I love credit cards so much!

[Lain]

So I could send $1000 to my P2's PP account and she could withdraw the money back into her checking account, and this works for AMEX MSR?

PayPal P2P transfers generally do count towards Amex MSR, however I would not do what you're suggesting if P2 shares the same address as you. The one negative DP I've seen involved P1 sending a PP payment to P2, and the Amex RATs found out because they were able to match the addresses on both PP accounts. Besides, PP is a costly way to meet MSR because it charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.

 

[FloridaNative8]

I think we've decided on Spring Break 2020 for our Disneyland trip. I'm thinking of adding a ski/snow portion also, maybe in Park City - but not sure if that's a good idea (I have no clue about snow vacations and if there will even be snow in March!). By then, I could cover the whole trip (minus the park tickets/spending in DL) with URs/MRs, and if by then Chase is still on it's Disney ban, I would work on getting discounted GCs for that portion.

Our 15th wedding anniversary is 2 months after that, so hopefully we'll have some URs/MRs left over for a trip to the BVIs

 

[elgerber]

I am stunned. Finally DH approved for SPG Biz from my referral! I - I mean DH - applied for the SPG Biz about 5 times. Kept getting the dreaded pop-up so I stopped the application. Took his Hilton Biz (only AMEX he has) out last weekend for car maintenance and other errands. Spent around $300. I tried applying on Tuesday and got the pop-up. Tried again today and I almost didn't believe it when it got past the pop-up and said APPROVED!

Thank you for posting this. I, ahem, DH had applied soooooooooooo many times for the Hilton BIZ and pop up after pop up. Today, thanks to you, I tried one last time, and approval!!!
Now I have an MSR to work on, to kill time until I go gangbusters on the SW CP goal at the end of the year.

 

[Lain]

So I had saved 450K chase UR points for our Disney trip that isn't until Feb 2020. I'm booking for our immediate family as well as for the grandparents as a gift. I also have 500K Marriott points that I've accumulated as well as a bunch of southwest points for airfare. I've been out of the loop for a few weeks on here, but it looks like the UR are now a Disney no go? Suggestions on the best use of what I have? My issue is the need for on site (or at least Minnie van accessible) transportation as I have a kiddo with special needs who will at minimum be carseat requiring, but may need wheelchair ability. Suggestions on how to make best use of what I have, and suggestions on other options to begin accruing? I am currently 5/25 and probably amex maxed this year from the Marriott/SPG situation. We don't travel much due to our little one and her needs. (I am that annoying person sitting on a SW companion pass that has made ZERO trips this year!)

I agree with @palhockeymomof2 that I wouldn't rush to cash out all your URs, because who knows if Disney or some other option might be available in the future. However, with 450k UR and a clear plan to travel to Disney, I would probably jump on every good Disney Gift Card deal and cash out URs accordingly to reimburse the gift card costs. UR redemption through the CSR effectively made Disney travel 33.3% off (1 point/cent got you 1.5¢). (And redemptions through the CSP/CIP makes travel 20% off.) Disney gift carding can still pretty easily get you a minimum of 10% off and upwards of ~20% off.

ETA: With 500k Marriott points, I'd also consider an award booking at the Dolphin or Swan. I've never stayed at these properties, so I can't offer more insight other than they go for 50k Marriott/night, or 40k/night off-peak and 60k/night peak, and of course are conveniently situated to Epcot and HS.

 

[Lain]

So, I wasn't able to pull up the Amex Plat 75k offer (even though I tried a bunch of referral links in incognito), so I forgot my plan and decided to apply for the CIC for myself. Yeah, I was supposed to do that app for DH, not me. I'm a little less than 60 days from my last chase app. I got a "we need more time to consider your application" message - no time frame listed. Good? Bad? Its the first one I haven't gotten instant approval for.

Oh, the email says 30 days.

Chase business card instant approvals are very rare; you've been lucky. The 30 days message is typical. It just means Chase needs more time to review your application. Fingers crossed it'll get automatically approved by the system in the next day or two, but it can drag out to about a week.

<60 days since your last Chase app isn't a deal breaker. At least you weren't already 1/30, or 5/24. If your total Chase credit lines are in check <50%, there's a good chance of approval.

Check Chase's automated status line by calling 1-800-432-3117, follow the prompts and press #, 3, 1, SSN. This should give you the status of your application. If it's pending at "30 days," your application is still being reviewed; "2 weeks" is still looking good, with likely approval; "7-10 days" is likely denial and you'll get a letter explaining the decision. Call as much and often as you'd like. We don't judge.

Good luck!

 

[1st*toright]

Chase business card instant approvals are very rare; you've been lucky. The 30 days message is typical. It just means Chase needs more time to review your application. Fingers crossed it'll get automatically approved by the system in the next day or two, but it can drag out to about a week.

<60 days since your last Chase app isn't a deal breaker. At least you weren't already 1/30, or 5/24. If your total Chase credit lines are in check <50%, there's a good chance of approval.

Check Chase's automated status line by calling 1-800-432-3117, follow the prompts and press #, 3, 1, SSN. This should give you the status of your application. If it's pending at "30 days," your application is still being reviewed; "2 weeks" is still looking good, with likely approval; "7-10 days" is likely denial and you'll get a letter explaining the decision. Call as much and often as you'd like. We don't judge.

Good luck!

Thanks, Lain - I know you've explained this 10000 times before, so thank you for the encore.

 

[Lain]

I am stunned. Finally DH approved for SPG Biz from my referral! I - I mean DH - applied for the SPG Biz about 5 times. Kept getting the dreaded pop-up so I stopped the application. Took his Hilton Biz (only AMEX he has) out last weekend for car maintenance and other errands. Spent around $300. I tried applying on Tuesday and got the pop-up. Tried again today and I almost didn't believe it when it got past the pop-up and said APPROVED!

Thank you for posting this. I, ahem, DH had applied soooooooooooo many times for the Hilton BIZ and pop up after pop up. Today, thanks to you, I tried one last time, and approval!!!
Now I have an MSR to work on, to kill time until I go gangbusters on the SW CP goal at the end of the year.

There's hope!

​

Congratulations, you two!

For kicks, you should check how many times your DHs applied for these cards and canceled their apps: https://www.americanexpress.com/applicationstatus

 

[Limes96]

Amex called DH this morning before I had a chance to tell him he’d applied for the plat. I filled him in and he called them back and got approved right away! They said the card would be here in 48 hours. Operation travel points diversify is underway. Nothing like starting off a Friday with a 100,000 mr bonus dance party. It’s also our anniversary, and the gravel pit we’re buying gravel from for our (long rural) driveway takes Amex.

 

[thevalley]

Anyone with the Amex gold card.... how long did it take to come. Does adding my dw like adding her as an authorized user?

 

[amalone1013]

I see DHs SW Biz card in his account with a $5k limit... good sign, yes?

 

[MrPTato]

Anyone with the Amex gold card.... how long did it take to come. Does adding my dw like adding her as an authorized user?

They were being sent out expedited so only a couple days, typically, after approval is when you should have it in your hand. I'm not sure what you are saying in the second question, but you can add her as an AU and she will get her own card.

 

[thevalley]

They were being sent out expedited so only a couple days, typically, after approval is when you should have it in your hand. I'm not sure what you are saying in the second question, but you can add her as an AU and she will get her own card.

Sorry for the confusion. If I add her it will take away a spot from chase. She is 2/24. I’m doing this in my phone.

 

[Alexle2007]

Sorry for the confusion. If I add her it will take away a spot from chase. She is 2/24. I’m doing this in my phone.

Yes, it will count since it is a personal card.

 

[amalone1013]

Congratulations to DH, who did not know he had applied for a SW Biz until I sent him the screenshot of it in his account.

 

[miztressuz]

Haven't read anything since yesterday morning but just wanted to share a few things...

On the Alamo and skip the counter - I did my Alamo through the UR portal on points. I logged in yesterday and had the option to Check in online. I thought that meant skip the counter - nope. Directions said go to Counter. They said you can not skip the counter unless you book directly through the Alamo website. And @SouthFayetteFan you definitely have to have the driver and the credit card the same name. Though it sounded like if you paid with URs, it didn't matter what card you showed them, just any card in your name. I listened to the people check in next to us and they had this issue. The husband had no credit card (say what?? lol) and the wife did but didn't want to drive. They said they would have to pay $15/day extra driver fee. Then the agent said since this is prepaid if you have a debit card in husbands name that will be fine. Good thing for them, it sounded like they were having the car for several weeks.

I told my DH we needed to apply for SW on one of our 3 flights this week. As soon as we took off he was on the app looking at the options. lol We had choice of 50,000 points for the $69 card or the $149 card. We went for the $149 card and got instant approval. I was a little worried because right before we left I added up his CLs with chase and realized he was right at 50%. I knew I didn't have time to lower them so I did not. He was approved with his highest limit at the moment.

Where's the airplane smiley for all these in flight approvals, don't think the little moped dude cuts it

Amex called DH this morning before I had a chance to tell him he’d applied for the plat. I filled him in and he called them back and got approved right away! They said the card would be here in 48 hours. Operation travel points diversify is underway. Nothing like starting off a Friday with a 100,000 mr bonus dance party. It’s also our anniversary, and the gravel pit we’re buying gravel from for our (long rural) driveway takes Amex.

That's awesome when the stars align and shine down on AmEx. The start of a good day, hopefully it continues into the weekend! Congrats to everything - 100k MR, MSR, anniversary...

 

[Alexle2007]

I was checking Credit Karma and didn't see an inquiry for my SPG Biz, does AmEx pull from Equifax?

Also, thinking about a trip to somewhere Spanish speaking, any recommendations for a good translator app that I could use and DS could use for school also? We have Apple products.

 

[miztressuz]

I was checking Credit Karma and didn't see an inquiry for my SPG Biz, does AmEx pull from Equifax?

Also, thinking about a trip to somewhere Spanish speaking, any recommendations for a good translator app that I could use and DS could use for school also? We have Apple products.

They may not have pulled anything at all. If you got an instant approval they probably didn't. AmEx is kinda neat but weird that way.

 

[elgerber]

There's hope!

​

Congratulations, you two!

For kicks, you should check how many times your DHs applied for these cards and canceled their apps: https://www.americanexpress.com/applicationstatus

There is such a thing? I don’t think I want to know!

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

It’s also our anniversary, and the gravel pit we’re buying gravel from for our (long rural) driveway takes Amex.

Congratulations! It’s our anniversary today as well (27th)!

 

[Oscar Madison]

PayPal P2P transfers generally do count towards Amex MSR, however I would not do what you're suggesting if P2 shares the same address as you. The one negative DP I've seen involved P1 sending a PP payment to P2, and the Amex RATs found out because they were able to match the addresses on both PP accounts. Besides, PP is a costly way to meet MSR because it charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.

Oh, I thought when I pay a "friend" it is free for me and them on PP?