I love credit cards so much!

[amalone1013]

Just realized that I bought $305 in gift cards at Kroger last night, paid $275 for them, plus $10 in groceries... gift cards are 2x fuel points. Typically earned on full price of gift card, so should be somewhere around 620 fuel points total. If they did only the discounted portion (which would be abnormal) somewhere around 560 fuel points. I got 417 and of course I left my receipt at home today.

 

[miztressuz]

@miztressuz - my Marriott business card has arrived! Daughter just brought it in so not sure if it arrived over night or sometime today.

The benefits state that you get one elite night for every 3K in spend, just as the personal does. Of course we know august 1 is coming.

So you got the last one of the batch
Hubby's still hasn't arrived and he was approved last Wed. When I checked the USPS delivery email it doesn't look like it's arriving today either so I asked if he'd call about it. The rep told him there's been a large volume cards recently and they had a delay in manufacturing so it had only just been shipped yesterday (darn you churning community for hopping on this now, haha)
It was shipped priority mail so we may still get it tomorrow but they were nice and expedited one anyway that should come UPS in 1-2 days. So we'll probably get two... of the one card we don't plan to use very much. This is really a sock drawer card, we have one charge that will hit MSR and we only planned to do periodic charges to it just so it didn't look like a sock drawer card

On good news the 15 nights posted the other day. So at least a week after approval. (I forgot to obsessively check daily so I don't know the exact date) So we'll be converted to Gold on Aug 1 and then hit platinum in Dec when the anniversary nights from the personal card post. I checked the Starriott awards chart and there's many properties in Vancouver we can look at so I think we'll figure out how to stay there pre-cruise since this'll be the highest status benefits we'll have... I think.

 

[jhoannam]

Will Amex continue to offer the SPG Biz? I can't recall what's going to happen to that cards after Aug. 1. DH is 9 nights short of becoming gold, I'm wondering if we need to get the SPG biz for him before Aug. 1. to earn the 10 nights.

 

[peel]

DH's CIP app changed back to 2 weeks this morning! They finally processed his license fax. They'd better not deny him after this.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Currently on the phone with Melissa at Cruise and Tour. Funny how I keep getting her without even asking. I saw room discounts released for our November stay and I decided to switch to Coronado Springs. I can get our first night discounted for $211 and the second night for $227 at the standard rate since we're traveling over a holiday weekend. I'm on hold right now while Melissa pulls up the rooms, but I should get about $89 back from my original booking at CBR. Never stayed at CSR so that will be nice! I know there is construction there, but it doesn't look as all consuming as the CBR construction does. I normally wouldn't want to stay at such a large resort, but since we'll be driving down and will have our car, I figure we can just park near our room and drive to TTC for MVMCP and to HS the next day. I booked our original trip before parking fees started, so we're squared away with that still even though I've changed my reservation twice now!

Dd19 and I are staying at csr in Aug for the first time. I asked on the csr thread before booking and it sounds like as far as resort construction goes it should be minimal impact. I’m excited to check it out too. We are usually a yc/BC family, but for this quick trip didn’t need all the amenities. We won’t have much resort time.

 

[kmc8826]

I booked a Disney trip with just using the UR portal but not with booking with Disney and transferring. I know some our doing it now (talking to you @DisneyMandC)I want to do that for October. My issue is that I want to book two connecting rooms under one reservation but also get best deal possible. Right now they have the fall discount rates open for our dates. Should I book it all now and then call Chase Cruise and Tours? OR should I wait until AP rates come out and do it then? Is it a huge hassle to get the cheaper rate/points refunded? Or is it better to call Chase directly and have them book it? I could do that but am a little hesitant to give up the control of it right off. Thanks...

 

[trenty]

I believe Chase updates the credit bureaus after close of statement on a card or when you pay off your statement. So look for the AUs to show as "closed" then.

Sounds like DH's two AU accounts will simply age out of 24 months. Although the AUs will remain visible on DH's credit report and show as "closed," when your primary accounts age past 24 months from opening, Chase will stop counting them against you (the primary cardholder) and DH (the AU). So if the second card does drop off next month, I'd say it's not worth the hassle unless you're obsessive about "cleaning up" his credit report.

Thanks. Nothing to "clean up" with his credit report. I will leave things as is.

 

[wendow]

Dd19 and I are staying at csr in Aug for the first time. I asked on the csr thread before booking and it sounds like as far as resort construction goes it should be minimal impact. I’m excited to check it out too. We are usually a yc/BC family, but for this quick trip didn’t need all the amenities. We won’t have much resort time.

We stayed 4 nights at CS last Sept (also BC fam), and I thought CS was great if doing the parks all day. I've gotten tired of paying for poly or BC if we are in the parks all day...which is more our norm now...Request a refurb room. It was beautifully done!

Sept was a long time ago but at that time, CS had minimal construction impact on us, while CBR looked like a bomb had gone off on the whole resort. We stayed at the Poly in 2014 when it was undergoing the massive refurb and I will never stay anywhere like that again! Talk about ruining the magic

 

[afan]

Almost all the profs at the CC had real world experience so we did more in class than the curriculum required usually. It's not that anyone at the university was bad, there were good profs there too, but the ones at comm college were stellar at making sure the class knew why you wanted to learn this or that... so most people actually learned it. At the university it was a lot of academia and not quite the same enthusiasm. You had to have the drive to learn it yourself and sometimes do outside research to get the full effect of some classes.

I think that's relative to the size of the university you go to and the program you're in. I got both of my bachelor degrees at Cal State schools and for both I had people that worked in the industry teaching classes. My hospitality law class was taught by a practicing hospitality lawyer. One of my PR classes was taught by the media relations person from the 49ers. Most of the teachers in my hospitality program, if they weren't working in the industry they had before and kept up with trends. On the flip side, the two summer classes I took at the local community college when I was home for summer were like going to high school again. No matter what school you go to you're only going to get out of it what you put into it.

 

[wendow]

Still mulling over the Nights & Flights....I originally opened the SPG cards for Swolphin. We like split stays so my plan was to get enough points for 2 rooms/5 nights and then we move to another resort. I don't like the increase in points and I most likely won't keep trying to earn Starriott points unless they just offer some easy ways to do so.

I really have no other plans to use the 124k SPG points I am sitting on. We need two rooms everywhere so I need to use them somewhere that I can use UR on the other room and it's not terribly $$ (Swolphin is pretty cheap on the UR site for when we typically go).

I could also really use the SW points. We never have enough of those since we need so many booking 6 people.

SO...I think it may make sense to buy a cat 6 package...then I have a 7-night cert that can be used at Swolphin, or any other cat 6 resort, without having to pay more later, right? I don't have to actually book anything by Aug 1, right?

 

[jhoannam]

Still mulling over the Nights & Flights....I originally opened the SPG cards for Swolphin. We like split stays so my plan was to get enough points for 2 rooms/5 nights and then we move to another resort. I don't like the increase in points and I most likely won't keep trying to earn Starriott points unless they just offer some easy ways to do so.

I really have no other plans to use the 124k SPG points I am sitting on. We need two rooms everywhere so I need to use them somewhere that I can use UR on the other room and it's not terribly $$ (Swolphin is pretty cheap on the UR site for when we typically go).

I could also really use the SW points. We never have enough of those since we need so many booking 6 people.

SO...I think it may make sense to buy a cat 6 package...then I have a 7-night cert that can be used at Swolphin, or any other cat 6 resort, without having to pay more later, right? I don't have to actually book anything by Aug 1, right?

I would wait until we hear more about what they are going to do with the current certificates. Because I really don't think they will convert a current cat-6 to the new cat-6, but really no one knows.

see here:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29917197-post1807.html

 

[vanjust14]

Still mulling over the Nights & Flights....I originally opened the SPG cards for Swolphin. We like split stays so my plan was to get enough points for 2 rooms/5 nights and then we move to another resort. I don't like the increase in points and I most likely won't keep trying to earn Starriott points unless they just offer some easy ways to do so.

I really have no other plans to use the 124k SPG points I am sitting on. We need two rooms everywhere so I need to use them somewhere that I can use UR on the other room and it's not terribly $$ (Swolphin is pretty cheap on the UR site for when we typically go).

I could also really use the SW points. We never have enough of those since we need so many booking 6 people.

SO...I think it may make sense to buy a cat 6 package...then I have a 7-night cert that can be used at Swolphin, or any other cat 6 resort, without having to pay more later, right? I don't have to actually book anything by Aug 1, right?

I've been mulling this same thing over. I really wanted a nights and flights package for the Swolphin and RR points. However, I don't think it is going to work out. The current cat 6 can't be applied to Swolphin until after Aug 1, but on aug 1 Swolphin will increase. I highly doubt they are going to let a current cat 6 (30,000/nt) map to a new cat 6 (50,000/nt). That's what I've gathered thus far. If I'm wrong, someone please correct me! I'd love to be wrong, lol.

I'm just going to book the Swan for 5 nights before Aug 1., no RR points for me. I'm going to try a split stay though! 3 nights AKL Villa savanna view, then 5 nights at Swan in 2019

 

[DisneyMandC]

Dd19 and I are staying at csr in Aug for the first time. I asked on the csr thread before booking and it sounds like as far as resort construction goes it should be minimal impact. I’m excited to check it out too. We are usually a yc/BC family, but for this quick trip didn’t need all the amenities. We won’t have much resort time.

I'm excited! I know it says the pool will be closed during our stay, but I'm not worried about that. Other than showering/sleeping, the only extra time I plan to spend in our room will be to call from our room phone to book our bounceback!

I booked a Disney trip with just using the UR portal but not with booking with Disney and transferring. I know some our doing it now (talking to you @DisneyMandC)I want to do that for October. My issue is that I want to book two connecting rooms under one reservation but also get best deal possible. Right now they have the fall discount rates open for our dates. Should I book it all now and then call Chase Cruise and Tours? OR should I wait until AP rates come out and do it then? Is it a huge hassle to get the cheaper rate/points refunded? Or is it better to call Chase directly and have them book it? I could do that but am a little hesitant to give up the control of it right off. Thanks...

I can't speak to the connecting rooms or AP discounts, but when I called Chase just now I changed hotels AND had them apply a discount and she had no problems whatsoever. I kept my tab open with the Disney booking page and confirmed that the amount she came up with matched what I was seeing. MDE switched over to my new room in about an hour and a half. My e-mail from Chase says that my refund will be "applied to my hotel account," but Melissa made it sound as though I would be refunded to my CIP that I used for booking in 7-10 days. I'll keep an eye out for it. Neither would bother me as I'll just charge meals to my Magic Band if that's the case, but maybe just something to be aware of. I know a couple people have had issues with purchasing tickets separately from a package through Chase Cruise and Tour, but as far as booking a package or just a room goes, I don't think any of us have had any issues.

 

[GZanta77]

I've been mulling this same thing over. I really wanted a nights and flights package for the Swolphin and RR points. However, I don't think it is going to work out. The current cat 6 can't be applied to Swolphin until after Aug 1, but on aug 1 Swolphin will increase. I highly doubt they are going to let a current cat 6 (30,000/nt) map to a new cat 6 (50,000/nt). That's what I've gathered thus far. If I'm wrong, someone please correct me! I'd love to be wrong, lol.

I'm just going to book the Swan for 5 nights before Aug 1., no RR points for me. I'm going to try a split stay though! 3 nights AKL Villa savanna view, then 5 nights at Swan in 2019

Good plan! Next month we are doing 3 nts AKL Jambo, 6 nights Swan and 4 nights Universal PBH. Its getting so close now.

 

[wendow]

I've been mulling this same thing over. I really wanted a nights and flights package for the Swolphin and RR points. However, I don't think it is going to work out. The current cat 6 can't be applied to Swolphin until after Aug 1, but on aug 1 Swolphin will increase. I highly doubt they are going to let a current cat 6 (30,000/nt) map to a new cat 6 (50,000/nt). That's what I've gathered thus far. If I'm wrong, someone please correct me! I'd love to be wrong, lol.

I'm just going to book the Swan for 5 nights before Aug 1., no RR points for me. I'm going to try a split stay though! 3 nights AKL Villa savanna view, then 5 nights at Swan in 2019

How far out can you book at Swolphin for 2019?

Yay for the split stay! That will be awesome!!!And for 8 nights! So happy for you

 

[vanjust14]

Good plan! Next month we are doing 3 nts AKL Jambo, 6 nights Swan and 4 nights Universal PBH. Its getting so close now.

Awesome! I'm a Universal fan too so your plan sounds fantastic to me! I'll be at RPR in August! I've never stayed at PBH. I hope you have a fabulous trip!!

 

[vanjust14]

How far out can you book at Swolphin for 2019?

Yay for the split stay! That will be awesome!!!

Something like 530 days. I'm thinking November.

ETA: for clarification, you can book through December. I'm personally thinking of doing November. (this was the research I was doing all last night, haha)

 

[GZanta77]

SO...I think it may make sense to buy a cat 6 package...then I have a 7-night cert that can be used at Swolphin, or any other cat 6 resort, without having to pay more later, right? I don't have to actually book anything by Aug 1, right?

Correct - you don't have to book a hotel by Aug 1. I bought the Cat 6 package in the knowledge that it was a bit of an unknown - but also knowing that I would not be unhappy with the 120k miles and whatever they give me in conversion for the certificate. If you can do the same, then I would say grab those SW miles - but if you are going to mourn the loss of your 270k marriott, then maybe not.

 

[wendow]

I would wait until we hear more about what they are going to do with the current certificates. Because I really don't think they will convert a current cat-6 to the new cat-6, but really no one knows.

see here:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29917197-post1807.html

So, Starwood Lurker says this: Members should make every effort to book and attach these certificates prior to our programs becoming one to to maximize their usage.

That seems to imply go ahead and buy for maximum value of the cert. Or does he mean to actually book the hotel with it?

 

[GZanta77]

Awesome! I'm a Universal fan too so your plan sounds fantastic to me! I'll be at RPR in August! I've never stayed at PBH. I hope you have a fabulous trip!!

Thanks - first time @ PBH for us. We have done RPR 2x when the kids were younger - the extra space of PBH (and the lower cost) this time was a compelling factor.