I love credit cards so much!

[schmass]

Ugghhh, just getting caught up on all of the potential UR changes. I need to have DH log into his account tonight and transfer points to my CSR just in case!

So my first SPG Biz statement just closed. I didn't get starpoints for one of the utility payments I made through my city (mom's water bill), but then the very next charge was for my own water bill through the same city website. It's nearly $400 and it looks like that didn't count towards my qualifying purchases, either. It was the first purchase I made on the card. Should I reach out to Amex about this??

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Ugghhh, just getting caught up on all of the potential UR changes. I need to have DH log into his account tonight and transfer points to my CSR just in case!

So my first SPG Biz statement just closed. I didn't get starpoints for one of the utility payments I made through my city (mom's water bill), but then the very next charge was for my own water bill through the same city website. It's nearly $400 and it looks like that didn't count towards my qualifying purchases, either. It was the first purchase I made on the card. Should I reach out to Amex about this??

good grief...now utility payments don't count!? They kill me.

 

[1GoldenSun]

I am trying to catch up but it's hopeless.

Please, would someone mind telling me in a nutshell what is going on with Starwood and Marriott? Should we go ahead and book any tentative future stays at the Swan/Dolphin for the foreseeable future?

 

[Lain]

Ugghhh, just getting caught up on all of the potential UR changes. I need to have DH log into his account tonight and transfer points to my CSR just in case!

So my first SPG Biz statement just closed. I didn't get starpoints for one of the utility payments I made through my city (mom's water bill), but then the very next charge was for my own water bill through the same city website. It's nearly $400 and it looks like that didn't count towards my qualifying purchases, either. It was the first purchase I made on the card. Should I reach out to Amex about this??

good grief...now utility payments don't count!? They kill me.

Were these payments made in the first week of April? There's a known issue that many (non-MS) charges didn't earn Starpoints from that time period. They should still count towards MSR. Amex is supposedly working to get the points credited to the accounts, but it's expected to take several weeks.

If you haven't been doing any manufactured spending and don't mind "eyes on your account", there's no harm in reaching out.

 

[1st*toright]

Has anyone ever stayed at Marriott on a conference rate or other discounted rate (besides members rate) and had it credit as a qualifying night? I haven't received credit for my three night stay from last week but I was there on a conference rate.

This seems to happen with conference rates - they don't automatically credit the nights, but if you contact them (send in the "missed stay" paperwork) you will get the nights. Happens frequently enough that I'm thinking it might be deliberate - make people jump through a hoop to get credit on the discounted rates? Maybe I'm just cynical. Anyway, I've never had a problem getting credit once I ask for it.

 

[schmass]

good grief...now utility payments don't count!? They kill me.

That's the weird thing about this - one counted and one didn't!

Were these payments made in the first week of April? There's a known issue that many (non-MS) charges didn't earn Starpoints from that time period. They should still count towards MSR. Amex is supposedly working to get the points credited to the accounts, but it's expected to take several weeks.

If you haven't been doing any manufactured spending and don't mind "eyes on your account", there's no harm in reaching out.

It was from the first week of April. The one that didn't count was on April 2nd and then one that did was on April 3rd. Do I just send them a SM?

 

[1st*toright]

The annoying thing about LAS is they put all these bright, noisy slot machines everywhere that attract toddlers. Then parents spend the whole time trying to keep toddlers away from bright noisy machines.

My youngest is just old enough that she can keep herself from pursuing the bright, shiny, noisy games for grownups when I tell her to stay put. But she was fascinated by them - kept having to remind her that they were not for kids. If she had been even a year younger it would have been a real battle.

 

[DisneyMandC]

This seems to happen with conference rates - they don't automatically credit the nights, but if you contact them (send in the "missed stay" paperwork) you will get the nights. Happens frequently enough that I'm thinking it might be deliberate - make people jump through a hoop to get credit on the discounted rates? Maybe I'm just cynical. Anyway, I've never had a problem getting credit once I ask for it.

Thanks! I will do that on Monday and see what happens.

 

[Lain]

It was from the first week of April. The one that didn't count was on April 2nd and then one that did was on April 3rd. Do I just send them a SM?

Amex has a secured Chat function. When you log into your Amex account, there should be an option to chat in the lower right corner of your window.

ETA: Here's a recent /r/churning thread with comments about this glitch: https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/8eseme/daily_discussion_thread_april_25_2018/dxye7p4/

 

[schmass]

Amex has a secured Chat function. When you log into your Amex account, there should be an option to chat in the lower right corner of your window.

ETA: Here's a recent /r/churning thread with comments about this glitch: https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/8eseme/daily_discussion_thread_april_25_2018/dxye7p4/

Thank you!!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Anyone have experience with Hyatt points bookings? Do they typically block holiday weekends? Looking for Memorial Day 2019 and it says not accepting awards during these dates.

 

[WVMomof3]

That's the weird thing about this - one counted and one didn't!



It was from the first week of April. The one that didn't count was on April 2nd and then one that did was on April 3rd. Do I just send them a SM?

I also seem to be missing points from April 2nd. I am missing 101 points and I had 2 charges on 4/2 one of $94 and one of $7.

 

[DisneyMandC]

I have no idea what this card is or what it's about, but I just saw this ad on my Spotify and found the layout of the card very interesting!! Wonder if we'll start seeing more cards like this with chips now being used.

 

[schmass]

I also seem to be missing points from April 2nd. I am missing 101 points and I had 2 charges on 4/2 one of $94 and one of $7.

I just chatted with a rep on the Amex website and she was less than helpful. By the end of the chat she figured out it's a known issue and they are working on it. Points should by awarded by July.

 

[WVMomof3]

Man- wish I had known that a couple of weeks ago. We hung in a very crowded SW gate area at LAS for a good while the other week, when we could have lounged! I have a decent LAS layover next week, so I will definitely have to figure out how to get to one of the lounges from the SW gates.

Also- anyone been in Denver lately? I had heard that the restaurant/lounge thing might be going away - is it still operating for now?

I believe either @amalone1013 or @wendow just posted that it is not really closing, as told by waitstaff there.

 

[amalone1013]

Your in-laws sound exactly like mine... My MIL is constantly trying to pay for dinner whenever we meet up with them, even though we are dual income no kids and they are living on a very strict budget!! That is a really good idea on the travel fund though. MIL is always giving us cash for Christmas and birthdays, and since we're planning to take them to Disney with us in 2019, it would be great to hand them that money back and tell them it's for souvenirs or food.

It was pretty great. We had helped them with hotel, by getting them each an SPG personal and then charging our wedding stuff on there and paying it off. So they covered their flights and the resort charge at the Dolphin. We did it with DHs aunt too. Occasionally she joined us for dinner, and would not let us out of taking her $20. We just told her, You know what will happen with this right? We'll turn it into Disney money. And she just laughed... until we gave her a gift card And for Christmas we had given her a SW gift card to help out. And we were able to use the AMEX Undercover Tourist offers to save a bit on their tickets. And then since they had gift cards to cover all food/souvenirs, it was super easy to share our AP/TIW discounts with them because they'd just put in a gift card for whatever their's was after the discount.

Where are you flying from? My observation over the last year-ish is that BNA flights have gone up on SW. I don't get the deals I used to get to the places we always fly. So my concern would be will you get the flight at a rate you are willing to pay...esp with it being weekend flights?
The other thought I have is that the Grand Ole Opry moves to the Ryman (its original home) at that time of the year, so it is very popular at that time. That will drive hotel demand up but I don't know how quickly award availability will get snatched up. There are alot of hotels down in that area from several chains, so I am sure you could find something on points somewhere, assuming the concert tickets and flights fall into place.

We're coming from Denver. I'm hoping I'll have enough points to cover, even if it's not as much of a deal... I've got 33k right now plus CP.

I didn't know the Opry goes back to the Ryman at that time. I might just pull the trigger... and if the tickets don't work out, I'll probably just try to move the trip up to the Fall. Nashville was on my list of possible weekend trips anyways, just the concert makes me aim for that particular weekend. So hopefully if we moved the trip, I could find another weekend to use points at that Hyatt. Otherwise, I'm sure I would find a use for Hyatt points somewhere... And the main reason for the Hyatt was it seems like the best deal for points, so I can hoard more for more travel, but it's good there's several other choices too. Free is the main goal!

ETA: The concert is at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center

 

[amalone1013]

@1st*toright @wendow was told by waitstaff they aren't closing a couple weeks ago. We are flying to Vegas tomorrow and plan to use it then. I haven't heard anything else really, I search it through Google News periodically.

 

[speedyfishy]

I am trying to catch up but it's hopeless.

Please, would someone mind telling me in a nutshell what is going on with Starwood and Marriott? Should we go ahead and book any tentative future stays at the Swan/Dolphin for the foreseeable future?

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/marriott-spg-merger-details-what-you-need-to-know/

Marriott and SPG havent released the categories for the hotels yet so we can’t say if the cost will go up or down, but I guess if it goes down you can rebook?

 

[1GoldenSun]

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/marriott-spg-merger-details-what-you-need-to-know/

Marriott and SPG havent released the categories for the hotels yet so we can’t say if the cost will go up or down, but I guess if it goes down you can rebook?

Perfect! Thank you so much @speedyfishy!

 

[hsmamato2]

Ok...I'm here some straight up advice and help...... I figure a lot of you know more about this than I do! I have been figuring out my 5 nights on Maui..... I originally booked Sheraton Kaanapali, since it looks awesome,and is right on that perfect snorkeling beach. NOW....I'm reconsidering canceling that and using my SPg points for a Marriott nights and flights package...it's just too tempting,since I'd get my 5 nights on Maui using that certificate, PLUS the 120k SWA points which I can really use! So here's my big dilemma- I could choose the Marriott Wailea Beach resort, or Marriott Maui ocean club instead. Any advice? on TA,and Oyster, they all rate well (4 pearls) They all look lovely, tho I think ocean club would be #3 for my choices (we don't have little kids) what do you all think? ANY advice here is so needed! I was proud of myself for deciding on a hotel,and now my biggest problem is back....making a decision!
....ALSO...... Nights and Flights. I've been reading about how to do this, but again...how would I know if I can use the cert. at the hotel I want,when I want? check for availability on marriott site?if I do that, would I check using points,or cash? Do they allow bookings with the cert. in general,or are there blackout dates? (arrggg)
...ALSO... what is my smartest option for getting the extra 45k marriott points I need to finish the booking?(and can I book if I buy a 1-5 cat. cert,and they'll let me book a cat. 8 until I get the extra points?)
Should I A) Use some UR points> Marriott to top it off? (45k)
B) Buy the spg points and transfer them? ( 15k for 341.25 use spg for 2x points)
C) Buy spg points (341.25 for 15k,use UR statement credit to pay myself back)
Again,Id have to purchase thru Dh's Spg acct,gift them to mine,and transfer to MArriott.
How feasible is this? How long does it take from purchasing the package to getting the hotel cert. for use? (swa points not in a rush for,not using them yet)
Please help me think this through...... I feel like waiting till AUg 1 and hoping I could use cert on sheraton might not work out