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

[Alexle2007]

I'm soo mad! 2 packages from Disney Store (including a gift for DS bday) supposedly arrived yesterday via UPS. No email saying they were delivered but I checked status this morning and delivered at 2 pm yesterday. I arrived home from work at 3:30, no packages, and DH, DS and the dog-who-barks-at-everything were home all day. From his desk DH can see any vehicles that pull up in front of our house and never saw UPS.
Anyone have any luck getting a refund from UPS when they say they delivered? Or should I start with Disney Store?

Sometimes they magically show up the next day. And I’ve taken to Twitter with the delivery company when the package doesn’t arrive. Hope it shows up for you!

 

[Judique]

Refi closing on Monday so planning out my next CC steps. Gold is on my short list - how do you figure 225k without a sub? Is it just organic spend? I can make much use of the grocery category so it would definitely be more useful than the amex plat I currently have. Thank you!

The remaining $6.59 from my February Amex paypal credit has not posted but my March 1 paypal charge has already credited. This seems like it will require another chat in a week or 2.

I looked at that and then just let it go.

 

[chattadisser]

I'm soo mad! 2 packages from Disney Store (including a gift for DS bday) supposedly arrived yesterday via UPS. No email saying they were delivered but I checked status this morning and delivered at 2 pm yesterday. I arrived home from work at 3:30, no packages, and DH, DS and the dog-who-barks-at-everything were home all day. From his desk DH can see any vehicles that pull up in front of our house and never saw UPS.
Anyone have any luck getting a refund from UPS when they say they delivered? Or should I start with Disney Store?

Check with UPS first. They can actually tell via GPS where the package was dropped off. If it was at the wrong house, they will go back and retrieve it and then deliver them to you. We have a neighborhood where a lot of the street names are the same except for the road, circle, lane part and then has more often than I care for. They are easy to work with and will fix it.

 

[Judique]

Are there any cards offering extra points for gas? I do have a citi visa from Costco that gets 4% back. I also have a CF that I was able to get the gas bonus in February. Thinking about adding DH as an AU on the Citi Visa. Thoughts?

What kind of gas do you buy?

Edit: to explain, if you are a BP or Shell or a few others, you can do gas gift cards at the grocery store with the gold for 4%.

For me, I stay with Costco gas mostly, but overall, don't spend much on gas with a hybrid.

Can you just add your card to a mobile wallet rather than doing AU?

I would avoid AU itself and probably find a card with a sign up bonus.

 

[EACarlson]

Gold is on my short list - how do you figure 225k without a sub? Is it just organic spend? I can make much use of the grocery category so it would definitely be more useful than the amex plat I currently have. Thank you!

Correct, just from organic spend and AMEX offers. I've done really well with the 10xMR for amazon. I used my SUB to get my family of 4 to WDW in Dec. 2019. Since then I've transferred a few points to Hilton to top up for a redemption, but otherwise I've been letting it accumulate.

 

[EM Lawrence]

Do Annual Passes purchased from Disney code as travel expenses with CS or with Amex?

Also, do tickets purchased from third party vendors code as travel with CS or Amex?

I did a quick search but could not find an easy answer.

 

[IFlossU]

I'm soo mad! 2 packages from Disney Store (including a gift for DS bday) supposedly arrived yesterday via UPS. No email saying they were delivered but I checked status this morning and delivered at 2 pm yesterday. I arrived home from work at 3:30, no packages, and DH, DS and the dog-who-barks-at-everything were home all day. From his desk DH can see any vehicles that pull up in front of our house and never saw UPS.
Anyone have any luck getting a refund from UPS when they say they delivered? Or should I start with Disney Store?

I will echo @chattadisser. We had a package delivered to our neighbors across the street. Don’t know if that’s a possibility for you, but could be the case. I also recommend starting with UPS.

 

[Lain]

Do Annual Passes purchased from Disney code as travel expenses with CS or with Amex?

Also, do tickets purchased from third party vendors code as travel with CS or Amex?

I did a quick search but could not find an easy answer.

“CS” ... Charles Schwab?

 

[EACarlson]

“CS” ... Charles Schwab?

Chase Sapphire.
Disney qualifies as travel with Chase, not with AMEX if I am recalling correctly. And with AMEX it would be card dependent as well, some cards code things differently.

 

[EM Lawrence]

I meant Chase Sapphire, thanks for the answers!

Is there any way to find out before I make the purchase? If I called the card would they tell me?

I’m probably going to apply for a Chase Sapphire, and due to the no new APs being sold, I have an expensive ticket to purchase in the next month or so. The $300 travel credit from Chase would soften the blow considerably, particularly if a third party ticket vendor would code as a travel expense.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

I meant Chase Sapphire, thanks for the answers!

Is there any way to find out before I make the purchase? If I called the card would they tell me?

I’m probably going to apply for a Chase Sapphire, and due to the no new APs being sold, I have an expensive ticket to purchase in the next month or so. The $300 travel credit from Chase would soften the blow considerably, particularly if a third party ticket vendor would code as a travel expense.

Just my DP but when I renewed my AP last November over the phone with the Disney AP CM it did not code as travel, it coded as entertainment
No firsthand experience but from what I have read UT codes as travel

 

[Hoosier John]

Do Annual Passes purchased from Disney code as travel expenses with CS or with Amex?

Also, do tickets purchased from third party vendors code as travel with CS or Amex?

I did a quick search but could not find an easy answer.

Here's some old notes I've copied from here over the last couple years, in case this is any help, or spurs additional conversation:

Disney Tix To check pricing: https://touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/ticket-calculator#​

​

Disney ticket purchases will not credit as travel, so I am going to buy a ticket through ********** ******* ETA: Guess that's banned-UT​

​

Last Minute Travel may also have discounted Disney(Land) tickets (LMT tix code as TRAVEL, free memb code?​

​

(which does credit as Travel) and then apply it toward my AP renewal (with Disney GCs).​

​

Maybe if you can charge it back to the room<-- You can't charge it back. At least neither time I've upgraded.​

​

Disney Tix Sam’s Club is cheaper (6/2019) than increased prices, even FL resident prices (works on expired club card)​

​

Sam’s Online – Disney APs; includes 1.5% Rakutan rewards (and maybe warehouse club quarter)​

​

Linked online tix from Will-Call allowing to book MDE and expires 12/31/2030​

​

AAA rates haven’t raised yet, either ($30 for AAA)​

Beyond this, I'm not much help. I don't even understand all of what I pasted

 

[Lain]

Chase Sapphire.
Disney qualifies as travel with Chase, not with AMEX if I am recalling correctly. And with AMEX it would be card dependent as well, some cards code things differently.

This is incorrect.

First, "CS" is a vague term and could refer to Charles Schwab or Chase Sapphire. Chase actually offers a basic "Chase Sapphire" card, which earns only 2x UR on dining and 1x UR on all other purchases. If @EM Lawrence is referring to the more premium "Chase Sapphire Preferred" or "Chase Sapphire Reserve," or the "CSP" and "CSR" respectively, she needs to be clearer with her acronyms (I get it, it's a foreign language), as these cards have different earning structures and benefits. When she says she's going to apply for the "Chase Sapphire," is she referring to the CSP or CSR? That choice matters, especially if she plans to offset the cost of Disney tickets/APs with the CSR's $300 travel credit.

Disney may or may not qualify as "travel" depending on how and where you make your purchase. If you're buying tickets or APs from, or making AP payments directly to Disney, then as @palhockeymomof2 said, it will not code as travel; it'll code as entertainment. About the only thing with "Disney" that codes as travel is if you make a room charge to a Disney hotel or resort and pay off the hotel bill with the CSP/CSR at 2x UR and 3x UR respectively.

"Travel" is a spending bonus category. Not all cards have travel as a bonus category. And not every point of sale codes as "travel" even if it seems travel-related.

The only Amex charge card that has a general "travel" category is the Green card, which earns 3x MR if the charge codes as travel. Again, tickets or APs from Disney's website or ticket window will not code as travel; it'll code as entertainment.

I meant Chase Sapphire, thanks for the answers!

Is there any way to find out before I make the purchase? If I called the card would they tell me?

I’m probably going to apply for a Chase Sapphire, and due to the no new APs being sold, I have an expensive ticket to purchase in the next month or so. The $300 travel credit from Chase would soften the blow considerably, particularly if a third party ticket vendor would code as a travel expense.

If you can buy your tickets or APs through a travel agency, that'll almost certainly code as travel.

If you're looking to apply for a CSR with the idea of using its $300 annual travel credit to offset the cost of Disney tickets/APs, you can buy Disney Gift Cards from a grocery store. Chase has expanded the $300 "travel" credit to apply towards charges made at supermarkets and gas stations through 6/30/21. Travel, supermarket, and gas charges made on the CSR get credited automatically until you use up the $300 credit. Supermarket purchases also earn 3x UR on the CSR, up to $1,000 in purchases each month until 4/30/21. 3x UR at grocery stores is equivalent to the 3x UR earned on travel. Buy your Disney Gift Cards from a supermarket, then take your Disney Gift Cards, combine them on DisneyGiftCard.com and use them to purchase your Disney tickets/passes from Disney.

 

[sinnika]

@Grabnar is correct about the Amex Platinum: It has 10x in gas and grocery for the first 6 months

Pentagon Federal Platinum VISA earns $100+$50 VGC after $1500 spend in 90 days. (5x Gas, 3x Grocery. No AF) See DISchurners for details.

If he's just buying gas at the pump, you might be able to request a duplicate Costco Citi card to replace your "broken" card?

I think i’ll Just give him my Costco Visa card to use for gas only. I started going back to Kroger for the 4x fuel points. Hit my $300 grocery spend on my newly pc’ed CSR yesterday so earned $1 off per gallon up to $35 gallons. DH and I filled up together. I only fill up my little 10 gallon Prius every 10 days, whereas he has 2 trucks and a tractor and drives back and forth to the ranch after work and on weekends and goes thru a lot of gas. I do a fair amount of shopping at Costco so the rewards come in handy.
I would love to get 10x gas benefit with AMEX but feel like I can’t take advantage of all the other perks since we aren’t traveling much yet.

 

[trenty]

I meant Chase Sapphire, thanks for the answers!

Is there any way to find out before I make the purchase? If I called the card would they tell me?

I’m probably going to apply for a Chase Sapphire, and due to the no new APs being sold, I have an expensive ticket to purchase in the next month or so. The $300 travel credit from Chase would soften the blow considerably, particularly if a third party ticket vendor would code as a travel expense.

I recently purchased park tickets through DVC (not annual pass). I used my CSP hoping it would code as travel. It did not. I coded as entertainment.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

What kind of gas do you buy?

The kind that goes in my car...

 

[sinnika]

What kind of gas do you buy?

Edit: to explain, if you are a BP or Shell or a few others, you can do gas gift cards at the grocery store with the gold for 4%.

For me, I stay with Costco gas mostly, but overall, don't spend much on gas with a hybrid.

Can you just add your card to a mobile wallet rather than doing AU?

I would avoid AU itself and probably find a card with a sign up bonus.

I usually get gas at Costco for my Prius but since the pandemic have not been going there as often so was filling up at Walmart. I’m going to start buying gift cards at Kroger again for the 4x fuel points using my CSR. Time to start hoarding Disney gift cards again to book my next Disney Cruise!

 

[afan]

I recently purchased park tickets through DVC (not annual pass). I used my CSP hoping it would code as travel. It did not. I coded as entertainment.

Tickets through Disney always code as entertainment. If it's part of a package with a room, it'll code as travel. Big reason why we're better off getting disney gc at a discount, or at the very least at the grocery store using a card you get grocery points on. Unless you have one of the few (if there's any left) that give extra points for entertainment.

 

[Lain]

I’m about to apply for the Amex Gold. Should I get an AU user card for my husband, or is that a mistake? Will it prevent him from getting his own bonus if he over opens a Gold card?

If you don't plan on turning CC churning into a career I would get your husband an AU card. How often does your husband pay at a restaurant or a grocery store when you aren't with him? It would also allow you to double up on AMEX Offers. If you plan on getting him 5 cards in his own name in the next 24 months don't, otherwise there is not a reason not to.

@EM Lawrence - This is such a bad idea. Why would you lock yourself into a decision you can't take back and constrain your choices in what cards are available to your spouse for the next two years and beyond? If your husband often pays at a restaurant or grocery store without you, then he could add your Gold card to his mobile wallet. Or it sounds like he needs his own Gold card, which you could "support" him to for a 20k-35k MR "supportal" bonus to you, and a 60k-75k MR SUB for him. This will also give him an Amex MR-earning card from which he can use to "support" you to more Amex cards even if he's not an active player. He gets the "supportal" bonus; you get the SUB. You can also double up on the Amex Offers this way, and you'll be doubling up on the credits as well.

At the very least, Amex often sends out offers of 5k MR to add authorized users and spend $500 on their AU card. Why would you take nothing to do it up front? I would not suggest this for a spouse; but if you have any children 13 and older, it'd be a good way to help them build some credit history and earn some points for yourself at the same time.

 

[hsmamato2]

I second @platamama and also know that you may not always be able to bring up that offer again if you leave the page. Some people can, others see it once and then not again. That is also affectionately known as a Platicorn Actually the original Platicorn was 100k/5k in 3 months, but with the current climate they recently bumped it to 125k/5k in 6 months (plus the gas and groceries!). It's really the best offer we expect right now.

Generally if you think you can have a use for MR points, and almost anyone should be able to get 1cpp out of them at least, then it's a good offer to grab and worth a 5/24 slot. That offer is generally marketed to new AmEx users so once you start into the AmEx ecosystem the offer is off the table. (There's exceptions to every rule, but rare in this case) If you were thinking about MR then I'd probably do it. If you have no idea what you'd use MR for, then we could probably discuss more.

Sooooo...platicorn. I see a prequal on my page for 75k on this card..... if I tried cardmatch,what are the odds it would show up for me at the 125k? and if it's under the 'cards for you' on my account, does that mean I won't get the popup?