I love credit cards so much!

[SouthFayetteFan]

What is the conventional wisdom when it comes to annual fees? Pay them or cancel the card before it hits?

Do you have specific cards with AF coming up soon? Which ones the recomendation will vary by card

 

[disneedee]

It may appear different on mobile. On a desktop site it's right at the top. Here's a link: https://www.reddit.com/r/DISchurners/wiki/index

Al kinds of good info. Ty again. And yes I am on an iPad. Can not access reddit at work

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I think the flight/night packages are the best redemptions of Marriott points until we see what they roll out later this year; I expect the packages to be impacted by the merger.

Currently you can transfer 70K Marriott points for 25K miles, or 140K Marriott points for 50K SWRR if all you're doing is a straight up transfer to SWRRs. Another way to look at the flight/night packages from this perspective is to look at the Marriott point cost a la carte, i.e. pricing the miles transfer separately from the nights redemption and adding them together. For 125K SWRR it would cost 350K Marriott points + 240K Marriott points for 1 week in a Cat 8 hotel. That comes to 590K Marriott points vs the 360K for a flight/night package (ok, granted you get an extra 5K SWRRs in this scenario). Or in other words, you get a week in a Cat 8 hotel for just 10K Marriott points using the travel package, or alternatively as you point out 120K SWRR for 120K Marriott points which is a savings of 230K Marriott points over a miles only transaction. I think that makes the package a tremendous deal.

The downside to a flight/night package is that it is for 7 consecutive nights, it's not like you get 240K Marriott points to use here and there at your choosing. And it's supposed to expire in a year, but anecdotally people call and get their certificates extended for free.

I'm hedging my bets right now and plan to redeem Marriott points for another Cat 1-5 SW package. That way I get the 120K SWRR now. In June, Marriott is supposed to be releasing their new category list for all Marriott and SPG properties (they have released a few already but not the full list). I've made reservations at Cat 8 properties I'm considering. You have to search based on using reward points, not cash, but you don't need the points in your account yet if it's a Marriott property. But you do need the points in your account for SPG properties, so that puts you in a pickle if you're thinking of transferring the 40K SPG points over to Marriott for the travel package because you won't know ahead of time which category the Sheraton or Westin will end up in. Unless you have enough SPG points to both transfer to Marriott and book the Sheraton or Westin, then you're pretty golden.

When the new category list comes out, I'll call to upgrade my Cat 1-5 certificate to whatever the new category is and pay with Marriott points or I'll change to a different property entirely. Those are my plans anyway.

Thank you. I think I want the Westin or Sheraton because the Marriott beach looks rocky. That complicates matters since they aren't categorized. Guess I might do like you and grab the cat 1-5 package so that is locked in at the current rate.

So a couple of thoughts
1) You should be able to book travel for others through UR portal - all the confirmation info would likely go to your husband though.
2) You could always transfer them back some other time when necessary. If they stop transfers we all fully expect that to be announced with some warning

What threw me is that I got a warning that this transfer was permanent and can't be transferred back. That made me think twice. So I could transfer them back to myself if I needed to?

The math is pretty simply - you're taking 40,000 SPG points (or 120,000 Marriott points) and turning them into 120,000 SW points. Since you have a bona-fide use for the nights it's purely that - transferring to airline at 1:1. (Now I will say if you weren't going to do 7 nights that can change this math slightly).

So those 120k Marriott points then turn into 120k SW points worth almost $1,800. You likely would NOT get $1,800 in value out of them as hotel points (that'd be like 1.5cpp and most people say Marriott points are worth between 0.7and 1cpp . The only reason I wouldn't do this is if you already have WAY more SW points than you need.

It is becoming more clear. Thank you!!!

I called Hilton Honors who could not help at all and told me to call the hotel. I did and explained my situation. There were no notes in the computer about my calling to cancel, etc but I did say "Honors records all calls correct? Because I called and I want that file pulled." That did it and my charge was reversed by a very nice woman. Always remember to check for weird charges like that after (or even planned) hotel stays!

How weird. Did you not notice the points going back into your account or not? When I cancel the points show back up immediately.

 

[DaveL]

Sounds correct to me, but consider this: As @havaneselover pointed out to me the other day, you can also use Chase Pay at Best Buy + the Swagbucks coupon (+ earn Best Buy rewards) for a larger discount . . .

Chase Pay 5%
Swagbucks 12%

Or if you have an Amex card, check for the Lowe's offer, which will net you 20% off Disney cards.

Edited - fixed Swagbucks % off - can't do math today . . .

There’s a 500 sb ($5 bonus) right now for every $50 purchase. A lot of us have been buying $50 Disney gift cards and getting $6 (12%) back for each one. If you have chase freedom and use chase pay you can get another 5% if that’s not maxed out. Plus you earn Best Buy rewards (at least 1%).

If you can get chase pay it shouldn’t matter. They are just scanning a qr code to pay. But this method is a hassle. But for 17% off it may be worth it.

Okay sorry to beat the dead horse just want to check one more thing to see if I understand this... I need about $400 so 8 * $50, Can the $5/$50 bonus be used 8 times? Can I use it back to back in 8 transactions in one day? Has anyone done this? Since its prob a post later promotion I want to make sure since I won't know it failed until its too late!

 

[GusGus16]

What is the conventional wisdom when it comes to annual fees? Pay them or cancel the card before it hits?

when AF hits, call for retention offer. If they offer something, keep it, it not, consider cancelling it.

Called tonight about my Chase SW premier card and received a 100 statement credit without spend, same retention that I received last year, I will be keeping the card. Plan to eventually cancel and go for a companion pass beginning of next year.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

r/churning rant that might get a laugh or 2...

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/c...cussion_thread_may_06_2018/dykguod/?context=3

Guy seems super upset by recent changes. I tried to bring some of the patented @SouthFayetteFan optimism to the table Life's good guys

 

[CyndiLouWho]

r/churning rant that might get a laugh or 2...

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/c...cussion_thread_may_06_2018/dykguod/?context=3

Guy seems super upset by recent changes. I tried to bring some of the patented @SouthFayetteFan optimism to the table Life's good guys

This is why I don’t read Reddit. Some of those guys are loony. We’re much more sane here besides the common love of a mouse. I like the comment further down about the Rolodex. And the reply from the guy who uses the rubber band from a bunch of asparagus

 

[Albort]

r/churning rant that might get a laugh or 2...

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/c...cussion_thread_may_06_2018/dykguod/?context=3

Guy seems super upset by recent changes. I tried to bring some of the patented @SouthFayetteFan optimism to the table Life's good guys

dont u love that bot?

 

[gottalovepluto]

Okay sorry to beat the dead horse just want to check one more thing to see if I understand this... I need about $400 so 8 * $50, Can the $5/$50 bonus be used 8 times? Can I use it back to back in 8 transactions in one day? Has anyone done this? Since its prob a post later promotion I want to make sure since I won't know it failed until its too late!

I’ve done 8 transactions in one day on multiple occasions. However, first I did one and waited to make sure it tracked. Check your receipt EACH TIME when doing multiples to make sure SB codes worked, toward the bottom it will say something about SB. Make sure you generate a new QR code for each purchase. (My SB is a few years old, we did have one case of a brand new SB account getting shutdown after a few BB purchases so consider getting your SB out ASAP.)

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

This is why I don’t read Reddit. Some of those guys are loony. We’re much more sane here besides the common love of a mouse. I like the comment further down about the Rolodex. And the reply from the guy who uses the rubber band from a bunch of asparagus

I have 2 rubber bands...one for my cards. One for wife's cards. LOL! I keep them in order of when we applied (matching our spreadsheet) so it's easy to locate one if necessary.

And yes...the negativity was strong with that one...if you can't handle some bad news on occasion this isn't the game for you. It's gonna come...the rules change and they always have. Just chase the moving target as best you can

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

r/churning rant that might get a laugh or 2...

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/c...cussion_thread_may_06_2018/dykguod/?context=3

Guy seems super upset by recent changes. I tried to bring some of the patented @SouthFayetteFan optimism to the table Life's good guys

Whoa - dude...I just got a super awesome response from the guy. I may have made his night The optimism appears to have won the day

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I have 2 rubber bands...one for my cards. One for wife's cards. LOL! I keep them in order of when we applied (matching our spreadsheet) so it's easy to locate one if necessary.

And yes...the negativity was strong with that one...if you can't handle some bad news on occasion this isn't the game for you. It's gonna come...the rules change and they always have. Just chase the moving target as best you can

I mean, have a melt down about 900 points and not being able to have your bachelor party in an airport lounge. Whatever.
My system is more random. Just a rubber band. Around a bunch of cards. In a dresser drawer. I sometimes shuffle through to find a card to use, they are in no particular order.

 

[Lain]

r/churning rant that might get a laugh or 2...

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/c...cussion_thread_may_06_2018/dykguod/?context=3

Guy seems super upset by recent changes. I tried to bring some of the patented @SouthFayetteFan optimism to the table Life's good guys

I laughed so hard then downvoted this idiot last night: https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/8hbj14/comment/dyim73i?st=JGVQ1IS0&sh=010880b4

Guy has less than 3 months of credit history, went for the CIC 50k, denied, which he complains threw off his entire plan to get the CIU 50k 30 days later, the CIP 100k in branch in the fall (so about 3 months after that), then refer himself for CIP #2 30 days later, then double dip CSP+CSR 3 months later.

Chase did him a favor denying him a card now instead of shutting him down completely a few months from now.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I laughed so hard then downvoted this idiot last night: https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/8hbj14/comment/dyim73i?st=JGVQ1IS0&sh=010880b4

Guy has less than 3 months of credit history, went for the CIC 50k, denied, which he complains threw off his entire plan to get the CIU 50k 30 days later, the CIP 100k in branch in the fall, then refer himself for CIP #2 30 days later, then double dip CSP+CSR 3 months later.

Chase did him a favor denying him a card now instead of shutting him completely a few months from now.

Wow! I know somebody like to reverse the phrase and say this game IS a sprint NOT a marathon... But with the new rules in play now it truly is a marathon. He's quite active on Reddit for having joined less than 4 weeks ago, haha! He's had 3 posts removed, and actually made 2 legit helpful posts. AND he has a ton of comments...it looks like he's already answering some questions too...which I'm not sure if a good thing for the people asking them, haha!

 

[Lain]

I mean, have a melt down about 900 points and not being able to have your bachelor party in an airport lounge. Whatever.
My system is more random. Just a rubber band. Around a bunch of cards. In a dresser drawer. I sometimes shuffle through to find a card to use, they are in no particular order.

What about calling Amex to complain about a Priority Pass restaurant being closed after their closing time? https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/c...cussion_thread_may_04_2018/dyh21yk/?context=3

I see OP came back to say that she didn’t understand how to read military time on the PP site.

 

[gottalovepluto]

What about calling Amex to complain about a Priority Pass restaurant being closed after their closing time? https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/c...cussion_thread_may_04_2018/dyh21yk/?context=3

I see OP came back to say that she didn’t understand how to read military time on the PP site.

On the bright side, I hope they learned how to read military time. It's never too late to learn!!
ETA: I felt so bad for them I dug up a YouTube video. I really hope they watch it!

 

[gottalovepluto]

I laughed so hard then downvoted this idiot last night: https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/8hbj14/comment/dyim73i?st=JGVQ1IS0&sh=010880b4

Guy has less than 3 months of credit history, went for the CIC 50k, denied, which he complains threw off his entire plan to get the CIU 50k 30 days later, the CIP 100k in branch in the fall (so about 3 months after that), then refer himself for CIP #2 30 days later, then double dip CSP+CSR 3 months later.

Chase did him a favor denying him a card now instead of shutting him down completely a few months from now.

I'm hyperventilating reading that plan. (And- they'd already been rejected by Chase 3 times in the last 6 months )

 

[wendow]

r/churning rant that might get a laugh or 2...

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/c...cussion_thread_may_06_2018/dykguod/?context=3

Guy seems super upset by recent changes. I tried to bring some of the patented @SouthFayetteFan optimism to the table Life's good guys

I love how you responded and how he responded back in appreciation. Says a lot about you

 

[wendow]

No sorry, you would need the 270k points (or whatever pts required for that level). The 120k math I was referencing was only on the “incremental” points required to take a “hotel only” booking and move to a nights and flights. If you have a specific Category in mind I’ll walk thru the math again.

Ok, I've completely misunderstood, which is not surprising to me in the least... ...So glad I can call upon you to help with the math once I decide if that is what I really want to do with my spg points. Once upon a time, I was going to use them for Swolphin, but not sure that is the best use now.

 

[wendow]

I laughed so hard then downvoted this idiot last night: https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/8hbj14/comment/dyim73i?st=JGVQ1IS0&sh=010880b4

Guy has less than 3 months of credit history, went for the CIC 50k, denied, which he complains threw off his entire plan to get the CIU 50k 30 days later, the CIP 100k in branch in the fall (so about 3 months after that), then refer himself for CIP #2 30 days later, then double dip CSP+CSR 3 months later.

Chase did him a favor denying him a card now instead of shutting him down completely a few months from now.

That is crazy! Wow, oh wow, reading his plan just made my spine tingle. We seem so tame and *boring* here on this thread. But that is all good cause, so far, none of us have been shut down and I hope that continues to be the trend.