So jealous of your Japan bookings. Did you see that some of the Hyatt Cat 7s are moving to Cat 8 including Park Hyatt Kyoto. Have you started booking hotels?Happened to check AA and found JAL biz flights for our outbound!Pretty sure I didn't see it before, so maybe a cancellation or hold release. We have to leave 2 days later than I wanted, but thinking it's worth it. Flight is out of Seattle, but was able to get the connecting on the same ticket. Was short 1445 miles lol, so I transferred from Bonvoy. Hope it makes it over in 48 hours, which is supposed to be the usual case. Otherwise, buying for $75 or transferring from DH for $30 isn't too bad. The AA 5 day hold is very nice. First time using the Bonvoy transfer and was happy to see that they don't make you do it in increments of 1000 and I could do the exact amount.
More retention DPs lol. Tried again for DH's second plat, a few days after the AF posted. Still getting the 40k for $3000 spend. But since we took the AU offer on the card, pushed me over the edge and decided to take the offer. It would probably be cutting it close on the AU offer to close the card in time for the AF refund.
Tried again for the Bonvoy biz retention. STILL not transferred. Third time now. Was told no offers. When I asked to be transferred to Business Membership Consulting, was told that they can only help when there are offers on the account. Huh. I guess that could be true. I think I've always had some sort of offer before and was always transferred. I might try asking to be transferred right away next time.
Looking for some advice on which cards to keep open and what to apply for next for some upcoming expenses.
I am currently at 3/24 (assuming that a biz card does not count. If it does, I'd be at 4/24):
-Chase SW Priority - before 2015 (not sure of exact date, but 2015 is as far back as statements go on my app). Just submitted for upgrade to get 5k points - not a lot, but I just need a few more for flights I'm looking at.
-Chase Slate - 12/2016 - don't use often, unless there is a promotion or offer on the account that is useful to me, so possibly close?
-Chase Sapphire - 6/2019 - my primary card, to buildup URs - want to keep for now to use global entry credit for one of my kids & to keep building URs
-Chase SW Performance Biz: 5/2021
-Amex Platinum: 1/2021 - want to keep for now, as I am renewing my passport & then want to use the global entry credit
-Amex Rose Gold 3/2021 - possibly close once my anniversary hits. We generally use the uber credits & dining credits which mostly offset the annual fee, but otherwise nothing special here.
-BOA Amtrak - 10/2021
-BOA CT Bar Association - I've had this since around 1998. Seldom use it, but I've held it for so long I worry about the hit to my credit if I close it, since it will greatly reduce the average age of my accounts
I'm going to owe taxes (which will have to be paid by 4/15) and also have a long weekend to WDW planned in late March to visit DD who is doing the DCP this semester, so I can probably manage to hit $7,000 - $9,000 in spend easily in the short term, and would love to be able to hit a good sub with those expenses. Can't go with CSR until 2023 (at which point I'm thinking I'll PC my CSP then do a MDD if it still works then).
My main goal is points for travel. I like the flexibility of URs since I have the option to transfer to a number of providers, or book on the portal. Hoping to plan a couple of big trips in the next couple of years, but no definitive time frame yet - I was supposed to take oldest DD to Italy & Greece in 2020 for her high school graduation, and had to scrap it due to covid, so we still want to do that, although time frame is a bit up in the air due to her schedule. Younger DD is graduating high school this year and has said she'd like to go to Bora Bora (which I've warned her may be a pipe dream). Our primary airport is Bradley (Hartford), although Providence is a pretty easy alternative, and for a bigger trip I'd be willing to consider flying out of NYC (JFK or LGA) or Boston. I have a few Marriott points, but not many (around 20,000)
From the small amount of research I've doe so far, I'm think maybe the CIC - $7500 spend for 75,000 URs makes sense for a new card. I don't think I'd have enough spend for the CIP.
TIA for any advice!
I think the PH Kyoto award rooms only fit 2, so I haven't really considered it. We'll probably do the Conrad Osaka with 5th night free. But there are other ones on the list I'm interested in, some down the line so I guess it can't be helped. I was considering booking another stay at the Ventana, but I don't see any availability even at calendar open.
yep agreed.
This was bound to happen.
I guess I could do Prime, but not 10 years. I debated cancelling it w/ the raise in cost, or making the ex split that with me, LOL. We split netflix now, our phone plan, DD's car and insurance, etc. But I guess the positive is I could convert to Amazon credit. Hmmmm.
70,000 RRs?
Have you checked thru your Biz Plat to see what flights would cost with MRs, especially if you pick that airline for your incidentals since you get 35% MRs back?
We had a similar dilemma in December. Other things I did… I bought a few restaurant gift cards that I knew we would use in the short term (and got the holiday bonus deals they offered). I also paid off my husband’s cell phone and made an advance payment on my gas bill since they took AmEx. I was definitely digging through the upcoming expenses for ideas.
the MCO one is a steal with the cat 1-4-night certificate, I use it all the time for early flights. ugh this stinks
Yes, I stayed at an Airbnb on Dec 21st in Paris, and the $200 credit posted on Dec 23rd. Cap One has been very helpful when I call. DD had her card shipped to our address because she's stationed in Germany, and they allowed me to activate her card when I called, as well as DSIL, who is an AU. She could not use the APP as it asks for a phone # and she only has a German # now.
in japan too (i try to get 2cpp) I noticed the taxes can make it make or break it for rooms, I just texted my buddy whos coming with asked how bad he wants to do Kyoto because if not ill do it next trip. With wanting to go to both Disney parks (ofc) it may be too much for a first trip. @Wander I think you have done it correctly? too much for 8-day trip? it's all i can do next year. If only i didn't have to work..
This one hurts the most, that's our most frequented Hyatt. We always take a late flight out, stay at MCO then head to Disney at 8am.
