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

[wanderlust7]

Are you going with the Delta biz gold because of the waived 1st yr AF? I've been looking at those cards and can't decide which one I want to go for. I'm not even sure why I'm looking at them because I haven't flown Delta for over 20 years lol. I guess it's because I have a boatload of MRs and might use them for international flights next summer.

I haven't flown Delta in a long time either lol! I'm getting it for diversification. I might use it for flights back from Seoul on Korean Air. Secretly hoping the 2 cpp Delta Vacations deal will come back (pipe dreams lol). I have a decent amount of MR too. But I figure no AF, no hard pull, biz card, low MSR, why not? Can never have too many points, right?

I don't need any of the Delta benefits at the moment. If I value Delta miles at 1 cpp, then the net value of the biz gold and biz plat SUBs both comes out to $750. Biz gold is lower MSR, so going with that. Plus less OOP is always better. If DH had the slot, I'd probably get both. But he'd have to cancel his BCP and then it takes forever to fall off and he'd have to call...so...don't want it enough for the hassle lol.

 

[Judique]

Good grief, p2 IHG premier was delivered on Friday the 16th, MSR will be done by the end of the week LOL. It took me such agony to decide on that card, now I have to start again LOL.

LOL, when I got my CSP the MSR was done with one payment of part of my new HVAC system. I've barely used the card since then. Don't wish to use PYB as I'm using the UR's to book Hyatt.

So, I've been looking for my next card but in no huge hurry. I think I'm going to close a couple and reapply. One will be my BOA Amtrak. I want the no fee card to babysit my points. Another will be my Hyatt card.

It was almost fun doing the Chase promos for 5x on my Hyatt and Disney. Something to do.

 

[tink1970]

I hope the system really does update tomorrow so approvals can be automatic. Want to get the Delta biz gold for DH before the elevated offer expires 4/28.

Just one DP but yesterday on a whim I applied for bonvoy biz (and have 4 credit cards) and was instantly approved. It's possible the system is already allowing 5 credit cards. I doubt I'm that special and received something out of the ordinary!

 

[afan]

I haven't flown Delta in a long time either lol! I'm getting it for diversification. I might use it for flights back from Seoul on Korean Air. Secretly hoping the 2 cpp Delta Vacations deal will come back (pipe dreams lol). I have a decent amount of MR too. But I figure no AF, no hard pull, biz card, low MSR, why not? Can never have too many points, right?

I don't need any of the Delta benefits at the moment. If I value Delta miles at 1 cpp, then the net value of the biz gold and biz plat SUBs both comes out to $750. Biz gold is lower MSR, so going with that. Plus less OOP is always better. If DH had the slot, I'd probably get both. But he'd have to cancel his BCP and then it takes forever to fall off and he'd have to call...so...don't want it enough for the hassle lol.

I need to figure out my next card as well with this change. I've got the hilton and gold dl biz and the surpass. I eventually want the Aspire so I need to figure out how it fits since I won't need it until next Sept at this point. And I'm ok with dropping either of the Hilton cards I currently have to get it, so I will probably do it once the af on the 2nd one of them hits.

I would love to add more DL points and I'm flying them twice this year, so I need to figure out if one of the other dl biz cards would be of any use. I don't think I want the highest due to the AF and I don't want to add a personal card. I get better offers on this card than the hilton though, it's my oldest amex. So I'd tend to keep this and the higher, if you can have both, and then cancel the other after a year, which would probably peeve them off too.

This also all to day, when my gold AF comes due, if I don't get a retention I don't want the card. I'll have had it for a year and I doubt they'll give me anything since I barely use it because I don't get grocery points on it at my primary store and I just use my hilton for grocery spend when I go to safeway. I'd been looking to do the 5k for the extra points by June, but without paying my estimated taxes for next year it won't happen so I could go back to using the gold but all I do is visa/mc when they have the coupon and the occasional under $30 trip for stuff on sale. I'm concerned that cancelling this one will bring up the popup.

So that also brings the question, I will eventually need a place to put my MR's as I will ask for a retention on my plat next year and will for sure keep it if I get one and we'll see if I don't. Is there a biz card I should have on my radar for MR points? As I think aside from the plat and gold they are all credit cards right? I want to make sure I use my 2 spots wisely and also get what I need without the popup. I have a feeling when it comes to actual credit cards I may be hitting my limit for what they want to give me, even though it's less than 20k.

 

[wisconsinmom]

DH Just applied for the Delta Gold Biz and got a "decision pending" message. I guess we'll see what happens!

 

[wanderlust7]

I need to figure out my next card as well with this change. I've got the hilton and gold dl biz and the surpass. I eventually want the Aspire so I need to figure out how it fits since I won't need it until next Sept at this point. And I'm ok with dropping either of the Hilton cards I currently have to get it, so I will probably do it once the af on the 2nd one of them hits.

I would love to add more DL points and I'm flying them twice this year, so I need to figure out if one of the other dl biz cards would be of any use. I don't think I want the highest due to the AF and I don't want to add a personal card. I get better offers on this card than the hilton though, it's my oldest amex. So I'd tend to keep this and the higher, if you can have both, and then cancel the other after a year, which would probably peeve them off too.

This also all to day, when my gold AF comes due, if I don't get a retention I don't want the card. I'll have had it for a year and I doubt they'll give me anything since I barely use it because I don't get grocery points on it at my primary store and I just use my hilton for grocery spend when I go to safeway. I'd been looking to do the 5k for the extra points by June, but without paying my estimated taxes for next year it won't happen so I could go back to using the gold but all I do is visa/mc when they have the coupon and the occasional under $30 trip for stuff on sale. I'm concerned that cancelling this one will bring up the popup.

So that also brings the question, I will eventually need a place to put my MR's as I will ask for a retention on my plat next year and will for sure keep it if I get one and we'll see if I don't. Is there a biz card I should have on my radar for MR points? As I think aside from the plat and gold they are all credit cards right? I want to make sure I use my 2 spots wisely and also get what I need without the popup. I have a feeling when it comes to actual credit cards I may be hitting my limit for what they want to give me, even though it's less than 20k.

There's also the biz green to hold your MRs. Usual SUB I think is 25k MR for $3000 spend, first year AF waived. But then a year later you're back in the same position. Or the BBP, no AF, but it'll take a cc spot.

Amex will reallocate CL automatically to open a card, so total CL isn't usually an issue like it is with Chase.

 

[Shannon G]

Hoping all you experts can help me figure out the best way to get a flight for DD. I have a trip to WDW planned with youngest DD & my mom in October. Just found out that my niece's wedding, which was canceled due to covid last year, has now been rescheduled to the Friday we are at WDW, but luckily it's in Florida, so we are taking a day for the wedding & extending our trip to WDW by a day. I am also now trying to get my oldest DD down to Orlando for a few days. She goes to the University of Vermont, so she'd be flying out of Burlington. Goal is to have her fly out Wednesday evening, 10/13, (her last class ends at 3:10 pm & she's only about 15 minutes from the airport), and fly back the evening of 10/17.

I have about 120,000 Chase URs, and about 200,000 AmEx points. Are there any tricks to using those to book her a flight? The best flight options I found are on Delta, but on the Delta site economy appears to be sold out already, so the airfare is over $600 round trip!

TIA for any help and advice!

 

[palhockeymomof2]

We use Ally bank for our “don’t touch” savings. You can set up transfers between banks. Ally also allows you to divide that savings into different buckets, if perhaps you want to separate out Christmas savings, homeowners insurance and property taxes, for example.
https://www.ally.com/bank/online-savings-account/
Not sure how hard you want to push on this, or if you even want your son to have the opportunity to stay on his current team, but the Americans with Disabilities Act requires reasonable accommodations for your son. It seems to me that the coaches were well aware of your son’s diagnosis and recent treatment, and to remove him from the team without any kind of warning seems off. For example, being impulsive, interrupting or disorganized may be symptoms of ADHD but look like ”poor leadership” to a coach. Anyway, bringing up this subject and requesting he be reinstated may be the smoothest path for your son. It seems he has a lot going on right now and the thought of tryouts, a new team and friend group sounds awful.

If it’s the same as When my kids where on travel hockey teams the try outs are for 1 season/year only....no guarantee of a current team each year a tryout for a travel team and the teams make up of kids did change each...

 

[disfanforlife]

When I've gone in January and February I've seen younger girls wearing Uggs boots in Magic Kingdom. Meanwhile I was in Croc's flip flops - my preferred park foot attire in the parks no matter temperature or rain or sun. Of course I don't know if these were northern or southern girls. I just noticed the Uggs that day because it was cool and the girls were wearing short shorts. At least their toes were toasty.

When my younger daughter had somewhat of a passion for anything that said North Face on it, I used to buy stuff for her in that store near the outlets where Character Warehouse is.

And, woe is me - Croc's no longer make the slide I like and I'm devastated as the ones I have have reached their limit. The foot bed is no longer as supportive. They lose their cushyness after a few months and a couple of January/February trips. The closest is the croc band flip and that one is not quite as thick in the sole. And gone are the days when I can get 2 pair for about $20. I basically want a flip flop with a thick sole and thong style with the strip that doesn't cause any blisters. I have several pairs of newish nike, puma, reebok athletic shoes and they are comfy and expensive but not as nice for me as a piece of rubber that I can wear in puddles.

Sorry about the crocs. That is annoying when you find a shoe you really like and then can’t get it anymore.

 

[disfanforlife]

Here are a couple of links with information about the PYB extension. Sorry about TPG, it’s a fairly good overview though especially for anyone that hasn’t used PYB yet.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/thepoi...y-yourself-back-travel-credit-extensions/amp/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bu...inance/how-to-use-chase-pay-yourself-back?amp

I didn’t get to buy GC this weekend and won’t be able to until Wednesday. So I think I will wait until May 1 just in case it takes a few days for it to reset.

 

[Minnie368]

Amex is back to allowing 5 credit cards! I need a Hilton card(s) with DD at college and was at 3 so I may go for business and personal. Or one Hilton, one Delta.

When did this happen? I’m asking because DH was instantly denied the Marriott biz card on 4/14 and the letter we got in the mail said it was specifically because he already held the maximum number of cards. He has Hilton surpass, Hilton biz, delta biz, and I had forgotten to count his biz green card. Do you think this is something he could take to recon if the rule has officially changed?

 

[wanderlust7]

When did this happen? I’m asking because DH was instantly denied the Marriott biz card on 4/14 and the letter we got in the mail said it was specifically because he already held the maximum number of cards. He has Hilton surpass, Hilton biz, delta biz, and I had forgotten to count his biz green card. Do you think this is something he could take to recon if the rule has officially changed?

I think it just happened on Thursday. He can recon if it's within 30 days of when he applied. The personal green sometimes counts, not the biz green though, so not sure why he was declined for that reason.

ETA: Did he cancel any cards recently? It can take over a month to drop off is what I've been seeing.

 

[Minnie368]

He did cancel a card about 3 weeks ago so maybe that’s the issue.

 

[afan]

There's also the biz green to hold your MRs. Usual SUB I think is 25k MR for $3000 spend, first year AF waived. But then a year later you're back in the same position. Or the BBP, no AF, but it'll take a cc spot.

Amex will reallocate CL automatically to open a card, so total CL isn't usually an issue like it is with Chase.

Ok, I'll worry about the MR's next year.

It's a problem when they moved CL from my DL to open my hilton biz and only opened my surpass with 1k. I asked to increase it to 5k and they gave me 3k. So I think I have about 12k in credit cards with amex. Maybe getting rid of the amex that I don't use would actually help, haha.

 

[becauseimnew]

Southwest is making changes to their calendar, our girls' (10 & 13) flight from Sac to Tulsa (transfer in DEN) now ends in Denver. It looks like they are still working on updating their calendar for that day so hopefully it updates correctly because I don't want to be on hold for 2 hours.

 

[Haley R]

I thought I’d share since it’s his first birthday today!

 

[Alexle2007]

Southwest is making changes to their calendar, our girls' (10 & 13) flight from Sac to Tulsa (transfer in DEN) now ends in Denver. It looks like they are still working on updating their calendar for that day so hopefully it updates correctly because I don't want to be on hold for 2 hours.

Do you mind sharing your dates?

 

[becauseimnew]

Do you mind sharing your dates?

6/8

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

I'm over here sick to my stomach....I can't find $400 in VGC! I bought them during the OM/OD offer 2 weeks ago. I thought they were in my school bag, went to grab them today and I didn't see them. I can't find them anywhere in my house. My kids are both on alert if they come across them. I'm hoping MAYBE I took them out at school this week and MAYBE they are still there. They are still in the package. I've tried to replay all I can remember. But I bought 2 sets of $200 that week. One set is in my wallet. I can't remember the details of which was which at this point.

Does Ally ever offer SUB? I'm all about a good bank bonus!

If it’s the same as When my kids where on travel hockey teams the try outs are for 1 season/year only....no guarantee of a current team each year a tryout for a travel team and the teams make up of kids did change each...

The sucky thing is, my son was the best player and I think the only one they cut. I might hit up some of the parents after this week to see how tryouts ended up. I did see a post about his team on the hockey boards. Someone was trashing the team, which makes me think maybe another kid got cut, LOL. My DD has been on travel soccer since 6, so I've got 10 years in the hell that is tryouts. This is my son's 4th season trying out for travel. I know that you're never guaranteed a spot season to season. But to be told you're the best player, and then the last month to be told you've been playing your best hockey......

 

[amylovesdamon]

First post here! Spent the last month reading the 381 pages here and taking a leap and putting myself out there for some advice.
I have several upcoming large spends in the next 4 months (IRS, tuition, insurance premiums, etc) that I'm currently trying to map out to maximize my rewards. In general, I'm interested in travel rewards in the form of airline or hotel points. My goto card is my Chase Southwest card; it's what i'll likely end up using if I decide not to open another card. I live in Seattle (and while SW is my preferred airline points program because of its flexibility, I am not 100% loyal to them because most of the places we fly aren't nonstop through SW). I do currently have companion pass through 2021. Other preferred airlines are Delta and Alaska. We have 5 kids + 1 grand and are currently hoping to make an international trip in the next year or 2 so I'd like to start earning miles towards those flights, but I don't know which airlines that will be yet because I will likely buy a bargain fare when the price is right. My hotel chain of choice is Hyatt, with Hilton coming in second.

Cards I have opened in last 24 months:
03/21 Chase Hyatt

Cards P2 has opened in last 24 months:
06/20 Synchrony Bank Rheem Kwik Comforts (0% offer to pay for A/C install)

In addition to my Chase SWA Premier, I also have a BoA Alaska Airlines, Delta Gold Amex, and Barclay Hawaiian cards, but only use them for specific spends and will probably cancel all 3 this year since I'm not using the benefits on them anymore and not worth paying AF for.
P2 has Chase SWA Premier

We have no business cards and have never applied for any.

• In general, we put $2-3K/month with normal monthly bills, but have some larger expenses coming up in the next few months that I would like to benefit from ($12-15k min)
• Yes, we currently pay off CC spend each month
• Typically fly out of SEA or SLC (or even SFO or LAX for international flight deals)
• prefer SWA because their points program is awesome, but also love direct flights with Alaska and Delta
• Currently have points in SW 180k, Alaska 20k, Delta 15k, Hyatt 37K (on the cusp of adding additional 30k bonus to that)
• Family/travelers consists of me, DH, DD24, DD22, DS19, DS16, DS8, DGD2 (is that right abbreviation for a granddaughter?)

Leaning towards CSR or CSP for one or both of us- or possibly the Chase United (or both?) since United has international fares and also have an adult DD moving to Chicago this summer and I believe United is based out of Chicago.

The CSP/CSR seems appealing because of its flexibility with turning points into either airline or hotel points, but the United offer seems pretty awesome too (although the united miles are a bit riskier for me since it's not a preferred airline for PNW). I am also contemplating getting Global Entry for at least hubby and myself, but waiting till i make a decision on next CC in case i can use a credit for that. I'm not opposed to referring P2 for the Chase Hyatt card. Trying to figure out the proper application/referral order. Open to any other recs. Thank you in advance for anyone willing to throw their expertise at this.