I love credit cards so much!

[AmyAnne]

Hi Dischurn Peeps! Anyone wanna guess what I’m waiting for? Well besides a massage at the Virgin Atlantic Sky Club lounge. I love that they have a pool table! We will be here for a few more hours before we board!

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If it's China, I am super jealous! I have been to China several times but there are still a few China things on my bucket list -- unfortunately it's such a huge country it's impossible to do everything in one trip. Looking forward to reading your updates.

 

[Lain]

I've never used the AmEx concierge but I think I am about to try, for some museum tickets -- does any AmEx Platinum card get access to the concierge?

Yes.

I actually have both the business Platinum and the MB Platinum, just wondering which card number I should be prepared to give.

Either.

 

[AmyAnne]

You’re not the only one I’ve heard this from. I think it’s usually blamed on the lack of available retail space. It can’t be cheap to rent at ORD either, but then Amex is paying $33 million over 10 years for its lease at LAX, $20 million over 10 years for its space at DEN, not including capital costs of building out the lounges in the first place and continuing operational costs.

I need to remember this when I call to cancel my AmEx Platinum -- not that a lounge in Chicago would make me keep the card, but it's another "this card does not work for me" item.

 

[AmyAnne]

Yes.



Either.

Thanks. I think I'll try with the business card -- that one will be cancelled first, and as you know from my post about the Chicago lounge, I am compiling a list of reasons not to keep the card. If they can't get these tickets, it might make me feel a little better to add that to the list.

 

[thevalley]

Does anyone the number for Hilton biz. Also there is a new update on the personal Hilton. Looks like they added a free night after first year.

Would Amex give me the account information of the card? Such as the account number, expiration date security code. We

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Hi Dischurn Peeps! Anyone wanna guess what I’m waiting for? Well besides a massage at the Virgin Atlantic Sky Club lounge. I love that they have a pool table! We will be here for a few more hours before we board!

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Have an amazing time and can’t wait to hear what you think of the trip. It was up there with our Scotland ABD for me.

 

[Calfan]

I think you can see and do most everything in 3 days, especially if you start at rope drop, make use of FastPasses or even MaxPass; 4 would give you more time and flexibility to slow down and enjoy everything (even multiple times).

As for DVC, there’s only the Villas at the Grand Californian. I’m not sure how availability is in December, but maybe @Calfan or @CaliforniaGirl09 can help.

I tend to book at 11 months out since I own VGC so I haven't kept up with specifics of tough times, but my impression is that December would be one of the toughest with 7 month points. Calfan might have better data points, but I think she has been shut out on her most recent RunDisney stays. She was able to snag a room last January for Light Side Weekend after it was cancelled but before that nothing. I just checked and December is completely sold out in every room category.

So I have not actually tried to use our DVC points for a reservation at the VGC villas during the Christmas holidays, but CaliforniaGirl is correct that we've found it challenging for other dates in recent years at the 7-month mark. We were successful early on with bookings in Oct. for Halloween Time and Jan./Feb. holiday weekends for the kids. But until earlier this year, we'd routinely been shut out over the last three years or so, mostly for runDisney event weekends. CaliforniaGirl is correct that I had waitlisted Jan. of this year which was supposed to be the runDisney Light Side weekend, and my waitlist cleared within days of an official announcement (finally!) from rD about the "hiatus" in the DL race weekends. While we were there in Jan., we got the idea for the quickie trip we just did May 5/6 to use DH's and kids' APs one more time. I had to waitlist that night as well, but it ended up clearing in March sometime. I will note that when we got shut out of the villas, we were able to use points for the hotel portion of the Grand Californian without issue (although that is the most expensive points-wise) and also at Paradise Pier. I'm sure DL Hotel would be similar; we just never tried to stay there (because if we weren't going to shell out the points for the hotel at Grand Californian, we decided on the "cheapest" use points outside the villas, which is Paradise Pier).

 

[calypso726]

Have a blast!!!

Will do!

CHINA!

P.S. Have so much fun! As if you weren't going to already.

Yes! Thank you, I’m sure we will!

the Scottish princess is about to get her royal treatment... have a ton of fun! :]

Thank you! Can’t wait to see the suite in person. I’ll come back and post pics after we board.

I've never used the AmEx concierge but I think I am about to try, for some museum tickets -- does any AmEx Platinum card get access to the concierge? I actually have both the business Platinum and the MB Platinum, just wondering which card number I should be prepared to give.

As far as I know it is the MR earning charge cards like Personal, Business, Mercedes Benz, Schwab.

If it's China, I am super jealous! I have been to China several times but there are still a few China things on my bucket list -- unfortunately it's such a huge country it's impossible to do everything in one trip. Looking forward to reading your updates.

It’s China! I will be doing a trip report on the ABD thread but I will pop over here with airlplane suite pics for both the classic plane and the new A380.

Have an amazing time and can’t wait to hear what you think of the trip. It was up there with our Scotland ABD for me.

Thanks! I’m sure we will. That is high praise! After 9 ABD trips, the Scotland ABD is still my favorite one! So I am expecting and amazing trip!

 

[DaveL]

I would contact Gyft support: https://support.gyft.com/hc/en-us/articles/205441916-For-mobile-and-website-help

Unfortunately, gift card apps/sites are very sensitive to potential fraud. (Looking at you too, Raise and PPDG.) Particularly if you're a new user without much of a history or pattern of purchases, they'll err on the side of caution and decline transactions. Call Gyft and see if there's anything you can do to avoid declined transactions in the future, like if there's any way to verify your identity or account.

OMG That was the most incompetent (insert more) company I have ever talked to. First call they told me that my credit card was the problem and then said its PayPal's problem actually since they keep getting calls about it... So I call Chase and then PayPal both see the charge and instant refund and say they did not stop it... I call Gyft back and they say that its not them its the CC/PP problem... After awhile they said their phone app does not work you need to use a tablet or the website only for it to work... I said I just used the same PP/CC for a lower $ amount 5 days ago and it worked on the phone and she was like "I knew you were going to say that you're not listening to me." Thats a sure bet way to make customers happy. She then rambled on about not using a CC twice on their system blah blah blah BS... If you can't make an app work then remove it so people don't use it!

Alrighty, Rant over. Back to you regularly scheduled churning.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I'm sure this must have been discussed, but I can't remember, and this cold isn't helping my brain right now. Is the 5th night free when booking with SPG points going away after August 1st? And we still don't know if booking Swan/Dolphin is a better move now or after because the new categories haven't been released? I want go to Disney in the spring of 2019 (yup, another Orlando trip, haha) for Flower and Garden and trying to make a plan.

I have already booked my March 2019 Swan trip bc we don’t know how many points swolphin will be.

 

[DaveL]

OMG That was the most incompetent (insert more) company I have ever talked to. First call they told me that my credit card was the problem and then said its PayPal's problem actually since they keep getting calls about it... So I call Chase and then PayPal both see the charge and instant refund and say they did not stop it... I call Gyft back and they say that its not them its the CC/PP problem... After awhile they said their phone app does not work you need to use a tablet or the website only for it to work... I said I just used the same PP/CC for a lower $ amount 5 days ago and it worked on the phone and she was like "I knew you were going to say that you're not listening to me." Thats a sure bet way to make customers happy. She then rambled on about not using a CC twice on their system blah blah blah BS... If you can't make an app work then remove it so people don't use it!

Alrighty, Rant over. Back to you regularly scheduled churning.

So I just called PayPal (I must say I am not sure what happened but I had a human in 45 seconds! Record??) and got a very nice lady that looked into it closer on their end and they see the authorization and it was approved and Gyft is not completing the transaction... I'll wait 24hrs and try again and see if I can get someone on the phone that has a clue about their job. Now that I think about it neither rep from Gyft asked for my name, order number or any info to look into anything. LOL.

 

[KSR0330]

how did you expedited?

Sorry, just getting back on the boards after a super busy day! As others have answered, just call and ask. If they haven't already processed it they will send it out for 1-2 day delivery.

 

[Teal03]

Wells Fargo is giving back 40% up to $40 each at Panera Bread, Papa Johns, Jimmy Johns, and Buffalo Wild Wings until 6/10. I’ve never seen such a good deal like this from them. I eat at Papa Johns and Panera all the time and will eat at BWW and JJ until I reach the deal.

My mom bought my brother’s teachers a $30 pack of gift cards at Starbucks from BB and I added a $25 Disney gift card at the register to get the Swagbucks bonus. I didn’t have any money on me so I said I’ll buy pizza tonight on my card. So I pretty much got a $25 Disney gift card for $8.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I'll add my 2 cents even though it's the same... 3 day park hoppers and maxpass

We didn’t have maxpass but even with 5 day hoppers, I could have stayed longer. Loved Carsland.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I actually think 3 days is all my family can handle. I don't think you can do EVERYTHING in 3 days, but if you plan it right then you can do a lot.

Dang. 3 days seems like a teaser to me. Lol.

 

[speedyfishy]

@DisneyMandC SO got a letter from Barclays for the AA aviator Biz application saying they need more information and to call. We called tonight and they just need a copy of drivers license, utility bill, and social security card. I hope after we send that in he will be approved.

 

[DisneyMandC]

@DisneyMandC SO got a letter from Barclays for the AA aviator Biz application saying they need more information and to call. We called tonight and they just need a copy of drivers license, utility bill, and social security card. I hope after we send that in he will be approved.

Good to know!! I am still interested in it, but a little concerned since some people said it could report to your personal credit report though. I really want to get a United Card and Marriott card!

 

[KPK02090]

You can still get a business and personal card bonus; however, if you have an open SW consumer card or you've gotten a personal card bonus in the past 24 months, you won't be approved for another SW personal card.

The consumer cards (Plus and Premier, and maybe the rumored upcoming Premium?) contain this new restrictive language:

The product is not available to either (i) current Cardmembers of any Southwest Rapids Rewards® Credit Card, or (ii) previous Cardmembers of any Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card who received a new Cardmember bonus within the last 24 months. This does not apply to Cardmembers of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Business Card and Employee Credit Card

Thanks! I’ve never had a SW card of any kind -just getting started in this game. And planning to try for a 2019/2020 companion pass.

 

[KPK02090]

Could someone explain what the Best Buy Swagbucks deal is? I used to do swagbucks, but haven’t for about a year.

 

[afan]

I like packing cubes because it makes it easier on vacation but I'm still not convinced it makes packing easier, it's like a really bad game of tetris where it's all squares and you just want a long piece or an L. Mostly done and it looks like I'll have plenty of room to bring stuff back which is good/bad