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

[Judique]

I am still mad at Amex with the whole MR point claw back so I used my CSR tonight at an expensive birthday dinner at Buca di Beppo. Of course now it just dawned on me that I had the spend $50 save $10 offer on my Gold. Aack!!!

And I met my spend on the Delta Gold Biz on Wednesday. No points yet. Which is way too soon to worry but I can’t help it. Already starting to obsessively check. I feel like Amex these days is just a huge source of stress!

Awww...Amex has made me upset many times in the past 20 years. But...I'm still okay with them, although waiting for my self referral to bite me. I got actual money - $100.

But, last evening, party of 6 of us went to dinner at FISH by Jose Andres over at the MGM casino. We used 2 offers on two cards to pay -$30 of $100 twice. I had called daughter to check for the offer and it was on her platinum so she added it. We then had the server charge the first $100 to one card and put the remainder on mine. 4X MR's with the Rose Gold, so yay! And I missed a click - younger daughter is an AU on my SPG card and I forgot to check it for the offer. We could have gotten 3 offers.

The food was very good. We had a pretty varied assortment and didn't find anything that we didn't like. One friend did get oysters and there were a lot of them so carried home some leftovers, but otherwise every bit of food was eaten at the table.

And, if you ever go, don't miss the Banana Pudding: Carmelized banana, housemade vanilla wafers, meringue, cream, pudding under it all and cherry pate - the reddish bits. It was an outstanding dessert - up there with the original Banana Napoleon that Flying Fish used to serve. I had already disturbed this plate - breaking off some cookie before daughter took a pic.

 

[calypso726]

I’m gonna have to add it to my list of books to read! I typically read all young adult science fiction or fantasy so it sounds like something I’d enjoy.

I'd say the first part of can take some patience to get through. It has to lay the groundwork for everything that follows.

No one in my family wants to split the cost of a VIP tour. I asked SO if we could just pay for it and take the teens and a 9 and 6 year old with us and he said that sounds awful. He would rather us just do it alone, but I said that’s an awful value for just two people. I really can’t blame him because the teens are all moody. My sister complained the entire time when we took her to Disney her feet hurt. My other sister and my cousin get in so much trouble when they are together. My brother tries to parent them because they are off the walls but he makes it worse. My SOs cousins probably wouldn’t want to go. lol The 9 year old tries to act like the teens and just annoys them. The 6 year old probably would be the only one without any issues lol She can be wild because she is a kid but she doesn’t do anything crazy. SO is probably right we should skip it lol maybe one day when we have kids.

This is where having Disney travel friends comes in handy. No one in my family would split the cost either. But we have done a couple and split it with Disney travel friends. We actually have one fully booked with 10 of us for SWGE opening day with Disney travel friends. Same group is doing one at DLR too when we go later this year.

Well, disregard. DH was just cooking breakfast and didn't say anything for a few and then said "I really want to fly first class. Just book that first class flight that's a couple days before my meeting." I triple checked with him that he was sure and he kept saying he really wanted to try flying first class internationally once. He went and looked at a bunch of the reviews of JAL first class and thought it looked amazing and said he wanted to do it. Since you can now, as of this past week, book JAL on AA, I was able to login to his AA account and just book the trip for 160k miles. I was telling him as I was going through each step of the booking to make sure he wouldn't back out lol. He said do it, so I did! Put the $11.20 on his CSP for travel insurance (hopefully? Someone tell me about this lol). I looked it up and a one way first class ticket for this flight would be $12, 815.

So! The details:

June 8- JAL first class from JFK to Tokyo-Narita arriving on June 9! Currently looking at hotels, but I'm planning on Hyatt Regency Tokyo and Hilton Tokyo Bay. I want to spend a couple days in Kyoto too, so need to figure out something for that.

I explained to DH that even though there was first class available for return flights right now around June 18-19, there was no guarantee that would still be available by the time AA opened up their booking for it. He said that was fine and he didn't mind flying premium economy back if we needed to, he just wanted to say he flew first class once lol.

I'M GOING TO JAPAN Y'ALL!


He works for a Fortune 500 company and they always have their annual meeting the same week each year. There really isn't any reason for him to be there, it's certainly not like he speaks at or anything lol. He's just a workaholic and likes to be at that sort of stuff.

WOOHOO!!!!! So excited for you. Just be aware you may have your own Plane Princess in the making.

Be careful, they are long and addictive. I read the first 4 or 5 during the dark days of my first marriage-the fantasy world helped keep me functioning. Happily, I've not needed the escape for about 10 years so I'm (shun corner) way behind now. You also might fall in love with Scotland as some of us here have!

So true! I re-read/listen every year or so because I start to miss the characters.

Thank you! I think we're in shock from actually booking it lol. I just got the official confirmation email since once I booked it it said it might take several hours before we got the confirmation since it has to be confirmed with JAL. I can't believe we're really doing this!

There actually is first class availability for return flights right now, but I'm not holding my breath that it will still be available when it comes time to book it with AA.

If first isn't available don't hesitate to book business. Even @PlanePrincess said he'd fly to or from Japan on JAL in their business class product. It's that good!

Just want to thank everyone who helped me with Citi AA Biz info and on how to book JAL flights over the last couple months. @SouthFayetteFan, @Lain, @calypso726, and @HaleyR come immediately to mind, but I know that there are many more who have provided advice! This will be my first international trip (okay, I once went to Canada overnight), and I think I should have about 80% of lodging/flights covered on points!

I'm so excited for you and can't wait to hear about your experience!

 

[speedyfishy]

This is where having Disney travel friends comes in handy. No one in my family would split the cost either. But we have done a couple and split it with Disney travel friends. We actually have one fully booked for SWGE opening day with Disney travel friends. Same group is doing one at DLR too when we go later this year.

How do you go about organizing it and splitting the costs? Who decides what you do?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

So I’ve been quiet lately. Seems like a summer thing, just busy with many things! We leave around 3pm today for a little Hershey trip so I’ll continue to be quiet until Wednesday. Hope everybody’s churning continues to go well!!

 

[Haley R]

I have a question about the CSR and double dipping the travel credit. Dh’s card will hit one year on July 31. The travel credit says it can’t be used again until after the August statement. Won’t that put us past the time to PC to a new card? I guess I’m a little confused how that works.

Also, should we get the freedom or the freedom unlimited?

 

[miztressuz]

I currently have like 8 books checked out from the library that I’m making my way through. I think I’ve finished 3-4 of them. I might have to check this series out after!

So yeah I don’t have that option to strike out my text unless I’m just missing it

I haven't found it on mobile, I think they condensed the options, but you can still manually do it. Just put "[ s]" before the text and "[ /s]" after it without the space (and with out the quotes around them). If I didn't put the space in it'd just strike it out

 

[Alexle2007]

So I’ve been quiet lately. Seems like a summer thing, just busy with many things! We leave around 3pm today for a little Hershey trip so I’ll continue to be quiet until Wednesday. Hope everybody’s churning continues to go well!!

Have fun! We have yet to make it there this summer. The crowds have been ridiculous. If you are going to ride Reese Cornfusion do it mid to later in the day. At the beginning of the day, the line/wait is ridiculous! If you get there at opening, I would first thing go grab a spot at the wave pool or the waterworks area. It becomes quite difficult later in the day. We have never had our stuff disturbed. We just put our towels out and leave everything else we don’t need. Love, love, love Hersheypark Happy

 

[calypso726]

How do you go about organizing it and splitting the costs? Who decides what you do?

Cost is divided by number of people in the group so it is fair to couples or singles. Everyone agrees on the VIP guide's tip amount which is anywhere between the cost of one hour to 10% of the total.

Everyone lists their must do attractions which is easy since they mostly overlap. Then if we are doing a later tour, majority decides on which nighttime show or do the mad dash to hit two of them. Last year we managed 4 parks and 2 fireworks shows, HEA and Illuminations. Our tour started at 3pm.

Everyone agrees on which quick service place ahead of time and to doing a mobile order and pickup to maximize the time.

Everyone agrees to be flexible and understands that even the best laid plans can go sideways. This completely describes our last VIP tour. We all laughed and still had a blast.

 

[speedyfishy]

Cost is divided by number of people in the group so it is fair to couples or singles. Everyone agrees on the VIP guide's tip amount which is anywhere between the cost of one hour to 10% of the total.

Everyone lists their must do attractions which is easy since they mostly overlap. Then if we are doing a later tour, majority decides on which nighttime show or do the mad dash to hit two of them. Last year we managed 4 parks and 2 fireworks shows, HEA and Illuminations. Our tour started at 3pm.

Everyone agrees on which quick service place ahead of time and to doing a mobile order and pickup to maximize the time.

Everyone agrees to be flexible and understands that even the best laid plans can go sideways. This completely describes our last VIP tour. We all laughed and still had a blast.

That’s really awesome! If anyone is going to be there December 5th and wants to do one lmk. Idk if SO would be happy with it but this sounds amazing to me. Since we are just two people it’s a huge savings to split it up. I really am trying to convince him to get Club 33. Four VIP tours a year would be awesome. lol

 

[DisneyMandC]

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[elgerber]

Awww...Amex has made me upset many times in the past 20 years. But...I'm still okay with them, although waiting for my self referral to bite me. I got actual money - $100.



View attachment 417207

Hahaha I hated AMEX big time, until yesterday. Now we are good again LOL. If only I could get dh out of pop up jail.
That picture is amazing!!!!
Just got my UPS email that the Chase CIP is coming tomorrow

 

[snugglebug]

Your SO is right. That just sounds awful!

I can't think of a worst value than spending money on ungrateful kids who complain and make trouble the entire time it's costing you money.

Sounds like a lot of my trips, but I still love 'em.

 

[Haley R]

I haven't found it on mobile, I think they condensed the options, but you can still manually do it. Just put "[ s]" before the text and "[ /s]" after it without the space (and with out the quotes around them). If I didn't put the space in it'd just strike it out

Ok here’s me trying it out

 

[Haley R]

That’s really awesome! If anyone is going to be there December 5th and wants to do one lmk. Idk if SO would be happy with it but this sounds amazing to me. Since we are just two people it’s a huge savings to split it up. I really am trying to convince him to get Club 33. Four VIP tours a year would be awesome. lol

I would totally join you but Dh will be working on the 5th.

 

[speedyfishy]

I would totally join you but Dh will be working on the 5th.

I’m really down splitting $3800 by three is still a lot but if more people are interested I would.

 

[snugglebug]

One of Cheesecake Factory cards had a zero balance. Since it was "free" I'm not sure if it's worth digging through receipts to see if I can match it up to one or not.

Dh wasn't happy with his steak, not rare enough, so he sent it back. A manager came by and said she would comp his meal and have it taken care. I get the bill and 2 steaks are on there and one comped. In my experience when a manger says they'll comp the meal, it means I won't pay for it. I wouldn't have cared or expected it if she hadn't said his meal would be taken care of. So really at CF if you send an item back, you'll have to pay for the second one?! It just makes no sense and I did question it, they did remove it finally.

 

[Haley R]

I’m really down splitting $3800 by three is still a lot but if more people are interested I would.

Yeah that’s still a lot.

 

[Judique]

Your SO is right. That just sounds awful!

I can't think of a worst value than spending money on ungrateful kids (guests) who complain and make trouble the entire time it's costing you money.

See insert above. I once many moons ago brought a friend of daughter to Disney. She repeatedly stated how much nicer Atlantic City hotels were. We were doing concierge at the Poly back when it was nice. And, every plan I made became subject for discussion.

 

[Alexle2007]

One of Cheesecake Factory cards had a zero balance. Since it was "free" I'm not sure if it's worth digging through receipts to see if I can match it up to one or not.

Dh wasn't happy with his steak, not rare enough, so he sent it back. A manager came by and said she would comp his meal and have it taken care. I get the bill and 2 steaks are on there and one comped. In my experience when a manger says they'll comp the meal, it means I won't pay for it. I wouldn't have cared or expected it if she hadn't said his meal would be taken care of. So really at CF if you send an item back, you'll have to pay for the second one?! It just makes no sense and I did question it, they did remove it finally.

That makes no sense. A lot of the time, they will still ring it in to account for in their inventory but you shouldn’t be charged for it,

 

[Alexle2007]

Looks like I need to make my way over the Federal Plaza since DS asked me to take a picture of the “Flamingo.” Darn, reading assignment for his new school He read the The Calder Game that talked about it. And he made a request for a souvenir from a museum. So my two must to do’s while in Chicago.