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

[Disneyonmymind]

My Memaw passed away this morning so I'm a bit distracted with that today. Of all my grandparents I expected her to go last, not first. While I was semi-prepared, it was much sooner than I thought it would be.

I was supposed to book our tours for Costa Rica today and completely forgot. Should I put that on CSR or the CIP I'm working on? It won't impact meeting the CIP spend if I do or don't.

I am very sorry for your loss.

 

[speedyfishy]

My Memaw passed away this morning so I'm a bit distracted with that today. Of all my grandparents I expected her to go last, not first. While I was semi-prepared, it was much sooner than I thought it would be.

I was supposed to book our tours for Costa Rica today and completely forgot. Should I put that on CSR or the CIP I'm working on? It won't impact meeting the CIP spend if I do or don't.

I’m so sorry for your loss.

 

[DisneyMandC]

@snugglebug I’m so sorry for your loss.

 

[magickingdomprincess]

My second Citi Biz statement closed yesterday and my points earned show my 65k bonus plus a 10k point adjustment! I did the late night chat three different times. The first I never heard anything back after they said they’d pass my request along, the second time I got a letter saying I wasn’t targeted and needed to send proof of the offer in (which I did not), and chatted again and got the same message that they would pass my request along. So, not sure which one actually worked but glad one of them did!

 

[tink1970]

My Memaw passed away this morning so I'm a bit distracted with that today. Of all my grandparents I expected her to go last, not first. While I was semi-prepared, it was much sooner than I thought it would be.

I was supposed to book our tours for Costa Rica today and completely forgot. Should I put that on CSR or the CIP I'm working on? It won't impact meeting the CIP spend if I do or don't.

I am so very sorry for your loss

She was special to me. I lived with her while attending A&M and she took great care of me. She no longer worked for the University at that time, but to this day every time we drive past the Large Animal Clinic I'm reminded of the wonderful memories of visiting her at work and seeing all the amazing animals they were treating. I think that's part of why I knew from a young age that I wanted to go to A&M.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts, I can't respond to all. So much to do this week.

I didn't know you were an Aggie! I agree, there were some interesting animals at A&M -I remember visiting a lion with some vet student friends once.
Again, condolences on your loss-she sounds like such a special lady.

 

[tink1970]

@disneybirds --I'm fairly claustrophobic but the chunnel isn't that long...maybe 20 minutes? Otherwise it's a lot of countryside in both countries.
I distracted myself with a book during that part and it was do-able. Good luck!

My Memaw practically raised me as my mom was just a teen who had no idea what to do with this baby doll she'd birthed. It's a blessing to have the joy to be so close to a grandparent. Not all get to enjoy that special relationship.

Mine did the same when I was very young-I always felt her love helped build the resilience I needed later in life. I still miss her but know she's somewhere better now.

 

[amalone1013]

@snugglebug So sorry. We'll be thinking of you and your family.

 

[pillow]

My Memaw passed away this morning so I'm a bit distracted with that today. Of all my grandparents I expected her to go last, not first. While I was semi-prepared, it was much sooner than I thought it would be.

I was supposed to book our tours for Costa Rica today and completely forgot. Should I put that on CSR or the CIP I'm working on? It won't impact meeting the CIP spend if I do or don't.

So sorry about your Memaw.

 

[pillow]

@wendow Same thing happened to me with the temp Citi card number when trying to buy an AA gift card. I wasn't in a hurry so just waited until the plastic card arrived.

I now have 2 x $200 AA cards. Trying to decide whether to keep or sell . . .

 

[PolyRob]

My Memaw passed away this morning so I'm a bit distracted with that today. Of all my grandparents I expected her to go last, not first. While I was semi-prepared, it was much sooner than I thought it would be.

I was supposed to book our tours for Costa Rica today and completely forgot. Should I put that on CSR or the CIP I'm working on? It won't impact meeting the CIP spend if I do or don't.

So sorry for your loss!

 

[DisneyMandC]

So I need some advice on status with Marriott. I never really pay attention to this sort of stuff since status rarely matters to me, or I'm happy enough to get whatever comes with a credit card.

My Marriott account:
- Currently have Gold Elite through one of my cards (Amex Bonvoy Biz? Chase Marriott Biz? Not sure)
- 15 nights have been credited to my account for the year
- I will for sure have 7 more nights on my account this year from paid stays
- 44 Lifetime nights

DH's Marriott Account:
- Currently Silver Elite, has been as high as Platinum in the past when traveling frequently
- 17 nights credited to his account for this year (he has the Bonvoy Biz)
- DH will start traveling more for work this year. Not on a weekly or even monthly basis, but definitely more overnight stays in the future
- 204 Lifetime nights

We have a ten night stay that we need to book for October. Is there any advantage on booking it one account versus the other? I was thinking maybe we could get DH closer to lifetime silver status, but not really sure how much that matters since I plan on keeping our Bonvoy Biz/Marriott Biz cards long term.

 

[1st*toright]

@snugglebug - will be thinking of you and your family. So sorry for your loss.

 

[PolyRob]

Thanks all! I think all of us on here speak the same language...and same happy place. So no huge shock but 24 days and counting (and yes I just got back and yes I literally am counting down). I decided to move the trip with my youngest up and do it now in May. The funny part is with all the discussion today with split stays our schedule is arrival night Boardwalk, second night BLT studio, third night VGF, night four and five at Polynesian. I have always been more value, moderate or off site so BLT is the only one I have ever stayed at. It will be the split stay to end all split stays, but with just myself and an adventurous 8 year old Disney fanatic I think it should be fun and hopefully not too insane. Since I am selling OKW I figured why not. If that isn’t a good time to go through some points I don’t know what is!

October trip at BLT is already planned. There is also a secret girls trip planned in August which may or may not happen...but I think at this point it should! That will be a cash/erase purchase with the Arrivals stay so I just need more discounts to come out. I want to book it. I need all I can to look forward too!

I love it!!! Who can really have enough Disney? You've got some fantastic resorts in there and its a great way to try the different DVC resorts out. The VGF to Poly transfer should be so easy too. You can just walk down the path by the Wedding Pavilion. Its right by VGF! If I see a stripped OKW contract go up for sale with an Oct use year, I will have a good feeling of where it is coming from hahaha

I have an Oct split between CR/BC! The flights for all my upcoming trips are insane. One way is currently more than what I normally pay roundtrip so I am watching. Just because I want to use points doesn't mean I should be wasteful!! Maybe I should look into an Arrival to erase some MNSSHP and MVMCP tickets

 

[pillow]

So I need some advice on status with Marriott. I never really pay attention to this sort of stuff since status rarely matters to me, or I'm happy enough to get whatever comes with a credit card.

My Marriott account:
- Currently have Gold Elite through one of my cards (Amex Bonvoy Biz? Chase Marriott Biz? Not sure)
- 15 nights have been credited to my account for the year
- I will for sure have 7 more nights on my account this year from paid stays
- 44 Lifetime nights

DH's Marriott Account:
- Currently Silver Elite, has been as high as Platinum in the past when traveling frequently
- 17 nights credited to his account for this year (he has the Bonvoy Biz)
- DH will start traveling more for work this year. Not on a weekly or even monthly basis, but definitely more overnight stays in the future
- 204 Lifetime nights

We have a ten night stay that we need to book for October. Is there any advantage on booking it one account versus the other? I was thinking maybe we could get DH closer to lifetime silver status, but not really sure how much that matters since I plan on keeping our Bonvoy Biz/Marriott Biz cards long term.

Do you think either of you will reach 50 for the year? That would probably be my goal since Platinum status gets you free breakfast and lounge access. You also earn elite nights when using points and/or free night certs, so take that into account. I'd just make your res on whichever account you anticipate will have more nights total for the year.

 

[hsmamato2]

Yup, whenever you talk about your husband’s work travel I think how similar it sounds to DH’s old schedule. He used to have platinum marriott status from his stays and not churning, if that tells you anything!

His old job involved fun travel, like Florida and Hawaii. His new job is more like... Kansas

SO my DH has some upcoming work travel...it happens rarely- We got to book his flights using our own methods(got points,thank you very much) but he had to book his hotel thru their link/portal from work- it was a Hilton,and when he was done it had generated another Hh# for the booking,instead of his own. (He knows nothing of his own lol) is there anything I can do to apply that booking to his actual #?That way he might get the points for it?

 

[DisneyMandC]

Do you think either of you will reach 50 for the year? That would probably be my goal since Platinum status gets you free breakfast and lounge access. You also earn elite nights when using points and/or free night certs, so take that into account. I'd just make your res on whichever account you anticipate will have more nights total for the year.

No, I don't think so. And my ten night stay would be a points booking too. At a minimum on my account, if I include the 10 night stay and a free night cert, I could get another 18 nights this year on top of my current 15. I guess I could see how much DH starts traveling when his new job starts, but I can't imagine it's going to be enough to take him to platinum even if we put the 10 night stay on his account too.

 

[speedyfishy]

Can someone help me find airline award availability? I am trying to find flights to Rome in 2020 probably march/april, dates are flexible. I can fly out of DCA, IAD, JFK, LGA, or EWR. I have a lot of AA miles, MR, and should be at around 200,000 Delta miles by the end of may. I want anything but economy. Id settle for Delta comfort. I looked at AA, they have Biz flights for 57,000 miles but they have me flying through London and the fees are insane. Could I use AA miles on another carrier? How do I do that?

ETA- I just need flights for me and SO.

 

[Psychodisney]

She was special to me. I lived with her while attending A&M and she took great care of me. She no longer worked for the University at that time, but to this day every time we drive past the Large Animal Clinic I'm reminded of the wonderful memories of visiting her at work and seeing all the amazing animals they were treating. I think that's part of why I knew from a young age that I wanted to go to A&M.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts, I can't respond to all. So much to do this week.

Sorry for your loss! I hope you find comfort in the memories!

 

[Disney Traveled 007]

Hi All,
I'm very new to the group and planning on my first Disney Vacation with family. My first purpose is trying to figure out how to save money. I am a frequent United flier and saw I was able to redeem my miles for gift cards there. I heard from other friends that Southwest and Delta do something similar. Does anyone know of other programs I can use my rewards on to get free Disney Gift Cards?
Thank you!

 

[1st*toright]

So I need some advice on status with Marriott. I never really pay attention to this sort of stuff since status rarely matters to me, or I'm happy enough to get whatever comes with a credit card.

My Marriott account:
- Currently have Gold Elite through one of my cards (Amex Bonvoy Biz? Chase Marriott Biz? Not sure)
- 15 nights have been credited to my account for the year
- I will for sure have 7 more nights on my account this year from paid stays
- 44 Lifetime nights

DH's Marriott Account:
- Currently Silver Elite, has been as high as Platinum in the past when traveling frequently
- 17 nights credited to his account for this year (he has the Bonvoy Biz)
- DH will start traveling more for work this year. Not on a weekly or even monthly basis, but definitely more overnight stays in the future
- 204 Lifetime nights

We have a ten night stay that we need to book for October. Is there any advantage on booking it one account versus the other? I was thinking maybe we could get DH closer to lifetime silver status, but not really sure how much that matters since I plan on keeping our Bonvoy Biz/Marriott Biz cards long term.

In my opinion, lifetime silver is pretty useless - no good perks and only a small increase in points earned. Gold is easy to come by with credit cards/other status matches, and is not particularly great, only useful perk is additional points on stays, so you likely won't be in silver status much anyway. Lifetime status at gold or platinum is a loooooong way off for either of you, so I think the year by year opportunity to get status is probably more important at this point.

In my book Marriott Platinum is the only status that really gives you anything - ok chance of upgrade when you ask nicely, lounge access (if there is one), some kind of breakfast at most (not all) Marriott brands, plus when you hit Platinum you get 5 suite night upgrades (which are not guaranteed, and some people complain that they never actually get an upgrade using them, but can work well if you travel slightly off season - both the requests I've used have gotten me upgrades to junior suites).

In your situation, I would concentrate all your Marriott stays with the person most likely to get to 50 nights in any given year. If that is you, I'd book all of your travel and DH's work travel using your account (if his work travel arrangements will allow this). If the reservation is in your name, you will need to call the hotel and tell them that your husband will be arriving before you, so you want to be sure his name is also on the reservation. That way would be able to aggregate all of the elite nights under your account. Not 100% foolproof - you are supposed to get credit only for nights when you are actually in the room, but we've done this many times without an issue (my DH doesn't even have a Marriott account).

I know upgrades etc. are not super important to you, so I wouldn't get too excited about killing yourself to get to 50 nights, but if you happen to have a heavy travel year, you might find a use for the platinum benefits.

ETA - I'm having a very love/hate moment with Bonvoy. I've got a good few years of Platinum from when I traveled more for work, so lifetime Platinum would only take me another couple of years, if I maintain status and get a bunch more Marriott stays. On the other hand, 50 nights a year means pretty much all my hotel nights need to be at Marriotts, so I'm feeling like a Bonvoy hostage at the moment and kinda cranky about it.