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

[calypso726]

How 2020 was planned:

WDW every month as usual.
DC staying at the Willard to see cherry blossoms in March
NYC in April
Hawaii in July staying at Aulani
N. Ireland and Ireland and staying at Ashford Castle in September
Big family trip in WDW for Thanksgiving
December trip to Dubai at the Al Maha Desert resort and Spa followed by crossing off my 7th continent, Africa. A stay in Giraffe Manor and safaris at Masai Mara.

What actually happened:

WDW weekends during January and February.
We were in WDW on closing day in March.
Home the rest of March, April and May
Vero Beach DVC weekend in June
Spent 4th of July at the Grand Floridian
We returned to WDW on opening AP day in July and stayed for 10 days.
We visited Baker’s Cay in Key Largo for a weekend using Hilton points in August as well as a weekend in Key West using IHG free night certs.
We went to Sanibel for a long weekend and used UR points in September. We also used free night certs in September for a stay in Pompano Beach and one in Ft. Lauderdale Beach.
We spent a long weekend at Vero Beach in October and another couple of weekends at WDW using DVC points. One weekend was back at Baker’s Cay in Key Largo using Hilton points.
November was WDW weekends using DVC points.
December began my first mattress run at Hyatt and we’ve been at WDW every weekend. We ended 2020 back at Baker’s Cay in Key Largo and will begin 2021 back at WDW this weekend. I don’t recall the last time I managed to stay in Florida all year.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Happy 2021 everyone--good riddance 2020!

I'll chime in on the everyone does it differently here. I'm not much of a churner since I don't tend to close and re-apply for cards, but I will open a card for a bonus. Problem is that I tend to like the cards, LOL, so I carry a ton of fees. I probably should pare, but I take advantage of most of the perks. The food delivery ones tend to go unused unfortunately.

I put a lot of spend on cards so my main vehicle of earning points is spend w/point categories on various cards and using shopping portals (when I remember). I focus on Amex and Chase, and pretty much exclusively use the points for upper class flights. I started out using points on United with Business & First flights for my family of four on our ABD China trip in 2017, but with all the United changes, my focus turned to Virgin Atlantic (1st class RT for the family of four on our Japan ABD in 2019!) and British Air as we have frequent trips to England. I try to take advantage of Amex and Chase transfer bonuses to BA whenever I can. For our domestic flights we have taken advantage of the SWA Companion Pass the past 3+ years (DH and I toggle). We use that for trips to Disneyland, WDW, and Hawaii.

This year was supposed to be pretty travel full, but I had a couple trips canceled, including my big hiking trip to Everest base camp But I still managed two trips to Maui and 4 trips to the UK (our daughter goes to school over there) in 2020. All the UK flights were in Business and First using Avios for 1-3 people). First are usually hard to get on BA, but I managed 7 RTs in First this year due to the pandemic. I know @calypso agrees with me that I don't mind paying taxes for BA tickets--I think of it as getting a big discount on the fare. I have 5 RTs to England on the calendar for next year all in Business or First and all on avios for 2-3 people. Let's hope I can do them all. I suspect February will be a no-go, but still holding out hope.

The great thing about this board is we all do it differently so there's almost always someone who can answer questions. Speaking of ...

Does anyone know whether Amex is going to keep the streaming and cell phone credits that are supposed to expire in December for the platinum cards? We've loved those.

 

[wanderlust7]

Hi, I've lurked on this thread for a long time and think its time to join in.

Current Cards:
1990 - AMEX Green Card
1998 - Capital One Rewards MasterCard
2005 - CHASE Slate
2010 - CHASE Disney Visa
2005 - Discover IT
12/20 - CHASE Sapphire Preferred - just opened thru Chase Private Client banker
12/20 - Hilton Honors AMEX Surpass

• What amount of spend would you put on a card monthly (i.e. groceries, gas, insurance, cable, cell phone, other expenses)? $3,000
• Do you currently payoff your CCs in full every month or do you carry any balances/pay any interest? Pay in full.
• What airport(s) do you typically fly out of? IND
• Do you have a preference of Frequent Flyer program? No; I do occasionally get to use a friends passes to fly free on AA.
• Does SOUTHWEST Airline service your airport? Yes
• Do you have a Hotel Rewards program preference? Hilton and/or Marriott
• Do you currently have travel points or miles in any program? (if so, which programs and how much)
  1. Amex MRs - 330,000
  2. Hilton - 59,000
• What at your specific goals for churning credit cards?
  1. Hawaii - probably 2022
  2. Disney - as soon as Covid restrictions / vaccine situation improves - its my DH's favorite place.
  3. Cash Back - I use my Discover IT card for this during 5% categories to by discounted Disney Gift Cards.
• Who does your travel party consist of? Myself, DH and sometimes our adult daughter.

I don't know what card I should do next but I think I want to focus on Hilton and/or Marriott points for Hawaii. The two latest cards are P1 only but may get P2 signed up if something looks advantageous.

You may want to consider the Hilton Aspire. The Grand Wailea on Maui would be a great redemption. You'll get a free night certificate after opening the card and again on renewal. FNC issued in 2021 are extended to 12/31/22, so it'll be possible to use both certificates on the same trip. It also doesn't need to be a weekend night, which is the usual restriction. Standard awards at the Grand Wailea are usually 95k/night. Your Surpass bonus plus the Aspire bonus gets you pretty close to 4 nights, which is 5 nights with 5th night free. Plus the 2 FNCs can get you a week there.

Caveat is FNC need to be for standard rooms. So hopefully that is still available for your dates once you get your renewal FNC. The AF on the Aspire is $450, but you also get $250 resort credit (anniversary year) and $250 airline incidental credit (calendar year).

 

[wanderlust7]

Does anyone know whether Amex is going to keep the streaming and cell phone credits that are supposed to expire in December for the platinum cards? We've loved those.

I don't think so. They would have announced it by now.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I don't think so. They would have announced it by now.

Sigh. I was hoping I'd missed something. Oh well. Hopefully they'll do something else until travel picks up.

 

[wanderlust7]

Sigh. I was hoping I'd missed something. Oh well. Hopefully they'll do something else until travel picks up.

Did you hear about the 50k retentions? Even if your renewal isn't for some time. I wonder if that's why they haven't extended the credits.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Did you hear about the 50k retentions? Even if your renewal isn't for some time. I wonder if that's why they haven't extended the credits.

I did hear about great retention offers, but hadn't heard the 50k. thanks! I think we are both coming up soon, so sounds as if I'll have some phone calls. DH has Schwab Platinum and I have Business.

 

[wanderlust7]

I did hear about great retention offers, but hadn't heard the 50k. thanks! I think we are both coming up soon, so sounds as if I'll have some phone calls. DH has Schwab Platinum and I have Business.

I got 50k on the Schwab and 30k on the biz plat. The biz also had a $200 appreciation credit (automatic), but that might only be for renewals in 2020.

You can chat too, but do it during regular business hours.

 

[Artygal90]

Happy New Year credit card friends! I hope everyone is staying healthy and safe this holiday season. We are currently "enjoying" (haha jk not really I hate this ) the 360-degree fireworks display around our house. With excitement like this, who needs WDW's nighttime spectaculars?

Also, in the time it's taken me to write this post, someone has started underscoring the fireworks with...polka music?

How 2020 was SUPPOSED to go:

May- Universal Orlando for my 30th birthday/Mother's Day
September- HHN/Galaxy's Edge for my dad's 60th
October- WDW for Food and Wine
December- Christmas in Pensacola, WDW for NYE

How 2020 ACTUALLY went:

May - Prepared a tax return at work
September - Went to Colorado and hiked for a week (this was actually nice!)
October - Pressure-washed my deck
December - Stayed home for Christmas for only the second time in my entire life.

How 2021 is SUPPOSED to go:

May - Universal 30th birthday/ Mother's Day trip, take 2
June? July? - Kidnap some friends for the Velocicoaster grand opening
October - Japan OR BUST
December - WDW for NYE because I'm really tired of playing "fireworks or gunshots" this time of year

Here's to 2021 being a year of lots of travel and amazing redemptions for all of us! Cheers!

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

My god people....I walk away for a day and I have 20 pages to cover. UGH!

I got to ring in 2021 tonight solo Kids are at their dad's and the BF is likely waking up right now to fly down to San Juan. You know this dating a pilot thing needs to get more glamorous! I'd think remote teaching I could be joining him on all these flights, LOL. I like to tease him that dating a cop long distance for 2 years totally prepped me for dating a reserve pilot. He was gone Christmas and New Years. And of course he's flying the week I'm off in Feb. UGH!

Tomorrow (I mean later today's) goals......apply for a Chase card, likely the IHG. I'm bummed I didn't get in on the Amex Plat before the year flipped and attempt the triple dip. I guess I'll need to look over the benefits and see if it's worth trying again later on it. I'm stuck in the damn pop-up hell.

Can I join the eye convo? Nothing like being 25 and diagnosed with macular degeneration! When they first were trying to diagnosis it, it was funny. Me and a bunch of 80yo+ in the waiting room. Luckily for me, it doesn't appear that my spot has grown and it's yet to affect my vision. But this summer when my eyelid was all swollen/infected I ended up at Henry Ford in Detroit. There was a med student, 3 interns (various levels) and the lead dr. All were fascinated to see I have macular degeneration as it's REALLY not common at my age now (44), and insanely rare at 25! I think my Dr said I have another spot forming now on my other eye. YAY! I guess that's what I get for making fun of my family for all needing glasses. Now I'm 44 w/ MD and bifocals, LOL.

Is anyone on Tik Tok? Have ya'll seen the "I gotchu baby" guy? I laugh at his Tik Toks, but he's a credit card/travel points hack guy. I just love his "I gotchu baby" when people ask him questions, LOL.

Any suggestions for things to do in Key West (not Disney's Old Key West)?
Thanks in advance

As a parrothead, Key West is Mecca. You MUST eat at Blue Heaven! The breakfast is amazing! Then we did all the stuff Jimmy sings about; Louie's Backyard, Captain Tony's, Mallory Square, Margaritaville, etc. We did the Conch Train, snorkeled, went to Hemingway's place. Then we also swam with dolphins in islamorada. I'm itching to go back to KW. It's been over 20 years since we went (and that was w/ my ex-husband, LOL).

 

[Albort]

Happy credit card bonus reset day!

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Oh yeah, and I forgot, I'll be spending tomorrow updating my CC spreadsheet to figure out which cards to use when/where now that I don't have a current spend I'm meeting, LOL

 

[Judique]

Happy New Year credit card friends! I hope everyone is staying healthy and safe this holiday season. We are currently "enjoying" (haha jk not really I hate this ) the 360-degree fireworks display around our house. With excitement like this, who needs WDW's nighttime spectaculars?

Also, in the time it's taken me to write this post, someone has started underscoring the fireworks with...polka music?

How 2020 was SUPPOSED to go:

May- Universal Orlando for my 30th birthday/Mother's Day
September- HHN/Galaxy's Edge for my dad's 60th
October- WDW for Food and Wine
December- Christmas in Pensacola, WDW for NYE

How 2020 ACTUALLY went:

May - Prepared a tax return at work
September - Went to Colorado and hiked for a week (this was actually nice!)
October - Pressure-washed my deck
December - Stayed home for Christmas for only the second time in my entire life.

How 2021 is SUPPOSED to go:

May - Universal 30th birthday/ Mother's Day trip, take 2
June? July? - Kidnap some friends for the Velocicoaster grand opening
October - Japan OR BUST
December - WDW for NYE because I'm really tired of playing "fireworks or gunshots" this time of year

Here's to 2021 being a year of lots of travel and amazing redemptions for all of us! Cheers!

Do you live in my neighborhood? I mean the fireworks. They woke me up so I got on the Dis and then also sent texts to wake up any of my kids that dared to go to sleep before midnight. Heard back from son in law at 5:30am. Son replied immediately at midnite. Younger daughter was still awake. And older DD is apparently sleeping through it all. No gun shots though. These guys just love fireworks. It's always the same 2 families, who live a few houses away in either direction and are cousins. Just love making noise as you don't really get to see much unless you go outside and join them as there are so many trees.

We had 2 birthdays. DD on Dec 30, and oldest grand daughter turned 5 yesterday on Dec 31. She was the recipient of a gala Frozen birthday with probably a million $$ in balloons, back drop, cupcakes and some kind of a chocolate looking cake.

The only in person attendees were both grand daughters and parents. The rest of us joined via What's App for a bit, so I'm not able to confirm whether the cake was as delish as it looked. One thing is sure; the girls loved it!

So now I have a 5y old GD and a 3y old GD. 3 will become 4 in less than 3 weeks, right after I gain another year, as my birthday is 2 days before hers, and then her great grandfather will turn 94, 2 days later. So 5 birthdays in 3 weeks!

 

[Judique]

And, for it's own post

Happy Birthday @calypso726 !!!

Have a great year and I can't wait for your next adventure and the pictures. I hope Giraffe Manor happens soon as that's one I'm looking forward to!

 

[havaneselover]

I see my stimulus payment in my checking account--to be deposited 1/4! Yippee Using it toward the last $4k on dd's car loan. Trying to get that paid off before I get DS a car. One car loan at a time (although I'd prefer no car loans

 

[GBRforWDW]

I see my stimulus payment in my checking account--to be deposited 1/4! Yippee Using it toward the last $4k on dd's car loan. Trying to get that paid off before I get DS a car. One car loan at a time (although I'd prefer no car loans

Got my stimulus today as well. Yay. We kept the first in savings, but using this one to pay off some smaller debt.

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

Just got approved for the sapphire card. Anyone have a clue when/if I’ll be able to add the card to my Apple Pay before I receive the physical card? It’s currently not an option on my chase Mobil app.

 

[calypso726]

And, for it's own post

Happy Birthday @calypso726 !!!

Have a great year and I can't wait for your next adventure and the pictures. I hope Giraffe Manor happens soon as that's one I'm looking forward to!

Thank you 2021 plans are very modest and conservative compared to my usual crazy ideas. No flying to Iceland just to see the Northern Lights or London over the weekend to see a play. No flights anywhere in the country just to see Hamilton again. Mostly Disney with added plans to Hawaii. A week at Aulani and a week at the Big Island using that timeshare presentation offer that I jumped on in 2019. I’m also planning a couple of Hyatt resort stays. Ventana Big Sur and one of the Miraval properties, likely the Berkshires are on my to do list.

Once PlanePrincess and I have both had our two jabs to the arm I will start to feel more adventurous.

2022 has us with tentative cruise plans. I’d also like to go for Giraffe Manor again. We will see how things shake out. Much depends on the DCL maiden voyages as those are high on my priority list at the moment. I’ve already got the UR points ready to be transferred to Hyatt in place to do the Galapagos trip so that is also a possibility.

It’s so odd as normally I have the next two years with firm plans. My next two years are all, maybe this and maybe that.

Lastly, I’d like to kick off the new year with a reminder I got from FB of where I was 2 years ago, this should serve as a focus of where I’d like to go back and what my primary goal is with regards to this hobby. Plus I recall many of you enjoyed the penguin pics







!

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Just got approved for the sapphire card. Anyone have a clue when/if I’ll be able to add the card to my Apple Pay before I receive the physical card? It’s currently not an option on my chase Mobil app.

Congrats

 

[GZanta77]

Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy 2021.

Glad to see my Amex Offers lists are manageable again after all the expired offers dropping off overnight. Sadly, the offers remaining seem to be almost all for wine or designer clothing. I mean I enjoy an occasional glass, but sooooo many offers for wine from Amex just filling space that could be occupied by much better offers. Come on, Amex - you can do better!