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

[SouthFayetteFan]

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[Haley R]

Southwest is great on Twitter dms

Southwest gave me a generic message back on my dm about our luggage. It took Dh tweeting them publicly for them to do anything

 

[amalone1013]

Apparently EARN AA miles for cruises you pay for in cash.

Sacrelige!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

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[CyndiLouWho]

Can I get some advice? I will need to pay DD's tuition in August and again in December. Her college portal charges 2.5% if you pay by credit card (no amex option). I can also do a monthly payment plan. No "interest" but there's a $75 fee. I do not have that money sitting in the bank so I'm considering a 0% transfer card (I think amex has one for 15 months). After that, assuming it's still not paid off, I'm considering a home equity loan.

DH thinks this is all too complicated and we should just put the whole thing on a home equity loan and pay it off as soon as possible. This is her last year so this will be it.

A complication is that I have no idea what her tuition will be next year until her financial aid award comes in.

I need to structure this to minimize interest and fees and maximize points. Any ideas?

Are you eligible for CIC? 0% the first year.

is this Sears???? b/c the only two times I ordered from them,my life was like this for a while. (after the 2nd time I vowed never again,which isn't hard now that they're rightfully out of business)

That’s interesting. We always buy appliances from Sears. Never had any problems. I always comparison shop, get the best price there and have a Sears cc for the free delivery and usually an extra discount.

 

[Haley R]

Just to clarify, the promo was in my actual SW Rapid Rewards account. It wasn't a Chase offer tied to a SW cc.

Dh checked and he doesn’t have it. It’s okay because we already paid for early bird check in anyway

 

[NewbieMom]

First the citi AA biz mailers, what us the usual offer? Is it $5k msr for 50k AA points? Trying to decide if I should try for one now. I'm working on my CIC msr currently, but thinking I should start the clock on citi. I wonder if Aulani is available to book through their portal....not that I have flights covered yet.

Yes it is! Both the hotel rooms and the villas.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Can we just pause for a minute and say how awesome this place is! People helping people, it's so cool

The best part of this thread! It’s like the best cocktail party ever. You can drop in anytime, find someone to chat with about something you have in common, ask a question, get information or guidance, share a joke, wish someone well, hear about someone’s vacation plans...with a great group of fun and helpful people.

 

[wendow]

So I'm starting to work on re-vamping my strategy a bit...and I realize that it's been a long time since I posted my stats and plans - so why not...

P1 - Me - technically 4/24 (but 2 additional cards were in February so I'm being patient to make sure they've dropped off)
- 12 Open Cards = Discover, 2x CF, SW Plus, SW Premier, IHG Classic (no AF downgrade), Citi AA bronze (no AF downgrade), 2x Chase Disney, AMEX Everyday, AMEX BB+, CitiBiz AA; (it's interesting to see me with only 12 open cards...probably an all-time low since I started playing hardcore - I've opened 42 cards in my churning career in my name)
- I'm blocked by the 48 month Sapphire rule until 3/1/2020 so can't do CSP/CSR or an MDD until then
- I'm blocked by the 24 month rule on the Disney Visa until 10/1/2019
- I am not blocked by any other Chase "bonus timing" rules
- I've gotten virtually every AMEX card worth getting so lifetime rules (and popups) block me from them

Cards in the past 24 months:

• 02/17 - AMEX Everyday
• 02/17 - AMEX Starwood Personal
• 03/17 - AMEX Business Gold Rewards*
• 04/17 - AMEX Ameriprise Gold (1/24)
• 05/17 - WELLS FARGO Cash Rewards (2/24)
• 06/17 - AMEX BB+*
• 08/17 - CHASE Disney Rewards (3/24)
• 09/17 - CITI Prestige (4/24)
• 10/17 - AMEX Starwood Business*
• 10/17 - AMEX Green Business*
• 12/18 - CITI AAdvantage Business*

Side note: if you are way over 5/24 and wondering if you can EVER get back under...I made it back to 4/24 from 34/24...it can be done!

P2 - Wife - 2/24
- 13 Open Cards = AMEX BCP, AMEX Hilton, AMEX BB+, 2x CF, Chase Marriott (personal), IHG Classic (no AF downgrade), Chase Disney, CSR, CSP, CIP, CIC, CIU (she's had 26 cards in her history of this game so interesting that half are currently still open)
- She is blocked by the 48 month Sapphire rule until 11/1/2022 (wow that feels a long time away)
- She is not blocked by any other Chase "bonus timing" rules
- She has gotten a decent number of the AMEX cards and has popup issues so they are OUT

Cards in the past 24 months:

• 07/17 - AMEX Starwood Business*
• 09/17 - AMEX Business Gold Rewards*
• 12/17 - AMEX Delta Gold Business*
• 02/18 - AMEX BB+*
• 04/18 - CHASE CIP*
• 08/18 - CHASE CSP (1/24)
• 08/18 - CHASE CSR (2/24)
• 11/18 - CHASE CIU*
• 02/19 - CHASE CIC*

So what's my go forward strategy and thinking...

• I have 73k AA Miles. I'm attempting to get ~200k in my name (via the Barclays AA biz and a 2nd Citi AA biz via mailer). I'm also looking to get over 100k AA Miles in my wife's name (via a Citi AA dummy offer and the Barclays AA biz)
• We need the AA Miles by September for when Disney releases discounts for our January trip (it looks like my wife will approve pulling the kids from school one more year for a trip - YAY!)
• We have $2,000 remaining on the CIC MSR - I wouldn't mind getting a different card to work on though and pay the remainder of our annual cable bill with the CIC for the 5x earnings
• I am looking at getting the CIP, CIC, CIU tri-fecta starting in April or May once some cards/inquiries drop off my report
• My wife is obviously still 2/24 so she can get anything she wants

And so I sit here...and I'm somewhat paralyzed - this happens to me sometimes, I just hesitate to pull the trigger on anything. I feel like I should maybe do the AA Miles double dip with my wife NOW. Get the Barclays AA biz and Citi AA biz cards...it's $3k in combined MSR (plus $2k on the CIC so that's only $5k in the next 3 months). That would get us enough points in her account for the 2nd portion of our split stay next year. That would also let my report continue to sit dormant so that when I go for the CIP card I look as clean as possible. I am eligible for another Citi Biz AA card in late March so that would add another $5k MSR on to the tally...which may be stretching it (I'll just have to play that by ear).

I know this is a ton of info - love to hear others observations or thoughts!

You have lots more time than me. Would you rather wait on the Barclay for the 60k offer to come back? If you are good with the AA offers, I’d go for those for your wife. It would bug me knowing I needed to get those points earned but I wasn’t working on it lol. I have no patience though

 

[mmmears]

Way behind today (have about 10 more pages to go). Busy day here on the thread!

I want to say that I have serious AA FOMO right now. I've been thinking I should go for the CIP next, and now I'm not so sure.

You've now got me thinking that how I can best maximize the $22k will be paying in May for private school tuition. I don't think they take CCs so I would have to go through Plastiq so I would need to make over $550 in reward benefits to come out ahead.

I think it's smart you're thinking about this now. DD's school didn't take credit cards, so we lost points on all those years of tuition. Her college doesn't take them either, but we did finally find this group and thanks to @Lain we managed to use part of the last semester's tuition to make the MSR on the Biz Plat. So at least we get some points for that spend, but we also missed out on so much...

New Alaska Airlines Lounge set to open on the rooftop of Terminal 2 at SFO in 2020. - SFGate

Yay! Always nice to have options. Any advice for us when flying Jet Blue? I don't think they have a lounge and they are in the international terminal for some reason (so not really practical to make our way there from the Centurion lounge). I think we can use the AF one if it's not full, but I can't remember. We were in that one last summer since we were flying AF, and it was ok but super crowded. Do you happen to know if there are any decent options for us?

I don't have any points yet to see anything but I also just am terrified this option will somehow be gone by the time I actually get any points to use. This is what Chase has done to us

I feel the exact same way. I have lots of AA miles that I haven't been able to use and I'm worried that as soon as I jump on the train it'll come to a screeching halt.

It's Home Depoo (no, I didn't mispell it ). The delivery time for today was scheduled for 10AM-2PM. And I just got a call at 12:42PM! telling me the delivery is cancelled because of the weather! UGH! You really couldn't call me and tell me that earlier?!? Another wasted work day. It's now rescheduled for next Tuesday, so the fridge saga over here continues....

I can't "like" your post, but I've been following along with your refrigerator issues and I just want to say that I'm sorry. They've really done some stupid things, and I hope it gets resolved soon.

30,000 AA Miles would cover a Disney Room cost of approx. $298.50 after tax (or roughly $264 before tax).

I'm liking those prices at WDW so much better than what I'm seeing at DL (as usual - it's why we tend to fly to FL instead of go down to LA). I'm logged in, have a credit card, etc. But I typed in Oct 11-13 and I'm getting a whopping 175,450 miles for a standard (no view, no club level) room at the GCH. Yikes...

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

You have lots more time than me. Would you rather wait on the Barclay for the 60k offer to come back? If you are good with the AA offers, I’d go for those for your wife. It would bug me knowing I needed to get those points earned but I wasn’t working on it lol. I have no patience though

That was one of the things on my mind...a 60k offer would be nicer if it came back. And I don’t necessarily need to do both right now. A $2k MSR from Citi would allow me to divert a bunch of my remaining MSR to paying ahead on Cable for the 5x URs I like that thinking

 

[trstno1]

I think this is a good caution - but also nothing for any of us chasing Disney to worry about. While the train could be shutdown...depending on your strategy to earn miles, most of us starting are fairly safe. Each player can get a Barclays personal, Barclays Biz, Citi Personal and Citi Biz without even boarding the train. Depending on which offers you choose, that's 200k - 250k points right there. Between 2 players you can get 400k-500k. That's enough points for a week at a Deluxe Disney resort.

Now I personally am planning to do 1 of ea biz card for my wife, 1 of ea biz card for me and then a 2nd Citi biz card via mailer. That "2nd Citi" would be a loss in this scenario - but I could replace that with a personal card if I want to use a 5/24 slot (which in that instance I would).

Basically, I'm saying that there are a lot of ways to earn AA Miles 1 time without the train. People on r/churning are flying round the world first class multiple times with their "train earnings". I'm just trying to get 300k miles to book a week at Disney

Unfortunately, I live in the one state in the union where Barclay cards are unavailable. I could really use the extra credit card provider.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Unfortunately, I live in the one state in the union where Barclay cards are unavailable. I could really use the extra credit card provider.

Wow TIL Iowa has some pretty strict consumer protection laws and Barclays won’t issue CCs there because of it! Interesting...

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I can't even keep track now - I think there's easily a dozen or more of us suddenly chasing AA Miles for Disney! Crazy!!! haha!

(And one person doing it for rental cars )

Well some of are actually using AA miles for...flights.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Well some of are actually using AA miles for...flights.

That’s so last year

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Thank you for this! Here is the site I was using:
https://www.bookaahotels.com/index....e-sbwidget3A&lang=en-us&selected_currency=USD

Doesn't look anything like that and no where to bring up Disney resorts. Even when you type in "walt disney world" as the destination, it STILL won't bring up Disney resorts.

Actually I think that website earns AA miles for cash bookings. Glad you found the right one.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

After some reflection i have determined I love you for telling me. I texted SO yesterday and asked him if I could get him a AA card and said we could use the miles to book the Grand Californian. He said I could do whatever was necessary if it meant he could stay there again lol

Ok now THAT is a temptation to use AA miles for GC. I have always wanted to stay there and we’re planning DLR next year. AA miles for China arent needed until 2021 at least. So...

 

[amalone1013]

How does everyone like to pack their toiletries? Any special organizer bags or anything? I use an old free makeup bag right now, like a 6x9x3 rectangle, but am tired of it because I'm always digging in it (I also have trouble separating out the stuff I need the first night since it's usually late like contact case etc vs stuff needed the next day that could wait).

I do like those skinny long cosmetic bags for socks

 

[CyndiLouWho]

That’s so last year

Nah for me it’s so 2021 or 2022.

 

[Lain]

Yay! Always nice to have options. Any advice for us when flying Jet Blue? I don't think they have a lounge and they are in the international terminal for some reason (so not really practical to make our way there from the Centurion lounge). I think we can use the AF one if it's not full, but I can't remember. We were in that one last summer since we were flying AF, and it was ok but super crowded. Do you happen to know if there are any decent options for us?

IIRC, JetBlue flies out of International Terminal A. The Priority Pass that comes with your CSR and Platinum cards gives you access to the Air France/KLM Lounge in International Terminal A: https://www.prioritypass.com/en/lounges/usa/san-francisco-ca-intl/sfo11-air-france---klm-lounge

However, our experience has been that this lounge often has a sign up that they are full or open only to Air France/KLM passengers when we try to access it, and have been told to try back in 30 minutes or whatever. Bad timing, I guess. Last December, we were able to get in right when the lounge opened at 7:15 a.m., and we got to spend about 40 minutes there and got a bite to eat before our morning flight to HNL on Hawaiian. There was a short line that had formed waiting for the doors to open. The backside of the lounge filled up about halfway while we were there. It was alright -- better than waiting at the gate -- but the food was forgettable and it was no Centurion Lounge.