I love credit cards so much!

[elgerber]

Ok, so I am over the $5000 spend on my SPG biz. When do the signup points post to my account? Is it not until I actually pay the amount I owe? I went ahead and paid the amount showing up as owed although it's not due yet, but apparently I can't pay pending charges. Do I have to wait until the pending charges become current charges and pay that off before I'll get the signup bonus?

Mine showed up about 2 days after meeting the spend.

 

[linzjane88]

Does

Just to expand upon Calypso's great post above and something that was touched on yesterday, with the exception of the Visa, MC, and Amex gift cards, all of the other gift cards mentioned above, including many chain restaurants, can all be purchased electronically using the Ink products via the Gyft app and received instantaneously to obtain the 3X/5X. Using this method, we find it's rarely necessary to actually go to an actual office supply store anymore.

Disney gift cards are not available via Gyft, so if you truly have no other option to purchase Disney gift cards than you will have to go to one of the stores. However, by simply obtaining a Sam's Club membership online (if you don't have one already), you can take Walmart gift cards purchased via the Gyft app and subsequently use those to purchase Discounted Disney cards via the Sams website or local store. Once you recoup your membership fee, there really is no reason to not save approximately 8%-10% on all Disney gift card purchases versus only 5% by purchasing directly from the office supply store.

HOLD THE PHONE. Are you telling me I don't need to hit up office max?! I could be earning so many more points! I miss out on points because the office stores are out of the way and I don't feel like physically stopping or waiting for a GC to come through from Raise types sites. This is good stuff.

 

[gottalovepluto]

...Just wondering how soon the referral $ will post as I want to use them this trip at Disney in 11 days!

Does you next statement close in the next 11 days? It might post then. Someone used my link when the deal came out a month ago but my statement cut a week later and no referral credited. Someone else here had a statement cut 2 weeks later and their referral posted. Just depends on 1: when Disney/Chase processes out the referrals and 2: when your statement cuts after that. I expect to see my referral tomorrow which will be just about 1 month from when the referral was used.

 

[gottalovepluto]

It says next payment date March 18 but I have no balance and can't figure out what date is the closing date, so I'll probably get the dollars for my next trip.

When was the closing date on your last statement where you had a balance? That date is approx the closing date on all your statements. I think it's usually approx 3 days from when your balance is due with Chase so you'd be looking at a statement closing date of approx Mar 21 in my guesstimates.

 

[pillow]

I can do DCL May, 2 connecting ocean views with my discount about $13k I am guessing...will have official number tomorrow. Shoulder season, no inside passage, no glacier bay, no verandah.

or NCL Bliss...brand new looks awesome...for about $12k 2 connecting verandah rooms, in peak season July, glacier bay. Also they throw in some free excursions and signature dining, etc. Leaves from Seattle which is easy for SW.

or RCCL Ovation...also newer ship at same $12k 2 connecting jr suites with verandah, peak season July, and inside passage. Leaves from Seattle.

I am guessing I could save alot doing RCCL or NCL in may, but I don't mind spending $12k for peak season. I'm not sure I want to spend it for shoulder season on DCL and not get the verandah or glacier bay/inside passage either.

We cruised DCL back in July 2015. This summer we are trying Princess Southbound from Whittier to Vancouver - mainly cause it traverses Glacier Bay and we wanted to try something different. We loved Tracy Arm though on DCL! I did find on our 2015 cruise that we were so busy wildlife viewing that we skipped many of the traditional DCL activities. And I felt that a verandah was very very important. Verandah pricing can be vastly different comparing DCL to other lines. Tough choice. Good luck!

 

[1GoldenSun]

Mine showed up about 2 days after meeting the spend.

So BEFORE you actually paid off the bill, then. Good to know; thanks so much!

 

[kmc8826]

I still go back and forth between the CSR & CSP. Anywho as far as getting the CIP then PC to the CIC when the AF hits, that would be for the reason of having gotten the 80k points then having a business card with no AF?...What else am I missing? Does the CIC have the same bonus amounts for say internet as does the CIP...?

I think over all the CIC is a better card and seems to have more "value." But I ended up getting DH the CIP because of the higher bonus. I am going to get the CIP next, and then I think I will first try to see if I can get him the CIC in addition to the CIP. If not, then I will product change the CIP. My understanding is that you might not need to even wait a whole year to product change the CIP, but of that I am not sure. The CIC has the office store bonus for gift cards as well as gas charges. The CIP has the phone insurance and 3 times on internet. I have been happy with DH's CIP which is why I haven't immediately downgraded. Hope that helps.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Hello everyone. I am fairly new here and am trying to learm more about points and miles. I understand that there is a Reddit group for Dis members. How do I join the group? I can’t seem to find the post with the instructions.

TIA!

we're pretty nice around here so don't be afraid to ask questions even if you think they might be the dumbest 101 type CC questions out here. We work under the "there are no dumb questions" mantra.

 

[Judique]

Does you next statement close in the next 11 days? It might post then. Someone used my link when the deal came out a month ago but my statement cut a week later and no referral credited. Someone else here had a statement cut 2 weeks later and their referral posted. Just depends on 1: when Disney/Chase processes out the referrals and 2: when your statement cuts after that. I expect to see my referral tomorrow which will be just about 1 month from when the referral was used.

Thanks for the info. For some reason I was thinking referrals were dropping smack dab into the account immediately. I don't need to get it early, just liked the idea of reducing out of pocket costs on my trip to make it as free as possible! We are going in November also for food and wine and Disney dollars will definitely come in handy then.

 

[elgerber]

So BEFORE you actually paid off the bill, then. Good to know; thanks so much!

Yes, I didn't pay the bill until a week or two after the points posted.

 

[pillow]

Personally I like that there’s no casino. And DS would have stuff to do. I really wanted to check out Vancouver too. We met a family in China that lives outside Vancouver and it would be lovely to visit them also.

The Bliss looks nice, but too big. I see all those people getting off at port, competing for excursions, etc. or maybe I’m imagining things since I’ve never actually cruised before.

We did some independent travel from Vancouver pre-cruise, and we enjoyed that almost as much as the cruise itself.

I'm thinking that your Costco travel charge won't code as 5% back. I don't have a data point, but I'm skeptical. Do you have time to pick up some discounted Disney gift cards before you book tomorrow?

 

[Judique]

When was the closing date on your last statement where you had a balance? That date is approx the closing date on all your statements. I think it's usually approx 3 days from when your balance is due with Chase so you'd be looking at a statement closing date of approx Mar 21 in my guesstimates.

If you are correct I can get the dollars to use while at the Polynesian. $100 Disney dollars = 'Ohana room service twilight feast!

edit to add: I haven't used this card since Nov 2015 and the statement wouldn't open. I did have the fee card at the same time for awhile and used it a bit at Disney then closed it since it had a fee and other cards are simply better.

 

[wendow]

It says next payment date March 18 but I have no balance and can't figure out what date is the closing date, so I'll probably get the dollars for my next trip.

This is the same for my Disney card. I rarely use it so I never have a balance, and I cannot tell when my statement actually closes.

 

[mhartman09]

Mine showed up about 2 days after meeting the spend.

Yes, I didn't pay the bill until a week or two after the points posted.

@1GoldenSun - same for me. Bonus showed up in my SPG account within 2 days of meeting spend and I haven't paid my balance on the card yet.

 

[gottalovepluto]

@snugglebug I think what gottalovepluto is trying to say is.... thanks for the detail into your situation to help snugglebug.... BUT....and this holds true in most cases which is why it's advised to do this 'game' with no past debts is when calculating the 'savings' of rewards usage, you must also include the 'loss' of paying interest on debts not yet paid. Which in *many* cases means an ongoing cycle of interest charges which not only mitigates any rewards earned, but perpetuates the cycle,since if a person can't 'pay as they go' then the spending isn't in line with the income,etc. (and we all know how compound interest gets calculated on a cc) So while not *EVERY* story is exactly the same, the basics hold true for most people. I get what @snugglebug you're saying regarding your points, just clarifying the general wisdom that is still 100% true in this game. (not putting anyone down,just explaining why things work as they do)

I was just joshing snugglebug a bit. 99% of the time people will shoot themselves in the foot trying that sort of thing but snugglebug is threading the 1% successfully at this point. We're very blunt with people that it usually doesn't work but I'm also acknowledging the small percent who do make it work and am happy to see them making connections here as they might be able to help each other out in ways the rest of us can't

 

[gottalovepluto]

@Lain you're safe!! Plastiq coded a 3x. That was addicting. I want to Plastiq everything now, alas the other person involved with the other bill I could Plastiq is still not ok with the risk that coding might change in the 2 day time it takes stuff to post. Gah!

 

[Judique]

In other 'news' I got an offer from Sheraton Vistana Villages to come for 4 nights/5 days for $269.

I think I'm going to bite if I can reserve the nights I want which would be next January.

Been there before and it's a decent resort plus you get a one bedroom for that price. I was actually there when they were building. You also get 5000 starpoints or $100 Planet Hollywood gift card. There is no mention in any of the fine print for a timeshare spiel but I'm sure it will be asked when I go to book. I would have no problem sitting through it in any case.

I did this way back and it was only $199...inflation!

 

[kmc8826]

After seeing @brownhaired_girl's pictures of her upgraded Hyatt room I think my experience at Hyatt Regency Maui will pale in comparison. But in case you are like me and seldom if ever get pixie dust like that here is how Maui went.

First, it was a cheap trip for just myself and DH. We have 3 girls 11, 9, 7 now so all our recent trips have been focused on family vacations. Specifically WDW. In fact, our last just the two of us trip was to Iceland in 2012. Our best trip was Scotland, Wales, Ireland in 2006...but that is another post.

At any rate this was a trip that was unplanned and therefore cheap using points as much as possible. Only reason we went is in September Delta had a skymiles flash sale. Roundtrip tickets across US to Alaska and Hawaii for 20,000 or 35,000 skymiles. I had the miles thanks to credit card bonuses so promptly cashed ours in for roundtrip non stop tickets from SLC to OGG. I could have done one of the other islands as well but settled on Maui. For those of you thinking of Hawaii Delta is something to keep in mind. If you could get to one of the west hub cities for Delta (SLC, SEA, LAX) there are frequent Hawaii flights. And obviously flash sales are fairly common.

I had got the Hyatt card February 2017. I got it then thinking I could use the free nights for an anniversary trip somewhere (our anniversary is February). After we booked the flights I looked into the Hyatt's in Hawaii. There are two Hyatt's on Maui but the Hyatt Regency is a lot easier to book with reward nights. I could not do it online, but was able to call and book our 2 free reward nights and then the other 5 nights with transferred UR points. I could have just booked the hotel with UR points in the Chase Portal, but once I started looking at it that the 30k something points a night through the portal were for only 20k nights in the World of Hyatt. PLUS if you book as an award night through World of Hyatt then there are no resort fees! Our only out of pocket cost to the resort was for parking every night ($20). We didn't get leis when we checked in (I guess no fee no lei) but that was not a huge deal.

Initially our nights were under two separate reservations but once we arrived that problem went away. First night arrival was about 1 am. Our first room was not too great...right over the valet parking. I couldn't help myself and went down and talked to them. We ended up getting moved the next day to an upgraded mountain view. A lot better room! A ton better with two beds a queen and a full. Also better from the balcony.



This is the look out of the hotel. We were in the tower that is left of the picture.



Checking Costco everyday I was able to get an intermediate car for $370. Not great but cars are so expensive there!

Food is expensive too so our Reserve's got used.

We went to Costco twice. Souvenirs for the girls, Hawaiian rum to drink in the room, coffee to take home all came from Costco. ALSO they had packages there in their gift card section. Maui Reef Vacations priced at $100 on the website could get gift card through Costco for $70. There was also a deal on doing a luau (sorry did not get that price). If I had it to do again and had such a late flight I might spend the first night at the Marriott that was by the airport and Costco (saving points/money), go to Costco next morning, and then onto the resort. Traffic is not great and the airport and Costco is kind of far from the resort area.

Hyatt Regency was on the beach boardwalk area. Right next to the Marriott which also was nice. At the end was the Sheraton (not as nice...I just ran through in the mornings but looked older). The entire area is really chill. February is whale watching season. We did a whale watching expedition that made me so sick that even this talk of cruises kind of makes me want to vomit. I am not a fan of the sea...a mountain girl for sure! One night walking down to whaler village for dinner a ton of whales were just off the beach.

Hope that is a little helpful. If anyone has questions please ask.

 

[wendow]

My dh just changed our insurance to Farmer's and our car portion is going through Bristol. Anyone heard of them. Had to pay the new premium this morning. They don't take CC or checks. Only EFT. Well, they would take a cc but added $60 and they said a check fee (I was thinking plastiq) would cost even more. What in the world!?!

 

[tink1970]

February is whale watching season. We did a whale watching expedition that made me so sick that even this talk of cruises kind of makes me want to vomit. I am not a fan of the sea...a mountain girl for sure! One night walking down to whaler village for dinner a ton of whales were just off the beach.

Thanks for your report and glad you had such a nice time!
I love the pic of the whale...if anything would get me to HI, it would be whales
Funny you should mention getting sick on the water...I had altitude sickness the entire time we were in Yellowstone- I'm definitely an ocean not a mountain girl! Good thing I live just a few miles from the beach, I guess.