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

[GlamMistress]

So jealous of everyone st SWGE right now. The crowd photos on Twitter look nuts!

 

[Lain]

 

[Lain]

So jealous of everyone st SWGE right now. The crowd photos on Twitter look nuts!

Could always go to Disneyland’s SWGE to avoid the crowds.

 

[pinkxray]

Don’t want to use my points!

How do you guys handle earning points when you have more than one trip planned?

I have two trips planned. A girls only trip over marathon weekend and a family trip to universal/Disney cruise Nov. 2020.

When I first started earning AA miles it was for the specific reason to use at Grand Floridian or maybe Contemporary for a night or two during the marathon weekend. Of course, Disney resorts haven’t been showing up in AA portal so I came up with the back up plan. I can use them for 2 nights at Portofino bay club level when we go to universal in Nov.
Now, Disney deluxes are showing up at I can book GF for either 105,000 the first night of our stay or 85,000 AA points the last night of our stay. (I have 130,000 AA points.) Part of me wants to just blow the points since GF is my dream resort but now I am thinking club level Portofino is such a better use of the points. 2 night in Nov. is 110,000 AA points. So big room, express pass and the club will save use money on breakfast snacks for a family of 5 for the same as 1 night at the Grand.

If you made it this far thanks for any thoughts. We are booked at Pop paid completely by a bank bonus turned into discount gift cards so no out of pocket cost. Maybe just book a meal at the Grand or just blow the points since we were already set to stay at Pop?

 

[ten6mom]

Generally speaking, transferring points and using miles to book award seats directly with an airline or airline partner is where you get outsized value on your points, especially when you book premium class seats. Using UR points to book, essentially, the cash fare through the Chase travel portal necessarily limits you to the redemption value of the card on which your points are when redeeming. You have a CIP which makes your UR points worth 1.25 cents per point, and that’s the cap on their value.

Are you really opposed to flying ANA that you won’t even consider transferring your UR to VS to book partner award seats on ANA? For business class, you’d be looking at 90k UR/person RT; for first class, you’d be looking at 110k UR/person RT.

To put that into perspective, the 90k UR you could’ve transferred to VS can instead be used to buy a $1,125 ticket, and 110k UR will get a $1,375 through the Chase travel portal using the CIP at 1.25 cpp. If you get the CSR before you book, it would give your UR points more value at 1.5 cpp. So, 90k is worth $1,350 and 110k is worth $1,650. (Business and first class fares are typically much more expensive.)

Just checking some random dates for LAX-NRT this coming early to mid-November on JAL, RT economy seats can be had in the high-$500s to high-$600s. So you basically could buy 2x RT economy seats on JAL for the price of 1x RT first class award seat on ANA.

I guess I’d look at your points and see where you are by October or November when seats for next year are about to open up and decide how you want to spend them, and where you want to sit for 10-11 hour flights. If you want to do a premium award redemption on ANA, you need to be on the ball and book ASAP. But if you’re fine with economy on JAL, then there’s no rush to book because you’re basically buying a cash fare through an Expedia portal that should be available, with prices going up and down, right up to your departure date.

I knew I would lose value of the URs by not transferring them.... but I am afraid of doing something wrong in all the transferring! I'm feeling overwhelmed more than anything. I have just been combing the award travel and churning threads on reddit and it seems very, very overwhelming to me and all I can think is "I'll never be able to figure out this travel partner/miles transfer thing!"

No real objection to ANA either. I've already signed up for both theirs and Virgin Atlantic's frequent flier programs so that I would have a place to put my miles when I got them....

I'm sorry; I'm just rambling and trying to be realistic. I would honestly LOVE to try business class (on either airline, really) but perhaps I am in over my head and having delusions of grandeur? I don't know. Maybe I am trying to go too big too soon.

Thanks for talking some sense into me... although I feel bad that you're awake right now!

 

[Lain]

@Haley R After Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Florida significantly strengthened their building code so your house should be safe. South Florida, where we live, has even more stringent codes (although my house is from 1953). I think you have a screen over your pool? That might take a beating.
Hurricane Irma knocked out our power for 2 weeks and overwhelmed our area with tree debris. This was the extra gift from our avocado tree. There weren’t enough avocado toast eating millennials to eat them all
View attachment 430472

I want to say that’s at least $300 worth of avocados at current market prices!

 

[Alexle2007]

d

 

[Lain]

I knew I would lose value of the URs by not transferring them.... but I am afraid of doing something wrong in all the transferring! I'm feeling overwhelmed more than anything. I have just been combing the award travel and churning threads on reddit and it seems very, very overwhelming to me and all I can think is "I'll never be able to figure out this travel partner/miles transfer thing!"

No real objection to ANA either. I've already signed up for both theirs and Virgin Atlantic's frequent flier programs so that I would have a place to put my miles when I got them....

I'm sorry; I'm just rambling and trying to be realistic. I would honestly LOVE to try business class (on either airline, really) but perhaps I am in over my head and having delusions of grandeur? I don't know. Maybe I am trying to go too big too soon.

Thanks for talking some sense into me... although I feel bad that you're awake right now!

I think the important thing right now is to get as many points in place by November. ANA makes their schedule available 355 days in advance, but I don’t think Virgin Atlantic opens up their schedule until 331 days in advance. Since you can’t search partner awards on VS, you can use United’s site/app to start searching for partner flights operated ANA beginning 337 days before you plan to travel. (ANA is partners with both VS and United, so you’re using United to search for availability only, then you’d call VS with the details of that flight and ask if they can book it for you.) Try to have some flexibility in your departure and return dates; flying midweek helps. Fall is thankfully not as popular as spring (Sakura season), and the Olympics will be over, so hopefully it won’t be too difficult to find award availability.

OMAAT has a good write up about the process:
https://onemileatatime.com/redeeming-virgin-atlantic-miles-ana/(Just substitute in Chase UR for Amex MR when he talks about transferring points from Amex to VS, since you can transfer points from Chase to VS too — just without a transfer bonus.)

And remember, reread the Japan tips thread on DISchurners for advice from your fellow members.

 

[ten6mom]

I think the important thing right now is to get as many points in place by November. ANA makes their schedule available 355 in advance, but I don’t think Virgin Atlantic opens up their schedule until 331 days in advance. Since you can’t search partner awards on VS, you can use United’s site/app to start searching for partner flights operated ANA beginning 337 days before you plan to travel. (ANA is partners with both VS and United, so you’re using United to search for availability only, then you’d call VS with the details of that flight and ask if they can book it for you.) Try to have some flexibility in your departure and return dates; flying midweek helps. Fall is thankfully not as popular as spring (Sakura season), and the Olympics will be over, so hopefully it won’t be too difficult to find award availability.

OMAAT has a good write up about the process:
https://onemileatatime.com/redeeming-virgin-atlantic-miles-ana/(Just substitute in Chase UR for Amex MR when he talks about transferring points from Amex to VS, since you can transfer points from Chase to VS too — just without a transfer bonus.)

And remember, reread the Japan tips thread on DISchurners for advice from your fellow members.

Thank you... thank you... thank you....

yes, I will go check the Japan thread again.

Thanks for talking me down!

 

[Lain]

Thank you... thank you... thank you....

I am on United's site and finally see some awards available on a flight "operated by All Nippon Airways" (July is as far out as I can go right now) and it says that I would need 440,000 miles. Is that, then the same as saying I would need 440,000 URs? (interestingly, there is nothing available in business class so this is first class. I might faint if we were to go in first class!)

yes, I will go check the Japan thread again.

Thanks for talking me down!

Ignore the price/miles on United. That’s how many miles you would need to book that ANA flight through United. (And yes, UR transfers to United 1:1, so you’d need 440k UR if you don’t have any United miles.*). You’re not booking through United.

You’d be booking through Virgin Atlantic. Lucky at OMAAT includes VS’s award chart in the article I linked. VS’s award charts are based on RT itinerary; you need to book a departure flight and return flight together. (Check the Japan tips thread to see what @calypso726 does.) Per the chart, it costs 90k VS miles for business class RT from western US-Japan, and 110k VS miles for first class RT. UR transfers to VS 1:1, so you’re looking at 90k UR or 110k UR.

* 440k United miles for first class is insane. This is the result of United going dynamic and probably high demand due to the Olympics. I believe the cap was previously 350k United miles, although United still offers saver awards on partner first/business class for 80k United miles one-way.

 

[Disneyonmymind]

Thanks for the push! APPROVED!!!

I set up DH ‘s online Amex Biz account and I can already see the last 5 digits on the card. I’d like to see the whole card because I could use it today lol. I thought I remembered Amex offering a temporary number right after approval but that didn’t happen. If DH calls them this morning, will they expedite the card?

 

[disfanforlife]

Before 10/2018ish, if you booked a points flight, and then modified it to either another flight or if your original flight dropped and you did it to get back the difference in points, that made your $5.60 fee non refundable - if you ended up cancelling you had to take a fare credit. So if your price changed you were better off just cancelling and rebooking vs modifying.

After 10/2018, they stopped doing that, so even if you modify your points booking you have the option to either get a refund or a fare credit.

Ok, thank you, now I understand.

 

[ten6mom]

Ignore the price/miles on United. That’s how many miles you would need to book that ANA flight through United. (And yes, UR transfers to United 1:1, so you’d need 440k UR if you don’t have any United miles.*). You’re not booking through United.

You’d be booking through Virgin Atlantic. Lucky at OMAAT includes VS’s award chart in the article I linked. VS’s award charts are based on RT itinerary; you need to book a departure flight and return flight together. (Check the Japan tips thread to see what @calypso726 does.) Per the chart, it costs 90k VS miles for business class RT from western US-Japan, and 110k VS miles for first class RT. UR transfers to VS 1:1, so you’re looking at 90k UR or 110k UR.

* 440k United miles for first class is insane. This is the result of United going dynamic and probably high demand due to the Olympics. I believe the cap was previously 350k United miles, although United still offers saver awards on partner first/business class for 80k United miles one-way.

Thank you... I went back and edited after reading the Japan thread again.. I am so dumb.

OK I have a new goal... forget JAL and stick with ANA!

 

[disfanforlife]

Decide quickly and don’t wait. Offers often get pulled earlier than you might expect.

I don’t have an MSR right now. I was just thinking about getting a biz Amex, I guess too late for me.

 

[smallsy]

Talk to me about filing a trip insurance claim with Chase (CIP)... can I use “trip interruption” and get a part of our trip covered or is it all or nothing? A quick reading through of the policy seems like this hurricane would qualify but I hate the idea of not going at all. ☹

 

[GZanta77]

I realize that. I’m just wondering if SW will cancel my reservation if I have flights on back to back days.

Oops - sorry.

Haven't personally heard of SW auto canceling reservations on different days - but they might if the flight times make it impossible to take both flights.

 

[disfanforlife]

I knew I would lose value of the URs by not transferring them.... but I am afraid of doing something wrong in all the transferring! I'm feeling overwhelmed more than anything. I have just been combing the award travel and churning threads on reddit and it seems very, very overwhelming to me and all I can think is "I'll never be able to figure out this travel partner/miles transfer thing!"

No real objection to ANA either. I've already signed up for both theirs and Virgin Atlantic's frequent flier programs so that I would have a place to put my miles when I got them....

I'm sorry; I'm just rambling and trying to be realistic. I would honestly LOVE to try business class (on either airline, really) but perhaps I am in over my head and having delusions of grandeur? I don't know. Maybe I am trying to go too big too soon.

Thanks for talking some sense into me... although I feel bad that you're awake right now!

I feel the same way looking at things - overwhelmed. Right now I don’t have a big trip planned but want to go to Europe in the future. In the past 10 years I have mainly flown on SW and it is so easy to book and use points. Now I have URs and AA miles too, but haven’t attempted to use any of them yet. We are planning California/Hawaii this year but going to try and do that with SW. I just wanted to say good luck with your planning!

 

[KPK02090]

How quickly can one get TSA Pre-check? I have global entry, and also have a credit for Pre-check on another card . I’m thinking of letting my sister use it if it’s likely she’d have it before Sep. 22 ( just over 3 weeks away). Online it says it takes 2-3 weeks. Anyone have actual numbers?

 

[GlamMistress]

So does anyone here actually buy trip insurance (like through Allianz, etc) or do you just rely on your credit card protection? Our Med cruise/trip was really pricey. I used SO MANY different cards to make payments on things throughout the 18 rolling months beforehand it was kind of a mess if I would have had to make a claim. With the year I've had (sick husband, sick mother, crazy job) I vowed this would be the last trip I'd take without some real insurance. It would have sucked to flush about 10 grand down the toilet, you know?

So now I've got to buy some coverage for my Disney cruise - just wondering who others have used? And of course - does it code as travel (lol)?

 

[Psychodisney]

Oops - sorry.

Haven't personally heard of SW auto canceling reservations on different days - but they might if the flight times make it impossible to take both flights.

I went ahead and did it. They are 6:05 am flights, 24 hours apart. Fingers crossed nothing will be cancelled and SW FL gets a glancing blow.