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

[reliev]

tin foil hat here, just had this thought and where else would i post it after the bonvoy Deval (Hyatt was trying to get ahead) when they announced this cat 8 I had a suspicion that all these nice fancy hotels I would never pay for with cash would go to this category. New hyatt bazinga card (first thing i could come up with) comes with a free cat 8 on the anniversary and better bonuses for ms for nights.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Using Airbnb in pre-vax 2020 makes sense. I think my first hotel stay was in April of 2021 right between my first 2 vax dates and it was still a little weird. I'm not sure when we'll head out on a great American road trip post retirement....our aging dog might have a say in that! But the hotels on points + NP Lodges is what we envision too.

We stayed in the Apgar Village Inn (I think that was the name) in our '17 trip to Glacier with a room that faced the lake. Loved it and would return. The Many Glacier area is definitely worth a repeat visit! We loved it. So nice to hike right from your cabin. We head to Yellowstone/GTNP this June and are doing our standard "3 nights at Roosevelt Lodge + 3 nights at Signal Mtn + 1 night back in Bozeman". Was definitely harder to get the room types this trip and the rental car is twice from 2019!

We're grabbing Airbnb gift cards each month in prep for a 2 week trip to Ireland in 2023. We're staying 3 nights each in 3 places and then will be in hotels/BnBs for some single overnights. Can't figure out a great way to use points for Airbnbs, so grabbing them when they are discounted or we get bonus fuel points at our grocery store.

Gathering airbnb gift cards is such a great idea---thanks for mentioning it because I hadn't thought about that before. I paid for past stays with a CSR but I could get a better deal with the GCs (discounted or 5x office store or even just meeting a SUB).

For those thinking of using gift cards for AirBNB, be sure to read their gift card redemption rules in entirety. They are a bit quirky. For example, if you've already booked your AirBNB and you split payments into two, you CANNOT use a gift card for the final payment.

Also, I believe you can click through a British Airways link to get points for booking an AirBNB, though I haven't done that yet.

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

For those thinking of using gift cards for AirBNB, be sure to read their gift card redemption rules in entirety. They are a bit quirky. For example, if you've already booked your AirBNB and you split payments into two, you CANNOT use a gift card for the final payment.

Also, I believe you can click through a British Airways link to get points for booking an AirBNB, though I haven't done that yet.

Thanks for the T&C heads up I just spent half an hour I should have been doing something else (lol) looking at airbnbs on the Big Island near the NP and holy cow As soon as my cousin lets me know the wedding date (amorphous October right now) I will be booking for either in the park or one of those airbnbs after I gather the GCs. Well, I think I might book the airfare first but you know what I mean.

 

[wanderlust7]

Southwest changed my flight to a bad connection. When I went to change it I saw that prices had dropped. I used the one time change and picked a lower priced flight thinking that it would automatically refund me the points, but it didn't. Is that the way it's supposed to work?

When I went back into the reservation after the change to try to change to the same flight to get the difference, it did show a refund, but a lessor amount than it should be. So I ended up canceling and rebooking. Saved almost 14k points each!

It's for April. MCO-HOU-SJC, they changed both segments.

When I go to look at the flight I changed to now, it's gone up significantly! I bought at $347, was able to get $167 last night, today it's over $600!
So glad I saw the change e-mail and did it right away!

The system worked as intended. The programming is written to ignore any price difference so that you aren't charged extra when changing due to a change on their end. If you would have called in the CSR should have been able to do that for you and get the points refunded as well.

That makes sense, thanks! I've certainly taken advantage of the free change when the price was more. Never had an opportunity where it was less. I guess I thought the system would not charge you if more, but refund if less lol.

ETA: Ack! Didn't mean to quote myself. Meant to reply to @palhockeymomof2

 

[wanderlust7]

Chase drops the FN certs right about the same time your AF hits during your cardmember anniversary month. Amex will drop the FN certs 8-12 weeks after. So if you are trying to time when you will get your FN cert each year, get an Amex about 2-3 months before the month you’d like your FN cert to drop.

@LuckyMamaInDE Just in case it affects your planning, our Hyatt card FNCs posts about 2 months after anniversary and over 30 days after the AF. I think Chase has caught on. I'm not sure if that's true only for more newly opened cards or for everyone.

Having the FNC timing match is a great idea. I wish I'd planned better!

 

[leeniewdw]

For those thinking of using gift cards for AirBNB, be sure to read their gift card redemption rules in entirety. They are a bit quirky. For example, if you've already booked your AirBNB and you split payments into two, you CANNOT use a gift card for the final payment.

I should have mentioned that I'd read about some weirdness with redemption. I don't have experience with that and am hoping it all works for me when it comes time to reserve for this big trip, which will be in June. And I guess I have to figure out how the final payments work too. It would be terrible to have $3000 of Airbnb cards and end up being forced to pay via CC anyway.

 

[jujubiee4]

Is 5% off the only good Disney Gift Card deal going on right now? Trying to save up for
upcoming Wish cruise later in the year.

I read the gift card thread and seems like there is nothing. Although that gift card deal site
doesn't look to bad except they are sold out all the time and may be sketchy. Sigh! Even my
local Sams Club had 500 GC for.....485! Even they aren't offering much of a bargain.

 

[havaneselover]

I’m about to buy tickets from Barcelona to london on Vueling. I really have no good options,

 

[StephPlum]

Looking for ways to maximize points to payoff a car.
option 1 - use CIU 1.5x with plastiq.
Option 2 - is there a way to buy VGC/MGC with CIC and use on plastiq for 5x? Option 3 - buy VGC/MGC with CIC and figure out MOs?

After the cashier accused me of money laundering at DG when I was loading my serve, I am not sure about MOs. Also, I’d rather utilize an on-line,socially distanced option if possible! Advice?

 

[KPK02090]

Question for those who use Serve. I transferred $800 to my bank from Serve. I can't remember exactly when, but probably Thursday or Friday of last week. It says 1-3 days and in the past that's what I think it usually does take. My Serve account currently says $0, but the transfer hasn't hit my bank account yet and I can't see it pending on either side. Is there anywhere I should be able to see a record of the transfer before it's finished?
Thanks!

 

[Pixiedustspreader]

Is 5% off the only good Disney Gift Card deal going on right now? Trying to save up for
upcoming Wish cruise later in the year.

I read the gift card thread and seems like there is nothing. Although that gift card deal site
doesn't look to bad except they are sold out all the time and may be sketchy. Sigh! Even my
local Sams Club had 500 GC for.....485! Even they aren't offering much of a bargain.

Check your Chase offers. I have a couple 10% back ($5.00 max) out there. ShopDisney.

 

[platamama]

I’m about to buy tickets from Barcelona to london on Vueling. I really have no good options,

Avios? I can check for you. I picked a random June date (I don't remember when you're flying) and see 12,750 Avios + $20.36.

 

[platamama]

Question for those who use Serve. I transferred $800 to my bank from Serve. I can't remember exactly when, but probably Thursday or Friday of last week. It says 1-3 days and in the past that's what I think it usually does take. My Serve account currently says $0, but the transfer hasn't hit my bank account yet and I can't see it pending on either side. Is there anywhere I should be able to see a record of the transfer before it's finished?
Thanks!

I've not ever seen a record of the transfer before it's finished. When I transfer funds, it takes more like 5-6 days IIRC. I usually screenshot the transfer when I make it, for my own records.

 

[KPK02090]

I've not ever seen a record of the transfer before it's finished. When I transfer funds, it takes more like 5-6 days IIRC. I usually screenshot the transfer when I make it, for my own records.

Thanks. I won't panic yet. I used to do screenshots too, but I got lazy...

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Question for those who use Serve. I transferred $800 to my bank from Serve. I can't remember exactly when, but probably Thursday or Friday of last week. It says 1-3 days and in the past that's what I think it usually does take. My Serve account currently says $0, but the transfer hasn't hit my bank account yet and I can't see it pending on either side. Is there anywhere I should be able to see a record of the transfer before it's finished?
Thanks!

For me it usually takes 4-6 days…if I do a transfer on Monday…it hits my bank account on Friday…if I do the transfer on Tuesday…it shows up on Monday

 

[havaneselover]

Avios? I can check for you. I picked a random June date (I don't remember when you're flying) and see 12,750 Avios + $20.36.

I hadn’t thought of that. I just checked for 5/28 and there isn’t anything available until 5 pm (10:15 is too early). Oh, well.

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

@LuckyMamaInDE Just in case it affects your planning, our Hyatt card FNCs posts about 2 months after anniversary and over 30 days after the AF. I think Chase has caught on. I'm not sure if that's true only for more newly opened cards or for everyone.

Having the FNC timing match is a great idea. I wish I'd planned better!

I just looked at my spreadsheet---dh applied and was approved on 10/1 and his FNC expires 11/28. If I apply now-ish, I'd be about 5 months off his cycle Not sure if I should do that, or apply for something else and save the Hyatt for September.

 

[wanderlust7]

I just looked at my spreadsheet---dh applied and was approved on 10/1 and his FNC expires 11/28. If I apply now-ish, I'd be about 5 months off his cycle Not sure if I should do that, or apply for something else and save the Hyatt for September.

The Hyatt SUB is actually not great right now. The way they word it is misleading. It's really a 30k for $3000 spend SUB, plus you get additional 1 point up to 15k. The 60k they talk about includes 15k you'd get anyways.

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

The Hyatt SUB is actually not great right now. The way they word it is misleading. It's really a 30k for $3000 spend SUB, plus you get additional 1 point up to 15k. The 60k they talk about includes 15k you'd get anyways.

Right, I'd be applying basically for the FNC to combine with dh's FNC going forward.

 

[wisconsinmom]

Woohoo!! I stepped out of my comfort zone and called Chase Recon about my denied SW Priority App. The lady was so nice, I explained that I messed up and must look like a crazy lady applying for too many cards. I told her exactly why I really wanted the SW card because I'll be flying SW a lot to see my elderly mother who just had surgery, this is 100% true and that I really could use the perks of the Priority card.

She moved credit from another card and said the new card will be here within 3-5 days!! Yay!

Now I'm laying off the apps for 6 months. DH just got the Venture X so we'll work on getting that spend done!