I love credit cards so much! v3.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[hsmamato2]

Question- how easy/hard is it to combine points between spouses for Hyatt? (I still have to have DH call into Bonvoy and combine my last few with his acct,it's been months) Also- I was browsing and dreaming of a future trip....on the hilton site,the only rooms available showed as rollin shower/accessible(in the normal price points category) - popup said only choose if I needed this option,otherwise I'd have to choose a 'regular' room at triple the points?

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Question- how easy/hard is it to combine points between spouses for Hyatt? (I still have to have DH call into Bonvoy and combine my last few with his acct,it's been months) Also- I was browsing and dreaming of a future trip....on the hilton site,the only rooms available showed as rollin shower/accessible(in the normal price points category) - popup said only choose if I needed this option,otherwise I'd have to choose a 'regular' room at triple the points?

Which Hilton property were you looking at? I was going to stay at the LXR in London and they do the same thing -- they only have the accessible rooms on points. DPs on FT indicate you are able to call the hotel immediately after booking and ask them to move you to a regular room, if that doesn't work then most people are moved to a regular room at check-in.

 

[wanderlust7]

So another thread on the dis got me thinking.....

There are probably many of us on here (or lurking) that don't churn but do take advantage of CC's for the purpose of travel (or other perks). Maybe we can share our "non-churning strategy."

Here is mine:
DH and I have a total of 5 cards that we use. (We have a few others in the sock drawer.)
AMEX everyday - no AF - earn MRs - I use this card for groceries when there is not a better offer on another card and all small purchases to meet the 20 transactions bonus. It is my oldest card. I don't even think there was a SUB when I got it.
Discover IT - no AF - cash back - I use this card for the 5 rotating categories.
CSP - $95 AF (covered with Discover IT cashback) - this is my only AF card. I keep it to transfer to travel partners. I transfer all my other UR points from other cards to here each month. This was my first "travel" card.
CFU - no AF - This is the only card DH keeps in his wallet (more on that below). I use this whenever there is not a better bonus on one of the other cards.
CFF - no AF - I use this card for the bonus categories and the 5 rotating categories.

I value URs above MRs and cash back so tend to use the Chase cards before Amex. And I use Amex before DiscoverIT.

I put all organic spend on the cards. DH does not. He likes his debit card. It used to bother me, but I have come to terms with this and it is OK. He uses the CFU for online purchases and large (big ticket) items. I do use CC to pay any household bills that allow CCs.

We pay all cards off weekly. We never carry a balance or pay any fees or interest.

We exclusively use all points and cash back for travel related expenses and pay very little/nothing OOP when we travel (one-two vacations a year). I have also been able to fly my son to and from college and only pay the 5.60 fee.

We don't MS or churn. We are not looking to add any CCs anytime soon.

I am sure there are other non-churning strategies that work. This one works for us.

I feel pretty down the churning rabbit hole lol. No MS though. But there are cards from pre-churning days that I'm glad to have. The US Bank Cash+ has had a selectable 5% cashback utility category for awhile. So all our utilities go on there. We put appliances on the Costco Citibank card for the 2 year extended warranty. But now that I know you don't necessary need to have the card if you ever need to file a claim, not sure if I'll make a different choice in the future. I think most cards are only 1 year though.

I have a really old Amex Everyday too. I'm glad to have it so I never have to worry about a card to hold my MRs. DH's old Amex is an Everyday Cash upgraded to a Preferred. So I need to worry about a MR holding card for him. Got him a BBP to do that. But now that the Amex credit card limit is 4, I feel constrained. I might have to get rid of it eventually to free up a slot.

 

[becauseimnew]

Question- how easy/hard is it to combine points between spouses for Hyatt? (I still have to have DH call into Bonvoy and combine my last few with his acct,it's been months) Also- I was browsing and dreaming of a future trip....on the hilton site,the only rooms available showed as rollin shower/accessible(in the normal price points category) - popup said only choose if I needed this option,otherwise I'd have to choose a 'regular' room at triple the points?

To combine Hyatt points, you have to send in a form, it says like 7-10 days (or something crazy like that) but it is done pretty quick. I sent mine in on a saturday and at like 5AM monday they were combined.

 

[Albort]

DH applied for the CIP based on sole proprietorship rental biz. Instantly denied. One more reason we should probably go ahead and set up the LLC we've been meaning to do. He is at 3/24 with Chase SW plans next fall. He can add one more Chase personal before then, but I'd rather hold off for now.

Do Amex biz cards count towards the Chase 5/24? Anything else worth applying for now that will not impact future Chase applications? We prefer UR points, but are happy hoarding HHonors, IHG, TYP, MR, AA, or really anything interesting right now. I can't justify the 2.3% fee on tax payments with no MSR, but I hate paying cash!

Amex biz cards will count assuming it hits your credit report, however most amex biz cards dont report. i believe it reports on your very first one though.
Did you get your letter for your instant denial? its quite possible it could be a different reason, ie over 5/24(due to AU?) or something else.

To combine Hyatt points, you have to send in a form, it says like 7-10 days (or something crazy like that) but it is done pretty quick. I sent mine in on a saturday and at like 5AM monday they were combined.

can confirm, it usually takes 2-3 days for WOH to respond and transfer.
remember that this can only be done once every 30 days so plan accordingly.

 

[snugglebug]

I was feeling left out only having one free night on my IHG and I still do. But I just checked dh account and he has 3. The dates on two of them make no sense at all. Too bad we have no way to use one before it expires in two weeks.

You're not alone, I only have 1 FNC as well.

 

[hsmamato2]

Which Hilton property were you looking at? I was going to stay at the LXR in London and they do the same thing -- they only have the accessible rooms on points. DPs on FT indicate you are able to call the hotel immediately after booking and ask them to move you to a regular room, if that doesn't work then most people are moved to a regular room at check-in.

Ok thanks... I was looking at a few in Florida...(just dreaming still at this point) I'll keep that in mind if I do book anything...

 

[hsmamato2]

To combine Hyatt points, you have to send in a form, it says like 7-10 days (or something crazy like that) but it is done pretty quick. I sent mine in on a saturday and at like 5AM monday they were combined.

thanks! by snail mail or email?

 

[elgerber]

Check your AmEx offers for the annual $25 back for $250 spend at Best Buy. It began showing up this AM.

I had saved this offer, and now I can't find it. Did it expire?

 

[becauseimnew]

thanks! by snail mail or email?

email, all the info is on the form. Easy to find.

 

[havaneselover]

I had saved this offer, and now I can't find it. Did it expire?

I think it might have. I remember thinking I needed to pick up my mom's IPad last week before the offer was gone.

 

[Psychodisney]

I had saved this offer, and now I can't find it. Did it expire?

It expired on 12/14. I made a purchase that day and haven't seen the credit yet. Hope it shows up.

 

[elgerber]

It expired on 12/14. I made a purchase that day and haven't seen the credit yet. Hope it shows up.

Thank you, that's what I thought. NOW dh wants a new TV, now that I have no MSR to meet and no offers.

 

[elgerber]

I'm not finding Google Pay very user friendly. My son uses it occasionally, so I want to send him the $10. But it only finds him by his cell phone number and gives me the option to invite him with a referral. I can't pull up anything with his google pay email address that he uses.

Nevermind

 

[Judique]

It expired on 12/14. I made a purchase that day and haven't seen the credit yet. Hope it shows up.

Arrrghhh! I had the wrong date for this offer in my mind and thought it was still good on my daughter's AU card until end of the month.

I did redeem it on my own card.

 

[StephPlum]

Here is something new. You can use Marriott points to get an America the Beautiful pass (annual NP pass). I didn't see on the site how many points it is. The button says redeem now and I'm too worried I click and it says some outrageous # of points. The cost is only $80 so it probably isn't something I would use points on. Just found it interesting.

 

[Albort]

I'm not finding Google Pay very user friendly. My son uses it occasionally, so I want to send him the $10. But it only finds him by his cell phone number and gives me the option to invite him with a referral. I can't pull up anything with his google pay email address that he uses.

Nevermind

i paid my friend via QR code... much easier! :]

 

[Judique]

Here is something new. You can use Marriott points to get an America the Beautiful pass (annual NP pass). I didn't see on the site how many points it is. The button says redeem now and I'm too worried I click and it says some outrageous # of points. The cost is only $80 so it probably isn't something I would use points on. Just found it interesting.

View attachment 544669

Thanks for the info! Family usually buys some kind of pass when they don't go with me, so this may interest them. I got the $10 senior pass a few years back. I guard that piece of plastic as it's not replaceable.

 

[StephPlum]

Thanks for the info! Family usually buys some kind of pass when they don't go with me, so this may interest them. I got the $10 senior pass a few years back. I guard that piece of plastic as it's not replaceable.

I have a few more years before I can get a senior pass. I was a little bummed when they increased the senior lifetime to $80. But even at that price it is a great bargain. I also think senior can buy the $20 annual pass and have it credit toward the lifetime pass.

 

[Judique]

I have a few more years before I can get a senior pass. I was a little bummed when they increased the senior lifetime to $80. But even at that price it is a great bargain. I also think senior can buy the $20 annual pass and have it credit toward the lifetime pass.

I have the same deal with Maryland State Parks - a $10 pass for the rest of my years. It's an amazing bargain for people who enjoy this sort of activity.