I love credit cards so much!

[SouthFayetteFan]

I was filling DH in on all of the SPG scariness last night, and was explaining the nights and flights option. It's such an amazing deal if you can/want to stay in one place for 7 nights (we never have). We weren't planning on doing a long international trip this year, and aren't really in a position to do so because of shakeups at DH's job. But nervousness about the future of my SPG points set in, so I started Googling hotels in various categories to get some ideas. I had a very strong urge to just turn in all of our points for AS miles and a Cat 9 certificate, and book a stay at the JW Marriott in Venice. It's on its own private island!!! I snapped out of it and didn't make a move, but I was sooooo tempted at midnight last night.

Some of my best churning moves are made after midnight...trust your gut HAHA!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

So I'm getting ready to use Plastiq for the first time (used a link), and the referral said I should get $500 fee free dollars. What does that mean? I'm being charged a .50 fee for the $20 payment I'm sending.

I used a support link ( @wendow , I think) and am not sure my $500 fee free dollars ever came though. Where do you see them?

 

[peel]

Some of my best churning moves are made after midnight...trust your gut HAHA!

I'm a night owl, so I make way better decisions at night than first thing in the morning when I think it's a crime that I have to be awake and functioning. But when it comes to churning, I need to think, rethink, think again, and change my mind five times!

 

[Judique]

Ladies, Gentlemen, boys and girls of the "I love credit cards so much" thread...today is a momentous day. A day 24 months in the making! Today is the day that 730+ days of patience pays off because today is the day that we (my wife) were APPROVED for a CHASE INK PREFERRED!!!!

To a 4 year+ churner...this is one of my proudest churning moments. I'm so glad to be back in the Chase game!​

EDIT: hilarious fact...the Chase Ink Preferred card didn't even exist when we put a halt to my wife's applications to get back under 5/24, LOL!

A post like this can only merit our deepest

Congratulations!!!​

 

[3 DD love princesses]

I'm an amateur at this, but maybe someone here can help me understand the probably very asked SW companion pass question? I don't think I'll hit 110,000 points on SW this year. I think I'll end the 2018 year at about 80k points on my rapid rewards account. So I'll go into 2019 with 80k and my question is if I earn 30k during next year 2019, and add that to my 80k I'll have could that get the companion pass during 2019, OR will SW say no you didn't earn it ALL in one calendar year? Does it all have to be earned in one calendar year, or can you have a balance like I described and then earn the rest when another year rolls over? This is a little confusing to me. Thank you!

If you can use their shopping portal and that can give you some bonus points. That’s how I did the last two cp with only opening one card each year.

So I'm getting ready to use Plastiq for the first time (used a link), and the referral said I should get $500 fee free dollars. What does that mean? I'm being charged a .50 fee for the $20 payment I'm sending.

When you go to make a payment it will ask you if you want to use your free fee dollars. I want to say it took some time to show up on my account when I signed up.

 

[peel]

If you can use their shopping portal and that can give you some bonus points. That’s how I did the last two cp with only opening one card each year.

I second this, @jen7233. Look for sweet spots in the portal. When I was going for my CP there was a really great deal to get something like 1200 points per magazine subscription, which cost under $5 a piece. There was another one for a WSJ subscription. I did a 12 week trial for the online version, and canceled after the promo was up.I don't know if they have those particular deals anymore, but sometimes there are some other other good ones.

 

[Ava]

I stopped by the IHG "Vacation Station" in Grand Central this morning. The free gift for current IHG card holders was a bright orange beach towel and pair of sunglasses. I wish they'd given a tote bag with it too because I looked a little silly walking down the street carrying a bright orange towel, lol. The "event" itself was slightly awkward because there were approximately two dozen employees and only one or two guests besides me, but it was morning rush hour so most people weren't stopping. They had a mocktail bar set up in the back but it didn't open until 11. There were two different photo booths, and an interactive points calculator where you could see how many points you'd earn on the different cards based on your spending. Other than that it was just employees available to answer questions about the cards and the rewards program.

I did ask about upgrading my current card, and if there would be any bonus points or incentive for doing so. I was told there will be an offer for current card members to upgrade in the next couple months, but no other details on what the offer will be. So nothing we don't already know. She did mention that I could also apply for the new card and hold both if I wanted to, so it sounds like there won't be any automatic conversions, at least not now.

 

[liloca]

Got denied for the CIP application. I applied with my name and ss# but now they want “proof of current business physical address”, “name of my company” and federal tax identification number.

Ok quick update on this denial.
I called and said that I had none of the documents above.
After some explanation about my “business” I guess I must have mistyped my ss# on the form so I need to fax a copy of my ss# card and driver lisence. I will update if I get approved or not after I send the documents

 

[calypso726]

I'm an amateur at this, but maybe someone here can help me understand the probably very asked SW companion pass question? I don't think I'll hit 110,000 points on SW this year. I think I'll end the 2018 year at about 80k points on my rapid rewards account. So I'll go into 2019 with 80k and my question is if I earn 30k during next year 2019, and add that to my 80k I'll have could that get the companion pass during 2019, OR will SW say no you didn't earn it ALL in one calendar year? Does it all have to be earned in one calendar year, or can you have a balance like I described and then earn the rest when another year rolls over? This is a little confusing to me. Thank you!

While I am not as versed as others here on the CP, I'm pretty sure it is 110K by calendar year. That said, I am a big fan of shopping portals and SW has the RR shopping portal. With a little creativity and enlisting the help of friends and family you may be able to pick up an additional 30K in RR via the shopping portal. List the stores by earn rate and see what methods can be used to earn the highest amount of points. When you click on a store, screen sot the T&C so you can make certain what you do will count. For example, ATT wireless and Verizon wireless is at a flat 3600 RR points. Those are for new service or new lines not upgrades, renewals etc. If you were thinking of switching to one of them as a provider, that might be an option or maybe you have a friend/family member that is. A subscription to The Economist is 900 points and must be active for 60 days. The offer is 12 weeks for $12. So you are getting 75 RR on the dollar and buying them at .013 per point but it's going towards your CP. Wall Street Journal is at 700 RR for the $12 subscription. Know anyone or are you interested in their ancestry and genealogy? 23 and me is at 700 RR for a DNA kit.

Have you joined Rapid Rewards dining? This can get you more RR points and gives an incentive to explore new restaurants.



I know 30K seems like a lot to try and earn but you have 8 months so you need to earn about 3,750 RR per month. If you do all of your shopping through the portal, join the RR dining program implement a few creative strategies with the offer, get friends and family involved then you can totally do it. Keep in mind DH and I go through an extraordinary number of miles with AA every year with our travels. Credit card sign up bonuses alone are insufficient to keep the balances where we need them to travel the way we do. We need all the help we can get. We both use the AA shopping portal, we both are members of the AA dining rewards program and DH maintains VIP status. Every little bit counts and they add up much faster than you'd think.

I hope this helps.

 

[calypso726]

I was filling DH in on all of the SPG scariness last night, and was explaining the nights and flights option. It's such an amazing deal if you can/want to stay in one place for 7 nights (we never have). We weren't planning on doing a long international trip this year, and aren't really in a position to do so because of shakeups at DH's job. But nervousness about the future of my SPG points set in, so I started Googling hotels in various categories to get some ideas. I had a very strong urge to just turn in all of our points for AS miles and a Cat 9 certificate, and book a stay at the JW Marriott in Venice. It's on its own private island!!! I snapped out of it and didn't make a move, but I was sooooo tempted at midnight last night.

Thank you! I needed an idea on what to do with the certificate. A trip to Venice sounds awesome! After our ABD Italy trip I was regretting not adding a post stay in Venice and have been wanting to go back again. Now, where to squeeze in that trip

Some of my best churning moves are made after midnight...trust your gut

HAHA!

Or at least close to midnight. It seems I posted around 11 pm last night after making the transfer

I'm a night owl, so I make way better decisions at night than first thing in the morning when I think it's a crime that I have to be awake and functioning. But when it comes to churning, I need to think, rethink, think again, and change my mind five times!

I did the same thing and finally decided that I wouldn't lose anything by making the transfer and would still be able to get great value from the transfer.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

General knowledge says Chase will deny her for not having her own credit card history of at least 6 months, preferably 1 year. Being an AU gets her in the credit bureau system but Chase wants more than that. She'd be better off starting with Discover and then trying for a Chase card in 6 months to a year.

DH's first credit card in his own name was the CF. I put him on my Amex Everyday and Capitol One Quicksilver when we got married. About a year later, he applied for his CF and was approved instantly. He had no prior credit history, since he moved here from Canada.

 

[Ava]

I was filling DH in on all of the SPG scariness last night, and was explaining the nights and flights option. It's such an amazing deal if you can/want to stay in one place for 7 nights (we never have). We weren't planning on doing a long international trip this year, and aren't really in a position to do so because of shakeups at DH's job. But nervousness about the future of my SPG points set in, so I started Googling hotels in various categories to get some ideas. I had a very strong urge to just turn in all of our points for AS miles and a Cat 9 certificate, and book a stay at the JW Marriott in Venice. It's on its own private island!!! I snapped out of it and didn't make a move, but I was sooooo tempted at midnight last night.

That hotel is now on the list for my very-hypothetical adults-only 10th anniversary trip to Italy in 2022. You arrive by gondola!

Marriott allowing you to book reward stays before you have the points in your account is dangerous for an indecisive person with Type A tendencies. I have two 8-night reservations on hold at different hotels for the same week next February; we will really only stay 5 nights but I want to be able to pick the exact dates based on flight prices. I also have a reservation in Niagara Falls for this Sept that I'm 95% sure we won't use, but am holding onto just in case. This hobby has taken over my brain, lol.

 

[gottalovepluto]

DH's first credit card in his own name was the CF. I put him on my Amex Everyday and Capitol One Quicksilver when we got married. About a year later, he applied for his CF and was approved instantly. He had no prior credit history, since he moved here from Canada.

Was this within the last 2 years?

 

[gottalovepluto]

I used a support link ( @wendow , I think) and am not sure my $500 fee free dollars ever came though. Where do you see them?

Have you made $500 in payments yet? I think this is a bit of a recent-ish change that happened maybe when they increased the promo? I was reading DoC's referral page and that seems to be how it works now as the part about getting FFDs after $500 in payments are sent is underlined.

*I'm going to note this on my plastiq link, just a reminder to everyone else to jot a note down on this too so people know they have to first make $500 in payments before getting FFDs.

 

[DisneyMandC]

That hotel is now on the list for my very-hypothetical adults-only 10th anniversary trip to Italy in 2022. You arrive by gondola!

Marriott allowing you to book reward stays before you have the points in your account is dangerous for an indecisive person with Type A tendencies. I have two 8-night reservations on hold at different hotels for the same week next February; we will really only stay 5 nights but I want to be able to pick the exact dates based on flight prices. I also have a reservation in Niagara Falls for this Sept that I'm 95% sure we won't use, but am holding onto just in case. This hobby has taken over my brain, lol.

Between hotels.com and Marriott's site, I have 11 different hotel stays booked for this year...

 

[peel]

Thank you! I needed an idea on what to do with the certificate. A trip to Venice sounds awesome! After our ABD Italy trip I was regretting not adding a post stay in Venice and have been wanting to go back again. Now, where to squeeze in that trip

That hotel is now on the list for my very-hypothetical adults-only 10th anniversary trip to Italy in 2022. You arrive by gondola!

You guys!!! This was supposed to be a pipe dream post, but now that you're both looking to go I think I need to make this happen!

 

[Albort]

huh, turns out there is a way to check to see if you earned starwood points or not for each transaction...

my last bloomingdale purchase didnt get points, i guess bloomingdale does level3 data.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

Was this within the last 2 years?

Yes, DH got his CF on 12/04/2016.

 

[speedyfishy]

I totally just burned my MS location. I think I’ll be paying my rent with a credit card to meet this last 5k in spend on SO’s SPG Biz. The fee is $55 for 1750 in rent. SO thinks plastiq is sketchy so I’m not allowed to use that. He thinks if the payment is late we would be kicked out of our apartment and living on the streets. I told him there are eviction laws and that won’t happen.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

I totally just burned my MS location. I think I’ll be paying my rent with a credit card to meet this last 5k in spend on SO’s SPG Biz. The fee is $55 for 1750 in rent. SO thinks plastiq is sketchy so I’m not allowed to use that. He thinks if the payment is late we would be kicked out of our apartment and living on the streets. I told him there are eviction laws and that won’t happen.

Some eviction laws are better for renters and some are better for landlords. Where do you live?