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

[platamama]

I'm seriously considering the upgrade to the R-C card. I'd like to maximize some benefits as well. I can make the 50K certs work. Not at R-C per se but for other redemptions. A $450 annual fee makes sense when you can cash in more than half of it plus use the free night for $500 or so in value. I like having a range of values to suit my lifestyle as I can go easily from a Country Inn and Suites to the St Regis without blinking. I don't have to have luxury and service but I appreciate it and feel comfortable enjoying it so why not? I just don't want to blow my retirement fun money on it, so churning helps with that!

I had the R-C card years ago, and the $300 airline incidentals are much more difficult to redeem. It's not like the SPG Lux $300 credit that you can use on your room rate and gets applied automatically. The R-C credit requires phone calls and does not cover the actual air ticket, just the incidentals (baggage fee, etc.) that you put on that card. There was a recent blog post on FrequentMiler about what works and doesn't.

Out of old habits, I typically book each person and leg separately with SW to allow for ultimate rebooking flexibility in instances like this (just a tip going forward).

Yep, that's what I do too.

 

[striker1064]

SB users, I just did my first SB $100 Disney GC at Best Buy. The cashier scanned the QR code after ringing up the gift card. Is there anywhere in SB I can see it pending to know I did it right?

 

[DisneyMandC]

SB users, I just did my first SB $100 Disney GC at Best Buy. The cashier scanned the QR code after ringing up the gift card. Is there anywhere in SB I can see it pending to know I did it right?

If you go to Shop Activity under your SB account, it may show up there. If it's done correctly, there will be something on your Best Buy receipt about Swagbucks as well. Sounds like they did it correctly if they scanned it after the gift card though.

 

[PolyRob]

Out of old habits, I typically book each person and leg separately with SW to allow for ultimate rebooking flexibility in instances like this (just a tip going forward).

I learned this the hard way when I had to change one person on my itinerary to an earlier flight. I called and the agent split the itinerary, but I swore never again!

 

[striker1064]

I had the R-C card years ago, and the $300 airline incidentals are much more difficult to redeem. It's not like the SPG Lux $300 credit that you can use on your room rate and gets applied automatically. The R-C credit requires phone calls and does not cover the actual air ticket, just the incidentals (baggage fee, etc.) that you put on that card. There was a recent blog post on FrequentMiler about what works and doesn't.

Not to encourage anyone to do something they are uncomfortable with, but you can also SM to claim the RC credit. Sometimes they will deny you over SM, but sending another SM always worked for me. And AA GCs work well in my experience.

Otherwise, DW has successfully used the credit to cover real AA seat upgrades both last and this year without any problems.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I learned this the hard way when I had to change one person on my itinerary to an earlier flight. I called and the agent split the itinerary, but I swore never again!

It seems like it should be easy, but the human interaction combined with a wait time on hold and then the time it takes them to actually do it...is SUPER frustrating!

 

[elgerber]

So, now that I am not on my phone (I type better here), I was asking about getting DD the Disney Premier when she already has the regular, is because she got a text last night from a friend from high school asking if she wants to go with her to Florida for a week LOL. So well, duh, of course. So, I am trying to help them save as much money as possible, It's in May, so not a lot of time to plan and save. DD has a Platinum Plus annual pass, so that right there will help her a lot. They got some AP rates as ASMu booked last night, so it's a go!

 

[Psychodisney]

Does anyone know how to add passport info to SWA international reservations? They sent me an email but the links don't work.

 

[striker1064]

If you go to Shop Activity under your SB account, it may show up there. If it's done correctly, there will be something on your Best Buy receipt about Swagbucks as well. Sounds like they did it correctly if they scanned it after the gift card though.

I see it on my BB receipt. Thank you!

 

[platamama]

And, I got an Amex offer for $100 of $500 at St Regis (in NYC). So I checked a random weekend and found the lowest cost room (superior king) for $591 with a senior rate, plus $148.05 in taxes and fees on Friday March 1. I did not check for a points room on Saturday (60K still). $50 of the fee is food and beverage credit, so almost reasonable. Combine that with some Amtrak for free transport and I would have a place to stay and a way to get there. I'm sort of tempted by the experience. If they would take my Marriott gift card for the remainder over the $500, I'd be really tempted - I could rationalize $400 out of pocket.

I wonder if they would let me use the Bentley to get around.

I think the Marriott gift cards still only work on pre-8/18/18 Marriott properties and not SPG properties like the St Regis. It sure will be nice if they ever get that changed! Still, your plans sound fun!

Dang it my gift card purchase on DHs SW biz was too close to statement close - I was really hoping 3 full days was enough. Not the end of the world. More annoyed because I'd like to book the June flights with points and then just monitor them. Right now they are 26.5kpp RT, and we need 4.

Ugh, I think that happened to me too. My statement posted yesterday (with charges completed 3 full days ahead too), and the statement balance is over the $2000 MSR but no 50K bonus showed up on the statement.

 

[amalone1013]

SB users, I just did my first SB $100 Disney GC at Best Buy. The cashier scanned the QR code after ringing up the gift card. Is there anywhere in SB I can see it pending to know I did it right?

If you go to Shop Activity under your SB account, it may show up there. If it's done correctly, there will be something on your Best Buy receipt about Swagbucks as well. Sounds like they did it correctly if they scanned it after the gift card though.

They should scan the SB code before totaling the transaction. There will be a line about Swagbucks Affiliate Hardware on the receipt if they did it right. Then in about 2 days you should get an email for Shopping and be able to see the regular 2% (or whatever it is, sometimes it goes up) pending under your Shop activity

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Thanks! Probably not worth it for this small amount. If the points drop drastically then I'll look into it further.

Something to keep in mind if your going to do online check in 24 hours before...
with everyone on one reservation you get everyone checked in together.....if you have multiple confirmation numbers...each one is done separately.....may or may not matter depending on your travel party

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

CIC application put through this morning - auto-status says 30 days. Now...we wait, lol!

I decided not to to do it last week while we were away because I didn't want to be worrying about it or checking the line constantly while at WDW. Hopefully it doesn't sit pending too long

 

[tink1970]

Not to encourage anyone to do something they are uncomfortable with, but you can also SM to claim the RC credit. Sometimes they will deny you over SM, but sending another SM always worked for me. And AA GCs work well in my experience.

Otherwise, DW has successfully used the credit to cover real AA seat upgrades both last and this year without any problems.

ITA. I've used mine to upgrade seats and SM the requests for reimbursement. Since I was reminded, just upgraded DM/DD from ATL-PHL so once that charge hits I'll have another DP. While it's not as easy to use at Amex since there's another step with the SM (or call), I've still been able to use the credit easily. Of course YMMV.

 

[Psychodisney]

Does anyone know how to add passport info to SWA international reservations? They sent me an email but the links don't work.

Looks like you have to call in!

 

[PolyRob]

It seems like it should be easy, but the human interaction combined with a wait time on hold and then the time it takes them to actually do it...is SUPER frustrating!

Yes! Its always so YMMV depending on who you get! When I explained what I needed to do, the CSR initially said I could not do that and to change someones name on a ticket I would have to completely rebook. I paused and thought, did I ask that? No, I did not. I asked to change a date and time for the same person. She heard me wrong

 

[miztressuz]

SB users, I just did my first SB $100 Disney GC at Best Buy. The cashier scanned the QR code after ringing up the gift card. Is there anywhere in SB I can see it pending to know I did it right?

Nothing in SB but if you have the Swagbucks affiliate SKU $0 at the bottom of your receipt you should be good. Once SB gets it then you'll see it show up in the Shop Activity section under Purchases and then once that shows up there pending for the 32 days you'll get the bonus amount right away. For purchases during the week you usually see the Shop & Earn the next day, stuff over weekends shows up by Tuesdays (usually).

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Just wondering why you don't rent a car. I rented in Vancouver and drove to Whistler--it's a fairly easy drive. I only had the car for a day and returned it to the airport after renting it downtown and it cost me < $100.

I'm looking at that possibility, but after 8.5 hours of travel I'm not sure how I'd feel about a 2.5 hour drive up the mountain (dh isn't coming on the trip and I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to long drives in the snow).

If it is snowing the RCMP can close the gate up the mountain (at Squamish) and check every car -- if you don't snow tires they may not allow you to continue. There have been too many bad accidents on the Sea to Sky Highway to allow people to continue without them. It would really suck to be turned around or have to sit and wait for the roads to clear. I doubt this would happen, but it is still a possibility.

I checked the prices on Costco for renting an SUV (we have gear and won't fit in a car) and it's about $500.00, then another $210.00 for parking at the hotel plus maybe $150.00 for gas (gas is quite a bit more expensive in Canada). So savings would be around $160.00. That's about the price I put on my peace of mind relaxing in the back of a nice SUV while someone else drives!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Oh boy - I see my Chase 1099s and some more AMEX 1099s coming in the mail today.

My opinion on the whole thing: it's unfortunate that I'll owe some taxes on this but I still got more money than I'll owe. It may mess with my AGI a little and cause a phase-out on traditional IRA capabilities, But I should just be able to turn to Roth instead if that happens. I think I've calculated that my worst case scenario is this increases my Federal tax obligation by $3,624 - I guess I can just cash out some URs to "cover" that. $1,200 of that would be due to the trad. vs. Roth IRA though so that's not really a fair inclusion as a result of referrals (I was on the fence about which way to go with that to begin with). I guess there will also be some minor affects on state and local - maybe another $500 there.

With the exception of Hilton, I don't regret earning any of the referrals (and am still kind of sad that the whole churning setup changed because that has greatly diminished my earnings capabilities). I can definitely understand why some folks on r/churning who used their referral points for lavish 1st class flights (and other redemptions they may not have otherwise made) may see it differently though.

 

[miztressuz]

Something to keep in mind if your going to do online check in 24 hours before...
with everyone on one reservation you get everyone checked in together.....if you have multiple confirmation numbers...each one is done separately.....may or may not matter depending on your travel party

That's when we all synchronize watches

If I'm just doing it for two we always wind up within a couple numbers of each other, but for more I get at least 2 people involved and simultaneously checkin with multiple tabs/windows ready to go