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

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Has anyone ever had luck using the AMEX Plat concierge to get into a hotel that was fully booked (I’m looking at you, Swolphin…). I’ve been stalking for cancellations daily for months with nothing coming open, so I’m grasping at straws. If that $695 annual fee could help me get a room there, I’d be thrilled!

Doubtful- I think Amex plat concierge is pretty worthless.

But, do you know about openhotelalert? You Find Swolphin on there for your dates and create an alert. You'll get a notification when that room type becomes available. You can select as many room types as you want. It has worked fantastically for me!

Are both points and cash fully booked?

 

[ten6mom]

I think it's fairly unusual to get denied for an Amex card. Was it a denial or a popup? If denial, do you recall the reason? I think it doesn't hurt to try and Amex won't mind that your last card opened was in August.

I too transfer UR to SW when I need it. I think it's a pretty decent redemption and the flexibility of using points vs cash is worth it to me with Southwest.

I'm so sorry... you're correct, a popup and not a denial. Will edit!

I was previously, and still am, a bit leery of Amex but it might be because I understand Chase a little better and they seem to like me more

However, Chase is certainly slower transferring those URs to Marriot than Amex is! Still waiting and I wanted to make this reservation tonight!

 

[iujen94]

Doubtful- I think Amex plat concierge is pretty worthless.

But, do you know about openhotelalert? You Find Swolphin on there for your dates and create an alert. You'll get a notification when that room type becomes available. You can select as many room types as you want. It has worked fantastically for me!

Are both points and cash fully booked?

Bummer, but thanks so I’ve got realistic expectations. I discovered openhotelalert today and set up searched for each night at both S and D. Fingers crossed something will come up …. And yes they’ve been booked on points and cash for months.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

I'm so sorry... you're correct, a popup and not a denial. Will edit!

I was previously, and still am, a bit leery of Amex but it might be because I understand Chase a little better and they seem to like me more

However, Chase is certainly slower transferring those URs to Marriot than Amex is! Still waiting and I wanted to make this reservation tonight!

You can try different support links in different browsers and using incognito mode as well. If that doesn't work you can try without support links. People have also reported good luck with biz cards when they get pop ups with personal cards.

Good luck. I actually really like Amex and they keep the points flowing.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Bummer, but thanks so I’ve got realistic expectations. I discovered openhotelalert today and set up searched for each night at both S and D. Fingers crossed something will come up …. And yes they’ve been booked on points and cash for months.

Swan Reserve is another option out there.

 

[ibob52]

Transferring both Amex and Chase points to Marriott to use toward one award night. Amex transfer was almost instantaneous... still waiting on Chase! (I don't do this often... is that normal??)

My Chase to Marriott transfer took 2-3 days . I did a google search to verify my memory and it states 1-2 days . . .

 

[ten6mom]

My Chase to Marriott transfer took 2-3 days . I did a google search to verify my memory and it states 1-2 days . . .

Oh ick.

The Amex site also says up to 48 hours but those were almost instantaneous so I guess I was hoping for similar. My Chase>Southwest was certainly instantaneous! And I think I transferred some to Hyatt a few months ago and that was also instantaneous!

Oh well... now I just have to hope the 'price' doesn't go up by the time the points actually show.

 

[afan]

Oh ick.

The Amex site also says up to 48 hours but those were almost instantaneous so I guess I was hoping for similar. My Chase>Southwest was certainly instantaneous! And I think I transferred some to Hyatt a few months ago and that was also instantaneous!

Oh well... now I just have to hope the 'price' doesn't go up by the time the points actually show.

Have you logged out and back in again? Sometimes that can help when transferring points.

 

[ten6mom]

Have you logged out and back in again? Sometimes that can help when transferring points.

I have... many times, both on the computer and the app (I think I read about that here recently maybe for a different travel partner)... thank you!

I guess I just wait... with fingers crossed!

 

[havaneselover]

We made our 14.5 our drive yesterday and my sister and I survived. My almost 16 year old dog panted most of the way and got angry a few times and started barking at us. The nutty younger one was good as gold. The hard work starts today. I asked my mom if she had a list so she could prioritize and she said no. How do people live without lists? Also, once we arrived and started talking about what needs to be done we got in a fight right away about what to do with paperwork (my sister wants it all shredded, my brother thinks we should throw it in the fire pit, my parents really don't care/aren't worried about it). I forgot how opinionated my family is--wish me luck!

 

[havaneselover]

My sister has an old Amex charge card she's had for 30 years. Not sure which one it is. She pays an annual fee on it and doesn't want to cancel it because she's had it for so long. Is there anything she can PC it to that doesn't have a fee? She gets no benefit from using it.

 

[havaneselover]

$25 off $100 at Staples on Amex business cards. I need to add my daughter's BBP card to her online account and use this once she spends $1000. Between the two offers, I'll buy four $50 gift cards as Christmas gifts for my direct reports. Easy peasey.

 

[becauseimnew]

I have... many times, both on the computer and the app (I think I read about that here recently maybe for a different travel partner)... thank you!

I guess I just wait... with fingers crossed!

The Chase to Marriott transfer takes about 30 hours.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

I know this is CC focused, but any suggestions on some good places to bank some money short term? I'll likely keep a bulk of my money fluid still for bank bonuses. But my 17yo just inherited $23k from my dad. Right now it's in a "checking" account. The purpose is for college ONLY (for now). But likely she won't need close to that w/ the program she wants to do (dental hygiene). So I'd love to put it somewhere and have it grow some interest.

I'll likely put about $10k away for my son too for college and would love that to grow as much as it could in the next 4 years. I currently have about $30k "fluid" that I float around to do various bank bonuses. But I will be getting more from my dad as well. So I likely need to look and see where I can put money for myself too. As a single mom, I don't like the idea my money is somewhere I can't access it if needed. Luckily my BF is more than happy to bail me out if I needed, but at the same time, I don't want to bank on him being able to do that.

i keep a minimal amount in every account in case it goes back up. Maybe I'm crazy but I also move when its .5% or higher. wealth front is almost 3% what is discover?

2.25. Better than the Amex amounts. Do you know the minimum? I was just thinking I could always reopen an account if needed.

We made our 14.5 our drive yesterday and my sister and I survived. My almost 16 year old dog panted most of the way and got angry a few times and started barking at us. The nutty younger one was good as gold. The hard work starts today. I asked my mom if she had a list so she could prioritize and she said no. How do people live without lists? Also, once we arrived and started talking about what needs to be done we got in a fight right away about what to do with paperwork (my sister wants it all shredded, my brother thinks we should throw it in the fire pit, my parents really don't care/aren't worried about it). I forgot how opinionated my family is--wish me luck!

Welcome to MI. And yes, dealing w/ family is SOOOOOO hard! My mom and sister get along best and they tackled my dad's house. My mom is still working on it (which she doesn't need to do since they are divorced). I just got the title to his trailer in my name on Saturday, so now the race is on to list it ASAP. We figure it's costing us about $1k/mo to keep paying everything. As for paperwork, my dad has random receipts like for dinners dating back to the early 2000's! I swear the stuff this man kept has me SMH!

$25 off $100 at Staples on Amex business cards. I need to add my daughter's BBP card to her online account and use this once she spends $1000. Between the two offers, I'll buy four $50 gift cards as Christmas gifts for my direct reports. Easy peasey.

Thanks! It was on my new Amex gold biz!

 

[ambgoph]

I know this is CC focused, but any suggestions on some good places to bank some money short term? I'll likely keep a bulk of my money fluid still for bank bonuses. But my 17yo just inherited $23k from my dad. Right now it's in a "checking" account. The purpose is for college ONLY (for now). But likely she won't need close to that w/ the program she wants to do (dental hygiene). So I'd love to put it somewhere and have it grow some interest.

I'll likely put about $10k away for my son too for college and would love that to grow as much as it could in the next 4 years. I currently have about $30k "fluid" that I float around to do various bank bonuses. But I will be getting more from my dad as well. So I likely need to look and see where I can put money for myself too. As a single mom, I don't like the idea my money is somewhere I can't access it if needed. Luckily my BF is more than happy to bail me out if I needed, but at the same time, I don't want to bank on him being able to do that.

If you don't mind tying your money up for at least a year, I would buy an I Bond for $10K. If you buy an I Bond before Oct. 31 (to be safe I would buy by Oct. 28), you get 9.62% interest for 6 months. The rate starting on November 1 will probably be around 6.47% for the next 6 months (it will be announced on November 1).

 

[Arcades]

I'll likely put about $10k away for my son too for college and would love that to grow as much as it could in the next 4 years. I currently have about $30k "fluid" that I float around to do various bank bonuses. But I will be getting more from my dad as well. So I likely need to look and see where I can put money for myself too. As a single mom, I don't like the idea my money is somewhere I can't access it if needed. Luckily my BF is more than happy to bail me out if I needed, but at the same time, I don't want to bank on him being able to do that.

I second the I Series Bond suggestion, but if you do not want your money locked up for a minimum of 12 months (cannot withdraw within that time frame), perhaps consider Lake Michigan Credit Union's Max Checking account, which gives 3% on up to $15,000. The requirements are very light: direct deposit, 4 logins per month, and 10 debit card transactions. The rate has not changed in several years, which is key for high yield checking/savings accounts.

Otherwise, here's a few lists of high yield savings accounts: https://www.nerdwallet.com/best/banking/high-yield-online-savings-accounts, https://www.bankrate.com/banking/savings/best-high-yield-interests-savings-accounts/

 

[afan]

We made our 14.5 our drive yesterday and my sister and I survived. My almost 16 year old dog panted most of the way and got angry a few times and started barking at us. The nutty younger one was good as gold. The hard work starts today. I asked my mom if she had a list so she could prioritize and she said no. How do people live without lists? Also, once we arrived and started talking about what needs to be done we got in a fight right away about what to do with paperwork (my sister wants it all shredded, my brother thinks we should throw it in the fire pit, my parents really don't care/aren't worried about it). I forgot how opinionated my family is--wish me luck!

I'd rather not do unnecessary fires but if it's a lot of papers and you'd do the fire for something anyway, burn it. Trust me no one wants to sit there shredding with a small home shredder all day. It's a waste of time, it will jam and it will get too hot and need a rest. Burning is far easier. I've done both since I'd let it pile up. I've also spent an entire day or more shredding playoff tickets with an industrial shredder and still jammed it.

Good luck! Try and escape and get some quiet time if you can. It'll help.

 

[reliev]

Has anyone ever had luck using the AMEX Plat concierge to get into a hotel that was fully booked (I’m looking at you, Swolphin…). I’ve been stalking for cancellations daily for months with nothing coming open, so I’m grasping at straws. If that $695 annual fee could help me get a room there, I’d be thrilled!

no, they didn't even make my reservations for 2 restaurants i ended up doing them on resy

 

[reliev]

2.25. Better than the Amex amounts. Do you know the minimum? I was just thinking I could always reopen an account if needed.

yeah, I think it was 1k when I did it I wanna say it's 500 with a recurring deposit also. It's 2.55 now I just logged in to check.

 

[ten6mom]

The Chase to Marriott transfer takes about 30 hours.

Oh wow... ok thank you so much! (booo)