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

[Kumanate]

it just seems that even when we fly out of phl and into various airports, the PP lounges don't seem to exist. Paris, Iceland haven't had luck either! I'd love to take advantage of it!

Crazy as it says there are several in Paris! I used them all over this year, I hope you get to use them soon!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

thanks I do have the app but nothing seems to pop up to make use of, oh well

So when you're logged in, there's no search bar near the top?
Or you just don't find anything near your terminal when at the airport?

 

[IFlossU]

I have no Walmart offers on PayPal or Amex. Which cards are you finding it on?

I have terrible luck (service) from Walmart. I used my mom's Walmart + to order some tea, shampoo and soap last week. I get a text that they were delivering the shampoo and soap from local store. Then a text saying they attempted deliver but couldn't and will try again later. Huh? They can't leave it on the porch? The tea was shipped and arrived today. Meanwhile I can't cancel the other items, the chat bot can't help and I have no idea how to cancel or get my money back as there is no contact I can find on their website except the chat.

It was an eGC. The lower Airbnb denominations only come like that. I did get one through before they all got canceled. But accidentally used my Walmart GC to pay for most of it so didn't even get to use the offer.

Oh well. I'll probably try physical Walmart GC later. I've read that sometimes chat can fix it but might take multiple attempts. Sounds like a pain. I had a problem with Walmart+ billing before that multiple chats and calls couldn't resolve. They kept charging me even though I canceled AND my account showed no Walmart+. I ended up disputing it to finally get it to stop. So I don't put much faith in their customer service.

Personal platinum here too.

I’m going to count my blessings (knock on wood) Walmart has been pretty reliable for me. I ordered a $50 physical Disney gift card yesterday, and received the FedEx shipment confirmation about 5 hours later.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

OK, I need a little advice. 2 trips scheduled for the next few months, NOLA in January and Costa Rica in March. Right now most of our URs are parked on DHs CSP. I planned on upgrading to CSR in December and want to make best use of the travel credit (it's per cardmember year IIRC). I need to book parking for both trips and as our Costa Rica flight leaves very early, I'm planning to book a Sleep and Park rate at a Hyatt Place. The other trip will book ParkNFly. (I'm not sure if it's good or bad but the ParkNFly offer on my Amex has a $75 min that wouldn't be met)
Will the parking res work for travel credit? Should I put the Hyatt stay on Hyatt card or CSR? Other tips for CSR? Haven't had CSR in a couple years, need to maximize benefits (planning to book excursions for both trips through the portal)

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Thanks for the info! Just did a booking with GC for the first time. I was surprised that they applied the GC balance and then calculated the 2 payments. I thought I would only need to get enough gift cards to cover half and then had more time for the rest. Any way around that?

So I've only paid the remaining 50% or paid experiences in full, so I haven't seen what you've seen. But I was planning a booking for this weekend and planning to only pay 50% in GCs. So you paid the 50% with the GC balance and then they calculated 2 payments for the future? What's the timing of those?

 

[havaneselover]

Got gloves I ordered from lands end today. They sent the wrong size. And got a sweater from Athleta with a huge stain and my size is out of stock. Oh well.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Of the hotels themselves that I've stayed at, my favorites in order of preference were (1) Royal Pacific Resort, (2) Portofino Bay Hotel, and (3) Hard Rock Hotel. If it were a resort-only stay, that would be my order. Hard Rock had the fewest food options, it had one big pool which felt like a party location rather than a place for swimming, it had the worst selection in the gift shop, and it had the least theming. Portofino Bay felt huge. They tried to make the rooms fancy-schmancy, but my room had both bugs near the coffee pot and a sink that kept backing up. Royal Pacific had the best food options and the best theming.

But you probably aren't doing a resort-only stay.

In terms of convenience for getting to the theme parks - Hard Rock Hotel is the winner. No question. I walked from the other two to the Harry-Potter section of the theme parks, and it felt like it took forever. Also, the signage isn't great and I found it very confusing when trying to get back to the other two when alone in the dark.

I did Club Level at PBH and RPR. At PBH it wasn't at all convenient - if I recall correctly, the Club Level Lounge was on the lobby level. Nowhere near my room. The Lounge at RPR was closer to my room.

I haven't stayed at any of the newer hotels there.

There are people on the Universal Hotels thread who can give you better info than I can.

I had not been in about 6 years, and then went 3 times between Labor Day weekend 2021 and Labor Day weekend 2022. I’ve now stayed at all 3 premier level resorts and Sapphire Falls. SF is our new fav but it doesn’t come with the Express Passes. Royal Pacific is my new fav premier. I splurged for Club level at PFB over Memorial Day week this year. We loved it for breakfast and made it to the afternoon snacks a few times. Only made it to “dinner” and desserts once. For me, it was not worth it. I stressed myself out trying to coordinate our day around the club schedule to get my money’s worth. If the $75 isn’t a stretch for you, then I would do it.

I highly recommend purchasing the refillable cups in the parks if your party enjoys soda and Icees. They are good for a lifetime so you can bring them back on future trips as well. They offer a refillable popcorn bucket as well. We didn’t do that this time but it is still a good deal.

The Universal boards here on the Dis are full of great tips. Be sure to check over there. One of the most popular money saving tips you see is to check the price of the annual passes. Many people buy 1 or more passes just for the room discount and the passes are sometimes cheaper than multi day tix. Some people also upgrade one pass to the higher levels in order to get the additional food and merch discounts. I always buy our tix through UT. You can upgrade those when you get there if you decide to go that route.

Thanks for the great advice. Only Sapphire Falls and Portofino Bay show up as FHR or Hotel Collection resorts, so I think I'd go for PFB. And I tend to be the type who wants to get my money's worth, so maybe it's best not to do club level. I'll def check out the DIS Universal boards.

 

[elgerber]

It seems to be only on the personal plats.

Well that would explain it

Just curious, anyone else having postal issues? Our post office imploded about 10 days ago. Well I guess earlier. Thanksgiving week I got mail once. Then got it once mid last week, and have only gotten it once since then. I ordered two DGC from Staples, they were both out for delivery last Thursday, one showed up, the other still isn't here. Hasn't been scanned since. my dogs meds out for delivery yesterday, not here. There are many threads on Facebook about, some of them getting very heated, it's just insane. Everyday I see my mail in informed delivery and every day it doesn't show up.

 

[wanderlust7]

So I've only paid the remaining 50% or paid experiences in full, so I haven't seen what you've seen. But I was planning a booking for this weekend and planning to only pay 50% in GCs. So you paid the 50% with the GC balance and then they calculated 2 payments for the future? What's the timing of those?

2 payments, but only 1 is in the future. If the booking is $1000 and you have $500 GC, they take the GC and $250 (half of the balance after the GC) as the first payment. Leaving just $250 for the second payment, which is due about a week before check-in as usual. So there is no way to pay the entire amount with GC unless you have the full amount.

Not what you'd expect, right? But totally in their favor.

 

[afan]

Well that would explain it

Just curious, anyone else having postal issues? Our post office imploded about 10 days ago. Well I guess earlier. Thanksgiving week I got mail once. Then got it once mid last week, and have only gotten it once since then. I ordered two DGC from Staples, they were both out for delivery last Thursday, one showed up, the other still isn't here. Hasn't been scanned since. my dogs meds out for delivery yesterday, not here. There are many threads on Facebook about, some of them getting very heated, it's just insane. Everyday I see my mail in informed delivery and every day it doesn't show up.

Ours has been out early delivering just packages before the mail the past 2 weeks. Was so confused when he drove in the driveway at 655 one morning last week while I was getting Tux ready to take out in the snow.

 

[afan]

My last post reminded me, I've been meaning to post but didn't want the sad news with the holiday weekend. Also, reactions are preferred, I know how we all feel about our pets and while it's appreciated, no need to comment sorry etc.

Tues before Thanksgiving after I brought the boys back in from 1st potty Dude lost the ability to stand/walk on his back legs. I was able to get him into his vet that morning (which emergency vet couldn't do) and they did xrays. The hope was since he still had feeling that it was disc disease and we'd give him steriods. Wed at almost vet close the dr calls and that's what it was but they also found a tumor on his spleen. Nothing we could do about anything until Fri so left to think it over. Plan that evening was to ignore the c and try the steriods so he could hopefully walk again.

Overnight he started getting sick every couple of hours. When we finally got up he didn't really want to eat, no matter what we tried. By evening he was so frustrated and still not wanting to eat or drink and still getting sick. I knew at that point that even if it was stress that was causing it, he had to eat to take meda and not get sick so the meds stayed in his system. It wasn't what any of us wanted but I had to think of him.

We took Tux with us so he was there with my mom and I. He had one last snuggle up to him and understood what happened. This was important to me because I wanted him to understand and be able to grieve. It's also been a huge relief/help to not have him looking for Dude. He does cry more when I'm gone and shook in the car when we went somewhere which he normally doesn't. He is driving us nuts wanting to play all the time though.

I'm glad to have Tux so the house isn't quiet and empty. I never wanted 2 dogs, he was Dude's dog and I told him I'd take good care of him. He turns 1 next week.

 

[platamama]

OK, I need a little advice. 2 trips scheduled for the next few months, NOLA in January and Costa Rica in March. Right now most of our URs are parked on DHs CSP. I planned on upgrading to CSR in December and want to make best use of the travel credit (it's per cardmember year IIRC). I need to book parking for both trips and as our Costa Rica flight leaves very early, I'm planning to book a Sleep and Park rate at a Hyatt Place. The other trip will book ParkNFly. (I'm not sure if it's good or bad but the ParkNFly offer on my Amex has a $75 min that wouldn't be met)
Will the parking res work for travel credit? Should I put the Hyatt stay on Hyatt card or CSR? Other tips for CSR? Haven't had CSR in a couple years, need to maximize benefits (planning to book excursions for both trips through the portal)

I had to check previous cc statements, but on DH's CSP back in August 2021, a local city parking lot coded as travel so I would think the parking place would work for travel credit assuming they classify their business as a parking lot or garage.


As far as the Hyatt stay goes, I'm partial to earning Hyatt points with the Hyatt card. I will often split payment for hotel stays at checkout though, so a possibility would be to put some on the CSR to use up the travel credit and the balance on the Hyatt card. However, with these early morning checkouts I've found the front desk people to not be the most knowledgeable about how to do a split payment, so if you plan on doing this I'd enter into it expecting there to be problems and then be pleasantly surprised if it all works out.

For the CSR you might want to request the Priority Pass card right away in order to have it arrive in time for your trip. Check the airports you're flying ahead of time to see if they have PP lounges/restaurants. ETA: I know LIR airport does have a PP lounge that we've used before, it's a little small but has food and drinks.

 

[disneylover81]

I grew up in Linden! (And am in EWR now flying home to MCO, but I digress) EWR really is significantly easier than JFK or LGA to go to Linden.

That said, if you can get from LGA to Penn Station in NYC, you can take a NJ Transit train to EWR and your family could pick you up there. But I'm not sure about the getting from LGA to NYC Penn part.

Small world! Thanks for the tips. I will look into this as an option. My godfather was a great man and an awesome teacher from all the posts I’ve seen. He seemed to have made a big impact on many of his students over the years. He will surely be missed!

 

[VickieMouse]

My last post reminded me, I've been meaning to post but didn't want the sad news with the holiday weekend. Also, reactions are preferred, I know how we all feel about our pets and while it's appreciated, no need to comment sorry etc.

Tues before Thanksgiving after I brought the boys back in from 1st potty Dude lost the ability to stand/walk on his back legs. I was able to get him into his vet that morning (which emergency vet couldn't do) and they did xrays. The hope was since he still had feeling that it was disc disease and we'd give him steriods. Wed at almost vet close the dr calls and that's what it was but they also found a tumor on his spleen. Nothing we could do about anything until Fri so left to think it over. Plan that evening was to ignore the c and try the steriods so he could hopefully walk again.

Overnight he started getting sick every couple of hours. When we finally got up he didn't really want to eat, no matter what we tried. By evening he was so frustrated and still not wanting to eat or drink and still getting sick. I knew at that point that even if it was stress that was causing it, he had to eat to take meda and not get sick so the meds stayed in his system. It wasn't what any of us wanted but I had to think of him.

We took Tux with us so he was there with my mom and I. He had one last snuggle up to him and understood what happened. This was important to me because I wanted him to understand and be able to grieve. It's also been a huge relief/help to not have him looking for Dude. He does cry more when I'm gone and shook in the car when we went somewhere which he normally doesn't. He is driving us nuts wanting to play all the time though.

I'm glad to have Tux so the house isn't quiet and empty. I never wanted 2 dogs, he was Dude's dog and I told him I'd take good care of him. He turns 1 next week.

I’m so sorry to read this, and I’m sorry for the loss of Dude. I understand. I truly do. Pets are our family.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

Well that would explain it

Just curious, anyone else having postal issues? Our post office imploded about 10 days ago. Well I guess earlier. Thanksgiving week I got mail once. Then got it once mid last week, and have only gotten it once since then. I ordered two DGC from Staples, they were both out for delivery last Thursday, one showed up, the other still isn't here. Hasn't been scanned since. my dogs meds out for delivery yesterday, not here. There are many threads on Facebook about, some of them getting very heated, it's just insane. Everyday I see my mail in informed delivery and every day it doesn't show up.

That honestly sounds like your PO in particular has a virus going around that suddenly knocked a bunch of people out.
My mail carrier didn't show up until 9pm one night and he says it was because of people being out and them not having enough coverage. All our local POs are short staffed, so they don't have enough floaters to call in if they're down too many folks. Fingers crossed that it is something going around, because then your level of service should go back up when people get better.

 

[havaneselover]

My last post reminded me, I've been meaning to post but didn't want the sad news with the holiday weekend. Also, reactions are preferred, I know how we all feel about our pets and while it's appreciated, no need to comment sorry etc.

Tues before Thanksgiving after I brought the boys back in from 1st potty Dude lost the ability to stand/walk on his back legs. I was able to get him into his vet that morning (which emergency vet couldn't do) and they did xrays. The hope was since he still had feeling that it was disc disease and we'd give him steriods. Wed at almost vet close the dr calls and that's what it was but they also found a tumor on his spleen. Nothing we could do about anything until Fri so left to think it over. Plan that evening was to ignore the c and try the steriods so he could hopefully walk again.

Overnight he started getting sick every couple of hours. When we finally got up he didn't really want to eat, no matter what we tried. By evening he was so frustrated and still not wanting to eat or drink and still getting sick. I knew at that point that even if it was stress that was causing it, he had to eat to take meda and not get sick so the meds stayed in his system. It wasn't what any of us wanted but I had to think of him.

We took Tux with us so he was there with my mom and I. He had one last snuggle up to him and understood what happened. This was important to me because I wanted him to understand and be able to grieve. It's also been a huge relief/help to not have him looking for Dude. He does cry more when I'm gone and shook in the car when we went somewhere which he normally doesn't. He is driving us nuts wanting to play all the time though.

I'm glad to have Tux so the house isn't quiet and empty. I never wanted 2 dogs, he was Dude's dog and I told him I'd take good care of him. He turns 1 next week.

Oh, I'm so, so sorry

 

[palhockeymomof2]

My last post reminded me, I've been meaning to post but didn't want the sad news with the holiday weekend. Also, reactions are preferred, I know how we all feel about our pets and while it's appreciated, no need to comment sorry etc.

Tues before Thanksgiving after I brought the boys back in from 1st potty Dude lost the ability to stand/walk on his back legs. I was able to get him into his vet that morning (which emergency vet couldn't do) and they did xrays. The hope was since he still had feeling that it was disc disease and we'd give him steriods. Wed at almost vet close the dr calls and that's what it was but they also found a tumor on his spleen. Nothing we could do about anything until Fri so left to think it over. Plan that evening was to ignore the c and try the steriods so he could hopefully walk again.

Overnight he started getting sick every couple of hours. When we finally got up he didn't really want to eat, no matter what we tried. By evening he was so frustrated and still not wanting to eat or drink and still getting sick. I knew at that point that even if it was stress that was causing it, he had to eat to take meda and not get sick so the meds stayed in his system. It wasn't what any of us wanted but I had to think of him.

We took Tux with us so he was there with my mom and I. He had one last snuggle up to him and understood what happened. This was important to me because I wanted him to understand and be able to grieve. It's also been a huge relief/help to not have him looking for Dude. He does cry more when I'm gone and shook in the car when we went somewhere which he normally doesn't. He is driving us nuts wanting to play all the time though.

I'm glad to have Tux so the house isn't quiet and empty. I never wanted 2 dogs, he was Dude's dog and I told him I'd take good care of him. He turns 1 next week.

So sorry you lost Dude

 

[chattadisser]

Well that would explain it

Just curious, anyone else having postal issues? Our post office imploded about 10 days ago. Well I guess earlier. Thanksgiving week I got mail once. Then got it once mid last week, and have only gotten it once since then. I ordered two DGC from Staples, they were both out for delivery last Thursday, one showed up, the other still isn't here. Hasn't been scanned since. my dogs meds out for delivery yesterday, not here. There are many threads on Facebook about, some of them getting very heated, it's just insane. Everyday I see my mail in informed delivery and every day it doesn't show up.

Our has become very erratic as to when they show up. Sometimes, like you said, informed delivery shows mail coming and then nothing comes. Other days, they are delivering mail at 7:30 at night and then the next day it was at 3:30 - that happened this week. I don't really care when they deliver it, we don't get much in the mail anymore, but lately I've been expecting packages that I ordered and I just want to make sure I don't miss them. If informed delivery shows them as coming, I never know if they were delivered to the wrong place or just didn't make it that day. As @TheOneWithTheTriplets mentioned, it could be that they are shorted staffed, I'd be fine getting mail every other day if that was the case, at least it might be more reliable then.

 

[happ]

My last post reminded me, I've been meaning to post but didn't want the sad news with the holiday weekend. Also, reactions are preferred, I know how we all feel about our pets and while it's appreciated, no need to comment sorry etc.

Tues before Thanksgiving after I brought the boys back in from 1st potty Dude lost the ability to stand/walk on his back legs. I was able to get him into his vet that morning (which emergency vet couldn't do) and they did xrays. The hope was since he still had feeling that it was disc disease and we'd give him steriods. Wed at almost vet close the dr calls and that's what it was but they also found a tumor on his spleen. Nothing we could do about anything until Fri so left to think it over. Plan that evening was to ignore the c and try the steriods so he could hopefully walk again.

Overnight he started getting sick every couple of hours. When we finally got up he didn't really want to eat, no matter what we tried. By evening he was so frustrated and still not wanting to eat or drink and still getting sick. I knew at that point that even if it was stress that was causing it, he had to eat to take meda and not get sick so the meds stayed in his system. It wasn't what any of us wanted but I had to think of him.

We took Tux with us so he was there with my mom and I. He had one last snuggle up to him and understood what happened. This was important to me because I wanted him to understand and be able to grieve. It's also been a huge relief/help to not have him looking for Dude. He does cry more when I'm gone and shook in the car when we went somewhere which he normally doesn't. He is driving us nuts wanting to play all the time though.

I'm glad to have Tux so the house isn't quiet and empty. I never wanted 2 dogs, he was Dude's dog and I told him I'd take good care of him. He turns 1 next week.

Losing pets is awful. It's nice you have Tux. It took me years to get another dog after my last one passed. I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Did something change and I missed it? I've been stalking car rentals for January through the chase portal, and it looks like the UR travel page got an update HOWEVER, for both DH's CIP and my SP the travel "bonus" is gone??? It's only giving me 1:1 points and not 1.25 that's a 10,000 point difference on my current car rental.

Anyone?
We were also planning on booking a 6-person cruise soon, and that's going to be an ENORMOUS difference if the 1.25 on travel bonus is gone.
ETA: card benefits still shows 1.25, but when I go to actually book it's NOT giving me 1.25