I love credit cards so much! v4.0 - 2021 (see first page for add'l details)

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Did you guys get credit on Rakuten from the Betterment deal? I never got mine. I emailed them and they said that they have to wait until the merchant tells them.

I emailed them about mine and added the email I had from setting up the account. They emailed me back the money was in my account, and it was I got the $127.50!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Hmmm, I wonder if Amex is done hating me. I've had my eye on the free Hilton as it's the only one I've yet to hold, LOL. Is the "lifetime" on Amex 7 years from opening of account or close? My SPG Biz was my first "rewards" card I got back in 2006. I closed it with the merger. Just trying to plan out my Amex attack since they only allow 4 now. Grrrrrr.

Only one way to find out...



LilSweet to Amex:

Also LilSweet:

...wait... wrong lilsweet....

 

[WVMomof3]

On our trip last week I noticed that my SW Priority reset its year after statement closing on 2/21. Perfect since our last flights were on 2/20 and I had not used any of our 4 upgraded boarding positions. The flights on 2/14 posted no problem. Of course the flights on 2/20 have not posted and my statement has closed. Do you think they are going to count those as this year instead?? Highly annoying if so. I have a SM to ask, will see what they say.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Okay I did it....I did it! I read 40+ pages! Y'all were busy while I was gone.

last Friday I put my 15yo onto a plane to Texas to visit her BFFs (they are B/G twins). She clearly didn't check the weather as she went in a hoodie and birks (but to be honest she wears that here in MI, LOL). She flew down (Delta) to DFW. The guy next to her was so stoned he kept passing out. My daughter got a migraine and it took the family she was visiting 3 washes to get the smell out. She was texting me from the plane, the FAs offered to move the guy (they were in the last row) but never offered to move her. She was worried about how bad she smelled so I tipped off the BFFs mom that Maddie was gonna smell. It's legal in MI....but come on, don't get so baked before a flight that you give everyone a contact high. Luckily, the worst they had was losing power for a day and crappy cell service. I was also lucky that her flight back wasn't cancelled on Tuesday.

While she was FREEZING in TX, the BF and I took off to FL. We wanted to do FLL but the flights got too $$$ so we headed to Tampa. I watched the weather and planned it around the "cold" and rain. I will say it was SUPER windy on M/T which sucked. But I used a Bonvoy FNC for the Westin in Sarasota. It was decent enough. I used my Hilton FNC for the Hilton Marco Island. I was bummed there were no upgrades as they were full. The worst part of the trip was the 2 hours it took to get our rental car in Tampa. GRRRR! It was hard leaving the 80+ degrees knowing what I was coming back to. We got 8" of snow M/T in Michigan. And it was -16 on Weds morning. I really wanted to just extend my week, but it was technically my week to have my kids. The ex is great about rearranging those things and kept them for me. Not sure he would have taken them 2 full weeks. Especially since his pres weekend was spent in Louisville at a hockey tourney w/ DS.

I kept telling myself the only "good" thing is I have a SB trip booked into ATL at the end of March. Not sure where we'll end up for that yet. We might hop a flight from ATL to somewhere in FL, or we might drive. We'll see. But all this talk of Hawaii has me wanting to look at trips there too, LOL.

Oh and I started working on the BF to get him to add me to his flight benefits, LOL. He can't add me till October. And Spirit doesn't have a lot of great partners. I guess the "best being southwest and frontier, but SW doesn't have a ton of direct flights from DTW). But I did see Alaskan and Hawaiian are partners too! I have a friend in Alaska I'd love to visit....and obv using his perks for HI would be nice too, LOL. My Bday is in October, so I've joked it can be my gift! We'll have been dating for almost 2 years at that point, so I think it's fair, LOL.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Oh and I wanted to add.....I think I'm going to try out a new MS strategy! The BF and I have been taking advantage of all of the new online sports betting offers in MI. We both made $100 by betting $1 and picking the right MMA fighter. LOL. It seems you can fund the account w/ debit cards. I'm going to see if I can use a VCG and then deposit that into my checking account. It would make it so much easier than WM! Might also see if I can get those deposits to work for bank bonuses too

 

[Killer Fish]

I can't see any reason for myself and P2 to both have the Chase Reserve card. Anything I need to do before cancelling P2 other than use the $300 Travel credit, Use Door Dash, Transfer all the point to my Reserve?

Also any reason to not just cancel it instead of PC to Freedom Flex besides credit history/avg age of accounts?

P2 also has Freedom and Freedom unlimited already to upgrade back later to Reserve if that matters...also now 48 months since last bonus so good to go for a new sign up.

 

[Killer Fish]

@SouthFayetteFan I know you were just at Disney and like myself get places early. Am I correct in understanding that the park really opens about an hour before published time? AKA this Friday and Sunday when we are going to Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom try to be at the parking area right at 8AM?

I have been practicing every morning to get the boarding pass for Rise....I am ready.

 

[Alexle2007]

@SouthFayetteFan I know you were just at Disney and like myself get places early. Am I correct in understanding that the park really opens about an hour before published time? AKA this Friday and Sunday when we are going to Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom try to be at the parking area right at 8AM?

I have been practicing every morning to get the boarding pass for Rise....I am ready.

DS and I just did DHS on 2/12. We arrived at 7:25 am and were at the front of the line. Around 7:45 they moved us to the temp check station and 8:15 am temp checks started. We were the very first people into the park. We went directly to MMRR and were on it by 8:20 am’ish. Went directly to SDD, TSMM, MFSR (about a 30 min wait) and were in line for RoTR at 9:55 am.

P.S. Thanks @SouthFayetteFan for the tips!

 

[Alexle2007]

@Killer Fish

 

[AndreaDM]

I did it! Upgraded a Freedom to a CSR. I feel good about it. After much analysis it really made the most sense.
Just a DP about how the customer service reps don't always know what they are talking about - I knew the travel credit could be used for groceries, but I still felt like I wanted to confirm that. The rep told me "no, it can't," he was "pretty sure" it was only for travel. I told him it said on the website that it could be used for groceries and gas until June 30 and I just wanted to confirm that applied when product changing. So he transferred me, to the sapphire department - only he didn't. Next person also didn't know. Transfer again to Sapphire Checking - wrong. Then finally to someone who seemed to know what she was talking about and confirmed that "yes, even with a product change it did cover gas and groceries." yay!

Next question for her was can I start using my Freedom as a Sapphire Reserve before the actual card arrives. I was pretty sure this was the case from what people here have said, but when she said the number would be the same, but the exp date and security code would change, I wanted to double check. She said "no, you have to wait for the actual card to arrive. If you use the Freedom it will still act as a Freedom." I said, what about online in the portal, will it be a CSR immediately? Again she said "No, not until you receive the physical card." I then asked could they expedite the card. She said "Unfortunately, no she can't. It'll arrive in 3-5 business days." I said "ok, fine, I would still like to product change."

I hang up, log into my chase account. And sure enough it's already a Sapphire Reserve. I can already do Pay Yourself Back at 1.5 for charges that were on my Freedom and I can book through the portal at the CSR rate.
I'll also be surprised if it takes 3-5 days to arrive.

It's so annoying how they can give such erroneous information. Luckily I have all of you to give me the knowledge I need going into this!

Just a heads up, I just got the CSP this month and it was at least 10 days after I was approved before the card arrived. Pretty annoying because the 3 months to meet the min. spend started the day I was approved, not when I got the card.

 

[georgina]

Just a heads up, I just got the CSP this month and it was at least 10 days after I was approved before the card arrived. Pretty annoying because the 3 months to meet the min. spend started the day I was approved, not when I got the card.

I had that happen with a Chase Marriott card a few years ago. My first statement actually closed before I had the card.

For future reference, sometimes you can ask to have them expedited. My DD was approved for CSP on 2/15. Because her permanent address is in San Francisco but she is currently staying in Hawaii, she called on 2/16 and asked them to expedite it to her, and had it in 4 days. It doesn't work with all cards, but doesn't hurt to try.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

We are going to GW (and Maui!) for the first time in July. We are so excited

You'll have to post a full trip report! Are you renting a car?

 

[magickingdomprincess]

I just booked 7 nights at the Grand Wailea in late October / early November! Now I need to book flights that are 100% refundable, just in case I haven't had my vaccination by then. Room with 2 queen beds, so I can take my son or go solo. Off to book flights!

We'll be at GW in July also! For 4 nights, 5 nights at HHV on Oahu. I'd love to hear what everyone's plans are. I've been trying to look at kid friendly excursions but not really sure what we want to do yet and what's actually worth the money.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

@SouthFayetteFan I know you were just at Disney and like myself get places early. Am I correct in understanding that the park really opens about an hour before published time? AKA this Friday and Sunday when we are going to Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom try to be at the parking area right at 8AM?

I have been practicing every morning to get the boarding pass for Rise....I am ready.

I did a report in the "Here Now" thread after each of our park days - here's is the DHS report:

Hollywood Studios 1/28 Report:

Staying at the Swan; grabbed RotR BG1 at 7am; left the room at 7:20; we were the first people at DHS; stopped to use the bathroom and got in line by security guard at 7:40. We placed our mobile order for Pizzerizzo for an 11-11:30 window while waiting.

We were moved forward to temp tents around 7:50; lines building behind us. Skyliner started dropping guests off shortly thereafter, unsure about buses and drivers. At some point shortly after 8:15 we were let into the park.

Here’s what we did:

• MMRR - first car
• SDD - minimal wait
• TSMM - walk on
• Alien Saucers - walk on (got off at 9:15)
• MFSR - 10 min wait

For some reason we never got the push notification that our BG was called (but it was called at 8:40 apparently). We got over there at 9:45 just after our window expired but from what I know they don’t really care if you’re a little late.

• RotR (minimal wait - line was backed up a lot more when we got off)
• Muppet Vision 3D (barely snuck into the next show - this was around 10:30)
• Star Tours

11:15 lunch at Pizzerizzo

• Frozen Singalong 12:30 show (got in line around 12:10 with ample space still left)
• shopping time!

At this point we went back to the room for a nap. Most lines were 30 mins or more but during the nap we easily could’ve hit ToT, & RnRC. We returned to the park at 4:00 and watched Lightning McQueen (waited in line for one showing)

4:45 dinner at Hollywood Brown Derby which was awesome!

• MMRR (got in line at 5:40)
• Alien Saucers
• SDD
• TSMM

We missed one more ride on SDD by 2 minutes. It was 7:01 when we got back out to main TSL and they were turning people away at the bridge. Grabbed a friendship back to the Swan and that’s our day!

Super low crowds definitely contributed to our amazing day! But hopefully this lineup gives folks a sense of what is possible.

 

[gottalovepluto]

You'll have to post a full trip report! Are you renting a car?

Fwiw- I cannot imagine going to maui and not renting a car. It's a good size island, lots to explore. (And I'm not big on renting cars, usually try to avoid it lol, but I feel I would have missed a lot without my own wheels in Hawaii.)

 

[snugglebug]

My Amex Gold doesn't show the meter or the airline either. I chatted with them to check my airline was what I thought it was the other day and they looked it up for me. I wrote it off to Amex hoping people who have the credit forget to use it. Did you notice how far down they buried it on the benefit page? Annoying. I missed it the first time I looked for it since it doesn't have the meter anymore.

Yes, it took a minute to find it. Almost second guessed myself wondering if I did actually have airline credit.

 

[iujen94]

We'll be at GW in July also! For 4 nights, 5 nights at HHV on Oahu. I'd love to hear what everyone's plans are. I've been trying to look at kid friendly excursions but not really sure what we want to do yet and what's actually worth the money.

We are going to be at HHV (the Hilton Grand Vacations part) in July too! July 9-13. And we’ll be at Wailea Beach Villas July 3-6 and Hyatt Residence Club July 6-9 (both in Maui).

 

[afan]

Google pay, the reward from Target has hit my account and I have $21 bucks in it I'd like to get out. Are those of you that did it just connected it to your bank account and transferring out? I can't figure out a way to spend the balance from GP.

 

[Alexle2007]

Totally off topic- but since we have so many new pup parents, does anyone have a dog car seatbelt that they would recommend? Puggles hates being in his carrier in the car but if it is just he and me, I can’t have him out since he would want to sit on my lap while I try to drive.

 

[lsutigers03]

Just a heads up, I just got the CSP this month and it was at least 10 days after I was approved before the card arrived. Pretty annoying because the 3 months to meet the min. spend started the day I was approved, not when I got the card.

Next time call and ask for the card to be expedited. Most banks don't charge to do it. My wife just got a Southwest card and it came in 3 days.