I love credit cards so much!

[hsmamato2]

I got grumpy with the AMEX guy. I mean, I don't get super mean/grumpy really, but he annoyed me with his replies:

I see there's a tax payment of $1434 on 04/01. Tax payments along with transactions such as gift card purchases, card fees, etc are considered ineligible for points.

I didn't see that in the restrictions, or I would have chosen a different card.

Cards usually don't offer points for tax payments. We can offer discounts via offers & promotions, however, there're no points for tax payments.
We come up with offers and promotions all the time. If there's an offer or discount available to your card, we certainly let you know.

since when??? I've never heard this before,and used my various amex cards to hit MSR by paying taxes of various kinds....

 

[Albort]

I'd have to have DH call. I was pretending to be him through chat.

oh, amex chat is useless... u need to call!

 

[palhockeymomof2]

No retention offer for my SW Premier, so I now have 0 SW cards. I was kind of expecting something but no offers on either SW card.

So, now I will play it cool for just a little bit until I can double dip. I am getting antsy and for the first time in a little while I am without a MSR and am paying attention to category spend.

I've also been wanting to use my AMEX Sam's offer but I have been having SO MANY problems with my AMEX online account and it won't let me reset the password or anything. And now the "system is down". Grrrr..

Oh boo...I have to wait until the fee posts on my 8/15 sw plus statement....hope for an retention offer since others have received one, but I’m keeping the card either way

 

[hsmamato2]

Hi everyone, trying to figure out Marriott package before 8/1.
We have finally decided we are going to Costa Rica in late July 2019. We will also probably try to go to Disney World for Thanksgiving in 2019.
Looks like SW would be our best option to getting to Costa Rica and Florida.
We have 0 SW points because we use them so fast (family of 4), even with CP.

I would like to use the 7 night package at the Swan/Dolphin. I'm thinking I get a Cat 6 with 120K SW miles - then later upgrade to whatever the Swan/Dolphin will be in Nov. 2019 , probably Cat 9 at the rate it's been increasing, insert eye-roll
You all think I will be able to use a certificate during that busy time?

I'm getting confused by the new charts etc now..... what is the redemption for points gonna be after 8/17? isn't it 50k per night,not 35? what category is that again?

 

[amalone1013]

Oooh, just remembered I was going to see if I could cancel and rebook our dessert party with my Hilton biz. Another $138 down, $160 to go!

 

[mmmears]

He said he'd pass that comment along

It's totally something I would have said, too. They need to get the message.

 

[afan]

I got grumpy with the AMEX guy. I mean, I don't get super mean/grumpy really, but he annoyed me with his replies:

I see there's a tax payment of $1434 on 04/01. Tax payments along with transactions such as gift card purchases, card fees, etc are considered ineligible for points.

I didn't see that in the restrictions, or I would have chosen a different card.

Cards usually don't offer points for tax payments. We can offer discounts via offers & promotions, however, there're no points for tax payments.
We come up with offers and promotions all the time. If there's an offer or discount available to your card, we certainly let you know.

I will remember to use my Chase business card next year, since it does earn points on my tax payments.


Maybe it was how I read it in my head, but it felt condescending... I'm still annoyed. Then he went on about how I had 4 35 cent charges and charges under 50 cents don't earn points... okay, but my spending on that statement was $4963 and I earned 3477 points... even without the tax payment that's off by 54 pts. But he "went through every transaction one by one"

He also told me that this was an internal investigation and they don't contact me for that, when I just said I had wanted to check since I hadn't heard anything. Soooooo you opened a case on my request for my missing points, tell me the time frame is 6-8 weeks but usually much faster than that, but won't let me know the results? No one was going to call or message me and say my tax payment was ineligible for points?

So I lost my cool, and probably shouldn't have said that about Chase

You're better than I am, I would have told them to cancel the card at that point I would have been so annoyed. The only thing that probably would have saved me was that it was over chat and not the phone.

 

[amalone1013]

You're better than I am, I would have told them to cancel the card at that point I would have been so annoyed. The only thing that probably would have saved me was that it was over chat and not the phone.

Ha, the thing to save me would be it's the biz card, so I want to use the Staples and Lowe's offers on it

 

[amalone1013]

Now I've been reminded, have we heard how the SPG card Free nights will be handled? Like will they be like the Marriott ones, were it gets put in your account and then it's yours even if you cancel your card?

 

[striker1064]

im pretty sure its done that way so that Amex has control of whatever they like haha.

Yeah, it's pretty clear Amex thinks they can play by their own set of rules, so they do as they want. It's a shame, because they have great cards and sign up bonuses, but they are so frustrating it sometimes makes you wonder if it's worth the trouble.

Stuff like this happening more frequently is why I decided to hit Schwab cashout this year. It was always going to be something I did, but with Amex getting harder and harder on churners that expedited me rolling through their MR cards. All I have left now is the Biz plat and Everyday Preferred, and continuing hearing stories like this from so many people makes me very thankful I already got most of their bonuses and don't have to worry about them again.

 

[peel]

Hey all, I've had severe vertigo and head pressure for a week due to what we think is a migraine, so I haven't been able to do a lot of screen time and I'm sooo behind on this thread. I can't read through dozens of pages right now, so I would just like to know if there has been any new word on Starriott that should stop me from getting a Cat 1-5 or 6 package before time runs out. Thank you kindly!

 

[miztressuz]

im pretty sure its done that way so that Amex has control of whatever they like haha.

right, it's a sound tactic
but on my own I never would have considered a tax payment a cash equivalent and potentially ineligible for points. especially since they advertised their "partner" (their word) for making tax payments all through the federal tax season. (and then be more PO'd after I found out some tax payments work but not others.) I get vagueness to cover yourself for future changes, as i'm sure bitcoin will be considered a cash equivalent (if not already) and who wants to guess the future in t&c's, but at least if you're going to make up your own definitions give folks a breadcrumb or something to follow along.

 

[schmass]

Hey all, I've had severe vertigo and head pressure for a week due to what we think is a migraine, so I haven't been able to do a lot of screen time and I'm sooo behind on this thread. I can't read through dozens of pages right now, so I would just like to know if there has been any new word on Starriott that should stop me from getting a Cat 1-5 or 6 package before time runs out. Thank you kindly!

I hope you start feeling better soon! It's still up in the air regarding the packages. This makes it sound like possible good news though: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea....xisting-marriott-travel-package-certificates/

 

[peel]

I hope you start feeling better soon! It's still up in the air regarding the packages. This makes it sound like possible good news though: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea....xisting-marriott-travel-package-certificates/

Thank you! I saw the article referenced but I didn't go back far enough to find it. So their recommendation is to go for the 1-5 unless I have a specific redemption in mind (I don't).

 

[anita46]

If anyone has the time, could you help me brainstorm or just offer insights (few or many) on a trip with my 86 year old mother to Alaska most likely 2019 or maybe this September...not picky about the cabin....she's not a formal kinda person either.

Looks like it has to be a cruise (around 7 days)...she's a little concerned about walking too much...flat terrain and not more than 20 minutes at a time. We think that means a cruise....which she likes the idea of....the weather is no concern...hot or cold temps both OK

I have 157,000MR and 95,000UR
Member SW, UA, Alaska, KrisFlyer, Aeroplan

If this goes well my sisters (4) and I want to take her on a river cruise on the Danube...but it would just be me and her to Alaska.

So should I use my points now or hold them till 2019 hoping she is up for the Danube.

I have to book business class (lie-flat) on the longer flights...I can use my SW (40,000)miles to get us to ORD or NYC

Anyone traveled with their 86 yr old mother?
Think she will like Alaska cruise enough to take a European river cruise?
What about the points?
Which trip should I use them on?
Should I just plan to burn the points on airfare?
Which airline has the better business class...Domestic and International...
What cruise line for Alaska....which for Danube....well other than Disney of course.

Plan to book with an AmexPlat.

TIA...in the meantime I'll keep an eye on the cruise sites too.

 

[miztressuz]

Hey all, I've had severe vertigo and head pressure for a week due to what we think is a migraine, so I haven't been able to do a lot of screen time and I'm sooo behind on this thread. I can't read through dozens of pages right now, so I would just like to know if there has been any new word on Starriott that should stop me from getting a Cat 1-5 or 6 package before time runs out. Thank you kindly!

I think the only big news is they announced the date of program change, the new award chart goes into effect 8/18. Otherwise we're still in a holding pattern for what happens to floater certs, afaik.

 

[peel]

I think the only big news is they announced the date of program change, the new award chart goes into effect 8/18. Otherwise we're still in a holding pattern for what happens to floater certs, afaik.

Thank you! I think I'm just going to go for it so I can stop obsessing over it. Virgin Atlantic for ANA J/F to Japan next fall.

 

[LynnTH]

I am so clueless on the Marriott Packages. But everyone is talking about them and I am so confused. I don't have any plans for the next year to use a certificate. Going on a cruise in March and then DD graduates in June and then 2 in college. So, not sure we would even have the time next year. If that is the case - is this not for me?

I have 193,640 Marriott Points and 67,927 SPG Points ( so $397,421 Total). So could get Level 9 and 120,000 SW Points. Seems this would be great if with the merger they put everything back to points as some are speculating but if it stays as a certificate then has to be used in a year - correct?

 

[jhoannam]

I'm getting confused by the new charts etc now..... what is the redemption for points gonna be after 8/17? isn't it 50k per night,not 35? what category is that again?

Yes, the Swan/Dolphin will both be Category 6 (50K). I was just being sarcastic about Cat 9, as they were Category 4 before April, then Cat 5 now, and Cat 6 in 8/17.

And in 2019, it will be 60K during peak season.

 

[Albort]

I am so clueless on the Marriott Packages. But everyone is talking about them and I am so confused. I don't have any plans for the next year to use a certificate. Going on a cruise in March and then DD graduates in June and then 2 in college. So, not sure we would even have the time next year. If that is the case - is this not for me?

I have 193,640 Marriott Points and 67,927 SPG Points ( so $397,421 Total). So could get Level 9 and 120,000 SW Points. Seems this would be great if with the merger they put everything back to points as some are speculating but if it stays as a certificate then has to be used in a year - correct?

it could work out for u assuming the airline u want to transfer to is in the 120k catgory. Most ppl who are redeeming these N&F are doing it for the miles, hotel certificate is just extra.
so 90k SPG transfer directly to Airlines would give u 110k airlines miles.
doing it through N&F would give u 120k airline miles.
another case is united, SPG --> United is a bad ratio of 2:1. Doing it through marriott, 90k SPG --> Marriott --> United will net u 132k United miles.
i think top airlines with 120k transfers are Alaska Air and SW.
i personally dont plan on doing N&F because once i transfer them over, the airline miles starts the ticking timebomb of expiring. Im just gonna hold off and use them as i see fit since i have zero travel plans. Choice is up to u.