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

[Haley R]

My husband reached Hilton Diamond last year through work (could have planned those point earnings better it we didn’t see him staying that many nights at the time). Now I’m spoiled by the free nights earning so fast! We are going to be so close in nights to keep Diamond for next year, trying to see how close our credit card spend is to keep it or switch cards for the benefits.

We couldn’t even keep our gold status lol. We just don’t stay at hotels that often.

 

[thevalley]

Hey all

I guess I’ve been a huge lurker. Lol. Just got back from the beach. I love myrtle beach area.

Could anyone with the Hilton aspire card message me please. I am going to Hawaii in March and was thinking about this card. More so about the airline incidentals. What actually does this mean. Can I buy my tickets with it or pay for upgrades? I won’t need to check bags due to having a AA card. Thanks.

 

[Haley R]

Between the swan and dolphin is one better than the other? Would you pay more just to be at one vs the other?

 

[elgerber]

Has anyone done the Newegg offer from Amex and not had it credit?

 

[marsh0013]

Between the swan and dolphin is one better than the other? Would you pay more just to be at one vs the other?

Swan has queens, dolphin has doubles. Unless you're booking a king, they both have that option. Swan bathroom setups is also my preference. I know lots prefer dolphin because the quick service and some other dining options and the pool are over there. I'd pick swan over dolphin. But I'd pick dolphin if I didn't have a choice.

Edit - that last sentence sounds weird. I just mean I wouldn't have a problem staying at the dolphin. But I would definitely book a king at the dolphin if possible if I was staying there again.

 

[amalone1013]

Between the swan and dolphin is one better than the other? Would you pay more just to be at one vs the other?

I know others disagree... I wouldn't really unless it's a few bucks. Probably still wouldn't because I'm cheap. Main things: Swan lobby is smaller, maybe hotel is slightly less rooms overall, has queen beds in 2 bed rooms. Currently main QS/shop is under reno. Dolphin has big lobby with bar, shop, QS, 24hr QS available... double beds in 2 bed room. DH and I can deal with a double so for drastic price differences I'd rather spend that money on food or something

 

[amalone1013]

Swan bathroom setups is also my preference

What is the difference in bathroom setups? I feel like I've had the same type in every room between Swolphin except one, which had a weird post jutting into the space so the bathroom was set up differently.

 

[marsh0013]

What is the difference in bathroom setups? I feel like I've had the same type in every room between Swolphin except one, which had a weird post jutting into the space so the bathroom was set up differently.

The swan bathroom is different than the dolphin, with the 2 sinks. Let's see if I can figure out pictures...

 

[Lain]

You may have already explored this, but I believe that under the new program you can get 10 elite nights for hosting a meeting at a Marriott property for the first meeting you hold during the year. Its a one and done (unless you get room blocks and stuff which can net more elite nights). I've held strategy meetings for our small rental business (basically me and DH in a conference room with our computers), and been charged a couple hundred dollars for the room rental fee. Check out the meetings and events section of the Bonvoy website, if you haven't already. If you are that close to platinum, might be worth spending a little bit to get there (if you will be able to use the Plat benefits).

Still waiting for someone to organize a meeting so @Albort can give his Churning 101 presentation.

Honestly, with all the meetups planned over at r/churning, I'm surprised no one has just booked a room at the cheapest local Marriott to earn the elite nights.

 

[PolyRob]

So PNC is definitely better than what I had, I think it topped out at 1%, but still not as good as other online HYS. I know most are over 2% still. Looks like Discover dropped to 2.05 (had been 2.1), and they have a $200 bonus on the savings account if you can makes deposits totaling 25k. I'd not be in a rush for PNC if you had to choose.
The $300 Chase biz checking is easy enough to hit, but you'd tie up $1500 for 6 months to avoid the monthly service fees. Decisions, decisions...
As for the SafeBalance checking, it's not just for students but the only way to avoid the $4.95 monthly fee is to be a student or enroll in Preferred Rewards. When I followed the link for Preferred Rewards it stated one of the qualifications to enroll was "3-month average combined balances of $20,000 or more in qualifying Bank of America® banking accounts and/or Merrill investment accounts."
I went with the Advantage Plus for the one DD of $250 per month to waive the fee.


Thank you! So while PNC is decent interest for me, some areas have higher rates and there are other banks with similar rates. I will do BoA! I appreciate your research into the Preferred Rewards. Definitely not worth it. I can just split my paycheck to go there for a few months to waive the fee of the Advantage Plus.

I have had my personal Chase accounts open just about 7 months so I pushed most of the money back to my primary bank and left enough to keep it fee free. I know I always had this money, but seeing it back in my main account tempts me to use it to open other accounts! LOL Tying up $1,500 shouldn’t be as bad as the $15,000. I will do BoA online first out of convenience and do Chase in the next few weeks.

Getting $600 will cover the AFs of some cards I am looking at in the near future so it will help.

 

[PolyRob]

I haven’t used an URs yet either. So, would that be the same for JetBlue? If I wanted to book a flight it would be better to do it through UR rather than transfer points to JetBlue?

With JB it's actually often better to transfer URs to JB. It really depends on the flight and whether you have a CSP or CSR. I do not have a CSR, so often it works out better for me to transfer URs to JB and book that way. It may work out better to book some JB flights directly through Chase with URs if you have a CSR though.

UR transfers to JetBlue at 1:1, in 1,000 points increments, so yes, the math would be the same.

Compare JetBlue's award price with what it would cost you in UR to book through the Chase portal on whatever is your highest redeeming card. Go with whichever costs fewer points.

You got some great advice! I’ve only used my URs to book JetBlue thus far, but I do have a CSR. The CSR 1.5x has always been slightly better than transferring and booking directly through JetBlue. You don’t have to pay the taxes (pretty small, but still a fee). Plus I am also earning the miles and getting the CSR insurance. While the miles aren’t a lot, the JetBlue bonuses are pretty nice. I’ve already hit the “Take 3” which gets you 5,000 points and I should make “Lucky 7” which gets you 7,000 points. That is enough to get me a free one way flight to MCO from booking free flights through the UR portal.

 

[Lain]

@PolyRob, weren't you looking to buy discounted iTunes gift cards? https://www.doctorofcredit.com/best-buy-50-itunes-giftcard-for-40/

ETA: I take that back, Limit 4 -- 2 Digital, and 2 Physical. The cart doesn't let you add quantity, but just go back to the product page and add it to cart again.

 

[PolyRob]

@PolyRob, weren't you looking to buy discounted iTunes gift cards? https://www.doctorofcredit.com/best-buy-50-itunes-giftcard-for-40/ [Limit 2]

Thank you! I think I will buy one through Apple Pay on my Citi TY card for the $15 off $75 with 3 transactions promo. Now I just need $35 over 2 more transactions HAHA

 

[3 DD love princesses]

Maybe I should try this... Is it just the little spinner, a few feet tall and only a couple cards across?

Yes that’s the one. One of the doors should open. They had the cards stored in boxes. There’s 10 cards to a package of plastic around them. That display was loaded. Worth a shot. I also found lots of visas around the store but only the mc were at the front.

 

[3 DD love princesses]

Need someone to help me. Apparently my understanding of how to use the contactless in the card isn’t right. I held it up to the card reader but nothing happened. I moved it around and it never worked. CVS had the sign and the girl at the register said just hold it to the top. Well couldn’t get it to work and ended up just inserting the chip since there was a long line at the pharmacy. What am I doing wrong?

 

[amalone1013]

Put in for BoA offer just now. Under review Hoping it goes through and I can change my DD over by tomorrow.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Second stupid plastiq question - I referred DH last month and still haven't used his. If I do $1000 payment will $500 of it be with fee and the 2nd half FFD? Or does it have to be 2 separate payments? And say if its $800 will it be $500 Fees/ $300 FFD and $200 FFD I can use later?

I’m hoping I understand your question....

You need to pay $500 and then the $500 FFDs will be given to you. If you haven’t done his first pmt of $500 then he won’t have any FFDs yet.

 

[Lain]

Thank you! I think I will buy one through Apple Pay on my Citi TY card for the $15 off $75 with 3 transactions promo. Now I just need $35 over 2 more transactions HAHA

ICYMI: Limit 4 -- 2 Digital, and 2 Physical. The cart doesn't let you add quantity, but just go back to the product page and add it to cart again.

 

[mefordis]

We are currently sitting at 43 nights. But we had a promotion earlier in the year for stay twice and get 10 bonus nights. So that helped a lot. Have you been checking your promotions? Hoping to make it to 50 again, thought it would be easy with the 7 night certificate we have left but not sure where or when we can use it.

I have been checking promos lately. Did not see the stay twice get 10 bonus nights. Darn. Would you ever consider a "mattress run" for 8 nights? I know it sounds foolish when many people say Gold is nearly as good as platinum. We are going to Tokyo next year and I'm thinking perks at Marriotts there might be even better for Plat Elite.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Did anybody see this today:

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/chqo1k

My response:

Apparently there’s some crusade to bring churning to the masses. We must orchestrate our own demise and we must accelerate the pace..who’s with me??​

​

Is it really that hard to read a few blogs and figure out your own path? Thousands of us have done it before... but apparently these days it’s too hard.​

​

I love everybody here and I will help ANYBODY that finds their way to our thread but this attitude that is pervasive on r/churning to kill the game by making it so easy a dog could do it is ridiculous. We don’t need an app to help us pick a card...is clicking on the flow chart that hard (and why do we even have the flow chart to be honest...just read and ask a question or two)...UGH - I’ll step off my soap box now.