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

[AmyAnne]

I've only been working on travel hacking for a few years (2018 or 2019). I've done pretty well for us so far with a few redemptions here and there (mostly SW points, mini CP, Marriott, and a scheduled trip using Avios to Ireland in '23). This thread has been a great help. I've got a nice stash of UR and MRs and some C1 points to use in the future.

I'm currently finishing up the MSR for CIU (me) and an IHG card for P2. And then I was planning to take a break with new cards. I'm not sure why I didn't think about my DHs knee surgery in January that would easily hit most MSRs. For awhile, I toyed with the idea of going for a SW CP, but a couple of things had me change my mind. First, aside from the Ireland trip in June, we don't really have any big travel plans for 2023 aside from some smaller driving trips (and the first quarter of the year will be focused on his knee, TKR, rehab). Second, it's possible my DH will change his mind about moving forward with the knee surgery and that just sealed the deal on working for the CP -- it just doesn't make sense.

I think I'd like to get a Hilton Card to add to my wallet, but apparently I'm in pop-up jail (got a Amex Plat in June). DH is also in pop-up jail and he's only got the Amex Delta Blue card (sock drawer) so I guess it's just the velocity of cards we've opened in the last year.

Anyway, I can probably wait until he's wheeled back for surgery to decide on a card that I can then pay the bill with (lol), but has anyone just said "2x points for this is good enough" because they have a little fatigue? Or will I kick myself if I don't get a SUB for a $4k surgery?

Yes on the SUB fatigue. Currently planning my next, but right now I don't have one.

Also, just double-check that your medical provider takes whatever card you decide on (if you decide on one). I've seen a handful of reports of doctors/dentists/vets not taking AmEx in particular but I suppose it could be any.

 

[reliev]

It's pretty inconsistent...sometimes it shows up, sometimes not. Sometimes you're charged, again sometimes not. I was worried about a big stay once and checked and double checked with my concierge (who has the patience of a saint!), otherwise if it's not that big of a deal, I hope that when I booked it and was told it was fine...it was.

agree with this @wanderlust7 if you are looking for availability though it has to be there for points also. I have had a problem where a standard suite is there for cash but not for points and a hotel didn't honor it. I didn't have a concierge then so maybe it's much easier to just have them do it, my problem is I'm impatient, like I have the 50 nights coming up after next weekend so I am going to call them the minute I get the email then confirm with my concierge if that makes sense I really want a suite at PH NYC I just don't want to use points or pay for it

 

[wanderlust7]

agree with this @wanderlust7 if you are looking for availability though it has to be there for points also. I have had a problem where a standard suite is there for cash but not for points and a hotel didn't honor it. I didn't have a concierge then so maybe it's much easier to just have them do it, my problem is I'm impatient, like I have the 50 nights coming up after next weekend so I am going to call them the minute I get the email then confirm with my concierge if that makes sense I really want a suite at PH NYC I just don't want to use points or pay for it

Just to check, do you mean you were told you couldn't apply a suite upgrade award? Or you thought it applied, got to the hotel, and was told you don't have an upgrade?

We don't have a concierge yet either. Just applied 2 with the Twitter Hyatt Concierge. HR Amsterdam didn't have the standard suite available for points, only cash. Andaz Liverpool had it available for points+cash, not points only. Was able to upgrade both.

 

[reliev]

Just to check, do you mean you were told you couldn't apply a suite upgrade award? Or you thought it applied, got to the hotel, and was told you don't have an upgrade?

We don't have a concierge yet either. Just applied 2 with the Twitter Hyatt Concierge. HR Amsterdam didn't have the standard suite available for points, only cash. Andaz Liverpool had it available for points+cash, not points only. Was able to upgrade both.

so I saw a standard suite available for cash not points so when I tried to apply for the certificate. the rep I called at the globalist desk had told me the hotel denied it because it wasn't available on points. The funny thing though is they gave me an even better suite when I got there. So I don't get it This was another Park Hyatt in DC. I ended up getting a crazy big suite and I kept my certificate.

 

[lsutigers03]

What is the waiting period between Ink cards? I'm almost done with my most recent MSR that I was approved for on 09/08. I would apply for another CIC. My last one was approved on 05/19.

 

[Sheree]

DH got this card in December 2021, the SUB was only 125,000 at the time. Now I see it is 140,000 for the premier one with the $99 AF. He used the free night for a trip last spring, and we just got back from 4 nights at a Holiday Inn Express in Charlottesville VA (if you book 4 nights with points one is free). It still used a lot of points, it was a home football weekend and Saturday night points were high. We got an upgraded room due to the platinum status the card gives, for that property it was more space I guess. He still has enough pts for at least one night free. The card seems to be a decent deal for the annual free night. I had trouble using the points for a room on short notice in Sept, the only thing that came up was cash+points where I wanted to stay, but when I have time to plan ahead it works out better for me.

I just decided to take advantage of the SUB and had him refer me for a card today. So an extra 10,000 for him and 140,000 for me.

thank you. I'm going to try for the premier! I'll go to reddit page for referra link

 

[palhockeymomof2]

What is the waiting period between Ink cards? I'm almost done with my most recent MSR that I was approved for on 09/08. I would apply for another CIC. My last one was approved on 05/19.

3 months is the recommended period between any Chase applications

 

[lsutigers03]

3 months is the recommended period between any Chase applications

That's what I thought but I wanted to check. Thank you for the confirmation. I'll go grab a different business card in the meantime.

 

[mmmears]

Hyatt question: DH had Globalist "Lite" until last week, so we don't have a concierge. He earned normal Globalist last week, but hasn't heard anything about getting a concierge person. Is there something we need to do?

Question about Hyatt suite upgrade awards, which I'm using for the first time! For points bookings, I know that it's normal the upgrade won't show up online. But will the award show as redeemed? Or does that not happen until after the stay?

Wondering how I can see that everything went through fine. Or maybe the only way is to contact the hotel directly.

As I stated above, we've had Globalist Lite, so no personal concierge. We made some tentative plans for 2023 and applied suite upgrade awards to both. DH noticed that with the first one the cert was taken, but it wasn't taken with the second one. He called and apparently they wrote down that we wanted it, and that it was available, but never bothered to use it to actually upgrade us. Luckily it was still available and the rep said it's now applied. Not sure I believe them anymore though.

 

[snugglebug]

Did you find the 19.99 price? I thought it was expiring a few weeks ago.

It showed up when I clicked through from MyPoints. I didn't cancel in time to take advantage of it last month and thought I had missed out so I was surprised to see it.

 

[eticketplease]

Does anyone know if Universal Tickets code as travel? I would like to wipe them out with Venture miles.

I think you can do Undercover Tourist but my friend is a travel agent and would like to use her if possible.

 

[reliev]

Does anyone know if Universal Tickets code as travel? I would like to wipe them out with Venture miles.

I think you can do Undercover Tourist but my friend is a travel agent and would like to use her if possible.

i think they are entertainment i haven't bought them in a few years though maybe 4 years ago

 

[snugglebug]

Is it just me or are hotels harder to book lately?

There's a Holiday Inn & Suites near a softball field we frequent. I haven't been able to get a Saturday stay this entire year. I can book Fri and Sat, but not Sat only. I don't need to be there until Sat afternoon, I only want the one night. This particular area is in need of some decent hotels. Pre-Covid I could book this place on Thursday evening for a Sat night stay with no problem. I'm looking at the 22nd and still can't get a one night stay. The other 2 places (Townplace and Hampton) are sold out and/or king only.

I'll probably end up driving a third of the way home to get a decent room for the night.

 

[miztressuz]

Just a little reminder to lock your sock drawered cards.

Both our Kabbage debit cards got hit with fraudulent charges. We thought P2s was locked since we both used it just the minimum to get the bonus and then sock drawered, but it seems he forgot. He actually used his in person so when he got the alert last week we assumed a store was compromised and it was just getting around to the theives now. However, not really thinking, since we assumed it was isolated, I had unlocked mine in anticipation of use and it was still unlocked when I got the fraud text tonight.

Odd coincidence since I only have ever used it on Amazon and he has never used it online. So there's no common spot that could explain it unless there's a bigger issue. But just a reminder to lock your Kabbage card, or any other sock drawered debit or credit card

 

[reliev]

Is it just me or are hotels harder to book lately?

There's a Holiday Inn & Suites near a softball field we frequent. I haven't been able to get a Saturday stay this entire year. I can book Fri and Sat, but not Sat only. I don't need to be there until Sat afternoon, I only want the one night. This particular area is in need of some decent hotels. Pre-Covid I could book this place on Thursday evening for a Sat night stay with no problem. I'm looking at the 22nd and still can't get a one night stay. The other 2 places (Townplace and Hampton) are sold out and/or king only.

I'll probably end up driving a third of the way home to get a decent room for the night.

yes, i used to do 1-2 night(s) staycations at the local Hyatt here (grand cypress) and a lot of time especially awards will be blocked out on shorter stays.

 

[eticketplease]

i think they are entertainment i haven't bought them in a few years though maybe 4 years ago

Thanks that is what they code with for Chase but was not sure about Capital One.
Being that I missed out on the Entertainment bonus from last quarter on the freedom I will probably just use the venture.

 

[lsutigers03]

Does anyone know if Universal Tickets code as travel? I would like to wipe them out with Venture miles.

I think you can do Undercover Tourist but my friend is a travel agent and would like to use her if possible.

It did when I used my Citi Premier card with them. It looks like the same is true with Capital One according to Travel Freely. The article was written in 2019 so I'm not 100% sure it is still accurate.

https://travelfreely.net/disney-for-free-via-capital-one-venture-and-undercover-tourist/

 

[reliev]

Thanks that is what they code with for Chase but was not sure about Capital One.
Being that I missed out on the Entertainment bonus from last quarter on the freedom I will probably just use the venture.

I don't have capital one im not sure on that but typically if its visa it codes the same way amex it codes the same way etc. at least that's what I believe to be true

 

[platamama]

Does anyone know if Universal Tickets code as travel? I would like to wipe them out with Venture miles.

I think you can do Undercover Tourist but my friend is a travel agent and would like to use her if possible.

From the T&C of the Venture card:

 

[eticketplease]

From the T&C of the Venture card:
View attachment 710640

Thanks but I think that only happens if you are booking a package. I used my CUR to book the Royal Pacific.

I will let you know if it works