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

[calypso726]

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 have always been able to find a use for the free night that outweighs the fee which is why both DH and I keep the SPG business card which is going up to $125. The personal is not going up in fee and will remain $95. Just recently I booked a 35k free night property in NYC that would have cost over $400 per night. It wasn't a planned redemption, the airline cancelled my flight and the only way to get where I needed to go was to fly in the night before.

I see there are 4 different properties you can use your free night cert for during November in Tokyo and none are $95 or less. The least expensive one is over $130. There are 5 properties in Kyoto that are 35K.

Not sure where you are flying from but Amex MR can be transferred to Virgin Atlantic which can be used to book ANA. You need to search United for the award availability and call Virgin to book. JAL can be booked with Alaska miles and you can search on Alaska for the award. Delta flies to Japan and MR can be transferred to Delta. I haven't flown ANA yet, my first flight with them will be in September but hear great things. We've flown JAL in business (short haul) and first (long haul) and even the PlanePrincess will fly their business class for a long haul flight. We are in south Florida so I do have to take positioning flights for these award flights but I find it worth the time and effort for the comfort and savings.

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?

Absolutely agree. It's a keeper card that I wasn't spend money on and very convenient. Although, after the Al Maha stay we did put our SPG biz cards back in our wallets and use it to pay for gas at 4x.

 

[wendow]

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.

I wish I could chat with her. She sounds awesome! I get the ones who woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

 

[amalone1013]

Called the status line right after getting up this morning and CIP 2 is approved!

 

[Judique]

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?

Using the 35K certificates shouldn't be to difficult for me as there are a couple of hundred options nearby, in areas that I will spend at least a night. Most of the options I look at are over $200 a night so for me it's like getting a half price room. Even if the room itself is $95, there are always the taxes to pay - on $95 most places charge $10-$12 if you are paying cash, so assuming you are going to travel, any $$$ is a savings just for keeping the card in your sock drawer.

Your mileage may vary. I am retired and can go wherever whenever I want, so this gives me a lot of flexibility, plus I have points in several programs so if one isn't working out, I can usually find an alternate. That said I have 5 possible Marriott certificates per year and won't be cancelling any of them. Also, I've watched my daughter be able to get hers extended into the next year, which makes them a bit flexible, but I wouldn't count on this.

 

[WVMomof3]

My stupid Staples saga will not end. Ughhhhh I just live chatted again and the guy could not help me. He said he would get someone to call me. I said can you tell me what number will call me so I know it is legit. He said they will say they are from Staples, so you know it is us. I said the last guy said he was from Staples and the other agent told me it was not a number that I should call back. He said why would someone say they are from Staples if they were not? Seriously dude??? Smack my head, this dude obviously doesn't know what a scam is. Maybe I am being overly cautious, but I don't understand why they couldn't help over chat. I just want my Target Giftcard.

 

[amcc]

Good morning and sorry for more questions...
I need Delta help. Delta has good flights to Munich that will work for us. I’m hesitating because it’s not clear to me if I can select or purchase seats. I wouldn’t mind if some of us aren’t together but I’ve got a 7 year old and 12 year old that I would like to sit with. I’m willing to pay but it’s not clear on the Chase booking page if it’s that Basic Economy Fare type (I’m guessing yes because it’s cheap), and/or if I would be able to buy seat assignments at least for the overseas flight.

 

[amalone1013]

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

I'm still very bitter over Swolphin. Even if they left them at 35k per night properties, they would still be not a great cpp value, but I would find it much easier to pull the trigger on say, 140k pts for 5 nights vs 200k pts.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Called the status line right after getting up this morning and CIP 2 is approved!

Congrats

 

[miztressuz]

My stupid Staples saga will not end. Ughhhhh I just live chatted again and the guy could not help me. He said he would get someone to call me. I said can you tell me what number will call me so I know it is legit. He said they will say they are from Staples, so you know it is us. I said the last guy said he was from Staples and the other agent told me it was not a number that I should call back. He said why would someone say they are from Staples if they were not? Seriously dude??? Smack my head, this dude obviously doesn't know what a scam is. Maybe I am being overly cautious, but I don't understand why they couldn't help over chat. I just want my Target Giftcard.

I don't think chat's going to work. IME with most companies, chat is a stripped down customer service experience - they can do simple routine things but outside of that it's a gamble if they know more or have authority to do more. Your request is definitely outside of a script and so they probably have no guidance on how to assist with that. (although you'd think at least they'd be given enough info to point to you call the customer service line)

I think you're going to have to call. I call as hubby and just go with it, probably 50/50 on if they actually ask if I'm him (IIRC that's why you haven't called yet?). Unless you can cancel that order and try it again? Maybe @1st*toright can share what number Staples called from to confirm their order and you'd know what's safe to pick up, or call back -

Interesting DP- I just placed an online order for gift cards with Staples - used my CIC and a RMN deal, so hopefully will get $10 back and 5x URs. When I first placed the order, I forgot to go through RMN, so I cancelled and reordered. I just got a call from customer service verifying the transaction and asking if anyone had asked me to buy the cards for them. They said they have seen fraudulent transactions with people being taken advantage of, so they are checking on transactions - it was only $125 in total, seems like a lot of work to have CS people verifying transactions! Anyway, it was interesting. I'm glad I picked up the call!

 

[WVMomof3]

I don't think chat's going to work. IME with most companies, chat is a stripped down customer service experience - they can do simple routine things but outside of that it's a gamble if they know more or have authority to do more. Your request is definitely outside of a script and so they probably have no guidance on how to assist with that. (although you'd think at least they'd be given enough info to point to you call the customer service line)

I think you're going to have to call. I call as hubby and just go with it, probably 50/50 on if they actually ask if I'm him (IIRC that's why you haven't called yet?). Unless you can cancel that order and try it again? Maybe @1st*toright can share what number Staples called from to confirm their order and you'd know what's safe to pick up, or call back -

Wow, everyone here has great memory. I do recall reading this before. Honestly, I am guessing that first number that called is probably legit, but just felt weird to me they wanted to call back on a non 800 number. I did call the 800 number on my email. She couldn't help me either! She said she is going to call me back. What a pain. I was also trying to stack a RMN with my Amex.

 

[Lain]

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!

I have always been able to find a use for the free night that outweighs the fee which is why both DH and I keep the SPG business card which is going up to $125. The personal is not going up in fee and will remain $95. Just recently I booked a 35k free night property in NYC that would have cost over $400 per night. It wasn't a planned redemption, the airline cancelled my flight and the only way to get where I needed to go was to fly in the night before.

I see there are 4 different properties you can use your free night cert for during November in Tokyo and none are $95 or less. The least expensive one is over $130. There are 5 properties in Kyoto that are 35K.

Not sure where you are flying from but Amex MR can be transferred to Virgin Atlantic which can be used to book ANA. You need to search United for the award availability and call Virgin to book. JAL can be booked with Alaska miles and you can search on Alaska for the award. Delta flies to Japan and MR can be transferred to Delta. I haven't flown ANA yet, my first flight with them will be in September but hear great things. We've flown JAL in business (short haul) and first (long haul) and even the PlanePrincess will fly their business class for a long haul flight. We are in south Florida so I do have to take positioning flights for these award flights but I find it worth the time and effort for the comfort and savings.

I was also going to suggest looking at ANA, which you can book by transferring MR directly to ANA or, as @calypso726 suggested, to VS which can be used to book ANA. MR transfers to both ANA and VS at 1:1, outside of a transfer bonus promotion. If you want to fly business or first to and from Japan, I think ANA will give you the best bang for your points. On awardhacker, I'm seeing roundtrip business class tickets on ANA from 85k ANA miles, and roundtrip first class tickets from 150k miles. You may be able to do better by redeeming through VS: https://onemileatatime.com/redeeming-virgin-atlantic-miles-ana/ But it looks like you may have just enough MR to cover business class seats. However, ANA doesn't service DTW so you'd need to take a positioning flight to maybe ORD or IAH (ANA also flies out of and into LAX, SFO, SJO, SEA, JFK, IAD, and HNL), where you can catch ANA metal. Note that ANA requires you to book a roundtrip itinerary.

Without knowing your dates, I'm going to have to stop here and leave you with some links for now.

https://millionmilesecrets.com/guides/how-to-use-ana-award-search/
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/5-star-airlines-great-award-availability/

 

[amalone1013]

Ok... working out trip details

Flight down: DEN-MCO for 9k RRs + CP

Night 1 options:
Pop AP rate $176 (cover with Arrival Plus?)
Pop via Hotels.com $211 - GC stash = $30ish (plus portals, plus free night credit, etc)
Airport Hyatt 12k URs
DS Hilton 50k Hilton pts
I think I found Coronado Springs on Priceline for $166 total (cover with Arrival Plus?)

Nights 2-3: Dolphin, $500 room + $89 annual fee from upgrade - $380 AMEX credits = $209 net

Nights 4-6 options: (cover with Arrival Plus?)
5 night trip = 2 nights at Pop, $415 rack rate
6 night trip = 3 nights at Pop, $566 rack rate

Flight home options:
Late flight on SW 11k RRs
Early flight next morning either

• United 9k URs pp
• Frontier $175 incl seat selections, just backpacks, $35 if we add a carry on (cover with Arrival Plus?)
• SW 7.5k RRs for connecting flight

We've got plenty of URs... Especially with 2 new CIPs Have $225 in Arrival credit on DHs, and if I charge any of these options to my Arrival that will push me past MSR and I will have $800+ in credit. Also have $600ish in Disney GCs currently because I just blew some of them on something... Decisions, decisions...

After laying it out like this, I'm leaning towards Hotels.com for the first night... being able to use DME that night probably saves $50-$60 in ubers; we'd have to get to the hotel, then to the Dolphin to drop bags the next morning, vs Pop will transfer them to the Dolphin for us. We will most likely uber back to MCO no matter what. I'm thinking about trying to apply suite night credits for the Dolphin nights because, why not? I don't have any other use in mind for them right now and they're not guaranteed anyways.

 

[WVMomof3]

Ok, last update, I hope. Same number as the first time called me again. May I speak to Mr WvMomof3? This is. This is Mr WVMomof3? Yes. lol Ughhhh Same as @1st*toright they wanted me to verify nobody asked my to buy the giftcard. I almost said yes, my wife made me buy them. So if you are buying Staples online giftcards expect a call from Framingham, MA. Kind of ironic I thought they were scamming me when they were trying to verify I was not getting scammed.

 

[bernina]

Hi all!! I’ve been away for a bit and this is (I think?) my first post on the 2.0 thread. Love reading all of the great info and hearing about all of the trips made possible with points!!

We have a cruise tentatively booked on RCCL Allure next July out of Barcelona. Last time we flew there DH and I both got the Chased United card along with points left over from UR sign ups and transferred to United to book Lufthansa flights. It was a great experience. This was 4 years ago and I’m wondering if there is something else we should look at? We cancelled the United cards after the first year so we should be eligible for those. We have some URs left over and I don’t yet have the CSR so that could be an option to top up points. We’d need 3 tickets and are fine flying coach.

Appreciate any tips/advice. Our home airport is Detroit which is a Delta hub. We can fly out of Canada as well if it’s significantly cheaper but prefer to fly out of Detroit (we live 10 min away from DTW).

 

[afan]

Wow, everyone here has great memory. I do recall reading this before. Honestly, I am guessing that first number that called is probably legit, but just felt weird to me they wanted to call back on a non 800 number. I did call the 800 number on my email. She couldn't help me either! She said she is going to call me back. What a pain. I was also trying to stack a RMN with my Amex.

I see it's resolved but did you google the numbers? I generally have good luck with this when trying to determine if the number is valid or not.

 

[Kaufeegurl]

I have two travel questions:
1. It was briefly discussed but it still wasn’t clear to me whether CSR travel benefits kick in if I purchase the entire ticket in UR points. I was thisclose to booking us all but this little nagging question stopped me.

2. My dad is sick but well enough, at the moment, to travel. He wants to go to Spain this summer but he needs travel insurance in case he is not well enough to go. Obviously, he needs an insurance for him and my mom that will cover trip cancellation due to a pre-existing condition. Does anyone have a recommendation for a good travel insurance company?

Thanks and congrats to all on approvals!

We've bought travel insurance from Allianz a 3 times, but haven't needed to use it. After looking online at insure my trip dot com and figuring out what we needed (incl. pre existing condition) we went to AAA and asked for a quote. It was the same price, same company so we bought it there. It's cheaper if you purchase it within 14 days of booking the trip. If not it costs more to add the pre-existing condition clause (and I end up doing that most times since we don't want to commit to a trip right when we put down a deposit on one).

I'm not an expert in this (not even close) so I hope someone else will come back with a better answer. But this is what we have done in the past.

ETA - I can't answer the CSR question since I'm not entirely sure about it. I'm kind of wondering the same thing.

If you have a Chase Preferred/Reserve card the travel insurance packages (which will ususally offer health benefits) offered with your trip (if any) are expensive and not necessary for the travel portion. We do a ton of traveling - both international and domestic. Chase Sapphire Preferred/Reserve have wonderful travel insurance BUT - and this is huge - Preferred does NOT include medical travel insurance and Reserve only covers $2500 of expenses. Not nearly enough. Most people don't know that Allianz sells Medical Only travel insurance and it is quite reasonable - much cheaper to use your Chase card for your travel insurance and purchase a separate Allianz medical only insurance rider. You can find the medical only description on Allianz website BUT you have to call the company to get a quote because there is a glitch on their website and it will only quote you a package that includes travel insurance. And the medical only rider does include some minimal travel insurance like lost luggage and flight delays. The cost will depend on the age of the travelers, destinations, and length of stay. We paid $65 for 2 people under 60 for a 2 week Ireland trip this past Fall. We paid $130 for two people (one who just hit 60) for a week long trip to Aruba last month. I would never travel internationally without a separate medical insurance policy.

 

[speedyfishy]

I think I found Coronado Springs on Priceline for $166 total

How do you find these deals lol. I have been stalking Priceline for the weekend of May 3rd-5th and I can't find anything lol

 

[Tikitoi]

Well perfect timing Doc just posted the TD bank $200 for $500 spend offer. I applied SO and he got approved, but I was denied. It says to wait for a decision in the mail explaining why.

SO's bonus will pay for our Keys to the Kingdom tour I booked for our June trip.

Saw this and applied as well. Instant approval.

 

[amalone1013]

How do you find these deals lol. I have been stalking Priceline for the weekend of May 3rd-5th and I can't find anything lol

Probably because it's only one night lol. I didn't see it yesterday when I looked.

 

[speedyfishy]

Probably because it's only one night lol. I didn't see it yesterday when I looked.

I could settle and only do one night lol