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

[Killer Fish]

It is on the UR portal, did you check there?

Yep it is not there which is slightly concerning. I checked on Flyertalk though and a few other people seemed to have the issue as well. I will not worry until the spend is met I guess.

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

So true! Adorable! I‘m busy planning Puggles Men in Black 1st birthday party for nexT month. Just crazy that he’ll be a year old.

OMG I love that so much!!!! Please post pics!! PS. I'm a super extra dog mom. This is something I would totally do if I had a pug/pugmix breed LOL

 

[Judique]

It should like your DD was much better off not hanging out with these snobby girls.

DS has been some of the houses of his private school friends and they are gorgeous, immaculate homes. I am a bit intimidated to have him invite them over to our home. My poor grass needs mowed and weed whacked terribly and I have yet to replace the dented garage door.

Kids who are happy to be with people they enjoy (your son) will not worry about those things. And, sometimes you may find your 'happy' home is very enticing to a kid who doesn't get a lot of attention, or whose Mom doesn't have time to bake cookies, (just an example - not a necessity, lol.)

 

[becauseimnew]

That is exactly how mine posted - so odd that they won't credit you.

View attachment 588843

that is weird.

 

[catsinawindow]

I know TYP could be used for tickets the last time I checked, but If you don’t have enough points to cover the actual costs of tickets (or a resort room as mentioned above,) you might consider redeeming for a gift card you would use for everyday expenses, then buy a Disney gift card (or simply set aside that money) for the same amount.

I might do this if there's not a different way that would be best to use them...see which giftcard would give me the most bang for my buck (or points in this case) for stores where I'll be shopping anyway and then just put away that amount into the vacation fund.

I can’t help with the thank you points use…since we don’t have that card, but I do know Target does not allow you to purchase gift cards with a target gift card.

Thank you, this is good to know.

We used TY points to purchase Disney tix earlier this year. You do have to be patient/persistent when calling to get ahold if the right dept (cruise and tours I believe, you can google it to get the right phone prompts). You can also use your citi card to pay the difference if you don't have enough points for the full amount. Not sure the rate however as we weren't very short.

Would I be able to use this if I booked a resort stay/ticket package through a travel agent? I'm still hoping that there's going to be some future discount or promotion that I'll be able to take advantage of later on (fingers are crossed for a free dining promo, although I do realize this is likely a pipe dream).

 

[punkin]

Kids who are happy to be with people they enjoy (your son) will not worry about those things. And, sometimes you may find your 'happy' home is very enticing to a kid who doesn't get a lot of attention, or whose Mom doesn't have time to bake cookies, (just an example - not a necessity, lol.)

I live in a very modest house in a very upscale neighborhood of multi million dollar homes. My children were always ashamed of my house but it was my house where all their friends (with home movie theaters and indoor pools) preferred to hang out.

 

[amcc]

For those of us that did the Macy's Wine offer, I would suggest you chat with Amex. They are saying that "The merchant is not showing eligible as purchase is not made by the link given in offer ", I used the link but the vendor posted as HEMISPHERE-MACYSWINEGLENDALE CA. They said that they are opening an investigation.

Did you use a promo or discount code? I used one and have not gotten credit. Hemisphere must be the parent company of Wine Insiders as the charge for WI posts as Hemisphere as well. They are very obnoxious about not crediting if you use a promo code or if you buy things that are specially priced. I chatted Amex about the WI offer and eventually got credit but will probably let this one go.

 

[Alexle2007]

Last “newb” question, CFF (Flex) or CF for the downgrade of my beloved CSR? It will feel so strange not to have it.

 

[becauseimnew]

Did you use a promo or discount code? I used one and have not gotten credit. Hemisphere must be the parent company of Wine Insiders as the charge for WI posts as Hemisphere as well. They are very obnoxious about not crediting if you use a promo code or if you buy things that are specially priced. I chatted Amex about the WI offer and eventually got credit but will probably let this one go.

I did use a promo code.

 

[Judique]

I live in a very modest house in a very upscale neighborhood of multi million dollar homes. My children were always ashamed of my house but it was my house where all their friends (with home movie theaters and indoor pools) preferred to hang out.

Yes, I understand completely. Sometimes its hard to get them to go home to their mansions.

That said, the people in the mansions tend to be nice people also.

As far as the modest house, are there really any modest houses left in Maryland? I thought all the 'I want to buy your home' companies bought them all up and flipped them up!

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Last “newb” question, CFF (Flex) or CF for the downgrade of my beloved CSR? It will feel so strange not to have it.

Since the CF isn’t offered anymore I’d downgrade to it

 

[AmyAnne]

Ugh I had decided not to try to wrap my head around applying for a CSP but now that the current offer is (possibly) ending on 7/17 I am rethinking . . . I have the CSR now (have had it since 2016), so I would need to downgrade to a Freedom today and then apply for the CSP on 7/17--is that correct? And then I can (maybe) upgrade the Freedom back to a CSR?

 

[becauseimnew]

Ugh I had decided not to try to wrap my head around applying for a CSP but now that the current offer is (possibly) ending on 7/17 I am rethinking . . . I have the CSR now (have had it since 2016), so I would need to downgrade to a Freedom today and then apply for the CSP on 7/17--is that correct? And then I can (maybe) upgrade the Freedom back to a CSR?

Yes, the support links usually last a couple of weeks after the public link dies.

 

[catsinawindow]

Can I ask another credit card rewards-related question? I'm thinking of getting a Southwest credit card since I'm fairly certain we'll be flying Southwest for our Disney trip (and I'm a fan of Southwest in general, so I think we'd get use from the card even in future years). Which Southwest card (if any) might be best for me, a very casual traveler who flies less than once a year? Is there a certain intro-bonus I should be waiting for, or should I wait until closer to our trip date (July 2022) so the points don't expire? Does it make sense to get a Southwest card if I don't fly very often, considering the annual fee? Thanks to everyone on this board for your helpful replies!

 

[Arcades]

Last “newb” question, CFF (Flex) or CF for the downgrade of my beloved CSR? It will feel so strange not to have it.

If you don't have a daily driver for non-category spending, then CFU would be a good option (1.5% on all purchases). If you already have a card for non-category spending, then get the CFF (it as 3% on dining/drugstores that the CF does not have) for the 5% rotating categories.

 

[Alexle2007]

Yes, I understand completely. Sometimes its hard to get them to go home to their mansions.

That said, the people in the mansions tend to be nice people also.

As far as the modest house, are there really any modest houses left in Maryland? I thought all the 'I want to buy your home' companies bought them all up and flipped them up!

There are in Carroll County Although we do live in a very nice house but not in comparison to his friends with their in ground pools and finished basements.

 

[Arcades]

Can I ask another credit card rewards-related question? I'm thinking of getting a Southwest credit card since I'm fairly certain we'll be flying Southwest for our Disney trip (and I'm a fan of Southwest in general, so I think we'd get use from the card even in future years). Which Southwest card (if any) might be best for me, a very casual traveler who flies less than once a year? Is there a certain intro-bonus I should be waiting for, or should I wait until closer to our trip date (July 2022) so the points don't expire? Does it make sense to get a Southwest card if I don't fly very often, considering the annual fee? Thanks to everyone on this board for your helpful replies!

All 3 versions of the personal Southwest card that Chase offers has a 65,000 miles sign up bonus. That bonus is worth roughly $900 (I value Southwest miles at 1.4 cents per point), so the annual fee should not scare you off. If you don't plan to keep the card past 1 year (after getting the SUB), then get the Plus card, which has the lowest annual fee. The Priority version has the highest annual fee, but also a $75 credit, which drops the fee down to $74. For $5 more than the Plus card, you get 4,500 more miles each year you renew your card. Using the same valuation above, those 4,500 miles are worth $63. So, if you plan to keep the card long term (which helps prevent your miles from expiring), I'd recommend the Priority card. If you think there's a chance you will not use the travel credit or fly at all in the coming year, then get the Premier card ($30 higher fee, but $42 in more miles upon anniversary).

In sum:

Keeping the card just for one year: Plus
Keeping the card for more than one year AND will definitely use the travel credit: Priority
Keeping the card for more than one year, but might not travel this year: Premier

 

[becauseimnew]

Can I ask another credit card rewards-related question? I'm thinking of getting a Southwest credit card since I'm fairly certain we'll be flying Southwest for our Disney trip (and I'm a fan of Southwest in general, so I think we'd get use from the card even in future years). Which Southwest card (if any) might be best for me, a very casual traveler who flies less than once a year? Is there a certain intro-bonus I should be waiting for, or should I wait until closer to our trip date (July 2022) so the points don't expire? Does it make sense to get a Southwest card if I don't fly very often, considering the annual fee? Thanks to everyone on this board for your helpful replies!

Hi and Welcome!
Southwest is the perfect airline for someone that doesn't travel often because their points never expire.
I would probably just recommend the SW Plus card, it comes with $69 annual fee. Right now all personal cards have the same sign up bonus 65,000 points for $2,000 spending.

If your trip is within the next 12 months I would really consider the Priority Credit Card, the annual fee is $149 BUT you get $75 credit on Southwest purchases and 4 upgrade boarding passes. You could use those $75 to pay for early bird checkin, and when flying in and out of MCO you really need to have early bird checkin.

 

[iujen94]

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Can I ask another credit card rewards-related question? I'm thinking of getting a Southwest credit card since I'm fairly certain we'll be flying Southwest for our Disney trip (and I'm a fan of Southwest in general, so I think we'd get use from the card even in future years). Which Southwest card (if any) might be best for me, a very casual traveler who flies less than once a year? Is there a certain intro-bonus I should be waiting for, or should I wait until closer to our trip date (July 2022) so the points don't expire? Does it make sense to get a Southwest card if I don't fly very often, considering the annual fee? Thanks to everyone on this board for your helpful replies!

Now is a great time to apply for a Southwest card! They’ve got a 65k point SUB which ends very soon (sorry, I don’t have the exact date handy). The priority has a $150ish AF, but you get a $75 SW travel credit, so the fee is really more like $75. The annual points anniversary bonus and free upgraded boardings (which you can use in lieu of buying Early Bird Checkin) also makes that AF less painful.

 

[Judique]

It was recommended that I re-post this question here as it seems there's a number of credit card experts who frequent this thread

I've had a Citi ThankYou Preferred card for many years, and it tends to be the credit card we use for big purchases that we want to collect points for (we pay these purchases off and don't carry a balance). Until recently, we were mostly using our ThankYou Points for Amazon purchases for the convenience of doing so, but I know that's not the most effective way to use them and am wondering if there's a way they can be put to use towards the Disney World vacation we're saving up for in July 2022?

I don't see Disney in the list of gift cards for redemption, nor do I see Southwest (the airline we are most likely going to be flying with). There is a Landry's giftcard if we end up eating at T-Rex or Yak and Yeti while there, but that could be risky if we don't. There's a number of gift cards to places that sell Disney giftcards (eg, Target), but not sure if I'd be able to use a giftcard to buy a different giftcard?

Any other thoughts on using ThankYou Points towards a Disney vacation or on the card/rewards program in general?

I might do this if there's not a different way that would be best to use them...see which giftcard would give me the most bang for my buck (or points in this case) for stores where I'll be shopping anyway and then just put away that amount into the vacation fund.


Thank you, this is good to know.


Would I be able to use this if I booked a resort stay/ticket package through a travel agent? I'm still hoping that there's going to be some future discount or promotion that I'll be able to take advantage of later on (fingers are crossed for a free dining promo, although I do realize this is likely a pipe dream).

Can I ask another credit card rewards-related question? I'm thinking of getting a Southwest credit card since I'm fairly certain we'll be flying Southwest for our Disney trip (and I'm a fan of Southwest in general, so I think we'd get use from the card even in future years). Which Southwest card (if any) might be best for me, a very casual traveler who flies less than once a year? Is there a certain intro-bonus I should be waiting for, or should I wait until closer to our trip date (July 2022) so the points don't expire? Does it make sense to get a Southwest card if I don't fly very often, considering the annual fee? Thanks to everyone on this board for your helpful replies!

Lots of questions - TYP - tickets can be purchased with them. You may want to not do a travel agent. That way you can buy things separately using points, which you have time to do since you are a year out.

Southwest card: Consider this card but not as the first card.

If you do not have or have not had a CSP or CSR sign up bonus in the last 4 years, sign up for a CSP first. There is a 100K offer on it right this minute and about to expire. The 100K Ultimate Rewards can be used for many things. They transfer to Southwest 1:1. So right there you beat SW's best card offer.

But that said, they are worth more if you use them differently, so get this offer before it ends. Then grab your Southwest card for the flights. More on that later.

Don't be too afraid of annual fees. The CSP (Chase Sapphire Preferred) has a $95 fee but the points are worth $1000 just as a cash out and it goes up from there. You can always downgrade the card after the first annual fee once you've kept it for one year and paid one annual fee.

The SW points do not expire. If you close your rapid rewards account, that will terminate them, but there's no need to do that. The SW thing is a whole other ball game. Depending on who is going on your trip, you may want a companion pass.

I use SW points for my family. I don't willingly fly anywhere anymore. But I often book flights to help out my family.