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

[wanderlust7]

Thanks for this. I have one expiring in August and I don't know if I'll get to use it. I was thinking of using it on Friday for a Hyatt Place by the airport so we don't have to get up so early, but it seems like such a waste for a $115 nightly rate.

Hope it works out for you! I've read that if you're Globalist it's more of a sure thing. If not, more YMMV.

 

[wanderlust7]

I struggle with deciding to use FNC too, whether it be Hyatt/Marriott/Hilton, when it seems like the redemption value is disappointing. Recently, I booked a night at a Cat 3 Marriott and instead of using a 35K FNC that will expire in August, I decided to book with points (20K) because I couldn't convince myself that using the FNC made more sense. Of course, I may end up changing my mind too lol.

I would have a hard time using the FNC on a 20k redemption too. When I used mine on the Fairfield Anaheim and one night was 30k, I felt like I didn't maximize it. Then it went up to 40k, so now I feel good about it.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Well this was a new one today- for my Delta peeps...

Booked the fam to WDW in Nov this weekend. Today I went into the account and was warned to reschedule as we won’t make the connection. 54 mins in Atlanta- exactly what I booked. Messaged Delta and was told Minimum Connection Time was 55 on that flight so the connection was not legal. They got us moved to other flights fine so like I’m not mad just a bit bamboozled... Delta is still selling that flight and FT says MCT for a 757 for Delta at ATL is supposed to be 35 mins.

 

[Judique]

I would have a hard time using the FNC on a 20k redemption too. When I used mine on the Fairfield Anaheim and one night was 30k, I felt like I didn't maximize it. Then it went up to 40k, so now I feel good about it.

I look at the dollar value. If the cheapest room is under $100 with taxes and any fees, then they don't get my 35K FNC. That's basically even money for what I paid in annual fee. And I want at least $150 or better for a 50K redemption. Sometimes I see a $250 room for Category 3 or maybe 15K points. I give them points. But, in general, I have a difficult time spending actual points, lol.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

I struggle with deciding to use FNC too, whether it be Hyatt/Marriott/Hilton, when it seems like the redemption value is disappointing. Recently, I booked a night at a Cat 3 Marriott and instead of using a 35K FNC that will expire in August, I decided to book with points (20K) because I couldn't convince myself that using the FNC made more sense. Of course, I may end up changing my mind too lol.

I look at the cash cost of the room and decide if it's worth using my FNC (generally looking for a value greater than the AF). I used a FNC for a room that cost 17,500 Bonvoy points, but the base cash cost was 150 Euros, so well worth the use of my certificate.

Last year I am not even sure if I used our Bonvoy certificate due to everything going on. I was able to my Hyatt FNC at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver for a quick overnight after our ski week before heading home. This year I will be using my Hyatt FNC at the Andaz Ottawa when I visit my cousin's daughter after she has her baby (due in June); I'll add on an additional night to walk around the city a bit (I lived there a few decades ago!).

 

[Judique]

The above is Marriott free nights.

For Hyatt I have a whole other mindset. I wouldn't use 5K points in Florence, SC because I couldn't see wasting Hyatt money when there were 3 or 4 Marriott choices for reasonable points cost. I would have preferred to try out the Hyatt. But I stayed at Marriott.

Meanwhile when daughter went to Hilton Head with the girls and her girlfriend (light churner) they stayed at the Hyatt on friends points for 5K and were happy with the deal and the hotel.

 

[afan]

Well this was a new one today- for my Delta peeps...

Booked the fam to WDW in Nov this weekend. Today I went into the account and was warned to reschedule as we won’t make the connection. 54 mins in Atlanta- exactly what I booked. Messaged Delta and was told Minimum Connection Time was 55 on that flight so the connection was not legal. They got us moved to other flights fine so like I’m not mad just a bit bamboozled... Delta is still selling that flight and FT says MCT for a 757 for Delta at ATL is supposed to be 35 mins.

That doesn't make sense. I've had them change flight times so I'd have less than 35 min so then I'd change it to thr next flight to MCO. But I always keep watching and as soon as the times change again I get them to move it back. You don't need that long.

I'd have almost left it for a bit or see if you can change it back. The less time I can spend at ATL the better. I'm just hoping my nonstops stick this time. 3rd time I've booked sea to mco on dl non stop redeye and the 1st two were cancelled and changed to a connection in atl. So far so good. Course maybe a week after I booked my slc trip they changed both flight times moving up my dept from here by 30 min. Messes up my work day as I'd planned to work til 2 and now can only work til 130.

 

[punkin]

The above is Marriott free nights.

For Hyatt I have a whole other mindset. I wouldn't use 5K points in Florence, SC because I couldn't see wasting Hyatt money when there were 3 or 4 Marriott choices for reasonable points cost. I would have preferred to try out the Hyatt. But I stayed at Marriott.

Meanwhile when daughter went to Hilton Head with the girls and her girlfriend (light churner) they stayed at the Hyatt on friends points for 5K and were happy with the deal and the hotel.

A little off topic but I really liked the Hyatt in Florence.

 

[chattadisser]

Well this was a new one today- for my Delta peeps...

Booked the fam to WDW in Nov this weekend. Today I went into the account and was warned to reschedule as we won’t make the connection. 54 mins in Atlanta- exactly what I booked. Messaged Delta and was told Minimum Connection Time was 55 on that flight so the connection was not legal. They got us moved to other flights fine so like I’m not mad just a bit bamboozled... Delta is still selling that flight and FT says MCT for a 757 for Delta at ATL is supposed to be 35 mins.

Interesting...we booked a flight in July and the return only gave us 35 minutes in ATL for the connection. I didn't really want that short of time as it's the whole family on this trip but the rest of the flights had 2 and 3 hour layovers. We booked it hoping it changes. Even if it doesn't I'm not too worried I've made it from A to D in ATL in 15 minutes by myself and we live about an hour and a half from the airport so worse case scenario we take one of the shuttles home. I'm rolling the dice on this one...

 

[iujen94]

So I just applied for the United Quest card. This page has been spinning for almost 5 minutes now. Any suggestions??

 

[iujen94]

So I just applied for the United Quest card. This page has been spinning for almost 5 minutes now. Any suggestions??

Well, I called Chase and they confirmed they didn’t see an application for me. So I closed the window (Safari) and applied through Chrome. Instant approval! Woo hoo!!!!

 

[Killer Fish]

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet, but I got the AMEX off of buy $300 in AMEX gift cards, get $20 statement credit.

What is the best use of the AMEX gift cards?

I used if for Amazon reloads....did $1 less than the amount (denied for entire amount). Also was able to get the $300 with no fees with a code that was on Doctor of Credit.

 

[platamama]

I look at the dollar value. If the cheapest room is under $100 with taxes and any fees, then they don't get my 35K FNC. That's basically even money for what I paid in annual fee. And I want at least $150 or better for a 50K redemption. Sometimes I see a $250 room for Category 3 or maybe 15K points. I give them points. But, in general, I have a difficult time spending actual points, lol.

I look at the cash cost of the room and decide if it's worth using my FNC (generally looking for a value greater than the AF). I used a FNC for a room that cost 17,500 Bonvoy points, but the base cash cost was 150 Euros, so well worth the use of my certificate.

Yes, for sure, as long as the FNC redemption is worth at least the cost of the card's AF then I should be satisfied. But I try to obtain 0.7 cpp as my standard for a Marriott point redemption (what a Marriott point is "worth" to me), so a 35K FNC ideally gets used for a night that costs at least $245 in my mind. If I get less than that then I'm more meh about the redemption. TBH, it is challenging to find that kind of value for a 35K FNC anymore with Marriott doing its annual shuffle of properties.

 

[sinnika]

Well, I called Chase and they confirmed they didn’t see an application for me. So I closed the window (Safari) and applied through Chrome. Instant approval! Woo hoo!!!!

Were you able to use a support link for the United Quest card for the 100,000 mile bonus?

 

[mfly]

Awesome! I'm glad you found what you were looking for!

FYI, I still had a Priceline tab open with your dates, and it looks like Pop is now showing up for $160/nt. The incorrect "free parking" is a tip off for Pop.

https://www.priceline.com/relax/at/...qdp=160&vrid=37a2d39c71ef0b4e74b5b3985b50333f
ETA: I found a 15% off Express deal code that @Rich M posted on the Priceline deals thread: 7FB52F37F3

Takes the total after taxes and fees down to $511.32

Thanks so much for taking the time to post this, @Bozni! I so appreciate it!

 

[iujen94]

Were you able to use a support link for the United Quest card for the 100,000 mile bonus?

Sadly no - I couldn’t find a United support link. (And I’ve heard that the 100k offer doesn’t come up through a support link anyway.) I originally applied through the Miles to Memories link (I really like that podcast), but after I had problems getting my application to go through, I just applied directly through Chase.

 

[disneybirds]

Meanwhile when daughter went to Hilton Head with the girls and her girlfriend (light churner) they stayed at the Hyatt on friends points for 5K and were happy with the deal and the hotel.

There's a Hyatt in Hilton Head? Would love to spend 5K for a night!

 

[Judique]

A little off topic but I really liked the Hyatt in Florence.

I'm sure I would like it! I'm just too stingy with my Hyatt points.

 

[Judique]

There's a Hyatt in Hilton Head? Would love to spend 5K for a night!

The 5K one I'm referring to is in Florence, South Carolina. We like to split the drive with the grandchildren so they are not in the car so long.

I would love a 5K in HH also. And they are starting to pepper a few in SC so maybe sooner or later one will come.

 

[platamama]

DH's non-expedited CIU arrived today, 7 days after approval. I had SM'd Chase to transfer CL to the new card from his CIP (that I'm planning on canceling), and obviously the person responding to the SM was confused since they were talking about how personal and business CL couldn't be mixed (which isn't what I requested anyway ). So I sent another SM today, and hope the next person can see that both cards are biz cards.