I love credit cards so much!

[wendow]

Oh my goodness...You could knock me over with a feather right now!! Someone used my CIP link!!!!!!!! And didn't tell me. What a nice surprise logging into my account today and seeing those lovely points!

Thank you to whomever it was! I'm very grateful and so appreciative! Thank you, thank you!!!!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

UGGHH I need help.

So DHs new job is a pain in my rear. I told him not to forget me on personal assistant's day.

He was offered a stipend (pathetic one) to rack up tons of miles on his own vehicle, or rent cars and expense it. However, being a small company they are learning as they go and I am guessing they won't be happy to pay $250 a week for rental cars for his travel. I am trying to find them at decent rates (Costco, Hilton site, and SW site are looking good) but also maximize point value for ourselves. Prior to this, his last company had him renting at hertz. Cost billed to their company acct but he got hertz points, so that was nice.
We don't want him driving his personal vehicle for a lousy $400/month so I need to figure this out.

Any ideas on best way to book to get most points out of the transactions? Trying to avoid the southwest site because it seems to be airport pickup only which means I'd need to drive him to get the car and pick up him up. That would stink but airport parking would stink more. I can do a neighborhood location of enterprise through Hilton or American Express.

Best suggestions for car rentals to max points?

 

[CyndiLouWho]

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?

I do have some plus a bunch of Walmart & Target GCs but I’m hesitant because I won’t be needing that much if we’re priced out of the cruiseis also questionable. I’m leaning towards just using the BOA card.

 

[Lain]

Oh my goodness...You could knock me over with a feather right now!! Someone used my CIP link!!!!!!!! And didn't tell me. What a nice surprise logging into my account today and seeing those lovely points!

Thank you to whomever it was! I'm very grateful and so appreciative! Thank you, thank you!!!!

Couldn’t have happened to a nicer person!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

OK- need a little kick in the pants. I've been hovering over applying for the SPG Biz for the past couple of days. My card count and apps are fine - and I have work travel planned that will put a big dent in the MSR, so thats ok too. What I'm struggling with is losing out on the UR for all those travel dollars! Someone remind me that 35k starpoints will be very helpful for future travel (even though I don't have a specific trip planned to use them yet) and the return on my spend will still be good. The MSR on the CIP was much less painful, because the travel charges were still getting 3 UR points, at least... That spend went way faster than I expected (work travel, summer camp payment) but the 7k is going to take me a while.

Should I do the SPG Biz or wait a little bit and do one of the Chase Freedom products (and keep using my CSR for travel!)

I would make sure you have a use for the SPG points before you apply for that card. It is a great offer but having points you have no use for isn't exactly a great plan. Now there are a ton of uses for SPG points so I'd be shocked that you can't find a use for them but just know what your plan is before you apply

 

[DisneyMandC]

Oh my goodness...You could knock me over with a feather right now!! Someone used my CIP link!!!!!!!! And didn't tell me. What a nice surprise logging into my account today and seeing those lovely points!

Thank you to whomever it was! I'm very grateful and so appreciative! Thank you, thank you!!!!

That was me!! I had commented a while back and thought I tagged you, but maybe it didn't work right. Glad you got your points!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

This is funny. I'm not even a disney person. My kids are so that is why we took the first one cruise. Just to "check it out".
Now i'm obsessed. To the point where im disappointed the family chose Hawaii instead of another disney cruise.

One day i'm going to take another line to compare if its the actual cruise or is it just Disney cruise I love.

I think your husband will love it.

This will probably be our only cruise...ever. (30th anniversary). So maybe I should just suck it up and pay the mouse, but I’ve yet to be able to manufacture money or find it growing here.

 

[wendow]

That was me!! I had commented a while back and thought I tagged you, but maybe it didn't work right. Glad you got your points!

I didn't see it! I could have missed your tagging me. Thank you so much I'm glad to know it was you and hope to pay you back one day with using a link of yours!

 

[Albort]

@Albort what is the verification process? Yesterday it said up to 24 hours and I went ahead with it. It posted in a few hours. Apparently that didn't do much for future purchases because today I got the same message again.

message them, ask them why its taking so long to make purchases... they might bring up the verification process. complete it.

OK- need a little kick in the pants. I've been hovering over applying for the SPG Biz for the past couple of days. My card count and apps are fine - and I have work travel planned that will put a big dent in the MSR, so thats ok too. What I'm struggling with is losing out on the UR for all those travel dollars! Someone remind me that 35k starpoints will be very helpful for future travel (even though I don't have a specific trip planned to use them yet) and the return on my spend will still be good. The MSR on the CIP was much less painful, because the travel charges were still getting 3 UR points, at least... That spend went way faster than I expected (work travel, summer camp payment) but the 7k is going to take me a while.

Should I do the SPG Biz or wait a little bit and do one of the Chase Freedom products (and keep using my CSR for travel!)

tbh, chase freedom cards will always be there. the SPG biz currently at 35k is at its historic high. It may not come back again because of the merge. Id go for the SPG Biz now if u can make that minimum spendings. after your done, u can go for the freedom card. Freedom card may be 30k for u too.

 

[Angrose]

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.

I would put a small charge on the card to generate a statement. I referred someone about 6 months ago, she opened the card but I never got the referral bonus. I kept waiting for a statement so I could check, but I never got one. When I SM'd Chase they said they won't generate a statement if there are no charges on the card. I don't know if that's just the case for the Disney card, but it wouldn't hurt to buy a pack of gum with the card and see what happens. I hope it posts soon for you!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I've read people are doing this now...having their kids take cabs...it would be cheaper in many cases I'm guessing.

We took Uber from WDW to MCO on Sunday and our driver told us his teenager doesn’t even want a license. He said the kids all prefer to be chauffeured around than drive themselves. Lol.

 

[Judique]

I would put a small charge on the card to generate a statement. I referred someone about 6 months ago, she opened the card but I never got the referral bonus. I kept waiting for a statement so I could check, but I never got one. When I SM'd Chase they said they won't generate a statement if there are no charges on the card. I don't know if that's just the case for the Disney card, but it wouldn't hurt to buy a pack of gum with the card and see what happens. I hope it posts soon for you!

Thank you! I was actually thinking of using the card for a small purchase.

 

[speedyfishy]

OK- need a little kick in the pants. I've been hovering over applying for the SPG Biz for the past couple of days. My card count and apps are fine - and I have work travel planned that will put a big dent in the MSR, so thats ok too. What I'm struggling with is losing out on the UR for all those travel dollars! Someone remind me that 35k starpoints will be very helpful for future travel (even though I don't have a specific trip planned to use them yet) and the return on my spend will still be good. The MSR on the CIP was much less painful, because the travel charges were still getting 3 UR points, at least... That spend went way faster than I expected (work travel, summer camp payment) but the 7k is going to take me a while.

Should I do the SPG Biz or wait a little bit and do one of the Chase Freedom products (and keep using my CSR for travel!)

Put the spend on the CIP, but hit the MSR by funding a BMO Harris account. You can open their checking, saving, and money market account funding 1k for each. You can open accounts every 30 days. That gives you 6k of the 7k. Just make sure you can float 3k for a bit and make sure you can meet the requirements to keep it fee free. You can also close it early and just pay a small fee. I opened three to fund my Delta Business and the points posted without any problems.

 

[DisneyMandC]

We took Uber from WDW to MCO on Sunday and our driver told us his teenager doesn’t even want a license. He said the kids all prefer to be chauffeured around than drive themselves. Lol.

This is so true. My two nephews and brother-in-law are all the same age. One nephew didn't get his license until he was 17 and a half (you can get it at 16 and 3 months in my state). My brother-in-law didn't get his license until he was 18 and getting ready to go to community college and my mother-in-law finally had to lay down the law and tell him she would not be driving him to COLLEGE every day.

I get it from an expense standpoint, especially with the high cost of insurance, but I'm pretty sure if I hadn't gotten my license on the day I was eligible to my mom never would have taken me anywhere I wanted to go again!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I would put a small charge on the card to generate a statement. I referred someone about 6 months ago, she opened the card but I never got the referral bonus. I kept waiting for a statement so I could check, but I never got one. When I SM'd Chase they said they won't generate a statement if there are no charges on the card. I don't know if that's just the case for the Disney card, but it wouldn't hurt to buy a pack of gum with the card and see what happens. I hope it posts soon for you!

Thank you! I was actually thinking of using the card for a small purchase.

Just to add some clarity here, I can confirm that you DO NOT need to generate a statement to receive a referral. It'll just post a $0 statement and show the $50 or $100 Disney Rewards transferred to your account.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Way behind and might be missing something here, but Costco Travel only accepts Visa and MasterCard (https://www.costcotravel.com/Info/Terms-And-Conditions). I know they just pass the payment to Disney, but they will only take those as payment. If you book directly and then transfer it to Costco, I guess you could get around it that way, but then it wouldn't be 5% category I suppose. Just thought I would share since I booked my cruise through them today and they definitely only offered the two options.

One other unrelated Costco Travel tip I learned today is that they will either keep you on hold while they call Disney or will offer call you back once they get them on the line. I was so grateful to stop listening to hold music and just wait for the call. It went well, but took 1 hour to get a Costco agent on the line, and 2.5 for them to reach Disney. I feel for travel agents right now.

Interesting, because over on the cruise forum, multiple people have said they used Discover. I don’t think the 5% would work anyway, it would be a total crapshoot to try it. Also have an understanding they take Disney GCs thru Costco travel. But I also forgot Costco doesn’t do AMEX either.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I didn't book anything this time around, but I distinctly remember the entire process taking 2-3 hours on the last release date. Getting in touch with Costco was quick. Their hold time with DCL was long. I'm so used to it, I don't even mind anymore.

You can also pay Costco with Disney gift cards. They just call DCL and pass the gc numbers along.

I’m planning on booking online with Costco since I have no status. 2-3hours is not an option during work hours so if I can’t do it fairly quickly tomorrow morning, I guess I’ll be on hold all evening. Any idea what time they close phone lines?

 

[vanjust14]

This is so true. My two nephews and brother-in-law are all the same age. One nephew didn't get his license until he was 17 and a half (you can get it at 16 and 3 months in my state). My brother-in-law didn't get his license until he was 18 and getting ready to go to community college and my mother-in-law finally had to lay down the law and tell him she would not be driving him to COLLEGE every day.

I get it from an expense standpoint, especially with the high cost of insurance, but I'm pretty sure if I hadn't gotten my license on the day I was eligible to my mom never would have taken me anywhere I wanted to go again!

Oh my gosh, this is so my son! I forced him to get his permit at 16 but at 18 he STILL didn't have his license! I would drop him off at college and then go drop my daughter at daycare, lol! (yes my kids are 17 years apart, haha) I couldn't believe he even wanted anyone to see his mother dropping him off to college! He did finally get his license before he turned 19, thank goodness! Different breed these days I guess!

 

[amalone1013]

I’m planning on booking online with Costco since I have no status. 2-3hours is not an option during work hours so if I can’t do it fairly quickly tomorrow morning, I guess I’ll be on hold all evening. Any idea what time they close phone lines?

I just read 10pm est on the pricing thread.

 

[amalone1013]

Oh no! I want to use it when we fly in April. I just can't win with the lounges. Wasn't open yet when we flew last two times...was gonna use the one at MCO getting out in Sept but no, Irma had to come plowing through and we had to evac and it took two hours just to get through security. Almost missed our flight home. Sad

I'm so sad! We've used it twice, and hopefully next weekend... and then at the beginning of April, fingers crossed! I guess they're owned by the yogurt place there and they're shutting down that, the PP restaurant, and Einsteins and putting in something new. Maybe the new place will do PP, all of the employees we've talked to have said they've had a huge jump in business.