates, etc. (4%, 8%) and then buy DGCs through Sam's Club where it's already 4+% off. Recent raise cash back offers are only 1-2%, so I'm tempted to use my Blue Cash AmEx with 6% back at groceries and stock up on DGCs there. Any other strategies I should be using this week?

I buy them at Staples on my CIC for the 5x URs

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Idk what arbitrage means lol

You buy a in demand item somewhere and resell it on eBay, Amazon etc for a profit...

 

[ten6mom]

Two questions:

What does setting up a Credit Karma account/profile do to your credit? I did mine back in May when I discovered this wonderful thread, but I want my husband to do it too and I want to be informed about what, if any, effect it will have.

And, I just went and looked up the SW Companion Pass merely because I've been reading everyone's comments. I rarely fly so it's not something I've ever looked into... I am merely curious. Am I understanding correctly that it's basically a 2nd ticket for.... free? For a calendar year or something? I mean a 2nd ticket for a companion traveling with the main ticket holder or whatever?

 

[alon86]

I have and I’ve never had that happen. Did you try booking via phone?

Does anyone here ever actually book flights through the Chase travel portal and get the flights for the price they initially show for? I am trying to use points to book a flight for my husband from Japan to here for Christmas break. I keep seeing the price is about $1000 (this is the price for the same flight directly on the airline's page). I want to get my "points are worth 1.5x" value, though. When I choose the flights and come to the final page where I have to complete the booking, I ALWAYS get a popup that says "the price for this flight has changed" and the new price is like $500 higher. Oddly, that is exactly the "value" of my points. If I use my points and complete the booking, the amount left over that I have to pay is exactly the same as if I just booked via the airline's page and paid in full. Either way, I'm out $1000.

Why is this? This happens with any flight, on any airline. Is this just proof that these points really aren't worth what they claim? I have seen a similar thing happen with hotel bookings. I have almost booked a few times, but found MUCH lower prices directly through the hotel sites, so just booked that way and cashed out the points using the cash back option, for a 1:1 ratio.

What am I doing wrong? Or is this just how Chase travel portal makes sure they aren't actually losing money on all these points?

I haven't booked flights yet, but I have booked multiple hotels, and I know I've gotten the same price I would elsewhere and my 1.5x worked as they should have. Would love to hear from others about the flight thing...

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Two questions:

What does setting up a Credit Karma account/profile do to your credit? I did mine back in May when I discovered this wonderful thread, but I want my husband to do it too and I want to be informed about what, if any, effect it will have.

And, I just went and looked up the SW Companion Pass merely because I've been reading everyone's comments. I rarely fly so it's not something I've ever looked into... I am merely curious. Am I understanding correctly that it's basically a 2nd ticket for.... free? For a calendar year or something? I mean a 2nd ticket for a companion traveling with the main ticket holder or whatever?

Setting up a Credit Karma account will not have any impact on his credit

Yes the SW CP allows you to book a second person for free....you et it by earning 110,000 RR points in one calendar year...then it’s good for the rest of that year plus all of the next year.

 

[alon86]

I buy them at Staples on my CIC for the 5x URs

Maybe I'll just do that... I have a new CIP with a $5k MSR that I have to hit... (hoping I don't actually hit it all during the week at Disney... ack)

 

[Haley R]

You buy a in demand item somewhere and resell it on eBay, Amazon etc for a profit...

Ah okay thanks.

 

[magickingdomprincess]

Maybe I'll just do that... I have a new CIP with a $5k MSR that I have to hit... (hoping I don't actually hit it all during the week at Disney... ack)

The CIP doesn't earn 5x at office supply stores, only the CIC does.

 

[Alexle2007]

You buy a in demand item somewhere and resell it on eBay, Amazon etc for a profit...

My DH does this with eBay. He is making some nice profit as DS’s bank account shows.

 

[kmc8826]

@kmc8826 was it you that I was going to do the Minnie/Remy AP magnet swap with? I can't find the post.

Yes please! We leave October 15th. Since we all 5 have AP's I will definitely have an extra.

I’m half tempted to try to call in on my own account and “fraudulently” cash out some points to see how hard it is to get past their so-called security...

@Albort two years ago in May someone hacked into DH's Chase account by calling and just talking their way into changing the home address and then going on a shopping spree. When I got the email about the address change (at least got that...I think only because the fraud alerts went to my email not his) and called they were like "well it happens." Except it should not happen! People calling in and vaguely saying they need to change their home address is not good. I transfer all the UR's immediately to my account; so at least there was that. I am crazy manic about checking ours even more so than I was before (at least once a day and sometimes more than that). It is disheartening to hear that Chase is not doing much to crack down still and their solution is to just have the fraud alert on the cards with a history. It works, and is fine, but I think there should be more of a solution than just that.

 

[3 DD love princesses]

Newbie question. Whats the best business card for travel purposes? We own a restaurant, and currently put produce and a number of other expenses on a card to get the rewards. He's been using the Disney visa bc it's super easy to just use the rewards to pay for this trip. Then he has a SW card and I have a companion pass. We also have the hilton card, which we use points for all our other non-disney related travel.

Did you have a specific travel in mind? The CIP is great and you both you sign up. If you are looking for Disney hotels though they aren’t in the UR portal. Have player 1 sign up using a dischurners link. Then have player 2 sign up using player 1 link. That alone can get you 190k UR for meeting the $5k spend in 3 months on each card. If you plan to do a lot of travel then have one player get the CSR and use your CSR to redeem the UR at 1.5x vs the CIP 1.25x.

Yes, I did this for my CP last time and DH's overall velocity is very tame. I wouldn't do it now for myself, but it will be fine for him. (red cards are closed and yellow on the chopping block)

ETA: Well now I am seeing he is eligible for a sapphire come 3/1 as well. I am thinking after the next CIP and SW CP, I lay off for 6 months and then double dip?


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Wow I forgot it’s coming up for some to be able to get the CSR again.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Maybe I'll just do that... I have a new CIP with a $5k MSR that I have to hit... (hoping I don't actually hit it all during the week at Disney... ack)

The CIP only earns 1x at office supply stores.....only the CIC does

 

[palhockeymomof2]

My DH does this with eBay. He is making some nice profit as DS’s bank account shows.

I’ve done it on eBay as well....years ago made a lot flipping J.Crew vests.....now sometimes sell LuLaRoe stuff...but really have not kept up on what’s hot

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

How does that work? You book JetBlue flight through UR portal using URs and earn miles at the same time? Just wanted to know if I am understanding it correctly.

Yes exactly. If you have a CSR you get 1.5 redemption on the flight which comes out to be similar to the trueblue miles value. Then you can enter your TB number and earn more miles.

 

[ten6mom]

Is there any info that lists odds of approval for a CIP based on credit score? Or is it more of a "can't hurt to try so just apply" sort of thing? My husband is worried he won't get approved and I honestly don't know what the chances are.

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

Back from a quick weekend trip to Charlotte to visit an old friend for a surprise 50th party!

CC/points stuff:

• used Hyatt points to stay at a Hyatt House property a few miles from the airport, 5k per night, 15k total
• flew using SW RR and CP, something like 7500 total RR
• used my CSR to rent a car through Costco as it was way cheaper than using the UR portal

The US National Whitewater Center was excellent! I am a scaredy-cat so we just did flat water kayaking and hiking and enjoyed an excellent lunch while watching people get thrown from their rafts and others on way-too-high ziplines We'd definitely return there in the future.

And I just discovered that my weekly dairy delivery (quart of milk, quart of half and half--from happy, local cows) codes as dining on the CSR!

PH Sydney is AMAZING! You will love it. It's a great redemption as I don't think you can get a room under $1,000.00 / night. We stayed on points and got upgraded to an Opera view room. Location is also fantastic. It was so nice coming back to the room each night after turn down service to the Opera House all lit up across the harbor. One of my goals is to book the hotel for a NYE stay (maybe 2020) .

We're going to stay at PH Sydney next year!

Today is my first time packing with packing cubes and omg I actually have room in my suitcase now. These things are amazing.

Welcome to the Dark Side lol

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Is there any info that lists odds of approval for a CIP based on credit score? Or is it more of a "can't hurt to try so just apply" sort of thing? My husband is worried he won't get approved and I honestly don't know what the chances are.

If it’s out there I haven’t seen it.....remember to send him a support link

 

[gottalovepluto]

Is there any info that lists odds of approval for a CIP based on credit score? Or is it more of a "can't hurt to try so just apply" sort of thing? My husband is worried he won't get approved and I honestly don't know what the chances are.

No. Imho he should apply if he meets 5/24, has some credit history, doesn't have a bankruptcy on his record, hasn't screwed Chase over in the past and has no accounts that are past due.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Today is my first time packing with packing cubes and omg I actually have room in my suitcase now. These things are amazing.

OMG RIGHT?!!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Anyone see the Disney Rewards email with the special on Disney+ that just came out? $120 for 2 years, $170 for 3 years. Glad those interested in the D23 offer jumped when they did.