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

[AmyAnne]

Got 30k retention on my Gold! AF hasn't posted yet, but I wanted to do it before the Schwab cash out goes down to 1.1 on Sept 1. Also figured since I got a good retention on my biz plat that I should do it sooner while they still like me lol.

Got transferred on chat, they didn't try to get me to call. I said I was thinking about canceling. I wonder if that's the key word, or maybe it just depends on the rep you get. I always do it around the same time - mornings Pacific on weekdays.

Congrats! I did not fare so well in my quest for a retention offer on my Biz Plat. I did get a retention person on chat but was told no retention offer because I got one last year. Since it's looking like I will end up canceling the card, I went ahead and paid the balance, minus the AF, and once that posts I will call again--if no retention offer, I will just cancel.

 

[calypso726]

Sort of a follow up question about using points for business/first class. I have been looking for 2 tix next summer to either Europe or Africa and I cannot find any of the good seats for less than around 150k pts. I have no idea if that is a good deal or not, but thinking no. Where can I find good "tips" for getting good mileage deals?

Where in Africa? We flew through Heathrow to Cape Town on British Air for both our trips and had no issue booking seats right when the window opened (@calypso726 will know the number of days it is). I usually spend a few days prior to the window opening to 'practice' booking the tickets I want so I have a good idea what availability will be and the miles that I will need (so I can transfer points in advance if needed). The key for me has always been to know when the window opens for the airline that I want and to book my tickets right on that day to get the best seats for the lowest amount of miles. I don't know that there will be any "mileage deals" next summer, but most, if not all, airlines use dynamic pricing with their seats available on miles.

Where in Europe do you want to go? When do you want to go? You should be able to get better value with your points.

@CaliforniaGirl09 flies to Europe frequently and should also be able to offer some insight.

British Airways opens up award flights at 355 days out. @CaliforniaGirl09 provided excellent advice. I have always recommended to start trying dummy bookings to get a feel for when the window opens and what may be available a few weeks before your actual window opens. I also prefer to stick with airlines that allow me to book one ways. If I wait for a return flight to open up then my departure flights will likely not be available. It helps to be flexible with your dates when looking for business or first class award availability.

I'd also advise not to stick with your closest airport or even with the same airline. Positioning to a different departure airport that has better award availability is another strategy. That could be a nearby airport in your own state or one in another state. SOmetimes I flight out of Miami but fly back into Ft. Lauderdale. I have positioned myself to fly out of NYC when I can't find good award availability out of Miami. I will fly out NY the night before, spend a night at a hotel on points with a flight booked the next evening to London. In the morning, I leave my bags with the hotel and spend the day exploring the city. I come back after a one day adventure, grab my bags and take an Uber to the airport. I have done the same for a return trip. I will also fly out on one airline and fly back home on a different one. Hope this helps

 

[wanderlust7]

Congrats! I did not fare so well in my quest for a retention offer on my Biz Plat. I did get a retention person on chat but was told no retention offer because I got one last year. Since it's looking like I will end up canceling the card, I went ahead and paid the balance, minus the AF, and once that posts I will call again--if no retention offer, I will just cancel.

How long has it been since you got the retention? Supposedly it needs to be 13 months or more before they'll offer another one. Though I've seen one or two DPs where someone got one 12 months plus x number of days later. The one time I tried that was 12 months and 12 days since my retention and that was a no go. My biz plat and gold were first renewals, so didn't have that issue.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

For those renewing passports, I thought I'd provide a DP. Applied for DS's passport July 24th, arrived today, so 4 weeks and 2 days. No expedite, no overnight or anything. Local post office, Chicago passport office.

 

[djmeredith]

Where in Africa? We flew through Heathrow to Cape Town on British Air for both our trips and had no issue booking seats right when the window opened (@calypso726 will know the number of days it is). I usually spend a few days prior to the window opening to 'practice' booking the tickets I want so I have a good idea what availability will be and the miles that I will need (so I can transfer points in advance if needed). The key for me has always been to know when the window opens for the airline that I want and to book my tickets right on that day to get the best seats for the lowest amount of miles. I don't know that there will be any "mileage deals" next summer, but most, if not all, airlines use dynamic pricing with their seats available on miles.

Where in Europe do you want to go? When do you want to go? You should be able to get better value with your points.

@CaliforniaGirl09 flies to Europe frequently and should also be able to offer some insight.

British Airways opens up award flights at 355 days out. @CaliforniaGirl09 provided excellent advice. I have always recommended to start trying dummy bookings to get a feel for when the window opens and what may be available a few weeks before your actual window opens. I also prefer to stick with airlines that allow me to book one ways. If I wait for a return flight to open up then my departure flights will likely not be available. It helps to be flexible with your dates when looking for business or first class award availability.

I'd also advise not to stick with your closest airport or even with the same airline. Positioning to a different departure airport that has better award availability is another strategy. That could be a nearby airport in your own state or one in another state. SOmetimes I flight out of Miami but fly back into Ft. Lauderdale. I have positioned myself to fly out of NYC when I can't find good award availability out of Miami. I will fly out NY the night before, spend a night at a hotel on points with a flight booked the next evening to London. In the morning, I leave my bags with the hotel and spend the day exploring the city. I come back after a one day adventure, grab my bags and take an Uber to the airport. I have done the same for a return trip. I will also fly out on one airline and fly back home on a different one. Hope this helps

Thank you both, this is very helpful!

 

[mmmears]

That's a question that will get you do many different answers. Plus some stuff that was there before won't be there when you go.

I've read so many blogs and comments from here and a lot of the musts on other peoples list wouldn't even make my if I have time list. While so much of what's on my must list wouldn't make their if I have time list. And you don't even want to see my notecards.

At some point I'll start planning my days again but not until I actually know if I can go next Sept. I'll start booking in oct.

I still have a sticky to cancel my travel ins, been there since my flight got cancelled in June. I haven't wanted to deal with it since I figure there's no point. Guess I should call this week since it's supposed to start next week. Maybe I can change it to cover FL that's part of the original dates.

Due to Covid, my travel insurance company offered a complete refund if we didn't make any claims on it for all the cancellations. You might want to check and see if you can just get a simple refund.

 

[djmeredith]

I totally agree about the key being when the window opens--up to the hour if possible. There are websites that keeps track of all the award tickets that release on a schedule (here's one: https://upgradedpoints.com/travel/airlines/when-do-airlines-release-award-seats/ ). United is one example of an airline that used to release awards fairly reliably about a year ahead, but now seems to release them when they want and mostly a week to a few days before a flight nowadays for the saver tickets on their own metal. But they are still okay for partner availability. I would also start by using award hacker to find the airlines and deals for the route you are most interested in. That gives you an idea of what you should be looking for: https://www.awardhacker.com In my experience first class to Europe is difficult. I was lucky to get a bunch during the pandemic on BA (with hefty fees I was willing to pay), but they've pretty much disappeared now. It might be worth it for you to pay for an alert service or two to have them look for your ideal awards--understanding that it might never open. Expert Flyer worked for me for a while, but then they stopped doing BA flights for a while without telling me, which really tee'd me off. (I was paying subscription solely for BA flights at the time with all kinds of alerts). They fixed the BA award issue but I haven't gone back. I really like seat spy for its simplicity now. It was free for a while, but now I think they've started charging for upper class flights. My experience is mostly with the UK since I travel there 4-5 times a year. But you can usually use them as a base for other european flights if you are willing to pay the fees. I've had very minimal luck with Flying Blue awards at decent prices. They can be crazy. I think one way was 225k points in business for a flight I was looking at recently. Nuts. You could also think about hiring someone to do it for you. I know @Calfan hired a company for first class seats to Japan (trip cancelled to COVID), but she was really happy with the service.

This was very helpful. I was trying to find some sites like this but had no idea where to start. Thank you!

 

[afan]

Due to Covid, my travel insurance company offered a complete refund if we didn't make any claims on it for all the cancellations. You might want to check and see if you can just get a simple refund.

That's good to know. I'll call them tomorrow, I just haven't wanted to deal with it since I figured it'd be a no

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

Does asking Chase to decrease the credit limit on one of your credit cards effect your credit score? Is it better to decrease the limit on an older card or a newer one or does it not matter? I think I want to apply for the CFF soon but am getting close to 50% of my income in terms of credit from Chase.

 

[IFlossU]

Does asking Chase to decrease the credit limit on one of your credit cards effect your credit score? Is it better to decrease the limit on an older card or a newer one or does it not matter? I think I want to apply for the CFF soon but am getting close to 50% of my income in terms of credit from Chase.

I lowered my limits by approximately $30k across a few cards so I could do a MDD. It may have lowered my score, but if it did it was only by a few points. Nothing I thought was significant.

 

[AmyAnne]

How long has it been since you got the retention? Supposedly it needs to be 13 months or more before they'll offer another one. Though I've seen one or two DPs where someone got one 12 months plus x number of days later. The one time I tried that was 12 months and 12 days since my retention and that was a no go. My biz plat and gold were first renewals, so didn't have that issue.

Interesting. I didn't realize that the timing was so specific. Unfortunately I might have waited too late last year for the timing to work this year. Looking at 2020, the retention offer credit ($250) posted on September 5. (There's a $200 appreciation credit that posted on August 30 but I think everyone got that.) This year's AF posted on August 19. So I think I need to cancel by September 18 to get the AF refunded. So at most I would have 12 months and 13 days.

 

[Alexle2007]

Does asking Chase to decrease the credit limit on one of your credit cards effect your credit score? Is it better to decrease the limit on an older card or a newer one or does it not matter? I think I want to apply for the CFF soon but am getting close to 50% of my income in terms of credit from Chase.

The main impact would be the utilization ratio, if you have a balance report before being paid off since there would be less credit limit. But once paid, it rebounds.

 

[Arcades]

Does asking Chase to decrease the credit limit on one of your credit cards effect your credit score? Is it better to decrease the limit on an older card or a newer one or does it not matter? I think I want to apply for the CFF soon but am getting close to 50% of my income in terms of credit from Chase.

I like to lower my limits and improve my chances for an auto approval (hasn't happened in awhile given the number of cards I have/have had). But, if you're worried about credit score impact, you also have the option of holding pat and, if denied, ask them to shift around some credit on reconsideration to open the new card using your existing credit limits.

 

[Judique]

Other than Chase Freedom last quarter, do we or did we have a 5% deal on any card for Home Improvement stores?

 

[LynnTH]

I use google flights to see prices - we usually let the prices dictate where we fly into for Europe and then rent a car or use trains. We are a family of 6 and look for cheap (economy class) airfare so I've booked through the Chase portal at 1.5. We've stayed at 3 AirBnb in France, and 3 in Germany. All of them have been fantastic and I don't see us ever doing a 2 week trip in hotels only. Read the airbnb reviews, google the neighborhoods and any hints you can find in the listing and reviews. We've stayed in an updated chateau, a medieval castle, and just having space, a balcony or outdoor space if we don't stay out late have been huge benefits to our vacations.

Staying in a castle would be awesome!! So, on google flights - can I just put in Europe and it will pick the cheapest airfare at different airports? I have never used it before. That would be most helpful.

 

[LynnTH]

LynnTH - I love a travel planning challenge Will throw this out as a framework, based on the travels of my college-age children. Fly to Amsterdam...spend 2-3 days. Then to Prague for 3 nights. Vienna for 3 nights, Munich for 4 and finally Paris for 4 nights. A nice loop and you fly into/out of major airports with lots of connections (plane/train) to the other cities. Yes, you miss beautiful Italy and expensive Switzerland, but you'll get some of the beauty of those places to/from Vienna and Munich. These are very walkable cities, so if you find accomodations in town, you'll save time and money by being close. Have fun planning!!
[/QUOTE]

Thanks for this. Given me some stuff to go on and think about. I have never been anywhere internationally (except Mexico and the Caribbean) so as much as I love planning vacations. I don't know much about planning this type of travel and gives me anxiety.....

 

[afan]

I can't remember. Does amex provide an instant number for all cards, except when it glitches?

I'd love to be able to call in and see if I can get it for my new card. Since it wasn't instant approval I'm guessing it's a maybe.

 

[Psychodisney]

Other than Chase Freedom last quarter, do we or did we have a 5% deal on any card for Home Improvement stores?

Chase business cards! You found your email from approx June 8.

 

[WVMomof3]

Need to put spend on new Amex Gold but should I stick with the CSR for rental car? Looks like the CSR provides the better coverage. Or do you think the Gold is adequate?

I have been tracking my rental prices for about a month now. I started at $720 for a subcompact and am now down to $465 for a intermediate SUV. Still way more than I want to spend, but it is 11 days. I have found AAA to be the cheapest. I always check Costco (even though I don't have a membership), I feel it gives me a good idea what to aim for. Right now cheapest Costco is over $100 more for a car, not SUV, than the AAA price.

 

[Haley R]

We were supposed to stay at wdw 9/5-9/8 in a cars suite at AoA but last night found a confirmed dvc reservation at GF! It’s in a lake view studio for 3 nights and it was only $750!! This has always been my dream resort and I can’t believe we’ll be staying there for so cheap. We’re also saving about $400 to not stay at AoA and won’t have to pay to parking. Ds is obsessed with the monorail so he’ll get to ride it for the first time. Being local definitely has it’s perks because we can pick up these last minute reservations that people cancel.