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

[palhockeymomof2]

Do UR transfers ever get “stuck” between spouses, or are they always immediate? I transferred a small amount (under 10k) today to make sure the connection between DH and I still worked and it went to the right card (I haven’t needed to transfer in a few years). So now I want to transfers 100k, but will chase flag a second larger transfer right after the initial one, and will it then take longer? Or is this not a thing with chase directly like it is transferring to some of the travel partners?

Mine have always been instant

 

[AndreaDM]

Do UR transfers ever get “stuck” between spouses, or are they always immediate? I transferred a small amount (under 10k) today to make sure the connection between DH and I still worked and it went to the right card (I haven’t needed to transfer in a few years). So now I want to transfers 100k, but will chase flag a second larger transfer right after the initial one, and will it then take longer? Or is this not a thing with chase directly like it is transferring to some of the travel partners?

I just had this happen when I transferred points to Flying Blue, then on to DHs account. The first transfer was instant, the second took about 48 hours I think.

 

[cookiecar]

Got a question for other holders of the AMEX Platinum card.

I had made a couple Hotel Collection reservations in 2024 and early 2025 for a trip to Quebec that ended up being cancelled. I cancelled the two hotel reservations that had used my Fine Hotels benefits and had $400 in credits clawed back by AMEX - as expected. I just rebooked a new trip on 12/30 to use the $300 credit I still had available. The credit for the new reservation is for the full reservation price of $545?!? Did they give me part of the $400 credit back from the canceled reservations as well? It seems like I left money on the table if they did as I booked the more expensive room on my husband's platinum.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Got a question for other holders of the AMEX Platinum card.

I had made a couple Hotel Collection reservations in 2024 and early 2025 for a trip to Quebec that ended up being cancelled. I cancelled the two hotel reservations that had used my Fine Hotels benefits and had $400 in credits clawed back by AMEX - as expected. I just rebooked a new trip on 12/30 to use the $300 credit I still had available. The credit for the new reservation is for the full reservation price of $545?!? Did they give me part of the $400 credit back from the canceled reservations as well? It seems like I left money on the table if they did as I booked the more expensive room on my husband's platinum.

Don’t see what else it could have been. Intriguing.

 

[robinb]

I have a couple of United questions…we have the AmEx Platinum and recently picked up the United Explorer. Since the Explorer card comes with a free checked bag for DH and I, I’m trying to figure out what I can use the Amex flight credit for. We haven’t had a chance to use our two lounge passes with United yet so I’m not sure how their lounge works. Does United allow the cardholder to use one of the included passes and then purchase a guest pass for someone traveling with them?

Do you ever fly Southwest? There is a loophole that allows you to purchase a SWA ticket for under $100 to get the airline credit. Once you get the credit, you can cancel the flight and get the price of your ticket credited to your SWA account. I found a Choice flight from MIA to PIT for $98. I booked it, got the AMEX credit and then cancelled the flight and have $98 sitting in my SWA account for me to use in the next year. I made sure to book a Choice seat for the longer credit life.

 

[wanderlust7]

Got a question for other holders of the AMEX Platinum card.

I had made a couple Hotel Collection reservations in 2024 and early 2025 for a trip to Quebec that ended up being cancelled. I cancelled the two hotel reservations that had used my Fine Hotels benefits and had $400 in credits clawed back by AMEX - as expected. I just rebooked a new trip on 12/30 to use the $300 credit I still had available. The credit for the new reservation is for the full reservation price of $545?!? Did they give me part of the $400 credit back from the canceled reservations as well? It seems like I left money on the table if they did as I booked the more expensive room on my husband's platinum.

A couple things I'd double check. Does the 2026 credit still show as available? Did the reservation get canceled?

If neither, I wouldn't think of it as leaving money on the table, but a bank error in your favor. They may find it down the road and take it back.

 

[orangecuse]

We did those islands in 2024.

1- We really enjoyed Toa Luau on Oahu. It's North Shore area, run by local families, and entrance also gets you into Waimea Valley Waterfall and Gardens. Was a really nice night all around for our crew, and bookable on Chase Travel portal so we did it with CSR 1.5x points for some added savings. We were looking for a luau fully under control of a local business, versus something run by a major hotel chain, etc, and this one was lovely.

2-

Where to begin?! Sleeper hit for us was Hilo on Big Island. We loved that area, it felt much less touristed than anywhere else we went. We got a VRBO in the Oceanview Mauna Loa Shores which is right at a beach park with sea turtle visitors, just up the street from a really cool black sand beach (Richardson) and easy access to the rest of Hilo. We were using SW for island hops and were able to fly direct Oahu-Hilo, did a couple days in Hilo, used our Volcano National Park day as our transfer day from Hilo to Kona, and then flew Kona to Maui for our next hop. Our original plans just had us on Kona for our whole Big Island visit and we were so glad we split because Hilo ended up being really exceptional.

Hanuama Bay on Oahu is unbelievable. Do your research about how to snag reservations (they only open a few days in advance, are closed certain days, book quickly, etc) but your Disney VQ and LL skills will translate well into snagging a good spot and then having the most amazing walk-off-the-beach snorkeling experience.

We opted to pay for a private guide for our Road to Hana. It was the biggest excursion expense of our trip but there ended up being a lot of traffic and we were really glad that we weren't the ones trying to drive. Our guide had some interesting stops that I doubt larger groups could even do: at one point he pulled over next to what looked like any other tree and had us shimmy through an opening you could barely see from the road. We ended up walking down into this incredible underground cave with tree roots growing down into it, absolutely stunning. I'm sure a larger tour group wouldn't try that because the space underneath would be way too tight. Not sure if the self guided tours direct to it, but even if they had I don't know that I would have had the confidence to climb down without the guide there telling me. We did lots of other hikes, waterfalls, etc on our own, so I'm not opposed to creating a self guided tour, but I'm glad we splurged for the Road to Hana.

We hiked, kayaked, snorkeled, etc, with a combo of booked excursions and self guided tours. I don't want to blow up this thread any more but, if you want to PM me your email, I can send you docs I created and the specific tours we booked at various locations.

We are also doing Oahu- Hilo- Kona- Maui!! This is so exciting to read I was also debating paying for the private Road to Hana guide. My husband wants to do it on our own so we can do whatever we want, but hes also a grouchy driver when hes nervous so I feel like the guide may help him relax haha

 

[VGCgroupie]

Has anyone used the Minnie Van to/from MCO service? Im curious how it posts so I can decide which credit card to use.

 

[*pixie*]

Do you ever fly Southwest? There is a loophole that allows you to purchase a SWA ticket for under $100 to get the airline credit. Once you get the credit, you can cancel the flight and get the price of your ticket credited to your SWA account. I found a Choice flight from MIA to PIT for $98. I booked it, got the AMEX credit and then cancelled the flight and have $98 sitting in my SWA account for me to use in the next year. I made sure to book a Choice seat for the longer credit life.

Ironically, up until the last six months, for all of our domestic flights, we flew Southwest exclusively. We've just made the switch to United, so I'm still learning all the ins and outs.

 

[mom2febgirls]

I want to apply for the CSR. I have had my CSP for 5 years. No apps in the last year. Is the correct process to PCthe CSP (I already have a UR Freedom, can I have 2?) then wait four days to app for the CSR? If I am denied, can I PC my Freedom back to a CSP?

 

[becauseimnew]

I want to apply for the CSR. I have had my CSP for 5 years. No apps in the last year. Is the correct process to PCthe CSP (I already have a UR Freedom, can I have 2?) then wait four days to app for the CSR? If I am denied, can I PC my Freedom back to a CSP?

yes to all.

 

[Twilghtsprkle]

We are also doing Oahu- Hilo- Kona- Maui!! This is so exciting to read I was also debating paying for the private Road to Hana guide. My husband wants to do it on our own so we can do whatever we want, but hes also a grouchy driver when hes nervous so I feel like the guide may help him relax haha

We are doing Oahu- Kauai-Maui. But we are skipping Road to Hana. I got terribly car sick last time we tried that 18 years ago and both of our kids get carsick as well. So just not in the cards for us. Trying to decide on sunrise or sunset for Haleakala but need to see if we can get oxygen for my husband. He got altitude sickness the last time. We have no idea if the kids inherited that as well.

 

[djmeredith]

I want to apply for the CSR. I have had my CSP for 5 years. No apps in the last year. Is the correct process to PCthe CSP (I already have a UR Freedom, can I have 2?) then wait four days to app for the CSR? If I am denied, can I PC my Freedom back to a CSP?

I'm curious to see if you get approved. I just did this and got the pop up saying I wasn't eligible. My only difference is that I have opened cards within the past year.

 

[becauseimnew]

Does anyone have any recommendation on ski trips using miles and points? ETA that this would be for Christmas 2026

We have 350K Hilton Points, 3 adults and 1 teen.

Was looking at Whistler but lift tickets would be around $2,500

Hilton Garden Inn Davos, Switzerland is also an option, lift tickets would be around $900. We have plenty of AA miles, so not worried about the price of airfare.

 

[cookiecar]

A couple things I'd double check. Does the 2026 credit still show as available? Did the reservation get canceled?

If neither, I wouldn't think of it as leaving money on the table, but a bank error in your favor. They may find it down the road and take it back.

The 2026 credit is still available. And the reservation is still there. The credit is listed as "Platinum Hotel Credit" so it definitely seems to be an error in my favor. Fingers crossed it doesn't get corrected.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Woot woot! It worked. Hilton Garden Inn. The little market inside that sells snacks.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Got a question for other holders of the AMEX Platinum card.

I had made a couple Hotel Collection reservations in 2024 and early 2025 for a trip to Quebec that ended up being cancelled. I cancelled the two hotel reservations that had used my Fine Hotels benefits and had $400 in credits clawed back by AMEX - as expected. I just rebooked a new trip on 12/30 to use the $300 credit I still had available. The credit for the new reservation is for the full reservation price of $545?!? Did they give me part of the $400 credit back from the canceled reservations as well? It seems like I left money on the table if they did as I booked the more expensive room on my husband's platinum.

I had a similar situation, but I called AmEx before cancelling because I didn't want to lose the $300 FHR (2025) credit. I had made a booking in October (which I wanted to cancel), to which the $300 was applied. I made another on December 21, to which I was hoping the $300 credit would then be applied to. Card member services confirmed that if I cancelled the October reservation the credit would be clawed back, but as long as the system could find another reservation made during the eligible time period it would automatically be applied to that reservation. The CSR told me that if it wasn't done automatically then I could call and they would apply it from their end. HTH.

 

[mmmears]

We are doing Oahu- Kauai-Maui. But we are skipping Road to Hana. I got terribly car sick last time we tried that 18 years ago and both of our kids get carsick as well. So just not in the cards for us. Trying to decide on sunrise or sunset for Haleakala but need to see if we can get oxygen for my husband. He got altitude sickness the last time. We have no idea if the kids inherited that as well.

As a fellow motion sickness sufferer I totally understand. We go to Maui often and have never completed the road to Hana. For altitude sickness, I found out from DH's doctor that there is a medicine that can help - your husband might want to ask about it if you think going up to Haleakala is worth it.

 

[AJruns]

I love researching hotels but am struggling with decision making- I have the good problem of being faced with many great options for my two FHR credits in China this summer. Does anyone have strong feelings about Shanghai or Beijing properties/neighborhoods? I’m spending a few nights in each city so will experience a few neighborhoods anyway when I switch hotels, so mostly I’m focused on the properties. I could write paragraphs about my research but the tldr is that in Shanghai I’ve mostly been focusing on the WA, StR Bund, and Edition, and in Beijing the WA, Peninsula, and Rosewood. Thanks!

 

[hsmamato2]

yes to all.

can you PC back right away? I thought you had to wait a year after pc'ing to FR....would they need to PC their *other* FR to CSR if that happens?