I love credit cards so much!

[LuckyMamaInDE]

I've started putting random one off charges on all of my cards, just sort of cycling through the stack to keep Amex happy. Fortunately I've only cancelled two since this started so hoping they won't hold that against me. Gotta keep Amex happy until I book OZ/NZ flights!

When will you be booking those flights? Which airline(s) are you considering? And which airports? Looks like you're planning on using MR?

I'm in the Nov-Dec 2019 time frame for booking so am obsessively reading as much as I can find to make sure I collect the right kind of points/miles lol

 

[Lain]

@schmass and @DisneyMandC - sometimes, going directly to the source is the answer.

From the Offer Terms for the Amex SPG Personal:

Effective 8/26, welcome offer not available to applicants who have or have had The Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase, The Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, The Marriott Rewards Credit Card from Chase, or The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card from JP Morgan in the last 30 days.
​

No mention of the Marriott Biz. VftW was right. Getting the Marriott Biz now won't disqualify you from getting the SPG Personal after 8/26.

 

[schmass]

I'm still following this situation intently and it seems that whole release of info on Saturday is a farce. People get return emails from filling out the form saying no 30k points back. People who try to change dates on attached certs can't without reverting to the new prices or having their certs completely cancelled. Unattached still can't be attached. Basically the entire release was false. It is a hot mess. So just sit tight and I will try to remember to post here if something ever happens with it. Alot of people are very disappointed in how this is being handled, even marriott loyalists who aren't affected by it.

I know, I felt so much better after you posted that link to the information about the refunds, but I have also read that no one has actually been able to make any changes/cancellations. I really, really hope that we can get our points back!

 

[DisneyMandC]

@schmass and @DisneyManC - sometimes, going directly to the source is the answer.

From the Offer Terms for the Amex SPG Personal:

Effective 8/26, welcome offer not available to applicants who have or have had The Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase, The Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, The Marriott Rewards Credit Card from Chase, or The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card from JP Morgan in the last 30 days.
​

No mention of the Marriott Biz. VftW was right. Getting the Marriott Biz now won't disqualify you from getting the SPG Personal after 8/26.

Perfect. Not planning to get my SPG personal until after we double dip, so maybe I'll get lucky and there will be a final push on that card or something.

 

[Lain]

Perfect. Not planning to get my SPG personal until after we double dip, so maybe I'll get lucky and there will be a final push on that card or something.

Glad you found my post even though I mangled your tag.

Where has this morning gone? I'm going to have to find some time to apply for the SPG Lux later today.

 

[brownhaired_girl]

How much spend can you put on a card in 3 months? If I were you I would have DH refer you for the CSP and if you are comfortable apply for the CSR on the same day. That would mean you need to spend $8000 in 3 months. Is that doable? If not then just go for the CSP then have DH downgrade his CSP card for the freedom. When you are done with your spend then you can refer your DH again for the CSP (and CSR if you double dipped and are comfortable to do it again.) Do not add each other as AUs. ​

One possibility to meet the $8,000 spend on the double dip is to pay things like utilities and insurance ahead of time if you can. I also put my mother’s insurance and utilities through my cards when I have a MSR. We also get gift cards to use for grocery shopping later. You have only one chance to do the double dip ( two if you both do it) so take your time, ask questions, make a plan. You will find many friends here to help.

 

[vanjust14]

Has anyone had to change their legal name on Paypal and know how long it takes after you submit document? @amalone1013 maybe?

I have. I couldn't get my document to load on the website so I had to mail mine in. Even with that it was pretty quick, I'd say about a week. If you can do it online it should be quicker.

 

[tink1970]

When will you be booking those flights? Which airline(s) are you considering? And which airports? Looks like you're planning on using MR?

I'm in the Nov-Dec 2019 time frame for booking so am obsessively reading as much as I can find to make sure I collect the right kind of points/miles lol

Yes, realizing that Skymiles just wasn't going to cut it (1.8 million for rt or multi city for 2 in business) I've reverted to MRs. We will definitely fly business because while I'm not quite the plane princess, I figure the more comfortable I am in a long haul flight the better (still remember my free ticket from the government in the middle seat of 5 in economy from HOU-NRT ). I'm looking at either 2 1 ways LAX-MEL (taking a positioning flight to LAX...hopefully by then I'll have re-earned some skypesos!) on Virgin Australia THEN 2 1 ways from AKL-SFO/LAX (same same to me since it's a cross country trip regardless) on United, Hawaiian or Air NZ. The other option is booking a multi city itinerary in one fell swoop. I have enough MRs (603580) for me to do one multi city (all on Air NZ) for me and about 40% for DH. I should also have enough by the end of the year to do 2 Virgin Australia one way then figure out the NZ leg (either United or Air NZ with miles plus). I can't decide whether we're going in 2020 or 2021 so waiting to see if we can swing flights then will book our tour depending on that.

I'm a big advocate of positioning flights versus estimating how much flying from my regional airport will cost since this summer I got a positioning flight for HALF of what Delta wanted for an entire flight from PNS. Sometimes it will save $$, sometimes not.

The other interesting thing with MRs is if you have enough MRs to pay for the entire ticket they often have "insider fares" which are lower than original fares (which is why I'd separate my ticket from DH). Every little bit counts.

TL;DR-Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand, United are what I'm considering. If you have a round trip, American also flies to Australia.
Also-MRs pull multiple airlines and you can have "mixed flight" itineraries (say Air NZ one way, Hawaiian back).

EDIT: also, currently the Biz Plat refunds 35% of MRs used on flights so this could fund another trip, depending on how I utilize the MRs

Hope this helps...I have pages in my travel notebook dedicated to this trip

From the Offer Terms for the Amex SPG Personal:

Effective 8/26

I read that this am when I was resisting FOMO...and thought it was interesting that it's from 8/26 on so almost like Amex is saying wink wink nudge nudge if you need the 3 day loophole, take it. Of course that could just be my interpretation!

 

[miztressuz]

@schmass and @DisneyMandC - sometimes, going directly to the source is the answer.

From the Offer Terms for the Amex SPG Personal:

Effective 8/26, welcome offer not available to applicants who have or have had The Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase, The Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, The Marriott Rewards Credit Card from Chase, or The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card from JP Morgan in the last 30 days.
​

No mention of the Marriott Biz. VftW was right. Getting the Marriott Biz now won't disqualify you from getting the SPG Personal after 8/26.

Just checked that myself when I read your first post. As much as I'm digging DoC's site, can't use his post for the Marriott/SPG cards. Despite using the info from VftW, who got it from Marriott, he totally typoed a few things in that post when you compare it to the actual details that went up on Chase/AmEx. And then hasn't updated it.

It does look like the matrix FM put out, also based on VftW, is matching the offer terms so far: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/2018/07/30/navigating-marriotts-byzantine-credit-card-rules/

 

[DisneyMandC]

I have. I couldn't get my document to load on the website so I had to mail mine in. Even with that it was pretty quick, I'd say about a week. If you can do it online it should be quicker.

Thanks! Sent in my documents online on Tuesday.

 

[amalone1013]

Has anyone had to change their legal name on Paypal and know how long it takes after you submit document? @amalone1013 maybe?

Have only changed my name on DL, SS card, AMEX, and Starriott... Paypal didn't even cross my mind! Maybe I'll do it today since you can submit online...

 

[DisneyMandC]

Have only changed my name on DL, SS card, AMEX, and Starriott... Paypal didn't even cross my mind! Maybe I'll do it today since you can submit online...

Don't worry, I just changed my name on my bank account last month... only took three years of marriage.

 

[SBWB48]

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.

I was originally going to pass on the Lux, BUT re-evaluating now despite a lower initial bonus since 1.) I'll be shut out until April 2020 since I got the Marriott Biz back in Feb (as did you, according to your spreadsheet I believe ), 2.) The free night (and $300 credit) could be useful if we elect to head to Disney next year for the Swan/Dolphin 3.) I too may be done with Marriott after this and getting this card (and potentially the SPG Personal since the restrictions are barely existent for that one, so I can wait) will just round it out if I want to just be done with Marriott in the next year or two.

Getting this SHOULDN'T impact my long-term plans (3/24 and this would put me at 4/24 until another falls off May of next year), which includes going for the CP since I don't need it right away for early 2019, I think, and I would get the SW Biz and a personal card anyways to try and get CP. Similarly, I shouldn't need a new personal card barring some STELLAR offer between now and when I get the SW personal card. DH will be getting the CIP soon (tonight, in fact, so I guess we will have two apps going in! ) and hopefully double dip in mid-December. Only concern is tacking on another $5K in MSR. Still have about $3K left for the Amex Biz, then $3K from the Hilton Biz I got this weekend, and DH's CIP ($5K), and now another $5K . Good thing I held off getting DH his own Hilton Biz...This is basically keeping me at a run-rate of $12-16K MSR consistently dating back to March Here I was, SO ECSTATIC when June rolled around and I could slow down . My plans will eventually be to also join the Hilton party, having just gotten the Hilton Biz.

Just talking aloud to help sort this out...

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

I am with @striker1064 on this one. Nooooo more metal. My work badge is constantly sandwiched between the personal and biz plat in my wallet. I can't get the card reader to recgonize my work badge between the metal

Perfect. Not planning to get my SPG personal until after we double dip, so maybe I'll get lucky and there will be a final push on that card or something.

THIS is me as well

 

[amalone1013]

Now I'm torn on SPG Lux. I was going to get it for DH, but he doesn't have any Marriott cards so there's no rush to get it before the 26th.

With a 100k bonus, the comparison isn't as good....

• Marriott $95 AF, $3k spend, total pts 81k+
• SPG Lux effective $150 AF, $5k spend, total pts 110k+

Now it's $55 more AF and $2k more spend for 29k+ more points...

I wonder if Doc is right with the speculation that it increases after the 26th. Our only rush was we've got $500-$600 to go on DHs Hilton Biz, which we could knock out today with Universal tickets if we wanted. So I thought that the Universal stuff would be a nice kickoff towards a new MSR, since we're only 3 weeks into the Hilton biz.

I guess I feel like I might as well sit on it a week or so, if I get SPG Lux I'd just want it before we leave on Sept 13th. It'll be interesting to see if people have luck getting it expedited. Since we don't have anything else planned until I can get a CIP in October, I guess why not do the bigger spend for more points...?

Math is computing... If I get DH a personal card I'm looking at

• Marriott $95 AF $3k spend total pts 81k+
• SPG Lux effective $150 AF $5k spend total pts 135k+

I could use the $300 credit for our resort fees in September ($189) and a good chunk of our meal at Shula's - this is money I'm planning on spending OOP currently.

So $55 more AF and $2k more spend for 54k+ more points... seems to make sense.

 

[calypso726]

Yay approved! I have an SPG LUX card being expedited for next day delivery.

 

[winnieofpooh]

Hi everyone! New to this thread I apologize if this is a really dumb question, but I have such little experience in this department and am a bit over my head reading through the thread. The only credit card I have is the Discover IT chrome card.

I'm going on my honeymoon next year, and we are either doing a Disney/Punta Cana double trip, or a trip to Hawaii. I'd love to pay for our flights using points from a card sign-up (thinking the Chase Sapphire Preferred). We'd fly SW if we did the Disney/Punta Cana trip, and either American or United for the Hawaii trip if we did that (hopefully in first class)!

My main question is - I need to spend $4,000 in the first three months with the CSP to get the bonus. If I pay my rent for two months, I'll be over $4,000 (with other misc. purchases). Would that count, or is rent/mortgage/home payments excluded for some reason?

Sorry if that's a dumb question, and if anyone has any tips for me they would be greatly appreciated

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

Now I'm torn on SPG Lux. I was going to get it for DH, but he doesn't have any Marriott cards so there's no rush to get it before the 26th.

With a 100k bonus, the comparison isn't as good....

• Marriott $95 AF, $3k spend, total pts 81k+
• SPG Lux effective $150 AF, $5k spend, total pts 110k+

Now it's $55 more AF and $2k more spend for 29k+ more points...

I wonder if Doc is right with the speculation that it increases after the 26th. Our only rush was we've got $500-$600 to go on DHs Hilton Biz, which we could knock out today with Universal tickets if we wanted. So I thought that the Universal stuff would be a nice kickoff towards a new MSR, since we're only 3 weeks into the Hilton biz.

I guess I feel like I might as well sit on it a week or so, if I get SPG Lux I'd just want it before we leave on Sept 13th. It'll be interesting to see if people have luck getting it expedited. Since we don't have anything else planned until I can get a CIP in October, I guess why not do the bigger spend for more points...?

Not to enable but with the LUX you can get the $300 credit x2 once this year and again next year before the annual fee posts. I’m having FOMO but am happier with opting to get DH and myself the SPG BIZ before we are locked out (we both have marriot premiers and I have a regular SPG). If I had a trip planned before 2019 I’d consider upgrading my spg personal but I’m afraid there won’t be an opportunity to downgrade it. Hmmmmm. But the essentially $55 year extra fee ($300 credit I’m making it $150) might be worth the higher category hotel anyways. Decisions!!!

 

[amalone1013]

Yay approved! I have an SPG LUX card being expedited for next day delivery.

I like hearing this

Congrats!

 

[amalone1013]

Not to enable but with the LUX you can get the $300 credit x2 once this year and again next year before the annual fee posts. I’m having FOMO but am happier with opting to get DH and myself the SPG BIZ before we are locked out (we both have marriot premiers and I have a regular SPG). If I had a trip planned before 2019 I’d consider upgrading my spg personal but I’m afraid there won’t be an opportunity to downgrade it. Hmmmmm. But the essentially $55 year extra fee ($300 credit I’m making it $150) might be worth the higher category hotel anyways. Decisions!!!

I always forget about double dipping the credits!

DH and I each have both SPGs, but he has no Marriott cards, I just have the old personal. If we didn't have the biz cards I'd do that for the waived AF. I think I'll just wait a few days and then can hopefully expedite it to have for our trip!

 

[Lain]

Yay approved! I have an SPG LUX card being expedited for next day delivery.

BOOM!

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