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

[Albort]

And why would anyone do this?

only reason that ppl close early is to add a new card since amex limits 5 credit cards.
but clawback from Delta? ive never heard of a co-brand clawback before. just MR clawbacks.

 

[havaneselover]

Just got offer for 5000 mr to add au to Amex rose gold and spend $500 in three months. I guess my name will be Christopher as far as Publix and Kroger are concerned

 

[wanderlust7]

Ok, first I would like to thank everyone who gave advice it was super helpful. I’ve been keeping up with the thread, man it sure goes fast.

So we got the CSP. We are working on that spend now. I’m trying to let it be organic I don’t want to force it. Any suggestions for where to go next. The spend for the business cards is just a little out of reach for us unless we have something big planned. (Like the roof I put on my rental three months ago). So we were looking where to apply next. I saw all the grAAvy talk.
Right now we are at:
P1-1/24
P2-0/24

I don’t need the points for this upcoming vacation. Although I wouldn’t mind a weekend away this year. (Any suggestions welcome we are near dc, flying away would be lovely.)

So I was looking at what I need for next year. We are doing universal and SeaWorld.
So I need:
Hotel: Hyatt? 5 nights (would love on-site. It sure I make the points)
Tickets: I think you can get them through UR
Food: still thinking about this.
Rental/ Uber ? Depends on where we stay
Flights: we can fly out of IAD or RIC.

So maybe we should AA or another chase.

I welcome any tips. Thanks so much.

Agree with the recommendations to stick with Chase UR cards while you're under 5/24. CIP since it has the highest bonus and eventually a CSR so you can redeem at 1.5x (either P2 apply or you can upgrade from CSP after 1 year).

I want to add that PNC bank accounts are great for meeting spend since you can charge $2000 on account opening. You can get a $200 or $300 bank bonus while you're at it. Chase cards have been working pretty reliably as purchases and not cash advances - but just in case send a secure message to reduce your cash advance limit to the lowest possible (should be $100). The direct deposit requirement for the bonus does not necessarily need to be from a paycheck, some bank push work as well. You can also open other savings accounts for more credit card funding, no bonus though.

Here's more info, with links to data points for what works.
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/pnc-up-to-300-checking-bonus-no-state-restriction/

 

[Angrose]

There was a recent convo on here about Global Entry interviews, so thought I'd share my recent experience. DS11 and I did ours on Sunday afternoon. We had to pick up DH at SFO anyway, so we did a walk-in. We only waited about 30min until we got called in. They took both of us in together and never asked about previously getting fingerprinted. The agent asked DS11 simple questions like what school he goes to and what grade he's in. It was so easy and now we're set for the next 5 years! Yay! However, we are still waiting for DH's application to be approved. He's a permanent resident so I think that, along with the recent shutdown, might be why his is taking longer. Ours only took 4 days for the preliminary approval.

 

[miztressuz]

Ok I'm shocked, and I may have to eat my hat - Marriott has indeed credited the 15 elite nights before March 1! Reported on r/churning and checked both our accounts to be greeted with nights showing.

Not surprised but still sad to report, only 15 nights for each of us despite having 2 cards each

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Trying to decide which Amex card to refer from...BBP for the 10K MRs or Marriott Bonvoy business for 20k Marriott points...no plans at this point for either
But going to have DH apply for a BBP while we wait until April for our next Chase applications....

Edit...Thanks to @wanderlust7 for letting me know the Marriott can only refer to Marriott...
So BBP it is

 

[wanderlust7]

Trying to decide which Amex card to refer from...BBP for the 10K MRs or Marriott Bonvoy business for 20k Marriott points...no plans at this point for either
But going to have DH apply for a BBP while we wait until April for our next Chase applications....

I think Marriott cards can only refer to other Marriott cards? So that might make the decision easier.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

I think Marriott cards can only refer to other Marriott cards? So that might make the decision easier.

Lol..Thanks

 

[alryan]

Or maybe just have DH get the CSR in May instead of the CSP. The May deal was amazing. 50% off the second passenger and both kids free. Price was around $1950 for all 4 of us (including fees) Tips were $400. So total was $2350 and cost 156k URs. I called about booking excursions and drink package but it was a no go. We paid for the drink package ahead of time if your interested look for sales on that holiday weekends as well. For excursions i actually booked directly through the UR site for St. Martin and it worked out great for us and I saved a ton more than they charge on board. What islands??

I forget how long of cruise was that for? I have seen already how the prices change. We are just looking to do a 4 night.

Or maybe just have DH get the CSR in May instead of the CSP. The May deal was amazing. 50% off the second passenger and both kids free. Price was around $1950 for all 4 of us (including fees) Tips were $400. So total was $2350 and cost 156k URs. I called about booking excursions and drink package but it was a no go. We paid for the drink package ahead of time if your interested look for sales on that holiday weekends as well. For excursions i actually booked directly through the UR site for St. Martin and it worked out great for us and I saved a ton more than they charge on board. What islands??[/QUOTE

Thank you, you've given me a lot to think about. I've seen already how the price can change. It's gone up $500 since I started looking last month. We are just looking to do a four night, so just the Bahamas, as we only have six nights to work with since we have to get back home for a volleyball tournament. Honestly we are pretty flexible and maybe we would push it to February 2020 when we have another three days off school. Right now the same cruise on Oct 21 is $2492 and Feb is $1780. And if we wait until Feb we would have time for a week. But by the time I'm ready to book with a CSR it will probably be more!

 

[Tikitoi]

Back from a week away in PR and catching up with all your posts - the news section on reddit is soooo helpful in making sure I didn't miss any big announcements. Genius idea.

All the AA talk over the last few pages gave me itchy trigger finger......sooooo applied and instantly approved for AAviator Biz. (Don't tell @wendow )

ETA: Oops - bad timing for hiding my post from @wendow

Love PR as well. Would love to do at least a week there. We did 3 days before our Cruise and enjoyed it thoroughly. Congrats on your card.

 

[Tikitoi]

Just received my CIP today. Time to start booking and spending.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Did my first retention call with Amex today. Called in on my SPG Biz, $95 AF was due in a few days. After a little discussion about my business, what did I do? I said I sell on ebay, funny enough she said we have a lot of people who do that! what do you sell? it was casual chit-chat like, she asked if I had plans for Marriott this year I said I only had one stay planned at this point I wasn't sure about the back half of the year yet, she noted I haven't had much activity on my account where was my credit card activity going, I said Chase... FINALLY she gave me an offer of 5k points for keeping the card, 10k more points if I spend $1k on it within 90 days. 15k marriott points isn't much but I'll take what I can get. I was leaning towards keeping the card anyway with the cert since this year my fee is only $95 so it's a bit of icing on the cake.

 

[wendow]

You know that little tickle you get in your tummy when things fall into place? Well, I'm 3 for 3 today. I have a short 9 day getaway next month flying from MSP to MCO to leave some of the Minnesota cold behind. Nothing really exciting, just hang out at a resort and maybe use Sea World AP a few days. My daughter has been asking to go to Aquatica so this is a good trip to get this done. I have a 2BR at Marriott Grande Lakes for the first 7 days and needed to find another couple nights someplace else. This morning I found Marriott Cypress Harbor for 35,000 points. My 2 free night certificates are now attached. We have a 2 week Disney trip for this spring. I checked my April car rental rate and my 13 day minivan dropped from $650 to $604 It had started at $805. Then I went in to check my SW flights and my flight home dropped from 8635 points to 3556 points. I'm wondering if today is a good day to buy a lottery ticket?

Congrats on all your wins!

I was wondering if yesterday was my lottery day it started out with the SW cp posting, then me getting approved for the Barclay biz card, took dd16 to her ortho appt and they said it’s time for the braces to come off!! (Been 3 years), then my dd18 got a very positive response from someone who may be able to help her with a dream of hers and lastly, the traffic light that is always red as I drive home from dd’s Dance was GREEN!!!! That might have been the biggest sign that it was my lucky day lol. Didn’t buy a lotto ticket though so I’ll never know for sure!

 

[Tikitoi]

Large...might be a concern. Your definition of "Large-ish" - you should be fine! If you said they were all $1,000+ I'd probably give a slightly different answer.

What would you say to booking a room for a couple k's...

 

[palhockeymomof2]

yay, discover card has fraudulent purchase...

Ugh..what a pain..but you forgot this

 

[palhockeymomof2]

What would you say to booking a room for a couple k's...

The first charge on my CIP..was a $2,500 insurance bill so

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

Weird! I called Citi was getting antsy about my Biz app. They said it is being processed but was sent to “another department” and I should call back Friday or Monday? No questions or verifications. She said nothing is wrong with a app that it is just being reviewed in different dept. seems odd to me!

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

I forget how long of cruise was that for? I have seen already how the prices change. We are just looking to do a 4 night.

Mine was a 7 day cruise. $2500 for 4 days seems high. I think with cruises earlier booking are better but I’m truly no expert. You might get a good deal for Feb around Memorial Day.

 

[amalone1013]

Ugh..what a pain..but you forgot this

What was I thinking?????



Also this is the second time I've had fraud on a card ever, and again it was keyed in according to the CSR I talked to (this time - at Alberson's??? Next time I'll have to ask if I can type in my cc number myself at the grocery store)

 

[Mopedmom1]

Did it on my card and DH's card. Both credited.

@wanderlust7 got you I have not tried it yet, since it doesn't expire for a while I'm trying to wait a few more weeks for better timing and then try it on excursions (also if someone would have an opinion already .) I'm thinking that may work too because they are in the same area of the site as the OBC that worked for wanderlust7. I suspect anything that comes through as NCL will, but have no DPs to back up that theory

If it's something refundable, can always give it a try and if it doesn't go through just cancel and redo on what you were going to use instead.

Did it on my card and DH's card. Both credited.

Thanks for the replies.

I think I will buy $500 OBC and purchase two $250 Cruise Next certificates while on board. They frequently let you use two to book a balcony or higher. If nothing else I should be able to have the OBC refunded by check I believe, if we decide not to buy the certificates. Please correct me if I am wrong!