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

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

After 4 canceled cruises over the past 2 years - we finally made it back on a cruise ship this past weekend - just a short trip out to Bermuda and back - but boy did it feel wonderful to be back on the ocean.......and Bermuda!!!! 8 hours nowhere near enough. We will be back for sure.

All being well - we have two more cruises planned this year and am even more excited for those trips now. I wanna put Covid in the rear view sooo bad, but just came back to the news my sister has caught it. Seems it just won't go away.

That's how we felt about our short weekend cruise to the Bahamas in January of this year. We didn't even care where we went, we were just happy to be cruising again!!! Can't wait to be on Harmony of the Seas in December. I hope the testing requirement is lifted by then... that was by far the most stressful for me.

 

[elgerber]

Would you all choose to watch the magic kingdom fireworks from california grill or from in the park? The crowds always make me a little nervous…

Have you seen them before? If not, from the park for sure. You can't see the projections from outside, and they are off center from outside the park.

 

[Jax1023]

Have you seen them before? If not, from the park for sure. You can't see the projections from outside, and they are off center from outside the park.

I didn’t think the 4th of July fireworks had projections?

I have a dessert party scheduled for enchantment for later in the week. I know that is very projection heavy.

We’ll be in epcot for the actual 4th, but I’m less concerned about those fireworks. It just seems like there’s is so much more space at Epcot. The packed in shoulder to shoulder in magic kingdom makes me claustrophobic lol.

 

[elgerber]

I didn’t think the 4th of July fireworks had projections?

I have a dessert party scheduled for enchantment for later in the week. I know that is very projection heavy.

We’ll be in epcot for the actual 4th, but I’m less concerned about those fireworks. It just seems like there’s is so much more space at Epcot. The packed in shoulder to shoulder in magic kingdom makes me claustrophobic lol.

sorry missed the part that it was the 4th of July.

 

[becauseimnew]

Has anyone with the SW CP traveled in the last few days?
If so, was your companion checked in when you checked in? We flew yesterday and our DD’s weren’t checked in when we were. DH and I were B26 & 27, then when I checked in our companions they were B51 and B55.
I did have to call to get them added because I added them after our trip had started just for our return flight. So maybe that’s why?
We are flying this weekend and I purchased EBC for DH and I but not our companions.

 

[570traveler]

Has anyone with the SW CP traveled in the last few days?
If so, was your companion checked in when you checked in? We flew yesterday and our DD’s weren’t checked in when we were. DH and I were B26 & 27, then when I checked in our companions they were B51 and B55.
I did have to call to get them added because I added them after our trip had started just for our return flight. So maybe that’s why?
We are flying this weekend and I purchased EBC for DH and I but not our companions.

We just flew Saturday. I purchased early boarding so DD was checked in with me. B29 and B30
The Saturday before I didn’t purchase it because it was just a flight from Maui to Oahu. DD had to check in on her own. She actually got a better position than me lol
A25and A30

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

Has anyone with the SW CP traveled in the last few days?
If so, was your companion checked in when you checked in? We flew yesterday and our DD’s weren’t checked in when we were. DH and I were B26 & 27, then when I checked in our companions they were B51 and B55.
I did have to call to get them added because I added them after our trip had started just for our return flight. So maybe that’s why?
We are flying this weekend and I purchased EBC for DH and I but not our companions.

Memorial Day weekend, two flights with two companions. They were checked in with the main reservation both times, so the 5 of us got contigous positions. It was interesting as the system was inconsistent about the exact order (once, it went paid ticket, CP2, CP1, paid ticket, paid ticket so a CP went before their paid ticket) but they were always together.

 

[ten6mom]

we are globalists (the highest level of Hyatt).
With Hyatt status, you receive different perks like room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, etc., the more nights you go.
Since you booked on points and have a World of Hyatt account you will eventually rack up nights if you enjoy the experience as much as we do. The good thing about booking on points is you won't have any resort fees/parking fees with Hyatt. but the breakfast and room upgrades etc are only for those with status.

Hyatts are generally fine to great and Centrics are usually very nice and kind of quirky, reflecting their local surroundings and are less "cookie cutter." The Centric near Long Beach has good reviews from what I just skimmed. I don't think there is really anything to know, per se, about stays with Hyatts on points except that resort fees (if there are any) and parking fees (again, if there are any) are waived. Free breakfast is provided at Hyatt Places and Hyatt Houses for everyone but only for Globalists (top tier status) at their other hotels. Sorry if my post was misleading and hope you have a great cruise!

lol-you beat me to it this time @reliev

Haha, thank you both very much!

Good info about the breakfast... hey I'll definitely take free parking for a night! Too bad they don't seem to have a "leave your car so you don't have to pay for port parking" option!

 

[Livelovedance]

Most people value SW points at about .0125-.015 cpp, so the additional $30 doesn't quite reach that, in my opinion.

Premier

View attachment 677964
Plus
View attachment 677965

D

Don’t sleep on the SW Priority card! It’s $149, but you get a $75 SW credit (even if you always book with points, that can be used to pay the $5.60 taxes and fees), 4 upgraded boardings per year, and 7500 anniversary points. To me, the credit plus the 7500 points “pays” for the annual fee, and the upgraded boardings (which save me from paying for EBCI) are just gravy.

Yeah, going Priority over Premier is a no-brainer if you're going to spend at least $75 with Southwest. That brings the actual cost down to $75 for 7500 in points, compared to the $69 for 3000. If you're not spending at least $75 in flight fees (6 round trip, 1 one-way if your flights themselves are all points), then I doubt any SW card is a good deal.

Thanks for the all of the feedback! To be completely honest I was enticed by the 75,000 points, but considering my options before I apply for one. I didn’t consider the priority because we always pay with points (didn’t realize you could use it for the taxes and fees). It’s only 2 of us though and we fly about 3-4 times a year. Looking at it that way, I could say we’d spend close to or a little over the $75 credit. I never purchase EBCI, so the upgraded boardings would be a nice perk but it wouldn’t necessarily save me anything. Do the upgraded boardings apply to everyone you’ve booked for, or just the cardholder?

 

[iujen94]

Thanks for the all of the feedback! To be completely honest I was enticed by the 75,000 points, but considering my options before I apply for one. I didn’t consider the priority because we always pay with points (didn’t realize you could use it for the taxes and fees). It’s only 2 of us though and we fly about 3-4 times a year. Looking at it that way, I could say we’d spend close to or a little over the $75 credit. I never purchase EBCI, so the upgraded boardings would be a nice perk but it wouldn’t necessarily save me anything. Do the upgraded boardings apply to everyone you’ve booked for, or just the cardholder?

You can use the upgraded boardings for anyone - so for yourself 4 times (if your 2nd sits beside you in a middle seat, that’s likely all you’d need), or both of you 2 times.

 

[chattadisser]

Hey, quick Air BnB question...we're renting for the first time and the host wants a copy of our drivers license. Is that normal? I'm guessing that its to verify who you are but it seems odd.

Thanks!

ETA - Now we see that Ari BnB verifies your identity and then sends it to the host. Sounds legit! Nevermind!

 

[IFlossU]

We just flew Saturday. I purchased early boarding so DD was checked in with me. B29 and B30
The Saturday before I didn’t purchase it because it was just a flight from Maui to Oahu. DD had to check in on her own. She actually got a better position than me lol
A25and A30

With boarding numbers B29 & 30 were there still seats together? Or many open seats at the back? We’re flying a sold out flight this Friday and I just now bought EBCI. I’m thinking there’s a pretty good chance we’re going to be in the mid B’s. Just wondering if we can sit together, or at least 2 & 2. We usually end up in the low B’s and never have a problem, but lately with all the sold out flights I get concerned we may be separated.

 

[becauseimnew]

Memorial Day weekend, two flights with two companions. They were checked in with the main reservation both times, so the 5 of us got contigous positions. It was interesting as the system was inconsistent about the exact order (once, it went paid ticket, CP2, CP1, paid ticket, paid ticket so a CP went before their paid ticket) but they were always together.

Awesome. That’s how it usually works for us to but not this time, I’m sure it had to do with the weird booking.

 

[becauseimnew]

With boarding numbers B29 & 30 were there still seats together? Or many open seats at the back? We’re flying a sold out flight this Friday and I just now bought EBCI. I’m thinking there’s a pretty good chance we’re going to be in the mid B’s. Just wondering if we can sit together, or at least 2 & 2. We usually end up in the low B’s and never have a problem, but lately with all the sold out flights I get concerned we may be separated.

You’ll find seats at the back, all our recent flights have been sold out and we’ve been B30ish and have been able to sit 2 and 2.
Our flight to Denver had about 10 families boarding during family boarding and we were still able to sit 2 and 2.

 

[570traveler]

With boarding numbers B29 & 30 were there still seats together? Or many open seats at the back? We’re flying a sold out flight this Friday and I just now bought EBCI. I’m thinking there’s a pretty good chance we’re going to be in the mid B’s. Just wondering if we can sit together, or at least 2 & 2. We usually end up in the low B’s and never have a problem, but lately with all the sold out flights I get concerned we may be separated.

Haha well we didn’t get to board at the correct time because we ordered food at Starbucks. It took 30 minutes. I left and immediately saw that the area was just about empty. They were boarding C 1-30. Although we didn’t sit next to each other we both got an end seat in the exit rows so extra room lol
Lesson learned!
BUT we had the similar (B23-24) boarding numbers flying out to Maui on a sold out flight and had no problems sitting by each other. We actually found a woman sitting by herself in the aisle seat right near the front and took the other 2 in her row.
Unless you have a lot of pre boarders you’ll be fine getting 2 and 2.
I also did not buy EBCI until a few days before departure.

 

[IFlossU]

You’ll find seats at the back, all our recent flights have been sold out and we’ve been B30ish and have been able to sit 2 and 2.
Our flight to Denver had about 10 families boarding during family boarding and we were still able to sit 2 and 2.

Haha well we didn’t get to board at the correct time because we ordered food at Starbucks. It took 30 minutes. I left and immediately saw that the area was just about empty. They were boarding C 1-30. Although we didn’t sit next to each other we both got an end seat in the exit rows so extra room lol
Lesson learned!
BUT we had the similar (B23-24) boarding numbers flying out to Maui on a sold out flight and had no problems sitting by each other. We actually found a woman sitting by herself in the aisle seat right near the front and took the other 2 in her row.
Unless you have a lot of pre boarders you’ll be fine getting 2 and 2.
I also did not buy EBCI until a few days before departure.

Thanks guys! My other concern is we were planning to just carry on. We’ll play it by ear, but may end up checking if we get a later boarding number. I don’t mind gate checking, but sometimes don’t want to worry about it. Figure I’ll cross that bridge once we get our boarding numbers.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

I made a spreadsheet on google documents.
you can plug in values etc and trips and keep a calculator going, it's how I've kept up status the last few years. Some payment systems like my homeowner's insurance and car insurance only take visa and nonbonus spending I put on there also it's a little work but I feel it's worth it. I've been upgraded almost every time (except airport hotels seem like a room/view upgrade) I also keep in my spreadsheet for fees I don't put what bloggers put at the value I put things as I know I would spend 10$ on breakfast so that has value to me. Personally, I think Hyatt globalist is worth about 3k a year. I'm not sure if I would upgrade myself as much as they do for us but I don't know it's great to have.
I should expand it to put how much the upgrade "values" are but since i get suites that I would never probably pay face value for I don't know if I would consider that in my evaluation but for us more space is almost always better.

I would value the benefits of Globalist a lot, but I can't figure out how I can earn it with my stays/spending. By the end of the year, I will have 21 Hyatt stays. If I were to get both CCs, that would help but still wouldn't get me to 60 qualifying nights even after spending 15K on each. I'm not sure I would have much more spend left to throw into them to earn the 2 nights or 5K. Maybe some, but still not enough. So unless there's some trick I'm not aware of, I feel like it's hard to chase Globalist. I wish nights could carry over to the next calendar year because then I could do it.

 

[georgina]

Hey, quick Air BnB question...we're renting for the first time and the host wants a copy of our drivers license. Is that normal? I'm guessing that its to verify who you are but it seems odd.

Thanks!

ETA - Now we see that Ari BnB verifies your identity and then sends it to the host. Sounds legit! Nevermind!

No, not normal. Glad you got it figured out.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Thanks guys! My other concern is we were planning to just carry on. We’ll play it by ear, but may end up checking if we get a later boarding number. I don’t mind gate checking, but sometimes don’t want to worry about it. Figure I’ll cross that bridge once we get our boarding numbers.

We flew totally full flights to/from California 2 weeks ago and no one had to gate check that I’m aware of. I did preboard but I didn’t hear any demands to get rid of luggage while boarding. DH had late B boarding and there was overhead space even after he boarded (tried to upgrade his boarding but it was sold out.)

 

[IFlossU]

We flew totally full flights to/from California 2 weeks ago and no one had to gate check that I’m aware of. I did preboard but I didn’t hear any demands to get rid of luggage while boarding. DH had late B boarding and there was overhead space even after he boarded (tried to upgrade his boarding but it was sold out.)was your Disneyland trip? That’s where we’re headed this weekend.

That was your trip to Disneyland correct? How was it? That’s where we’re headed this Friday.