I love credit cards so much! v5.0 - 2022 (see first page for add'l details)

[lsutigers03]

Everyone might want to go and check your SW flights. Today I was about to get back around 7,500 RR points for my four flights to MCO in May. I've gotten back 28,000 RR points since early December.

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

Some very positive changes coming to Chase IHG credit cards in March, including the ability to top off FNCs with points and better earning rates. Info here

The ability to top off FNC with points is something I've been wishing for a long time, so I am very happy about this change. I just hope a major devaluation doesn't come with. We are sitting on around 260K pts right now (after multiple trips that we intended to use the points for were cancelled due to Covid), hence the reason I am more motivated to go ahead and use them to book hotel in Yellowstone.

 

[StephPlum]

All this talk of national parks has me wondering-- how early do y'all recommend booking trips to Yellowstone, Acadia, Yosemite, etc.? We are normally last minute planners or at the most maybe 6-9 months out, but maybe if I start planning now we can have our pick for a park Summer '23.

Plan out about 15-18 months ahead of time. For the parks you have to stay in, reservations open 13 months ahead and go fast. That said, if you don’t get your first choice of accommodations or don’t get any the first day, stalk the website every day. People make plans 13 months out and then change them. You can’t cancel the day before and get your deposit back, but cancelling >30 days gets a refund, within 30 days is partial refund( I don’t know specifics without looking it up). I’ve been able to get rooms after the opening day by checking often.

Also be sure to check the NPS website and TripAdvisor forums. some parks are going to dated reservations. For some of those, like the Glacier GTTSR pass, you need to get as soon as it is available. A lot more planning involved than a few years ago as the parks became more popular, partly due to the pandemic.

 

[Arcades]

Recently I had recommended the US Bank Business Leverage card and its worth noting that the offer was raised from $750 SUB to up to $900 based upon the USA's Winter Olympic performance (the first $75 is guaranteed). They also allowed me to submit a request to match from my prior application, which is pending in case anyone applied.

 

[KPK02090]

On my CFF this morning I see the 4th quarter top spend category points Added to the points that will post when my next statement closes

Mine are too!

 

[MinnesoTristan]

I have a redemption that I'm pretty proud of and wanted to share!

I was looking at doing Labor Day weekend at Disneyland, so I searched award flights from Thursday, September 1 - Monday, September 5. By traveling one day earlier, from Wednesday, August 31 - Sunday, September 4, I was able to get three round-trip flights to SNA for 45,000 miles! 40,000 of those were the bonus miles from when I upgraded to the Gold Delta SkyMiles after having the Blue for a while.

I also opened an IHG Rewards Club card and practically earned the welcome bonus in one transaction (I had a medical bill that I needed to pay that satisfied most of it, and then I ordered DoorDash once to finish my spending requirement). Once those miles post to my statement, I'm looking at four free nights - considering the Hotel Indigo - it's a little bit nicer brand and it's cheaper since it's on Katella.

I also really liked that DashPass was included with the IHG card for one year, because it pays for the annual fee for the first year, and pays for itself if you use it twice a month.

Cheers!

 

[2TxAgs]

I am so shocked at these responses to be honest! Using points versus paying easily $300+ nt in cash?!!!? Who are you people?!! Hahaha! I guess it really goes to show, points don't always prevail just cuz its the free/cheaper way to do things. Will definitely have to look into staying in the park based on these recommendations now. I will say, we absolutely HATE camping or anything that resembles "roughing it", so I will have to look at the cabins ya'll suggested. So glad I asked this!! You guys are amazing, as always, with the help

We stayed 2 nights in Gardiner at the North Entrance to YNP. Check out the Absaroka Lodge. We had no problems with seeing what we wanted on the northern portion of the park from there, and then we moved down to one of the more central hotels for the southern half of our visit. (We stayed 4 nights) This doesn't help with your question regarding using points, but I just wanted to point out that park rooms are limited and there are other options that will work out well.
Cheers - enjoy your trip!

 

[afan]

Just startef my life ins policy in the fall. I got a tax form for gross distribution. I obviously haven't taken anything out of it. What is this for? I wasn't expecting tax stuff for an ins policy though I do realize it has an investment component to it.

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

We stayed 2 nights in Gardiner at the North Entrance to YNP. Check out the Absaroka Lodge. We had no problems with seeing what we wanted on the northern portion of the park from there, and then we moved down to one of the more central hotels for the southern half of our visit. (We stayed 4 nights) This doesn't help with your question regarding using points, but I just wanted to point out that park rooms are limited and there are other options that will work out well.
Cheers - enjoy your trip!

Thanks for letting me know that staying outside the park worked for you! That is encouraging to hear.

As I looked into it more and more today, it seems we are going to do the same. It’s not in our budget for this trip to pay $1600+ just for the rooms, on top of all the other trip expenses like rental car, etc. And then trying to do this last minute also since our other trip was cancelled (well, 7 months out, but that is pretty last minute for this kind of trip! My main priority at this point is just making sure we can go this year since we don’t have another trip planned.) So after mapping it for a long while today, and going over with DH, we’re fine if we have to do a bit more driving some days. We are used to driving (we drive to florida several times a year) with no issue. Although I feel like it’s going to be more of a cliff notes version of Yellowstone, which we’re okay with. We will do a full day in Teton, and 3 full days in Yellowstone. Flying into Jackson hole, and flying out of Bozeman, which does cut down some on the driving also, with not having to circle back.

Anything that we just CANNOT miss? Is the aerial tram in Teton Village worth a visit?

 

[GZanta77]

I just received a mailer for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless - offer is for 5 FNC up to 50k pts each - sub is 5k/3mos.

I have pretty much abandoned Marriott over the last couple of years and a Marriott Credit Card was not on my radar, but have to say I am tempted by this offer. Anyone think the 50k certs are still going to be worth having after March?

 

[2TxAgs]

Thanks for letting me know that staying outside the park worked for you! That is encouraging to hear.

As I looked into it more and more today, it seems we are going to do the same. It’s not in our budget for this trip to pay $1600+ just for the rooms, on top of all the other trip expenses like rental car, etc. And then trying to do this last minute also since our other trip was cancelled (well, 7 months out, but that is pretty last minute for this kind of trip! My main priority at this point is just making sure we can go this year since we don’t have another trip planned.) So after mapping it for a long while today, and going over with DH, we’re fine if we have to do a bit more driving some days. We are used to driving (we drive to florida several times a year) with no issue. Although I feel like it’s going to be more of a cliff notes version of Yellowstone, which we’re okay with. We will do a full day in Teton, and 3 full days in Yellowstone. Flying into Jackson hole, and flying out of Bozeman, which does cut down some on the driving also, with not having to circle back.

Anything that we just CANNOT miss? Is the aerial tram in Teton Village worth a visit?

If you're flying out of Bozeman, then Gardiner is a great option for the final night or two. And coming up from Teton, if you can get a room in West Thumb or Lake, you're in the south/central part of the Park and can visit the more southern attractions. The deal with Yellowstone is that you can be in the car for hours but not really travel much distance! The roads are packed anyways, and then you may find yourself stuck behind 15 cars which have all stopped to see a bear way up the hill. Or a few bison are near the road and everyone is stopped with their cameras out the windows. The wildlife sightings are a double edged sword - wonderful to see, but can cause massive back ups! So the key is FLEXIBILITY and PATIENCE. Pick a few things to see each day based on where you're staying, and know that there will be lots to see for another trip!

 

[djmeredith]

I just received a mailer for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless - offer is for 5 FNC up to 50k pts each - sub is 5k/3mos.

I have pretty much abandoned Marriott over the last couple of years and a Marriott Credit Card was not on my radar, but have to say I am tempted by this offer. Anyone think the 50k certs are still going to be worth having after March?

I got the card with this offer when they offered it in 2020. I have no idea what the changes will bring because I haven't been in the points game very long. However, I have found plenty of non-aspirational properties where the 50K certs could be used, and some nicer properties. So it will depend on when/where you want to use them. I actually still have 2 of mine because of the extensions. Hoping I can talk them into a 2 month extension so I can use them in Europe in Aug.

 

[wanderlust7]

I just received a mailer for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless - offer is for 5 FNC up to 50k pts each - sub is 5k/3mos.

I have pretty much abandoned Marriott over the last couple of years and a Marriott Credit Card was not on my radar, but have to say I am tempted by this offer. Anyone think the 50k certs are still going to be worth having after March?

They're coming out with the ability to top off the certs up to 15k and have said that 97% of properties will remain within the non-peak to peak range this year. You might still be able to get good value out of them this year. But it's Bonvoy, so hard to say until the actual rollout.

 

[softballpooh]

Is there ever a good time to buy bonus points for hotels, specifically Hyatt? I received the email today about the 30% more Hyatt promotion when you purchase points. This got me thinking about when it would be 1) a good idea, if ever 2) if there is a certain level that it becomes cost neutral or beneficial and 3) do they ever go more than 30% on these bonus promos?

Say I know I'm going to be 25K points short for my fall trip to Hawaii and I can buy the points now for $480 (20K points + 6000 bonus points). I won't earn 26K points on a stay for the cost out of pocket, but I will earn nights. And the cash price for the resort I'm staying at in Hawaii is way more than $480 per night cash rate.

Just contemplating and would love input.

 

[afan]

Is there ever a good time to buy bonus points for hotels, specifically Hyatt? I received the email today about the 30% more Hyatt promotion when you purchase points. This got me thinking about when it would be 1) a good idea, if ever 2) if there is a certain level that it becomes cost neutral or beneficial and 3) do they ever go more than 30% on these bonus promos?

Say I know I'm going to be 25K points short for my fall trip to Hawaii and I can buy the points now for $480 (20K points + 6000 bonus points). I won't earn 26K points on a stay for the cost out of pocket, but I will earn nights. And the cash price for the resort I'm staying at in Hawaii is way more than $480 per night cash rate.

Just contemplating and would love input.

They way you are looking at it is good. It's the same as airline miles. If I need x amount to get my flight and can't accrue that much in another way, does the cash price of the miles make sense in correlation to what I'd spend in cash for the flight. If the night you'll use the points for would cost you more cash then you'd pay for the miles and you won't earn them in another way I would buy them. And if you can buy them with a card you are meeting MSR with even better. I don't know how hyatt points post, but a lot aren't done through the hotel/airline so you don't get any multiplier if you use their card to buy the points.

 

[lsutigers03]

Recently I had recommended the US Bank Business Leverage card and its worth noting that the offer was raised from $750 SUB to up to $900 based upon the USA's Winter Olympic performance (the first $75 is guaranteed). They also allowed me to submit a request to match from my prior application, which is pending in case anyone applied.

I have a tab open for this card as I think it'll be my next one. Unfortunately I still have $5k left on my Venture X MSR. I might miss out on the extra $75 or $150 but even if I do $750 is a really nice offer.

 

[Arcades]

I have a tab open for this card as I think it'll be my next one. Unfortunately I still have $5k left on my Venture X MSR. I might miss out on the extra $75 or $150 but even if I do $750 is a really nice offer.

The offer appears to be good for applications through February 20th. So, even if you're not done with the MSR on your Venture X, it might be worth putting in an application right before the deadline, provided you have a plan to hit the MSR within the next 4 months. The annual fee being waived the first year made it a no brainer for me. I checked the travel portal prices and a flight option to College Station (for the LSU vs. Texas A&M game I'm planning to attend) was only $17 more than the fare on AA's website, so the markup isn't too bad.

 

[570traveler]

Question about booking flights using cash (always used points)...booking a spring break trip to Hawaii for DD20 and her 3 friends. I found some cheap fare through expedia...anyone know what the cancellation policy is? If I buy tickets using my CSR does that help (or do I need to be one of the travelers?)
Also, one flight has them flying to LAX with a 6 hour overnight layover then transferring to another airline...I'm assuming they would need to get their checked bags and then proceed to check in at the new airline and go through TSA agian...I'm trying to get them to avoid this option if this is the case! My other concern is if the first flight is delayed and they don't make the early morning flight to Hawaii, that could be even more issues...
Any thoughts/tips???

edit…if my DD would get a United credit card before they fly, could they still get the free bag benefit? And any idea if that card could be expedited?

 

[KPK02090]

I received an email from Marriott regarding a recent stay in Philadelphia -
“Dear CHAD BOHLING:
We recently invited you to participate in our guest survey regarding your recent stay.”

Only I didn’t stay there and my name is not Chad Bohling.
Should I be concerned? All of my points are still there, but there’s clearly some mistake with email addresses somewhere.
should I contact anyone or just ignore it?

 

[GZanta77]

I received an email from Marriott regarding a recent stay in Philadelphia -
“Dear CHAD BOHLING:
We recently invited you to participate in our guest survey regarding your recent stay.”

Only I didn’t stay there and my name is not Chad Bohling.
Should I be concerned? All of my points are still there, but there’s clearly some mistake with email addresses somewhere.
should I contact anyone or just ignore it?

If you are happy that your account is intact, then personally I would ignore it. If it happens again, then maybe call somebody, but based on prior experience, I am not sure that you will find a resolution easily. Weird stuff just happens sometimes. Last week I got a survey email about a hospital visit - it was addressed to Edward - and that ain't me. As long as I don't get his hospital bills then I'll ignore it for now.