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

[kidsfirsttrip]

I have the purple. Both my kids are getting motherlode jrs for Hanukkah!

 

[hsmamato2]

No hard pull on the debit. I already have a redcard but I'm getting DH one. Going to use the $50 on a big ticket toy for DD for Christmas. She wants that Juno My Baby Elephant.

DO you think we will be able to combine those $50 gc to use at one shopping trip?

 

[Judique]

I have the purple. Both my kids are getting motherlode jrs for Hanukkah!

I clicked onto Ebags and the price with the word FALL was $79.99. I'm not buying because I don't need this bag or any bag at this moment - just got the one I wanted. But just in case you didn't see the promo, thought I'd share.

 

[jhoannam]

Anyone know how strict Sheraton Lounges are regarding guest entering? DH is platinum but this is a family trip, can we all use the lounge? We are looking at La Jolla Sheraton.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Somebody on the SW thread asked about my thoughts on why Southwest is delaying their releases. I typed this up there but figured I'd share here too for discussion:

The only thing I can figure on the surface is that the later releases are related to Max8. The data seems to supports it...

• Southwest has always controlled inventory tighter than other airlines - this is in an effort to reduce changes and cancellations (which SW is better than ANY other airline at this - you rarely see people's flights get removed from the schedule or changed drastically).
• In the 12 releases leading up to March 2019, Southwest on average made 249 days of inventory available on release day.
• The amount of inventory days released also varied a lot during this time (with a high of 277 and a low of 220)
• In the 5 releases since March 2019 (the grounding) the average days of inventory available on release day has plummeted to 215 days.
• So we are seeing a reduction (or delay) of about 1 month worth of flights right now.

While the data supports it, SW is still releasing flights showing the Max8 AND then having to revise the schedule down the line to remove and reassign planes (often with the removal of flights). Perhaps they are using the release to gauge where demand is for certain routes in an effort to service as many passengers as possible.

It's also possible that this is not related to Max8 and that SW just feels that controlling inventory a little tighter is a better play for them (and there could be any number of passenger/profit motivations behind that).

 

[Judique]

Chase offers: yesterday I had $50 off Xfinity mobile on my Chase Freedom. The $50 is payable over 2 billing periods with no credit until after the 2 billing periods.

So I logged in and changed the card for our account to my Chase Freedom to make sure I won't forget when the bill is auto charged in early November. Paid October's bill right away - it was 31.34 this month - that's one extra gig. Usually it's $18. But with the promo it will end up being $6.34 for October, and we will see what happens when the next statement closes on Oct 14. It is unclear to me if the offer is for existing accounts in addition to new accounts, but I've got nothing to lose here and $50 to gain.

 

[Judique]

ummmmm what offer?

It's an Amex offer on MR cards. @amalone1013 just got the Gold card. And I didn't get it on either of my MR cards!!!

 

[WVMomof3]

Now that I finally am able to see the Marriott flexible booking window, does Hyatt have something similar? I am trying to book something on points and am flexible on the dates. But putting one date at a time is a little annoying. Most dates are coming up unavailable on points.

 

[Jax1023]

I was driving to work when the sw flights got loaded, and they were already live by the time I got in they were crazy.

I booked at 15k points each for there and 16k coming back for the week before Easter. Blah. Had to transfer over some UR, luckily I had 500,000 of those. Seriously doubt we’ll see a price drop that week.

Cash prices on most other airlines are over 500pp round trip, so it’s still decent I guess

 

[gottalovepluto]

I’m going to take this moment to remind everyone if you don’t care for a particular users contributions on the DIS you can click on the user’s name and click “ignore”...

I rarely do this but sometimes trolling gets a bit obvious and that’s the easiest way to prevent yourself from engaging- which can lead to you having a situation on your hands before you know it. Voice of experience here peeps

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I’m going to take this moment to remind everyone if you don’t care for a particular users contributions on the DIS you can click on the user’s name and click “ignore”...

I rarely do this but sometimes trolling gets a bit obvious and that’s the easiest way to prevent yourself from engaging- which can lead to you having a situation on your hands before you know it. Voice of experience here peeps

If past history is any indication we have some users who apparently have clicked ignore on @Lain because they clearly haven’t followed his paragraphs of wisdom!! Haha Don’t ignore @Lain folks!!

But seriously - this is good advice. Thanks for mentioning it

 

[MKTokyo]

I can't keep track of which card to use for various categories when not working on MSR. Does this look right?
This should help me decide what to cancel/keep, not on here is SW because I know I'm canceling those.
I plan to add my monthly bills in here so I know which card to default to when no MSR.

I do the same thing!



Hilton is in a different tab, though. Too many CCs & two accounts... I did find it incredibly helpful once I got it set up.

 

[Judique]

Now that I finally am able to see the Marriott flexible booking window, does Hyatt have something similar? I am trying to book something on points and am flexible on the dates. But putting one date at a time is a little annoying. Most dates are coming up unavailable on points.

Not that I know of, but Hyatt is much more straightforward than Marriott - sort of.

They still are blocking weekends already for next summer by requiring at least a 2 nights reservation in OC, Md, but I just used my free night on a Sunday (or could have done Thursday) since I'm going for more than 2 nights anyway. You can book the 2 nights on points, but not 1 night points, 1 night free night. 'Might" have been able to do it by calling but didn't want to deal with that.

Except for 1 hotel, Marriott has the summer 'not available for checkin' right now, and they've increased their cost to peak of 60k for that room. I won't pay it, but I'm staying there on this Sunday night at off season rates and it will be a nice 80 degrees over the weekend - perfect for me.

Marriott is just plain slick, and long run it will cost them for being petty. I think eventually their plan is to squeeze all value out of redemptions. My plan is to work it to make it pay out. I'm still getting 'offers' on my cards and keeping track of value.

 

[Lain]

Thanks for the link! If I apply for the Brillant all by itself, why would I upgrade to it? Sorry, brain is fried right now...

Here's why I would:

1) Amex bonuses are once in a "lifetime" and if you upgrade that counts and eliminates the option of an original bonus on the Brilliant. So MSR-> 75K points + upgrade points =200K v. only 125K (obviously an extra MSR there, though).

2) With the wonky weird and byzantine Bonvoy card rules, basically you're locked into having only Amex Bonvoy cards so if they're worth anything to you, you want to max out your ability to earn (see #1).

Honestly, if you can swing the $8k double MSRs that's the best way to maximize Bonvoy earnings.

Sorry for the copy pasta, but I wrote about this quandary recently.

The 125k Marriott points/$5k spend upgrade offer to the Bonvoy Brilliant is good. The best public offer for the SPG Lux/Bonvoy Brilliant was 100k Marriott points with a $5k MSR. There were targeted mailers for a 125k Marriott points with a $5k MSR offer.

However, if you accept the upgrade offer to the Bonvoy Brilliant, you’ll make yourself ineligible for a SUB on the Brilliant if you were to later apply for it separately because you will have “had” the Brilliant card in Amex’s eyes under their "once per lifetime" rules.

One thing you could consider, if you don’t mind adding a personal card to your 5/24 count, is apply for the Bonvoy Brilliant as a new card application — the current public offer on it is a 75k Marriott points with a $3k MSR. Once approved, immediately accept the upgrade offer for another 125k Marriott points with a $5k spend requirement. This will give you a combined $8k MSR over the next 3 months if you can manage it, but it’s a rare shot at double dipping these offers.

P.S. DoC confirmed this works here:
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/can-you-get-an-upgrade-standard-bonus-on-the-spg-luxury-card-yes/

But be sure to apply for the Brilliant as a new card first because of the lifetime language restriction in the application terms, then accept the upgrade offer before it disappears (because Amex realizes you’ve opened a Brilliant card).

The Brilliant does have a $450 AF, so I know asking you to consider 2x$450 AF seems nuts. The card does have a $300 Marriott credit per cardmember year that offsets part of the AF. DPs say purchasing an eGC or shipped GC from Marriott will trigger the credit. And it's possible to double dip this credit twice on just one year's AF on each card. I’d also suggest holding onto the Brilliant for a year plus the 8-12 weeks it takes for the 50k Free Night Certificate to deposit into your Marriott account and double dip the $300/cardmember year Marriott credit. You’ll likely have to pay the 2nd year AF to keep the cards open for the 50k FNCs to post, during which time you should also double dip that 2nd cardmember year $300 Marriott credit, then you can downgrade one or both of the Brilliant card(s) to the $95 AF SPG/Bonvoy card to get a prorated refund of Brilliant card(s). As for what to do with those $95 AF cards, are they worth keeping for the annual 35k FNC certs? If not, you can find my post on DISchurners about what to do with the downgrade.

The introduction of peak and off peak pricing did not hit the 50k FNC so bad. Cat 6 standard redemption is 50k, off peak is 40k (which is a waste of a 50k FNC), and peak is 60k (which makes a 50k FNC unusable). But Cat 7 off peak is 50k! So there’s a chance to use the 50k FNC at a higher category hotel than previously. 2x 50k FNC makes for a nice weekend somewhere.

As @tink1970 said, this is a rare opportunity to earn 200k Marriott points -- especially because Marriott has tightened the ability to earn points via credit cards and SUBs. Yes, you'll pay roughly 2x$450 AFs and have an $8k MSR on Amex, but you should be able to net 200k Marriott points plus at least 16k Marriott points from MSR spend, $1,200 in Marriott credit (or 4x$300 GCs), and 2x 50k FNCs.

 

[Lain]

I see this written often and have no clue what it is. NOLA?

OMG. You've gotta try NOLA iced coffee!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I clicked onto Ebags and the price with the word FALL was $79.99. I'm not buying because I don't need this bag or any bag at this moment - just got the one I wanted. But just in case you didn't see the promo, thought I'd share.

That seems to be the going rate. Everytime I have looked there is a special that brings it to $80. But to add, TCB has 15% right now too.

 

[hsmamato2]

SWA why the stress???? I know it's not your fault I'm trying to plan for extended family! I know it's spring break! I know the unprepared people in said family are now driving me batty,and it's not you! But WHY are prices so high and going thru the roof on my dates? I booked at about 8 am ET,no problem, within the hour prices were shifting,by 10 ET the prices were HIGH. $250 one way to FL? Being a "travel consultant" is stressful! Rant over...

 

[Lain]

If past history is any indication we have some users who apparently have clicked ignore on @Lain because they clearly haven’t followed his paragraphs of wisdom!! Haha Don’t ignore @Lain folks!!

But seriously - this is good advice. Thanks for mentioning it

Am I supposed to click or ?

 

[palhockeymomof2]

I was on Southwest right after they released flights and the one I wanted the wanna get away was already sold out. I have never tried to book opening morning. That’s crazy

Same here...but the entire flight is showing sold out....soo odd it’s for 3/15 and not the week the schools are off here on LI

 

[Judique]

As @tink1970 said, this is a rare opportunity to earn 200k Marriott points -- especially because Marriott has tightened the ability to earn points via credit cards and SUBs. Yes, you'll pay roughly 2x$450 AFs and have an $8k MSR on Amex, but you should be able to net 200k Marriott points plus at least 16k Marriott points from MSR spend, $1,200 in Marriott credit (or 4x$300 GCs), and 2x 50k FNCs.

Don't forget the 7200 Marriott points for buying the $1200 gift cards at a Marriott with the 6X card. Plus when you redeem the gift cards you will get points at your hotel also.