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

[wed100105]

Whoa, HP robes are $130?! I think I’ll convince the kids that they are satisfied with their Rubie’s HP robes that were <$20 on Amazon.


Okay, I need to vent. DH has to take a tractor to the dealer for repairs. The dealership told DH that he had to get their New Holland credit card. DH does. I signed up for the CIP the morning he tells me this. I rant a bit (about the dealership and how we could have used any of our other cards to earn rewards). DH says that’s just the way it is, and if that’s what the dealership wants we have to do it. (Totally not my personality.) He then says that it’s just like the other dealership that did the same thing last year.

So we are the owners of not one, but two credit cards (AGCO and New Holland) that have ridiculously high interest rates (so we pay them off in full as soon as it’s charged) with absolutely 0 rewards. Yep, can’t wait to pay that $5,000 bill and get nothing but a hit to our credit out of it.

I would gladly call the dealership, but it would completely undermine my husband, and it’s not worth a few rewards...


Also adding that I think I made a stupid mistake this week. DH has the 5,000 bonus points if you add an AU on his Amex. I signed myself up. (I already have my own, but it is nice to be able to use his sometimes to earn the free night...) Anyway, didn’t realize that was probably also another card going toward my 5/24.

 

[calypso726]

Because they had a fee-free card for a year and didn't want to keep it? I'm planning to cancel DH's gold AmEx before we have to pay the AF, and am not positive on the best timing.

Unless you want Amex to claw back the points for the MSR, you should not cancel until the AF hits. The T&Cs state that the card must be open 12 months. Wait until the AF hits then you can call and cancel. I cancel any AF card that doesn't have a long term benefit I deem worthy of keeping despite the AF. However, I always wait until the AF hits after a year before cancelling, downgrading or product changing regardless of bank.

 

[Ngwira]

It’s supposed to be happening. Lax, lhr, Jfk and Cleveland are all getting centurion lounges.

Actually it’s Charlotte and not Cleveland lol...and Denver is also getting a Centurion. I think we’re going to try Art and Lounge tomorrow at EWR.

 

[Ngwira]

JFK, DEN, and LAX Centurion Lounges are all supposed to open in “early” or “first half” of 2019.

https://thepointsguy.com/2018/01/amex-centurion-lounge-jfk/

https://www.businesstraveller.com/b...unge-demand-as-premium-card-membership-grows/

https://thepointsguy.com/news/amex-centurion-lounge-den/

https://onemileatatime.com/centurion-lounge-lax-opening-2019/

LHR is coming in 2019: https://thepointsguy.com/news/centurion-lounge-london-heathrow/

PHX is rumored for late 2019 or early 2020: https://thepointsguy.com/news/phoenix-sky-harbor-may-be-getting-an-amex-centurion-lounge/

Charlotte is coming in 2020: https://thepointsguy.com/news/centurion-lounge-charlotte/

AFAIK, there are no plans to open a Centurion Lounge in Cleveland.

Relatedly, the Escape Lounge, which the Amex Platinum gives access to, is expanding to Sacramento (SMF) and Ontario (ONT).

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/sacr...lounges-free-access-for-platinum-cardholders/

https://airlinegeeks.com/2019/02/03/ontario-airport-opens-new-premium-airport-lounge-at-t2/

Thanks, Lain. I just corrected myself lol.

 

[KPK02090]

Anyone ever fly with a leg in a cast? DS 7 just broke his leg skiing (fractured tibia). They said he would be in a cast for 8-10 weeks! We have a trip to Ireland planned for April, approximately 6 weeks away. A quick google search tells me I need to buy 3 seats for him since his cast goes up over his knee!?!?!
Anyone ever have the misfortune of flying in a cast?

 

[Lain]

Thanks, Lain. I just corrected myself lol.

Easy to mistake CLT and CLE!

 

[lyshia04]

My husband loves audio books. He drives 2 1/2 hours each day plus listens while at work. He like ones that have a cast. We pick them up used whenever we can so that he can have lots. He also got the entire wizard of oz series on amazon for like $1.

For kids books I’ve been reading beasts of Olympus with my daughter they are a fun easy read and nothing scary. She likes diary of a wimpy kid also. I use my amazon shipping credits to buy her books for her kindle.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Somebody (@DisneyMandC maybe?) mentioned mostly listening to audiobooks. Do you have any you recommend? I had never listened to an audiobook until the beginning of this year and now I have one going every day on my commute to work. So far, I've loved Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, The Graveyard Book and Magpie Murders. I'm finding that I'm totally a sucker for a narrator with an accent.

I'm a little different in that I don't necessarily mind who is narrating as long as it's a good story. That being said, I'm in the minority from most who have commented here in that I do not like Jim Dale's reading of Harry Potter (why is Hermione so whiny? why on EARTH does Bellatrix have a French accent?). I really want to listen to Stephen Fry's readings, but haven't purchased those and my library doesn't have them. I also don't like Outlander, but I do think Davina Porter is a great narrator and listened to her read all 55 hours of The Mists of Avalon last year. Have you read anything by Liane Moriarty? Caroline Lee narrates her books and does a great job. She's Australian. Andy Weir's books (The Martian, Artemis) area also very well-narrated and will keep you on the edge of your seat.

My favorite audiobook is Ready Player One narrated by Wil Wheaton. I'm not sure the book is for everyone though because it delves pretty deep into being a nerd, though it is very popular so maybe I'm wrong. World War Z is also great (though scary) and features a full cast including Mark Hamill!

 

[WVMomof3]

We were in Condado. We have been many times to PR as my wife's grandmother lives there. Love spending time wandering around Old San Juan, paddleboarding/kayaking on the lagoon, taking a hike in the rainforest etc.

If you go back - consider staying at the Hilton in Ponce. This makes it easy to check out the south and west of the island. Also, best ziplining i have ever done was at ToroVerde in the middle of the island. There really is lots to do on PR and most people only experience Old San Juan or the rainforest on a cruise ship tour.

Now you guys have me thinking about PR. Is there a better/worse time of year to go? I am looking for a trip with DH in early November, thinking this might be a great trip to take.

 

[WVMomof3]

Does anyone else see Tags at the top of this thread? I have never noticed before and I don't see any other threads on DIS with tags. What is the purpose?
Tags:

• churning
• credit cards
• free travel
• miles
• points

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Anyone ever fly with a leg in a cast? DS 7 just broke his leg skiing (fractured tibia). They said he would be in a cast for 8-10 weeks! We have a trip to Ireland planned for April, approximately 6 weeks away. A quick google search tells me I need to buy 3 seats for him since his cast goes up over his knee!?!?!
Anyone ever have the misfortune of flying in a cast?

I don’t have an answer on flying with a cast...just wanted to say wow so sorry! I hope he has a speed and smooth recovery.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Does anyone else see Tags at the top of this thread? I have never noticed before and I don't see any other threads on DIS with tags. What is the purpose?
Tags:

• churning
• credit cards
• free travel
• miles
• points

I added those yesterday. Not exactly sure what they do but I noticed that Ryan’s “news and rumors thread” had tags so maybe it makes us look official lol. If they’re annoying or don’t serve a purpose I can get rid of them.

 

[Judique]

Got the full $450 back on the CSR=>CF change up. Short lived tho, DW blew a tire on her 2 month old new car this afternoon so thats prob going to eat most of that.

No hazard insurance on those tires?

 

[elgerber]

Verizon will let you have a$500 credit on your account, that'll get you most of the year.

I also once just bought a large gift card for Verizon to meet an MSR and paid my bill for a few months with it.

 

[Judique]

So found out this evening we need a new furnace. Our 15 year old furnace is apparently going to have “an imminent catastrophic event.” Great sales tactic or scary truth. We’re going to hedge our bets and get a new furnace. I guess we’ll be meeting that 50K Spark card MSR sooner that expected.
Time to take a look at which one of us up next. I think my DH. I’ll have time to browse while my furnace gets installed on Thursday.

Sorry about the furnace! I'd probably wait for it to die, depending on what type of furnace and the situation. Now I'm trying to remember when I installed the last one.

 

[GZanta77]

Now you guys have me thinking about PR. Is there a better/worse time of year to go? I am looking for a trip with DH in early November, thinking this might be a great trip to take.

Anytime outside Hurricane season. Actually even during hurricane season is good - as long as you don't get really unlucky with timing. Early November is technically at the end of hurricane season, but rare to get a bad one that late in the season. Temperature is pretty constant year round - sometimes more rain or wind, but I have probably spent close to 60 days in PR over the last 15 years and only 1 day was a complete washout due to a storm.

One observation on PR that baffles me - as I have said, I have travelled there reasonably frequently for a long time. It seems that since the Hurricane - hotel prices have jumped 20-30%. Maybe they are trying to make up for lost revenue, but I thought it odd at a time they really want to encourage tourists back to the island. Fortunately, I almost always stay on points.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Does anyone else see Tags at the top of this thread? I have never noticed before and I don't see any other threads on DIS with tags. What is the purpose?
Tags:

• churning
• credit cards
• free travel
• miles
• points

It seems through this page you can search tags: https://www.disboards.com/tags/

I edited them to just credit cards, miles, points.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Just thought I'd share that I made a purchase at Advance Auto on 2/16 with the 10% back offer on my Chase card. I returned the purchase on 2/18 since I didn't need it. The 10% back credited to my card today. Obviously, it's not like I condone this behavior, but I'll be interested to see if it gets clawed back.

 

[Disneyonmymind]

Unless you want Amex to claw back the points for the MSR, you should not cancel until the AF hits. The T&Cs state that the card must be open 12 months. Wait until the AF hits then you can call and cancel. I cancel any AF card that doesn't have a long term benefit I deem worthy of keeping despite the AF. However, I always wait until the AF hits after a year before cancelling, downgrading or product changing regardless of bank.

Do you call immediately after the AF hits so that you can get it refunded? If you call right away, do they refund the entire AF? Do they prorate if you wait a couple of months? I have a CSR/CSP and I have been wondering about this. I am thinking I should keep the CSR and product change the CSP to one of the Freedom cards. My only concern is I want to refer my DH to the CSP before I PC it, so I need to make sure I have received my referral bonus before I get rid of the card. Finally, because of my DD, should I be worried about calling Chase on this? Ever since last summer when Chase was going wild and shutting DD people down, I have become a little skittish on them...

 

[Psychodisney]

Sorry about the furnace! I'd probably wait for it to die, depending on what type of furnace and the situation. Now I'm trying to remember when I installed the last one.

Thanks. I guess after the weather over the past month, we decided not to wait for a "catastrophic event" lol...carbon monoxide scares me as does having no heat! Supposed to continue to be unseasonably cold. Being that it was 15 yo and we hope to escape IL in <5 years, we decided to pull the trigger. Didn't go top of the line but still $6K.