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

[speedyfishy]

My converted MB Plat got a 30k MR after $4k spend in 3 months offer. The SPG personal got a 20k Marriott Points after $2k spend in 3 months offer. Slim pickings for that kind of spend, but I'm trying to keep new inquiries and accounts off our CR until P2 and I go for our next cards in June.

I'm being a bit overly cautious, because I'm thinking I'll go for CIP3. And I'm always careful with DW's credit profile. She got a SPG in February, CIP2 in March, and I'm eyeing the IHG for her next, but also a Plat around the same time.

I would totally take those offers. I’m flying through spend.

 

[Albort]

Am lucky enough to be able to see Star Wars Land next week. If there is anything u guys want me to look, let me know.

 

[Lain]

Am lucky enough to be able to see Star Wars Land next week. If there is anything u guys want me to look, let me know.

Will there be Ewok fur characters? Asking for my wife.

 

[speedyfishy]

Am lucky enough to be able to see Star Wars Land next week. If there is anything u guys want me to look, let me know.

That’s awesome! Trying any food? lol

 

[Albort]

That’s awesome! Trying any food? lol

just rides and queues i think. am told only one is up.

 

[Lain]

Can you actually use those for anytime and any Hyatt? The terms and conditions make it sound more like a certificate.

Enjoy three (3) nights in a suite at any participating Category 4 Hyatt® hotel worldwide. Brands include Andaz®, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Centric®, Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt Place®, Hyatt House®, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt®, Thompson Hotels, Small Luxury Hotels of the World™, and M life® Rewards destinations.

You must be a World of Hyatt member to take advantage of this offer, so be sure to join now at worldofhyatt.com if you are not already a

Pretty sure they’re points and not certs. I think they’re using a Cat 4 redemption as an example.

What you Receive: 44% savings on three (3) nights via 72,000 Bonus Points deposited into your World of Hyatt membership account.

Within ten (10) business days of purchase, 72,000 Bonus Points will be deposited into the World of Hyatt membership account provided at the time of purchase. You can then redeem these points for a future stay.

 

[amalone1013]

Would Expedia trigger the CSR travel credit?

 

[Lain]

Would Expedia trigger the CSR travel credit?

Yes.

 

[Mopedmom1]

Yeah, she claimed she didn't authorize the purchase.

Well yay you didn't lose any money! But is she didn't authorize it why doesn't she have to return it? I don't remember all the details, did she claim she never received it?

Anyone in here do Global Entry? Wondering how long the decision process takes/if you did an interview. Did the online paperwork for myself and the wife on Monday. Was great to see the fees reversed immediately from the United Explorer credit. We both already have precheck but decided why not go for this as well since we had the credit.

We applied last October. I don't remember how long it took exactly but it was approximately 2 weeks. Never received an email, I just kept checking online. The problem we had was getting an appointment at our local airport. Nothing was available until the following April! So we booked appointments in Las Vegas for early December and had a nice little mini vacation. Of course using points as much as possible!

 

[amalone1013]

Yes.

Noob questions

Trying to come up with plans for ILs CSR travel credits. AFs bill on 6/1, one resets on 5/27 and one on 6/3. I'd like to keep one open through 6/29 for PP lounge... for sure 6/22 so they can do Timberline and 6/29 would be in case we hit MCO PP lounge..

Hmmm, how does the Hilton biz 10 PP passes work? Anyone know?

 

[wed100105]

I just purchased a few Sams Club egift cards and went through Topcashback for another 7%. I'm planning to use them toward discounted Disney Gc's at Sams online.

Thanks; I came to the website later today and there were no Sams, Walmart, Disney, etc, deals to be had. I bought $50 of Ghiradelli gift cards for $33.78 (and only 1% cashback through Ebates---not in the mood to sign up for something new). They were online only gift cards, but I had no trouble using them online to buy a Ghiradelli gift card to use in store. (Fingers crossed everything works out well.)

 

[DisneyMandC]

Now you guys have me interested in the Hyatt point offers... especially after all the great reviews on Tokyo Hyatts.

 

[Lain]

Hmmm, how does the Hilton biz 10 PP passes work? Anyone know?

Enroll the Hilton Biz for the Priority Pass benefit in your online account, under Benefits. You'll receive a PP card. Show your card at PP lounges and restaurants. That card gets you 10 free visits.

 

[Mopedmom1]

Attention all NCL peeps @miztressuz , @bernina , @wanderlust7 and anyone looking at a cruise.

NCL is having a "pick all offerings" for four more hours. I rebooked my October cruise. I originally had free drinks and dining package. They added on the 250 minutes wifi and $50 off each port for shore ex. PLUS I knocked over $100 off the original booking and they gave me $100 OBC!

Hurry only four more hours.

 

[Judique]

The AF on my SPG personal card posted, so I called Amex for a retention offer. Got 20k Marriott Points for $2k spend in 3 months. Took it.

I called the usual Amex retention line at 1-800-452-3945. The Amex rep tried to sell me on the addition of the 35k FN cert as a new benefit to the card, that it's worth $300-400, and the AF staying the same. I said I do like some of Marriott’s properties, but I’ve been pretty unhappy with some of the changes that’s happened under the new Bonvoy program. I told him I don't know what value I'd put on the FN cert. That Marriott moved several hotels we usually stay at, or would like to stay at up a category, from 35k to 50k; and that Marriott plans to introduce peak pricing this year while the FN remains capped at 35k, so I may not even be able to use it at a Category 5 property. He said, but there's no peak pricing now so I could use the FN on a room worth $300-400 before then. So I said, I also don't have the FN cert now, and you guys don't deposit that certificate for 2-3 months after my card anniversary; I've already got my travel booked for the rest of the year, so by the time I actually get the certificate and get to use it, I may not even be able to use at a Cat 5 hotel. He tried to suggest that off peak pricing would be 30k, less than the 35k cert, and peak pricing only brings a Cat 5 up to 40k. So I was like, if the award rate is 30k, why would I use a certificate worth 35k and lose out on 5k points, when I can just use my points for the 30k? But with a kid in school, we're usually traveling when everyone else is traveling anyway so I'm pretty sure we'll be hit by peak pricing. He's like, but that's only 5k more. And I'm like, that's fine if I can use the 35k cert and chip in another 5k of my points to make up the difference. If that's how it'll work, great; but if not, then it's like I've been saying, I don't know what value that certificate is to me.

Fortunately, the rep didn't mention the lack of spend on the card outside of MSR and spending bonuses. Don't even get me started about the base earn devaluation on the SPG cards.

At this point, the rep was almost rude and said something like, well I'm sorry you don't like the program, so do you wanna keep the card or not? Because I have a retention offer for you. I'm like, that's what I was asking for from the start!

I'm a little sorry I gave the guy a hard time. I was going to keep the card anyway, but I'm not going to pass up the chance to get a little more out of my decision to renew. Retention calls are a bit like negotiation, you have to make them think you'll walk even though you really want to stay and make a deal. I think I might've gone a little too far talking smack about the Bonvoy program. Anyway, I now have a combined $6k in retention offer spend to work on this month. We go through MSRs way too fast, but I've been trying to bide my time by not going for new cards until June. These retention offers help.

And, as a value for a 35K certificate, I used one this past weekend on a room with a cost of approximately $210. I got to see what Marriott paid the hotel: $60.78. I paid a $95 annual fee, so I got 'my' value.

Also @Lain, I received my replacement Lux card. I had to compare numbers to figure which it was replacing as I was looking in fairly dim light and the deep purple was not distinct from my other 2 SPG's. I don't hate the new Lux replacement card - was prepared to but at least now I can easily distinguish which card is which, especially once I get the replacement for the regular one.
If you remember, when we got our 'Lux's' we all sort of complained that it was cheap plastic and didn't look as purple as the regular card. Plus Chase came out with the Marriott Premier Rewards and made it a black metal card, sort of upstaging the $450 piece of dark plastic Amex produced. Seems to me Amex tried to step up their game by issuing a card with a little more cachet.

And, a funny tidbit about daughter's player 2: he had been using the Ritz card, and recently applied and was approved for a different card for himself - player 1 does the apps and gives him the card he gets to use. He complained to daughter that he received a 'cheap piece of plastic' and was very disappointed that he had to use a 'lesser' card. Prior to the Ritz he had a CSR, and apparently has become a metal card princess. The Ritz is (I think) going to card heaven once it's year is up very shortly, but I have to agree that it was one hefty card.

 

[kandb]

After I applied for a JetBlue Business card last night, they sent me an email that it is pending. In the email, there was an email link to check on your application status. It asked your last name, last 4 of your ss number, zip code and email. I just put in the info and it said it never heard of me Maybe because I just applied last night? Has anyone heard of this. I am sure I put in the right info, I checked a few times.

 

[Albort]

Will there be Ewok fur characters? Asking for my wife.

will see! :]

 

[biochemgirl]

Hello, I'm mostly a lurker here but I inquired a bit ago about tapping the Chase Sapphire Preferred 60K bonus offer. Thanks to some help, I determined that I am just past 5/24 and back to 4/24. I applied last night and was declined due to a chpt 7 BK in 2011. I called reconsideration today and am approved!

A failed business and marriage had me in ruins a decade ago, but with hard work, I'm earning steeply discounted trips to the mouse

Thanks for the fun and sharing all this great information.

 

[Judique]

Can you actually use those for anytime and any Hyatt? The terms and conditions make it sound more like a certificate.

Enjoy three (3) nights in a suite at any participating Category 4 Hyatt® hotel worldwide. Brands include Andaz®, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Centric®, Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt Place®, Hyatt House®, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt®, Thompson Hotels, Small Luxury Hotels of the World™, and M life® Rewards destinations.

You must be a World of Hyatt member to take advantage of this offer, so be sure to join now at worldofhyatt.com if you are not already a

I hope so. That's the way the IHG points that I've purchased in the past worked. Under redemption it says that points will be deposited. I intend to try for some Hyatt points also. I have the Hyatt card so it all helps.

One thing I was disappointed to 'not' see: a Radisson option. Not sure if they had it last year but in the past I've bought certificates for Radisson properties.

 

[afan]

DoC has posted that Citi is cracking down on matches. Doesn't seem to be anything new though, asking for proof of targeted offer etc.