I love credit cards so much! v7.0 - 2025 (see first page for add'l details)

[georgina]

After 13 hours on Qsuites, we had a short layover in Doha and then another 4.5 hours in Qsuites to get to Nairobi Intl airport. We got to the Crowne Plaza just before 1 am. Caught an Uber at 8 am to Wilson Airport on AirKenya. The flight was about 30 minutes to get to Mara-Keekorok. Our safari guide from the JW Masai Mara met us and the other travelers. The other party had to pay for their National park entries so we were there for a bit. We had prepaid with the JWMM. We saw some wildlife on the way to the lodge. First safari will be later today. These pics are all with my iPhone. I should have the good camera from the lodge later.

Flights were 130k Avios pp to get 170k po during a 30% MR to BA transfer bonus. I transferred those to Qatar and the taxes were about $200 pp. ash would have been over $4600 pp. JWMM was booked at 150k BonBlah points/night for 5 nights with 5th night free. Cash price for this was over $24k for 5 nights. The staff is lovely and the Mara is a beautiful place!


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Cool! We are flying biz class on Qatar to Johannesburg through Doha in 2 weeks. Must admit I have never flown this class before, will all be new to me!

 

[calypso726]

Cool! We are flying biz class on Qatar to Johannesburg through Doha in 2 weeks. Must admit I have never flown this class before, will all be new to me!

We absolutely enjoyed their product.

 

[calypso726]

Here are a few pics from today’s safari taken with a real camera. There is a Canon room and guests are allowed to borrow a Canon EOS with a long lens. It weighs a lot. The staff does show you how to use it and will also help you edit pictures you select by the end of your stay. Each day they add on to the camera lesson from the day before. .

There was a Circle of Life moment involving a baboon and baby gazelle. I won’t be including pics like those as I know they could be disturbing for some folks.

We followed this leopard as she was hunting after that herd of wildebeest. She would within about 30 yards and the herd would move or run for a bit. This went on for a while. She all but disappeared in the taller grasses. It was fascinating to watch.

 

[djmeredith]

@calypso726, you got a great points rate for that JW! I've been looking and the lowest I have seen is 212K.

 

[AmyAnne]

Amex Serve and Bluebird shut down reports on Flyer talk and Reddit……personally received emails on one of my cards and 2 of DHs….can still log into other cards I have but don’t expect that to last …..it was a great 5 year run
Off to research Visa Serve cards

Ugh. No email here but I'd be interested in what you learn about the Visa Serve.

 

[calypso726]

@calypso726, you got a great points rate for that JW! I've been looking and the lowest I have seen is 212K.

I am so glad I decided to book when I did. They were capped at 150k/night for some time. Then I started seeing the 200k and up per night go into effect.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Ugh. No email here but I'd be interested in what you learn about the Visa Serve.

Applied for one and was not approved ….will have to see if there are other things I can find or just as Elisa said “let it go” and earn whatever points I can the old fashioned way through .actual spend
Just hate to now have to limit our trips to see the grandchildren

 

[havaneselover]

Asking for a friend: if you have a CIC and CIU (the newest of these is probably about 4 months old) and canceled a CIP two days ago, when should they apply for a CIC?

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Asking for a friend: if you have a CIC and CIU (the newest of these is probably about 4 months old) and canceled a CIP two days ago, when should they apply for a CIC?

I’ve waited a week, but don’t know if it’s necessary to wait that long

 

[StephPlum]

I just learned about this - though y'all may already know. If you are a IHG business rewards member (which is free), you can transfer IHG points to someone for free. Usually IHG points transfers cost $5 per 1000 transferred. I travel solo but do have a P2 that has a lot of IHG points. I made his account a business rewards account. "Membership in IHG Business Rewards is available to individuals who are either corporate bookers, business travel/meetings agents or individual bookers." The terms and conditions define an individual booker as "a person who books Qualifying Spend at Participating Hotels on their own behalf or on behalf of someone else." (bolding mine). I felt this conveyed our situation as I use his points for my travel. This will make it easier for me to use the points.

 

[hsmamato2]

I just learned about this - though y'all may already know. If you are a IHG business rewards member (which is free), you can transfer IHG points to someone for free. Usually IHG points transfers cost $5 per 1000 transferred. I travel solo but do have a P2 that has a lot of IHG points. I made his account a business rewards account. "Membership in IHG Business Rewards is available to individuals who are either corporate bookers, business travel/meetings agents or individual bookers." The terms and conditions define an individual booker as "a person who books Qualifying Spend at Participating Hotels on their own behalf or on behalf of someone else." (bolding mine). I felt this conveyed our situation as I use his points for my travel. This will make it easier for me to use the points.

I've seen this before, but figured I couldn't 'verify' p2 'biz' so it wouldn't work out for me.... please report back if this works for you! Also wondering.... how do you transfer if you do this? I'm assuming there's an online option?

 

[tink1970]

Never posted here before, I have not historically used credit cards for anything except airlines (Delta and United club cards), I have a few others, an amex that gives meh cash back, and a BoA that I don’t use. No debt except mortgage, but interest rate is so low it makes no sense to pay it off early. I am a high earner, exceptional credit score. I started paying more attention to cc stuff this year and decided that the BoA customized cash card was a great choice, so I applied a few weeks ago. I was approved over the phone - limit was oddly low but plenty for what I’d mostly use it for, and then - nothing. I am having the most infuriating experience with BoA now - they sent a letter requesting a SSN authorization and recent paystub, which they wanted returned via snail mail to an address in Texas, in an enclosed envelope smarty labeled (not kidding) “credit department.” My credit reports are locked, but still - really? I called the BoA fraud deprtment to confirm this was real and that there was not another way to transmit this information. No dice, so it was sent. That was 15 days ago. I confirmed on Friday that receipt still has not been noted on the application, but that it may take a week to do so. Yesterday, I received the same letter requesting these documents, dated last Wed. I swear, my head almost exploded.

Talk me down, here - has anyone experienced this with them? I am very happy to ensure my identity is confirmed, and I appreciate the care towards avoiding fraud, but come on. Any thoughts? Am I being unreasonable?

I haven't but BoA (and frankly any bank but historically, Barclays, BoA and I'm sure others will chime in) some other banks can be difficult. Likely having your credit reports locked contributed to this-I keep mine frozen and unfreeze for 24 hours when applying (I realize this is Monday morning quarterbacking so apologies!) but do empathize with the frustration. Right now, banks seem to be more skittish than ever...harkening back to "08 and even other times in our history when they were more reluctant to extend credit.

Good luck and remember, it's not you, it's them.

 

[StephPlum]

I've seen this before, but figured I couldn't 'verify' p2 'biz' so it wouldn't work out for me.... please report back if this works for you! Also wondering.... how do you transfer if you do this? I'm assuming there's an online option?

I set up the business rewards account last month. I just transferred 250K (max in one transaction) yesterday. Reflected in my account today (maybe yesterday, I didn't check).


I don't remember if I just used P2's name for business or left blank. There was no follow up or verification. I waited the month before transferring so it didn't look as suspicious. On P2's account, I went to the Redeem points and Transfer option. Then enter where you want it to go. There is a line for a charge. Be sure it says $0 so you know it won't charge you.

 

[Twilghtsprkle]

There’s a rumor that the Barclay’s AA Aviator Red card will stop accepting applications at the end of September. Does it make sense to apply to get the points?

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

There’s a rumor that the Barclay’s AA Aviator Red card will stop accepting applications at the end of September. Does it make sense to apply to get the points?

I did it, but it was the one purchase offer. I think I'd still do it for the $1K MSR, pretty easy to meet

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Amex 35% MRs back on anyfirst class flights booked through their portal ends Sep 18 (afterward it has to be your selected benefit airline). I'm trying to figure out: trips booked by then, even for travel occurring after that date, will still qualify for the 35% refund, right? I actually need to fly the day after, Sep19, lol

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

There’s a rumor that the Barclay’s AA Aviator Red card will stop accepting applications at the end of September. Does it make sense to apply to get the points?

Since Citi AA is every 48 months, if you can use the points, then it's def worth it. I'll be applying for 1 of the Barclays AA cards shortly.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Since Citi AA is every 48 months, if you can use the points, then it's def worth it. I'll be applying for 1 of the Barclays AA cards shortly.

Right, though don't forget that it's also now possible to get Citi Thank You points transferred to AA.

Anyway, is there more than 1 Barclays AA card? I thought they didn't have the biz one anymore. I would get it now if that's wrong!

 

[Twilghtsprkle]

Right, though don't forget that it's also now possible to get Citi Thank You points transferred to AA.

Anyway, is there more than 1 Barclays AA card? I thought they didn't have the biz one anymore. I would get it now if that's wrong!

This is the last one that is accepting new applicants. But that is ending as well.

 

[wanderlust7]

There’s a rumor that the Barclay’s AA Aviator Red card will stop accepting applications at the end of September. Does it make sense to apply to get the points?

There is some speculation on what might happen after the transition to Citi that is concerning. Link

If the Barclays Red shows as closed and the converted Citibank shows as new (but backdated), then you'll have added 2 cards to your 5/24.

It might reset your Citi AA counter. If you got the Citi AA recently, then it doesn't really matter. If you're close to waiting out the 48 months, then it would.