I love credit cards so much!

[Alexle2007]

My boys are 8 & 10. I give them new PJs every Christmas Eve to open. Otherwise, no clothes. We don't buy them much of anything other than bdays and Christmas, so I only give wants for gifts, no needs. I consider clothes a need...even if they are name brand.

Yes, he always gets PJs too. (Well we all get matching PJs on Christmas Eve.) Yay, problem solved by wrapping his Universal AP email in a large box with some stuffed Minions and Harry Potter items we have in our house, the PlayStation Plus email I attached it to his PS4 box, I found a Harry Potter box at Walmart that I’ll attach the Lootcrate email to so I think I can fill his Santa bag now and still have a couple of gifts under the tree without adding the clothes (which he won’t care about anyhow.) If I get desperate I re-wrap some of his Legos that haven’t been opened from last year

 

[Alexle2007]

Can Walgreens cashiers split tender at the register? If so, how many times? Anyone know?

Yes. I split my purchase between DH and my CC when they were having the awesome RMN offers. I only used 2 cards so I don’t know if she could have done more or not. I just asked to put $20 on the 1st card and the remainder on the other.

 

[trstno1]

I'm way back a few pages, but going to ask something quickly. If I get $300 worth of Amazon gift cards from Best Buy (I have the AMEX 10% off deal) can I use them at amazon online to buy more gift cards, using 1 MR, for the AMEX Amazon deal? Last time we tried the Amazon deal it was picky and made us use a specific AMEX card to pay for the order.

I just replied to this similar question somewhere else. For me, it has changed just within the last week. I purchased lots of Amazon gift cards at Best Buy, Staples, Lowes, etc., with cash back offers. On Black Friday, I was able to apply a single MR point for the 20% discount, then pay the remainder with my Amazon gift card balance. From Cyber Monday through Thursday, I could apply a single MR point for the 20% discount, but I was forced to complete the purchase with my AmEx card. Starting yesterday, I am again able to apply my AmEx gift card balance.

It's really wonky - it happened in my wife's account and my account, and I checked multiple browsers.

 

[pillow]

Yes. I split my purchase between DH and my CC when they were having the awesome RMN offers. I only used 2 cards so I don’t know if she could have done more or not. I just asked to put $20 on the 1st card and the remainder on the other.

Thanks just wondering for the Chase offer. We have it on multiple cards.

 

[kmc8826]

My bonus posted for my Blue Biz today. I was worried about the DPs on Reddit about people meeting the spend not getting the pop up and not getting the bonus. All is good here. Should hit the spend soon on my Gold and hopefully that works too.

@kmc8826 I’d do the Gold card now Incase you get the pop up. My SO has all the same cards as me for Amex except he doesn’t have the Delta Platnium like I do. I applied for the Gold and got no popup. I applied him for the Hilton Biz and he got the popup. Card history is really similar and we both have just been hitting the spend for the bonus and only using occasionally for some Amex offers. It’s weird that I didn’t get it even though I have more cards than him but it’s probably going to happen to me soon.

I took your advice and applied for the Gold today for DH. AND a pop up. Amex really does not like him.

3 cards with Amex. The SPG now a Lux, the Delta personal platinum, and the Delta business platinum. I have been putting spend on all 3 sporadically enough that have had to pay it off at least every payment cycle. In fact balances on 2 of the 3 right now. The pop up says “based on your history with Amex welcome offers” which is the part which would apply to him as he all 3 cards he has ever had he has never closed. His first Amex the Delta personal is over 5 years old. The SPG will be two years in March. He got the Delta Biz in September 2017. I. know that the problem is the Delta Biz which they didn’t want to give us the bonus on in the first place.

So my question @Lain, @SouthFayetteFan, @Albort given that do you think it is even worthwhile to put even more spend on the other Amex cards? Or should I just let it go right now? I am inclined to try making even more spend but in this situation I almost feel like that Amex really does not like him and no matter what happens with the spend he is on the bad list. He somehow got on it with the Delta Plat Biz last October and then the escalation to finally get the points feels like if we did have a chance of getting out of the hole we don’t now. The 4 times dining on MR’s would be nice enough that I am even considering just getting him on as AU on my card for now. (Which I kind of don’t want to do as it goes against the conventional wisdom on here but it is tempting as he eats out everyday, also does the grocery shopping). I also downgraded his Reserve so I don’t have a great card for his dining right now. Thoughts?

 

[calypso726]

Today I booked our flights from Tokyo to Osaka. I compared flying ANA using United miles which had saver awards at 5,000 UA miles per person and no taxes and fees vs booking through the Chase UR portal which was 5,363 pp for the same flights. I booked using UA miles since I've earned well more than that via MPX. We are arriving in Tokyo and spending a couple of nights there before the ABD trip. I really want to check out the robot restaurant. With that in mind, I decided to book our hotel in Tokyo for the 2 nights. I saw that the Park Hyatt was over $1,000 per night! I've never stayed at a Park Hyatt but holy guacamole! I really did not want to spend nearly 134,000 UR points for 2 nights just to see what the Park Hyatt was like. I decided to check out how many Hyatt points it would be and it was 30,000 per night. Well that's more palatable. So, I transferred 60k UR points to Hyatt, they posted instantly and I booked 2 nights.

I also went ahead and booked our airport terminal hotel in Dubai with 12,888 Chase UR points since we have an overnight layover getting in at 9:30 pm and departing at 10 am the next day. Small price to pay for getting to fly back on a plane with a shower I suppose. I'm just happy not to be paying real money for this stuff.

 

[Happy814]

Whew. Arrived home from WDW on Wednesday and spent the past few days reading 70+ pages to get caught up (along with finishing finals - grad school)! I'm glad I decided to read though because there's definitely been some new info out there!

I was able to locate the SW Plus 50,000 offer on my flight home thanks to (@disneymagicgirl - was this you?) a recommendation to download the Airtime Player App. I was never able to locate the offer on the SW app or website . Instant approval! I haven't received it yet, but I'm not planning on touching it until January. There's no way we can travel in the first quarter of the year, so I'm in no rush to get the CP as early as possible.

I'm thinking of using my UR to buy our WDW tickets for July. A 5 day ticket would be 149,xxx URs total for the 4 of us. A 6 day ticket would be 160,xxx URs. On UT a 5 day is $1,660 and 6 day is $1693. So I would be "saving" ~$100 by going through the UR portal instead of cashing them out. Of course, then I'm sacrificing the 1.25x redemption on those points through the CIP. BUT, we are for sure going to WDW, already have a bounceback booked. We have 200,000 UR with plenty of opportunities to gain more. It would be nice to forgo paying $1,600 OOP. What am I missing on my math here? I'm sure the giftcard game could probably earn me a better savings, and I'll for sure do it for meals and other spending there. But the GC game takes mental energy and this sounds easy and straightforward. Any thoughts?

 

[AmyAnne]

I took your advice and applied for the Gold today for DH. AND a pop up. Amex really does not like him.

3 cards with Amex. The SPG now a Lux, the Delta personal platinum, and the Delta business platinum. I have been putting spend on all 3 sporadically enough that have had to pay it off at least every payment cycle. In fact balances on 2 of the 3 right now. The pop up says “based on your history with Amex welcome offers” which is the part which would apply to him as he all 3 cards he has ever had he has never closed. His first Amex the Delta personal is over 5 years old. The SPG will be two years in March. He got the Delta Biz in September 2017. I. know that the problem is the Delta Biz which they didn’t want to give us the bonus on in the first place.

So my question @Lain, @SouthFayetteFan, @Albort given that do you think it is even worthwhile to put even more spend on the other Amex cards? Or should I just let it go right now? I am inclined to try making even more spend but in this situation I almost feel like that Amex really does not like him and no matter what happens with the spend he is on the bad list. He somehow got on it with the Delta Plat Biz last October and then the escalation to finally get the points feels like if we did have a chance of getting out of the hole we don’t now. The 4 times dining on MR’s would be nice enough that I am even considering just getting him on as AU on my card for now. (Which I kind of don’t want to do as it goes against the conventional wisdom on here but it is tempting as he eats out everyday, also does the grocery shopping). I also downgraded his Reserve so I don’t have a great card for his dining right now. Thoughts?

I have no insights into the popup problem but you might just give DH your gold card to use for lunches. That way you get the points without any possible negative consequences from making him an AU. Of course, this could be a problem if servers ask for an ID to compare to the card, but I use my kids' AmEx AU cards with their names on them a lot (they seem to get the best AmEx deals--just this morning I bought a $100 gift card at Best Buy with a card with my son's name on it and no one noticed).

 

[Happy814]

I thought I would throw in my very short "churning" story because I have enjoyed reading them.

I had a couple of small store and student cards for a few years. I discovered TPG and travel hacking blogs several years ago, but never actually ever applied for anything. In Dec 2015, I applied for a Citi DoubleCasb with TPG link THERE WAS NO SIGNUP BONUS! I put our first WDW trip on that card and carried the balance interest free for a few months. I redeemed the cash back as a statement credit.

In February 2018, DH applied for a CIP to use for his business. We used that bonus to go to WDW on round trip flights to SW 2x. I applied for the CIP in Aug 2018 and was recently approved for the SW plus with the intention of getting a CP. DH got the CIC in Nov.

I feel that we will continue to be slow churners. We are extremely limited by our schedules on the times that we can travel. Plus, we can put a pretty significant amount of organic spend on CC through our business. I think we should be able to support most of our travel habits by opening 1-3 cards a year.

 

[Lain]

Babies ARE expensive! Do the CIP and CIC count against the 5/24?

I know my SIL loves target because they have good baby deals. We have a red card but it might be better to get the gift cards like you said. We have lots of time before that needs to happen though

The CIP and CIC don’t count against 5/24, but you have to be under 5/24 to be approved for them.

What I like about the CIC earning you 5x UR on gift cards from office supply stores (so e.g., Target, Amazon, Disney, etc.) and on Gyft (e.g., Target and Walmart) is you can cash out the URs as 5% cash back (1 cent per point), redeem the UR at 1.5 cpp through the UR travel portal, or as you know transfer the URs to airline and hotel partners. Your choice if you want/need the cash or want to put the points towards travel.

I hope you don’t see the start of a family as the end to traveling. Infants require you to lug around a lot of stuff, but they’re totally easy to travel with. Toddlers are more challenging, but require less stuff and are more self sufficient. They’ll soon need extra seats or a bigger room, but the points and miles game really helps defray the cost. Some of our fondest family memories are on vacation.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I took your advice and applied for the Gold today for DH. AND a pop up. Amex really does not like him.

3 cards with Amex. The SPG now a Lux, the Delta personal platinum, and the Delta business platinum. I have been putting spend on all 3 sporadically enough that have had to pay it off at least every payment cycle. In fact balances on 2 of the 3 right now. The pop up says “based on your history with Amex welcome offers” which is the part which would apply to him as he all 3 cards he has ever had he has never closed. His first Amex the Delta personal is over 5 years old. The SPG will be two years in March. He got the Delta Biz in September 2017. I. know that the problem is the Delta Biz which they didn’t want to give us the bonus on in the first place.

So my question @Lain, @SouthFayetteFan, @Albort given that do you think it is even worthwhile to put even more spend on the other Amex cards? Or should I just let it go right now? I am inclined to try making even more spend but in this situation I almost feel like that Amex really does not like him and no matter what happens with the spend he is on the bad list. He somehow got on it with the Delta Plat Biz last October and then the escalation to finally get the points feels like if we did have a chance of getting out of the hole we don’t now. The 4 times dining on MR’s would be nice enough that I am even considering just getting him on as AU on my card for now. (Which I kind of don’t want to do as it goes against the conventional wisdom on here but it is tempting as he eats out everyday, also does the grocery shopping). I also downgraded his Reserve so I don’t have a great card for his dining right now. Thoughts?

Me and the popup aren’t friends right now...so I have little insight to give on how to send him back to his ugly little RAT hole!

 

[tink1970]

@kmc8826 --I agree with @AmyAnne and would just give your DH yours for the 4X MRs while he (you) cool off his Amex apps. For some reason it sounds like he's on their bad list-perhaps time away will make their hearts fonder?

@calypso726 --I hope you'll post a report about your PH Tokyo and what a savvy use of points! I love a nice hotel and this way I'll stay vicariously

 

[Judique]

I think (not @Lain but watching football so I'll chime in) it really depends on what your points/miles goals are for the near and/or distant future.

If you have goals requiring Starriott points soon then I'd keep using the SPG Biz. If you don't, then stockpile the MRs--they are so much more flexible and the transfer bonuses that occur every so often can make them even more so. We just sockdrawered the SPG Biz after using it for gas for the 10% discount over the past several months---if that (or something else) returns then I'll be pulling it back out. Now back to using my Gold Biz for 3x on gas...unless a better amex offer comes along.



And happy dance for me today...noodling around searching for the Amazon amex offer (which I still don't have on 5 AU cards, 5 personal cards and 5 biz cards ) but under "featured offers" I had the enroll in Pay Over Time Enrollment for another 10,000 MRs. Whoo hoo-- what's better than 2,000 for spend...free 10,000 MRs!

They've stopped sending me those offers at all. Never got one for free MR's.

 

[tink1970]

They've stopped sending me those offers at all. Never got one for free MR's.

I don't "like" your statement--that's a bummer--but feel your pain since there are a lot of great AOs I never get.

 

[Haley R]

Nope!

I didn’t think so!

 

[kmc8826]

@AmyAnne and @tink1970 thanks for the thought on DH borrowing my card. Reality is no way will he use mine. He is pretty patient with “use this card now not this one” but at the same time I just told him about the whole pop up Amex thing and he was like “we don’t need anymore cards anyway.” I then had to break it to him that just applied for him for the Arrival Plus and he might be getting a call as not instant approval and it went pending. Figured he needed to know since they might call. I guess I will stop applying for today.

Right now I am actually considering him just keep putting everything on the Amex AU for my Biz Plat or even breaking out another card for dining/groceries. Maybe use the ink cash for dining and the FU for groceries.

Me and the popup aren’t friends right now...so I have little insight to give on how to send him back to his ugly little RAT hole!

I can only imagine how frustrated you are since you have a redemption in mind. This would be his first MR earning card so at this point I am tempted to just have him take a break from Amex and concentrate on keeping myself in their good graces. I understand not wanting to put money on cards if it will all be pointless anyway no matter what.

Feel blessed @tink1970 you keep getting the pay over time offers. I am like @Judique and have got nothing. In fact I got all excited I got something in the mail yesterday about it. And the incentive to join? Not anything at all. Apparently I can still get new Amex cards (finger crossed) but am not incentive worthy.

 

[elgerber]

OMG, after 16 days of the 2 week message on my SW personal, it changed to 7-10 days this afternoon!!! There went my SW CP!
I haven't had a new personal card in over a year, and only the one Chase Biz card that they know of :-(

That just caps off the week that started with the news that I am probably going to lose my job.

 

[elgerber]

Is it normal for Chase Recon to not even talk to you with the 7-10 day message? She said they mailed a letter today and I cannot talk to anyone about it.

 

[Lain]

I took your advice and applied for the Gold today for DH. AND a pop up. Amex really does not like him.

3 cards with Amex. The SPG now a Lux, the Delta personal platinum, and the Delta business platinum. I have been putting spend on all 3 sporadically enough that have had to pay it off at least every payment cycle. In fact balances on 2 of the 3 right now. The pop up says “based on your history with Amex welcome offers” which is the part which would apply to him as he all 3 cards he has ever had he has never closed. His first Amex the Delta personal is over 5 years old. The SPG will be two years in March. He got the Delta Biz in September 2017. I. know that the problem is the Delta Biz which they didn’t want to give us the bonus on in the first place.

So my question @Lain, @SouthFayetteFan, @Albort given that do you think it is even worthwhile to put even more spend on the other Amex cards? Or should I just let it go right now? I am inclined to try making even more spend but in this situation I almost feel like that Amex really does not like him and no matter what happens with the spend he is on the bad list. He somehow got on it with the Delta Plat Biz last October and then the escalation to finally get the points feels like if we did have a chance of getting out of the hole we don’t now. The 4 times dining on MR’s would be nice enough that I am even considering just getting him on as AU on my card for now. (Which I kind of don’t want to do as it goes against the conventional wisdom on here but it is tempting as he eats out everyday, also does the grocery shopping). I also downgraded his Reserve so I don’t have a great card for his dining right now. Thoughts?

I don’t have any good answers for you. My wife got the pop up on her Amex Gold application right before the revamp and we haven’t tried again yet. I’m debating whether to try again before the end of the year. Meanwhile, we’ve put quite a bit of spend on her only two Amex cards, but I can’t be sure that’s made any difference until we try applying again.

As much as I want to get the Amex Gold for my wife, I’m not sure she’s going to use it much. My wife is a longtime AU on my Gold, so she’s got the Rose Gold card. She thinks it’s nice, but isn’t going to use a card just because it’s pretty. Well, I told her to use the Gold for dining because it earns 4x MR — but not where they use Square terminals, and she’s like “I already have the CSR, and I don’t want to carry another dining card and have to worry whether a place even accepts Amex and whether they use Square or not.” I do the grocery shopping, so my wife wouldn’t benefit much from the 4x supermarkets category.

Still, my wife lets me apply for new cards for her and has me worry about the MSRs. And she’s got a lot of sub-5/24 runway with Chase. Ongoing spend, she just wants to keep it simple (which makes getting Amex cards for her difficult), and it was a lot of work just getting her to carry two cards around — the CSR for dining and travel, and the CIU for everything else. She still has trouble with putting “everything else” on the CIU.

I’ve moved almost all my dining over to the Amex Gold, and I’ll PC my CSR to a Freedom next month, after I use up the travel credit. The CSR is my wife’s go-to card so we’ll have her keep it and hold our URs.

Speaking of my CSR, I just realized I was approved for it exactly two years ago today! When can I churn it for another bonus? Oh wait... nvm. LOL.

Anyway, this is all probably little help for your situation. Can you add your Gold card to your DH’s Apple Pay (or other mobile wallet)? Do the places where he eats and grocery shops accept mobile wallets? Just thinking how you might be able to avoid adding DH as an AU.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

OMG, after 16 days of the 2 week message on my SW personal, it changed to 7-10 days this afternoon!!! There went my SW CP!
I haven't had a new personal card in over a year, and only the one Chase Biz card that they know of :-(

That just caps off the week that started with the news that I am probably going to lose my job.

Is it normal for Chase Recon to not even talk to you with the 7-10 day message? She said they mailed a letter today and I cannot talk to anyone about it.

First off - I’m sorry about your crappy week and the job situation.

I maintain that something is amiss with your application situation here. This is all weird and messy and atypical. I’d wait for the letter and maybe it will provide insight into how you can fight this.