I love credit cards so much!

[afan]

For anyone that still has their $10 credit on chase pay for order ahead, I had two new restaurants on my list of places today so keep an eye on it. They aren't close enough to want me to use it but I'm holding out hope that the 5 Guys by me will get added before the end of the month. Or somewhere I actually want to eat will so I can use the $10. I hate giving up free money.

 

[Albort]

Do you folks have a spreadsheet that you use to keep track of your cards as far as dates, amounts etc? I'm new to churning and want to make sure I'm as organized as possible so I don't screw this up. TIA

yeah, i keep mine pretty simple on a spreadsheet. I know some here have a pretty extended version.
mines just, bank, card name, open date, converted to?, and a 5/24 count

 

[peel]

So on the plane, we kindly ask the guy to trade from Aisle to Aisle seat, the guy refuses... decided to be a dickhead and woke him up every hour or so to get out on a 14 hour flight.

This is exactly what I would have done.

 

[wendow]

When you say “y’all,” does it come out with a Texas twang?

Congratulations on meeting that MSR, and with more than two weeks to spare! Too bad there’s no easy way to take $600 of that extra spend and move it to the SPG personal. You’ll get there.

And good luck on DH’s CIC. Trying again after reducing overall credit lines would be my move too. And if that doesn’t work, remember, Amex business cards are always there to help you pick up the pieces when Chase breaks your heart.



How can your boys never have had McDonald’s until 3 weeks ago?!

Yes lol! I do have a Texas twang (very different than a southern drawl ). I didn't just grow up in TX, I grew up deep in south TX...Not sure an accent that thick ever really leaves you, though mine is much less than it used to be. I get asked frequently where I am from

We don't eat much fast food (don't eat out much period) but we were at Super Walmart a few weeks ago. My boys were hungry and normally I'd go to the deli to get a sandwich or something else they could share but this time my eyes locked on McD's and I thought, 'sure'. It's midday on a weekday so all the people in line and waiting for food are adults/older folks. I ask my boys if they want a Happy Meal. They have absolutely no clue what I am talking about lol so I'm, like, you know, a 'kid's meal'. People are starting to pay attention to me asking them what they want and realizing this isn't their norm. I'm waiting to order, and my boys have discovered the glass cabinet that shows you the toys currently in Happy Meals. They are jumping up and down over the toys and running over to me to tell me that they 'might' get a toy. People are smiling and laughing at them. So, I order their meals and the guy puts the little red Happy Meal boxes on the counter and pushes them over to the boys. Their eyes get huge and my oldest asks the guy, "We get THIS too??" and then he says to his brother while jumping up and down, "We get this too, We get this too!". It was hilarious! I know all the people there thought I just picked these two up from the foster care system, or dug them out from under a rock...Probably thinking we were unsocialized homeschoolers

 

[Haley R]

Having flown to/from Asia three times in the recent past (all in economy!), I can say that it probably will not be horrible. I have found that it helps to bring back-up entertainment (those in-seat entertainment systems don't always work), back-up food (if the food provided is edible, that's a bonus), and hope but don't count on getting to sleep on the plane. They very worst traveling experience I had was a connecting flight from Beijing. Those extra hours, after a 13+ hour flight, really were horrible. Now, if I were doing it again, I would have spent a few days in Beijing before traveling anywhere else in China.

Thanks for your experience! We always bring a laptop & phone, plus coloring books and books to read. I also always bring granola bars, candy, and trail mix just because I don't like buying the snacks on the plane lol. We won't be stopping in Asia at all except for when we land in Tokyo. Our other stop will either be Chicago or Denver.

 

[Haley R]

Yes and I have read good reviews on their economy hard product but don’t recall which plane or route.

Okay cool! Our CIP works on ANA right? I know it works with United.

 

[GZanta77]

Yes lol! I do have a Texas twang (very different than a southern drawl ). I didn't just grow up in TX, I grew up deep in south TX...Not sure an accent that thick ever really leaves you, though mine is much less than it used to be. I get asked frequently where I am from

We don't eat much fast food (don't eat out much period) but we were at Super Walmart a few weeks ago. My boys were hungry and normally I'd go to the deli to get a sandwich or something else they could share but this time my eyes locked on McD's and I thought, 'sure'. It's midday on a weekday so all the people in line and waiting for food are adults/older folks. I ask my boys if they want a Happy Meal. They have absolutely no clue what I am talking about lol so I'm, like, you know, a 'kid's meal'. People are starting to pay attention to me asking them what they want and realizing this isn't their norm. I'm waiting to order, and my boys have discovered the glass cabinet that shows you the toys currently in Happy Meals. They are jumping up and down over the toys and running over to me to tell me that they 'might' get a toy. People are smiling and laughing at them. So, I order their meals and the guy puts the little red Happy Meal boxes on the counter and pushes them over to the boys. Their eyes get huge and my oldest asks the guy, "We get THIS too??" and then he says to his brother while jumping up and down, "We get this too, We get this too!". It was hilarious! I know all the people there thought I just picked these two up from the foster care system, or dug them out from under a rock...Probably thinking we were unsocialized homeschoolers

What an adorable story. As they say 'the greatest pleasures come from the simple things' .

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Do you folks have a spreadsheet that you use to keep track of your cards as far as dates, amounts etc? I'm new to churning and want to make sure I'm as organized as possible so I don't screw this up. TIA

ABSOLUTELY! I am big on the spreadsheets. As you get deeper into this game, the more you keep track of the better off you’ll be. I include issuer, card name, date approved, date cancelled (if applicable), whether the card counts toward 5/24 or not, annual fee amount (or n/a), bonus amount and parameters, date bonus was earned/posted, min spend requirement, etc.

 

[wendow]

I was wondering the same thing! We never just go there unless we are on a roadtrip. And my kids have been on a 2000 mile road trip every year of their life to visit grandparents. Sometimes twice a year as we usually drive to Disney/Universal. The pickings are slim sometimes when you are hungry and when they were little it was a great place to let off some energy with the playgrounds. Def not our favorite place to stop, but I like it more since they added breakfast all day. I usually just get an oatmeal.

We stopped in TX last summer at a McD's but we just went to the bathroom and I got coffee. We tend to travel with lots of food so we buy little fast food on the road. If we are by a Chick Fil A, we may stop there. One of my ds's is allergic to milk so I just got in the habit almost 10 years ago of taking food with us.

 

[Albort]

Okay cool! Our CIP works on ANA right? I know it works with United.

of course! but if your buying airline tickets, you wont be able to use any of the insurances that come with if since the insurance will only cover business trips.

 

[Haley R]

Aisle seats are the most coveted ones and usually first to get booked. You may wish to try and book an aisle and window seat and then hope the flight isn’t full and the middle seat stays open.

So when I look at SeatGuru and look at the ANA flight on a 777 it says they have three different versions of that plane. Two out of the 3 have a 2-4-3 configuration. There is one version that has a 3-4-3. The version that says "Most Common" has a 2-4-3 configuration so DH and I might actually be able to get the whole side to ourselves. That would be nice!

 

[Haley R]

This obviously doesn't work for planes where there isn't a 3-3 configuration, but if DH and I are flying a plane like that (as we are this August), I always book us on the window and aisle seat so that only the middle seat is left open. Nobody wants to just sit in the middle alone... lol. I figure if worst comes to worst and the flight sells out, I'll just ask whoever booked the middle if I can switch with them so they can get either window or aisle.

That's a good idea. I've never even thought to do that before.

 

[gottalovepluto]

from the Timberline at DEN! Using my PP for breakfast, donuts & a mimosa (say no to the mimosa’s here, basically all OJ). Idk what Round 2 will bring but I’m here for a few hours so we’ll see! You can scan every 2 hours so the waitress already took scan #1 for me. I have a wonderful seat right at the window, great for solo travelers and those who want to see airplanes, admittedly the plane action is pretty weak. I’m back from a girl’s weekend in NOLA (pretty sure I ate half my weight in food!) will post reviews on Le Meridian and Hilton Riverside. Today I hop from DEN to LAX before getting home to FAT so I’ll be checking out Alaska LAX if I’m lucky (I love pancakes), or Korean’s Lounge if I can’t get into AS. Here’s my breakfast & it came in under the $28 PP limit! (Including the tip it will obviously be over but still- killer deal!) Attempting to upload food photo with this...

(Fwiw I have heard at least 4 other people/groups use their Priority Pass and I’ve been here like 20 mins.)

 

[Haley R]

of course! but if your buying airline tickets, you wont be able to use any of the insurances that come with if since the insurance will only cover business trips.

Sorry I didn't mean to say our CIP. I meant to ask about using our Chase Rewards to purchase ANA tickets.

 

[wendow]

Exactly, if I thought about it I'd never stay anywhere. I have resisted bringing our own sheets unless it's a questionable cheap place. (looking at you America's Best Value Inn, Salisbury MD. They made our top 5 worst places we've stayed hit list.) So mostly, we try to avoid the questionable cheap places if we can anyway, that's why we rack up points and have no problem staying at a different hotel from the group But I don't touch anything in a room bare handed (or bare feet after walking on a carpet that left my socks brown ) and just tell myself it's ok, I won't die really, in this instance what I don't know won't hurt me and get over it

Me either. Hotel rooms gross me out. I take a baggie to put the remote control in so my kids aren't touching it. I wear flip flops all around the room. My bare feet never touch the floor! And I take a tub of antibacterial wipes and clean everything.

I can't think too much about it or I start to panic...We will be in 4 different hotel rooms in the next few weeks..

 

[Haley R]

Me either. Hotel rooms gross me out. I take a baggie to put the remote control in so my kids aren't touching it. I wear flip flops all around the room. My bare feet never touch the floor! And I take a tub of antibacterial wipes and clean everything.

I can't think too much about it or I start to panic...We will be in 4 different hotel rooms in the next few weeks..

Lol I'm the complete opposite. I walk around barefoot and don't even notice the things I touch. The only things I usually pay attention to are stains and hair.

 

[calypso726]

Okay cool! Our CIP works on ANA right? I know it works with United.

The UR points you earn on your CIP can be used to purchase airfare in any airline. If you are considering booking an award flight by transferring your UR points to an airline, you can’t transfer directly to ANA. You’d have to transfer to Unitd and book a partner award assuming there is availability.

So when I look at SeatGuru and look at the ANA flight on a 777 it says they have three different versions of that plane. Two out of the 3 have a 2-4-3 configuration. There is one version that has a 3-4-3. The version that says "Most Common" has a 2-4-3 configuration so DH and I might actually be able to get the whole side to ourselves. That would be nice!

When you see the multiple versions then you want to do a mock booking and compare the seat map to figure out which one you’re looking at.

 

[wendow]

Lol I'm the complete opposite. I walk around barefoot and don't even notice the things I touch. The only things I usually pay attention to are stains and hair.

Oh no...I just can't even imagine me being this laid back in a hotel room. I wish I could be but my mind just thinks about all the yuck...

 

[Albort]

So when I look at SeatGuru and look at the ANA flight on a 777 it says they have three different versions of that plane. Two out of the 3 have a 2-4-3 configuration. There is one version that has a 3-4-3. The version that says "Most Common" has a 2-4-3 configuration so DH and I might actually be able to get the whole side to ourselves. That would be nice!

if u know for sure what city your flying out and in, i can tell u which layout it is.

edit: also, u can do a dummy booking on ANA and it should tell u what layout it is when u pick seats.

 

[Haley R]

The UR points you earn on your CIP can be used to purchase airfare in any airline. If you are considering booking an award flight by transferring your UR points to an airline, you can’t transfer directly to ANA. You’d have to transfer to Unitd and book a partner award assuming there is availability.



When you see the multiple versions then you want to do a mock booking and compare the seat map to figure out which one you’re looking at.

I guess I'm a little confused on how to use our UR points for airfare. I've looked at Award Hacker and started trying to look on there. I might have to try a mock booking like you said and see what I can find. Thanks!