I love credit cards so much!

[amalone1013]

@DisneyMandC I have some AMEX offers for Busch gardens Williamsburg, $25 back on $125. I think I remember you mentioning that because of living in the area?

 

[miztressuz]

So decisions, decisions. WWYD?

1. Need to decide next card. The loose plan originally had me hoping for a 100k pts offer on the Marriott card in the fall to use up my last 5/24 slot, possibly in a fit of crazy optimism doing a double dip of the SW card if it was 50k+ too before being locked out.(if I did that I wouldn't be able to get another Chase card until next Nov, a whole year locked out)
Now with the new Marriott/SPG rules that's moved up decision timeline if I want another Stariott card, and I think I do. I asked hubby what would he spend the money on, $95 for 75k Marriott points or $99 for 50k+ SW points? He wouldn't decide but felt the Marriott points were the better deal for us. His reasoning is we have enough SW points for a couple years of flights since we don't fly much and can usually find a cheap route. But you tend to use more hotel nights than flights and the sign up bonus would get us at least 2 nights for that money. I get his logic and I can see getting the hotel card, paying the AF for the SW card again and then push off the churn until next year (hopefully). Especially if I can get the SPG card with the same bonus but AF is waived, so a couple nights worth of points for free; that's more my language
Option A. I'd only get 1 new card and then I'm out until after 5/19. (I honestly can't think of another new card I'd want so that helps stay within 5/24) This be either the SW or the SPG. Probably the SPG to follow P2's logic, but open to other views?

Option B. If I can time it right, since I'd be getting a SPG instead of Marriott, and I'm having a hard time finding an end date for the SPG offer, I could wait on that card, cancel my SW card now, pick it up again in a few months for the sign up bonus and then hit AmEx for the SPG after. This puts me at 6/24 and I'm out until after 11/19.
(theoretically I could take advantage of the long post time for AmEx cards to the CR and get the SPG before, but that puts a time box on looking for a better SW offer)

Option C. Which is an option but I don't really like it and probably won't do it. Go for the Marriott Biz before 8/26, still be at 4/24, then grab the SW card and the SPG card later in the fall/winter. Puts me at 6/24 in the end but I just picked up 3 cards, how many more do I need? ( )
This option goes against my "not going for another Chase biz card for at least a year" declaration, ohhh, less than 90 days ago.... If I wait until the last minute I can make it 90 days since the last Chase biz app. But I absolutely need my CSR until next year, so while I have doubts I'd get shut down I am cognizant of Chase velocity. Which is why, while fun and logical, it's really low on the option list.

2. With all that Hubby is most likely going to MA for a week in the next couple weeks for business. Free points, cha ching. Even better, he can most likely use one of our cards to pay for it. Normally this would be an easy decision because there's a Marriott across the street from where he needs to be. We'd get nights, points, and use his Marriott for more points (although now that I have the SPG whose points earnings changed today, I'd try to figure out how to use that instead) In theory we shouldn't "need" the nights for status, they'd just be going into the lifetime bank.
But I'm kinda leaning towards the alternate hotel, the DoubleTree. It's close by but not walking distance, but he'd have his car so that's not a big deal. We need 1 more stay to hit an actual status with Hilton so we had been trying to plan one. If he stays there we get the stay without having to pay for it, plus they have the double points promo going still. I could then figure out how to pay for it with my CSR or CSP because I don't think there's an Amex offer for DoubleTree. And I have doubts if he applied for the Hilton card we'd get it in time (plus we couldn't do 2 MSR at the same time so I'd be pushed back) I don't think anyone got that expedited? Although he could get lucky with the instant card # and we add that to the ressie.
If it were you, Marriott or DoubleTree?

 

[amalone1013]

Saw this AMEX offer, nice if you have one!

Spend $5 or more, get $5 back. Up to 3x
QuikTrip Stores
https://www.quiktrip.com/Locations

 

[amalone1013]

So if I get DH a Hilton Biz, do I:

• Refer him for 20K pts
• Do the dummy booking $50 statement credit/AF waived?

The second option seems better to me? Especially as I have no specific use in mind for the points.

 

[tink1970]

If it were you, Marriott or DoubleTree?

If you're leaning toward the DoubleTree then go for it...use CSR and get 3X UR (is his work reimbursing him/you?) and status AND UR are so very flexible. Win...win...

AFAIK co-branded cards take longer for Amex (I won't say how many I have...) so expediting is probably not possible.

Sounds like you have lots of fun decisions to make

 

[jhoannam]

Marriott – what are you playing at with all these new restrictions and moving dates on mergers, credit cards and offers?!

Tagging @Judique, @jhoannam, @miztressuz, @wendow, @kidsfirsttrip, @disneymagicgirl, @elgerber, @DisneyMandC, and everyone else I may be forgetting who’s been looking at their Starriott options lately.

American Express Personal SPG Card: 75,000 Point Bonus (Marriott Points) - DoC

American Express Business SPG Card: 100,000 Point Bonus (Marriott Points) - DoC

The SPG Luxury card was (maybe still is) supposed to come out 8/1/18, too; but there’s nothing yet, and some bloggers like DoC think the SPG Lux may release after the merger date of 8/18, maybe 8/26 when the new rules go into effect. (The Marriott Biz is also set to become the Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Business on 8/26 too.) So there was some thought that the SPG Personal and Biz cards may not see points offers until 8/26 either.

(I’m sorry @ jhoannam, I know DH just applied. But I don’t see the 5 elite nights credit on this offer.)

I think if you’re considering applying for any of the Starriott cards before 8/26, you need to consider whether you’ll be disqualified from that card after 8/26 based on the cards you have, signed up for, or bonuses you’ve received, and whether applying for a new card now will lock you out of any other card after 8/26:

New Restrictions Coming for Marriott and Starwood Credit Card Bonus Approval - VFTW

It looks like having or getting any of the SPG cards could limit what Marriott cards you can get, and vice versa, after 8/26.

Thanks! Sad he’s missing out on the 100k. Oh well, but I still haven’t dipped my toes into the Marriott world. I’ll hold off until people figure out the double dipping.

 

[jhoannam]

How does this work? Does just the organizer get status or everyone that attends? Could we set up a big group and all chip in? Even if we get 10 interested I’d be willing to pay $50 for status.

I think the orgizer gets the 10 elite nights. I was reading up on it last night. If I can find a room for $50 I think I might do it. Easier than trying to squeeze in the last 5 nights I need to earn platinum.

 

[miztressuz]

If you're leaning toward the DoubleTree then go for it...use CSR and get 3X UR (is his work reimbursing him/you?) and status AND UR are so very flexible. Win...win...

AFAIK co-branded cards take longer for Amex (I won't say how many I have...) so expediting is probably not possible.

Sounds like you have lots of fun decisions to make

Yep, work is reimbursing all of it - the best kind of points. He doesn't like traveling for business and it popped up last minute in the middle of craziness so he doubly doesn't want to go. The only thing making it bearable is all the points he'll get out of it

I was afraid of that for the Hilton. I keep watching all the good offers go by because we didn't have a "need" yet and figured we had time because we keep getting AmEx offers for all the other stays. But that Hilton Biz is looking mighty nice right now, doh.

It's in a higher rent district, I haven't looked at the prices yet, but I suspect if we can work the CSR that 3x a week's stay will make up for it

 

[CyndiLouWho]

You should also get free breakfast in the morning.

Yep. Just finished it. lol. Pretty nice spread with a good selection of hot and cold food. Nice dedicated breakfast area, not just a corner of the lobby. First time at a Hyatt Place, overall pleased.
ETA the breakfast is free for everyone not cc perk

 

[jhoannam]

Saw this AMEX offer, nice if you have one!

Spend $5 or more, get $5 back. Up to 3x
QuikTrip Stores
https://www.quiktrip.com/Locations

Which card?

 

[CyndiLouWho]

How not to double dip.

SMH
The idiocy of people still amazes me despite daily displays

 

[amalone1013]

Which card?

Had it on SPG personals

 

[liloca]

Hi guys,

I am crazy to try and go for the CIP? I am 5/24 but the last one is not in my credit report yet. So I am not sure if I should try to sneak in before that?! But I am afraid to hit Chase too hard.

My cards for the last 24
Aug2017 - Capital One quicksilver
Oct2017 - Chase Slate (changed to CFU)
14May2018- double dipped CSR and CSP
Jul2018- Discover Miles( will be used to pay for my Master classes that will be reimbursed by work)

Maybe I should just chill and get and Amex?

 

[amalone1013]

So another point in which it is probably good for me to not have gotten an AMEX Biz Plat... is that I forgot I have $1400 in Visa/MC GCs from the Safeway promos last quarter, and I was going to use them to pay my insurance bill anyways...

 

[amalone1013]

Hello from the lobby of the Grand Californian Hotel!! DH and I have parked ourselves in here to relax after an exhausting three days at DL! We’ve had a blast and have completely worn ourselves out, which is perfect since we’ll now be heading to the beach for four days for a very relaxing work conference. We’ve had a great trip and have really enjoyed Pixar Fest. I’m so glad we did this trip!

I’ll definitely be writing a trip report and hotel review for the Dischurners hotel thread when I get back to my computer tomorrow. For now, I’ll just say that the theme for my hotel reviews for the Marriott stay near Dulles and the Hilton Anaheim is “why isn’t our air conditioner working?”

View attachment 340591

Love your picture!

 

[Limes96]

Saw this AMEX offer, nice if you have one!

Spend $5 or more, get $5 back. Up to 3x
QuikTrip Stores
https://www.quiktrip.com/Locations

I had this on 4/5 Amex blue preferred. Sadly, 0/5 on the Staples offer.

 

[jhoannam]

Hi guys,

I am crazy to try and go for the CIP? I am 5/24 but the last one is not in my credit report yet. So I am not sure if I should try to sneak in before that?! But I am afraid to hit Chase too hard.

My cards for the last 24
Aug2017 - Capital One quicksilver
Oct2017 - Chase Slate (changed to CFU)
14May2018- double dipped CSR and CSP
Jul2018- Discover Miles( will be used to pay for my Master classes that will be reimbursed by work)

Maybe I should just chill and get and Amex?

CIP... it should always be the CIP if you are under 5/24.

Or a Southwest card if you don’t want to get a business card.

 

[CoP Luv]

Thanks for the help! I got the 30 day message (and seriously had to look away from my screen while it was "verifying"). What now?

Quoting myself since this was already approximately 1,000 pages ago from Monday evening.

I got approved for the CIP!


Now, to get it expedited? And I remember reading that you need to set up a new log in for your business card? Any good cheat sheets?

Thanks everyone!

 

[jhoannam]

Quoting myself since this was already approximately 1,000 pages ago from Monday evening.

I got approved for the CIP!


Now, to get it expedited? And I remember reading that you need to set up a new log in for your business card? Any good cheat sheets?

Thanks everyone!

Congrats!!

 

[Judique]

DH went ahead and applied for this reason. He just got the Marriot bonus, he has to wait 24 months to get the bonus. Really wanted the 5 elite nights - get us closer to platinum status - and the 35k anniversary night with no annual fee the first year.

Have your elite nights credited yet?