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

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

Finally coming back to the boards after our ZNP/Bryce trip. It was as amazing as you all have said! The Narrows was so incredible that I begged to do it again the following day, no joke, but DH was a no go on that, lol. We did it without a guide and hiked it to the end of Wall Street. Started super early as there was chances of rain in the afternoon, so we wanted to get in and out, especially since we went on only the second day that the narrows had opened back up after a girl drowned in a flash flood just days prior :’( We did the Dark Ranger stargazing close to Bryce, and lots and lots of hiking in both parks! Did about 3/4 of the trails in Zion, so we’ll have to go back someday to do the rest (including Angels Landing)! We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Springdale using FNCs… really convenient and close to ZNP, and it worked great for us! Had a room with a view, and it was beautiful to eat breakfast in the morning on the outdoor patio as well, looking at the mountains! We used Turo for the rental and it was a great experience… so much easier than using a rental car agency! If anyone has any park questions, Springdale questions, restaurant recommendations or whatever, I’m happy to answer!

Now, onto booking the next trip! Since Japan is finally opening back up (which I’m sure you guys talked about in the 30 pages I missed, lol), I am trying to figure out best way to book those flights using points. I accumulated all the URs we need for that, but forget the process. Is it… look up award flights on United, then call virgin for availability? And then transfer from UR to virgin and book over the phone with them? I think that’s what I recall but something doesn’t sound right to me. Any direction appreciated!

 

[reliev]

Finally coming back to the boards after our ZNP/Bryce trip. It was as amazing as you all have said! The Narrows was so incredible that I begged to do it again the following day, no joke, but DH was a no go on that, lol. We did it without a guide and hiked it to the end of Wall Street. Started super early as there was chances of rain in the afternoon, so we wanted to get in and out, especially since we went on only the second day that the narrows had opened back up after a girl drowned in a flash flood just days prior :’( We did the Dark Ranger stargazing close to Bryce, and lots and lots of hiking in both parks! Did about 3/4 of the trails in Zion, so we’ll have to go back someday to do the rest (including Angels Landing)! We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Springdale using FNCs… really convenient and close to ZNP, and it worked great for us! Had a room with a view, and it was beautiful to eat breakfast in the morning on the outdoor patio as well, looking at the mountains! We used Turo for the rental and it was a great experience… so much easier than using a rental car agency! If anyone has any park questions, Springdale questions, restaurant recommendations or whatever, I’m happy to answer!

Now, onto booking the next trip! Since Japan is finally opening back up (which I’m sure you guys talked about in the 30 pages I missed, lol), I am trying to figure out best way to book those flights using points. I accumulated all the URs we need for that, but forget the process. Is it… look up award flights on United, then call virgin for availability? And then transfer from UR to virgin and book over the phone with them? I think that’s what I recall but something doesn’t sound right to me. Any direction appreciated!

so I'm really into this trip. most sites as far as availability goes vary on which airline I know ANA is 9 pm est and I can't remember Jal I watched ~20 youtube videos (i know I have a problem) and right now I'm really wanting to do ANA so that's what I'm going for. The real problem is you are competing on a smaller flight schedule (they are doing minimums to keep their contracts) and you are competing with all the other people who are canceling and rebooking their award seats from what I can tell most first class is 2 seats and 4 with business and its right when they open. Someone linked a podcast that explained it and it was well thought out. I actually checked out during the times and saw some J availability right when it dropped for some flights. I am going to wait until it really opens because even under this new rule it seems like you are going to have to book all your travel from certified travel agents, to me which means no points and miles and fighting with paid cash space.

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14710229

this is the latest I could find but I haven't really looked into it anymore I'm just going to wait until there isn't all this red tape which may never happen at this point I don't like the idea that I have to book around my schedule now use an agency that will hopefully let me use points to book the 2 hotels I really want to stay at I just wonder how the logistics of all this will work before I pull the trigger. Maybe someone on here goes and posts how easy or difficult it is to do.

I agree with this guys perspective i enjoy his channel

 

[afan]

Now, onto booking the next trip! Since Japan is finally opening back up (which I’m sure you guys talked about in the 30 pages I missed, lol), I am trying to figure out best way to book those flights using points. I accumulated all the URs we need for that, but forget the process. Is it… look up award flights on United, then call virgin for availability? And then transfer from UR to virgin and book over the phone with them? I think that’s what I recall but something doesn’t sound right to me. Any direction appreciated

Honestly unless you are ok with flying economy the chances of bookong biz or 1st on ANA via virgin is going to be tough. Lots of people have miles trapped with ANA who can book earlier. It's worth a shot if you can but I'd come up with a plan b.

My plan is to book dl, each one way if I can get a decent milage and then if I can get something on ANA great. Hopefully they'll add some flights once things open more but at this point I'm figuring my virgin miles will get used for paris/London.

 

[ambgoph]

I have a Shark Lift Away. Love it! If you have carpeted stairs get one with the motorized pet brush.

Agree 100%. I had the Dyson animal before and prefer the Shark.

 

[disneylover81]

@belle032 I've booked multiple Hilton rooms under my loyalty account. It's never been an issue for me, however, I am typically checking in with the other party members. I have had the room portfolios merged and I pay for incidentals at checkout. So I'm not sure how that works with other couples, as I'm usually traveling with my adult children. Sometimes the hotel is kind enough to extend elite status benefits to our second room, but I don't think they are required to.

ETA: I just tried a dummy booking, booking 3 rooms at once. It's super easy, you get the Honors Discount, and you can add the primary guest name for each room during the final checkout page:

View attachment 699832

Thank you!! That’s exactly what I did at booking so hopefully it’ll work and I’ll get credit for all 3 room reservations.

 

[EACarlson]

I have a Shark Lift Away. Love it! If you have carpeted stairs get one with the motorized pet brush.

Which model number? I'm seeing a dozen different models all called some variation of Lift Away at greatly varying price points.

 

[elgerber]

Agree 100%. I had the Dyson animal before and prefer the Shark.

I have a Dyson animal stuffed in a corner of the basement somewhere. Hated that thing.

 

[elgerber]

Which model number? I'm seeing a dozen different models all called some variation of Lift Away at greatly varying price points.

I have had mine for 6 or 7 years so the model is long gone. It’s somewhat similar to this. The powered pet brush is what you want for stairs and fabric furniture. https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/st.../5473987?keyword=shark-lift-away&ruleId=pdpv3

 

[Alexle2007]

Looking for recommendations, we bought a new house and are beyond in need of a new vacuum.
What doesn't break the bank but picks up dog hair well?


No need to transfer. MR are by customer not by card. Both my BBP and my Gold show the same number.

We have Dysons that I love with our ever shedding pug. I have two uprights that are 18 years old and just got a cordless stick from Home Depot. Reminds me I need to take it and vacuum the cars because the shop vac doesn’t work on the pug hair.

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

Honestly unless you are ok with flying economy the chances of bookong biz or 1st on ANA via virgin is going to be tough. Lots of people have miles trapped with ANA who can book earlier. It's worth a shot if you can but I'd come up with a plan b.

My plan is to book dl, each one way if I can get a decent milage and then if I can get something on ANA great. Hopefully they'll add some flights once things open more but at this point I'm figuring my virgin miles will get used for paris/London.

Thanks for the advice. This is kind of what I was afraid of. Definitely wouldn’t fly to Japan in economy… it would have to be biz or first. We are trying for next November, which I think means flights would be able to be booked in December this year… but if availability is still so tight and impossible to get what we want, then I think we’ll go another route. We could push Japan out another year or two (2024-25) and possibly do a Europe trip instead next year.

 

[afan]

Thanks for the advice. This is kind of what I was afraid of. Definitely wouldn’t fly to Japan in economy… it would have to be biz or first. We are trying for next November, which I think means flights would be able to be booked in December this year… but if availability is still so tight and impossible to get what we want, then I think we’ll go another route. We could push Japan out another year or two (2024-25) and possibly do a Europe trip instead next year.

Always worth keeping an eye on and try it. People have been complaining on r/awardtravel for awhile now.

I think a lot will depend on how many flights they start with or if they'll keep it lower and add more once they know when things will fully open. Some still won't go through the new hassle of finding a ta to basically buy their visa through so I would guess they still won't have the need for a full schedule.

 

[havaneselover]

Looking for recommendations, we bought a new house and are beyond in need of a new vacuum.
What doesn't break the bank but picks up dog hair well?


No need to transfer. MR are by customer not by card. Both my BBP and my Gold show the same number.

I only do cordless. Have a dyson but will replace with a Shark. I tested this one a few years ago and loved it: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Shark-Ve...IZ440H/433958867?wl13=1523&selectedSellerId=0

 

[trstno1]

So Amex has hated me again. Well I was in the pop up hell for like 1.5 years. Thought I got out in March when they approved the free Hilton card and found out last month I'm still in it when I applied for the Delta Plat Biz. Some on reddit said it may be that I'm in BIZ pop-up hell. I did cancel my Delta Gold Biz in July, but I had that like 2-3 years. I got an offer saying I'm preapproved for the Gold Biz. But the MSR is $10k!!! Since you can't MS w/ Amex and I just paid my taxes, I don't think I could hit $10k. But at the same time, I've often wondered if I need to look at trying to make Amex happy by applying for the Gold Biz or other biz card.

Don't a lot of people have the Amex BBP? I have the Everyday Preferred, I will likely PC back down to just the Everyday when the AF posts. I have 3 Amex currently (Surpass, Everyday Preferred and the Free Hilton). Should I perhaps try to appease Amex Biz Gods by trying for the BBP, and then closing the Everyday? The end goal is to get the Delta Plat Biz during a great SUB, and then PC that back down to a gold at some point. I'm assuming I can transfer MRs like you can URs (if I did the BBP).

I would suggest that you try paying all of your AmEx balances to zero a few days before any AmEx application. It was my escape from popup purgatory, and it has worked for all of my AmEx apps since.

 

[reliev]

Thanks for the advice. This is kind of what I was afraid of. Definitely wouldn’t fly to Japan in economy… it would have to be biz or first. We are trying for next November, which I think means flights would be able to be booked in December this year… but if availability is still so tight and impossible to get what we want, then I think we’ll go another route. We could push Japan out another year or two (2024-25) and possibly do a Europe trip instead next year.

this is when im shooting for 2024

 

[trenty]

The annual fee on P2's CSP hit this month, are there any compelling reasons to not request a downgrade to a free card? I already have my own CSP that I plan on keeping for the travel insurance and 1.25x UR on the portal. We might use his $50 travel credit, but we already have three cards that have travel credits, so maybe not. If he downgrades to a Freedom Flex, will his card number stay the same?

The only instance I can possibly think of is if your P2 rents cars without you-I'm super risk adverse so trying to justify a claim where I'm not there and my DH is driving to Chase if I had a claim just makes me nervous.

The Flex is a MC so yes, it's a different number.

My DH had the CSP several years ago. Since I also had the CSP, I did PC it to the CFF after the year. It is not likely that he would rent a car without me. I know that one never knows, but since it it not likely to happen we don't need the extra AF. If he were to need a rental without me, we would just add the insurance through the rental company, I guess. Not sure how much the rental insurance through the rental company would be, but if it happened once every two or three years, it should be less than the CSP AF - no?

 

[hsmamato2]

Finally coming back to the boards after our ZNP/Bryce trip. It was as amazing as you all have said! The Narrows was so incredible that I begged to do it again the following day, no joke, but DH was a no go on that, lol. We did it without a guide and hiked it to the end of Wall Street. Started super early as there was chances of rain in the afternoon, so we wanted to get in and out, especially since we went on only the second day that the narrows had opened back up after a girl drowned in a flash flood just days prior :’( We did the Dark Ranger stargazing close to Bryce, and lots and lots of hiking in both parks! Did about 3/4 of the trails in Zion, so we’ll have to go back someday to do the rest (including Angels Landing)! We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Springdale using FNCs… really convenient and close to ZNP, and it worked great for us! Had a room with a view, and it was beautiful to eat breakfast in the morning on the outdoor patio as well, looking at the mountains! We used Turo for the rental and it was a great experience… so much easier than using a rental car agency! If anyone has any park questions, Springdale questions, restaurant recommendations or whatever, I’m happy to answer!

Now, onto booking the next trip! Since Japan is finally opening back up (which I’m sure you guys talked about in the 30 pages I missed, lol), I am trying to figure out best way to book those flights using points. I accumulated all the URs we need for that, but forget the process. Is it… look up award flights on United, then call virgin for availability? And then transfer from UR to virgin and book over the phone with them? I think that’s what I recall but something doesn’t sound right to me. Any direction appreciated!

We stayed at that Holiday Inn when we went...I loved it!! just walked to park entrance!

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

this is when im shooting for 2024

I keep hoping I can make Japan happen Nov 2023. But this thread is making me think maybe not. Not willing to fly economy...

I was going to transfer MRs to Virgin since they currently have a bonus. But not sure. I guess we could always do London again.

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

I keep hoping I can make Japan happen Nov 2023. But this thread is making me think maybe not. Not willing to fly economy...

I was going to transfer MRs to Virgin since they currently have a bonus. But not sure. I guess we could always do London again.

Yep, Nov 2023 is when we are trying too. We literally have no backup plan if that doesn’t work either, so it’s good I’m thinking of it now, and can try to pull something else together (Europe probably) in the meantime as a plan B. Although I really don’t know about the weather in Italy/Germany at that same time… (mid November). We are kind of limited in the months we can take vacation due to jobs, unfortunately. And we don’t want to visit any place when it’s downright cold.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Yep, Nov 2023 is when we are trying too. We literally have no backup plan if that doesn’t work either, so it’s good I’m thinking of it now, and can try to pull something else together (Europe probably) in the meantime as a plan B. Although I really don’t know about the weather in Italy/Germany at that same time… (mid November). We are kind of limited in the months we can take vacation due to jobs, unfortunately. And we don’t want to visit any place when it’s downright cold.

We have no shortage of places we want to visit so we should be okay. May just be hard narrowing it down/compromising. Maybe somewhere South

ETA: Northern Italy is rather cold in November. We did Venice then a few years ago and most days were blistery and cold, but still had a great time.

 

[reliev]

I keep hoping I can make Japan happen Nov 2023. But this thread is making me think maybe not. Not willing to fly economy...

I was going to transfer MRs to Virgin since they currently have a bonus. But not sure. I guess we could always do London again.

Yes what I read was 2 FC and 4 in j but when i checked right when it opened it seems like one randomly it was always one the pre pandemic they flew 3x more aircraft at least out of NYC so maybe it comes back slowly in my head at least i think that should open up more availability but maybe not.