I love credit cards so much! v6.0 - 2023 (see first page for add'l details)

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Since i'm on page 221, figure I'll post and then keep reading, LOL.

The public offer seems to be gone already, but I got a targeted offer by e-mail.



URs transfer to United, so I find that the CIU/CIC is better in terms of SUB/AF compared to the United cards. The nice thing about getting a United card though is that you get expanded access to awards. If you get a personal one, after a year, you can downgrade to the no AF Gateway card and keep the expanded access.

Wait it's gone? I was planning on getting that offer later too! We still have to use the BFs FNC so I didn't want the overlap, and I wanted some gap before we added more to our mix. DANG! I guess I'll check my emails to see as well.

You can go through the booking process and then place them on a 5 day hold. I think domestic the max is 3. Its free but you need to purchase the flights by midnight of the departure day of the departing cities time zone or they will auto cancel. If flight leaves from London than midnight London time.

The length of the hold depends more how close to booking you are. I got 7 days on domestic tickets 2 weeks ago.

 

[platamama]

And do you know if we get much out of the Amex Corporate? He has a platinum one through work (work expenses only) but I'm not fully understanding how those benefits work.

DH also has a Corporate Amex but he has the Green card (cheaper for the company compared to the Plat). He has the option of earning individual MRs for spend on that card, but to do that he would have to register and pay a $55 annual fee so in his case it's not worth it. The Corp Plat is free to register so your DH ought to look into that with his company so that he earns MRs for any spend on that card. I have been able to get annual fee partial rebates on DH's other personal Amex cards just for his holding the Corp Green card: $150 on his vanilla Plat, $100 on his Gold, and $50 on the Blue Cash Preferred. I initially requested those via chat* but now they just automatically post a couple months after the AF posts.

*For some reason, it automatically posted on his Blue Cash Preferred without me requesting it.

This LINK takes you to what I found online for the Corporate Plat benefits; they are as good as the vanilla Plat for travel purchases. If his company allows it, he should register that card so he earns MRs!

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Back from CA trip that would never have happened without this group. Was able to take my 7 and 5 year old to spend time with my half brother who I only reconnected with a few years ago, and they were able to meet their cousins for the first time. I know this group is mostly a fun hobby, but please know all the advice here helped make family connections happen

Now for the travel talk! Flew Southwest, BWI to Sacramento via San Diego on the way out, and then SFO to BWI via Denver on the way back. All flights paid for with points earned through Chase SW sign up bonus and referrals. We live about 90 miles from BWI so stayed in an airport hotel the night before departure using Bonvoy points.

San Diego airport is under construction and was a MESS, had to go back through security to get to connecting gate. Even though I have TSA PreCheck they still flagged my 7 year old son for additional screening. I loved when they asked him what electronic device he had and if there was anything sharp in his bag that could cut them

Rented car at Sacramento airport using Costco Travel, was $218 vs almost $400 booking thru Chase Portal. Bus from airport to rental car area was quick and easy. Sacramento airport is GREAT and would recommend it over SFO if you are going to Tahoe or Yosemite.

We headed to Fairfield, CA and stayed at a Fairfield Inn and Suites (ha!) for 2 nights using points earned through Bonvoy signup bonus. Spent time with my brother’s family and also visited the Jelly Belly Factory. A total bargain - $13 for me and two kids - and so fun.

Next, headed to San Francisco in the rental car to stay in an AirBnB for 3 nights with other family. Paid cash and split amongst family. Since we were with small kids did touristy stuff - Muir Woods, Pier 39, CA Academy of Sciences, Chinatown, and Exploratorium. All were excellent; Exploratorium participates in the ASTC Science Museum program. Since we have a membership to the Franklin Institute in Philly, our admission to the Exploratorium was free, as will be our trip to Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh later this summer (using remaining Bonvoy points for that). Would also recommend Chinatown for fun and cheap souvenirs!

Our AirBnB was in Outer Sunset near Golden Gate Park; unfortunately all excursions but one were on the other end of the city. A one way Uber\Lyft was $30 - next time will stay at a hotel near the piers with points.

Only other hiccup was rental car drop off - turns out in the city they are surrounded by a fence and you can’t drop off after hours. Lesson learned!

Such a great trip that I am now working on a strategy to get back to CA again next year. Thank you again to this group!

Great trip report! We had a Jelly Belly Factory nearby for many years- and I seem to recall it was an even better bargain- free. We make a calendar in the summer and each kid gets to pick activities for their week and this was always on the calendar multiple times a summer.

What did you do with the rental car in that situation?

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Woooo, I made it through the 20+ pages I was behind.

So I guess I'll ask again. Does anyone know if Aer Lingus offers more biz class seats randomly? I have 2 biz class seats from PHL to DUB for my DD and I, but we need to get seats for my mom. Also I still have the 2 pending charges for $600, so interested to see what happens with that. We've been checking daily and so far, no other seats have opened. GRRRR.

The BF and I have 4 FNC w/ Marriott we need to use. I have a FNC w/ IHG that expires in Aug, the other expires in April. We're planning on using the FNC at an AI in Mexico again next month. I have the Palazzo booked in July in Vegas. I booked it when it was SUPER cheap over black friday. It was $94/nt. But now I'm wondering if I should use the FNC I have since it expires in August. I also have Delta flight credits I need to use up too ASAP. Anyone have suggests for using a IHG FNC in the US that's worth it? I used them in NOLA at the Kimpton for my bday 2 years ago. It's a terrible problem to have, needing to use all these credits, LOL. I think he only wants to use 3 of the FNC. So I might have 1 to use somewhere else too before Aug. I guess is it worth using the IHG FNC with it's only $94/nt for the room? We need to hit AC soon to do all the status matches too! And then I'll have 2 free nights at the Wynn.

I finally paid my balance on the Wyndham Biz card, so I can go ahead and hit the SUB on that card (I hate those low limits Barclay gives). Which means I can get the next card, LOL. I think the AA Citi Biz is next up on my list. I tried to ride the grAAvy train back in 2019, but it didn't work. So my card was from 2018, so I'm good to get the bonus. But my head is just spinning with everything I need to use right now, LOL.

 

[wanderlust7]

Anyone know if Sam's Club does something similar? We don't have a Costco membership in the extended family, but do have one for Sam's.

I'm thinking it would be worth it for me to get the Costco membership for the SW GC deal, plus it might save me a few bucks (like, literally $15) on the rental car if I book through their portal, but Costco is a longer drive from here, so I thought I'd ask.

I see the same deal at Sam's Club online.

 

[leeniewdw]

So I guess I'll ask again. Does anyone know if Aer Lingus offers more biz class seats randomly? I have 2 biz class seats from PHL to DUB for my DD and I, but we need to get seats for my mom. Also I still have the 2 pending charges for $600, so interested to see what happens with that. We've been checking daily and so far, no other seats have opened. GRRRR.

I wish I knew -- good luck. Just curious, I know you didn't originally see any award seats for your trip dates, did they just finally pop up or did you switch your travel dates?

 

[wanderlust7]

and 15% at Dell for those still needing to use their Biz Plat credits.

Not sure if this is new, but just saw Amex Offers for 10% off at Dell. Got them on our biz plats too! Up to $1100 back (lol) and expires 9/1, so will be able to use it after the Dell credit resets too.

 

[georgina]

Had an MRI this morning and they warned me I would be billed almost $500 for it (haven't hit my insurance deductible yet this year!) So I decided to move up my planned CIU app, got the 7-10 day message but an immediate approval email? Had to log in to see the CL was $6000! Bigger than I've had in a while. I was a bit concerned that I have about 35% of the CL still sitting on my new CIC card from January, but it did not seem to be an issue.

 

[GZanta77]

Not sure if this is new, but just saw Amex Offers for 10% off at Dell. Got them on our biz plats too! Up to $1100 back (lol) and expires 9/1, so will be able to use it after the Dell credit resets too.

becauseimnew said:
and 15% at Dell for those still needing to use their Biz Plat credits.

Of course this would happen. You can clearly thank me for all these new Dell credits. I placed an order yesterday morning when Rakuten was @ 2%.

Oh well, at least I had a good use for my Biz Plat credit as my printer went kaput on Friday.

 

[wanderlust7]

Of course this would happen. You can clearly thank me for all these new Dell credits. I placed an order yesterday morning when Rakuten was @ 2%.

Oh well, at least I had a good use for my Biz Plat credit as my printer went kaput on Friday.

If you have the Amex Offer, I wonder if it would still trigger if you add it now.

Any use of the Dell credit AND order not canceled, I'd call a win.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Not sure if this is new, but just saw Amex Offers for 10% off at Dell. Got them on our biz plats too! Up to $1100 back (lol) and expires 9/1, so will be able to use it after the Dell credit resets too.

Ugh, didn't get it on ours. Oh well

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Since I’ve reviewed this location before, I thought I’d post our Easter trip from another angle:

How we ended up in a $4500/nt 1 bedroom oceanfront suite using points purchased for $263.

I’ve posted here and here about how we love the Kimpton Seafire in Grand Cayman. It’s an upscale but compact resort which has a boutique feel, with really great (though not inexpensive) food and beverage and genuine service.

About a week before our stay we saw that we had been upgraded (due to Diamond status) to not only a suite, but an oceanfront corner suite, with full kitchen and dining area. These suites have amazing panoramic views of Seven Mile Beach all the way to the North Sound. The sunsets here were really breathtaking! Plus, I had no idea how much I enjoyed people watching!

Here's a 360 video of the room, which is much better pics than I could take.









How it all came together

• I grabbed an IHG card that has a “Redeem 3 nights, get the 4th night free” benefit (IHG Premier, personal or biz)
• I waited for a promotion on buying points (which come around often) and bought points at a 100% bonus, which meant I paid .005 pp (half a cent per point).
• I bought 210,000 points for $1050.
• I redeemed 4 nights at 70,000 points per night for just 210,000 points due to the Redeem 3 nights, get the 4th night free” benefit with the IHG Premier or IHG Premier biz cards.
• I’d signed up for a temporary Diamond elite status promotion. Then I purchased IHG Ambassador status for $200 or 40k points, which has historically renewed your status for an additional year. It worked and I maintained Diamond status in 2023!

With IHG’s improved elite benefits, we got breakfast for two each morning. And Cayman breakfasts do not disappoint! Now that the kids are old enough to hang along, they would often opt to sleep in or stay in the room while we grabbed breakfast. It was a nice treat for just the two of us.

These aren't pics from the normal breakfast buffet, but from Easter Brunch, which is such a special splurge.



What I’ve realized this year is that I don’t think I can stay in one standard room with our two kids, 9 and 13. For a night is fine, but for a whole trip, it just feels tough. We’ve been very lucky this year to have been upgraded suites or we have stayed in AirBNBs with more space. Oh, and I learned I really, really like showering with an ocean view, lol.


We tacked on an extra night using an IHG Anniversary FNC and topped that off with purchased points, which comes out to essentially the same cost when you factor in the $99 annual fee (40k cert) + $150 purchased points (30k)= $249.

FYI, there’s an elevated offer right now for the IHG Premier business card for 165k points for $3k MSR/3 months with a $99 AF. That comes with an Anniversary annual FNC and the Redeem 3 nights, get 4th free benefit. It also comes with Platinum status and I've also received great upgrades here as Platinum (just not this spectacular).

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Since I’ve reviewed this location before, I thought I’d post our Easter trip from another angle:

How we ended up in a $4500/nt 1 bedroom oceanfront suite using points purchased for $263.

I’ve posted here and here about how we love the Kimpton Seafire in Grand Cayman. It’s an upscale but compact resort which has a boutique feel, with really great (though not inexpensive) food and beverage and genuine service.

About a week before our stay we saw that we had been upgraded (due to Diamond status) to not only a suite, but an oceanfront corner suite, with full kitchen and dining area. These suites have amazing panoramic views of Seven Mile Beach all the way to the North Sound. The sunsets here were really breathtaking! Plus, I had no idea how much I enjoyed people watching!

Here's a 360 video of the room, which is much better pics than I could take.

View attachment 759353
View attachment 759354
View attachment 759355
View attachment 759356
View attachment 759361
View attachment 759363View attachment 759362


How it all came together

• I grabbed an IHG card that has a “Redeem 3 nights, get the 4th night free” benefit (IHG Premier, personal or biz)
• I waited for a promotion on buying points (which come around often) and bought points at a 100% bonus, which meant I paid .005 pp (half a cent per point).
• I bought 210,000 points for $1050.
• I redeemed 4 nights at 70,000 points per night for just 210,000 points due to the Redeem 3 nights, get the 4th night free” benefit with the IHG Premier or IHG Premier biz cards.
• I’d signed up for a temporary Diamond elite status promotion. Then I purchased IHG Ambassador status for $200 or 40k points, which has historically renewed your status for an additional year. It worked and I maintained Diamond status in 2023!

With IHG’s improved elite benefits, we got breakfast for two each morning. And Cayman breakfasts do not disappoint! Now that the kids are old enough to hang along, they would often opt to sleep in or stay in the room while we grabbed breakfast. It was a nice treat for just the two of us.

These aren't pics from the normal breakfast buffet, but from Easter Brunch, which is such a special splurge.
View attachment 759359View attachment 759357


What I’ve realized this year is that I don’t think I can stay in one standard room with our two kids, 9 and 13. For a night is fine, but for a whole trip, it just feels tough. We’ve been very lucky this year to have been upgraded suites or we have stayed in AirBNBs with more space. Oh, and I learned I really, really like showering with an ocean view, lol.


We tacked on an extra night using an IHG Anniversary FNC and topped that off with purchased points, which comes out to essentially the same cost when you factor in the $99 annual fee (40k cert) + $150 purchased points (30k)= $249.

FYI, there’s an elevated offer right now for the IHG Premier business card for 165k points for $3k MSR/3 months with a $99 AF. That comes with an Anniversary annual FNC and the Redeem 3 nights, get 4th free benefit. It also comes with Platinum status and I've also received great upgrades here as Platinum (just not this spectacular).

That all sounds lovely! Maybe I've been too stuck going after Hyatt all the time... I guess I don't like the idea of buying points, but this kind of trip would be worth it.

 

[iujen94]

For those of you that have the ATT Business Fiber offer on your Amex card, there is a way to use the offer on any ATT product.
I clicked on the link from the offer and opened it in Incognito browser. From the landing page in the upper right corner under Account click pay without signing in which brings up a new tab. I Selected Uverse, entered in my account number. Did not click check balance. Proceeded to pay $50.00. It limits you to 2 of these payments every 24 hours. Pre auth on Amex shows AT&T HSIA BUS E-EVR. My account is residential AT&T Fiber standalone.

I got the Amex email about 48 hours later and the credit posted 5 days later. I just did it on 12/28.

ETA: I did not find this workaround, I learned it from comments on Doc.

FYI - the $50 off $50 on a AT&T Business Fiber offer is back on my AMEX account. I followed @becauseimnew 's instructions above last time, and it worked like a charm!

 

[WaltsMartini]

Great trip report! We had a Jelly Belly Factory nearby for many years- and I seem to recall it was an even better bargain- free. We make a calendar in the summer and each kid gets to pick activities for their week and this was always on the calendar multiple times a summer.

What did you do with the rental car in that situation?

Rental car in San Francisco that we couldn’t return after hours because lot was fenced - luckily our AirBnB had an off-street spot (had to pull riggght up to the garage door and put the e brake on because of course the tiny driveway was sloped). We returned it the next day and then got an Uber right from that site. Drop off was easy - just wanted everyone to be aware that you may not be able to drop off outside of business hours at urban rental car places!

 

[IFlossU]

What I’ve realized this year is that I don’t think I can stay in one standard room with our two kids, 9 and 13. For a night is fine, but for a whole trip, it just feels tough.

This is where we’re at as well with our kids. Mine are 13 & 15, and have hated sharing a bed for the past couple of years in particular. Like you said, a night is fine, but an entire vacation, no way. In fact, it was after spending 7 nights in a 2 queen room at The Grand Wailea in January of ‘22 we decided never again. We just don’t like each other after that long in such a confined space It’s a challenge when trying to use points, but I’m figuring out how to make it work. Loved your trip report. Looks amazing.

 

[becauseimnew]

FYI - the $50 off $50 on a AT&T Business Fiber offer is back on my AMEX account. I followed @becauseimnew 's instructions above last time, and it worked like a charm!

Thanks for digging up my old post, I was going to do it again as both DH and I were able to add it to our cards. Love the free money.

 

[KPK02090]

Same...I was also wondering (since I don't calculate the cpp either) would it make sense to buy the tix thru the cheapest venue and the just use the statement credit back? vs. 21% markup I mean

This is what I'm thinking.

 

[Zhoen]

What I’ve realized this year is that I don’t think I can stay in one standard room with our two kids, 9 and 13. For a night is fine, but for a whole trip, it just feels tough.

This is where we’re at as well with our kids. Mine are 13 & 15, and have hated sharing a bed for the past couple of years in particular. Like you said, a night is fine, but an entire vacation, no way.

I count myself *very* lucky that my girls (15 and 19) have not thought to complain about sharing the sofabed whenever we overnight somewhere... That is our plan for 2 nights for a wedding this fall, and the "2 queens" route for a weekend next year for the eclipse... but I know it's coming!

We are definitely getting them a separate stateroom when we do our cruise in 2025. The cruise lines actually have the nerve to claim you can fit 4 people in some of those standard rooms !?!? No. Thank. You. !!!!

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

That all sounds lovely! Maybe I've been too stuck going after Hyatt all the time... I guess I don't like the idea of buying points, but this kind of trip would be worth it.

IHG doesn't have very many luxury properties- I'd say more Holiday Inn and business hotels. But the Kimptons are unique and this is their first true beach resort, though they do have some other locations in Tulum and Thailand that are promising.

I think Hyatt has a great luxury footprint and I wish I had Hyatt status. IHG (Kimptons specifically) is worth it if you have a plan like this going into it. It's a shame it looks like IHG is losing their Mr and Mrs. Smith partnership to Hyatt.

I forgot to mention that they are building a Hotel Indigo (also IHG) right next door to the Kimpton Seafire in Grand Cayman and I bet that will come with a slightly better points pricepoint and probably a lower resort fee (Seafire is a whopping $80/nt but worth it). Hotel Indigo is supposed to open April of 2024.