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

[pillow]

Is anyone still planning fall/winter trips?
Still have our Washington DC trip booked for October.

I just booked Yavapai Lodge (Grand Canyon) for Christmas week, I was only able to get until the 24th on the Chase Travel Portal, but I have Bright Angel Lodge booked until the 25th. Still holding out for some Phantom Ranch cancellations that week.

I’m trying to get Phantom for next May (did the lottery). We’ve been once, and it was heaven. Crossing my fingers. Good luck to you!

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

Is anyone still planning fall/winter trips?
Still have our Washington DC trip booked for October.

I just booked Yavapai Lodge (Grand Canyon) for Christmas week, I was only able to get until the 24th on the Chase Travel Portal, but I have Bright Angel Lodge booked until the 25th. Still holding out for some Phantom Ranch cancellations that week.

We have Australia booked for Sept 1-22. I don't know what to think. I still have to book some internal flights, some hotels on points, and Lady Elliot Island (southern GBR). I guess I'd rebook for (our) fall 2021.

Grand Canyon sounds awesome for Christmas week! I hope you can get Phantom Ranch

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

If you have SW flights booked, you may want to look at the prices. We have some flights for early Sept that just dropped again. Saving some pointsalways a good thing!

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

I’m trying to get Phantom for next May (did the lottery). We’ve been once, and it was heaven. Crossing my fingers. Good luck to you!

We've never hiked down---have only visited when we've had small kid(s). I wonder if dh's knees would be up to that hike? Hmmm might be something to keep in the back of my mind for the future! I hope you get the lottery for May

 

[Judique]

We still have the Aulani/Disneyland trip in July, Ireland/Northern Ireland in September, many F&W weekends throughout October/November and Dubai/Africa in December on the books. I am resigned to the strong possibility that none of them will pan out. That said, I won't be cancelling anything until the last possible moment. I'd rather wait for the airline to cancel and get a refund with no penalties.

I've been having my suspicions about Food and Wine Festival. Pretty sure I'm going to cancel my trips in October and November. If there is no F&W and the parks are operating with nothing much that appeals to me, I don't mind waiting until fall of 2021 to go again.

Plus, Son just told me that Disney is a consideration for a honeymoon in late 2021. Hasn't bought a ring yet or proposed, but they are saving for a house, been holed up together both WFH and discussing marriage. It was funny. So son says, 'I think I will like going into Epcot for F&W. And I say, 'I'd love that. It will be nice to have you there enjoying it with me.' Hold up Mom - we are thinking of it as a honeymoon. She is west coast, California native and has never been to WDW. He hasn't been since he was 21, almost 15 years ago. So, if they want it and will get me the dates in time, of course I will be getting them a room, and staying away during that time!

 

[DisneyMandC]

So AA has updated it's change policy through September. I have one ways booked from Vancouver to Reagan for August which I doubt I'll need (Alaska cruise). I think they changed my flight time enough that I can get a refund, but if not, it sounds like they'll give a credit good through 2021. I'd rather have the UR points, but I can probably use the credit too to visit my parents in Michigan or Florida.

I also cancelled my 2021 Spring break cruise on Royal Caribbean. I'm going to offer the break to my ex since he was supposed to have the kids this year and take them to Chicago to see My Fair Lady and a Bulls game. I also would rather have the 200k UR in my account right now. I don't think I'll cash them out at this point but it's nice to know they are there.

I was glad to see they changed it this morning too. I'll wait until spring 2021 flights to Japan open up and then change my June flights until then

We are still hoping for Japan in mid November.... but that hope is fading.

I'm planning to do Hawaii for Christmas/NYE still.

 

[becauseimnew]

I’m trying to get Phantom for next May (did the lottery). We’ve been once, and it was heaven. Crossing my fingers. Good luck to you!

Good luck! I tracked the cancellations last Nov/Dec for the week of Christmas and there were lots of cancellations. At one point I was *this* close to booking a night last Christmas, but I didn't want to spend 3 Christmases away from home.

 

[Haley R]

We aren’t planning any trips for fall/winter. I’m honestly just hoping we can visit family for Christmas. We may even go for thanksgiving, too. I would love to take a road trip somewhere with our little guy.

 

[Oscar Madison]

If you have SW flights booked, you may want to look at the prices. We have some flights for early Sept that just dropped again. Saving some pointsalways a good thing!

Yes, got about 2k pts back yesterday on late July flight. What else do we jhave to do besides continuing to check?

I've also noticed SW keeps changing several of our trips for this summer and the change is always to our benefit. I even had a connecting flight moved to a nonstop. Hope I've using those terms correctly.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

So I got an IHG card probably .... three or four months ago. I met the minimum spend quickly because we had home owners insurance due. And I got the points. But now I only have smaller charges like groceries. Wonder if they will say anything? I guess they probably don’t care. Has anyone had your credit card say “ you were charging SO MUCH for the first two months and now you’ve slowed down!” I guess I will have car insurance this summer.

 

[WVMomof3]

Good luck! I tracked the cancellations last Nov/Dec for the week of Christmas and there were lots of cancellations. At one point I was *this* close to booking a night last Christmas, but I didn't want to spend 3 Christmases away from home.

For some reason I thought they were only open in the summer. How do you get down there in the winter? Isn't it a lot trickier? I can't imagine doing it with any bit of snow on the trails. Maybe it is not snowy in December? My friend went in early March one year and didn't go very far down the trail at all, she said it was very icy.

 

[StephPlum]

Is anyone still planning fall/winter trips?
Still have our Washington DC trip booked for October.

I just booked Yavapai Lodge (Grand Canyon) for Christmas week, I was only able to get until the 24th on the Chase Travel Portal, but I have Bright Angel Lodge booked until the 25th. Still holding out for some Phantom Ranch cancellations that week.

How is GC at Christmas time? I've only been in May and September. That sounds amazing.

 

[calypso726]

I've been having my suspicions about Food and Wine Festival. Pretty sure I'm going to cancel my trips in October and November. If there is no F&W and the parks are operating with nothing much that appeals to me, I don't mind waiting until fall of 2021 to go again.

Plus, Son just told me that Disney is a consideration for a honeymoon in late 2021. Hasn't bought a ring yet or proposed, but they are saving for a house, been holed up together both WFH and discussing marriage. It was funny. So son says, 'I think I will like going into Epcot for F&W. And I say, 'I'd love that. It will be nice to have you there enjoying it with me.' Hold up Mom - we are thinking of it as a honeymoon. She is west coast, California native and has never been to WDW. He hasn't been since he was 21, almost 15 years ago. So, if they want it and will get me the dates in time, of course I will be getting them a room, and staying away during that time!

Oh that would be a nice honeymoon! I'm hoping things will be open and somewhat normal at WDW this fall. In the meantime, I'm just trying to keep abreast of airline policy changes and how it will impact flights with airline miles vs credit card points. The same with free night certs from credit cards with the various hotel chains.

 

[becauseimnew]

P.S. I don't know if this has been posted but the SW loophole is back... I'm not sure the dates but I just booked a flight for 6/24 and was able to change it to a better flight.

 

[StephPlum]

Future trips: As my ticker says, I still have my July Glacier trip out there. To be honest I don't think it is happening. But I will hold out until the last minute. Sounds like I can cancel everything and get my airline miles back or a credit through 2021 and I'll reschedule for next year. Bummer as this is the second time Mother Nature thwarted my plans for Glacier.

Nothing booked out further. I was planning on a trip to Florida or some beach area in September. I'll hold off until things are more well known. There is an industry conference in Seattle in October that I submitted an idea for to be a speaker. Who knows if that conference will happen or if it will be a good idea to travel to Seattle then. Nothing booked as it will be company sponsored.

Now that I typed it out, it seems like no more travel this year which is sad to me.

 

[magickingdomprincess]

My match bonus posted to my Southwest Credit Card account (and then transferred to my Rapid Rewards account). I had applied for the SW personal card when it was at 40,000 (I believe) points. The day after I applied they came out with the higher bonus. I sent them a SM and they said to notify them when I had reached the higher spend requirement and they would match it. This month, I met the spend, but I didn't have to remind them to match - the points were already in my account.

Another bonus is that I had the special offer on my account to receive a 25% bonus on all points that posted to my account in April, May and June, so hopefully, I'll get the 25% bonus on those points as well since they posted April 4th!

Now - looking forward to being able to spend the points!!

This reminds me, has anyone got their bonus points from the previous months bonus promotion? I had a SUB during those months so hoping to see my 25% bonus show up soon!

I would say probably 2/3 refi, 1/3 purchases? The purchases I have would equal the volume of a normal month, so lot's of people still buying. But the refi's are insane, and we are completely overwhelmed.

We just did an "endorsement", which I'd never heard of before but it was basically like an easy refinance- same lender, but with 1% lower interest rate, and switched from 30 to 15 year mortgage. So excited to reduce our mortgage by 10.5 years, although our pmt did go up $400.

 

[Judique]

Oh that would be a nice honeymoon! I'm hoping things will be open and somewhat normal at WDW this fall. In the meantime, I'm just trying to keep abreast of airline policy changes and how it will impact flights with airline miles vs credit card points. The same with free night certs from credit cards with the various hotel chains.

I'm watching my free nights closely. I wish there was a way to convert them to points. Especially Marriott and Hyatt. I have to go back and look at what Marriott has said again. I'm going to use my Hyatt in July unless the beach is closed. Plus I have a June night using a free cert for son and girlfriend.

 

[mmmears]

I don't know what prompted the mod post, but I really don't want this thread to close.

As for trips, we still have our late August cruise booked (but I think the chances of that happening are pretty close to zero) and plans to spend a few days in Paris in September. I haven't had the heart to cancel it all. It took so much work getting points, booking the flights, the hotels, the private tours and I know I need to do it, but I just haven't done it yet. I don't think I am going to plan anything at this point. When we know more and I have a better chance of going, then I hope I can plan something to look forward to, even if it's small and domestic.

 

[becauseimnew]

For some reason I thought they were only open in the summer. How do you get down there in the winter? Isn't it a lot trickier? I can't imagine doing it with any bit of snow on the trails. Maybe it is not snowy in December? My friend went in early March one year and didn't go very far down the trail at all, she said it was very icy.

The North Rim is closed mid-October to mid-April. We are only going to the South Rim.
From the research I've done, it doesn't get below freezing very often in December. The average temps are 58° / 39° .

How is GC at Christmas time? I've only been in May and September. That sounds amazing.

I've read it's amazing. Cold, but nothing too crazy.

 

[PaintsWithAllTheColors]

Our trips for this year currently stand as follows:

- May: Brazil/Argentina/Uruguay - starting to cancel, definitely a lost cause at this point.
- July: Amsterdam/Brugges - cancelled, replaced with a hopeful camping trip with a group of our friends, location TBD but likely a national forest somewhere between CA and TX
- July: Chicago/Michigan - trip for a family wedding, still on
- September: Zion NP - still on, actually managed to get a better campsite due to cancellations
- October: Toronto - week-long trip for a family wedding, still on
- December: WDW - still on

We're fairly optimistic that our domestic trips will happen, but that might be wishful thinking.