I love credit cards so much!

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I've been getting the dining credits, but several days after the spend is posted as a charge (not pending). And they are coming in batches. DH and I ate out twice weekend before last, and the credit looked large so I did the math - they had taken both credits for that day and combined them and then posted them under the name of one restaurant. It makes it hard to track. But I'd give it a few days since it doesn't post immediately.

I had 2 credits combined as well! Seems almost as if they do this manually.
 
Thanks Calypso! I always envision that if me and you were different people on Reddit we’d have to be mortal enemies and argue over different approaches. Don’t pay AFs...no AFs can provide wonderful benefits...Stay under 5/24...there’s so many other cards out there though...Fly SW domestically with a CP...Find a plane princess and see the world...and so on.

Instead we’re on here where we can provide people with alternate viewpoints to help them make the best decision for their situation. I think that might be what our thread is best at doing...helping people make the right decision for them! At times it seems that on r/churning, if you aren’t doing it “my” way then you’re doing it the “wrong” way and that’s just not true :)

LOL That's why I don't post on Reddit or Flyer Talk. I can' approach things things like they do. My way isn't the right way. It's the right way for me, right now ... until I learn something new and better.

Still pretty funny though. I don't think we've ever been on the same page about anything besides the fact that this is a great hobby and there's no right or wrong way to approach it and reap the benefits. Despite our differences in how we earn, strategize and use our points and miles, I will say I am blown away by your methods and the outcome. :worship: Most impressive indeed!

Ok, I'm sure I have some AFs to pay, about 20 cards to apply for during a frenzied app-o-rama and earn enough miles to fly to Abu Dhabi for lunch over a weekend on Eithad's Residence :P Just kidding ... even I won't blow away that many miles to fly in the Residence. Let's not tell the Plane Princess that it exists though :rolleyes1
 
Whoa... that’s a new wrinkle that I haven’t seen discussed here or on Reddit. Could the Amex blacklist mean denial of welcome offers and referral bonuses?

The reason I asked this question is while P2 eventually grudgingly got the points for the spend, his referral to me to get my Delta Plat Biz never did post. It was 10,000 Miles and I tried my best. I even had the email that I used from his account to get my card. I sent them the email. No luck. They never said straight out no it just didn’t happen. A lot of double talk and hedging.

Noooooo!!! Now I'm wondering if I call about the 20% and they say no bonus, should I cancel and get most of my AF back?

I guess it depends if you really want the card. Have you tried the airline credit? Did it work? If so and if you really do want the card then might be worth keeping. I am so sorry...I feel your pain. $250 even with a credit is a higher level fee. Not Plat level high but high. :)
 


LOL That's why I don't post on Reddit or Flyer Talk. I can' approach things things like they do. My way isn't the right way. It's the right way for me, right now ... until I learn something new and better.

Still pretty funny though. I don't think we've ever been on the same page about anything besides the fact that this is a great hobby and there's no right or wrong way to approach it and reap the benefits. Despite our differences in how we earn, strategize and use our points and miles, I will say I am blown away by your methods and the outcome. :worship: Most impressive indeed!

Ok, I'm sure I have some AFs to pay, about 20 cards to apply for during a frenzied app-o-rama and earn enough miles to fly to Abu Dhabi for lunch over a weekend on Eithad's Residence :P Just kidding ... even I won't blow away that many miles to fly in the Residence. Let's not tell the Plane Princess that it exists though :rolleyes1

I had to google that residence. Wow! This guy got to tour it while flying in the apartment. That's quite the space that is def for the longer long haul flights. https://www.topmiles.com/blog/artic...-apartment-for--104---etihad-a380-first-class
 
I haven't downgraded yet, but this is my understanding:
Virtual Wallet with Performance Spend: $200 bonus
Virtual Wallet with Performance Select: $300 bonus

There is also just a plain old Virtual Wallet that you can downgrade to that requires $500 in the account to keep it fee free.
Once you're in your Virtual Wallet account, there's a Preferences tab (toppish right hand side), the option to downgrade will be there. It needs to be at least 45 days after account opening.

Spot on! The other option to keep the VWs fee free is continuing direct deposits. I've been using mine to move money around so I just make sure 500 gets DD'd during the statement cycle... this works great if you have a bank that counts as a "DD" like I have with CapOne360. But just like people's CC funding has been counting towards the bonus, I think my other deposits that count towards the growth account work to keep it fee free.
This will depend on if you want to spend an extra few minutes each month or not. We've been cash happy lately so with the best intentions to leave 500 sit there it's never happened, so I take a couple minutes to setup scheduled transfers around my million bank accounts. (Can't wait until a couple things finally switch over to the new accounts so I can cancel a couple old ones. I am not @SouthFayetteFan level, who can handle double digit accounts going at once :scared:)
 
I've become an AA booking guru. With the BF in NC and me in MI, we've booked MANY a trip on AA in the last 21 months. The miles are set in stone. IE 12,500 for the saver fare. If there is a chance that your airport could be a reduced miles airport, I would say wait to book (well that is if you have an AA card w/ that perk). The mileage will drop to 7875 one way. And you get 10% back in miles too! As long as you book 21 days in advance, you pay only $11ish. Inside 21 days they charge you an expedited $75 on top of the $11.

The nice thing with AA miles is that you can change your flight for free up to 5 min before it takes off. The catch is, you have to go between the same 2 airports. Check flights often. Sometimes the closer to the day, the better flights you can get. We frequently book something 3 days before and have gotten flight times we want.

Any more questions ask away.

Personally, I never wait for the other leg to open up and always book one way awards especially, if a saver award opens up right away. We also use our miles for award flights in first and there are fewer of those seats released for booking with miles than there are for coach so they tend to go fast. I only hold off booking right away when I am fairly confident that saver awards will open up within a few days. Sometimes, that never happens. I booked our flights for our Antarctica trip as one way awards. The outgoing flight did wind up having saver awards released on an earlier flight and I paid the $175 mileage redeposit fee to re-book it at the saver level which saved me 185,000 miles and was worth it. The return flight is 195,000 AA miles per person and has never had saver awards open up. I've been checking daily.

A quick search on the Saturday before 11/16 shows no direct flights on the 12,500 AA miles saver awards. All of them connect via CLT or ORD. If you want a direct flight, then you'd be booking a standard award at 20,000 AA miles. Hope this helps.

Thank you both for the information. We are fine with doing a layover (as long as it’s not a long one) to save on points. I did see that the Saturday’s in November that have been released have flights at 12500 so hoping that’s the same for the 16th. It’s the flight home I’m a little more concerned about...hoping there will be one in 25000-30000 range. If the return flight starts at 25000 is there any chance in the future it would drop to 12500?
Is there any advantage to booking one airport over another (obviously other than driving distance)? Philly is the furthest but it’s also the largest of the 4 so would our chances increase of getting a lower point fare from there???
Thanks again for all your help!
 


Loved reading everyones 2019..travel and churning plans....ours aren’t fully planned out yet..but here is what I think they will be
Right now we are in Orlando visiting our son for Christmas.(also 2 days visiting WDW before our passes are blocked for the holidays)12/18-12/24....arrived yesterday on SW...few on points and with the CP...for thoses who are looking to apply for the 50,000 SW personal offer....I was able to get on the SW WiFi while still at the gate in ISP...the offer scrolls through on the top of the page is for the Priority card, but when you click on it...you can apply for the Plus or Priority..same 50,000RR point offer
Staying at BLT..using our DVCpoints12/18...room was ready at 10:30am :cool1:...this morning we move to Wyndham Bonnet Creek..paid for with URs..book with my CSR..aprox 85,000URs for a 2BR...5 nights.

2019...Continue visiting our son...in Orlando...and WDW
March .....Marriott Grand Vista...booked with URs...flying SW...RR points & CP
September 20-25...Marriott Lakeshore Reserve 9/20-22... URs...BWV 9/22-25..DVC ...Fly SW RRs and CP
December...stay at Wilderness Lodge..DVC...fly SW

We are going to try for a weekend trip to Nashville or New Orleans...

Churning plans.......we will both stay under 5/24...hopefully the CP requirements will stay the same..I can apply again in 1/20...if Chase adds the 48 month language to SW cards, Then DH will apply for SW cards to get it.

We both applied for our first Amex cards ...SPG business....after reading about your redemptions in NYC, we live on LI so those points/ free nights could be used there or elsewhere....still learning about their programs...so not sure what other Amex cards we will get...but think it will be the BBP

Will continue to get the remaining Chase cards we don’t have..CIU, CF and CFU....now reading about the 2nd EIN CIP...will have to plan an application when our insurance is due. Since we started this journey last May will evaluate each card as annual fees come due...definite keepers are the CSR, one CIC...will cancel DHs CSP, my SW. business after points post..in anticipation of a new CP in 2020

Really appreciate all the help and guidance I’ve received here...I know my travels ....are baby travel plans compared to most but it wasn’t for you guys I’d only be able to use our DVC for stays and would be paying cash for the rest.
So Thank You All
:flower1:

Edit...to add if anyone has any questions about Wyndham Bonnet Creek just let me know and I’ll try to answer while we are there...
 
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2019 trips (vastly more interesting than my credit card goals):

March-Brussels/SFO
Flying to BRU on DL (skypennies) and returning to SFO on United (Miles Plus primarily through MPX app/portal/URs)
back home on DL ($)

June-DD's grad trip
Flying to BUD (miles), ABD river cruise (Disney gc), Prague ($/Hilton points), Krakow ($), home (miles)

Oct- ABD podcast to London/Paris/DLP
ABD (gc)
flight to London on DL (miles) and back (DH) DL (miles), me on Aer Lingus (mies) via Dub (hotels.com gc) and MCO (Hyatt points via UR)


Going back a few days and quoting myself...apparently I forgot

12/30/19 Family cruise on the dream with mom, dad, brother, sil, niece, dd and dh to celebrate my parents' Golden Anniversary. Pretty sure Dr Freud would have something to say about the fact I forgot to list it! I had offered to fly mom and dad to Europe and send them on a river cruise or get a room large enough for us at Aulani (but not pay for my bro/sil/neice to fly because gotta draw the line somewhere) and mom had a hissy and wanted all of her chicks together. Sigh. So we're off on another cruise with everyone (the last one was kind of not fun, I was sick and my tolerance for shenanigans was low) which I'm fairly sure will end up as another "It seemed like a good idea at the time" trip:sad1:
 
Loved reading everyones 2019..travel and churning plans....ours aren’t fully planned out yet..but here is what I think they will be
Right now we are in Orlando visiting our son for Christmas.(also 2 days visiting WDW before our passes are blocked for the holidays)12/18-12/24....arrived yesterday on SW...few on points and with the CP...for thoses who are looking to apply for the 50,000 SW personal offer....I was able to get on the SW WiFi while still at the gate in ISP...the offer scrolls through on the top of the page is for the Priority card, but when you click on it...you can apply for the Plus or Priority..same 50,000RR point offer
Staying at BLT..using our DVCpoints12/18...room was ready at 10:30am :cool1:...this morning we move to Wyndham Bonnet Creek..paid for with URs..book with my CSR..aprox 85,000URs for a 2BR...5 nights.

2019...Continue visiting our son...in Orlando...and WDW
March .....Marriott Grand Vista...booked with URs...flying SW...RR points & CP
September 20-25...Marriott Lakeshore Reserve 9/20-22... URs...BWV 9/22-25..DVC ...Fly SW RRs and CP
December...stay at Wilderness Lodge..DVC...fly SW

We are going to try for a weekend trip to Nashville or New Orleans...

Churning plans.......we will both stay under 5/24...hopefully the CP requirements will stay the same..I can apply again in 1/20...if Chase adds the 48 month language to SW cards, Then DH will apply for SW cards to get it.

We both applied for our first Amex cards ...SPG business....after reading about your redemptions in NYC, we live on LI so those points/ free nights could be used there or elsewhere....still learning about their programs...so not sure what other Amex cards we will get...but think it will be the BBP

Will continue to get the remaining Chase cards we don’t have..CIU, CF and CFU....now reading about the 2nd EIN CIP...will have to plan an application when our insurance is due. Since we started this journey last May will evaluate each card as annual fees come due...definite keepers are the CSR, one CIC...will cancel DHs CSP, my SW. business after points post..in anticipation of a new CP in 2020

Really appreciate all the help and guidance I’ve received here...I know my travels ....are baby travel plans compared to most but it wasn’t for you guys I’d only be able to use our DVC for stays and would be paying cash for the rest.
So Thank You All
:flower1:

Edit...to add if anyone has any questions about Wyndham Bonnet Creek just let me know and I’ll try to answer while we are there...

Re: the SW “in flight” 50k/$2k offers, here they are as a workaround (if anyone didn’t have them):

https://applynow.chase.com/FlexAppWeb/renderApp.do?CELL=6T8J&SPID=FVP4&PROMO=DF01 is an updated link for Priority, https://applynow.chase.com/FlexAppWeb/renderApp.do?CELL=6T8J&SPID=FVP9&PROMO=DF01 for Plus, and a link to a screenshot of the offer page is at http://imgur.com/gallery/NevIW96

Also, instead of CF/CFU, you might want to consider more lucrative chase cards like Hyatt, IHG or United. 60k Hyatt, for example, will dwarf 15k UR.
 
I have no churning plans for 2019 yet. I don't have any of the chase cards so probably go for them at some point. Going to Russia to visit DD studying abroad. I really want to go somewhere warm maybe January.
 
Thank you both for the information. We are fine with doing a layover (as long as it’s not a long one) to save on points. I did see that the Saturday’s in November that have been released have flights at 12500 so hoping that’s the same for the 16th. It’s the flight home I’m a little more concerned about...hoping there will be one in 25000-30000 range. If the return flight starts at 25000 is there any chance in the future it would drop to 12500?
Is there any advantage to booking one airport over another (obviously other than driving distance)? Philly is the furthest but it’s also the largest of the 4 so would our chances increase of getting a lower point fare from there???
Thanks again for all your help!

I fly out of Detroit and into smaller NC airports. I can rotate between OAJ, EWN, FAY, PGV RDU and I've even down ILM. I could also fly out Flint, Lansing, Toledo, and if I wanted to drive Kalamazoo, and Grand Rapids. I've honestly only really looked at Detroit out. I've never struggled to get that 12.5K flight, but then again, I'm going to tiny *** airports in NC.

Like I said, AA is nice about changes. I guess if you can find a 12.5k flight that you can tolerate you could book those and then stalk to see if you can find something better. Worse case is you have to go up a points level and pay the points difference. When flying to these tiny airports sometimes the times of the flights or the amount of connections suck, but as the day grows closer they move some of the better itineraries down to the 12.5k level.

Oh and remember with AA, you can place a hold for I think 5 days. So you could hold those outgoing flights and wait to see the flights back....And you can rebook the holds ;)
 
Still no sign of my Amex bonus....

Moving on - our 2019 goals

Trips we have scheduled:
- May trip to WDW. Using our DVC points to stay 7 nights at BCV. I still need to figure out where to stay our first night, as we fly in late. We booked flights on SW with points and hopefully DH will get the companion pass early next year and we can cancel my flight and add me as the companion. We bought 10 day PH tickets and erased most of the charge with our Arrival + and will upgrade to APs with discounted giftcards. Still need to collect more giftcards for dining.

- November trip to Disneyland. Booked the hotel with my CSR and got a much better deal than if I had used Marriott points to book. We bought 5 day PH tickets with the CSR as well. Will either use SW points or JetBlue points for flights.

I have a Marriott cat 1-4 package that I'm trying to figure out how to use. We are thinking maybe Charleston at the end of June, beginning of July.

We'll also have 2 "free" nights from our SPG cards that maybe DH and I will go somewhere like Portland, ME without the kids.

As far as CC plans, I need to figure that out. Looks like I need to stay away from Amex for a while!
 
A day late and a dollar short, but in case anyone is interested in the Marriott conversation...
I think @Alexle2007 is platinum (?) with Marriott. She should get the breakfast credit. Looking at the National Harbor Gaylord - atrium room is an upgrade. Prices are pretty cheap over Xmas (a low of $135 plus $22 resort fee). They also have ICE if someone is interested and the new MGM Casino is right there and I think you get bused from the hotel. I've eaten at the Old Hickory Steakhouse at the hotel. Very pricey - for 2 it was over $300 but it was excellent. There are package deals if interested in ICE that include $100 resort credit and they come out cheaper than a room by itself plus tickets. You do have to pay for parking. Very little on street.

The gift card thing at the Marriott Hotels - I'm thinking that if the desk clerk is not familiar, they just say no. I'd check with their manager during business hours to be sure.
True!!!

Thank you! I am indeed newly platinum! Now to decide what we are doing over Christmas!

Lots of happy Starriott Platinums out there! The platinum breakfast benefit is not consistent across all brands - at Courtyards you get a F&B credit of $10 per day, which you can use on breakfast (or whatever else you want). It took me 2 days to convince the Courtyard I was staying at that it wasn't $10 per stay, and that we should get F&B vouchers for each day. At Gaylords, you get a $10 credit per stay, not per day, which is not a great breakfast benefit (but better than nothing, I guess). It really depends on whether it is a brand that has a lounge - you are guaranteed lounge access as a plat, and if its the weekend and the lounge is closed, they will offer you breakfast in the restaurant instead. The details by brand are in the terms and conditions.

Sooo, my new Platinum status with Marriott is good until... Feb 2020? Is there a date somewhere in my account for that?

Starriott status is always good until Feb of the 2nd following year. So if you make platinum on Dec 31, 2019, your status is good until Feb 2021. If you make platinum on January 1, 2019, your status is good until Feb 2021. Kinda like the SW companion pass - getting to the status earlier in the year means you get to enjoy it for longer! You used to be able to roll elite nights from one year to the next (if you were 20 nights above Gold, but didn't make it to platinum, you rolled those nights to the next year to give you a jump start on status for the next year), but they changed that and you always start with zero nights as of January 1 now. Makes it much harder to get to 50 nights early in the year, esp. with only 15 nights max from a credit card.
 
DoC posted about the $10 BB&B rebate available when you purchase $50 in third-party GCs... Apparently you can do multiple purchases on the same order. Could be really good if you have the $10 back on $75 home goods offer on Amex!
 
Starriott status is always good until Feb of the 2nd following year. So if you make platinum on Dec 31, 2019, your status is good until Feb 2021. If you make platinum on January 1, 2019, your status is good until Feb 2021. Kinda like the SW companion pass - getting to the status earlier in the year means you get to enjoy it for longer! You used to be able to roll elite nights from one year to the next (if you were 20 nights above Gold, but didn't make it to platinum, you rolled those nights to the next year to give you a jump start on status for the next year), but they changed that and you always start with zero nights as of January 1 now. Makes it much harder to get to 50 nights early in the year, esp. with only 15 nights max from a credit card.
And it's through the end of February, not the 1st? Sorry to be difficult. I'm just looking at when we could do a Europe trip and I've been semi-hoarding my Marriott points for that... the only reason I made Platinum this month is because of the CC nights and SPG/Marriott nights getting combined, so I feel like I might as well try to fit the trip into that window to make use of being Plat for probably the only time ever :P
 
Apparently Marriott heard my whining. Finally, 2400 points deposited:banana:If you think about it, I'm super excited over, what...$21.60 or so but it's the little things that add up so color me happy!

So if I made Platinum this fall then I'll stay plat throughout 2019-wow this is a good Marriott day:)
 
Me: Hmm, Discover 5% category is grocery next quarter and we have two... If I can get Amazon gift cards during 4x fuel point promos, that is ~10.8% off so better than loading some money on my Amazon account now with my Discover. So I don't need to worry about loading my account to cover Prime, Kindle membership renewals.
Me, two hours later: Sale on Kindle membership?? *CLICK* (goes on DHs Discover) Oh yeah, fuel points.... :blush:
 
And it's through the end of February, not the 1st? Sorry to be difficult. I'm just looking at when we could do a Europe trip and I've been semi-hoarding my Marriott points for that... the only reason I made Platinum this month is because of the CC nights and SPG/Marriott nights getting combined, so I feel like I might as well try to fit the trip into that window to make use of being Plat for probably the only time ever :P

I am 94.2% sure that it is through the end of February, not Feb 1. But, if you are banking on it for a trip, I would call the Marriott rewards program and double check. In my experience, status does get you more perks overseas than it does in the US, so yeah, its a good idea to capitalize on that while you can!
 
I know I asked this before, but I don't think I ever saw the answer (things fly on here). My SW biz payment is due 12/26, but it specifically says this on my account page...
Your next statement period ends on Jan 2, 2019.

Do you think I can assume safely that none of the charges I make now will hit my SW rewards account until 2019? I will only go up to about $2500 (including annual fee) to be safe for the bonus, but this should be ok?
 
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