I love credit cards so much!

[spacerangerqueen]

Does anybody else like to obsessively check their point balances? I probably login to Chase, AMEX, Marriott, Southwest 2-3 times a day...

I know nothing is gonna change but it just makes me happy to visit my friends...my points, LOL!

It's gonna be super hard to part with 300,000+ URs when we book our Disney trip...but SO worth it to go for free, LOL!

I do! I even check on things like Starbucks, Chick-fil-A and Speedway lol.
I started out years ago with obsessively checking Mint everyday. I pretty much know as soon as my DH charges something since I check Mint so often.

 

[Lain]

DH got home later than expected last night and didn’t feel like dealing with Chase, but he said he’d call them today. Hard to meet an MSR if you can’t use the card. The way he described them reading off addresses to him that he’d never been associated with makes me think it’s mistaken identity. I remember reading about the one case like that in June maybe? If that’s the case, it’s upsetting to think Chase doesn’t confirm the identity of people when issuing them cards. But my husband does have a relatively common Hispanic name.

Just to recap...brand new, unactivated ihg Premier (card is in hand) is under “special review” for ten days, and the almost one month old CIP was declined twice yesterday. We have over $3000 charges on the CIP already.

Check out @Budzooka ‘s story: https://www.disboards.com/threads/i-love-credit-cards-so-much.3528202/page-1743#post-59411198

For more background, you can search posts with “Chase” and member name Budzooka.

Fingers crossed it’s resolved quickly!

 

[Limes96]

Check out @Budzooka ‘s story: https://www.disboards.com/threads/i-love-credit-cards-so-much.3528202/page-1743#post-59411198

For more background, you can search posts with “Chase” and member name Budzooka.

Fingers crossed it’s resolved quickly!

Yes! I believe that’s the one I was thinking of! My poor DH. He’s been the victim of mistaken identity more than once. One time at an international border. Not fun.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

DH got home later than expected last night and didn’t feel like dealing with Chase, but he said he’d call them today. Hard to meet an MSR if you can’t use the card. The way he described them reading off addresses to him that he’d never been associated with makes me think it’s mistaken identity. I remember reading about the one case like that in June maybe? If that’s the case, it’s upsetting to think Chase doesn’t confirm the identity of people when issuing them cards. But my husband does have a relatively common Hispanic name.

Just to recap...brand new, unactivated ihg Premier (card is in hand) is under “special review” for ten days, and the almost one month old CIP was declined twice yesterday. We have over $3000 charges on the CIP already.

It sounds similar to that case....agree it’s bizarre that they review identy after the card is issued.

 

[striker1064]

Only 100k Marriott points for $5k spend tho.

Yeah. Not great. P2 has never had the SPG Biz, so I think for the same sign up bonus and spend, I'd pick that before 8/26, especially given the waived AF.

 

[Lain]

Yeah. Not great. P2 has never had the SPG Biz, so I think for the same sign up bonus and spend, I'd pick that before 8/26, especially given the waived AF.

Yeah, I’m really disappointed by the lower bonus. But I’ve kind of built a strategy around getting these Starriott cards before 8/26, so am I really going to let a 25k difference change my mind? Probably not. The incentive isn’t the bonus itself, but the last chance to get this card and bonus for at least the next two years. The fact the bonus is only 100k vs. the rumored 125k stings. (For those interested in airline transfers, that’s basically the equivalent of 38k miles vs. 51k miles in most cases.) I feel some regret burning past 5/24 chasing Marriott points and may have reconsidered the decision in retrospect.

The SPG Lux is a net $150 card with a 100k bonus and 50k FN cert, but you’re paying $450 AF upfront to commit to staying at a Marriott in the next year. New Gold status is an insult, and complimentary status on this card is a joke. Aside from the $300 credit and the 50k FN, there’s not much distinguishing the SPG Lux from the SPG Biz (same 6x earning rates at Marriott hotels and 2x everywhere else, but the Biz has an arguably better 4x category for dining and gas), and you don’t get anything else you’re not already getting from most other premium travel cards (PP Lounge access, GE/Precheck credit, Boingo). Both the Lux and Biz have 100k bonuses and $5k MSRs, but the Biz has $0 AF first year and won’t take up a */24 slot for the next two years.

After I’m done with Starriott, I’m really looking forward to working on the Hilton cards, which do differentiate from each other and the Aspire offers some solid value (and Diamond status) for the same $450 AF that the SPG Lux is demanding.

 

[miztressuz]

Only 100k Marriott points for $5k spend tho.

Wow, color me underwhelmed. At least the rumored bonus kinda sorta made up for some of the lackluster benefits. I see more "businesses" in AmEx's future...

 

[DisneyMandC]

My daughter showed at the AQHA Congress and AQHA World Show in 2003/2004 She ended up 6th in Showmanship at the World show. We also noticed it was political. There were some competitors who seemed to get a pass when they made errors or it seemed as though the judges just didn’t want to see it. You either need too be able to deal with it or be done. Or you need to be so good they just can’t deny you. My daughter showed for a couple more years and then we built our barn and there wasn’t money to show. It’s a great feeling to know that you and your partner did a good job. Congratulations on your placing in the standings. You two will have a wonderful future.

Thank you so much! And what an accomplishment- 6th in the world show! It's such a small world, I started showing AQHA in 2003 and 2004 would have been the first year I went to Congress. We chose to go to OK this year instead of Congress, so this will be my first time in many years sitting out Congress. I was actually looking at Marriotts yesterday to see what I could get for a quick weekend trip up there to go shopping...

 

[Lain]

All I have left to say about the SPG Lux is it’d better be metal.

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

Anyone book Swolphin with URs? How do I add it to MDE?

 

[Missyson]

Hi everyone I'm new to posting,

I have been reading through many pages of this forum, and am trying to get an understanding of how to use points for travel. It is a lot to process. I do know I want to travel more in 2019, and I like the idea of using credit card points to help.

I am one of those people that has used my debit card for most everything. I am pretty conservative with money, and was always taught to use cash. We do have a couple credit cards, and always pay the full balance when we use them. I just haven't thought about using them much to our advantage?!?

These 2 cards are in my husbands name, and I am an authorized user on both.

- Barclays Upromise card - Opened in 2007 - this was our primary card until recently. We were able to put a good amount of money in a 529 for our son's college. We don't need it anymore. I was going to cancel it, but should I just transfer to a different card from this bank?

- Chase Sapphire Preferred - Opened in 2015. We have not utilized this card to maximize the benefits. Since I started reading this thread this month, we have been putting all of our dining on this card. I shopped through the rewards portal for the first time on Saturday!

We do not have a Hilton credit card, but have points from hotel stays.

We fly Delta, and live in an area where this makes the most sense. We have not flown in a while. I've thought about trying Southwest, but get nervous thinking about trying to find my own seat.

My first question is, I would like to apply for a card in my name, but am not sure what to apply for first? I was thinking the Chase Freedom, or perhaps a Hilton or Delta card? I do not have a business, and don't feel comfortable applying for a business card yet.

Thanks so much for any suggestions

 

[Limes96]

DH’s timing on CIP is similar to @Budzooka , about 3 weeks or so after activation. I went back and read through those posts. Hopefully it will be less than 5 weeks for us to get this straightened out! Also hopeful still a little that this is a simpler mistake that can be corrected easily and quickly. But also afraid this is going to be a big nightmare to fix. One difference is, the IHG Premier we just got also appears to be a no-go. Budzooka didn’t have any personal cards affected. Although for us it could just be the timing since we applied for it after the CIP. These are the only two cards he has with Chase, no bank accounts...no other relationship with Chase at all, present or past.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Does anybody else like to obsessively check their point balances? I probably login to Chase, AMEX, Marriott, Southwest 2-3 times a day...

I know nothing is gonna change but it just makes me happy to visit my friends...my points, LOL!

It's gonna be super hard to part with 300,000+ URs when we book our Disney trip...but SO worth it to go for free, LOL!

Ummm totally. Totally me.

We are going to go on an 8 day, 7 night trip in late January. We have a family of 4; 2 adults and 2 children ages 5 and 8 at time of travel.

It will be a split stay:
4 Nights @ Disney's Boardwalk Resort in a Standard Room
3 Nights @ Disney's Contemporary Resort in a Theme Park View Room

We will not rent a car and will use DME and Disney Transportation (primarily we'll be walking to most parks).
- We will go to Epcot, HS, Epcot, HS the first 4 days. (walk or boat)
- We will take a bus to MK on our resort transfer day and then walk back to Contemporary that evening to checkin
- We will bus to AK and back on the 6th day
- We will walk to MK on day 7 and 8.

We are flying roundtrip nonstop on Southwest Airlines. 3 of the tickets are on SW RR points @ 18,399 each (55,197 SW RR points total). The 4th ticket is booked on a companion pass which I have through the end of 2019. The cash cost would have been $1,128. We do have to pay the $44.80 in Taxes/Fees on the flights but that will be covered with some misc CC cashback I earned so the flights in my accounting books is 100% free.

The rooms are rack rate $4,233 and my spreadsheet assumes we will get a 20% discount for a net cost of $3,386.40. Our tickets are $1,767.92. TOTAL Disney package cost will be $5,154.32 - requiring 343,621 URs (which we have). If the 20% discount doesn't come through it will require another 56k URs which we would have by the time I book it...but I'm pretty confident in getting some hotel savings.

Our dining and souven'ear budget is assumed to be about $1,400. That includes 7 table service meals and the rest quick service (with breakfast being cereal in our room each morning). I have the $1,400 fully covered with Disney Rewards dollars. I was very fortunate to max out fully referrals on 3 Disney credit cards via DoctorOfCredit and r/churning earlier this year when they released that new $200 offer. So the $1,400 is fully covered via those rewards.

So in total we are taking an $8,500 trip rack rate fully loaded. It will cost us nothing - FREE - and it's all thanks to this hobby! It's crazy to type all of this out...it's just insane, LOL!

EDIT: For anybody new to our thread reading this - this is not bragging. This is what we do here! Anybody can do this with some pre-planning. Sure the Disney Rewards is a little bit of a fluke, but put that aside...fully covering flights, hotel and tickets (and maybe dining) is possible with 6-8 credit cards, meticulously planned. If 2 spouses are willing to play the game you can earn that amount of points in a year pretty easily!

This legit gives me inspiration. I'm up to about 350,000 URs right now and will have 400,000 once DH's CIC points post- and we haven't even double dipped yet! I'm expecting a rack rate similar to yours for three rooms at a moderate for 6 days/5 nights and plan to completely treat my mom and in-laws (plus DH and I, obviously). Our only difference is we will probably drive since I don't like the flights out of RIC to MCO anymore. But I almost have enough Hertz points already to rent a minivan to drive us all down there!

 

[striker1064]

All I have left to say about the SPG Lux is it’d better be metal.

Noooo more metal cards! I have to carry my wife's Ritz cause it won't fit in her phone case wallet. That thing is heavy.

Although I'm not getting the SPG Lux, so I guess go nuts!

 

[DisneyMandC]

Hmm informed delivery tells me there's a letter from Barclays addressed to DH today... wonder if it's an Aviator Biz with his name on it...

 

[1st*toright]

I am a numbers guy LOL! I just read your comment and had to laugh as I’m sitting here at almost 1am analyzing corporate tax returns for a deal I’m working on. Numbers are my friend haha.

No wonder we get along - we have the same friends. I hang out with corporate tax returns all day, every day. My job rocks (but doesn't make for great cocktail party conversation).

 

[trenty]

Hi everyone I'm new to posting,

I have been reading through many pages of this forum, and am trying to get an understanding of how to use points for travel. It is a lot to process. I do know I want to travel more in 2019, and I like the idea of using credit card points to help.

I am one of those people that has used my debit card for most everything. I am pretty conservative with money, and was always taught to use cash. We do have a couple credit cards, and always pay the full balance when we use them. I just haven't thought about using them much to our advantage?!?

These 2 cards are in my husbands name, and I am an authorized user on both.

- Barclays Upromise card - Opened in 2007 - this was our primary card until recently. We were able to put a good amount of money in a 529 for our son's college. We don't need it anymore. I was going to cancel it, but should I just transfer to a different card from this bank?

- Chase Sapphire Preferred - Opened in 2015. We have not utilized this card to maximize the benefits. Since I started reading this thread this month, we have been putting all of our dining on this card. I shopped through the rewards portal for the first time on Saturday!

We do not have a Hilton credit card, but have points from hotel stays.

We fly Delta, and live in an area where this makes the most sense. We have not flown in a while. I've thought about trying Southwest, but get nervous thinking about trying to find my own seat.

My first question is, I would like to apply for a card in my name, but am not sure what to apply for first? I was thinking the Chase Freedom, or perhaps a Hilton or Delta card? I do not have a business, and don't feel comfortable applying for a business card yet.

Thanks so much for any suggestions

Welcome!

I also always used debit before starting this hobby. Now I use my credit cards essentially as debit by paying them off as I go. I do not wait for the statement to close to pay.

American Express MR points transfer to Delta. I have the Everyday Cash card. It has no annual fee, gives 2% back on groceries, and 20% more points each month if I make 20 purchases. There are other Amex MR cards too. I am sure others here will tell you more.

I love SW and never have a problem with seating. Chase Sapphire Preferred URs can be transferred to SW.

Chase Freedom Unlimited will give you 5% on rotating categories. Right now the categories are gas, Walgreens and Lyft. Past categories earning 5% have included grocery stores, wholesale clubs, restaurants, purchases made through some mobile wallet apps. This card can be used for travel, but it is more useful when paired with the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve. I transfer my CFU points to CSP, then to a travel partner - usually SW. I also use the points from CSP to book travel through the portal.

If you are interested in Chase cards, get them first because of the 5/24 rule. And ask questions here before applying for anything. Chase has rules about how many cards one can apply for in any period of time.

Consider joining our dischurners reddit group for more helpful information including support links.

Hope this helps.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Hi everyone I'm new to posting,

I have been reading through many pages of this forum, and am trying to get an understanding of how to use points for travel. It is a lot to process. I do know I want to travel more in 2019, and I like the idea of using credit card points to help.

I am one of those people that has used my debit card for most everything. I am pretty conservative with money, and was always taught to use cash. We do have a couple credit cards, and always pay the full balance when we use them. I just haven't thought about using them much to our advantage?!?

These 2 cards are in my husbands name, and I am an authorized user on both.

- Barclays Upromise card - Opened in 2007 - this was our primary card until recently. We were able to put a good amount of money in a 529 for our son's college. We don't need it anymore. I was going to cancel it, but should I just transfer to a different card from this bank?

- Chase Sapphire Preferred - Opened in 2015. We have not utilized this card to maximize the benefits. Since I started reading this thread this month, we have been putting all of our dining on this card. I shopped through the rewards portal for the first time on Saturday!

We do not have a Hilton credit card, but have points from hotel stays.

We fly Delta, and live in an area where this makes the most sense. We have not flown in a while. I've thought about trying Southwest, but get nervous thinking about trying to find my own seat.

My first question is, I would like to apply for a card in my name, but am not sure what to apply for first? I was thinking the Chase Freedom, or perhaps a Hilton or Delta card? I do not have a business, and don't feel comfortable applying for a business card yet.

Thanks so much for any suggestions

Hi and welcome......I was also brought up to pay cash for everything....so when I found this group in May it was eye opening the amount of points you can acquire to use towards trips.

For your first card, since you don’t want to apply for a business card yet, I’d recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred if you can meet the $4,000 spend in the first 3 months since it will give you 50,000UR points and there is no annual fee the first year...

also your husband can refer your for the CSR...getting 10,000UR points in his account. Does this sound like something you’d be comfortable doing ?

 

[trenty]

Hi and welcome......I was also brought up to pay cash for everything....so when I found this group in MY it was eye opening the amount of points you can acquire to use towards trips.
For your first card, since you don’t want to apply for a business card yet, I’d recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred if you can meet the $4,000 spend in the first 3 months since it will give you 50,000UR points and there is no annual fee the first year...also your husband can refer your for the CSR...getting 10,000UR points in his account. Does this sound like something you’d be comfortable doing ?

I think you meant that her husband could refer her to the CSP (not CSR).

@Missyson - yes! I should have mentioned that your husband should refer you to get those points!

 

[palhockeymomof2]

I think you meant that her husband could refer her to the CSP (not CSR).

@Missyson - yes! I should have mentioned that your husband should refer you to get those points!

Thanks..yes..mistyped ...went back and fixed it..