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

[vanjust14]

Hi Everyone! I have a couple of questions...

1) I've had the SPG/Bonvoy card for almost 3 years now. I stopped using it after they lowered how much you earned per dollar. Should I cancel it? The free night stay is nice but not sure if it's worth the $95/year.

2) I'm going to Japan in November. Any advice on which airline to use? I have Amex MR, Delta skymiles and Alaska miles. Also, I'm going to visit Tokyo and Kyoto. I have time to visit another city. Any suggestions on which one?

Thanks in advance!

The fee on that card is increasing to $125, so that may sway your decision! If you don't really have use for the cert I'd cancel. I decided to keep mine this year since the fee was still $95 and I had a few places in mind for the cert.

Sorry, can't help with the Japan question.

 

[wendow]

Just did a late night citi chat and after asking to be matched to the 60k offer, I got this:
We cannot match the offer, as we require a promotional code or a letter.

Ugh! Second time asking now through chat, one day time and one night time. Thinking maybe a SM now...?

 

[wendow]

Hi Everyone! I have a couple of questions...

1) I've had the SPG/Bonvoy card for almost 3 years now. I stopped using it after they lowered how much you earned per dollar. Should I cancel it? The free night stay is nice but not sure if it's worth the $95/year.

2) I'm going to Japan in November. Any advice on which airline to use? I have Amex MR, Delta skymiles and Alaska miles. Also, I'm going to visit Tokyo and Kyoto. I have time to visit another city. Any suggestions on which one?

Thanks in advance!

I'm in the camp of definitely cancelling all my SPG cards. I cannot find a use for the nights so why pay the fee!?! The 'Bonvoy' program has been so devalued imo that I just want to cancel the cards, use up my points and be done with them

 

[ep1229]

Thank you @vanjust14 and @wendow . I'll cancel it then. I have no use for it plus I didn't realize the AF was going up.

 

[wendow]

Thank you @vanjust14 and @wendow . I'll cancel it then. I have no use for it plus I didn't realize the AF was going up.

I'm hopeful they will come to their senses in a few years and maybe their program will be worth something again.

 

[Lain]

Hi Everyone! I have a couple of questions...

1) I've had the SPG/Bonvoy card for almost 3 years now. I stopped using it after they lowered how much you earned per dollar. Should I cancel it? The free night stay is nice but not sure if it's worth the $95/year.

2) I'm going to Japan in November. Any advice on which airline to use? I have Amex MR, Delta skymiles and Alaska miles. Also, I'm going to visit Tokyo and Kyoto. I have time to visit another city. Any suggestions on which one?

Thanks in advance!

The fee on that card is increasing to $125, so that may sway your decision! If you don't really have use for the cert I'd cancel. I decided to keep mine this year since the fee was still $95 and I had a few places in mind for the cert.

The fee increase is only for the Bonvoy Biz, right? I’m not sure if @ep1229 is referring to the legacy personal SPG/Bonvoy Amex, but I believe that’s keeping its $95 AF.

I’ll be keeping my personal SPG/Bonvoy card at least another year because I’m confident I’ll be able to find a redemption for the 35k FN certificate > $95. However, with the introduction of peak and off peak pricing later this year, I don’t know how that will affect the Cat 5 properties we’re likely to stay at when we’re likely to visit them. If peak pricing renders the 35k FN certs effectively useless for when we’re able to travel, I’ll either cancel the card or upgrade to the SPG Lux/Bonvoy Brilliant (hopefully through an upgrade offer) to get another 50k FN cert for more flexibility.

While I respect @wendow ’s point of view, I also know that at least @calypso726, @Judique, and @tink1970 are in the camp of keeping their several SPG and Marriott cards for the FNs because the value of the potential redemptions > AFs on the cards. It really depends on your vacation style and any trips you have planned.

As for Japan, how many and what kind of seats are you looking for, and how many points do you have to redeem? Is economy fine as long as they’re free or near free, or do you want something more aspirational like business or first class? When in November are you traveling, for how many days total, and how many days have you allotted between Tokyo and Kyoto already?

 

[mmmears]

I loved it the first time I was there and last year it was run down, dirty, and unsafe. It has to potential to be great place. Maybe a US based one would be run better?

I just think it's too big. Resorts in Hawaii are (usually) quite tasteful, and other than Waikiki/Oahu not very tall. They usually try to blend in with the environment. Atlantis is the opposite of that. I know so many people IRL who went there and really hated it.

 

[Haley R]

And Atlantis sucks lol

I’ve always wanted to go but maybe I won’t now lol

 

[afan]

I just think it's too big. Resorts in Hawaii are (usually) quite tasteful, and other than Waikiki/Oahu not very tall. They usually try to blend in with the environment. Atlantis is the opposite of that. I know so many people IRL who went there and really hated it.

If I remember correctly, the outer islands have laws about not being taller than a palm tree or something like that. So there's a reason everything is so short. It's too bad Oahu hasn't carried that to the outer parts of the island away from Waikiki. I don't think Turtle Bay is that tall but it seems like the JW Marriott, or whatever it may be now, where the pro bowlers used to stay, is a taller resort and it's away from Waikiki.

I only looked at the photo they had with the tweet and though ick that doesn't go with Hawaii at all, even in Waikiki they aren't that flashy. Even the Hyatt, which definitely was more business like when we were there still had a lobby that leaned a bit Hawaiian.

 

[mmmears]

If I remember correctly, the outer islands have laws about not being taller than a palm tree or something like that. So there's a reason everything is so short. It's too bad Oahu hasn't carried that to the outer parts of the island away from Waikiki. I don't think Turtle Bay is that tall but it seems like the JW Marriott, or whatever it may be now, where the pro bowlers used to stay, is a taller resort and it's away from Waikiki.

I only looked at the photo they had with the tweet and though ick that doesn't go with Hawaii at all, even in Waikiki they aren't that flashy. Even the Hyatt, which definitely was more business like when we were there still had a lobby that leaned a bit Hawaiian.

Yes, I have read the same thing about the height of palm trees. I know Maui builds them taller than that, but still nothing like Atlantis. The Hyatt is Kauai is really beautiful, and I know they said they had to keep to the coconut tree height at that one.

 

[vanjust14]

The fee increase is only for the Bonvoy Biz, right? I’m not sure if @ep1229 is referring to the legacy personal SPG/Bonvoy Amex, but I believe that’s keeping its $95 AF.

Ah, yes, the increase is on the Biz only. I think @ep1229 was referring to personal, so may want to still consider it.

 

[Chancery8]

Just did a late night citi chat and after asking to be matched to the 60k offer, I got this:
We cannot match the offer, as we require a promotional code or a letter.

Ugh! Second time asking now through chat, one day time and one night time. Thinking maybe a SM now...?

What are you saying when you ask for a match? I did a late night chat on Monday for DH’s card and “Dominic” was happy to put in the request for me. Then I just did another chat an hour ago for my own card and “Hanna” said of course and put a note on my account. Both said upon approval, I would be notified in 5-7 days. Now weather the points will actually be approved or come through...

 

[vanjust14]

What are you saying when you ask for a match? I did a late night chat on Monday for DH’s card and “Dominic” was happy to put in the request for me. Then I just did another chat an hour ago for my own card and “Hanna” said of course and put a note on my account. Both said upon approval, I would be notified in 5-7 days. Now weather the points will actually be approved or come through...

Those responses are similar to mine and the points appeared in my account miraculously, lol. You should be good!

 

[vanjust14]

Just did a late night citi chat and after asking to be matched to the 60k offer, I got this:
We cannot match the offer, as we require a promotional code or a letter.

Ugh! Second time asking now through chat, one day time and one night time. Thinking maybe a SM now...?

Boy, you really aren't having any luck with this match! I'd stick with chat. I feel like the SM just gets lost in cyberspace.

 

[Chancery8]

Those responses are similar to mine and the points appeared in my account miraculously, lol. You should be good!

Awesome. Fingers crossed. Did you have to wait until your statement close to see the points? Does it show in your citi account or in your AA account? Or both?

 

[ep1229]

Thanks, @Lain . Yes, the legacy SPG personal card.

For Japan, I have 90K Delta, 103K MR, 70K Alaska. I would like business or first class if possible because it's a long flight and I'm going by myself. So far, I have 3 days in Tokyo, 7 days in Kyoto, 5 days tba. The only thing that's for sure is the 7 days in Kyoto. I would be going the last week of November to December.

For AA biz. I just got an email with an offer number. Is that the same as a mailer? Thinking about getting on the grAAvy train!

 

[vanjust14]

Awesome. Fingers crossed. Did you have to wait until your statement close to see the points? Does it show in your citi account or in your AA account? Or both?

Yes, I saw them after my statement closed. They were listed in my Citi account under "adjustments". I got the letter telling me the match was approved a few days later, lol.

ETA: I haven't checked my AA account to see if they are showing there since I haven't gotten the original 40,000 points yet.

 

[wendow]

What are you saying when you ask for a match? I did a late night chat on Monday for DH’s card and “Dominic” was happy to put in the request for me. Then I just did another chat an hour ago for my own card and “Hanna” said of course and put a note on my account. Both said upon approval, I would be notified in 5-7 days. Now weather the points will actually be approved or come through...

This is the 3rd time I've requested a match. The first two requests were matched after I could get them to put in a request. This last one is the one I cannot even get that far. I've said the same thing I've said the previous two times...basically, I saw a higher offer of 60k shortly after I received my card and want to request a match to that offer. Tell me what you are saying and I'll try that lol!!

 

[wendow]

For AA biz. I just got an email with an offer number. Is that the same as a mailer? Thinking about getting on the grAAvy train!

I'm getting the email offers too but not quite sure how they function in comparison to a 'mailer'. If you are not on the grAAvy train yet, you do not need a mailer for your first app. You can use any available offer. For all subsequent offers, you will need a mailer but you would not want to use one addressed to you b/c that would cause you to stop receiving them. If the emailed offer is in another account's name, you'd be fine to use it. I think we need more DP's though on how these email offers work.

 

[magickingdomprincess]

Just did a late night citi chat and after asking to be matched to the 60k offer, I got this:
We cannot match the offer, as we require a promotional code or a letter.

Ugh! Second time asking now through chat, one day time and one night time. Thinking maybe a SM now...?

I just did my second chat last night (first one was nice but I hadn't received anythingso figured I'd try again). I wish I had a screen shot of the chat. The woman told me that I was "too good if a customer to leave without a smile on my face" and that she would put the request in and to "enjoy the sights and smells of spring" (or something like that). I was cracking up! Now we'll see if I actually get the points.