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

[1st*toright]

I'm looking into using URs for a ski trip to Jay Peak (staying onsite) 2/16-2/20. It says they are sold out. Am I too late or is is possible that they haven't been released. Wondering how far in advance they would normally book up. Last month they were "sold out" too. Would anyone at Chase travel have any idea?

I always go right to the original site and see what that says. That way you can at least see if it is a problem with booking too soon, or if it really is just not available on Chase. The portal is not the most user friendly. It just shows sold out no matter the reason, might be too many people in room or booked to soon.

I've been looking at 2020 bookings via Amex FHR and Chase and I've found that they generally get inventory later than the hotel websites open dates. I couldn't look at anything beyond Dec 2019 for hotels via the Amex FHR program, and was getting lots of "sold out" properties on Chase. You can triangulate what it might cost using the location's website as compared to what you see on Chase (to see if its relatively comparable most of the time), but you might have to wait a while before you can book. Its annoying.

Jay peak is great! Would like to get back there myself!

 

[WVMomof3]

Ask him. They are still available. The $55 price is decent and it could also be used at Busch Gardens Williamsburg up until May of 2020.

We have been in the car together since 8 am this morning. I think we are getting a little cranky. Haha. I did ask, I don’t know, it’s up to you. Then maybe. Then do we have to decide right this minute? No help.

 

[smallsy]

But everybody keeps talking about chicken sandwiches. I had a chicken sandwich with cheese and avocado (and other things like tomato, etc on it one time in NYC, and I've never had another like it - absolutely delicious! And it would probably cost $15 now and I'd still buy it.

Best chicken sandwich I’ve ever had is just up the road from me at Buxton Hall in Asheville, and yeah it’s $14 including a side. Worth it. They also have Cheerwine Bourbon slushies which sound gross but are surprisingly delicious.

 

[DrFacilier]

I always go right to the original site and see what that says. That way you can at least see if it is a problem with booking too soon, or if it really is just not available on Chase. The portal is not the most user friendly. It just shows sold out no matter the reason, might be too many people in room or booked to soon.

Great idea. I looked online and it is saying that there is limited availability and that I had to call reservations. When I called the CSR said that there was some availability but when I asked her if it was wide open she said no. She tried to talk me into booking now (putting half of the payment down today) but that there were no promotions. I just fooled around with dates on the site and it looks like nothing is available for online booking yet December-March so I'm hoping something shows up on Chase when they start booking online on their site. Thanks!

 

[Judique]

We have been in the car together since 8 am this morning. I think we are getting a little cranky. Haha. I did ask, I don’t know, it’s up to you. Then maybe. Then do we have to decide right this minute? No help.

For a June trip, I'd be looking for shade. Can't say I would head to a theme park, so it would be a pass for me. November and February are cooler.

 

[DrFacilier]

I've been looking at 2020 bookings via Amex FHR and Chase and I've found that they generally get inventory later than the hotel websites open dates. I couldn't look at anything beyond Dec 2019 for hotels via the Amex FHR program, and was getting lots of "sold out" properties on Chase. You can triangulate what it might cost using the location's website as compared to what you see on Chase (to see if its relatively comparable most of the time), but you might have to wait a while before you can book. Its annoying.

Jay peak is great! Would like to get back there myself!

Yeah. I see what you mean. I just messed around in the Chase portal and there is tons of availability at Jay until December 2019 but then nothing. I will definitely keep checking back.

We love Jay. The skiing is great and the waterpark makes it an awesome winter vacation with kids. I am excited at the prospect of funding a ski vacation with points! I never even thought it was an option until recently.

 

[Hoosier John]

Stupid story - I recently ate at some "millennial type hot spot food court thingy" on Pittsburgh's North Shore. It was after a meeting and my co-worker said let's go there. And I bought a chicken sandwich (no fries, no drink...just a fancy-ish fried chicken sandwich) for $14 from a multiple piercing, colorful hair young lady at the register. (I don't point that out to judge, it's just an honest observation - definitely had way too "hip" of a vibe for me). And I'm sitting there saying...What stupid people pay $14 for a chicken sandwich...and then I look around and there's a lot of "stupid" people paying $14 for chicken...and then I think for another minute...I'm "stupid people"!! I bought the Chicken Sandwich... So are businesses charging more because we have access to capital...or are we just willing to borrow to have instagram worthy chicken sandwich experiences?? (Side Note...Arby's has a much better Chicken sandwich than this for like $3...ugh I still hate myself for my lunch choice that day)

I'm not sure I've really said anything here...haha!

But you were paying for great atmosphere and what I can only assume, top notch service.
.

 

[WVMomof3]

For a June trip, I'd be looking for shade. Can't say I would head to a theme park, so it would be a pass for me. November and February are cooler.

In a moment of indecision I bought 5 tickets. I hope they don’t have to be used all at once. If so, then I guess we can all go to Williamsburg again. We love it there and haven’t been in awhile. If not we can use 2 or 3 this trip for Tampa if DS and I go and then have 2 or 3 for another trip.

I consider the VA park pretty shady. Is theTampa Park not like that?

 

[bernina]

Right?!? I got in trouble and got points for even hinting at the agency in a post but now it’s in a thread title

So what’s the story with this magical TA. Why the controversy (if you’re allowed to say)?

 

[platamama]

Ughhhhhhh, just got CIP #2 in the mail yesterday

I feel your pain. DH's CIP#2 just arrived this afternoon.

 

[Limes96]

I had a bunch of quotes and the internet cut out so I lost it all. Oh well trying to catch up.

Pizza - top pizza is my homemade pizza. Can't beat that. But if bought I like Pizza Hut, Donatos (haven't seen anyone bring up. It definitely is in Ohio, not sure how many other mid-west states) and Jet's (again I think chain but local to Ohio). Can.not.eat. Dominos, papa johns or little ceasers. Sorry just nope.

CIP & plastiq I plans for this. I only got two transactions in.

I cast another vote for Donatos! Loved it even before I had to go gluten free, but they also have very good gluten free pizza too. The gluten free pizza at BJ’s Brewhouse is also pretty good.

Pretty disappointed about losing the 3x on CIP - Plastiq already. Was hoping to take advantage of that over the summer.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Goodbye CIP1...you were very good to me!

Just cancelled my wife's CIP since the AF posted on 5/1. This was the FIRST Chase card we got when I finally got her under 5/24 so a little sad to say goodbye to it. It was soooo worth the wait though with those sweet 85,000 URs it brought me! I cancelled it because she also has a CIC and CIU so there's really no reason to PC it and hopefully it will free up some biz credit limit for CIP2 in the next month or so.

 

[Etonduf]

Colorado does have a good entry in the pizza category. Beau Jo's Pizza. There aren't too many in the Denver area any more but it is worth stopping there sometime to try the a Mountain Pie.

 

[Limes96]

Really tempted by the Busch Gardens deal, but with no definite plans, I guess I’ll have to pass. Hoping to make it back to Williamsburg before long though!

 

[MarBee]

Question for you experts:
For Mother’s Day I was going to purchase some spa gift cards. The spa is in a Marriott hotel, and when I go to purchase them online, I’m directed to the Marriott website.
My two part question is:
1) will these code as true “Marriott” purchases like a hotel would?
2) which Marriott card should I use: the Amex bonvoy business, the original spg amex, or the original Marriott chase visa?
Trying to maximize my points...
Thanks in advance!

 

[mmmears]

More bad news this morning.

I got an email from Amex that a new replacement card is coming for my SPG Lux. The metal Bonbon Brilliant. The worst part:

Your existing Card will be deactivated
You will receive your new Card within the next several days. You may continue to use your existing Card until your new Card arrives, however as a security measure, your current Card will be deactivated soon afterward.

I'm going to chat with Amex to see if I can keep my purple card.

Tagging @tink1970, @MKTokyo, @DisneyMandC, @GZanta77, @kmc8826, @Judique and everyone else partial to purple.

DH got that email last night. We are traveling tomorrow and need to use the Lux card at the end of next week for the Marriott credit. Really bad timing. He messaged AMEX and they said it wouldn't be deactivated right away, and I hope they are right, since we won't be home to get the new card. Bad move, AMEX, bad move.

 

[Natgridenergy]

I need some help from the flight award booking gurus. I need to get from PVD or BOS to PUJ on 3/21/20 returning 3/25/20 for 2 adults and 2 kids. I would like to use AA miles since I will have an abundance of them from the train. AwardHacker is showing round trip in business class for 50k round trip but when I go to aa.com and search, they are showing up as much more. I've never booked flights with points before, other than SW. Anybody have a few mins to give it a search for me?

 

[mmmears]

So I know what some of you were saying when you wondered how mother/child trips happen without DH feeling left out. I've been getting the hints that he is happy for me but sad he won't be there. Plus with DD being 3, she doesn't get why daddy wouldn't be there. sigh. So I'm going to wait on the mother daughter trip until she's a bit older, and DH is coming for Memorial Day weekend. Luckily I have points to grab him a flight ( with RR's) and ticket (with Citi points) today.
$0 oop but boy these points just keep flying out of my accounts. Time to get more I guess!

I'm one who totally gets this. DD and I haven't ever taken a real mother/daughter trip because it just didn't feel right to leave DH all alone. Instead we did mother/daughter days locally (and one awesome day at DL when DH had to go to a bachelor's party in LA ).

Was you card expiring? That would be consistent with what Marriott told me, that I would get a replacement card with new branding only when my current card was about to expire and then I wouldn’t be able to use the old one. I am hoping that’s the case. DD has my Marriott card as her only CC there and it shouldn’t expire anytime soon. She does have her Schwab Debit card but no other CC so hoping they don’t just randomly send me a new card.

DH's card was just issued Nov 2018, so I don't think expiration dates have anything to do with this.

 

[Albort]

DH got that email last night. We are traveling tomorrow and need to use the Lux card at the end of next week for the Marriott credit. Really bad timing. He messaged AMEX and they said it wouldn't be deactivated right away, and I hope they are right, since we won't be home to get the new card. Bad move, AMEX, bad move.

i can confirm that when i went from SPG personal --> SPG Lux, they gave me around a month before it got deactivate.

 

[wendow]

Colorado does have a good entry in the pizza category. Beau Jo's Pizza. There aren't too many in the Denver area any more but it is worth stopping there sometime to try the a Mountain Pie.

I love Beau Jo’s but there isn’t one close anymore. We make it a point to stop in Idaho Springs every couple years though.