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

[snugglebug]

What dates are you doing in September?

Flights are currently 11-14. We briefly discussed switching to the 10th to avoid flying 9/11. I have not booked SOG yet and I need to get on that before it's too late. I was toying with maybe using the Disney Free Dining promo for cancellations, but I think we've decided not to since I would need to buy 2 day tickets and don't want to tie up money there right now. Need to fix my AC still which is more important.

 

[snugglebug]

which hiltons did you end up staying at? I am trying to do our family of 6 this year. I have lots of points but can't decide on a 2nd hotel.

I did 2 rooms at Hilton Hawaiian Village, two of my kids are adults. I booked a King room and a double room, tossed all the kids in the double My girls decided they couldn't share a bed so I ended up buying a lounge pool float and gave the youngest a blanket. Already had an airbed for the youngest boy. They made it work.

 

[gottalovepluto]

How about we redirect to something completely on topic!

2 Questions:

1) If you were told you had to close ALL of your CCs and could only hold ONE card...which card would you hold, and why?

2) Tell me about your favorite trip that churning has enabled. Where did you go? How did churning make it possible? etc...

Let's flood the thread with fun on topic comments that can encourage everybody during these tough times!!

1) CSR vs US Bank AR is what that will boil down to... CSR. Easier to cash out points if I need cash. The AR with it's much lower fee gives it more of a run than it used to, and that 3x mobile transactions is sweet- but I would also never be able to fund a bank account or buy gift cards without fear of my cc shutting down and that's just not gonna work for me!

2) Favorite churning enabled trip- easy! My DIY round-the-world trip of 3.5 weeks last year. LA-Seychelles-South Africa-Hong Kong-LA. Key currencies: AA (RIP), SPG (rip) and bank bonuses (hey! Cash was key for some of that trip!)

For anyone who wants to check out photos or read my windy takes on stuff or more deets on redemptions here are my DIS reviews from our old thread: Seychelles, South Africa Safari, South Africa, Hong Kong, CX F lounge and flight South Africa Safari was my fav

Bonus: Hilarious bit I found when searching for those links... I originally thought a few nights in the Seychelles just because awards couldn't get me to South Africa was a bonkers idea

@SouthFayetteFan thanks for encouraging the trip down memory lane. I very much enjoyed it!

 

[Disneyonmymind]

How about we redirect to something completely on topic!

2 Questions:

1) If you were told you had to close ALL of your CCs and could only hold ONE card...which card would you hold, and why?

2) Tell me about your favorite trip that churning has enabled. Where did you go? How did churning make it possible? etc...

Let's flood the thread with fun on topic comments that can encourage everybody during these tough times!!

1. IDK - probably CIC. With only one card, I don't think I could justify the CSR AF.
2. My favorite trip that I paid for with CC points was my 2018 10-day Christmas/NYE trip to WDW!! It was a full package with tickets & dining that was almost entirely paid for with UR (RIP Chase/Disney.)

 

[CyndiLouWho]

My younger son is helping me meet MSR by purchasing a new video game for the Switch

We worked towards MSR buying an Xbox last week. Got Minecraft with it and bought 2 other games. Downloaded FIFA soccer last week. Today I told DS I got Madden 20 for my birthday and downloaded it.
That will be all the spending we do for our stimulus.

My original plan was to upgrade in a year from the CSP to the CSR for the boosted earning and redemption rates, plus the perks, but the fee increase + everything going on now has made me unsure. Glad to see it getting love. (I went for the CSP first because of the higher SUB)

We’re actually trying to downgrade our CSR to CSP. No use for CSR now. But DH tried to call and he said the message at the Chase number said they’re only taking calls for stolen or lost cards.

Just called to see if I had a retention offer for Bonvoy biz - nope, none available. I'll probably cancel but I have another week or so to decide.

You mean they actually answered a call? I have the same dilemma. $125 AF I don’t want to pay. I need to call.

Also - just one additional reminder that we are going to completely avoid "the topic which shall not be named" on this thread going forward. Let this place be a respite from other places on the internet!!! I understand that might be difficult as current situations are affecting our trips and our planning but it's for the greater good. The budget board is given latitude BUT the DIS as a whole has certain policies and procedures and let's endeavor to make the moderators jobs EASY by not being one of the problems. If anybody among us elects to bring it back up, I'd suggest we just ignore. And there are numerous places out there on the internet if you really want to have discussions about that.

This makes me sad. We always just discuss any and every thing here. I literally have no other place on the Internet that I post. Or anywhere to discuss IRL. I have nothing legit to discuss here. No new cards, no travel.

 

[gottalovepluto]

This makes me sad. We always just discuss any and every thing here. I literally have no other place on the Internet that I post. Or anywhere to discuss IRL. I have nothing legit to discuss here. No new cards, no travel.

I know of a place... not on the DIS... where many of us gather... and a new little thread... might have popped up...

 

[hlhlaw07]

How about we redirect to something completely on topic!

2 Questions:

1) If you were told you had to close ALL of your CCs and could only hold ONE card...which card would you hold, and why?

2) Tell me about your favorite trip that churning has enabled. Where did you go? How did churning make it possible? etc...

Let's flood the thread with fun on topic comments that can encourage everybody during these tough times!!

1) This one is really hard. I mean what kind of sick person comes up with the idea of only having one credit card? I don’t have as many credit cards as most on this thread, but I love each one in their own right. It’s also a bonus for me that I don’t get charged annual fees for any of them, so they all just provide me free things! So, I’m not sure I want to play your sick credit card hunger games, but yet here I am posting. But if I had to choose I think I would keep the CSR for its more flexible URs and travel credit. But I would also have the husband keep the AMEX Platinum, because I do love those centurion lounges!

2) This one is likely to be seen as blasphemous, but I don’t have a favorite trip that churning has enabled because we haven’t actually cashed anything in yet. We are hoarders (points, not cats and trash) and we are waiting until the small kids aren’t as small anymore (I’m not keen on navigating less stroller friendly places with a stroller) and we can do a crazy European extravaganza in First class for the 4 of us and probably the 2 of the grandparents. So we are going to need a lot of points!

 

[magickingdomprincess]

We worked towards MSR buying an Xbox last week. Got Minecraft with it and bought 2 other games. Downloaded FIFA soccer last week. Today I told DS I got Madden 20 for my birthday and downloaded it.
That will be all the spending we do for our stimulus.

We’re actually trying to downgrade our CSR to CSP. No use for CSR now. But DH tried to call and he said the message at the Chase number said they’re only taking calls for stolen or lost cards.

You mean they actually answered a call? I have the same dilemma. $125 AF I don’t want to pay. I need to call.

This makes me sad. We always just discuss any and every thing here. I literally have no other place on the Internet that I post. Or anywhere to discuss IRL. I have nothing legit to discuss here. No new cards, no travel.

Yep, I got right through. Good luck!

 

[georgina]

I think if I kept one card it would be my CSP. I have had one for 5 years and used it a lot. We have a stash of 500,000 URs it will take a while to work off anyway.

We haven't really done any trips completely on points, just use them for airfare and sometimes for hotel. We stay at a lot of airbnbs on trips.

We’re actually trying to downgrade our CSR to CSP. No use for CSR now. But DH tried to call and he said the message at the Chase number said they’re only taking calls for stolen or lost cards.

I'm having trouble with this also. Sent an SM to cancel a CIP for DH last week and it hasn't happened yet. I have an AF on a card coming up and I would PC but it just seems easier to cancel than keep trying to call.

Just checked Chase website again, and they did finally close the CIP. It said it may take 1 to 2 billing cycles for the AF to be credited? I wasn't intending to pay it.

 

[calypso726]

What about FNC's - I can't remember if they did something already with those.

They had already announced that.

• Members with active Free Night Awards (as part of a credit card benefit, Annual Choice Benefit, Promotion or Travel Package) with an expiration starting March 1, 2020 will be extended through January 31, 2021.

Members do not need to take any action. Members will see updates in their Account on marriott.com by the end of April 2020.

So, I did a thing. I called BonBlah and cancelled 3 separate stays we had coming up in the next few months that were booked with FN certs. One of the FN certs would have been expiring the day of the booking and the others a few weeks later. Then, I asked if those FN certs and the others unused ones still in our accounts could be extended. All FN certs were extended to a year from today. I was expecting an extension to January 31, 2021 but was surprised to get it to April 8, 2021. I thanked the agent for their time and assistance and hung up the phone. After that, I went online re-booked with the extended FN certs.

 

[gottalovepluto]

We’re actually trying to downgrade our CSR to CSP. No use for CSR now. But DH tried to call and he said the message at the Chase number said they’re only taking calls for stolen or lost cards.

Chase was a week answering my SM to drop a CL and I'm hearing it can take even longer now. Sucks they don't want to take calls for this stuff, I didn't realize that, but now we know we all need to plan waaaay ahead I guess...

I'm having trouble with this also. Sent an SM to cancel a CIP for DH last week and it hasn't happened yet. I have an AF on a card coming up and I would PC but it just seems easier to cancel than keep trying to call.

Just checked Chase website again, and they did finally close the CIP. It said it may take 1 to 2 billing cycles for the AF to be credited? I wasn't intending to pay it.

They say that but AF usually refunds in a few days, if it isn't refunded by your due date pay it and then ask for a refund when it does finally post.

 

[hsmamato2]

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

I love the GC..... I want to go back!

 

[afan]

Chase was a week answering my SM to drop a CL and I'm hearing it can take even longer now. Sucks they don't want to take calls for this stuff, I didn't realize that, but now we know we all need to plan waaaay ahead I guess...

I sm'd on the 3rd to have a credit moved and it hasn't been done yet but said it cohld take a week and don't send another message. It's not a big deal if it doesn't get moved before the payments due but would be nice or I'll just end up with a credit on a different card.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Chase was a week answering my SM to drop a CL and I'm hearing it can take even longer now. Sucks they don't want to take calls for this stuff, I didn't realize that, but now we know we all need to plan waaaay ahead I guess...

But can’t PC by SM so we’re stuck. The CSR AF posted last month, I’ve actually paid it but even a partial refund will put $ in my pocket now when we likely won’t travel for a year.

 

[georgina]

I sm'd on the 3rd to have a credit moved and it hasn't been done yet but said it cohld take a week and don't send another message. It's not a big deal if it doesn't get moved before the payments due but would be nice or I'll just end up with a credit on a different card.

So they can move a credit from one card to another? Didn't realize that.

 

[Calfan]

I think if I kept one card it would be my CSP. I have had one for 5 years and used it a lot. We have a stash of 500,000 URs it will take a while to work off anyway.

We haven't really done any trips completely on points, just use them for airfare and sometimes for hotel. We stay at a lot of airbnbs on trips.


I'm having trouble with this also. Sent an SM to cancel a CIP for DH last week and it hasn't happened yet. I have an AF on a card coming up and I would PC but it just seems easier to cancel than keep trying to call.

Just checked Chase website again, and they did finally close the CIP. It said it may take 1 to 2 billing cycles for the AF to be credited? I wasn't intending to pay it.

Chase was a week answering my SM to drop a CL and I'm hearing it can take even longer now. Sucks they don't want to take calls for this stuff, I didn't realize that, but now we know we all need to plan waaaay ahead I guess...



They say that but AF usually refunds in a few days, if it isn't refunded by your due date pay it and then ask for a refund when it does finally post.

I SM'd to close a CIP for DH, and it definitely took a while to get a response. Close to a week I think. Had an SM this morning that the account has been closed. Hoping the AF credits back before the statement closes in five or so days.....If not, and I get a bill, I'm still going to check the account before I pay it. With the lag time of getting the statement mailed out after closing and then delivered to me, I've found that by the time the statement comes, the account could be showing a zero balance, in which case one can ignore the statement.

I also SM'd a while ago to get a CL raised on a card I haven't used much but will be a good one to use for DD's university tuition at Edinburgh. They responded pretty quickly to my initial request and asked for some financial data, but it's been a good couple of weeks since I supplied it. I think their initial response did say it would take up to 3 weeks to evaluate my request.

 

[gottalovepluto]

But can’t PC by SM so we’re stuck. The CSR AF posted last month, I’ve actually paid it but even a partial refund will put $ in my pocket now when we likely won’t travel for a year.

Then I would call and lie to the computer honestly. That’s ridiculous.

 

[gottalovepluto]

So they can move a credit from one card to another? Didn't realize that.

Personal to personal and biz to biz are the restrictions.

 

[gottalovepluto]

So that Aspire credit? Any bets Amex meant to clawback? https://www.doctorofcredit.com/hilton-aspire-cardholders-check-account-for-250-resort-credit/

 

[Haley R]

Wow our shipt order was a pretty big success tonight. The lady was great and we got things I didn’t think they would have: Target brand whole wheat bread, target brand skim milk, 4 rolls of hamburger, bacon, ham steak. They didn’t have onion powder which is kind of weird. Everything else we got or at least got a substitute for