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

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Thank you! We’ll restart with the CIC for P2.

Keep in mind that this is an elevated offer (90k vs norm 75k) for a lower MSR ($6k vs norm $7.5k), so if you can meet the two MSRs, I wouldn't wait too long on supporting P1 for an additional Ink. If nothing else, be sure to generate a support link and save it somewhere. Sometimes when an offer is pulled, the support links stay alive for a limited period.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Hoping this group can give me some guidance on card maximization! I have current cards listed and all travel plans listed below - would love to hear what the experts would do. The travel plans are aspirational, but I figure if I start early we might be able to pull it off!

Current cards:

• 04/21 - Chase Sapphire, Bonus Post Date 6/5/21, annual fee due 4/29/23, 48k points, Use for restaurants only. Keep open due to travel benefits?
• 05/22 - Chase Freedom Unlimited, Bonus Post Date 5/31/22, no annual fee, 47k points, Use for all other costs. Will keep open - no fee
• 05/22 - Southwest, Bonus Post Date 8/26/22, annual fee due 5/31/23, 37k miles, Use for daycare costs $1k/month, this is ending May 2023. End before annual fee due?
• 09/22 - BonVoy, Bonus Post Date 12/13/22, annual fee due 9/23/22, 41k miles, Keep open for free night each year?
• Forever - Disney, no annual fee, Use for Disney only
• Forever - Amazon, no annual fee, Use for Amazon only

Average spend on cards is $2k per month, with big spend each May of $5k for kids camps and Nov/Dec of $3k (have used these to get to past minimum spends) No Player 2 - husband has Costco card and refuses to budge.

Fly from Harrisburg (MDT), or drive to BWI for SW

Travel:

May 2023 CA: SW points already covered flights, BonVoy points covered partial lodging. Outstanding costs are AirBnB reserved by family member and rental car. Considering using UR points for car rental.

Summer 2023 Pittsburgh: Using remaining BonVoy points for hotel, no other significant costs.

August 2023 Denver: Need flights for two adults, flying from Harrisburg. Not considering using rewards but will sign up for loyalty program of whatever airline we fly.

May 2024 Disney World: Plan to transfer UR points to SW to pay for all flights for 2 adults/2 kids. Will do split stay, 2 nights via Disney and 4 nights via point rental. Will purchase tickets through third party vendor.

Feb/Mar 2025 Disney Cruise: If keeping BonVoy card will use yearly free night to stay at hotel night before cruise leaves. Would like to use points to pay for flights for 2 adults, 2 kids.

Summer 2026 CA and Disneyland: Would like to use hotel/airline rewards to pay for part of the trip, 1 adult, 2 kids.

2027 Hawaii: Would like to use airline rewards to pay for flights, 2 adults, 2 kids. Renting points to stay at Aulani, then want to stay in a vacation rental on another island.

2028 Australia: Would like to use airline rewards to pay for flights for 2 adults, 2 kids. Would go to Sydney, Uluru, and Great Barrier Reef. Unsure if doing vacation rentals or hotels

You've received great advice! I just wanted to say welcome and also mention that I like how detailed you are with your advanced planning. That will serve you well.

Just wanted to add that we are almost always working towards an MSR. Many MSRs are kind of in that $4-6k/3 mos, which seems like it fits nicely with your $2k monthly spend.

Perhaps after your CA trip in May, you can show P2 how much money you've saved by using points and see if there is any willingness to try one card, if you manage it all? With P2s, you might have to find the thing that motivates them. Could be saving money, or lie flat seats, or staying in a posh hotel, or flexibility. It's different for everyone and some P2s will never get on board.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

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?

I've not flown AA F, BUT... I personally think I have a rather low hassle threshold. A direct flight in J sounds magical compared to an extra night and a connection which includes an airport transfer. Especially after your recent adventure getting to Cabo. Just my two cents.

 

[calypso726]

Food for thought:

DH got an Amex offer for 35x MRs on $1000 with Celebrity on one card and 17.5k MRs for $500 spend with Celebrity on another card. While we know we plan to sail Celebrity again after our wonderful experience in the Galapagos, it won't be anytime soon. But it's too good of an offer to pass up. 52,500 MRs for $1500 we will be spending with Celebrity at some point anyhow. Even if one only values MRs for cash out with a Schwab it's $577 earned on $1500.

We booked a refundable cruise for April of 2025. I am very unlikely to go on this cruise. However, this should give me plenty of time to make a change to an actual cruise itinerary and date that I will take without any penalties down the line.

 

[Oscar Madison]

Keep in mind that this is an elevated offer (90k vs norm 75k) for a lower MSR ($6k vs norm $7.5k), so if you can meet the two MSRs, I wouldn't wait too long on supporting P1 for an additional Ink. If nothing else, be sure to generate a support link and save it somewhere. Sometimes when an offer is pulled, the support links stay alive for a limited period.

Oh...great tip. Thank you.

 

[georgina]

Luckily it's super easy for me to change both of our DDs for account bonuses. I don't know if follow the comments on DOC, but a couple of people on there have said they sold a gift card on raise and the payment counted as a DD, so that might be another way to get something to work if you start to run out of options.

Wanted to let you know that the Raise idea worked! I sold a $50 Home Depot GC that I bought sometime last year with a discount. The direct deposit is pending and the $300 checking bonus is also pending. Yay.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Last night something possessed me to check flights on AC to FRA on Sunday. A first class seat on Lufthansa 747 was open and that got me to thinking, why not go to London a day early (and cancel the AA first flight back on the 6th). So I booked a seat on Sunday from YYZ-->ORD-->FRA-->LHR. I have to drop dd at the airport for her trip back to university, so I'll just have ds drop both of us. I'll head to the gates for international and she'll head to domestic. I checked this morning to see if a flight with Lufthansa in first opened up for the 27th, but nothing yet. I was able to get a seat right in the nose of the plane (which is one of the most private since Lufthansa doesn't have enclosed suites in first)! This time I'll remember to bring a light t-shirt to sleep in since I remember how warm the cabin was in November! I don't know which I'm looking forward to more: the flight or the Lufthansa first class lounge in FRA with limo transfer to the departure gate!

 

[trenty]

nevermind

 

[Narnia_girl]

I need some advice. I hardly ever refer anyone for credit cards, however, my I do have someone who wants to earn the Southwest CP and I'd like to send her my referral links.
When I went to Chase and copied my link this is what I get:

Earn Companion Pass through 2/28/2024 plus 30,000 points with any Southwest Rapid Rewards personal Credit Card. You must apply by 3/19/2023. Business owners can earn up to 80,000 bonus points with Southwest Rapid Rewards business Credit Cards. {referral number}​

So it appears my current referral link is that junky offer instead of the normal (much better) offer. It did this on both my personal and business cards.

Is there any other way I can get my referral links for the normal (much better) offer which is good through Dec. 2024 and has more points?

 

[lsutigers03]

Keep in mind that this is an elevated offer (90k vs norm 75k) for a lower MSR ($6k vs norm $7.5k), so if you can meet the two MSRs, I wouldn't wait too long on supporting P1 for an additional Ink. If nothing else, be sure to generate a support link and save it somewhere. Sometimes when an offer is pulled, the support links stay alive for a limited period.

Thanks I forgot about doing this. DW is technically under 5/24 (She had a card that should have fallen off on 02/17) but I want to wait until March if possible to apply just to be safe.

 

[wanderlust7]

I need some advice. I hardly ever refer anyone for credit cards, however, my I do have someone who wants to earn the Southwest CP and I'd like to send her my referral links.
When I went to Chase and copied my link this is what I get:

Earn Companion Pass through 2/28/2024 plus 30,000 points with any Southwest Rapid Rewards personal Credit Card. You must apply by 3/19/2023. Business owners can earn up to 80,000 bonus points with Southwest Rapid Rewards business Credit Cards. {referral number}​

So it appears my current referral link is that junky offer instead of the normal (much better) offer. It did this on both my personal and business cards.

Is there any other way I can get my referral links for the normal (much better) offer which is good through Dec. 2024 and has more points?

That's the offer now. The public offer is the same. They can wait for a different offer, possibly after 3/19. Or go for 2 business cards (80k and 60k).

 

[LynnTH]

Update on my Caesars Match to Diamond Status (from Wyndham). I messaged Caesars Rewards on Twitter last week. They said to check back today if no change. I messaged them again yesterday. They said they were going to expedite it with Wyndham as nothing had come through. They just messaged me again right now and it has been changed to Diamond. Whew... I leave for Vegas on Saturday!!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Anyone been to Bimini? Looking at a cruise stop there.

 

[sinnika]

I’m heading back to Ramstein Germany on April 2 for the birth of my second grandchild. I’ll be there thru May 8th. Flying United IAH to Frankfurt on UA miles. I have a friend who will be flying into Amsterdam on April 19th and I plan to fly up to meet her. We plan to spend one night before traveling to my daughters house in SW Germany, probably by train. If you had 24 hours or so to spend in Amsterdam, what would you do? Tulips will be in full bloom at that time. Also, any suggestions on where to stay. This will be my first time and possibly only time there.

 

[becauseimnew]

I'm really going to miss being globalist... free breakfast, free parking, point advance reservations. I just made the last points advance reservation for the year before I drop down to Explorist.

 

[tink1970]

I’m heading back to Ramstein Germany on April 2 for the birth of my second grandchild. I’ll be there thru May 8th. Flying United IAH to Frankfurt on UA miles. I have a friend who will be flying into Amsterdam on April 19th and I plan to fly up to meet her. We plan to spend one night before traveling to my daughters house in SW Germany, probably by train. If you had 24 hours or so to spend in Amsterdam, what would you do? Tulips will be in full bloom at that time. Also, any suggestions on where to stay. This will be my first time and possibly only time there.

Oooh, I'd love to visit during tulip time! We've been a couple of times and the Anne Frank Huis was amazing and so memorable (the tickets are available online 6 weeks out so the 19th is coming up), if you like museums. Of course there's the Van Gough and Rijksmuseum, which we also enjoyed as well as a canal tour for a nice overview of this historic and lovely city.

We stayed at the Marriott Renaissance-super close to Centraal Station but apparently it's undergoing renovations so lots of mixed reviews. DD's adventures last summer meant she stayed in a super pricey suite at the airport Hilton but she's a terrible reporter so not sure I can recommend either.

Congrats on the new little one to spoil and tulip time in Amsterdam

 

[GZanta77]

I'm really going to miss being globalist... free breakfast, free parking, point advance reservations. I just made the last points advance reservation for the year before I drop down to Explorist.

I'm in the same boat and I'll miss the suite upgrades whilst I think my family will miss those guest of honor bookings.

Currently working on a plan to get back to globalist through a combination of stays and credit card spend. Think it is achievable but will probably take me most of the year to do it.

 

[shystalips]

Anybody have any tips on using the quill 20% chase offer? Looking to buy the visa GC and then use them to buy DGC.
Thanks

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

I’m heading back to Ramstein Germany on April 2 for the birth of my second grandchild. I’ll be there thru May 8th. Flying United IAH to Frankfurt on UA miles. I have a friend who will be flying into Amsterdam on April 19th and I plan to fly up to meet her. We plan to spend one night before traveling to my daughters house in SW Germany, probably by train. If you had 24 hours or so to spend in Amsterdam, what would you do? Tulips will be in full bloom at that time. Also, any suggestions on where to stay. This will be my first time and possibly only time there.

The Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam frequently comes up as a bucket list stay. My fam has also enjoyed the Kimpton De Witt, very centrally located to the Grand Centraal train station, which is about a 15 min easy ride from the airport.

 

[Explore]

Anyone been to Bimini? Looking at a cruise stop there.

My husband and I were there in October on a stop while on Virgin's Scarlet Lady. We enjoyed our day there. Anything specific you would like to know? My sister is heading out this Sunday on the same itinerary.