I love credit cards so much!

[hsmamato2]

@Albort is right and @platamama has the right idea They seem desperate to keep people from cancelling. Call in and try for retention, if no go the first time HUCA. Express your disappointment in them adding a free night but you not getting it this year...hopefully they'll give you an offer worth keeping it open Then next year you can collect your free night. It is a bummer the way you fall on the calendar there though.

Well, I'm asking for my bro, he and wifey got one each and its their anniversary month. They wondered about this, and thank you for the answer. It stinks, b/c it's so not worth them keeping for another year on this schedule,and I know for sure my DSIL won't be calling. Now let me see if I've got this right, If an AF date comes BEFORE Aug. 1, you have to wait till next years AF for the free night, but If my AF date fall on,say, Aug.15, I'll get a free night THIS year? So I should just advise bro to either call for an offer/cancel at this point due to bad timing(?) that's paying 2 AF for ONE free night!

 

[Jaime4004]

Sorry if I missed this discussion, but I'm only finding the bonus for Amex SPG biz for a statement credit!? Just found out DH wants to do the star wars race next April and I had a grand plan of trying for the swolphin for as many free nights as I could get with both of us opening Amex SPG biz. That just killed my plan. Anyone have any inside info? I'm at 4/24 (waiting for another AU to come off credit report) and want to get the SW biz next month so I'm avoiding chase for now...

 

[hsmamato2]

I was trying to plan ahead and get the cat 7 cert at the current price to use on the Westin once they finish the merger in a few months. It seems that my cat 7 cert may only be good on properties that are 35k/nt, so that won't work. I am probably just going to book the Westin and be done with it. If SW releases flights then we will go, and if not I can cancel the room.

I hear ya. Planning is a bit easier with good cancel policies!

 

[1st*toright]

So I'm now done with my SPG spend, and was planning to just hang, but I've got some expenses coming up and have capacity to be working on a MSR, sooooo....

I'm at 2/24 (last app was SPG Biz back in March. I also have a CIP that I got in February).
DH is 1/24 (only has a SW Biz in addition to his 1, last app was in 2017)

We seem to have lots of runway. I think I'm going to try to concentrate on UR earning cards, so I'm trying to decide between referring DH to a CIP (no spending advantage, since I already have one, but nice bonus) or getting him a CIC (the 5x office supply/gift card avenue is appealing). Or I could pull the trigger on a Freedom (again, would be nice to be earning on our regular spend).

Everyone seems to be on the CIC train, but maybe that isn't so urgent? Maybe do that one for now (3k in spend won't take long) for DH now?

 

[Disneyonmymind]

I had DH trapped in a long car ride last evening so I started telling him about the recent forum discussion of how most players have a P2 that is resistant to varying degrees. I thought he would relate but, guess what, he didn’t find it the least bit interesting, haha. So i showed mercy and ended the topic with “I think I will apply for a new business card this week”.... “that’s nice” was his reply.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Hmm... ZERO experience with Hyatt for this purpose but can you
1) call and make a res for what you want
2) make the rez you want then call and delete a night
IDK if any of that is even possible but it’s what I’d look into.

I booked Friday to Monday and will try to cancel Friday later

 

[3 DD love princesses]

Oh my, really??? What do I say to them? "I see my fee hit. I'd like to close the account and have the fee refunded." I did dummy up on DH's SW card. They even offered to waive the fee and we just adamantly said we wanted to close it. I don't know what I was thinking. I know I was thinking something at the time, but still ... dummied up.

I just called and asked them to move my credit to my CIP and then canceled the card.

That’s good to hear... I’m going to apply for the CIC and then CSR. I’m still on the fence about double dipping the CSP and CSR.

Remember the one sapphire rule so I’d go for the double dip so you don’t have to wait 24 mo before getting the bonus.

 

[hsmamato2]

is anyone here buying gift of prime for another year and applying it to your Amazon acct later? I'm debating doing this,but my 'year' doesn't end till end of Oct......

 

[3 DD love princesses]

So just remembered DH was an au on my sw personal and business cards over the last two years. Both accounts are closed. How will this affect him in applying and getting the bonus

 

[Judique]

Well, I'm asking for my bro, he and wifey got one each and its their anniversary month. They wondered about this, and thank you for the answer. It stinks, b/c it's so not worth them keeping for another year on this schedule,and I know for sure my DSIL won't be calling. Now let me see if I've got this right, If an AF date comes BEFORE Aug. 1, you have to wait till next years AF for the free night, but If my AF date fall on,say, Aug.15, I'll get a free night THIS year? So I should just advise bro to either call for an offer/cancel at this point due to bad timing(?) that's paying 2 AF for ONE free night!

In some cases , yes, it is like paying the annual fee twice for one free night.

Especially if they just signed up for the card in the last year to get the bonus and were intending to cancel anyway. This doesn't sound like your relatives.

No one was actually expecting to get a free night from the SPG card. (Well, I should say not many were expecting it.) I've had the card for almost 20 years and never got a free night, except during the hotel rewards programs promos some of which used to be really nice. It's been a keeper card for me and the bonuses also helped. I've gotten over $500 in bonus money, including doing my last $25 off $75 for Chewy yesterday. It was also one of @calypso726 's keeper cards in the past at least before the devaluation.

If I remember correctly (cause I hate trying to dig back to find the info) @calypso726 received 10K points after a long call. I think I'm going to call today. I'm not going to cancel. Because I'm happy to actually get the free night next year. But, I just realized my anniversary is March not January (old age) and I'd like to be able to book that night in January. And 10K is essentially a free night or maybe more depending on the hotel. Too good not to try.

I'll let everyone know if I get any points.

 

[wendow]

So just remembered DH was an au on my sw personal and business cards over the last two years. Both accounts are closed. How will this affect him in applying and getting the bonus

he is fine to get the bonus. Being an AU'er doesn't stop you from getting your own card with the bonus .

 

[DisneyMandC]

I am very torn on whether this card deserves an audible in our strategy at this point or not. The CIC is part of the plan but not this early... I REALLY want to go for this bonus...but it could displace too many pieces in my strategy.

I'm still at 19/24 right now. The plan for us is to have my wife get the next 4-5 cards since she will soon be 0/24:
Apr 2018: CIP (done - halfway through MSR)
Jun 2018: Max out the UR earning on our 4 CF cards for the quarter using Paypal (waiting until then in case an emergency comes up and I end up needing to do this organically).
Jul 2018: CSR/CSP double dip. This is placed here strategically as $2,400 in property taxes will help with the $8k. PLUS I want to book our Disney trip in Sept/Oct and need the CSR to activate that 1.5x multiplier on all of our URs.
Oct/Nov 2018: CIC (or new CIU)
Jan 2019: new SW card
Feb 2019: I'm now under 5/24 and we have me hit CIP

So if you want a little insight into my complicated churning brain (where I overthink everything): IF I try for a CIP in May...I now have gotten 2 new chase cards in 2 months...and a double dip is out of the question for awhile. PLUS...2 biz card apps in 45 days...do I really want to run that fast after we waited 20+ months to get here. Then I'm not sure I'd want to double dip until Oct to keep in Chase's good graces (I don't want to be a 4 cards in 6 month person...). The remaining spend on my CIP and the MSR on the CIC isn't enough to cover the organic spending I'll have between now and Oct so I'll end up "wasting" spend on non sign-up bonus activity (which basically goes against everything I stand for in this game, lol). I also want to have that CSR when Disney releases discounts so I can get things booked, I should have it in time...but there is risk there too. With the amount of URs I'm planning to use on this trip, not having a CSR when booking could cost me $500-$750. There's probably more factors than this but...I need to sleep now.

I will probably spend hours of my life considering this now...haha!

EDIT: I'm also realizing that a big chunk of our organic spending each year was buying GCs for our January Disney trip in Oct-Dec. Well...this year's trip won't cost anything so I won't have that spend, haha! That's a good problem to have I guess

I could understand if you waited, particularly since you don't really have an immediate need for those URs and you have a more pressing need for the CSR. I probably wouldn't go for it except that I can push DH's double dip out to September/October now that I know I can book my 2019 Disney trip with Disney and transfer it and not need all the URs right up front.

 

[Disneyonmymind]

I am very torn on whether this card deserves an audible in our strategy at this point or not. The CIC is part of the plan but not this early... I REALLY want to go for this bonus...but it could displace too many pieces in my strategy.

I'm still at 19/24 right now. The plan for us is to have my wife get the next 4-5 cards since she will soon be 0/24:
Apr 2018: CIP (done - halfway through MSR)
Jun 2018: Max out the UR earning on our 4 CF cards for the quarter using Paypal (waiting until then in case an emergency comes up and I end up needing to do this organically).
Jul 2018: CSR/CSP double dip. This is placed here strategically as $2,400 in property taxes will help with the $8k. PLUS I want to book our Disney trip in Sept/Oct and need the CSR to activate that 1.5x multiplier on all of our URs.
Oct/Nov 2018: CIC (or new CIU)
Jan 2019: new SW card
Feb 2019: I'm now under 5/24 and we have me hit CIP

So if you want a little insight into my complicated churning brain (where I overthink everything): IF I try for a CIP in May...I now have gotten 2 new chase cards in 2 months...and a double dip is out of the question for awhile. PLUS...2 biz card apps in 45 days...do I really want to run that fast after we waited 20+ months to get here. Then I'm not sure I'd want to double dip until Oct to keep in Chase's good graces (I don't want to be a 4 cards in 6 month person...). The remaining spend on my CIP and the MSR on the CIC isn't enough to cover the organic spending I'll have between now and Oct so I'll end up "wasting" spend on non sign-up bonus activity (which basically goes against everything I stand for in this game, lol). I also want to have that CSR when Disney releases discounts so I can get things booked, I should have it in time...but there is risk there too. With the amount of URs I'm planning to use on this trip, not having a CSR when booking could cost me $500-$750. There's probably more factors than this but...I need to sleep now.

I will probably spend hours of my life considering this now...haha!

EDIT: I'm also realizing that a big chunk of our organic spending each year was buying GCs for our January Disney trip in Oct-Dec. Well...this year's trip won't cost anything so I won't have that spend, haha! That's a good problem to have I guess

That is a dilemma. I want to know what you decide (and why )

I cannot believe you are 19/24 (lol/24 for real!!) and will be under in less than a year. That is crazy!

I agree. This is crazy! How is it even possible?

 

[kmc8826]

I need Saturday and Sunday night. Hyatt is telling me they have award night for Sunday, but not Saturday thus I can’t book 25-27th. However, if you include Friday in the search (fri-sat-sun) award stay is available. So can’t book Saturday, or Saturday and Sunday, but can book Friday-Saturday-Sunday or just Sunday. Weird.

I know with my Hyatt Maui reward reservation it actually was in their system as 2 separate reservations. That was the only way to do it and get the free rooms and then the rooms on points. We didn’t have to change rooms though just the set up was two different reservation numbers. Good luck!

In some cases , yes, it is like paying the annual fee twice for one free night.

Especially if they just signed up for the card in the last year to get the bonus and were intending to cancel anyway. This doesn't sound like your relatives.

No one was actually expecting to get a free night from the SPG card. (Well, I should say not many were expecting it.) I've had the card for almost 20 years and never got a free night, except during the hotel rewards programs promos some of which used to be really nice. It's been a keeper card for me and the bonuses also helped. I've gotten over $500 in bonus money, including doing my last $25 off $75 for Chewy yesterday. It was also one of @calypso726 's keeper cards in the past at least before the devaluation.

If I remember correctly (cause I hate trying to dig back to find the info) @calypso726 received 10K points after a long call. I think I'm going to call today. I'm not going to cancel. Because I'm happy to actually get the free night next year. But, I just realized my anniversary is March not January (old age) and I'd like to be able to book that night in January. And 10K is essentially a free night or maybe more depending on the hotel. Too good not to try.

I'll let everyone know if I get any points.

I got the 7000 SPG points with a $500 spend. It was a short call. I think a couple people have gotten that.

 

[havaneselover]

We stayed at a Westin (SPG property) near Stanley Park pre cruise and post cruise for our Alaska DCL cruise in 2014. Some of the things we did: We got a horse and carriage tour of Stanley Park, we went to the Capilano suspension bridge, Grouse Mountain gondoloa. We experienced Fly Over Canada which is like Soarin' at Epcot only much longer and executed better. We did a walking tour with Forbidden Vancouver which was a lot of fun! I love these types of walking tours. We chose Lost Souls of Gastown.

https://forbiddenvancouver.ca/?utm_expid=.p_lO-RZrTt-VTk4Fs_h-xg.0&utm_referrer=https://www.google.com/



Our friends that are going with us to China this month were also with us for the Alaska cruise. I don't like hot dogs and neither does my friend. However, somehow eating hot dogs while traveling out of the country has become a "thing" for us. Japadog was awesome! The four of us went to Japadog and literally ordered "one of each" and Japa then became a prefix for nearly everything after that experience. We were Japaexcited, everything was Japalicious and afterwards we were Japastuffed! Four years later and our group still talks to each other that way. It was a great bonding experience. Here is a before and after:

View attachment 321451

View attachment 321452

I'm planning on doing the horse tour in Stanley Park (& the aquarium). Did you enjoy it? My mom is joining us and she's in her mid-70s so I thought this was a good way for her to get to see the park. The kids and I are also planning on doing Capilano and Grouse Mountain but now you have me wanting to do Fly Over Canada. I wonder if UR has that as an activity.

 

[Disneyonmymind]

I'm forever getting the 30 day message. Never been auto approved for Chase!!


It's a (non)-spendy night around here. Just booked DH and I two tickets to Tulsa for this August. Used his ticket credit he had on his account to book his ticket for free, and he had enough points to pay for my ticket- $720 in flights for $11 taxes and fees for my ticket! Four nights in a Marriott are booked for 30,000 points. DH is currently booking our rental car from Hertz which we'll only pay $37 for. This trip is very pricey for us with horse expenses so these savings are soooo helpful for us as everything else will need to be paid in cash.

And on top of that, I booked our MVMCP tickets for November 8 on Disney gift cards I earned for free!

Sounds like you know what you’re doing!! I have to ask. How did you get a car for $37 -for how many days? I have very little experience renting cars but I need one this summer for 10 day road trip. I booked one on Costco for now but I don’t know if there are better options or if I can get a good deal using UR.

 

[amalone1013]

Do you think it would be risky to transfer Chase UR points from my in laws account to DHs? Their terms say household member.. We live with them currently, it's been DHs permanent address his whole life (and 6 years since he used an address in his college town) and all 4 of us have had Chase credit cards at the same address for about a year and a half. I just had a thought brewing...

 

[amalone1013]

Last night I got home and had a SW card mailer for the regular 40k points offer... but the funniest part was that it was for the Plus, which is what i have already.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Sounds like you know what you’re doing!! I have to ask. How did you get a car for $37 -for how many days? I have very little experience renting cars but I need one this summer for 10 day road trip. I booked one on Costco for now but I don’t know if there are better options or if I can get a good deal using UR.

The rental car actually can't be attributed to churning. My DH used to travel a lot for work so he had some Hertz points built up from that. I know you can use URs to book cars though, but it may be better to transfer URs to a car rental company and book that way. Maybe someone else can chime in on that? I do think Costco is as good as it gets as far as the cash price for cars.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Do you think it would be risky to transfer Chase UR points from my in laws account to DHs? Their terms say household member.. We live with them currently, it's been DHs permanent address his whole life (and 6 years since he used an address in his college town) and all 4 of us have had Chase credit cards at the same address for about a year and a half. I just had a thought brewing...

I don't see why it would be. They are a household member, after all.