I love credit cards so much!

[tink1970]

My kids have their global entry interviews in April at Phl. They are 8 and 11. Any one have any experience with the global entry interview for minors? What do they ask them?

My DD was 14 or so and we were called up at the same time (and I got the efficient worker) so can only speak to the tail end of the interview which were basic questions "what do you do? (mmm student)" "have you been overseas?" "when was the ---trip?" (that was the only one that was hard for her-they asked about Mexico and it had been 3 years previously so she knew the how and where just not when). To be honest, her interviewer was super cranky and she was a 14 year old that I had rustled out of bed at 4 so looked pretty rough. I suspect they will allow you to be with your children and not ask difficult questions. Even so, I might review with your the general questions asked about travel and what they do. Honestly if they've gotten to the interview part I believe it's pretty pro forma, so don't worry

 

[tink1970]

Okay, y'all with your support I sold something on line and became a business Applied today and received the SPG AMEX Business... was torn between that and the Marriott but the long scary disclaimer on Marriott swayed me to SPG (plus I like the purple card AND 40% of my MS will be at the Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa in Edinburgh in 2 months). Super excited and wouldn't have done it without y'all so big thanks

 

[schmass]

We went to Hoop De Doo by Minnie Van. The Lyft charge triggered the AF rebate on my Reserve. DH and I were free to drink as much as we wanted. For those who have an AP, book HDDR now. They did credit my account back with the 10% discount (which ended up being $25). The CM said it was actually a mistake for HDDR to be included in the AP discount paperwork, but since it is in print right now they are honoring the discount.

We are going to the HDDR in a month. Assuming they are still honoring the AP discount, how do you get it since the meal is already pre-paid?

 

[wendow]

when you get the new card you activate it?

Yes, activate it and it does NOT deactivate the original card.

 

[wendow]

Okay, y'all with your support I sold something on line and became a business Applied today and received the SPG AMEX Business... was torn between that and the Marriott but the long scary disclaimer on Marriott swayed me to SPG (plus I like the purple card AND 40% of my MS will be at the Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa in Edinburgh in 2 months). Super excited and wouldn't have done it without y'all so big thanks

Congrats on being a 'business'!! We all knew there was an entrepreneur in there somewhere

 

[Ngwira]

My DD was 14 or so and we were called up at the same time (and I got the efficient worker) so can only speak to the tail end of the interview which were basic questions "what do you do? (mmm student)" "have you been overseas?" "when was the ---trip?" (that was the only one that was hard for her-they asked about Mexico and it had been 3 years previously so she knew the how and where just not when). To be honest, her interviewer was super cranky and she was a 14 year old that I had rustled out of bed at 4 so looked pretty rough. I suspect they will allow you to be with your children and not ask difficult questions. Even so, I might review with your the general questions asked about travel and what they do. Honestly if they've gotten to the interview part I believe it's pretty pro forma, so don't worry

Thanks for the information. Yeah my 8 year old may struggle with trip details.. we’ve only been to Canada and the Bahamas outside of the US within the past 5 years. Hopefully they’ll go easy on them. I put DH on one app and me on the other so we both get to go in with one child.

 

[jujubiee4]

I used a few chase offers on my Marriott Card. Bought a gift card at Lowe’s and one at Whole Foods. I never got the credits (I’m thinking because I bought gift cards). This is probably different but I thought I would mention it.

Looking at this i think i might wait for someone to post if they actually got the credit for buying
gift cards at the grocery store before i do it. I did not see an exclusion but I would be annoyed
if it didn't post.

 

[tink1970]

Hopefully they’ll go easy on them.

I'm sure they will! DD's guy was just having a bad hair day I think. Mine asked me about 3 questions and we were done (of course, I've been through several "systems" before so that might have been it). I'd think at 8 and 11 they'll be nice

 

[tink1970]

Congrats on being a 'business'!! We all knew there was an entrepreneur in there somewhere

Thanks, just hoping DH doesn't ask about certain Christmas presents

 

[Alexle2007]

My kids have their global entry interviews in April at Phl. They are 8 and 11. Any one have any experience with the global entry interview for minors? What do they ask them?

DS10 had his at BWI and I really don’t remember them asking him anything. Just to take his fingerprints. It was super easy, even for DH and I.

 

[jujubiee4]

I was there last week and the crowds were unbelievable. We always go in January to avoid crowds, and the crowd calendar predictions for last week were low, but there were hordes of people everywhere. I couldn't believe the wait times for the heavy hitter attractions, and at one point there was even a 30 minute wait for Living with the Land. It wasn't as enjoyable a trip as in past years, and I don't think there will truly be a slow time at WDW again. The weather was perfect for us though.

This is disheartening. I was planning to go 2nd week in Jan/2019 to avoid crowds. Now that sounds like
any other month. Because of school schedules right now the only available for us is Summer (i refuse)
Spring break (crowded) or winter break and that only is until 2nd week in Jan.

I remember the days when going to WDW in mid January was relatively peaceful.

 

[kmc8826]

We are going to the HDDR in a month. Assuming they are still honoring the AP discount, how do you get it since the meal is already pre-paid?

I picked up the tickets from up front and then went to the will call ticket window that is on the side of Pioneer Hall (by the restrooms). I asked there about the AP discount and the CM did it right there. She didn’t need the credit card, just my receipt/ticket I had just picked up. This was Monday night and the $25 refund posted yesterday.

 

[Lain]

Okay, y'all with your support I sold something on line and became a business Applied today and received the SPG AMEX Business... was torn between that and the Marriott but the long scary disclaimer on Marriott swayed me to SPG (plus I like the purple card AND 40% of my MS will be at the Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa in Edinburgh in 2 months). Super excited and wouldn't have done it without y'all so big thanks

Congratulations on launching your new business!

You made a fantastic choice between SPG Biz vs Marriott Biz. The earning bonus on eligible hotel stays is better on the SPG (2x Starpoints or 6x Marriott Rewards) vs Marriott (5x Marriott Rewards); and for everything else (1x Starpoints or 3x Marriott on the SPG Biz vs 1x Marriott Rewards on the Marriott Biz). There’s hotel lounge access on the SPG Biz, too. Aside from the minimum spend, I don’t see much reason to put any spend on the Marriott Biz if you have a SPG card.

 

[WVMomof3]

Priority Pass question
We are flying swa into mco. Do we have to go back through security?
Flying out of mco same thing do we have to go back through security?
Trying to figure out our plans since it’s less than a month away

I believe all SW flights into MCO are in the different wing and will need to go through security twice. I don't know think you can access it after landing though if that is what you are asking, because you will not have a boarding pass to get through security. Also, Just to get into our local PP lounge, you need to show a boarding pass, not sure if it is the same for all of them.

 

[WVMomof3]

The AF for my Chase SW card just posted. How long before the annual points show up in my RR account? I want to cancel that card after I get the points....unless they offer to waive my fee and credit it back to my account.

My points actually showed up on the bill the month before my annual fee posted. Have you checked to see if they already posted?

 

[tink1970]

Congratulations on launching your new business!

You made a fantastic choice between SPG Biz vs Marriott Biz. The earning bonus on eligible hotel stays is better on the SPG (2x Starpoints or 6x Marriott Rewards) vs Marriott (5x Marriott Rewards); and for everything else (1x Starpoints or 3x Marriott on the SPG Biz vs 1x Marriott Rewards on the Marriott Biz). There’s hotel lounge access on the SPG Biz, too. Aside from the minimum spend, I don’t see much reason to put any spend on the Marriott Biz if you have a SPG card.

Excellent points.In a frenzy of idiocy I cancelled my SPG personal card last year and have regretted it ever since. For spring break, we have a 5 day stay in Edinburgh plus 3 airport stays which will definitely help not only
minimum spend but with 2x points add to the SPG bank. I am quite excited (yes, tigger level).

Especially with the new Amex cards coming up it's nice to have a card that waives the AF and doesn't count against the 5/24 and doesn't take up a spot in my Amex personal count. Really is perfect I think right now

 

[schmass]

I picked up the tickets from up front and then went to the will call ticket window that is on the side of Pioneer Hall (by the restrooms). I asked there about the AP discount and the CM did it right there. She didn’t need the credit card, just my receipt/ticket I had just picked up. This was Monday night and the $25 refund posted yesterday.

Thanks! Sounds easy enough- now I just need to remember to do it next month!

 

[GlamMistress]

This is disheartening. I was planning to go 2nd week in Jan/2019 to avoid crowds. Now that sounds like
any other month. Because of school schedules right now the only available for us is Summer (i refuse)
Spring break (crowded) or winter break and that only is until 2nd week in Jan.

I remember the days when going to WDW in mid January was relatively peaceful.

Sitting at MCO to return home now. The MK was crazy packed today. There was even an impossibly long line at TTC entrance and bag check. Pirates of the Caribbean was a 90 minute wait, etc. It seemed more busy to me today than when we were there in October for food and wine. The traffic was really bad this trip too. Even bothered DH and he will drive anywhere. Went to DS for lunch at 11 am and the garage has two full floors at that early hour.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Did the math just now and I have $300 more to spend on CF to max out 5% category for this quarter. So... that was fast! Internet bills on the 17th for $112 and I need to get my oil changed, tires rotated, inspection, etc. this month (and my mechanic takes Apple Pay!). So I figure between those and probably 2 gas fill-ups, we should be maxed. All spending will then go on the new Marriott Biz.

 

[pillow]

Looking at this i think i might wait for someone to post if they actually got the credit for buying
gift cards at the grocery store before i do it. I did not see an exclusion but I would be annoyed
if it didn't post.

Apparently, the data points are all over the map on the Chase offers (per Frequent Miler). I live in the same town as @havaneselover, and I did get the credits for both Lowe's and Whole Foods - very odd I think. The terms do say that gift cards are excluded - at least for the Chase Marriott offers, so very YMMV.