I love credit cards so much!

[gottalovepluto]

It's going to be a very short trip. We are flying out of New Orleans around 10:30 pm on Friday the 22nd and arriving at MCO around 1 AM. We're flying back home in the early evening on Christmas Day. When will you be there??

My family has never seen Disney decorated for Christmas so this is the primary reason for this trip. I'd love to do a longer trip, but my job's vacation rules won't allow it. We are completely blacked out for vacations beginning Thanksgiving week through the end of the year, which pretty much blocks out all the time our son is out of school for holiday breaks. With Christmas Day falling on a Monday this year, it worked out perfectly for us to do a quick trip without me having to take any additional days off from work. I know it will probably be crazy crowded and super hectic, and most of my family and friends think we are nuts doing such a short trip at such a peak time, but we are thrilled and can't wait!

It will help that your main goal isn't rides but to just see and experience Christmas in the parks. Takes a lot of stress out of it!

 

[Pooh2]

For the Delta Gold card, we have a $50 statement credit as part of our sign up deal.
We were thinking of ordering lunch on the plane next week to use the credit. Do you have to spend the whole $50 to get the credit?

 

[elgerber]

For the Delta Gold card, we have a $50 statement credit as part of our sign up deal.
We were thinking of ordering lunch on the plane next week to use the credit. Do you have to spend the whole $50 to get the credit?

No, I got the credit for spending $20.

 

[kmc8826]

For the Delta Gold card, we have a $50 statement credit as part of our sign up deal.
We were thinking of ordering lunch on the plane next week to use the credit. Do you have to spend the whole $50 to get the credit?

You just have to make a purchase. Even buying headphones or a drink would trigger the credit.

 

[jhoannam]

Does anyone MS? I've read some stuff over on Reddit and I'm still scared to try. My Amex BGR should be arriving soon and I would really like to try it for the first time. Any easy tips on MSing?

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I have a couple pages to catch up on reading but wanted to post something for ya'll to watch with your Christmas shopping...

Purchased uggs from nordstrom rack online for DD18. Charge posted to freedom as hautelook and didn't give me the 5x points. I am going to SM them and try to get it fixed. I can send screen shots where the order is placed in my nordstrom rack account. ggrrrr...chase is really annoying me the last couple weeks.

 

[pillow]

I made this mistake earlier this year in transferring UR points, so maybe my mistake will help you. Realize the cash value of 22,000 UR is $220. Instead of transferring, you buy the Starpoints with your UR-earning card, then use 17,063 UR points as a statement credit. You're still out zero OOP, and use less UR points.

I would never in a million years have thought to do this. Very smart. Now I just need to remember it!!

 

[gottalovepluto]

For the Delta Gold card, we have a $50 statement credit as part of our sign up deal.
We were thinking of ordering lunch on the plane next week to use the credit. Do you have to spend the whole $50 to get the credit?

Get food you actually want at the airport then buy a $2 set of headphones on the plane. I spent $2 for the headphone set & got the $50 statement credit. Lots of people do this. Confused the heck out of the FA since headphones came with the comfort+ seats we had but we explained if we charged it to our card we'd get $50. He said "$50 for $2?! I'd do that all day! Ok!" (And then when he came by with food he said "So, anything from our food? Spend more make more!" ROFL) ...And then when I logged into my account a couple weeks later I saw a credit for $0.40 because 20% back for on-board purchases. So, it only cost me $1.60 to trigger the $50 statement credit.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I would never in a million years have thought to do this. Very smart. Now I just need to remember it!!

Me either! It's genius!

 

[pillow]

Does anyone MS? I've read some stuff over on Reddit and I'm still scared to try. My Amex BGR should be arriving soon and I would really like to try it for the first time. Any easy tips on MSing?

I do a little. But small potatoes compared to most. I've never had a problem using Visa gift cards to get a money order at Walmart until just this week. Looks like we will probably just use our Visa gift cards for regular spend going forward. Bummed.

Try this - http://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/manufactured-spending-complete-guide/

 

[gottalovepluto]

Does anyone MS? I've read some stuff over on Reddit and I'm still scared to try. My Amex BGR should be arriving soon and I would really like to try it for the first time. Any easy tips on MSing?

I don't MS but: Careful MSing with Amex!! If the RAT team finds out they'll freeze your accounts and revoke all MR points you have, even if they were earned legitimately or on other cards! Yep, that actually happened to someone. Lost the 100K MR bonus he'd legitimately earned on the plat because Amex did a review and determined he'd MS'd on previous (closed!) cards (he definitely had MS'd on those) so they clawed back his new MR points.

 

[platamama]

I would never in a million years have thought to do this. Very smart. Now I just need to remember it!!

To maximize this approach, go thru TopCashback for 2.5% at Points.com, and pay with a personal SPG AMEX card. On a 7500 Starpoint purchase (on the current 35% off sale), get $4.27 cash back ($170.63 x .025), and 341 additional Starpoints (2 x 170.63). Still take the 17,063 UR as a statement credit. Since money is fungible, I don't care if the credit shows up on a UR card vs my SPG AX card; I would still consider it as not paying OOP.

 

[Pooh2]

Get food you actually want at the airport then buy a $2 set of headphones on the plane. I spent $2 for the headphone set & got the $50 statement credit. Lots of people do this. Confused the heck out of the FA since headphones came with the comfort+ seats we had but we explained if we charged it to our card we'd get $50. He said "$50 for $2?! I'd do that all day! Ok!" (And then when he came by with food he said "So, anything from our food? Spend more make more!" ROFL) ...And then when I logged into my account a couple weeks later I saw a credit for $0.40 because 20% back for on-board purchases. So, it only cost me $1.60 to trigger the $50 statement credit.

That is cool! Thanks!

 

[mhartman09]

It will help that your main goal isn't rides but to just see and experience Christmas in the parks. Takes a lot of stress out of it!

This is definitely what I'm thinking. We've been to WDW several times now over the last 6 months and with another trip in the near future, we're not nearly as focused on the rides and attractions as we would be for a regular trip. We have FPs booked of course, but I scheduled no ADRs because we truly just want to be able to walk through the parks and experience the Christmas magic. I can't wait to check out some of the resorts too.

 

[mhartman09]

Might be a stupid question, but I'll ask anyway...LOL. Does the Marriott Business not have referrals?

 

[hsmamato2]

Does anyone MS? I've read some stuff over on Reddit and I'm still scared to try. My Amex BGR should be arriving soon and I would really like to try it for the first time. Any easy tips on MSing?

Not sure there's any 'easy' MS'ing left..... but I'm no expert.... I used to do a bit here and there back in the days when there were still some fairly simple avenues....but I gave up since I wasn't willing to spend the time researching it anymore.... I'd love it if the 'easy' stuff magically reappeared lol

 

[tink1970]

We have FPs booked of course, but I scheduled no ADRs because we truly just want to be able to walk through the parks and experience the Christmas magic. I can't wait to check out some of the resorts too.

We were there for Thanksgiving and the decorations were up and wonderful! I think just taking it slow and enjoying the experience is a great idea! We didn't overdo it and had a wonderful time

For anyone who has Exxon/Mobile in their area check Amex Offers...on 2 my cards and all 3 of my AUs we have $25 in gas, receive 1000 MR. DD and I also have double points right now on our EDP so $25 in gas...1050 MR, not bad!

 

[pillow]

Not sure there's any 'easy' MS'ing left..... but I'm no expert.... I used to do a bit here and there back in the days when there were still some fairly simple avenues....but I gave up since I wasn't willing to spend the time researching it anymore.... I'd love it if the 'easy' stuff magically reappeared lol

If Visa gift cards are an option when redeeming Amex offers, I usually go for those vs 3rd party cards. Especially if I can get said 3rd party card at a discount somewhere else. That worked nicely with the Best Buy Amex offer. Until recently it was easy to get a money order at Walmart. They didn't seem to care that we would swipe 4 x Visa gift cards to pay. That changed this week though.

 

[trstno1]

I do a little. But small potatoes compared to most. I've never had a problem using Visa gift cards to get a money order at Walmart until just this week. Looks like we will probably just use our Visa gift cards for regular spend going forward. Bummed.

Try this - http://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/manufactured-spending-complete-guide/

This is a great page - thanks!

 

[Albort]

Does anyone MS? I've read some stuff over on Reddit and I'm still scared to try. My Amex BGR should be arriving soon and I would really like to try it for the first time. Any easy tips on MSing?

i dont recommend meeting your MSR with MS. If you do so, make sure it isnt a company that sends Level3 data to Amex and/or the name gift card. After MSR, then it should be okay.