I love credit cards so much!

[wendow]

That helps to take some of the sting out of the cost of doing business. Remember to change the credit card on file with your eBay account to the CIP before you get hit with the invoice for seller’s fees, so those charges can code 3x too.

Hanging my head in shame I still have a balance with ebay of about $150 from years ago when they had a promo where you sold an item and then they would refund the seller fees. You have to actually call and request the money...and I've just never done it...no clue why other than that I hate calling people so I just pushed it off.

 

[wendow]

Thanks! Guess I need to be patient. At least I have until Aug 18th now for the nights/flight package!

Don't the point prices go up Aug 1?

 

[mom2elal]

I just got a home equity loan. Not a HELOC as I can't stand the variable interest. I get on Credit Wise every week and check and the home equity loan is on there and counts under the 5/24. I am done with Chase so it is okay for me, but it is clearly being counted.

I'm way behind, sorry!

We got a HELOC in the last year and it is NOT being counted under 5/24. I was able to double dip the CSR/CSP a couple of months after closing the HELOC, when I was at 4/24 not counting the HELOC.

 

[Albort]

AC broke a few days ago, I wasn't sure who would check it out since it's their hot season. I somehow got one. Tried to work the plastiq angle but was denied lol

1500 spg points next month! Gosh that sounds so terrible.

 

[mom2elal]

Boo! Did you use your CSR? if so, did it code as travel for 3x? We have no MSR at the moment so trying to get the best point value.

I know you've already gotten to DL, but I just wanted add a data point for others reading that our max pass only coded at 1x on the CSR.

 

[wendow]

I'm way behind, sorry!

We got a HELOC in the last year and it is NOT being counted under 5/24. I was able to double dip the CSR/CSP a couple of months after closing the HELOC, when I was at 4/24 not counting the HELOC.

This is correct. A HELOC should not count against your */24. We took one out last year as well. Loans will show up on a CR, like a HELOC or car loan, but that doesn't mean they are counting towards your */24 number.

 

[magickingdomprincess]

Don't the point prices go up Aug 1?

I thought according to the DoC article you can book under the old pricing through 8/17...I could be reading it wrong though... I hope my points hit before the 31st to be safe. Still can't decide what to do... How about you?

 

[wendow]

I thought according to the DoC article you can book under the old pricing through 8/17...I could be reading it wrong though... I hope my points hit before the 31st to be safe. Still can't decide what to do... How about you?

You could be right; I didn't read that and haven't been on DoC for a few days. I hope that is the case though!

I already pulled the trigger We bought a cat 6 package a few days ago. I'm still wondering though if I made the right decision...not in buying...but did I buy the right category. If I am struggling to use it, maybe I should have just bought the cat 1-5 but I had enough points for a cat 9 so maybe I should have done that to have all possibilities open lol. So much confusion over these stinking packages!!

After the blog post @calypso726 posted, I feel hopeful that Marriott will just refund the certs in points. Their reasoning made a lot of sense to me.

ETA: Just read the article you are referring to on DoC. I read it the same as you, which is great news for those still on the fence!

 

[wendow]

So, since the official merger date for Marriott and SPG has been moved to 8/18, does that mean spg biz still gets lounge access until then?

 

[magickingdomprincess]

You could be right; I didn't read that and haven't been on DoC for a few days. I hope that is the case though!

I already pulled the trigger We bought a cat 6 package a few days ago. I'm still wondering though if I made the right decision...not in buying...but did I buy the right category. If I am struggling to use it, maybe I should have just bought the cat 1-5 but I had enough points for a cat 9 so maybe I should have done that to have all possibilities open lol. So much confusion over these stinking packages!!

After the blog post @calypso726 posted, I feel hopeful that Marriott will just refund the certs in points. Their reasoning made a lot of sense to me.

ETA: Just read the article you are referring to on DoC. I read it the same as you, which is great news for those still on the fence!

Good!! Thought I might have been way off. I read the blog post too and it does seem to make a lot of sense to convert to points but who knows. I tried to math all of my options out but the option that seemed to make the most economic sense was attaching cert to a cat 5 hotel at DL (courtyard anaheim convention center), but not sure I really want to stay 7 nights or even if I'd want to do to DL over Wdw next summer. Really I'd like the points to use the points to help with Swolphin next Oct, even though the rates are higher, and use dvc points next summer. Definitely a #firstwoldproblem!

 

[mom2elal]

Skimmed through the rest of the posts, and now I'm as caught up as I'm going to get, so I thought I'd report a bit on our trip to DLR.

We stayed at the Residence Inn on Katella for 5 nights. We paid 40k/night with the 5th night free, but it's going to be changing to 35K. It was so nice! Everything was new and clean, and the room was big and had a living room/kitchen separate from the bedroom with a huge couch. When we're paying cash we tend to stay at cheap motels, so I think this was the nicest hotel I've stayed at in Anaheim. We've stayed around the Harbor/Katella intersection many times and we don't mind the walk. Would definitely stay there again. Of course, I forgot to take pictures of the room.

We were in the parks 7/13 to 7/18. The temp was in the 80's, but the humidity was 90%, so we were quite hot and sweaty the entire time! The least crowded day was Saturday and I think Wed may have been the worst. I was afraid that 7/17 was going to be a madhouse because of being DLR's bday, but it was comparable to Sunday and Monday. We loved Maxpass, and although I still resent having to pay an extra $10 per person per day, I don't know if I could go without it now.

After we had planned this July trip for ds's 16th bday, my inlaws announced that they wanted to help pay for a trip around New Years with dh's whole family! So, we will be back at the end of Dec and probably staying at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites on South Manchester on points. That one looks nice too and seems to be closer than the Residence Inn. It's been many years since I went to DLR around Christmas/New Years and I'm a little scared of the crowds, but we weren't given a choice on the dates and I'll take an almost free trip to DLR any time!

 

[Lain]

How To Get A 100,000 Point Offer For The AmEx Platinum Business Card - DoC

Reading the latest successful DPs with a tinge of envy. I’d love to go for the 100k MR Biz Platinum, but I’m 4/24 and still have some plans with Chase that take me into early next year, and I really need to pick up the BBP in the meantime. Not to mention, my wife would kill me if I got a second Platinum after having already paid $550 AF for the one in the sock drawer.

If anyone decides to call in for this offer, please let us know!

 

[Alexle2007]

I know you've already gotten to DL, but I just wanted add a data point for others reading that our max pass only coded at 1x on the CSR.

Yep, I saw that when I was checked my acct today. No big deal, the max Pass was totally worth it especially after I figured out how to work it. We were able to complete all of the rides we wanted to do in Disneyland by noon yesterday. We only missed Star Tours which had a ridiculous stand-by and fast pass times. We already back to AZ where it’s 105 degrees at 10 pm. Ridiculous heat!

 

[GlamMistress]

Using 90,000 Hilton points for 2 rooms, for 1 night at a Conrad this weekend. Was supposed to travel to visit my best friend to meet her new baby. Decided I couldn't make it all the way because of my back. She's meeting me halfway. Used the points to cover her too. Hotel looks really nice. Glad I had the points on hand to cover for this unplanned need.

I need to open another Hilton card tho, lol. I keep slacking on that.

 

[miztressuz]

So, since the official merger date for Marriott and SPG has been moved to 8/18, does that mean spg biz still gets lounge access until then?

I don't think so. AmEx already amended the Cardmember agreement with the changes. I'm trying to find my copy but I don't think that change was dependent on the program merger, that was just a card benefit change.

It is making think of an interesting loophole though. The terms of the MR program changed too because of the transfer rate of MR > SPG. In that case effective Aug 1 they are removing the 1000:333 conversion rate, and thus MR > SPG would be 1:1. Since the SPG conversion isn't happening until Aug 18, seems like you could transfer at 1:1 and then have it triple to get 1:3 in the end. I suspect someone will figure out how to block that, but I think they're supposed to give X amount of days notice for agreement changes and I don't think we're in that window to amend it. I'm giving some thought to it as I've only got a small balance of MR on my card and it'll take some maneuvering to combine it with hubby's, maybe playing this game with them instead is easier.

 

[striker1064]

How To Get A 100,000 Point Offer For The AmEx Platinum Business Card - DoC

Reading the latest successful DPs with a tinge of envy. I’d love to go for the 100k MR Biz Platinum, but I’m 4/24 and still have some plans with Chase that take me into early next year, and I really need to pick up the BBP in the meantime. Not to mention, my wife would kill me if I got a second Platinum after having already paid $550 AF for the one in the sock drawer.

If anyone decides to call in for this offer, please let us know!

I've seen several successful DPs on /r/churning of this as well. I'm going for it later this year (assuming it's still around) once I finish the Arrival+. I've got the Schwab Plat until the AF posts in February, so I've gotta maximized those MRs.

 

[Lain]

DP on /r/churning that Chase Cruise & Tour Dept can book Disney resort rooms at Florida resident rates: https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/921azt/comment/e32a823?st=JK2J1IUG&sh=2231e9dd

We already knew they could book rooms at AP rates, but interesting DP to round it out.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Ha, I just realized I will also have a Marriott stay falling from Aug 15-18, so I guess I'll just be missing the merger stuff as well since I'll go from silver to gold. No big deal for that stay since it's a Cat 1 (yes, seriously!). Just want gold status for my December Marriott Marquis in Times Square stay. Hoping to get an upgrade to Times Square View for me and my mom.

 

[jhoannam]

I don't think so. AmEx already amended the Cardmember agreement with the changes. I'm trying to find my copy but I don't think that change was dependent on the program merger, that was just a card benefit change.

It is making think of an interesting loophole though. The terms of the MR program changed too because of the transfer rate of MR > SPG. In that case effective Aug 1 they are removing the 1000:333 conversion rate, and thus MR > SPG would be 1:1. Since the SPG conversion isn't happening until Aug 18, seems like you could transfer at 1:1 and then have it triple to get 1:3 in the end. I suspect someone will figure out how to block that, but I think they're supposed to give X amount of days notice for agreement changes and I don't think we're in that window to amend it. I'm giving some thought to it as I've only got a small balance of MR on my card and it'll take some maneuvering to combine it with hubby's, maybe playing this game with them instead is easier.

This would be a great loophole awesome! That means I would have just enough points for 2 packages. Which would solve my dilemma, 120K RR or 132K UA - I could just get both.

 

[jhoannam]

Any word on what's going to happen with the SPG Biz bonus? I would love to get platinum status, if I get the SPG Biz before Aug. 1 I could get the additional 5 elite nights. But the bonus is so lame right now.