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

[Haley R]

Lol...in NY my car couldn’t pass the yearly inspection with the check engine light on...my son lives in Florida and they don’t require inspections.....as my sister who has lived in Florida 30 years tells me ...we can put any old piece of crap on the road and people do....sort of scary

You just taught me something new about NY today

 

[miztressuz]

Marriott Platinum Elite members, what benefit did you choose? I'm thinking Suite nights, but do I have to use the 5 nights on one reservation? or can I use them on 5 separate nights? I'm asking because we will have 4 certificates, I would like to use them with those nights since we probably won't ever pay for any marriott nights.

You can use them on separate reservations but you have to use them for every night on the stay. So if you only have 3 night awards left you can't upgrade only 3 nights of a 4 night stay. I don't have it pulled up now but I believe they have the usual language where consecutive nights is considered a stay regardless of number of reservations. But if you have 5 individual nights booked you can try for an upgrade on each one, doesn't have to be a 5 night stay.

Wasn't there a minimum amount of time notice they have to give you or something? When they increased the fee on the Gold card, they originally informed current holders our AF would be the new rate. Then shortly after that was corrected and we'd have one more renewal at the old rate. Or something like that. I know I was unhappy my AF would go up, then got the email that it would remain the $195 for my first AF then go up to the $250.

I hope that's clear, migraine day.

Yep that was clear. I never got a chance to check my agreement to confirm but I think for those of us on our first year with a waived AF the second year fee is locked in. I think that's what happened for the Gold card now that you jogged my memory.

 

[Haley R]

I’ll play the “what kind of car game”. Dh and I have a Pontiac and a scion

 

[Haley R]

Mine has it but it only works when it feels like it... it didn't feel like it the whole 11 hour drive home from FL in November

In good news, I've driven it so long with the check engine light on that the light finally burned out so no more irritating lights on my dashboard

(yes yes, I know, check engine light is important and could alert me to a problem with my car, etc. lol)

My check engine light has been on forever lol. We always take it to auto zone? I think that’s where we go to get the free code reader and find out what the code is on my car but the light always turns back on so now I just ignore it

 

[pillow]

Keep loving your Honda’s everybody. My “P2” is a Honda engineer.

Thank him please! We have an 05 Odyssey with 286,000 miles on it!

 

[WVMomof3]

I'm on my second Odyssey. My first one was 16 yo when I laid it to rest I loved that van, even though I bought it when it was 7yo. I liked it even more than my new one. Maybe it was because I owned my first one and this one I am leasing. I will turn it in a year from now and buy a used Pilot, most likely. I think I am ready to change styles but we will see. I'll have to see how many kids I still have at home. I do love the van for road trips and hauling stuff around. It's not uncommon for me to have my 4 kids plus a couple others (always two neighbor kids with me to church) so I will have to think through everything. Kia vans get very good reviews too!

This is also my 2nd Odyssey. The first I had 2000-2009 and then it was totaled. The girls and I were in it when it happened, luckily none of us were hurt. We got sandwiched between 2 cars when the car behind us pushed us into the car in front of us on snowy road. Current one is a 2009. It has lived 10 good years. Well mostly 9 good years, this last year hasn't been great. I am ready to move on. Almost. And in keeping with the talk earlier when I was looking at Kia's online I sorted it by the feature of heated seats. lol I am not giving those up.

 

[vanjust14]

I think your going to eat a turkey SUB

I’ve got the back up camera and sensor with the beeping, blind spot detector...but for some reason just can’t get use to driving with the cruise control
Do love my Hyundia blue link remote start in the cold weather too

I have the back up camera, blind spot indicators, lane departure warnings and navigation for the first time in my current vehicle. I love love love the back up camera. That is going to be a must going forward. I actually hate the navigation and never use it, and that was one thing I really wanted. I use my Waze app still. I love my heated seats, which I've had before but I wanted a heated steering wheel. My terrain didn't come with it though.
ETA: @WVMomof3 , I loved my Pilot...a lot of room. Bought it new and had it for over 10 years.

 

[calypso726]

Marriott Overhauls Cobranded Cards, Last Chance to Grab SPG Amex (or Marriott Biz) - TPG

@Albort alluded to changes coming to the Starriott cards over the weekend, and TPG confirmed major changes to the cards in this article posted today.

Highlights to save you the click (you may want to click anyway as there's a lot of info and new card design art):

• Amex and Chase are announcing updates to their respective lineups of SPG and Marriott cards. New branding is being announced today, but you won’t see it reflected on Amex and Marriott marketing until mid-February. If you’re an existing card holder, you’ll receive the updated cards starting in March.
  
• Cards across both issuers are getting Bonvoy branding and hideous new designs (bonvoy, SPG purple!),
  
• Amex SPG personal card will be closed to new applications after 2/12/19, will become the Marriott Bonvoy Amex. The Marriott Bonvoy Amex will retain its existing perks for card holders who are approved before the 2/12/19 cutoff, and the $95 annual fee remains. SPG Amex cardholders will get a new limited-edition card design, with an abstract, city-inspired motif, by artist Tony “Rubin” Sjöman. This design will be available starting in May, and existing card members will automatically receive the new design at that point.
• SPG Personal spending bonus. For those who opened the SPG Amex before 1/23/19, you can register to earn up to 100,000 bonus points — 25,000 points for every $25,000 you spend on the card, for up to 100,000 points through the end of the year.
  
• Marriott Biz will also be ending applications after 2/12/19. Existing cardholders will keep benefits and the same $99 annual fee. The signup bonus will remain 75,000 Marriott points after $3,000 MSR.
• A new no-fee Marriott Bonvoy card will launch this summer (Chase’s mass consumer card?)
• Marriott Premier Plus card will be rebranded the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card on 2/28/19. Benefits and annual fee to remain the same. New card design.
  
• SPG Lux to be rebranded as the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant. New METAL card design. New $100 luxury credit for eligible stays at St. Regis and Ritz-Carlton properties coming to the SPG Lux and Ritz-Carlton cards on 3/28/19. You must book a stay of two nights or longer and use a special rate code to get the credit; room rates are explicitly excluded.
• SPG Biz and Marriott Biz. Addition of the ability to earn a second (35k points) free award night on both business cards after spending $60,000/year. Annual fee increase to $125 on the SPG Biz, which is being rebranded as the Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex.
• Limited-time 100,000-point welcome bonuses will be available for the three cards (SPG Lux, SPG Biz, and Marriott Premier Plus) that are remaining open to new applicants beyond February.
• SPG Lux and SPG Biz will have a 100k Marriott points welcome bonus after $5,000 MSR for signups between 2/13/19 to 4/24/19.
• Marriott Premier Plus will have a 100k Marriott points signup bonus after $5,000 MSR starting on 2/28/19.

Key Dates:

• 2/12/19: Last day to sign up for the SPG Amex and the Marriott Biz.
• 2/13/19: Marriott Bonvoy branding officially live; 100k points offers available on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex (SPG Lux) and Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex (SPG Biz) through 4/24/19.
• 2/28/19: 100k points offer available on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card (Marriott Premier Plus) from Chase
• 3/28/19: $100 luxury credit available on Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant (SPG Lux), free night after $60k in spend available on the Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex (SPG Biz), Bonvoy Business Amex annual fee increasing to $125
• 4/24/19: 100,000-point offers end on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex (SPG Lux) and Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex (SPG Biz).

Some personal thoughts:

• Obviously, FOMO. We knew when news came out that Chase was getting the mass consumer and premium consumer cards, and Amex was getting the small business and super premium consumer cards in a merged Marriott, that meant the Marriott Biz and SPG Personal would at some point no longer fit in Chase's and Amex's lineup and they'd be discontinued. We now have a date. This is your last chance to get the Marriott Biz or SPG Personal cards before they're gone for good after 2/12/19.
• Remember, effective 8/26/18, new restrictions limit getting Starriott cards across Chase and Amex. You likely have to choose a lane. If you've gotten a Chase Marriott card or bonus in the past 24 months, generally you will be ineligible for Amex's SPG cards, and vice versa. See Navigating Marriott’s Byzantine Credit Card Rules.
• I'm really debating tempting the Amex RATs and having my wife try for the SPG Personal card before 2/12/19. Last chance at an easy(ish) 75k Marriott points and another 35k FN cert eventually. We'll see if she gets a pop up.
• It's not clear from the article, but I'm guessing the SPG Biz AF will remain waived for the first year if you apply before 2/13/19, and the $95 AF may possibly be grandfathered in for the second year and increased to $125 AF after that. But if you apply for the SPG Biz before 2/13/19, then you're taking a smaller welcome offer: 75k Marriott points after $3k MSR. From 2/13/19, the SPG Biz becomes the Bonvoy Biz with a 100k Marriott points offer after $5k MSR, but likely with a $125 AF not waived.

I think I know which Amex I'm applying for next. If the business card is going up to $125 and I only keep it for the FN cert then I will be applying for a personal SPG sans bonus since I've had it before and currently have other SPG and Marriott cards.

I got a job!!!!!!!!!!!! Still doing the same thing, nothing new and more likeable, but it's the exact same pay and I get to work from home still!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOOHOO! Congratulations!!!!

@Calfan when did you get your picture taken with @calypso726?

Too funny! Although I am one of those lucky few on this thread that know calpyso726 IRL so I'm sure we've got at least one picture together from the two trips we've both been on (Scotland ABD and Iceland/Norway/Scotland DCL cruise).

Aaaww. PlanePrincess and I are lucky to know you and Californiagirl too Both of those were really amazing trips!

Absolutely not. The currency of the nation would be declared to be Southwest RR points and I don't have any...

Found one! And, bonus, it also includes the Plane Princess himself and @CaliforniaGirl09, in addition to @calypso726 and me. This was taken on the Isle of Skye during an absolutely amazing hike. If we all look a little younger, it's because this dates back to 2013....

That day is still one of my favorite days on any trip. I almost missed out on it. @CaliforniaGirl09 helped me to make the decision between the hike and watching the Highland Games. The landscape was so beautiful I teared up.

Ok. Just figured out to get a real picture in here, and not just a thumbnail, so re-posting.

View attachment 377746

That brings back so many memories. Ok I've got one too. This one is us and the other Outlander book fans on the trip at the Callanish Standing Stones. This is before the tv show existed. Instead of saying "cheese" for the picture, the women were yelling "Jamie!" and PlanePrincess is yelling "Claire!"

For those newer to this thread and group, this trip was catalyst to my travel hacking and credit card rewards. This trip also represents the birth of a Plane Princess

 

[miztressuz]

DD flies out tomorrow for her study abroad and will not be back till July. She is still not all the way packed, her room is a disaster and I told her we are not leaving until it is somewhat clean. Ughhhhhh AND we have not bought her return ticket yet, which she needs before she gets on the plane tomorrow, because we are still confused on when exactly she can leave! Their semester dates are soooo weird. DH is panicking. I am strangely calm.

Wow, good luck with all that, it is amazing what can be accomplished at the last minute. I'm sure you looked into it but is there a refundable ticket you can float until you get an exact date? That's crazy they haven't given you a straight answer.

 

[WVMomof3]

Hang in there. It's amazing how much packing they can do at the last minute. Mine is leaving on Friday, not abroad, just the other side of the country until spring break in Europe. We won't see her until the end of May. It's hard when they are gone for so long. I'm sorry you don't have a clear end date - that's really not good since you need a return ticket. Can you get one that you can easily change? And are you going to try to visit her?

We just bought one through Emirates and I think it has a change fee of approximately $30? I hope. lol It was a little confusing, I have only bought SW tickets in forever so not used to other carriers. I keep looking at tickets to go see her. They are having some great prices in March. My problem is leaving DS16 for that long. My mom asked if we were going to go visit DD and I said well that involves you. I think she got excited until I told her that meant she had to come stay with DS for 10 days. lol She was hoping it meant she got to go with us. Not sure what we will decide. My stepdad has Alzheimer's so it really is not easy for my mom to come stay that long.

 

[gottalovepluto]

oh my! I can't imagine the level of stress sending your child to study abroad. I am concerned enough about Florida.

Well some countries are safer than FL! Fwiw I studied in China and it was definitely safer than where I went to school in the US.

 

[vanjust14]

This forecast just keeps getting better

 

[georgina]

oh my! I can't imagine the level of stress sending your child to study abroad. I am concerned enough about Florida.

My DD is in Bogota for school the month of January. Got a message from her last week - 'FYI there was a bombing in Bogota today but it wasn't near us and we are fine'. Yay.(21 people were killed) And she has traveled to Medellin and Cartagena on the weekends. Can't wait until she gets back to the states.

 

[gottalovepluto]

DD flies out tomorrow for her study abroad and will not be back till July. She is still not all the way packed, her room is a disaster and I told her we are not leaving until it is somewhat clean. Ughhhhhh AND we have not bought her return ticket yet, which she needs before she gets on the plane tomorrow, because we are still confused on when exactly she can leave! Their semester dates are soooo weird. DH is panicking. I am strangely calm.

The night before my study abroad I packed until 45 mins before we left for the airport. My tendency toward procrastination resulted in more than a couple of “OMG WHAT IF I DON’T MAKE IT?!” moments. I too left my room a disaster. My parents left it as I did. The fam vacuumed what they could of the floor and- I assume- they changed the sheets so my pillow wasn’t dusty but that was it. My mess was still mine to clean up even 5 months later

(The flight booked home part sounds messy though, that’s ridiculous they haven’t given you a solid date!)

 

[gottalovepluto]

Yea in NY it would of had to be replaced to pass inspection...lots of laws/taxes here ugh

That can kill your smog certification in CA. Ridiculous.

 

[WVMomof3]

Yikes! My dd’s study abroad was full of unanswered questions too. So nerve wracking. And we had a blizzard the day they flew out and we are an hour from the airport in ideal conditions. But we made it, she went and came back and I survived LOL. She wants to move there permanently, so there is that.

Wow, good luck with all that, it is amazing what can be accomplished at the last minute. I'm sure you looked into it but is there a refundable ticket you can float until you get an exact date? That's crazy they haven't given you a straight answer.

"
We are driving 3 hours because she is flying out of DC. I have been checking the weather nonstop for over a week. It kept on going back and forth between 3-5" of snow and just rain. There can be wildy different weather on the 3 hour drive. I THINK we will be Ok. Just worried about the temps dropping too fast and getting icy. She doesn't fly out until 6 pm but I told her we need to leave at 9 am. Getting pushback from that, but with slowdowns at TSA and who knows what kind of traffic you get going in that direction plus maybe icy conditions. UGhhh, ok, stressing myself out now! lol

We do have dates for the term, it is just very confusing. The last day of classes is May 17th with 2 different periods of examinations that run until June 28th. The only thing I see is do not schedule return home before exams are finished. I guess we are just in disbelief that exams run 6 weeks? It just says you will get more information at orientation. That is not any help.

 

[mmmears]

We just bought one through Emirates and I think it has a change fee of approximately $30? I hope. lol It was a little confusing, I have only bought SW tickets in forever so not used to other carriers. I keep looking at tickets to go see her. They are having some great prices in March. My problem is leaving DS16 for that long. My mom asked if we were going to go visit DD and I said well that involves you. I think she got excited until I told her that meant she had to come stay with DS for 10 days. lol She was hoping it meant she got to go with us. Not sure what we will decide. My stepdad has Alzheimer's so it really is not easy for my mom to come stay that long.

Oh that does make it tough to visit. FYI I have a friend from SA and she visited home this summer flying Emirates for the first time and said it was a good flight (economy because she doesn't know how to use the 200K BA points she has... ). I hope she has a fantastic time.

My DD is in Bogota for school the month of January. Got a message from her last week - 'FYI there was a bombing in Bogota today but it wasn't near us and we are fine'. Yay.(21 people were killed) And she has traveled to Medellin and Cartagena on the weekends. Can't wait until she gets back to the states.

Oh my. I'm so glad she is ok. How are you doing? I received a similar call from DD 2 years ago when she was abroad and there was a shooting in a place her group was touring about an hour before the incident. I was pretty rattled until she was back in the US. DD and her friends planned to travel for spring break and Columbia was under consideration (well, any place with cheap airfare for their dates was on the table). I asked if they could please find a place that wouldn't stress me out the entire time so they picked 2 countries in Europe but I'm likely to be stressed out anyway.

 

[gottalovepluto]

"
We are driving 3 hours because she is flying out of DC. I have been checking the weather nonstop for over a week. It kept on going back and forth between 3-5" of snow and just rain. There can be wildy different weather on the 3 hour drive. I THINK we will be Ok. Just worried about the temps dropping too fast and getting icy. She doesn't fly out until 6 pm but I told her we need to leave at 9 am. Getting pushback from that, but with slowdowns at TSA and who knows what kind of traffic you get going in that direction plus maybe icy conditions. UGhhh, ok, stressing myself out now! lol

We do have dates for the term, it is just very confusing. The last day of classes is May 17th with 2 different periods of examinations that run until June 28th. The only thing I see is do not schedule return home before exams are finished. I guess we are just in disbelief that exams run 6 weeks? It just says you will get more information at orientation. That is not any help.

Oh wow. Prayers for safe travels for all and sanity for you!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Called for a retention offer on my Altitude Reserve a couple weeks after my AF posted & got 10k points first try!! People on DoC have mixed DPs & HUCAs trying to get it recently so I’m very happy!

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Aaaww. PlanePrincess and I are lucky to know you and Californiagirl too Both of those were really amazing trips!

That day is still one of my favorite days on any trip. I almost missed out on it. @CaliforniaGirl09 helped me to make the decision between the hike and watching the Highland Games. The landscape was so beautiful I teared up.

Such great memories. They both really were amazing trips, and the entire CAgirl family was so happy to meet and share them with you and PP. The hiking day in Skye was one of my favorite days, too, and I totally remember that conversation. I'm glad it turned out well or I would have felt bad for pushing it, LOL.