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

[jenmsmith]

No recs but FL Tech is such a nice, small school. Three of DD's classmates are there now and they were such bright, engaging students (I proctored a LOT of AP/IB tests with them since DD wasn't a math/science girl lol). Melbourne is a nice area, too. Enjoy your trip!

So good to hear this! We live less than two hours away from Purdue. It has a great aerospace program but is so big. I picture DS at a smaller school, so I'm very interested in how this goes. And it would give me more reasons to visit central Florida!

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Does anyone know, for Hilton stays booked on points, is parking included? I know I need to pay the resort fee. Parking is $49/night at HHV which is ouch but we need a car if we are going to explore the island.

Just stayed at the Hilton on Marco Island on a reward stay. No resort fee, but yup, had to pay parking. Grrrr!

 

[havaneselover]

Just got eight large Disney gift cards emailed to me from my cruise cancellation. Also have a future cruise credit. Can't wait for Summer 2022 itineraries to be released.

 

[EM Lawrence]

Hello all! I’m new here, and fairly new to points. I currently have the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card, Disney Visa, and a Capital One Card (it is so old I’m not even sure what it is called, it is not the Venture card.) None of these have been opened in the past 24 months. I have over 300K Bonvoy points accumulated. I started collecting them to plan a trip to Hawaii, and I have enough to stay at the resort I targeted for that trip. I do not have any problems meeting the minimum spends on cards to get new account bonuses, I have excellent credit, and I never carry a balance. I’m willing to pay AF if the benefits make sense. We rarely fly, so I have never mastered the points program for fights.

My goal now is twofold: start working on getting free/cheap flights to Hawaii using points, and also find a hotel/travel points program that lets me either book or earn club level/upgraded rooms on points. I really like to stay in nice hotels and get breakfast included. I love to stay on club level when I travel. I’ve found that it is very difficult to earn enough points/nights in the Bonvoy program to get to Platinum level, which is what you have to earn to guarantee an upgrade that includes breakfast. They only let you book the most basic rooms with points, and it irks me.

The UR program intrigues me. Can I book higher level rooms, including club level, with UR points?

Is the UR program better for getting upgraded rooms than a hotel loyalty program?

I’ve read so many things at this point that my head is spinning.

Thanks to all!

 

[IFlossU]

I just read this article, which is about 9 months old, but it sums up the experience when trying to explain this hobby to others.

https://milestomemories.com/why-i-dont-tell-friends-family-about-miles-points-travel/
Thought it might be a good discussion. What has your experience been sharing this hobby with others?

Mine: Whenever I explain maneuvers to my husband, even things I think are simple, he always says, “I could never retain any of that.”
I also referred a P3, but see they might not pay their balances in full, and now regret helping them earn points which will cost more in the long run.

I honestly tell no one DH is thankfully a very willing P2, and he’s a good listener so I can share fun things with him, but outside of this group no one I know cares. My younger brother was big into this hobby about 4 years ago, and used points to travel the world. He gets it, but he’s gotten out of it so I occasionally give him tips, but again not so much. I occasionally mention it to my patients, there’s a few that dabble in points, but for the most part I get the “be careful credits cards are dangerous.” Big sigh...if they only knew

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Interesting article on Chase PYB here. They confirm it's not going away - which we basically all agreed. Hopefully these new categories are indeed exciting. Personally, I'd like to see them keep restaurants to support that industry. I think Gas would be a great one - and Chase could get some marketing play out of that with people perhaps thinking road trips this summer. Those categories are purely my speculation though and not based on any facts.

Don't Worry, Chase Pay Yourself Back Isn't Going Anywhere (thriftytraveler.com)

 

[EACarlson]

My goal now is twofold: start working on getting free/cheap flights to Hawaii using points, and also find a hotel/travel points program that lets me either book or earn club level/upgraded rooms on points. I really like to stay in nice hotels and get breakfast included. I love to stay on club level when I travel. I’ve found that it is very difficult to earn enough points/nights in the Bonvoy program to get to Platinum level, which is what you have to earn to guarantee an upgrade that includes breakfast. They only let you book the most basic rooms with points, and it irks me.

The UR program intrigues me. Can I book higher level rooms, including club level, with UR points?

Is the UR program better for getting upgraded rooms than a hotel loyalty program?

I’ve read so many things at this point that my head is spinning.

Thanks to all!

You can book higher tier rooms with UR points, you do it through the Chase Travel Portal, basically paying cash and getting 1.5 cents for each UR you use. There are no upgrades using UR, to the hotel you are just another guest that booked through Expedia, which usually means you don't get to use any status you have with the chain. Hilton lets you book just about any room in the hotel with their points, but usually at not a very good redemption value. If you get the Aspire card from American Express you get Hilton Diamond status which has a good chance at getting you upgraded to a club level room most of the time. As a lowly silver I once got upgraded from a standard King room to an $1,100 a night suite with a conference room in it in Chicago.

Do you have an airline you'd like to use to fly to HI? United and SW transfer from Chase, Delta and Hawaiian transfer from American Express.

 

[wanderlust7]

Hello all! I’m new here, and fairly new to points. I currently have the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card, Disney Visa, and a Capital One Card (it is so old I’m not even sure what it is called, it is not the Venture card.) None of these have been opened in the past 24 months. I have over 300K Bonvoy points accumulated. I started collecting them to plan a trip to Hawaii, and I have enough to stay at the resort I targeted for that trip. I do not have any problems meeting the minimum spends on cards to get new account bonuses, I have excellent credit, and I never carry a balance. I’m willing to pay AF if the benefits make sense. We rarely fly, so I have never mastered the points program for fights.

My goal now is twofold: start working on getting free/cheap flights to Hawaii using points, and also find a hotel/travel points program that lets me either book or earn club level/upgraded rooms on points. I really like to stay in nice hotels and get breakfast included. I love to stay on club level when I travel. I’ve found that it is very difficult to earn enough points/nights in the Bonvoy program to get to Platinum level, which is what you have to earn to guarantee an upgrade that includes breakfast. They only let you book the most basic rooms with points, and it irks me.

The UR program intrigues me. Can I book higher level rooms, including club level, with UR points?

Is the UR program better for getting upgraded rooms than a hotel loyalty program?

I’ve read so many things at this point that my head is spinning.

Thanks to all!

Welcome!

The Chase travel portal runs off of Expedia. If it's bookable there, most are also bookable through the Chase portal. Exceptions being all things Disney are blocked and most vacation rentals are also blocked. If you get the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you get 1.5 cent per point redemption through the portal. The Sapphire Preferred and Ink Preferred (business card) gets 1.25. These count as third party bookings and usually won't count towards hotel status.

With the Amex Hilton Aspire, you can get Diamond status. It comes with a free night for any standard room soon after card opening and again every anniversary. Diamond status will get you lounge access at certain properties, breakfast, and upgrades but it's based on availability.

With Hyatt, you can book suites using more points. You can get to Globalist status with 30 nights this year, which is half the usual required. You would get free breakfast and upgrades on availability. With 50 nights, you can get suite upgrade certificates, which would guarantee the upgrade. The Chase Hyatt card gets you 5 elite nights every year. URs transfer to Hyatt 1:1 if you have one of the more premium UR cards (CSP, CSR, CIP).

 

[disfanforlife]

Question about CIP support link. Just realized my P3 is coming up on a year, first statement was 5/11/20. thinkng about trying to apply for a CIC using a support link from her. How long does it typically take for those URs to post from support? And if she PC the card to a CIC before they post will she still get the URs credited to the card she PCs too? Or would she lose them if it’s not processed before then?

 

[wendow]

p.s. Hi, @wendow! I just came back to this little community a few weeks ago and was surprised to not see you posting! Good to hear from you, friend!

Glad you are back and nice to see you too, my friend

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Question about CIP support link. Just realized my P3 is coming up on a year, first statement was 5/11/20. thinkng about trying to apply for a CIC using a support link from her. How long does it typically take for those URs to post from support? And if she PC the card to a CIC before they post will she still get the URs credited to the card she PCs too? Or would she lose them if it’s not processed before then?

If she PCs the card the URs will credit to the PCd card

 

[chattadisser]

Delta question...I have the AmEx Delta Plat with the companion tickets. Last years companion pass got an extension so now I have 2 companion certs that expire 12.31.21. Does anyone know if I can use both on one reservation? For example I'd like to buy me a ticket and use one cert for my oldest DD and then buy DH a ticket and use the other cert for younger DD. Or do I need to be the person on each ticket purchased with each cert? I hope this makes sense

 

[Alexle2007]

No resort fee on Hilton point stays. But as far as I know, you do have to pay for parking.

Thanks. I realized I had them backwards. Well there goes the resort credit on my Aspire. Oh well. I guess you have to pay the piper to explore the island.

 

[elgerber]

Delta question...I have the AmEx Delta Plat with the companion tickets. Last years companion pass got an extension so now I have 2 companion certs that expire 12.31.21. Does anyone know if I can use both on one reservation? For example I'd like to buy me a ticket and use one cert for my oldest DD and then buy DH a ticket and use the other cert for younger DD. Or do I need to be the person on each ticket purchased with each cert? I hope this makes sense

You might have to do two reservations, but you should be able to. I used mine a couple of years ago for dd and her friend, I didn't fly at all.
For some reason I have 3, and I have no idea why. I even downgraded my plat last fall, and I still have 3 in my account. Very weird.

 

[Judique]

Hello all! I’m new here, and fairly new to points. I currently have the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card, Disney Visa, and a Capital One Card (it is so old I’m not even sure what it is called, it is not the Venture card.) None of these have been opened in the past 24 months. I have over 300K Bonvoy points accumulated. I started collecting them to plan a trip to Hawaii, and I have enough to stay at the resort I targeted for that trip. I do not have any problems meeting the minimum spends on cards to get new account bonuses, I have excellent credit, and I never carry a balance. I’m willing to pay AF if the benefits make sense. We rarely fly, so I have never mastered the points program for fights.

My goal now is twofold: start working on getting free/cheap flights to Hawaii using points, and also find a hotel/travel points program that lets me either book or earn club level/upgraded rooms on points. I really like to stay in nice hotels and get breakfast included. I love to stay on club level when I travel. I’ve found that it is very difficult to earn enough points/nights in the Bonvoy program to get to Platinum level, which is what you have to earn to guarantee an upgrade that includes breakfast. They only let you book the most basic rooms with points, and it irks me.

The UR program intrigues me. Can I book higher level rooms, including club level, with UR points?

Is the UR program better for getting upgraded rooms than a hotel loyalty program?

I’ve read so many things at this point that my head is spinning.

Thanks to all!

I made Platinum last year and haven't yet been able to stay this year myself to enjoy the credit. But, because of earning Platinum last year, and having a Marriott business card plus a personal card, and the extra credits they gave this year, I've already earned next year's Platinum status. I think I'm good to Feb 2023. There's a possibility I'll hit Titanium if I ever get to book some nights. Having both a biz and a personal gives 30 of the 50 credits needed for Platinum.

UR's are my ticket to Hyatt rooms. They transfer over to Hyatt 1:1. Well worth putting some effort into that program if you go places that have nice Hyatt properties. Hyatt is also expanding and now have some interesting destination properties. Transferring the points (UR's) is usually a better value than booking directly with Hyatt. This doesn't follow through with all programs, case by case basis.

 

[disneybirds]

Delta question...I have the AmEx Delta Plat with the companion tickets. Last years companion pass got an extension so now I have 2 companion certs that expire 12.31.21. Does anyone know if I can use both on one reservation? For example I'd like to buy me a ticket and use one cert for my oldest DD and then buy DH a ticket and use the other cert for younger DD. Or do I need to be the person on each ticket purchased with each cert? I hope this makes sense

Just like @elgerber said, you will probably have to do 2 reservations. After you book them be sure and call to link the 2 reservations so if there are flights changes the tickets stay together.

 

[GlamMistress]

Just got eight large Disney gift cards emailed to me from my cruise cancellation. Also have a future cruise credit. Can't wait for Summer 2022 itineraries to be released.

I'm ready for that announcement too.

Just stopping by to say hey to everyone. Miss you guys. Not much happening on the travel end in my world.

 

[ten6mom]

Interesting article on Chase PYB here. They confirm it's not going away - which we basically all agreed. Hopefully these new categories are indeed exciting. Personally, I'd like to see them keep restaurants to support that industry. I think Gas would be a great one - and Chase could get some marketing play out of that with people perhaps thinking road trips this summer. Those categories are purely my speculation though and not based on any facts.

Don't Worry, Chase Pay Yourself Back Isn't Going Anywhere (thriftytraveler.com)

That makes me happy because for the last few months I've just been using URs to PYB. I'm still sad about Japan but I guess it's time to start gearing up again for November 2022... fingers crossed.

 

[EM Lawrence]

Do you have an airline you'd like to use to fly to HI? United and SW transfer from Chase, Delta and Hawaiian transfer from American Express.

As far as airlines go, I don’t have a preference. We don’t fly enough for me to have formed an opinion one way or the other, most of our travel involves driving. I would like to get enough points to fly business class or higher, and I have time now to accumulate them, since we probably won’t make the trip for a year or more with all of the Covid interruptions. When we do fly, it is out of either Atlanta or Jacksonville. I have seen that Orlando is getting a direct flight to Hawaii, I guess I need to find out what airline that is with. I know it is Delta that flies non-stop to Honolulu from Atlanta.

I’m going to go look around the Expedia site and see what kind of bookings they would offer at the properties we normally visit. Maybe that will help me decide if it is better to put my points accrual spending toward UR or a brand loyalty credit card.

 

[Mopedmom1]

No chat or SM with BOA. You have to call to close.

Well poop, that's going to be..... impossible. Any great thoughts how to do this without tipping them off to his passing? I guess I could try to bring out my inner man.

If there is an AF I wonder if it will take longer to be closed for inactivity as opposed to a no fee card? His two CF cards have already been closed organically.