I love credit cards so much!

[pinkxray]

Can you get the Marriott premier + or Marriott Biz?

I am very tempted to but I’m also afraid to keep getting new Chase cards.
I’m 4/12 plus the CIP

 

[Lain]

I know what you mean. I also think of UR points as more valuable. In many ways they are. EVen though the Amex Plat business card gets you 50% of your points back (1.54 per point value) when paying for travel, you still have to have 100% of the points needed and then have to wait weeks to get your 50% back.

I think you’re still in denial that Amex cut the rebate down to 35%.

 

[afan]

I'm thinking maybe @afan is talking about the grocery store named Fred's, not Fred Meyer? Maybe? I dunno, I haven't used my BCP at FM in at least a year because I got burned early on and learned my lesson. LOL! But maybe it's changed? That would be great!

Fred's is Fred Meyer, don't know any other Fred's. And it posts as grocery to my Delta Biz Amex and my Discover. It's possible it depends on the store/region. I'm south of Seattle so for sure a different area than Oregon and probably didfferent from SW WA if we are just talking Fred's and not Kroger as a whole.

 

[Lain]

I'm just really attracted to offers/cards that may be going away (forbidden fruit thing lol). Surest way to get me to apply for a card is to start a rumor it won't be available anymore. I see the CIC as 50k UR I can never, ever get my hands on again if I don't do it by 5/20. And that makes me want it...!

Ah, that’s basically my last two cards: the MB Plat and personal SPG 30k. Both personal cards that will count towards 5/24! I’ll still be under 5/24, but I’m hoping to squeeze in a CIC app while it looks like I’m 2/24 before Amex reports either to my credit report.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

DD18’s car died last week beyond repair.
So I’m at the dealership and they are allowing me to pay $3k on a cc no fee and the rest I have to write a check for. I’ll take it! That’s $3k for Amex min spend!

 

[spacerangerqueen]

I'm so excited! I just booked round-trip tickets to LAX for my son's 4th birthday on Southwest entirely with points. I was floored when I compared the cash price and saw how much I saved. Now I'm even more addicted to this.

So I've been silently following along with this thread (or trying to!) since my last posts. I decided I couldn't pass up the 30k SPG personal offer so I am currently working on that MSR. I will probably be using those points for our hotel in Anaheim.

Now I'm eyeing the CIC before it potentially goes away. I'd love to pick up some Disney GCs at 5x for our trip. I'm currently 3/24 (but plan to remove myself as an AU on DHs JetBlue card now that I have discovered I don't get the free bag or points rebate if he's not flying) I got the SPG personal on 4/16 am I ok to apply for the CIC next week?

Random question, I bought something through the UR shopping portal. When and where do those points show up?

Thanks guys!

 

[speedyfishy]

Has anyone been a platinum or gold SPG memeber and stayed at the Swolphin? What kind of perks did you get? I’m thinking about it for my next trip to World.

 

[pillow]

I have an odd plastiq strategy question for anyone who might know the answer. I'm a tad bit obsessed with hitting 50 Marriott nights to get Platinum status. I'm counting 41 for the year including upcoming stays + the consolidation with SPG. I'm considering trying to get the remaining 9 nights by doing 9 x $3K on my Marriott Business card. Its possible I could fit a few more award stays in before year end, so I may only have to do 6 or 7 x $3K. Either way, its a lot of spend, and its not worth it to me if I have to incur tons of fees. I'd already be giving up any opportunity cost cash back/points I'd have from charging to another (better) card. So keeping fees low is key.

#1 - Am I nuts? We plan to travel quite a bit in 2019, and I think we would enjoy the free breakfasts, lounge, and suite certs at the Platinum level.

#2 - How to hit the spend? I ordered AU cards on the Marriott Busn account for DH and both kids (18, 20) to use for general non category spend. Also, I will refer each kid to Plastiq (and each of my parents). Should get me $4k in free spend on Plastiq that I could pay with the card. Then kids could use their AU cards on their respective Plastiq accounts for more fee free spend (I know I'll incur the fee on their first $500 pmt). What I'm giving up is paying with DH's plastiq account which has his CIP linked - so 3x UR. But he has no FFD remaining, so we are incurring 2.5% for all CIP payments.

My question is this: Will there be any red flags that go up at Plastiq given that the Marriott cards are the same account - even though they are owned by the authorized user? Does that make sense?

 

[vanjust14]

Hey everyone! Just want to say hello, I am back from a cruise and trying to catch up but still 34 pages behind! So far I'm seeing talk of the new marriott card, BBY GC to GC not working (boo), and now I have Enrique Iglesias-Hero in my head with my mental picture of what @SouthFayetteFan looks like...at 34 and not 65,

 

[calypso726]

I think you’re still in denial that Amex cut the rebate down to 35%.

OMG! I think you’re right! That’s the second or third time I’ve written that knowing I meant 35% and getting the value right which of course doesn’t match. I will go edit that and thanks

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

Just called about cancelling my Marriott Rewards card. I am kind of on the fence about cancelling. I didn't get a good upgrade offer for the new card. When I called, they didn't give me any retention offer so I eventually said I would think about it and call back. What are the chances of getting a retention offer if I call back later this month? I have until the 30th to cancel and get my annual fee refunded. My thought is that if they would waive the annual fee or even reduce it, then I would keep the card until next year. Then I would cancel and apply for the new Marriott card, since I would be eligible for a bonus again.

 

[1st*toright]

Has anyone been a platinum or gold SPG memeber and stayed at the Swolphin? What kind of perks did you get? I’m thinking about it for my next trip to World.

Stayed at the Swan when I was SPG platinum last year. Got upgraded to a suite (probably an executive suite? Was a regular king room with a connecting door to a living room w. 6 or 8 person dining area and a wet bar. Also 2nd bath in the "living room" half of the room). View was of the courtyard between the 2 hotels. It was nice!

Also, we got free continental breakfast at Garden Grove (say good morning to Goofy!) with an upgrade to the full hot breakfast buffet for another $7? per person.

We really liked the location- lots of wandering over to Epcot, taking the boat to Hollywood Sudios etc.

We are staying there again in a couple of weeks - the boats won't be running due to refurbishment, and I'm now Gold status instead of Platinum. My understanding is that Gold doesn't get you much with SPG - no free breakfast, and I don't think upgrades are as common. Its not an actual Sheraton, so no lounge access (if there even is a lounge) with the SPG Biz. The most I'm hoping for is maybe late checkout (although that tends to be limited at resort properties too).

 

[speedyfishy]

Am I nuts? We plan to travel quite a bit in 2019, and I think we would enjoy the free breakfasts, lounge, and suite certs at the Platinum level.

#2 - How to hit the spend? I ordered AU cards on the Marriott Busn account for DH and both kids (18, 20) to use for general non category spend. Also, I will refer each kid to Plastiq (and each of my parents). Should get me $4k in free spend on Plastiq that I could pay with the card. Then kids could use their AU cards on their respective Plastiq accounts for more fee free spend (I know I'll incur the fee on their first $500 pmt). What I'm giving up is paying with DH's plastiq account which has his CIP linked - so 3x UR. But he has no FFD remaining, so we are incurring 2.5% for all CIP payments.

I don’t think you are crazy to go for Platinum. I’m thinking when my status runs out to MS it too.

Are you willing to MS? A PNC checking and savings is 4k and then a BMO (checking, savings and money market is 3k)

Idk how to help out with the Plastiq questions, but if you can just fund the bank accounts and leave the Plastiq on ur CIP that maybe better.

 

[amalone1013]

DD18’s car died last week beyond repair.
So I’m at the dealership and they are allowing me to pay $3k on a cc no fee and the rest I have to write a check for. I’ll take it! That’s $3k for Amex min spend!

I told DH that he gets to ask that as we car shop

 

[speedyfishy]

Stayed at the Swan when I was SPG platinum last year. Got upgraded to a suite (probably an executive suite? Was a regular king room with a connecting door to a living room w. 6 or 8 person dining area and a wet bar. Also 2nd bath in the "living room" half of the room). View was of the courtyard between the 2 hotels. It was nice!

Also, we got free continental breakfast at Garden Grove (say good morning to Goofy!) with an upgrade to the full hot breakfast buffet for another $7? per person.

We really liked the location- lots of wandering over to Epcot, taking the boat to Hollywood Sudios etc.

We are staying there again in a couple of weeks - the boats won't be running due to refurbishment, and I'm now Gold status instead of Platinum. My understanding is that Gold doesn't get you much with SPG - no free breakfast, and I don't think upgrades are as common. Its not an actual Sheraton, so no lounge access (if there even is a lounge) with the SPG Biz. The most I'm hoping for is maybe late checkout (although that tends to be limited at resort properties too).

Thank you! This is great, I’d love a suite upgrade and free breakfast. I’m thinking of going March 2019 so the boats should be up and running.

 

[pillow]

Just called about cancelling my Marriott Rewards card. I am kind of on the fence about cancelling. I didn't get a good upgrade offer for the new card. When I called, they didn't give me any retention offer so I eventually said I would think about it and call back. What are the chances of getting a retention offer if I call back later this month? I have until the 30th to cancel and get my annual fee refunded. My thought is that if they would waive the annual fee or even reduce it, then I would keep the card until next year. Then I would cancel and apply for the new Marriott card, since I would be eligible for a bonus again.

Do you have your 15 credit card reward nights already? If you care about that, I would wait to cancel. I'm kicking myself for canceling my card back in January (I tried to reinstate but they wouldn't). Those 15 nights would have pushed me up to 50 for the year (to get Platinum status), and I wouldn't have to go through the gyrations I posted above to hit 50 nights. Also, you might want to wait until the last minute to see if any Marriott/SPG hotels get recategorized so that the Marriott free night is more attractive. I'm not optimistic about this, but you never know. Of course, that is predicated on the new awards chart coming out before your deadline.

 

[pillow]

We are staying there again in a couple of weeks - the boats won't be running due to refurbishment, and I'm now Gold status instead of Platinum. My understanding is that Gold doesn't get you much with SPG - no free breakfast, and I don't think upgrades are as common. Its not an actual Sheraton, so no lounge access (if there even is a lounge) with the SPG Biz. The most I'm hoping for is maybe late checkout (although that tends to be limited at resort properties too).

We stayed as Gold and got zippo.

 

[1st*toright]

I have an odd plastiq strategy question for anyone who might know the answer. I'm a tad bit obsessed with hitting 50 Marriott nights to get Platinum status. I'm counting 41 for the year including upcoming stays + the consolidation with SPG. I'm considering trying to get the remaining 9 nights by doing 9 x $3K on my Marriott Business card. Its possible I could fit a few more award stays in before year end, so I may only have to do 6 or 7 x $3K. Either way, its a lot of spend, and its not worth it to me if I have to incur tons of fees. I'd already be giving up any opportunity cost cash back/points I'd have from charging to another (better) card. So keeping fees low is key.

#1 - Am I nuts? We plan to travel quite a bit in 2019, and I think we would enjoy the free breakfasts, lounge, and suite certs at the Platinum level.

#2 - How to hit the spend? I ordered AU cards on the Marriott Busn account for DH and both kids (18, 20) to use for general non category spend. Also, I will refer each kid to Plastiq (and each of my parents). Should get me $4k in free spend on Plastiq that I could pay with the card. Then kids could use their AU cards on their respective Plastiq accounts for more fee free spend (I know I'll incur the fee on their first $500 pmt). What I'm giving up is paying with DH's plastiq account which has his CIP linked - so 3x UR. But he has no FFD remaining, so we are incurring 2.5% for all CIP payments.

My question is this: Will there be any red flags that go up at Plastiq given that the Marriott cards are the same account - even though they are owned by the authorized user? Does that make sense?

Sounds like you have a good plan - no help on the Plastiq part of this, but I don't think you're crazy to shoot for new platinum status. I'm working on that myself. I was platinum last year, and it is a lot more valuable than gold - true now, even more true after the plan changes. Keep your eyes open for random good promotions too - esp. around holidays and really slow periods. I was able to pay for <$100 night stay at an airport hotel and got 5000 bonus points, stacked with a megabonus promotion that meant that by paying like $90, I got a night plus just about enough points for another award stay. Not something you'd want to do often, but if you are stuck for the last night or two, it can help.

 

[wendow]

I told DH that he gets to ask that as we car shop

I kept getting an offer on my Amex cards for $200 back after a $1000 at Autonation. So, made me think they may allow some of the purchase on a CC.

Schomp Honda in Littleton allows none. However, we've bought every vehicle we've had dating back to 2002. So, we bought from them again last year. I just love their CS and fairness.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

Do you have your 15 credit card reward nights already? If you care about that, I would wait to cancel. I'm kicking myself for canceling my card back in January (I tried to reinstate but they wouldn't). Those 15 nights would have pushed me up to 50 for the year (to get Platinum status), and I wouldn't have to go through the gyrations I posted above to hit 50 nights. Also, you might want to wait until the last minute to see if any Marriott/SPG hotels get recategorized so that the Marriott free night is more attractive. I'm not optimistic about this, but you never know. Of course, that is predicated on the new awards chart coming out before your deadline.

I got the 15 nights and the free night certificate that I plan to use at the end of the month.

As of now, I have 15 nights with Marriott and 10 with SPG. I have plans to stay another 9 nights at SPG and 3 nights with Marriott as of now. But this will probably change as I add more work trips to my schedule. Once the programs merge in August, I would need another 13 nights to get to Platinum status, which may or may not happen depending on work travel.

But Since I already got the 15 nights, this doesn't really play into my reasons for cancelling the card.