I love credit cards so much!

[Alexle2007]

Dang it! I don’t know why I thought I could use the AmEx SPG $60 off of $300 offer for our DL stay but we’re currently booked at the Fairfield which is excluded. Any SPG locations that are convenient to DL entrance? I have the offer on DH and my SPG Biz.

 

[trenty]

Yes, it reads like you’ve already found out that the United Explorer card is subject to 5/24.

I’m pasting something I posted a few weeks back with some helpful info about the current offers on the Explorer card. The 40k UA miles offer is the lowest, public offer. There are higher targeted offers of 50k and 60k right now, and there are tricks to get yourself targeted for these higher offers.

The Explorer (new MPE) card gets you priority boarding, free carry-on for basic economy, first checked bag free (must pay for tickets with card), 2 United Club lounge passes, up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck, a 25% mileage bonus on United’s MPX gift card app, and probably most importantly, increased award space availability. You get access to additional award seats that United blocks off for their cardholders and elite members. The $95 AF is waived for the first year. Chase has no fee United cards you can product change to after your first year that’ll still give you increased award availability.

But wait until you can get a good signup bonus on the MPE. Chase is known to deny matching to better offers on United cards.

The current public offer on the MPE is only 40k UA miles + $100 statement credit after you spend $2k/3 months. For much of last year, the public offer was 50k UA miles, with a targeted offer of 70k UA miles. There's buzz that there are better 50k and 60k UA miles offers out there (https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/8q8d13/daily_discussion_thread_june_11_2018/), but these are likely targeted and you'll have to log into your UA account to see if you qualify.

If you don't see a targeted higher offer, don’t settle for the public 40k UA miles offer just yet; there are some tricks that have worked to get you targeted for higher offers on the MPE:

• Fly on United. After you’ve flown on United, many people report getting targeted with higher than public signup offers for the MPE (and Club card) via mailers and on their United account in the following weeks.
• Make a dummy booking on United. Log into your United account and go through the motions of making a flight booking, and you may see a popup offer for the MPE with a higher mileage offer (and possibly statement credit).
• Make a purchase through the UnitedMileagePlus Shopping portal. People have generally received a targeted mailer a few weeks after their portal purchase. The MileagePlus Shopping portal includes iTunes, so you could possibly trigger a higher credit card offer by buying a cheap song.
• Make a purchase on the United MileagePlus X (“MPX”) gift card app. The MPX app is available for iOS and Android devices andsells e-gift cards at face value, often in the exact amount you need, but allows you to earn 0.5-5x UA miles/$1 depending onmerchant (more during promos) and passes the coding of the purchase on to the merchant’s category allowing you to trigger category bonuses on your Chase Visa credit cards.

These tricks may trigger a higher offer immediately or could take several weeks to work, if at all. Since you're looking to apply soon, you should probably start with the above. Keep playing around with the above tricks, as there seems to have been a lot of success with them last year. It probably helps if you don’t already have a United credit card.

Thank you. I will try all of this when I am ready to apply.

 

[Lain]

I need to get as many Chase UR and/or United points as I can by late September/Early October. I do not want business cards or any cards with AF over $100ish. Here is part of my plan:

• DH is 0/24 so I will refer him to the CSP and after we meet the spend on that I will refer him CF. I will add one of my kids as an AU on each.
• By the time we get the above mentioned cards I should be under 5/24. I will get the United Mileage Card (waived AF first year, then $95). If they offer extra points for AU, I can do that (not DH)
• If time allows (I think it will as we can easily meet MSR right now), I will refer DH to the United Mileage Card.
• Depending on time I may get the CFU for myself.

Any other ways to amass UR and/or United points without business cards or high AF? Also - will all this activity cause suspicion with Chase (shutdown risk?) I have not applied for a Chase card since fall, 2017. My latest card was Jan 2018 - Discover IT. I have been churning very slowly (1-2 cards per year) but want to pick up pace just for a few months and then cool it after October/November.

You have a CSP, right?

Download and use the MileagePlus X (“MPX”) app. MPX is United’s gift card app that earns you 0.5x to 5x UA miles for every $1 you spend purchasing a electronic gift card to hundreds of available merchants.

Two things I really love about MPX:

1. For a lot of merchants, you can purchase an electronic gift card in the exact amount you need (down to the penny, subject to certain minimums). So you could be paying at the cashier, settling the check at a restaurant, or checking out your cart online, get the exact total you need, open up MPX, pull up the merchant, type in the amount due, and pay for an e-gift card in the exact amount, and it’s delivered immediately. No unused gift card balances. (Some of the major merchants like Starbucks do sell their e-gift cards in only set denominations.)

2. If you have a Chase Visa card like the CSP, which earns 2x UR/$1 on dining and travel, MPX “passes through” how an purchase codes to the category of the merchant for which you were buying the gift card. This means you’ll earn the UA miles offered for that merchant from MPX, and if your gift card was for a merchant that otherwise codes as dining or travel you’ll earn 2x UR on your CSP.

So for example, if you bought an e-gift card for Domino’s or Starbucks, you’ll earn 5x UA miles for Domino’s or 1x UA miles for Starbucks through the MPX app, and the charge passes the coding on the transaction to these restaurants' dining category earning you another 2x UR. This allows you to stack the rewards earned (1) on the MPX app and (2) on your credit card’s bonus categories.

You can take earning UA miles one step further by shopping online through United’s MileagePlus Shopping portal. Check with MileagePlus Shopping or cashbackmonitor if the online merchant you’re shopping at rewards UA miles for shopping. Click through MileagePlus Shopping when you shop online just as you would any other shopping portal. Right now, you can earn 200 UA miles simply by installing the MileagePlus Shopping portal button to your browser and making a purchase by 7/13/18: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea....s-install-united-shopping-portal-button-shop/ After you’ve clicked through MileagePlus Shopping, and you’re ready to pay, remember to check the MPX app to see if it sells e-gift cards to that online merchant. If so, buy an e-gift card for the exact amount in your cart and (1) earn miles from the MileagePlus Shopping portal, (2) the MPX app, and (3) credit card points.

If you eat out, I’d sign up for MileagePlus Dining too and link your CSP. So every time you dine at a participating restaurant and you pay with your linked CSP, you’ll earn (1) miles from MileagePlus Dining and (2) 2x UR for dining on your CSP.

You can also earn hundreds of UA miles by doing surveys, but I find that they’re often a waste of time for me because I’ll spend 5-10 minutes answering preliminary questions only to find I don’t qualify.

ETA: When you do get a United Explorer card, add it to your MileagePlus account profile and into the MPX app. Having a MileagePlus card linked to your account gives you an extra 25% bonus in miles on all your MPX purchases even if you don’t use the MileagePlus card to pay. And holding a MileagePlus card often gives you more miles through the MileagePlus Shopping portal than non-cardmember customers, again even if you don’t use that card to pay.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Really? I was so mad after being shut down at two Walgreens stores in Northern California that I called corporate and they said it applied to all stores. I guess not! If anyone knows of a Walgreens in Northern California that will sell gift cards let me know!

I’m in Chicago area but unless it’s a new change, I’ve not seen it. I’ll have to report back as I was planning to get some GCs next week.

 

[Lain]

Thank you. I will try all of this when I am ready to apply.

You should start trying these tricks before you apply. It can take a while to get targeted.

 

[Lain]

Dang it! I don’t know why I thought I could use the AmEx SPG $60 off of $300 offer for our DL stay but we’re currently booked at the Fairfield which is excluded. Any SPG locations that are convenient to DL entrance? I have the offer on DH and my SPG Biz.

The Sheraton Park Anaheim or Four Points by Sheraton.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I don't think I can combine United Points easily or at least without a fee. Ultimate goal is to have as many United points in one United account with little out of pocket expense.

Why do you need them in one account? My DH and I have separate accounts for AA and SW. sometimes I book all our tickets from one account, sometimes split them. For example, we are flying to/from Vancouver next year. I booked tix to Vancouver for DH, DS and myself from my AA account. For the tix home, I will book DHs ticket from his AA account, DS and my tix from my account. Maybe you can be creative

 

[trenty]

You should start trying these tricks before you apply. It can take a while to get targeted.

Yes. I will. Have to check my 5/24 status. I know I will be under 5/24 soon. I don't want to get the targeted offer and then not be able to apply. I have never flown United. Just opened an account with them today. I will check for offers there tomorrow. And I will remember to use the shopping portal too.

 

[Lain]

Why do you suppose I can't move dh's UR from his CSR to my CSR? Do I need to go through my CIP? I've updated our address for both accounts. I put in my CSR number and tick the box and it comes to say: This card is not eligible to receive points from you at this time.

Common error. If you don’t mind the hassle, you could do a daisy chain and transfer from DH’s CSR > your CIP > your CSR.

 

[trenty]

Why do you need them in one account? My DH and I have separate accounts for AA and SW. sometimes I book all our tickets from one account, sometimes split them. For example, we are flying to/from Vancouver next year. I booked tix to Vancouver for DH, DS and myself from my AA account. For the tix home, I will book DHs ticket from his AA account, DS and my tix from my account. Maybe you can be creative

Planning a big trip next summer. Would like to book all tickets using just one account.

Yes. I understand what you saying. Everyone in my house has their own SW account and I use the points as needed. I will get everyone United accounts too. But I can't have him hit Chase too hard with cards.

 

[trenty]

You have a CSP, right?

Download and use the MileagePlus X (“MPX”) app. MPX is United’s gift card app that earns you 0.5x to 5x UA miles for every $1 you spend purchasing a electronic gift card to hundreds of available merchants.

Two things I really love about MPX:

1. For a lot of merchants, you can purchase an electronic gift card in the exact amount you need (down to the penny, subject to certain minimums). So you could be paying at the cashier, settling the check at a restaurant, or checking out your cart online, get the exact total you need, open up MPX, pull up the merchant, type in the amount due, and pay for an e-gift card in the exact amount, and it’s delivered immediately. No unused gift card balances. (Some of the major merchants like Starbucks do sell their e-gift cards in only set denominations.)

2. If you have a Chase Visa card like the CSP, which earns 2x UR/$1 on dining and travel, MPX “passes through” how an purchase codes to the category of the merchant for which you were buying the gift card. This means you’ll earn the UA miles offered for that merchant from MPX, and if your gift card was for a merchant that otherwise codes as dining or travel you’ll earn 2x UR on your CSP.

So for example, if you bought an e-gift card for Domino’s or Starbucks, you’ll earn 5x UA miles for Domino’s or 1x UA miles for Starbucks through the MPX app, and the charge passes the coding on the transaction to these restaurants' dining category earning you another 2x UR. This allows you to stack the rewards earned (1) on the MPX app and (2) on your credit card’s bonus categories.

You can take earning UA miles one step further by shopping online through United’s MileagePlus Shopping portal. Check with MileagePlus Shopping or cashbackmonitor if the online merchant you’re shopping at rewards UA miles for shopping. Click through MileagePlus Shopping when you shop online just as you would any other shopping portal. Right now, you can earn 200 UA miles simply by installing the MileagePlus Shopping portal button to your browser and making a purchase by 7/13/18: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea....s-install-united-shopping-portal-button-shop/ After you’ve clicked through MileagePlus Shopping, and you’re ready to pay, remember to check the MPX app to see if it sells e-gift cards to that online merchant. If so, buy an e-gift card for the exact amount in your cart and (1) earn miles from the MileagePlus Shopping portal, (2) the MPX app, and (3) credit card points.

If you eat out, I’d sign up for MileagePlus Dining too and link your CSP. So every time you dine at a participating restaurant and you pay with your linked CSP, you’ll earn (1) miles from MileagePlus Dining and (2) 2x UR for dining on your CSP.

You can also earn hundreds of UA miles by doing surveys, but I find that they’re often a waste of time for me because I’ll spend 5-10 minutes answering preliminary questions only to find I don’t qualify.

ETA: When you do get a United Explorer card, add it to your MileagePlus account profile and into the MPX app. Having a MileagePlus card linked to your account gives you an extra 25% bonus in miles on all your MPX purchases even if you don’t use the MileagePlus card to pay. And holding a MileagePlus card often gives you more miles through the MileagePlus Shopping portal than non-cardmember customers, again even if you don’t use that card to pay.

Thanks again. I will analyze all this tomorrow.

 

[Lain]

Yes. I will. Have to check my 5/24 status. I know I will be under 5/24 soon. I don't want to get the targeted offer and then not be able to apply. I have never flown United. Just opened an account with them today. I will check for offers there tomorrow. And I will remember to use the shopping portal too.

Good. You should be signed up for United emails. United runs a lot of promos that’ll give you the opportunity to earn extra miles. DoC and Frequent Miler are really good about covering these promos.

 

[amalone1013]

So I finally list an item on ebay like I've been meaning to do. Last time I sold this same item, I set my starting bid at 99 cents and the item sold for $20. This time I started it at $12. Both times I've had the buyer payingshipping, based on ebay's calculation.

So someone has bid on my item, then messaged me to say they missed that my shipping charge is outrageous and unreasonable compared to similar listings. And that I should reconsider that cost or please cancel their bid.

Ok.... let's say she wins my item. She pays $12 plus shipping $9ish. If I look for the same item in other listings.... it starts at like $25 with free shipping...

 

[wendow]

Ok.... let's say she wins my item. She pays $12 plus shipping $9ish. If I look for the same item in other listings.... it starts at like $25 with free shipping...

LOL, ebay buyers drive me nuts. You could respond and tell her that if she'd feel better, you could list as other sellers have at $25 with free shipping...Or cancel her bid, relist at $15 to start and $5.95 ship.

 

[snugglebug]

Common error. If you don’t mind the hassle, you could do a daisy chain and transfer from DH’s CSR > your CIP > your CSR.

Thanks! I felt like I should know that, but it just didn't seem right. My CIP and CSP were transferring in just fine so I was drawing a blank on why I could transfer in a third.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

@disneymagicgirl
Have you decided where y'all will stay at DLR? There are so many options for larger families, unlike most places. Some places will sleep 6 but only have 1 bathroom and that is a no-go for us.

No I haven’t since the chase ur portal is still malfunctioning. I’d like to stay on property and it looks like a 1 bedroom at any of the 3 resorts would work. Of course they are expensive so maybe will end up offsite.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Help! Trying to buy DHs ticket from YVR to ORD. It is $165. I have $100 AA gift card I want to use. But when I get to the payment screen, gift card is not an option. If I do a dummy booking to say MCO, gift card is an option.
Is this not allowed? @calypso726 ? Anyone?

 

[gottalovepluto]

Nope, never got that email. I did get several others from Fidelity about the accounts, but not that one.


Thanks, I will call them. I hate calling anyone on the phone, but for $200 and with nothing to lose, it's worth a shot!

Have you tried chat? Idk if they’ll be able to help at after the nine day mark but when my Schwab bonus failed to post I was able to use chat to get it. (From my very limited chat experience with fidelity I know the quality of the reps is very different. I had one straight up give me the customer service number to call when I asked when I could take the $200 out and the next one stayed with me for like 20 mins and contacted the promotions department to get me an answer. I’d chat a couple times if you’re not big into talking to people just in case they can do it.)

 

[CyndiLouWho]

No I haven’t since the chase ur portal is still malfunctioning. I’d like to stay on property and it looks like a 1 bedroom at any of the 3 resorts would work. Of course they are expensive so maybe will end up offsite.

FWIW, DLR is nothing like WDW. Some of the offsite hotels are closer to walk to than Disney’s hotels. The Grand Californian is the closest, and also the most expensive, but beautiful. But there are offsite options that are great too.
It was hard for me to wrap my head around just how close everything is after being at WDW.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

@tink1970 how long did it take your $60 SPG/Amex credit to post? DH used one the weekend of 6/29 and I got the email as soon as he checked in on 6/29 and the charge has posted but no credit yet.