I love credit cards so much!

[Calfan]

Which Westin were you at? I just got an offer for The Westin Kāʻanapali Ocean Resort Villas and thinking of taking it. Good to hear the timeshare presentation was low-key and not pressuring.

I can't speak to the timeshare presentation, but my parents own 4 weeks at this resort and they love it. My family goes with them every other year. It's a nice spot!

 

[DisneyMandC]

I was initially denied for Jetblue biz because I already had two Barclay cards. When I called, the csr was able to lower the credit limit on one of my cards to get approved for the biz. He recommended me for approval and then I spoke with a 2nd person that asked a few questions about my business. My approval email came the next day. Good luck.

Yeah, they only gave me a $1000 CL on my first card They gave my DH $14,000 though. I think they just don't like me. I had a really unpleasant rep when getting my Aviator biz too. I'm going to call though. I have no problem talking about my biz.

 

[1st*toright]

Can someone please tell me how the SPG free night certs work? Can you stay at any hotel in that given category? I have a cert coming for up to 35,000. I was just looking at a Residence Inn Marriott and checked off "use points" to see how many points it was, and I got a message saying "This property is not taking redemption bookings at this time." Does this also include free night certs or are those different?

ETA: I tried different dates at the same hotel and was able to pull up points. It says 70,000 points a night, but the hotel itself is listed as a Reward Category 5, which I thought was 35,000? I'm so confused, lol. ok I clearly need more coffee...it was for 2 nights so 70,000.
Still need clarification on my first question though please

In my experience, if they aren't taking rewards bookings, you can't use your free night cert either, but YMMV and it may be worth a call. I've found that if I'm reserving more than 1 night or room, it won't let me attach my free night cert when I book online, but I've had no problem then calling the rewards line and asking them to apply the cert to the reservation to cover one of the nights.

 

[vanjust14]

In my experience, if they aren't taking rewards bookings, you can't use your free night cert either, but YMMV and it may be worth a call. I've found that if I'm reserving more than 1 night or room, it won't let me attach my free night cert when I book online, but I've had no problem then calling the rewards line and asking them to apply the cert to the reservation to cover one of the nights.

Ok, that makes sense. Thank you so much for the info!

 

[amalone1013]

My ebay drama never ends. I got two messages yesterday from the person that bought my item. The first asking me to cancel because their daughter was playing with their phone and bought everything in the cart. Then a few hours later asking to ignore that, they still want the jacket.

At least I put up a few other things that I hadn't been able to move on FB selling groups and they have bids already.

 

[striker1064]

I'm impressed with all of you that have successfully talked through Barclays recon. There's nothing in the churning world quite like the condescension that comes from a Barclays recon rep as he/she reads off all of the other accounts you have, one by one, and asks why you need another one from Barclays.

Thanks! The DOC master list has a blank for Idaho, but I saw another source suggesting Equifax. I just checked my Equifax credit report on Credit Karma and still see the card that falls off after 10/25/18. I'd hate to apply and get denied, so I think I'll take my chances that the Aspire won't have reported by 10/26 and apply then. If it has, worst case is that I have to wait until January to apply for the CIP, which I knew when I decided to go ahead and apply for the Aspire.

Yep, this will only work if Chase pulls Experian - they're the only bureau that back-dates accounts. Equifax and TransUnion do not.

 

[NewbieMom]

My old Marriott Personal AF posted yesterday. I got my free night almost a month ago. Any chances of a retention offer?

Does anyone know what happens if you used the certificate, but then decide to cancel the card? Do they just keep the AF as "payment" for the night?

 

[amalone1013]

Does anyone know what happens if you used the certificate, but then decide to cancel the card? Do they just keep the AF as "payment" for the night?

I've seen many say the free night is yours to keep. Even if you haven't used it yet and cancel the card, the certificate stays in your account.

 

[amalone1013]

Is it timeshare season? DH got the Westin one mentioned by @StephPlum, and I just got one for Hyatt for 3 nights in San Antonio for $195...

 

[ktate82]

1) there’s no need to apply for SW biz in flight. The 60k offer is available to all.
2) why do you have to wait 30 days to apply for the personal card?

They said I have to wait 30 days after I close my card to reapply.

 

[StephPlum]

Question on the Marriott N&F Certificate. Can it be used on either Marriott or SPG now? I am seeing a Westin on the Marriott site in Tucson that is a Cat 4. Is that Cat 4 the same as the Marriott Cat 4s? I was assuming since it was on the Marriott site that it is the same. Still trying to decide between Colorado Springs and southern Arizona but if I can't use my cert at the Westin, that might make my decision easier.

 

[1st*toright]

If you are just spending one night, I think I would go for whatever is cheapest. I am guessing you will not have time for the pool anyway? Also, you can pool hop between all the resorts if you do have time. I have only stayed at Portofino, it is usually more expensive but somehow was the cheapest every time we went. I love it there, it is beautiful. Hard Rock is the closest walk, but none of them are bad. And you can take the boat. Also, since you are staying 2 nights and only 1 park day, it may be cheaper to stay at any of the cheaper resorts and buy the front of the line pass. I have no idea, but it may work out that way if there is just 3 of you.

That is worth looking at - tickets are looking unfortunately expensive - they really stick it to you if you want to do the part-to-park ticket for just one day!

We will have the entire afternoon of our check-in day to hang at the pool (likely arriving around lunchtime), so we definitely want to have a nice pool.

I've stayed at Hard Rock and Royal Pacific and prefer RPH. Great zero entry pool, great theming, easy access to parks by walking or boat (I prefer boat). My DS loves the sushi at the Orchid Lounge. Express pass is a must for him but he goes on everything. We also love Sapphire Falls but you won't get the express pass included so if that is a must for you I'd go with RPH.

Traveling with our LO, I think that Royal Pacific does look like maybe a better fit than Hard Rock (not sure any of the memorabilia would mean anything to her!) Sapphire Falls does look nice, but I don't think the price difference would cover FOTL passes for all three of us.

We've only been to US once, and it was to see the HP stuff. Yes, definitely get the FOTL pass. We stayed at RPH, in part because it was cheaper but also because we thought the theming looked the most fun, and after walking around it was the right choice for us. I thought the walk to the parks wasn't bad at all. That said, we didn't love US and were more than ready to head over to WDW afterwards, but I know lots of people who love US so it must just be my family. If you like HP and get to London, check out the HP studio tour. That was amazing!

I'm thinking this might be a one and done for us at USO - maybe LO will grow into a roller coaster fiend, but at this stage she doesn't even really enjoy 7DMT! But ts all about Harry Potter at the moment.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Should we create a bank bonus thread? Not sure if those are common or not. My hunch is, they probably are and I've never paid attention to them.

Otherwise I'll move my link over to Chase.

Actually this is only the second bank with a referral this year that I recall so I agree with keeping it under Chase since this is Chase specific and I think that's where someone would go instinctively looking at our list if one was looking for this referral. Any other banks that pop up could be put in the misc thread since they're so uncommon.

 

[wendow]

Is it timeshare season? DH got the Westin one mentioned by @StephPlum, and I just got one for Hyatt for 3 nights in San Antonio for $195...

Just got this one as well I get that Hyatt one a lot as well as the Hyatt in the hill country of Texas. Both look nice and for the San Antonio one, only $195, I'm so tempted!

 

[1st*toright]

Question on the Marriott N&F Certificate. Can it be used on either Marriott or SPG now? I am seeing a Westin on the Marriott site in Tucson that is a Cat 4. Is that Cat 4 the same as the Marriott Cat 4s? I was assuming since it was on the Marriott site that it is the same. Still trying to decide between Colorado Springs and southern Arizona but if I can't use my cert at the Westin, that might make my decision easier.

I haven't actually tried it, but I believe that you should be able to use the N&F at the Westin now.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Question on the Marriott N&F Certificate. Can it be used on either Marriott or SPG now? I am seeing a Westin on the Marriott site in Tucson that is a Cat 4. Is that Cat 4 the same as the Marriott Cat 4s? I was assuming since it was on the Marriott site that it is the same. Still trying to decide between Colorado Springs and southern Arizona but if I can't use my cert at the Westin, that might make my decision easier.

As far as the cat goes yes, cats have all merged so the Cat 4 classification on the website is the Marriott classification.

 

[gottalovepluto]

...The real problem with bank bonus referrals is there's no good reason for anyone to ever use them. The Chase one floating around now, for example, is a much worse offer than what anyone can get with the coupon online....

Well actually of the two we've seen this year the Incredible Bank (deal now dead) was only available via referral so this year we're 50/50 on if they're good or not. Imho they're just like cc referrals, user beware and research first.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I'm impressed with all of you that have successfully talked through Barclays recon. There's nothing in the churning world quite like the condescension that comes from a Barclays recon rep as he/she reads off all of the other accounts you have, one by one, and asks why you need another one from Barclays...

Has anybody successfully talked a Barclays rep into overturning a denial? I've tried a couple times and I had the exact same experience as you. I think the ones I've read that called and got approved didn't actually have decisions already made, their apps were still pending.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I'm wondering if we should put together a bit of a list on DISchurners of banks we've successfully funded with cc? It comes up here sometimes so I'm thinking of anyone commenting in the Intro Bank Bonus thread when they have a DP of bank funding they'd like to share?... I'm not sure to put it there or in the MS thread? (But that is an archived post now) I don't MS (ok, fine, I don't MS too much and when I do it's always via banks) so my personal inclination is to put it in the intro bank bonus thread if we even want the data from our group compiled somewhere (DoC's list always seems a bit dated when I'm looking for info).

 

[miztressuz]

I’m going to MVMCP and DAH during my three night trip in December. Chase isn’t going to stop me from having fun I’ll just pay cash. The trip is going to be me SO and my grandma. She hasn’t been to Disney since 2016 so there is lots of new stuff for her to see. I’m so excited. We are surprising her with the DAH event. She hasn’t been to the Christmas party either but she knows about that and is excited. Im worried about two late nights in a row but I asked if 1AM would be too much for her without mentioning the special event. She said she will be fine. She could always go back alone though. I know people complain about the buses but I love them lol. She will be fine getting back to the room by herself, but I think she will stay.

Depending on Grandma's age and usual activity levels I'd just plan for an afternoon rest or maybe not early mornings. It sounds bad, but sometimes you gotta think like you have a small child in tow - strictly dependent on the person but usually grands can only keep up with the young'uns for a short period My mom's a night person so she'd have no trouble staying up until 1am but at this point she'd not be RDing the next day. (Heck hubby wouldn't be RDing the next day either... I think I need a younger model...) FIL on the other hand totally a morning person, he'd never make it to 1am cuz he's the crack of dawn riser no matter what time he goes to bed. He'd RD and be in bed by 9pm Or he'd RD, make it until 1am that night, RD the next day and be out cold for an afternoon nap (Sucks getting old, enjoy the adrenaline while you can )