I love credit cards so much!

[palhockeymomof2]

It is time for another release already? I feel like we had one last week.

Agree I think it was the end of May, weird how sometime they are months apart and this is a short a timeframe

 

[gottalovepluto]

Why I turn to the experts... we have chatter about that last night and then i forget I'll have to go read about the SPG Lux (I like that too) again, I had semi written it off just because I wasnt sure with the high fee. Seems to make sense to wait on Marriott no matter what. I feel like an AMEx biz is going to be the way to go

ETA IF THE PLATINUM DOESN'T WORK OUT

I had to read about SPG Lux again as well! I have SPG cards but no Marriotts so I’d consider upgrading to it if they had a decent offer from my current SPG card but now that I’ve reviewed DoC's write-up on it I remember why I forgot it!
$450 AF

woah- this sucker better come with some kick-rear benefits...​

$300 in Marriott credit per cardmember year

umm, ok I don't plan on spending $300 cash at a Marriott but I can adjust if I get a good deal from the rest of this​

Gold Status

guaranteed upgrade is nice, breakfast and lounge have a bit of $$ value but only good for 2 people​

15 elite nights (under the only once per Marriott account rule no matter what cards you have)

have it with my SPG cards​

Priority Pass (unlimited visits, 2 guests)

have it with CSR (and AR and Hilton Ascend)​

Boingo Internet (not inflight)

What? don't care...​

Global entry/TSA

have it with CSR and AR​

Conclusion

 

[vanjust14]

I might not be the best person to ask about buying Starpoints...because I buy as many as I can when they go on sale! Like they are now until 7/20. (If you do this, go through a cashback portal like Topcashback, and if you have an SPG AMEX use that to buy the points for extra points.)

I've redeemed a Cat 1-5 travel package so far for 120K Southwest miles, and based on past experience it is easy to upgrade to a higher category hotel by making a phone call and having enough Marriott points to upgrade. SPG points transfer immediately (I did it while on the phone with the Marriott rep) if you have your SPG and Marriott accounts linked.

Marriott was supposed to release the list of how the hotels fit into the new hotel categories by the end of this month, but I haven't seen any recent news about that. Grrr. I've been planning on upgrading my 7nt hotel certificate with points and attaching it to a reservation once the list is released. I have a bad feeling that when 8/1 rolls around, the travel packages will still exist but will cost many more points. There's rumors that a "floater" certificate like what I have right now will be re-issued with a fixed point value, but it could be as little as 45K points (which is what Marriott currently gives you for a Cat 1-5 7 nt certificate if you want to exchange it back in for points) and upwards of 150K points (which I find highly doubtful though I would love it if that happened).

I would keep the Starpoint sale in the back of my mind if I were you until 7/20, and just keep watching like a hawk for any news of the Marriott hotel category list. Hope it comes out before 7/20! You and others who want to book SPG properties are the ones who are most affected by Marriott dragging this out since you can't reserve award space until 8/1. I made speculative reward bookings months ago in Marriott properties since Marriott lets you do that without having all the points in your account (vs SPG that requires you to have the points to pay for the reservation at the time you make it).

In that case maybe you are the best person to ask! Hahaha. I will keep my eye out till 7/20. Lots to think about...this was great info, thanks!!

 

[Albort]

I had to read about SPG Lux again as well! I have SPG cards but no Marriotts so I’d consider upgrading to it if they had a decent offer from my current SPG card but now that I’ve reviewed DoC's write-up on it I remember why I forgot it!
$450 AF

woah- this sucker better come with some kick-rear benefits...​

$300 in Marriott credit per cardmember year

umm, ok I don't plan on spending $300 cash at a Marriott but I can adjust if I get a good deal from the rest of this​

Gold Status

guaranteed upgrade is nice, breakfast and lounge have a bit of $$ value but only good for 2 people​

15 elite nights (under the only once per Marriott account rule no matter what cards you have)

have it with my SPG cards​

Priority Pass (unlimited visits, 2 guests)

have it with CSR (and AR and Hilton Ascend)​

Boingo Internet (not inflight)

What? don't care...​

Global entry/TSA

have it with CSR and AR​

Conclusion

your missing one of the best one...

• Annual free night award (up to 50,000 points) after card renewal

it seems okay until the free night kicks in. $150 for i think a cat 6 hotel standard, cat 7 nonpeak, cat 5 peak.

 

[Lain]

I had to read about SPG Lux again as well! I have SPG cards but no Marriotts so I’d consider upgrading to it if they had a decent offer from my current SPG card but now that I’ve reviewed DoC's write-up on it I remember why I forgot it!
$450 AF

woah- this sucker better come with some kick-rear benefits...​

$300 in Marriott credit per cardmember year

umm, ok I don't plan on spending $300 cash at a Marriott but I can adjust if I get a good deal from the rest of this​

Gold Status

guaranteed upgrade is nice, breakfast and lounge have a bit of $$ value but only good for 2 people​

15 elite nights (under the only once per Marriott account rule no matter what cards you have)

have it with my SPG cards​

Priority Pass (unlimited visits, 2 guests)

have it with CSR (and AR and Hilton Ascend)​

Boingo Internet (not inflight)

What? don't care...​

Global entry/TSA

have it with CSR and AR​

Conclusion

Which is why I think this card hinges on the signup bonus. If it's a big signup bonus, it could be worth the effective $150 AF; but if you're barred from the signup bonus because you have a Marriott card or received a bonus on Marriott card, then no way. And since this is an Amex card, will we be warned during the application that we're not eligible for the bonus, do we want to continue? And if you continue and are approved, now you have "had" this card and you've locked yourself out of ever getting a signup bonus on this product.

For me,

$450 AF
Ok, I get it, this is supposed to be a "super premium" card and Amex is pricing it accordingly.

$300 in Marriott credit per cardmember year
I could see us easily spending $300/year at a Starriott property

Gold Status
Pretty insulting for a "super premium" card. This is status I already get with the Amex Platinum. The Hilton Aspire $450 AF card comes with automatic Diamond status. Under the new Starriott rewards program, Gold status gets you upgrades to enhanced rooms (no suites), complimentary internet, 2 p.m. (no longer 4 p.m.) checkout, welcome gift/points, and 25% bonus points. Lounge access and breakfast is under the current Marriott Gold tier, which becomes available starting at Platinum after August. By comparison, Hilton Diamond status includes upgrades including suites, free internet, bonus points, complimentary breakfast and lounge access.

15 elite nights (but also under the only once per Marriott account rule no matter what cards you have)
Yep, have it with my SPG cards.

Priority Pass (unlimited visits, 2 guests)
Yep, have it with CSR and Platinum.

Boingo Internet (not in flight)
Have it with Platinum, and never used it.

Global entry/TSA
Have it with CSR and Platinum.

Annual free night award (up to 50,000 points) after card renewal
This is the kind of benefit I'd have to find a way to use, although 50,000 points gives us a lot more options than the other SPG's 35,000 points certs. And if the rumor is true that Marriott is working on letting guests use these certs toward more expensive properties and pay the difference in points, that's a potential game changer.

I'm in it for the bonus, but if I can't get the bonus or the SPG Lux because I have and received a bonus on the Marriott Biz, it won't be a huge loss for me to wait. Meanwhile, DW should be eligible, and since she's sans-Platinum (pending the 100k MR offer or a real need to settle for 75k MR), the SPG Lux would get her at least Gold status at Marriotts on her work trips (she already has Gold status at Hiltons from the Hilton Biz), and we'd pocket the signup bonus and find a way to spend the $300 credit.

 

[christineinvegas]

@Lain Could you please add me to the DISchurners group on Reddit? christineinvegas

Thanks!

 

[Lain]

@Lain Could you please add me to the DISchurners group on Reddit? christineinvegas

Thanks!

Done! and welcome!

 

[afan]

@amalone1013 I didn't quote your post from this morning because I figured there would be more people talking about it and now it's too far back for me to look.

I got the same offer your DH did for google pay but on my CFU not my CSR. I'd never signed up for it before so I also got an offer for $10 credit on google play if I do 5 transactions before July 27, so only 2 more than I need for the 1500. Course it's not really available at anywhere I go often so I'll probably be using it to buy a candy bar or drink a few times at the gas station if I can find one near me. Or Best Buy or McDonalds. I wish there were more options around me.

 

[StephPlum]

@StephPlum , do you know about the National Park Traveler's Club?
https://www.parkstamps.org/index.php
They have forums and a great database on where to collect stamps at nps sites and more!

I'll have to check that site out. I have my passport book and am quickly filling it up with stamps.

 

[JKalai]

@Lain Could you please add me to the DISchurners group on Reddit? christineinvegas

Thanks!

Hello fellow Las Vegan!

 

[miztressuz]

I just looked back at our emails from opening the discover accounts and we didn't get any until about 3 days after opening, when they sent one saying funds transfer for initial deposit was initiated. I actually initiated it when I opened the account, so you may not get an email for a few days yet...if at all. You may have to call.

Yeah, that was the tentative plan; if he didn't get any emails by tomorrow to call them up and say wth? I'm starting to think bank bonuses are not meant for us Out of 5 accounts between the 2 of us, only 2 seem to have worked correctly out of the gate... but I don't even want to count my chickens there yet cuz I haven't actually received the bonus for either of them yet! The others keep hitting some type of weirdness I've not seen reported anywhere when trying to open.

So now I know when I do it at some point, pick the "make a deposit later" option

 

[StephPlum]

@disneymagicgirl , @Alexle2007 , @kayteekt , @amalone1013 Thanks for the advice/comments. I going to go with the Westin since I really like the brand (and maybe they'll send me another one of those Maui offers as I could use it for next year!). I just wish I got to pay for the hotel room and then get reimbursed.

 

[nhgirl]

Is it better to pay my mortgage through plastiq using CIP or AmEx Spg Personal? I am trying to get as many points as I can for either Jet Blue flights or Marriott Hotel nights.

 

[StephPlum]

Colin from Plastiq found me!! I got the email and he is "keeping his calendar available to see if I quality for the Private Client Program". Unfortunately I think I'll be too busy to check in with him. I've only made one payment, though after it worked I did make it recurring.

 

[nhgirl]

Colin from Plastiq found me!! I got the email and he is "keeping his calendar available to see if I quality for the Private Client Program". Unfortunately I think I'll be too busy to check in with him. I've only made one payment, though after it worked I did make it recurring.

Maybe I should stay away from Plastiq? I don’t want Colin to find me.

 

[miztressuz]

Gold Status
Pretty insulting for a "super premium" card. This is status I already get with the Amex Platinum. The Hilton Aspire $450 AF card comes with automatic Diamond status. Under the new Starriott rewards program, Gold status gets you upgrades to enhanced rooms (no suites), complimentary internet, 2 p.m. (no longer 4 p.m.) checkout, welcome gift/points, and 25% bonus points. Lounge access and breakfast is under the current Marriott Gold tier, which becomes available starting at Platinum after August. By comparison, Hilton Diamond status includes upgrades including suites, free internet, bonus points, complimentary breakfast and lounge access.

…..

Boingo Internet (not in flight)
Have it with Platinum, and never used it.

...

Totally agreed on the Gold Status. My jaw dropped when I saw that. If it were the current Gold status, sure, but the new Gold level is a slight bump on the current Marriott Silver level. That's not something I'd be bragging about on a $450 card.

I'm pretty sure you get the Boingo Internet with the current SPG card, too. So again, not really compelling for a "premium" product and on top of that I've never been anywhere with Boingo other than an airport. And even then it's not like every airport has it. I'm not a world traveler but I only remember a couple airports that had it and can't even think which ones they were. So in flight would probably be the only real useful place for it, which is probably why they banned it

If you are super into the brand and would for sure spend $450 cash there in a year anyway and don't have any better cards in your wallet, I could see someone signing up for it as a keeper. But I feel that's a small minority. I think AmEx realized that too and that's why we're hearing the ineligible for bonus rumors... they know already it's a weak product and really a churner card.

 

[StephPlum]

We might want to hit a few NPs next year. DS will be in 4th grade and all 4th graders get in all NPs free. We will be in Alaska for a cruise, then will mostly hit Midwest parks which are drivable in a weekend.

We loved Mammoth Cave (KY) and Great Smoky Mountains (TN/NC) Both have free entrance fees. Mammoth Cave tours do have a fee. Funny, as I live in Ohio but haven't been to Cuyahoga Valley yet.

Side note for NP lovers - Going to the Sun Road in Glacier opened this week! A little later than most years due to snow. Counting down the days - 2 months until we are there!!

We are going to Antarctica this Christmas/New Year's for my 50th birthday. There was a lot of great information on TripAdvisor and their forum has this great external link to FAQs which is a great resource

I use TripAdvisor forums all the time. I'll check it out the link as well.

Flight 75 ORD-HNL has the lie flat seats and is a direct flight. The ones with connections that I saw DFW and PHX also had lie flat seats. The Plane Princess would approve

All I had to hear was "the Plane Princess would approve"! That is good enough for me.
Thanks for all the information. Makes me feel better that I should have plenty of point to do this. I am very open on my dates so I can play around and pick the lowest prices/miles.

 

[Lain]

Hello fellow Las Vegan!

The vegans?

 

[Lain]

Is it better to pay my mortgage through plastiq using CIP or AmEx Spg Personal? I am trying to get as many points as I can for either Jet Blue flights or Marriott Hotel nights.

Technically, Visa and Amex both do not support mortgage payments through Plastiq on their cards. See the Plastiq guide on DISchurners for more discussion. So first is a question of whether you can get your payment through on either the CIP or SPG personal. If you can get the payment through, you'll earn 3x UR on the payment and fees using the CIP. Until 8/1/18, you'll earn only 1x Starpoint, equal to 3x Marriott points, on the payment and fees using the SPG personal; after which, you'll earn 2 Marriott points per $1.

UR transfers to Marriott 1:1. So 3 UR = 3 Marriott points
1 Starpoint = 3 Marriott points, but this base earning rate on the SPG personal devalues on 8/1/18, and you'll only earn 2 Marriott points/$1

So basically, if you can get it to work, use the CIP.

 

[DaveL]

Anyone else using Paypal to buy gift cards through Gyft. com using Chase Ink card? They declined my payment today and I just used it a couple days ago.

yes, it is super annoying. Sometimes works flawlessly, other times you want to throw the phone across the room.

HAHAH, If this is not a trigger.... I've had the worst luck with all that. After several weeks of fighting it I can now buy cards $100 and under without much issue. I have not tried the $250 recently but I have been 100% on those orders getting denied, well they were charged to the card then refunded to the card but blamed on my CC denying the charge. BS!