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

[Lain]

When did BonBon start charging $10 for extra kids when you have more than 2 guests? I will be cancelling all 4 cards, this I just getting ridiculous. I’m going to only add 2 guest.

It is ridiculous!

Personal experience - since the IT merger, when I try to book 2 adults and 1 child at the Royal Hawaiian, Marriott’s site and app want to charge me a $100+ extra person fee — for a 6 y.o.! When I try Marriott’s other hotels in Waikiki, they also want to charge an extra person fee of varying amounts. Many of these hotels did not charge an extra person fee — especially for kids — when they were part of SPG. I called the hotel directly and asked what their policy is and they told me they don’t charge extra person fees for kids, that it’s a “glitch” in the new Marriott system, and to go ahead and book 2 adults and call to add a child and I won’t be charged.

Call the hotel directly and see what their policy is. Alternatively, others have suggested just booking 2 adults and having additional guests elsewhere while you check in for the entire 2+ party, and never tell them.

This issue was pissing so many people off that Marriott’s chief shill TPG wrote an article about it:
https://thepointsguy.com/news/marriott-adding-surcharges-children-award-bookings/
What makes me really angry is that 9 months later, and pissing off how many guests, and pocketing how many millions of dollars in extra person fees from the unwitting, this “glitch” is still happening and Marriott doesn’t think it’s a high enough priority to fix it.

 

[Lain]

One more post: I thought I'd share this "little beauty" because it reminds me of EPCOT
View attachment 434619

It does!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

something silly probably... like walmart...

That I could actually use. I've barely touched the gas this quarter.

 

[DisneyMandC]

I just realized I never thanked either of you for sharing these thoughts with me a few weeks ago.

Thank you all for being patient with me as I continue to mull this over.

I am reasonably certain I don't want to deal with AMEX but I am still mulling it over, so I have some more AMEX questions and some specifics about the Hilton Honors program that I am hoping someone can answer. Right now I am still looking ONLY at accumulating enough points to stay for free at the Hilton Tokyo Bay; no other Hilton plans.

I know I can book that hotel through Chase UR also but I am trying to see what the best use of my MSRs (and subsequent spending) will be.

1. I know that once you get an AMEX you have to keep spending on it (more than $20 a month for example) or risk the RAT. I see I cannot pay my mortgage with them thru Plastiq (that is a total bummer, BTW), but I can pay my HOA fee. That's about $104 a month. Anyone think that is or is not sufficient? Maybe throw in a fast food meal here or there? I can't divert too much of my spending to it while I am still meeting MSRs elsewhere... just don't have the income to do so.
2. Specific to the HHonors program: Of course there are different tiers/levels, and I see the various cards give you different status depending on which you get. How much, if anything, is Diamond Status (that comes with the HHonors Aspire) worth for just this one trip? I see there is an annual free weekend night reward, which would be nice to have in Japan, and a $250 resort credit. But if I am paying for the hotel stay on points... will I have any need of a resort credit? I do know that we got food from the little bakery and convenience stores on site several times during our last stay, but we always paid cash. I don't even know if those charges could have been billed to the room. If they can be billed to the room, would that be a handy way to make use of that resort credit? Even so, the AF of the card is $450 so even if I could use the resort credit that way I'd still be paying $200 for that particular card.
3. Redemptions of MRs for hotel stays... I can click on the box that says "use points," but then it shows me the rates in dollars (or yen) only. Maybe it's because I don't HAVE any points right now? I would like to be able to say "oh, I expect to need xxxxx number of MRs to get my stay at the Hilton Tokyo Bay for free."

I think that's all the questions I have... for now. I'm sorry to be indecisive about this.

We haven't applied my husband for a CIP (the timing won't be right for another month or so) yet but he is not optimistic about his chances (he actually does have a bankruptcy from before I met him... not really sure how those work) so worst case scenario I am working in 1P mode. I have to assume that bonuses from support links (see, @SouthFayetteFan , I can be taught... eventually!) are not going to be an option for me.

We're all happy to help here! It's good that you are coming here and asking questions and actually taking the advice!

1. As far as Amex and RAT... no one really knows for sure what it takes to keep them happy. They have given DH 3 cards this year alone, but I got two cards with them last year and have gotten the popup ever since then. Some think that you have to bring your spending on the cards back up to MSR levels for a sustained period of time, some think that you can just put some spend on the card every month and never let the statement close at $0. It's tough to tell.
2. I made the decision to go with the Hilton Biz and Hilton Surpass for us, both of which provide Gold status. I thought hard about the Aspire, but I just couldn't make it work for me even with the resort credit and other credits. That's just my feelings towards it though- plus Hilton isn't our preferred brand for hotels. Some here have Diamond status and get a lot of value out of it! You should know that Gold status at Hilton Tokyo Bay will get you the free breakfast every morning!
3. Don't have any MRs so I can't tell you that one yet Sorry!

 

[Lain]

Ok, I give, I have to give them a try. Kind of embarrassed to admit but I currently use jumbo ziplocks. Is there a set or size that I should start out with? I'm on the road every other week, it's a grind. I welcome anything that can bring amazing into my life. Thanks

I also use eBags’ packing cubes. We have several sets and different sizes. There’s an Amex Offer that expires soon for $20 or 2,000 MR back when you spend $100+ at eBags. Normally, I’d say try to stack this offer with a high % payout through a shopping portal and one of eBags’ sales, but the Amex Offer expires on 9/15/19.

If you travel a lot, many folks also seem to love the Mother Lode Weekender backpacks at eBags.

 

[hsmamato2]

I have a Minnie Mouse Cosco Scenera. It is super lightweight and we have hauled it all over the place on planes and rental cars. When we are home we use it on our golf cart. It doesn't convert to a high back booster but is good up to 40 lb...double check the weight in case I am misremembering. I got ours online from Walmart a few years ago.

I was just browsing the aisles at Walmart and saw a cosco, up to 65 pounds, very lightweight and simple looking for travel.....i'd say it weighed just a few pounds

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Want to just confirm before I do something to mess up the bigger picture here:

CIP - 8/17
Bext Chase Biz- planned 11/17

In between (like today) can I do a Citi AA buis? Dont want the hard pull to mess up that next chase app. We actually will use the AA miles to hopefully be paying for MIL to visit so I do need them soonish.

First off - love that you said “next Chase biz” haha

A citi AA biz is a great move at this point. The new account won’t show on your personal credit report so other than the inquiry it’s like it never happened lol.

Just curious - how worried (if at all) are y’all about putting purely personal expenses on a business card (specifically the CIP)? I’m in a Facebook group focused on maximizing URs and best using URs, and they have a handful of people over there with horror stories about getting all of their Chase accounts closed for improperly using business cards for personal expenses.

(My “business” is selling stuff on eBay and at consignment sales - I could *maybe* justify my cable/internet bill and cell phone bill, which always go on my CIP2, but I also like to put travel on it, and no way could I justify that as a business expense.)

I’ve been following this game for 5+ years and never heard of anything like this happening. I hate to jump to conclusions but I’d be concerned this group is spreading misinformation.

I’d be careful what you share with them though haha. Also no need to number your CIP in light of the recent announcement. It’s just a CIP now

 

[GZanta77]

Just curious - how worried (if at all) are y’all about putting purely personal expenses on a business card (specifically the CIP2)? I’m in a Facebook group focused on maximizing URs and best using URs, and they have a handful of people over there with horror stories about getting all of their Chase accounts closed for improperly using business cards for personal expenses.

(My “business” is selling stuff on eBay and at consignment sales - I could *maybe* justify my cable/internet bill and cell phone bill, which always go on my CIP2, but I also like to put travel on it, and no way could I justify that as a business expense.)

I think there are many creative reasons you can come up with to justify almost anything as a potential business expense.

 

[Alexle2007]

Same plan. I'm a little worried about timing it so all of the bonus points come in Jan. Worst case is I mess it up and get all of the points in 2019. At least i'll still be 80000 points richer.

The easiest way is to keep track of your spending and remember that returns count towards to the MSR. The only thing that won't count towards the MSR is the AF. I always make sure I leave at least $500 buffer to complete after the December statement closes.

 

[Limes96]

I didn’t already have a Marriott account when I got the Amex biz card so they assigned me an account number. I can see the last four digits of my number on my Amex account, but not sure how to get the whole thing. Does Marriott send the info in the mail eventually? Or do I need to call Amex or Marriott? Not sure how to get my account number.

 

[hsmamato2]

@mmmears has inspired me to visit The Starry Night in NYC (I'm a Van Gough fan) so at some point I'll be looking at doing something similarly for PH-NYC. "Mom" was just approved for a CIC so I have a sneaking suspicion I know where "her" points are headed.

Ok you got me curious....do you mean the exhibit at Moma? How extensive is this? I think I may need to go see this....(the depths of these paintings is wonderful)

 

[Lain]

Anyone have any insider news (or even a prediction) on what the 4Q CF bonus categories will be? I know we should be finding out in about a week but I am trying to PLAN!!!

Although I hope it's not "travel" because I gotta meet the MSR on another CIP still!

We'll find out in a few days!

Chase is supposed to announce next quarter's CF bonus categories by the 15th of the preceding month, so 9/15; but it usually "leaks" a few days early, so by 9/13 or 9/14.

Here's what the Q4 bonus categories were in past years.

Q4 2018: Chase Pay, wholesale clubs, department stores
Q4 2017: Walmart, department stores
Q4 2016: Department stores, wholesale clubs
Q4 2015: Amazon.com (and some of its affiliates)
Q4 2014: Amazon.com, Zappos.com, select department stores

Based on that, I'm going to guess... DEPARTMENT STORES will be at least one of the categories.

 

[apollodi]

Thanks to everyone who helped with my Arrival+ question last week. I spent $125 and brought my available miles over 12,500 and was able to redeem for $125 in travel credit. So you can redeem in 2,500 mile increments.

I would have posted an update earlier, but Barclays took a week to post my last $25 charge. It's like they knew what its purpose was.

 

[Albort]

Just curious - how worried (if at all) are y’all about putting purely personal expenses on a business card (specifically the CIP2)? I’m in a Facebook group focused on maximizing URs and best using URs, and they have a handful of people over there with horror stories about getting all of their Chase accounts closed for improperly using business cards for personal expenses.

(My “business” is selling stuff on eBay and at consignment sales - I could *maybe* justify my cable/internet bill and cell phone bill, which always go on my CIP2, but I also like to put travel on it, and no way could I justify that as a business expense.)

u can almost constitute any personal expense as a business expense. Reddit had a question like this where ppl really really had to think of things that arent qualified as a business expense but ppl still came up with ways to turn it into a biz.
without knowing the full extent of the shut down, its most likely something dumb they did.
heck, we had someone here put their white river rafting trip on their biz CC account. totally a business trip.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I am looking for an underseat bag for frontier flights. Costco has a hard sided one for $25 (!!) but I see there is no way to access your laptop on the flight without fully opening the whole suitcase.
Sams club has a soft sided one for $40 that does have a smaller, easily accessible compartment.
Before I order one of these, does anyone have a different suggestion? @amalone1013, you fly frontier right?
I want that smaller motherlode at some point, but that is more of a christmas gift type item due to price. I need something for DD20 later this month.

 

[calypso726]

I just realized I never thanked either of you for sharing these thoughts with me a few weeks ago.

Thank you all for being patient with me as I continue to mull this over.

I am reasonably certain I don't want to deal with AMEX but I am still mulling it over, so I have some more AMEX questions and some specifics about the Hilton Honors program that I am hoping someone can answer. Right now I am still looking ONLY at accumulating enough points to stay for free at the Hilton Tokyo Bay; no other Hilton plans.

I know I can book that hotel through Chase UR also but I am trying to see what the best use of my MSRs (and subsequent spending) will be.

1. I know that once you get an AMEX you have to keep spending on it (more than $20 a month for example) or risk the RAT. I see I cannot pay my mortgage with them thru Plastiq (that is a total bummer, BTW), but I can pay my HOA fee. That's about $104 a month. Anyone think that is or is not sufficient? Maybe throw in a fast food meal here or there? I can't divert too much of my spending to it while I am still meeting MSRs elsewhere... just don't have the income to do so.
2. Specific to the HHonors program: Of course there are different tiers/levels, and I see the various cards give you different status depending on which you get. How much, if anything, is Diamond Status (that comes with the HHonors Aspire) worth for just this one trip? I see there is an annual free weekend night reward, which would be nice to have in Japan, and a $250 resort credit. But if I am paying for the hotel stay on points... will I have any need of a resort credit? I do know that we got food from the little bakery and convenience stores on site several times during our last stay, but we always paid cash. I don't even know if those charges could have been billed to the room. If they can be billed to the room, would that be a handy way to make use of that resort credit? Even so, the AF of the card is $450 so even if I could use the resort credit that way I'd still be paying $200 for that particular card.
3. Redemptions of MRs for hotel stays... I can click on the box that says "use points," but then it shows me the rates in dollars (or yen) only. Maybe it's because I don't HAVE any points right now? I would like to be able to say "oh, I expect to need xxxxx number of MRs to get my stay at the Hilton Tokyo Bay for free."

I think that's all the questions I have... for now. I'm sorry to be indecisive about this.

We haven't applied my husband for a CIP (the timing won't be right for another month or so) yet but he is not optimistic about his chances (he actually does have a bankruptcy from before I met him... not really sure how those work) so worst case scenario I am working in 1P mode. I have to assume that bonuses from support links (see, @SouthFayetteFan , I can be taught... eventually!) are not going to be an option for me.

2. There are a number of reasons you might want the resort credit even if you are paying with points. When we go for our third visit to TDS/TDL the Hilton Tokyo Bay will be a key strategy for us and so will the Aspire. DH and I each have the card and plan to use our combined free weekend nights. We will use points for other nights. The two $250 resort credits will be used for either paying for another night and/or charging Park tickets to the room so I don’t pay OOP for the park admission. Hope that helps.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

We'll find out in a few days!

Chase is supposed to announce next quarter's CF bonus categories by the 15th of the preceding month, so 9/15; but it usually "leaks" a few days early, so by 9/13 or 9/14.

Here's what the Q4 bonus categories were in past years.

Q4 2018: Chase Pay, wholesale clubs, department stores
Q4 2017: Walmart, department stores
Q4 2016: Department stores, wholesale clubs
Q4 2015: Amazon.com (and some of its affiliates)
Q4 2014: Amazon.com, Zappos.com, select department stores

Based on that, I'm going to guess... DEPARTMENT STORES will be at least one of the categories.

gosh, I hope not department stores unless there is another good option with it.

 

[Judique]

I didn’t already have a Marriott account when I got the Amex biz card so they assigned me an account number. I can see the last four digits of my number on my Amex account, but not sure how to get the whole thing. Does Marriott send the info in the mail eventually? Or do I need to call Amex or Marriott? Not sure how to get my account number.

Try signing in online using your email. The number will be in your account once you gain access. You may have to set up a password for online account access. If this doesn't work then try calling. I think eventually it will come in your mail, but I don't remember as I've had a Marriott number for about 20 years or so.

 

[speedyfishy]

I am looking for an underseat bag for frontier flights. Costco has a hard sided one for $25 (!!) but I see there is no way to access your laptop on the flight without fully opening the whole suitcase.
Sams club has a soft sided one for $40 that does have a smaller, easily accessible compartment.
Before I order one of these, does anyone have a different suggestion? @amalone1013, you fly frontier right?
I want that smaller motherlode at some point, but that is more of a christmas gift type item due to price. I need something for DD20 later this month.

I use a backpack. I got got this one in the “weekender” style and it holds so much. There is a special spot for a laptop too.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079LG18LS?colid=2AQZLH2G2AAVG&coliid=&ref_=wr_ov_pt&th=1&psc=1

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Friendly (early) reminder that Southwest Airlines next schedule release is expected to occur on Thursday September 26th.

• Currently SW is offering flights through 3/6/20 and this release will take their schedule out to 4/13/20 (covering popular spring break dates)

In my experience, flights typically go “live” between 7am and 9am Eastern. HOWEVER, The last 2 releases actually did not go live on the main search screen until 10:40 and 9:20am Eastern respectively.

I’ll post additional reminders as that date draws closer.