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

[kidsfirsttrip]

We are most likely going during February break week and so will definitely be spending even more points than average. Thanks so much for the detailed analysis. It helps for me to see that I will definitely make up the difference in fee cost with the reserve.

Quick question, what is the point to cash conversion formula for CSP and CSR? Also, how to we use the credit for the next year before we incur the next annual fee?

Wanted to chime in about Universal and the CSR. I’ve had the CSR for over 2 years and have been able to get multiple redemptions that easily justify the AF - then some. I booked a cruise last year using URs (amazing deal) and a few hotels here and there. Someone said the site is 25% more, i’d like to see that data - I have not seen or experienced that. The 1.5 redemption value is great. We do frequent tips to NYC and I booked broadway tix for a great price and I booked a cruise excursion in St. Martin for a fraction of what the ship was charging.
We did Universal this past Feb vacation (are you a fellow MAer?). I booked RPR - the rack rate was $400/night over Prez weekend. It never dropped. Book this as soon as you can. No AP discount came out for that weekend. With the CSR I paid 26,600UR/night. I just booked to go back in Oct to the HRH for 18,800UR night - amazing price. I also did the tix through UR. They offered the same prices and promotions as the universal website. I actually skipped the promo tix and paid the more expensive 4 day tix with the CSR discount which in turn made for a greater savings upon upgrading these to APs. If your not going back the promo tix would be the way to go. The savings on them alone if your a family of 4 would justify the CSR over the CSP

 

[miztressuz]

Chase Biz cards..... really strange way of charging..... is this standard? I had a large charge that was supposed to go on our SWA biz card two weeks ago....it was furniture order- so the first time csr rep ran the card thru(phone order,Macys is in the dark ages) it failed,b/c I gave number wrong. He redid the order,and I saw it the next day pending on card. then it disappeared....nothing for two weeks! We got our delivery, but no new charges,nothing. (WTH?) b/c of how the order processed I didn't get a real invoice, nothing. it was SOOOO strange but I had what I ordered so I didn't stress about it. Today I go look at the acct,bc I look daily to see if it posted,and there it is!!! IS this normal? I would guess if you aren't paying attention to charges etc this could mess with your budget etc. ETA- so it shows the charge as posting on 3/18,payment due on the 22nd!!! and yet it just appeared there since the last time I checked (friday afternoon,ok I guess the weekend checking got away from me) They'd better not charge a late fee on this

Yes that's normal. Actually charges can only stay pending for so long so even on a personal card it probably would have disappeared with that length of time.

If it just posted on 3/18 then it's on your current statement which isn't due yet. The 3/22 due date is for all charges on the previous statement.

 

[DisneyMandC]

I have been to all of them except Boma and I love them all. So jealous of your plans. I booked a free dining deal for September but it looks like SO won’t have enough vacation time so we will have to cancel.

Yeah I'm very excited about these options! Haven't eaten at Teppan Edo in about 15 years. I don't remember the meal as being anything particularly special, but both my mom and BIL requested it so I was happy to oblige. DH and I have eaten breakfast at Boma twice and loved it, so I figure that would be a good place for our slower day. Plus, I know my mom will love to see AKL.

 

[miztressuz]

Hmmm, looks like my statement should close today. Nothing posted yet. Will keep an eye on it.

I think they do it at the end of the day when they cut the statement. I didn't notice it until after it closed. But I wasn't actively looking for it either.

 

[Alexle2007]

Ok, my computer refuses to quote. Trying to quote @miztressuz post about the SPG fee increase. I guess I will just have to wait it out and see what happens. I just assumed Amex was like Chase if you open in March, annual fee posts April 1, but with people saying their fee posting at random times, now I am confused. When does the fee post? Per my spreadsheet I opened the card on March 7, 2018. I could have sworn I opened it at a time of an elevated offer that did not waive the first year fee, but I just looked and have never been charged the fee.

For AMEX the fee posts on the last day of the statement, I think the statement your anniversary falls on? As far as I recall, all of the SPG cards always had the AF waived the first year...

I... uh, DH... opened his SPG Biz on 3/13/18, his statements usually close on the 12th, so I am predicting 4/12.

I agree with @amalone. My Bonvoy Biz statement closed on 2/11 and that's the day my AF posted even through I opened the card in Jan. I will say that I am very impatiently waiting for the free night to post. It has been exactly 6 weeks today and still no sign of that free night. I have been checking every day for the last 2 weeks, at least.

 

[WVMomof3]

It was my Chase Marriott that did not waive the fee, not the SPG. Bonvoy, I was confused. ha

 

[Alexle2007]

@WVMomof3 This is correct. I opened 3/5/2018, 3/20/2019 charged the AF, statement closed also 3/20.

Also got my email about the free night 3/2, I'm timing them.

I'll just say it taking forever! I am at exactly 6 weeks today since the AF posted.

 

[miztressuz]

Wanted to chime in about Universal and the CSR. I’ve had the CSR for over 2 years and have been able to get multiple redemptions that easily justify the AF - then some. I booked a cruise last year using URs (amazing deal) and a few hotels here and there. Someone said the site is 25% more, i’d like to see that data - I have not seen or experienced that. The 1.5 redemption value is great. We do frequent tips to NYC and I booked broadway tix for a great price and I booked a cruise excursion in St. Martin for a fraction of what the ship was charging.
We did Universal this past Feb vacation (are you a fellow MAer?). I booked RPR - the rack rate was $400/night over Prez weekend. It never dropped. Book this as soon as you can. No AP discount came out for that weekend. With the CSR I paid 26,600UR/night. I just booked to go back in Oct to the HRH for 18,800UR night - amazing price. I also did the tix through UR. They offered the same prices and promotions as the universal website. I actually skipped the promo tix and paid the more expensive 4 day tix with the CSR discount which in turn made for a greater savings upon upgrading these to APs. If your not going back the promo tix would be the way to go. The savings on them alone if your a family of 4 would justify the CSR over the CSP

Since you just did this, I noticed on the Chase portal the stay price was a little less as they had less taxes and fees showing than Universal (nightly rate exactly the same). Did it do that for you too and if so was there anything extra you had to pay at the hotel?

I found it odd that the taxes would be different.

 

[Lain]

[Rumor] Chase To Add Dining/Delivery Credit To Chase Sapphire Reserve - DoC

According to DoC's sources, Chase plans to add a dining/delivery credit to the CSR similar to what Amex has done with the Uber(Eats) credit on the Platinum and the GrubHub credit on the Gold cards. Unclear who the provider or how much the credit will be, but likely divvied up as a monthly credit; or if it'll affect the AF or other card benefits.

Please just don't make it an UberEats credit. With Uber's new delivery and service fees, the credit will get eaten up fattening Uber's numbers ahead of their IPO than actually being any real benefit to cardholders.

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

Since you just did this, I noticed on the Chase portal the stay price was a little less as they had less taxes and fees showing than Universal (nightly rate exactly the same). Did it do that for you too and if so was there anything extra you had to pay at the hotel?

I found it odd that the taxes would be different.

Nope nothing extra was added. I didn’t look closely at taxes when I booked. No resort fee or extra taxes. They do charge for parking but we didn’t have a car.

 

[Lain]

Whaaaaaaat?

DoC is full of whispers from his little birds this morning.

[Rumor] Chase To Launch Chase Southwest Priority Business Card - DoC

"It’s expected to be more or less a carbon copy of the personal version." Now, I'm not much of a Southwest flyer, but I can only assume this is good news for you guys who chase CPs every year or two.

 

[miztressuz]

[Rumor] Chase To Add Dining/Delivery Credit To Chase Sapphire Reserve - DoC

According to DoC's sources, Chase plans to add a dining/delivery credit to the CSR similar to what Amex has done with the Uber(Eats) credit on the Platinum and the GrubHub credit on the Gold cards. Unclear who the provider or how much the credit will be, but likely divvied up as a monthly credit; or if it'll affect the AF or other card benefits.

Argh, I really hope they don't change the AF (well, unless it's lower, hehe), or reduce the travel credit to make room for it. That's not something I have any interest in at all. That'd be a terrible loss. I find it amazing that Chase created a card that even I would pay an AF for. And now they want to monkey with it for a short term "loss". Really, AmEx releases were new and shiny (actually, literally too!) so there's a bunch of attention but eventually it'll even out again. I hate when companies just copy the other without bringing something new to the table. I still think the Chase line up is competitive as-is, but if they did something different I think that would draw more attention back to it rather than just jumping on the band wagon.

 

[WVMomof3]

[Rumor] Chase To Add Dining/Delivery Credit To Chase Sapphire Reserve - DoC

According to DoC's sources, Chase plans to add a dining/delivery credit to the CSR similar to what Amex has done with the Uber(Eats) credit on the Platinum and the GrubHub credit on the Gold cards. Unclear who the provider or how much the credit will be, but likely divvied up as a monthly credit; or if it'll affect the AF or other card benefits.

Please just don't make it an UberEats credit. With Uber's new delivery and service fees, the credit will get eaten up fattening Uber's numbers ahead of their IPO than actually being any real benefit to cardholders.

Grrr, my quotes work on phone, not on computer.

I will be sad if they raise the AF for this. We live in the boonies, nothing gets delivered out here. We would never use it.

 

[Alexle2007]

Since you just did this, I noticed on the Chase portal the stay price was a little less as they had less taxes and fees showing than Universal (nightly rate exactly the same). Did it do that for you too and if so was there anything extra you had to pay at the hotel?

I found it odd that the taxes would be different.

When I used them to stay onsite at USO, there was no additional charge. I am using them again in June since the URs were a better deal than my AP rate, plus we are doing club at RPH since it is my birthday.

 

[hsmamato2]

We have a newborn (3/14/19 DOB) and I sympathize with everyone who had difficulty getting their infant to sleep. On the plus side paternity leave has given me a chance to read more on this thread.

Velcro swaddlers and a sound machine are the only tools I have. There’s a program called takingcarababies.com which is helpful but it’s a lot like Dr. Harvey Karp’s Happiest Baby On The Block.

Babies are all so different..... I had one that was "high needs" and one that preferred sleeping in his own little bassinet....guess which one slept in our room until he was 6? Now that I'm old and have learned more I know that certain things work on all babies for sleep, but some things are just down to the kids own personalities and what they need to survive.... (fwiw, 'high needs' baby is now an adult,and still doesn't sleep like normal people do...it's just a thing with him) I might not have survived if I didn't find the original Dr William Sears book about high needs babies and night time parenting....(thank goodness my 2nd kid was NOT like this)

 

[striker1064]

[Rumor] Chase To Add Dining/Delivery Credit To Chase Sapphire Reserve - DoC

According to DoC's sources, Chase plans to add a dining/delivery credit to the CSR similar to what Amex has done with the Uber(Eats) credit on the Platinum and the GrubHub credit on the Gold cards. Unclear who the provider or how much the credit will be, but likely divvied up as a monthly credit; or if it'll affect the AF or other card benefits.

Please just don't make it an UberEats credit. With Uber's new delivery and service fees, the credit will get eaten up fattening Uber's numbers ahead of their IPO than actually being any real benefit to cardholders.

Very interesting, but I'd bet there's no chance this comes without raising the AF. Amex has already proven the market will bear a higher AF with monthly credits.

 

[miztressuz]

Thanks to DoC for pointing out this article - [URL='https://rapidtravelchai.boardingarea.com/marriott-lip-service/#_ga=2.117466505.1007138698.1553460498-1852822199.1531794569']Marriott Launches ‘Dial 0 for Lip Service’ Campaign[/URL]

Um, does no one there look up the definition of words or phrases before starting things? Like "Lip Service" or maybe "Irony"? As a company actively engaged in Lip Service (which, BTW, not a good thing Marriott, just in case you were confused) I can't imagine how anyone with half a brain approved this campaign. I guess it's now been fully confirmed; the only ones left at Marriott are the Pointy Haired Bosses.

 

[Lain]

Very interesting, but I'd bet there's no chance this comes without raising the AF. Amex has already proven the market will bear a higher AF with monthly credits.

I agree, most of these delivery services charge at least $5 for delivery, not including other fees, surge pricing, tip, etc., so any credit worth its salt would have to offer at least $15/month to be of any value. Unless Chase chooses to offer a dining credit similar to the Amex Gold's that's useable only at specific restaurants that Chase has probably cut a deal with, then $10/month may work. Even better would be a $10/month credit that automatically applies against any dining category charge similar to how the travel credit works. But that's still Chase giving out as much as $120 to almost $200 in additional value/year. I would not be surprised to see the AF rise by $45-100 to compensate.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Thanks to DoC for pointing out this article - Marriott Launches ‘Dial 0 for Lip Service’ Campaign

Um, does no one there look up the definition of words or phrases before starting things? Like "Lip Service" or maybe "Irony"? As a company actively engaged in Lip Service (which, BTW, not a good thing Marriott, just in case you were confused) I can't imagine how anyone with half a brain approved this campaign. I guess it's now been fully confirmed; the only ones left at Marriott are the Pointy Haired Bosses.

LOL is this an early April Fool's joke? #bonvoyed

 

[miztressuz]

Nope nothing extra was added. I didn’t look closely at taxes when I booked. No resort fee or extra taxes. They do charge for parking but we didn’t have a car.

When I used them to stay onsite at USO, there was no additional charge. I am using them again in June since the URs were a better deal than my AP rate, plus we are doing club at RPH since it is my birthday.

Great, thanks! I assumed it would have been mentioned if there were extras but I just found it odd how the Universal site had extra taxes or fees that the Chase one didn't. It wasn't terribly different but $20 is $20 (at least to a cheapskate like me!)