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

[speedyfishy]

I want to make a payment on my room at Pop but I can't figure out where to go. I googled and all I can find say to go to my reservations but MDE has changed since then and now it's my plans and I can't find a place to do it. I've always used a TA before or the group before this so I never made a payment on MDE that wasn't a one time thing. Where do I go?

I couldn’t figure this out either and ended up calling. So annoying.

 

[Natgridenergy]

Thanks. I actually just went and all is well at FD.

Yep, I am happy to report all is well at DG and FD. Very well. lol

 

[Natgridenergy]

I would love hearing jet noise. My brother and his family obviously hear it all the time with them living on base. We heard it on the beach in Florida and I loved it.

It's the sound of freedom!

 

[striker1064]

I still don't know if I need to change my life insurance.

We don't have any kids so that's a big thing not needing to be covered. I have a mortgage and DW has a lot of student loans (although those are on track to be paid in 4 years). Those are the big debt obligations that would be very difficult for one of us to take both on if something happened. I guess I am just surprised at how little coverage FEGLI really offers for the premium compared to other quotes I'm seeing. The upside is, FEGLI sticks at 25% post-retirement, for free, if I stick with it. The downside is, retirement is ~15 years away.

Life insurance is one of those things no one ever taught me. When I started with the government in my 20s, an HR rep basically said "FEGLI is a good deal, the government doubles your benefit as long as you opt-in for basic, so you get double-covered for free." And that made sense to me, so I took it. Now that I'm seeing the phase-out of the government benefit as I age, I'm not so sure.

At least it's Sunday, which means my weekly tradition of drinking heavily with friends followed by Game of Thrones is approaching. I am certain several cocktails will help us figure it out.

 

[afan]

I couldn’t figure this out either and ended up calling. So annoying.

That's what I'm trying to avoid. Maybe I'll try their chat feature.

 

[afan]

I still don't know if I need to change my life insurance.

We don't have any kids so that's a big thing not needing to be covered. I have a mortgage and DW has a lot of student loans (although those are on track to be paid in 4 years). Those are the big debt obligations that would be very difficult for one of us to take both on if something happened. I guess I am just surprised at how little coverage FEGLI really offers for the premium compared to other quotes I'm seeing. The upside is, FEGLI sticks at 25% post-retirement, for free, if I stick with it. The downside is, retirement is ~15 years away.

Life insurance is one of those things no one ever taught me. When I started with the government in my 20s, an HR rep basically said "FEGLI is a good deal, the government doubles your benefit as long as you opt-in for basic, so you get double-covered for free." And that made sense to me, so I took it. Now that I'm seeing the phase-out of the government benefit as I age, I'm not so sure.

At least it's Sunday, which means my weekly tradition of drinking heavily with friends followed by Game of Thrones is approaching. I am certain several cocktails will help us figure it out.

Not sure how helpful this is but my stepdad had a policy that would pay off the mortgage and that's it because that's the only thing they were concerned about. They knew in retirement that they could afford the mortgage but if it was just my mom she couldn't. Unfortunately now the house is paid off. The other thing he did, which she didn't know because while they discussed it he didn't tell her what he did for some reason, was with his pension from UPS. He set it up so she'd get half of what he would have gotten if he was still alive which is good. Then because he made more she gets his social security instead of her own because that's how it works. This policy was what they needed but also what they could get and afford. They didn't do it until after he'd had bypass surgery in his early 50's and he'd been a smoker his entire adult life. I think they'd had something prior but let is expire and then you have medical stuff happen and that changes what you're able to get which I think is a big thing to take into account when you're young and still able to get a better policy.

 

[WVMomof3]

I still don't know if I need to change my life insurance.

We don't have any kids so that's a big thing not needing to be covered. I have a mortgage and DW has a lot of student loans (although those are on track to be paid in 4 years). Those are the big debt obligations that would be very difficult for one of us to take both on if something happened. I guess I am just surprised at how little coverage FEGLI really offers for the premium compared to other quotes I'm seeing. The upside is, FEGLI sticks at 25% post-retirement, for free, if I stick with it. The downside is, retirement is ~15 years away.

Life insurance is one of those things no one ever taught me. When I started with the government in my 20s, an HR rep basically said "FEGLI is a good deal, the government doubles your benefit as long as you opt-in for basic, so you get double-covered for free." And that made sense to me, so I took it. Now that I'm seeing the phase-out of the government benefit as I age, I'm not so sure.

At least it's Sunday, which means my weekly tradition of drinking heavily with friends followed by Game of Thrones is approaching. I am certain several cocktails will help us figure it out.

Are you law enforcement or in that category that can retire at 50? We are over 10 years older than you and still have 10 to go to get to MRA.

 

[afan]

@speedyfishy they said I have to call because it's room only. Then she said I needed to call because there's a note to call probably because they need to tell me something. Umm what? That I made an AP rate rez using my AP and that I need to show it at checkin, duh can't you just put that on the site and let me pay on my room. I'll just wait until I'm done getting the gift cards with the credit from canceling and call in. So annoying and stupid.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone book hotels on their own accounts for their significant others and run into any issues? I'm planning to book DH a room at a Quality Inn on my choice account for three nights for another double stay promotion. I won't be traveling with him though. I'm thinking of just putting a note on the account that he'll be the one checking in at approximately 10 pm that night, so please hold the room.

 

[Oscar Madison]

Got it. As a single parent, I guess my situation is different. My kids financially would be okay at this point if I were to die so I guess I’m fine without getting a new policy in six years.

I took out a 20 yr term that expires in about 7 years. At the time, I figured the house and kids' college would be done by then. I pay $240/year for 350k

 

[tink1970]

Having lived under a flight line in several duty stations both on and off base, I can take it but I prefer to leave it and enjoy it at an airshow or a visit to an airport. I lived on Bolling AFB for awhile and the flights to Reagan flew right over us so low you could see the people in the windows, and watch your dishes rattling while your tv or conversation was drowned out.

My ex and I lived under Delta's approach here and the worst sound was silence after 9/11 and Ivan. So I'm fine with airplane noise-it means status quo. Of course, I lived on CCAD (helos) and had enough call (helos/ambulances) those kinds of noise really doesn't bother me.

For those who love jet noise, I would recommend this bumper sticker. It's very popular in VA Beach.

LOL-when I was growing up in VA for high school and returned to the area for internship/residency the more popular bumper sticker said--Jet noise it's the sound of freedom. Then when those who didn't like it realized what would happen to their property values if the base was BRAC-d, they shut up.

It's the sound of freedom!

.

Yep, that's my belief!

For life insurance, I bought a 30 year term when I was 35 (DD was 5) so hopefully that should cover any outstanding loans she might have (undergrad is covered, ongoing education not so much). DH is worth much more to me alive and working than his policy, so he'd better get some short term gigs after he quits working FT (I kid, I kid).

 

[tink1970]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone book hotels on their own accounts for their significant others and run into any issues? I'm planning to book DH a room at a Quality Inn on my choice account for three nights for another double stay promotion. I won't be traveling with him though. I'm thinking of just putting a note on the account that he'll be the one checking in at approximately 10 pm that night, so please hold the room.

We just did this for DH-he was at a conference and it's Marriott double promotion (nights/points) time so I called each of the 3 hotels directly (don't ask) and said he'd been checking in before I was (truth-anytime is before never) and asked to add him to the reservation.

I already have Thursday's nights and points in my account and the best part is his work will cover the $1000 costs. Whoo hoo!

 

[DisneyMandC]

(truth-anytime is before never)

 

[platamama]

I see a $10 off $50 at Macy's on RMN cash back if anyone shops there.

 

[havaneselover]

I see a $10 off $50 at Macy's on RMN cash back if anyone shops there.

Ugh! I just spent $240 there and didn’t check.

 

[Lain]

Thansk @Lain for tagging me - I'd like to share some specific thoughts for this user but also some general comments that I think could benefit all of our friends here...

First off @wed100105 I am confused - did you get the CIP in 03/19 or 02/19? Your comment just before this said March but this says February? (This has nothing to do with my comment to follow, just make sure you are being SUPER accurate with these dates as people giving you advice will assume you are listing them correctly).

At any rate, earlier this week you seemed set on the fact that you would not get a lot of use out of the SW CP in 2020 and you had decided to not do it this year.

You are falling into a trap that ALL of us fall into from time to time (ugh...that Citi Hilton card I got back in May of 2015.....) and that is Churning FOMO! These new shiny "best ever" offers come out and you just have to have it! (I am not saying this in a demeaning way, it literally happens to all of us). Here's what you need to remind yourself:

• The Companion Pass has a limited shelf life...you get it for the rest of this year and all of next year. The earlier in the year you earn it, the better!
• The Companion Pass value is both unlimited and also worth nothing! (Huh???!!?) What I mean is...
  • You could earn your your CP on Jan 1st and use it everyday on a $500 flight for the next 2 years and it would be worth $365,000! (although you'd have to also buy $365k in flights to make that work...but you get what I'm saying, lol!)
  • OR you could earn your CP in July and use it on 3 round trip flights (say $400) over the next 18 months and get $1,200 in value out of it.
  • OR you could earn a CP and never use it, and it was worth $0 to you
• 60,000 Points on SW personal cards are exciting - yes, absolutely! BUT there is a 50k offer available through in-flight links all year round. And the 60k biz offer is their standard offer now. So while FOMO says "Oh no, I'm missing out on 120k SW points and a CP"...you're potentially only "missing out" on 10k SW points. Wouldn't it be better to earn that CP in early 2020 and have it for 22+ months and then make full use of it in 2020 and 2021? 10k SW points are only worth ~$150 which the longer duration (and better planning) for a CP could blow that away!

@SouthFayetteFan's Summary Comment on the Updated 60,000 Point Southwest Offers (this is for anybody considering this): Don't get caught up in FOMO here. If you were planning to earn CP in early 2020 then stay the course. Don't let 10,000 SW points change your strategy! By the same token, if SW cards weren't on your radar at all OR if you don't go for Biz cards, perhaps these offers are worth considering. In general, I'd consult with the thread here on your situation and we'll be happy to help.

@wed100105 - It's hard for me to state with certainty what you should do here...BUT IMHO, I don't think 10k SW points should change your approach that you decided on earlier this week, I'd pass at this time... (Or if it's the right move, I'd go for it, LOL - just not solely because this offer popped up)...

Couldn’t have put it any better.

 

[DisVegas]

Trying plastiq on Northwestern Mutual for life insurance. DW and I both took out $2 million policies last summer before we found out we were having a baby. My premium is 1/2 of DW’s because she’s an ex-smoker. @SouthFayetteFan the idea of taking another look at it every few years and decreasing the policy amount is something I’d never considered. Great idea!

 

[speedyfishy]

@speedyfishy they said I have to call because it's room only. Then she said I needed to call because there's a note to call probably because they need to tell me something. Umm what? That I made an AP rate rez using my AP and that I need to show it at checkin, duh can't you just put that on the site and let me pay on my room. I'll just wait until I'm done getting the gift cards with the credit from canceling and call in. So annoying and stupid.

My trip in June is also an AP room only rate. That’s so annoying.

 

[Lain]

I collect Hilton points. If getting an Amex Hilton biz card wouldn’t bother Chase, I’d like to go that route first.

An AMEX Hilton biz would be totally off Chase’s radar.

I have to caution @wed100105 about the Hilton Biz and Amex in general. Gone are the days of picking up an Amex card, meeting MSR for the SUB, and sockdrawering it until it’s time to close it in a year. That will land you on Amex’s naughty list fast, and you’ll be stuck in bonus denial pop up purgatory until you put some serious spend on your existing Amex cards. Amex will gladly approve you for cards, but they want to see you putting regular, consistent, and ideally high levels of spend on their cards if you want Amex to keep approving you for new cards with SUBs. Otherwise, they’ll figure you’re in it only for the SUBs and flag you as a “gamer.”

So before you apply for the Hilton Biz, you need to think is it worth diverting some of your spend for the next year that could be going towards new cards to the Hilton Biz and any other open Amex cards you may have just to keep Amex happy, and how do these cards and their bonus categories fit your spending patterns and overall strategy.

 

[striker1064]

Are you law enforcement or in that category that can retire at 50? We are over 10 years older than you and still have 10 to go to get to MRA.

I do not. I am a lowly accountant, I'm afraid. I could do early retirement with the years but it affects the pension.