I love credit cards so much!

[snugglebug]

Southwest Hawaii update, more waiting:

1. “For next year, Hawaii is our expansion focus….” – Gary Kelly CEO.

2. California crew base within next 60 days. A Los Angeles based crew, in part to serve Southwest Hawaii flights, will be in place starting in December.

3. Flight sales and commencement. Southwest Hawaii flights goal was updated with ticket sales anticipated to begin by December 2018. Flights are to start in early 2019. This of course dependent on government/ETOPS approval.

4. Etops certification update. SWA has been working on this process for 12 months. Regulatory reviews of manuals is completed. Procedures are moving into demonstration phase, starting with “table top exercises,” then the validation flights. That followed by training. Once they get ETOPS, they are ready to go and will within days start sales. They expect to fly within no more than one month of obtaining certification.

https://beatofhawaii.com/southwest-hawaii-airline-update/

 

[havaneselover]

Just looked at my first Amex gold statement. According to them, Krispy Kreme is not dining. I beg to differ.

 

[3 DD love princesses]

What is the chase pay with CSR or CSP promo?

 

[trstno1]

These recent posts about using Chase UR for car rentals raises a question: is the Chase rental car insurance coverage active on car rentals paid with UR points? I was under the impression that I had to charge the rental to my CSR to activate it's coverage.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I just re-booked our Alamo car via URs for a week and a half from today. I've never rented from them before but they're cheaper than National and now the drop off at Dolphin is available. I went to "check in" on Alamo website using the confirm info from Chase. All was well, I got the pop up offering skip the counter, put my payment info in and then was told "We're sorry for the inconvenience, but we are experiencing technical issues with this reservation attempt. Please call 1 (877) 222-9075." No interest in calling tbh, I'm gonna wait it out for now and cross my fingers something changes. Also, did the payment page say the price was due on pick-up? That part confused me having just paid that money to Chase/Expedia with UR points. I have a Twitter inquiry into Alamo regarding that.

(Did you see Bank of America Loyalty program listed in the res? I did, lol.)

ETA: Alamo on Twitter is now telling me they see payment is still due on this reservation and asked for a screenshot of my payment to Expedia. (I told them I booked via expedia for simplicity sake.) Giving them full explanation and screenshot of my payment to Chase. Crap. This was supposed to be EASIER!

Well that is concerning...lol. I am seeing the same basic issues. I'm thinking about switching to Dollar since it's cheaper by $20 anyways and now I can't use Skip the Counter. I just am wary of Dollar because I've never used them before, I've always had good experiences with Alamo (until this time, lol).

 

[gottalovepluto]

Well that is concerning...lol. I am seeing the same basic issues. I'm thinking about switching to Dollar since it's cheaper by $20 anyways and now I can't use Skip the Counter. I just am wary of Dollar because I've never used them before, I've always had good experiences with Alamo (until this time, lol).

Just got confirmation from the Twitter team you cannot use Skip The Counter with this type of booking, something about the systems are showing it's a pre-paid voucher. Which is an improvement over payment due I guess. Darn. I'm doing this res for my parents actually and I suspect they might just want to pony up the extra 3k URs and go with their beloved National if that's what it takes to skip the counter...

Edit: they just responded to my q confirming no payment is due with "i am unable to confirm at this point, as it shows a balance due at the counter in our systems. I have left a note on your res regarding our conversation." Nope, nope, nope, I'm throwing in the towel on this!

 

[AmyAnne]

Well my car needs to go in the shop no MO runs for me for awhile. I have 2500 left on SO’s Plat and then my 32.5k MSR in three months will be complete. I have to finish this month. I’ll go to a grocery store that’s walking distance in a few days. Unfortunately, they check the giftcards so I’ll have to float some cash until my car is repaired. I have a $500 deductible for my insurance, but I don’t think I can put it on the Amex and have it post before the statement closes. My Blue Biz was supposed to arrive but I never got it so I need to order a replacement. Hopefully that card will come before I have to pay the deductible and hopefully they take Amex. I may ask if they do a cash discount tho.

Any utilities you can pre-pay? My gas/electric co. charges a flat $2-ish to pay with a credit card no matter the amount, so I always pre-pay a lot.

 

[Judique]

was it @Judique ?

No, not me. I haven't had a popup yet, but I only have 4 Amex - 2 that are almost 20 years and two from July and August. I'm trying to get to next year before any more apps.

 

[Calfan]

I'll be there Nov 2 to 9. Is the race on Saturday? We will check into BWV that day, and usually some of the races run by the tennis courts on the way from DHS towards Epcot. I'll be watching for you! And cheering you on! Anyone else running that day?

I'm doing the Two-Course Challenge, so 10K on Sat. and Half on Sun., with @CaliforniaGirl09. I leave a week from today!

 

[platamama]

Here's some thoughts:

• If you are keeping a CIP open and paying the fee you will obviously retain the ability to transfer URs to partners (Southwest/Hyatt/etc.)
• If your sole plan is to now transfer points to partners then the 1.50x is a non-factor for you
• You will pay the $95 AF on the CIP...would you keep your CIP and pay that fee if you DID NOT have a CSR? (We'll call this Example1)
• IF you would get rid of your CIP then you have a $450 fee vs. a $95 fee.
• Of course you also get the $300 Trav Cred with the CSR. Most people figure that is worth $300 (I actually feel it's worth less than $300 since I could've spent that $300 in a way that earned me something otherwise...but I digress, let's call it $300 for this argument.) So your net AF is $150.
• Example1 Summary: So you would either pay a $95 AF or a $150 AF...the difference is $65. If your husband puts more than $4,334 in dining and travel on his CSR annually, you would come out ahead vs. him putting this spend on a CFU.
• Now if you would keep your CIP open and your CSR open due to the earning possibilities...that's a little different. (We'll call this Example2)
• Example2 Summary: You will pay $95 regardless so you are looking at an ADDITIONAL $150 in AF. If your husband puts more than $10,000 in dining and travel on his CSR annually, you would come out ahead vs. him putting this spend on a CFU.

Hope that helps Again there's a lot of assumptions built in here so if those assumptions ARE NOT correct, this math could be mis-leading.

The difference is actually $55. It jumped out at me only because I've run this calculation numerous times before to convince myself of the numbers to justify keeping the CSR (yeah, you made me pull out the calculator again!). Based on that number, one would need to spend $3667 on the CSR on dining/travel to come out ahead of the CFU for the same categories. Looks like that's not a problem for @disneymagicgirl :

Yes he def spends over $4334 on dining/travel. He spends several thousand a month on it just for work...and we spend several thousand most months for personal as well. (We need to reign in our personal dining out drastically. Oops)

So it sounds like csr is still worthwhile. I assume there isn’t a better card out there for my purposes?

I don't recall your 5/24 status, but if you can't go for CIC directly for the signup bonus, then consider downgrading your CIP to the CIC for 5xUR gift cards at office supply stores. I do like using mine for the VGC and MCGC deals at Staples and OD/OM when they come out. Those VGCs work fine at Costco check out (but not for the fuel pumps IME).

I was looking at the Costco card sign in the store the other day and thinking it seemed good for him too. I have one I don’t use, so he could carry it.
Maybe I should have him do hotels on csr, gas and dining on Costco. Or just gas on Costco. Hmmnnn.

I pretty much only use my Costco VI for gas, and that's only if I'm not 1)working on a MSR or 2)using my Kroger gas station. You still get better value using CSR for dining and travel, because even if you don't use URs for Disney, you can transfer the URs to SW and be getting ~1.5cpp that way.

 

[Judique]

Good news about Gift of College GCs. It looks like they're really expanding their retail presence: Best options for buying Gift of College gift cards (now at Target, but…)

FM notes that we can now buy GOC GCs in-store, in amounts up to $500 at:

• Brookshire’s Grocery. (Located in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas.)
• Foodmaxx. Discount supermarket. (Located in California and Nevada.)
• Fred’s. General merchandise and pharmacy. (Located in the Southeast.)
• H-E-B Texas Grocery
• Lucky Supermarkets. (Located in California.)
• Save Mart Supermarkets. (Located in California and Nevada.)

Buying in $500 amounts maximizes the value of the $5.95 activation fee, and brings funding a 529 Plan or paying off student loans with a credit card down to 1.19%. Notably, the Amex Gold earns 4x MR at grocery stores and the Amex BCP earns 6% cash back. FM lists other high earning grocery rewards cards.

Although Target (and previously discussed, Barnes & Noble) now carry GOC GCs, it appears Target sells only $50 and $100 denominations, which makes the $5.95 fee a terrible value (although I wonder if you get a 5% REDcard discount, but probably not if these are considered "prepaid cards").

This is huge for people in California and Nevada (and folks in the Southeast), because previously only H-E-B in Texas sold $500 GOC GCs. I have several Lucky Supermarkets relatively nearby so I'll be checking for GOC GCs this week.

Just what I need! Thanks, @Lain! I see a store near Kingsland, Ga that I may be able to go to on my Disney trip. It's just a mile off the highway.

 

[platamama]

These recent posts about using Chase UR for car rentals raises a question: is the Chase rental car insurance coverage active on car rentals paid with UR points? I was under the impression that I had to charge the rental to my CSR to activate it's coverage.

Good question. I think you're right. Looking at the benefits guide, it states that the primary car rental coverage is in effect when the rental is paid for with the credit card. No mention of URs.

 

[Judique]

Just won 500 points from Marriott.
Does the CIP or Amex gold/pink do expedited shipping? Or sw biz?

Read your post, remembered to play and finally won!! 500 points!

 

[MrPTato]

3 days in a row...no marriott points

 

[Albort]

Any utilities you can pre-pay? My gas/electric co. charges a flat $2-ish to pay with a credit card no matter the amount, so I always pre-pay a lot.

You can also see if your gas electric bill can be used with Arcadia Power. U can pay them without any fees.

 

[eeyoresmom]

Does anyone have any advice for DS looking for a no fee cc to help build his credit? He currently has a Discover card, opened 2 yrs ago with a $1000 credit limit. He's ready to open a second but I told him to hold off until I checked with you experts He doesn't charge that much, maybe $200-$300 per month. He was looking at a Chase Freedom that gives back 1.5x in credit but I think he'd be better off with a SW card for the bonus points....although those have AF's. Any advice?

 

[Lain]

And it's made it onto DoC: American Express Platinum 75,000 Points Link Available via Referral and/or Incognito.

Tagging @striker1064

 

[Alexle2007]

Just looked at my first Amex gold statement. According to them, Krispy Kreme is not dining. I beg to differ.

The CSR considers it dining

 

[havaneselover]

The CSR considers it dining

As they should

 

[LynnTH]

I was just checking my Marriott Points (just recently upgraded to the Premier for 50,000 points with 1 purchase). I just stayed at Swan on Sunday so used card but extra points not posted yet. Anyway - it shows that I was Gold Status at 49 stays and that I just needed 1 more stay for Platinum. I don't really know much about Hotel Status as we don't travel that much to use them. If I did get to Platinum would that just be for the rest of this year or would it be for next year?