I love credit cards so much! v6.0 - 2023 & 2024 (see first page for add'l details)

[Psychodisney]

She created her United account first. Yes, same name. Then she signed in and transferred some points from her CF to CSR. Then tried to transfer to United.

She had success through the app. Now waiting for them to show up on United. Lol

 

[GZanta77]

I have a question for anyone who's been to Andaz Papagayo recently.
@platamama @GZanta77 I can't recall who else.
Anyone remember if there are laundry facilities there? I'm not sure we can do carry on only without doing laundry.

No self service laundry as far as I know, but they did have a small bag in the closet which you could fill and they would wash the contents for $40 - like they do on Royal Caribbean. We didn't need to laundry so didn't pay much attention to size of bag, but would imagine it is good for 3-4 tshirts and some underwear, but my tshirts are quite large.

Link below:

Andaz Laundry

 

[djmeredith]

It's been 10 years since we went to Paris, so I'd love to hear from anyone here who has toured Versailles more recently. Any suggestions?

Last time we just took the metro from Paris, walked to the palace, and toured on our own. We didn't go to the Petite Trianon or the Hamlet, so thinking we may go back and add those into our day.

Any advice, DPs, or reviews would be much appreciated.

I toured Versailles in August. We took an Uber there and the metro back. We did the official guided tour that included the private apartments and enjoyed that. If you do the tour, the meeting point is on the right hand side of the courtyard before you get to the main public entrance. It was not well marked, or at least we didn't see any big signs. We ate in the deli type self serve place in the palace and the sandwiches were good. We didn't do the gardens or any of the other stuff. I bought tix ahead of time for the Trianon and the train, but we ended up leaving after touring the palace.

 

[georgina]

It's been 10 years since we went to Paris, so I'd love to hear from anyone here who has toured Versailles more recently. Any suggestions?

Last time we just took the metro from Paris, walked to the palace, and toured on our own. We didn't go to the Petite Trianon or the Hamlet, so thinking we may go back and add those into our day.

Any advice, DPs, or reviews would be much appreciated.

I haven't been that much more recently than you, but if you go on a day when the fountains are operating, the gardens are fun. There are 50 fountains scattered throughout, we wandered around and saw several. I think my kids enjoyed the garden more than the house tour. Back in 1989 (pre-kids) we saw the musical water show at the Neptune fountain, which they mostly do on weekends I think.

 

[havaneselover]

If you accept an Amex retention offer requiring spend but don't do the spend or get the bonus, can you still cancel the card within 30 days of the fee posting and not get in trouble with Amex? Just trying to conserve cash and not sure I want to pay the $320 net my Biz Platinum is costing.

 

[babyready]

It's been 10 years since we went to Paris, so I'd love to hear from anyone here who has toured Versailles more recently. Any suggestions?

Last time we just took the metro from Paris, walked to the palace, and toured on our own. We didn't go to the Petite Trianon or the Hamlet, so thinking we may go back and add those into our day.

Any advice, DPs, or reviews would be much appreciated.

I am in the depths of planning a trip to Paris now and just looking at all the different Versailles options. There are so many to choose from! So thanks for asking, I am looking forward to reading the responses!

 

[georgina]

The Paris question brought up some memories last night. We were planning to head out first thing, taking the RER C train to Versailles. DH woke up with a toothache, our small hotel front desk recommended a local dentist, who saw him, took X-rays, gave him a prescription for an antibiotic for an infection, and we were on our way a few hours later. I was impressed with the efficiency and reasonable cost of health care there!

For a first trip to Versailles, I would definitely recommend at least the basic tour of the main house. There is a lot, it can be overwhelming and you can't do everything. There was a snack shop in the garden where we grabbed some lunch.

 

[nlenguyen]

Do you have any cards with them at all? I have gotten 2 preapproved emails for VentureX from them.
But I have had their regular Venture card for years so I assume that is the reason though I declined for
now.

I have a savorone

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

Soooo..... for all the people planning Japan for this year or next or so on are you paying cash
or using point/miles? If so which ones? Our 2020 trip was canceled so back to drawing board.
I am working on Amex platinum Sub and have some UR's (i rather keep those).

Anyone use Alaska miles to book? If I don't get this airfare brought down it will be sayonara Japan.

We're going in May. Transferred URs to United for flights. Hotels all on points too - 2 nts Hilton Tokyo Bay, 5 nts Hyatt Regency Tokyo, and 3 nts ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto. Trains/transportation and attractions are all going to be paid with "cash", no points.

 

[pinkxray]

I woke up this morning and just decided to change all my mentally planned trips for the next two years.
I was planning:
WDW long weekend Nov 2023
Aulani April 2024
DCL/ WDW Nov 2024

I decided to price out switching Aulani to the week after Thanksgiving. Holy moly, flights are half the cost, dvc is about 16 points per night cheaper.
I think I’m going to change our plans to:
Aulani Nov 2023
Alaskan Cruise June 2024
WDW Nov 2024

I think I have Aulani mostly paid for so now I need to figure out how to get from New York to Seattle or British Columbia depending on which cruise we pick.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

I was reading a blogger article yesterday that said that AA is taking their 2 planes with first class out of service in 2024 and replacing them with an updated biz class product. With that being said I got to thinking I would like to try to fly first with AA before that happens. The same article said that AA releases first class seats within 2 wks of departure, so I looked to see what is available for my return from London on March 5th. While I was trying to secure a seat on the 5th the points cost kept creeping upwards. Changed date to the 6th and I snagged a seat for 85k AA pts for flight from LHR --> JFK. I will have to spend an extra night in London and get myself from JFK --> LGA to fly home, but I am somewhat okay with that (I can get a flight from LGA --> YYZ for 6k AP pts in economy class). I have a few concerns:

• how long will a taxi take from JKF ---> LGA around 3:30pm on a Monday afternoon?
• does AA give out pajamas in first class on international daytime flights (I called and the CSR said the system said they do, but I think a few here have flown AA home from LHR @tink1970 @Calfan @CaliforniaGirl09 @calypso726 @FreeDiningFanatic
• how long will it take to clear customs at JFK T8?

Am I crazy for thinking of doing this when I have a direct biz class flight on BA booked on March 5?

 

[calypso726]

I was reading a blogger article yesterday that said that AA is taking their 2 planes with first class out of service in 2024 and replacing them with an updated biz class product. With that being said I got to thinking I would like to try to fly first with AA before that happens. The same article said that AA releases first class seats within 2 wks of departure, so I looked to see what is available for my return from London on March 5th. While I was trying to secure a seat on the 5th the points cost kept creeping upwards. Changed date to the 6th and I snagged a seat for 85k AA pts for flight from LHR --> JFK. I will have to spend an extra night in London and get myself from JFK --> LGA to fly home, but I am somewhat okay with that (I can get a flight from LGA --> YYZ for 6k AP pts in economy class). I have a few concerns:

• how long will a taxi take from JKF ---> LGA around 3:30pm on a Monday afternoon?
• does AA give out pajamas in first class on international daytime flights (I called and the CSR said the system said they do, but I think a few here have flown AA home from LHR @tink1970 @Calfan @CaliforniaGirl09 @calypso726 @FreeDiningFanatic
• how long will it take to clear customs at JFK T8?

Am I crazy for thinking of doing this when I have a direct biz class flight on BA booked on March 5?

For me this would depend on the plane. If we were comparing AA in F vs BA in F then definitely BA. Compare the planes on seat guru for each would be my suggestion.

That said, I do like convenience and went with booking a flight for the same miles on a plane and carrier that I know will be far less desirable than another flight on the same carrier . My flight back to the US on Egypt Air is to JFK on their Boeing 777 vs flying into IAD on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner which is their newer and much nicer plane. I didn't want to deal with getting in later due to the flight times difference on these routes and then deal with flying to New York from IAD to meet up with our group for the post trip. So, we are flying J on the 777. That Dreamliner they have is not on my bucket list. Their soft product is not great and I've flown better so not worth the hassle.

Now, if we were talking about causing more logistics to be planned for the sake of flying something on my "aircraft bucket list" like Qatar in F or J, Etihad Apartment, Cathay Pacific in F, Air France in F. Then yup, I'm going to do it and will cancel whatever I have planned to make it happen if possible even if it causes some minor inconveniences to do it.

Also, if it were even repeating something I've already crossed off the aircraft experience bucket list and absolutely loved, like flying F in Singapore Suites both old and new planes, JAL in F, ANA in F, Emirates in F with the shower, then heck yeah, I'd absolutely go out of my way to do it again if the opportunity presented itself.

If flying AA in F is on your to do list before it goes away and you can do it without too much hassle then go for it.

 

[havaneselover]

Been having issues with $200 visa gift cards. Last week I was trying to run five to get two money orders for $499.54. It was declining the cards. I was told that was because the transaction was for $1000 but that was never an issue before.

After church today I stopped at a food lion and was told no gift cards for money orders. Then I tried another one and the first card got declined. Asked him to run it as five $200 transactions. The first two went through. The next three got declined. I called the 888 number and was told I can’t use these at food lion.

 

[havaneselover]

On the phone with Liberty Mutual. My six-month premium is $2200 (insuring two teens is awesome). Using eleven $200 visa gift cards. The lady is very nice but totally hates me.

$2000 more to spend.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I flew first class American a number of years ago from LHR to SFO (through philly?) and no PJs. I mostly fly BA these days but I did fly flagship business on American back and forth to London for a tier point run in December. It was nice, and better than certain planes on BA business, but first in BA compared to first in American I’d take BA. I’d also take business BA with their new suites versus American as well. So as Calypso said check the planes If you want PJs it’s BA first.

P.S I’m in London now too We go back next Friday via MCO for the Princess half.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Anyone know if you can use a SW GC to buy inflight wi-fi on SW? I sadly canceled my SW Biz that covered it.

 

[Judique]

On the phone with Liberty Mutual. My six-month premium is $2200 (insuring two teens is awesome). Using eleven $200 visa gift cards. The lady is very nice but totally hates me.

$2000 more to spend.

One of my Insurance bills came in yesterday for $691 on my 2017 Kia for 6 months. 5 minutes before I saw it I would have been bragging how 'low' my rate was, but this jumped up from $601 6 months ago. And from $4xx something during the pandemic. And, right before the bill showed I was also listening to my 40 something friend complain hers was $190/month. No accidents anywhere me or her but her car is a 2022 hybrid Honda.

Strangely the 'old' van came in lower than last period when I got the bill in December. The gas hog I'm selling this week.

 

[StephPlum]

Anyone know if you can use a SW GC to buy inflight wi-fi on SW? I sadly canceled my SW Biz that covered it.

Don’t know about gift card but SW is changing wi-if charging by flight and not by day starting this week.


https://www.usatoday.com/story/trav...lines-internet-charge-per-flight/11281920002/

 

[tink1970]

I was reading a blogger article yesterday that said that AA is taking their 2 planes with first class out of service in 2024 and replacing them with an updated biz class product. With that being said I got to thinking I would like to try to fly first with AA before that happens. The same article said that AA releases first class seats within 2 wks of departure, so I looked to see what is available for my return from London on March 5th. While I was trying to secure a seat on the 5th the points cost kept creeping upwards. Changed date to the 6th and I snagged a seat for 85k AA pts for flight from LHR --> JFK. I will have to spend an extra night in London and get myself from JFK --> LGA to fly home, but I am somewhat okay with that (I can get a flight from LGA --> YYZ for 6k AP pts in economy class). I have a few concerns:

• how long will a taxi take from JKF ---> LGA around 3:30pm on a Monday afternoon?
• does AA give out pajamas in first class on international daytime flights (I called and the CSR said the system said they do, but I think a few here have flown AA home from LHR @tink1970 @Calfan @CaliforniaGirl09 @calypso726 @FreeDiningFanatic
• how long will it take to clear customs at JFK T8?

Am I crazy for thinking of doing this when I have a direct biz class flight on BA booked on March 5?

Do you still have your BA F seat? I'm only asking because I think between the hassle of trying to get across NYC traffic then doing the check in at LGA headache after a transatlantic flight... just might not be worth it. This is said by someone who normally would love to say "sure why not" about hopping on a new flight experience but I've heard mixed reviews of AA's F product and I'm just not sure the juice is worth the squeeze in this case.

To answer your questions, however...I haven't connected in JFK in a while but immigration with Global Entry is pretty efficient- especially when you're the first off the plane; traffic from JFK to LGA on a Monday afternoon can be unpredictable-estimates run from (low) 30 min to an hour (or more if there is an accident or other snarls). As for pajamas, they're unlikely to be provided since it's a "short" transatlantic flight .

Hope you're enjoying London, however you're headed home

 

[georgina]

One of my Insurance bills came in yesterday for $691 on my 2017 Kia for 6 months. 5 minutes before I saw it I would have been bragging how 'low' my rate was, but this jumped up from $601 6 months ago. And from $4xx something during the pandemic. And, right before the bill showed I was also listening to my 40 something friend complain hers was $190/month. No accidents anywhere me or her but her car is a 2022 hybrid Honda.

Strangely the 'old' van came in lower than last period when I got the bill in December. The gas hog I'm selling this week.

Your post made me curious, so I looked ours up. Auto policy, 2 cars, $878 for the whole year with Travelers. We don't drive much these days (2008 Buick and 2011 Subaru). Our homeowners is more than that though.