I love credit cards so much!

[hsmamato2]

i believe u only get 1 offer and you choose to accept it or not...

@Albort or anyone else asap..... PLEASE help me understand this app! I swear I clicked on the DoC link to UPGRDAE to the LUx....yet it took me straight to the app page with a 5k/100k offer when i logged in..... what does this mean? I'm afraid to close the page but I wasn;t sure I wanted to get a whole new card (or if I even qualified) but am I correct that if it a;; pops up in my sign in then I qualify? Is this a new card or an upgrade??? I am kind of freaking out right now

 

[Calfan]

OH! You just missed a great stacking opportunity on 9/17!

MileagePlus Shopping was offering 20 United miles per $1 at eBags.

The Tumi collection was on sale for 20% off, with free 2-day shipping (ended 9/22).

Chase was offering an extra 5 UR per $1, up to $200 in purchases at eBags, on the CSR, CSP, and CFU using Chase Pay (ended 9/30).

I bought a Tumi Alpha 2 International Carry-On, usually priced $625, for $500 plus tax. I'm still waiting for the 10k United miles from MileagePlus Shopping. I put the purchase towards my SPG Lux MSR and maxed out the Chase Pay promo on our CSRs by buying Amazon GCs stacked with Swagbucks at Best Buy instead.

That would have been awesome! Too bad I didn't notice my carryon was dying until using it this past weekend. Guess I'll have to wait for the next perfect storm of a Tumi sale + 20 miles/dollar at eBags +....

At the risk of outing myself as a spendthrift shopper with no self control, I do have a positive Gyft DP to report from this past weekend. Back in CA for the weekend, I went to visit my sister who works at Nordstrom and ran into the salesperson in Salon shoes who had been my shoe maven when I was still working in Safeway's Pleasanton headquarters (conveniently located right across the street from the Stoneridge Mall) and the salesperson was also based at the Pleasanton Nordstrom. Fast forward a few years and she is now in Walnut Creek, and just happened to catch me eyeing a pair of boots (which are a totally justified purchase when one lives in Idaho, lol!). After deciding to buy two pair of boots (maybe not so justified), I held my breath as I used my CIC via PayPal to order a $500 Nordstrom gift card via the Gyft app. Lo and behold, the purchase processed instantly, and I was able to apply the gift card to the purchase. Here's where I *really* shouldn't admit that I needed a second $500 gift card to cover the purchases, and I also held my breath on this one wondering if Gyft would freak out over the second purchase. Nope! Instant gift card number to use on the spot. And I already see my 5,000 UR pending! Not nearly the boondoggle as your eBags purchase above, but with Nordstrom no longer on the MPX app and no longer on the shopping portals, it was about the best I could do...

ETA: I did have the boots shipped back to Boise so I could pay ID sales tax instead of CA sales tax (and because I had no room for boots on my carryon).

 

[miztressuz]

Maybe someone can tell me why I have 3 on my AmEx statements

The card is fine, just 2 there, but on my statement it's listed 3 times. Although I may be the only crazy one here that looks at actual statements.

Not that anyone else probably cares, but I have an answer to my own question. It would appear the first name is the name as it appears on your card, the second and third ones would be your name on the account and the name of the business. Figured it out since hubby's Priority Pass arrived from the Hilton Biz and his name is too long for cards so the abbreviated name is the top line. Never would have thought that as I don't recall having more than 1 name listed on my personal card statements/notices.

 

[amalone1013]

Apparently opening bank accounts and credit cards in person isn't always the family-friendly process I thought it was! https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/9kfdev/daily_discussion_thread_october_01_2018/e6zeuzj/

 

[gottalovepluto]

Thank you! No TSA Precheck unfortunately. And 2 kids in tow (they'll be 7 and 10 by then). But $28 x 3 = $84 worth of free food is hard to pass up, lol.

Will we be questioned about going to the wrong terminal as our boarding passes? Is it also possible to go coming back?

Always double check the specific restaurant on the PP page for terms and conditions of your visit. Many restaurants only allow one guest when it's a redemption like this even when the PP you have allows more. Both restaurants at SFO only allow 1 guest to be registered in addition to the cardholder.

Some people try to hit these places when they come back, some have success, some don't. Both of those places want to see a same day confirmed boarding pass fwiw. Personally, I wouldn't try to hit a place like that on the way back because when I get home all I want is my suitcase and to get home!

 

[Lain]

Thank you! No TSA Precheck unfortunately. And 2 kids in tow (they'll be 7 and 10 by then). But $28 x 3 = $84 worth of free food is hard to pass up, lol.

Will we be questioned about going to the wrong terminal as our boarding passes? Is it also possible to go coming back?

Oh, yes!

So yes, TSA often will look at your departing boarding pass quizzically, and ask why or inform you that you're in the wrong terminal. Just tell the TSA agent you're visiting a lounge before your flight, and they'll pass you right through. Half the time, this happens to us, we tell them we're visiting a lounge, and there's no problem with that.

To your second question, Priority Pass lounges and restaurants can have different policies about accepting arrival boarding passes. If you take a look at the Priority Pass pages for Yankee Pier and SF Giants Clubhouse, their conditions don't specifically state you have to present a departure boarding pass, so presumably arrivals are accepted too.

https://www.prioritypass.com/en/Lou...o-CA/San-Francisco-CA-Intl/SFO13D-Yankee-Pier

https://www.prioritypass.com/en/Lou...CA-Intl/SFO12D-San-Francisco-Giants-Clubhouse

By contrast, the AirFrance/KLM Lounge does specify access is for flights departing from International Terminal A only.

https://www.prioritypass.com/en/Lou...ancisco-CA-Intl/SFO11-Air-France---KLM-Lounge

The more difficult part is if you're arriving back in the International Terminal, you won't be able use your arrival boarding pass to get through security into Terminal 3. TSA will not let you through security without a departing boarding pass.

 

[Albort]

@Albort or anyone else asap..... PLEASE help me understand this app! I swear I clicked on the DoC link to UPGRDAE to the LUx....yet it took me straight to the app page with a 5k/100k offer when i logged in..... what does this mean? I'm afraid to close the page but I wasn;t sure I wanted to get a whole new card (or if I even qualified) but am I correct that if it a;; pops up in my sign in then I qualify? Is this a new card or an upgrade??? I am kind of freaking out right now

if u got a page that says 5k/100k, then thats ur upgrade offer. how to tell if its an upgrade? well i never had to input my SSN # on the upgrade. it should be an agree to check and submit. no SSN, no income information.

edit: if u are still unsure, screenshot that page and PM it to me or post here.

 

[wanderlust7]

Always double check the specific restaurant on the PP page for terms and conditions of your visit. Many restaurants only allow one guest when it's a redemption like this even when the PP you have allows more. Both restaurants at SFO only allow 1 guest to be registered in addition to the cardholder.

Ah, good to know. Thank you! Trip isn't until next summer, so I'll have to see how things are like then. Hope the perk is still around!

The more difficult part is if you're arriving back in the International Terminal, you won't be able use your arrival boarding pass to get through security into Terminal 3. TSA will not let you through security without a departing boarding pass.

Well, that nixes the arriving back idea. We'll have checked luggage, I think I'd worry about delaying picking it up anyways. Thanks again!

 

[Lain]

Thank you! No TSA Precheck unfortunately. And 2 kids in tow (they'll be 7 and 10 by then). But $28 x 3 = $84 worth of free food is hard to pass up, lol.

Will we be questioned about going to the wrong terminal as our boarding passes? Is it also possible to go coming back?

Always double check the specific restaurant on the PP page for terms and conditions of your visit. Many restaurants only allow one guest when it's a redemption like this even when the PP you have allows more. Both restaurants at SFO only allow 1 guest to be registered in addition to the cardholder.

Some people try to hit these places when they come back, some have success, some don't. Both of those places want to see a same day confirmed boarding pass fwiw. Personally, I wouldn't try to hit a place like that on the way back because when I get home all I want is my suitcase and to get home!

Good catch @gottalovepluto. I was going by the CSR PP's general guest privileges. You're right that both PP restaurants at SFO have the following condition: "Cardholder may only register 1 Guest per visit to receive US$28 deduction. Any additional guests will not be eligible for US$28 deduction."

I guess DW and I will have to carry both our PP cards on Friday.

 

[speedyfishy]

Apparently opening bank accounts and credit cards in person isn't always the family-friendly process I thought it was! https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/9kfdev/daily_discussion_thread_october_01_2018/e6zeuzj/

This is hysterical.

 

[hsmamato2]

if u got a page that says 5k/100k, then thats ur upgrade offer. how to tell if its an upgrade? well i never had to input my SSN # on the upgrade. it should be an agree to check and submit. no SSN, no income information.

edit: if u are still unsure, screenshot that page and PM it to me or post here.

Well I think I don't even qualify for a whole new card,and the app simply requests my income and spg # and then click submit.....

 

[Lain]

Ah, good to know. Thank you! Trip isn't until next summer, so I'll have to see how things are like then. Hope the perk is still around!

@wanderlust7 -- I'd say the one guest policy at SFO's PP restaurants is a minor inconvenience. My wife has her own Priority Pass card through her own CSR, I have access to 4 Priority Pass memberships between my CSR, Amex Platinum, Business Platinum, and SPG Lux cards. So many travel rewards cards offer Priority Pass as a perk now. Since we're a family of just 3, DW and I each carrying our own PP cards from our various cards usually does the trick. If your DH is a willing P2, there are lots of options to get him his own PP card. And since your trip isn't until next year, plenty of cards offer TSA Precheck/Global Entry credit, so you can get on that and breeze through security and customs.

 

[Livelovedance]

Just checking back in to say my Discover was finally charged for my DVC purchase. I’m not sure why the cards were charged about a week apart, but I feel a little better now. Still waiting for the paperwork but I’m guessing it’ll show up this week or next week now.

 

[Albort]

Well I think I don't even qualify for a whole new card,and the app simply requests my income and spg # and then click submit.....

thats not correct... i think your on a new app page.
try login to your amex account, go to your SPG personal page and go to your Amex Offer section. there should be an upgrade banner there.

 

[Lain]

That would have been awesome! Too bad I didn't notice my carryon was dying until using it this past weekend. Guess I'll have to wait for the next perfect storm of a Tumi sale + 20 miles/dollar at eBags +....

At the risk of outing myself as a spendthrift shopper with no self control, I do have a positive Gyft DP to report from this past weekend. Back in CA for the weekend, I went to visit my sister who works at Nordstrom and ran into the salesperson in Salon shoes who had been my shoe maven when I was still working in Safeway's Pleasanton headquarters (conveniently located right across the street from the Stoneridge Mall) and the salesperson was also based at the Pleasanton Nordstrom. Fast forward a few years and she is now in Walnut Creek, and just happened to catch me eyeing a pair of boots (which are a totally justified purchase when one lives in Idaho, lol!). After deciding to buy two pair of boots (maybe not so justified), I held my breath as I used my CIC via PayPal to order a $500 Nordstrom gift card via the Gyft app. Lo and behold, the purchase processed instantly, and I was able to apply the gift card to the purchase. Here's where I *really* shouldn't admit that I needed a second $500 gift card to cover the purchases, and I also held my breath on this one wondering if Gyft would freak out over the second purchase. Nope! Instant gift card number to use on the spot. And I already see my 5,000 UR pending! Not nearly the boondoggle as your eBags purchase above, but with Nordstrom no longer on the MPX app and no longer on the shopping portals, it was about the best I could do...

ETA: I did have the boots shipped back to Boise so I could pay ID sales tax instead of CA sales tax (and because I had no room for boots on my carryon).

Oh, great story! It had me smiling the whole way through! I could feel the nerves waiting to see whether Gyft would process your gift cards!

 

[Haley R]

Since you're flying business on ANA, you can go to their lounge. Priority Pass is not dependent on who you're flying with. It includes the lounges that they have agreements with as well as restaurants at some airports (~$28 credit/person). There are 2 restaurants in their network at LAX.

So let's say we fly in to LAX the same day we will be flying out for Japan. Which lounge should we go to: ANA's or a Priority Pass lounge?

 

[Albort]

So let's say we fly in to LAX the same day we will be flying out for Japan. Which lounge should we go to: ANA's or a Priority Pass lounge?

100% *A lounge...

 

[Haley R]

100% *A lounge...

Do you mean ANA lounge? I'm confused lol

 

[miztressuz]

Oh Poo, Discover is ending the shopping portal I haven't got the email yet for either card, but DoC says emails went out that it will be ending 10/31: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/discover-deals-to-end-october-31st-2018/

I was planning to use that as much as I could in Nov to rack up the cashback match on the last statement. Now I guess I'll see if there's anything worthwhile buying early. We were so looking forward to finally not spending ahead this month, Oct would be a breather before the end of year craziness.

 

[hsmamato2]

thats not correct... i think your on a new app page.
try login to your amex account, go to your SPG personal page and go to your Amex Offer section. there should be an upgrade banner there.

ok that's where I'm confused....I checked twice today. When I click thru the link DoC page for the upgrade, it takes me direct to this app page - when I look on my acct page it shows the 1k/15k offer (which I've been instructed is a bad deal so don't take it) I don't think I've ever been so confused by any card or offer like this.....