I love credit cards so much!

[kmc8826]

So completed our flights for my DD's graduation trip (ABD Danube River Cruise).
Dates Jun17-July 2 (mom & DD)/July 5 (me).

I'll be flying all 3 alliances and I spent 300,000 Skymiles, 330,000 American Advantage, and 127,500 United miles (plus taxes and fees)
I'd estimate OOP (taxes and fees, upgrades for Mom and DD PLUS paying Air France) ran around $1350-$1500.

Delta-
PNS-PHL 25,000 x 2 (DD/DM-in economy) plus 40,000 (me in first)= 90,000

American Airways
PHL-BUD 110,000 (anytime award business) x3 = 330,000

KLM/Czech Air/AF

MUC-PRG (rt) $1001.58 economy (this was using the 20,000 earn for $1,000 spend on Amex)

Delta-(mom and DD return)

MUC-PNS 105,000 x 2 for economy then paid 187 x 2 Euro (so around $432) to upgrade to Economy Comfort

On to Krakow (Shay)

Lufthansa

MUC-KRK 25, 000 United Miles (business)

Austrian Airlines

KRK-ORD 70,000 United Miles (business)

ORD-PNS (direct, hence the crazy amount for economy)

32,500 United Miles (economy)

I guess the take home message is-

1) It's good to diversify
2) Europe in the summer is expensive to fly...especially for more than one or two people
3) Don't read seatguru too much or it will make you crazy
AND
4) Skypesos really do kind of stink.

AA miles were collected over 2 years having signed DH and me up for miles on both co-branded (citi and barclay) cards (now cancelled) and portal use. I also transferred SPG points when there was a 25% bonus this spring.

UA were collected over 2 years with CSP/CSR/MileagePlus X App/portal use.

Delta collected from flying enough to earn Platinum status (so a lot), 5 Amex card bonuses between myself, mom and DH, SPG transfers and the rare portal use.

Since my mother will be 68 and is in not the best health I tried to get her to Europe comfortably and since she and DD weren't up for a Krakow detour I needed to get them back on a carrier with which they were familiar (Delta)--to the point of the seats they've been in multiple times. Hence the spending of lots of AA miles to fly directly from PHL to BUD and MUC to ATL then home. I could have done this more cheaply (to a point) if I'd been willing to route through LHR AND flown from MUC with another layover. But knowing your audience is key so that's my experience. Hope it helps someone in their planning!

You are my hero! And if @calypso726 is impressed that is quite the feat. You guys are in a whole different league than I am!

 

[speedyfishy]

I think in your case I would either skip Epcot or skip the DAH. Epcot is so huge as you know we put in a ton of steps there. I couldn’t have gone from 2 parks to the the dah, even with a rest. My other thought on your plan is that Epcot is all sunshine and concrete....best in the evening.
I don’t really know what would be best b/c you also need ak on your evening to do FOP so you have no evening free for Epcot. Unless...can you hop to ak at Epcot close (9pm), just to ride fop? So basically do ak on arrival in the heat, hop to Epcot til close, hop back to fop? Ak closed at 10pm for us, so this plan assumes the same.

Ugh decisions decisions. Im so indecisive. My SO is no help either lol I can’t skip Epcot because my sister really wants to do test track. We could just do testtrack and leave, but it seems easy to get a Soarin fastpass the same day for a few hours later... she has no must dos at MK so if we don’t get there it won’t be that big of a deal, but maybe if we even just went to the after hours rode the mountains and got some food and left if we were tired? I can’t believe I’m willing to pay $89 a person for that lol but it’s only points not real money lol and it’s my sister so I want to spoil her and her to have a good Disney experience. But if we do that she won’t get to do FOP unless a miracle happens and we get a same day fastpass or just wait standby. Im not a standby person. lol normally if I don’t get a fastpass for rides I don’t go on them lol is FOP worth missing all the mountains at MK?

 

[DisneyMandC]

Any issues with booking a one night stay on Hilton Honors points now if I need to cancel it later (ie a couple days in advance)? Thinking I might book a 20,000 point stay near our airport before our 5:40 AM flight out next week.

 

[Lain]

So if I cancel my CIP but there’s pending UR do I just lose them? Undecided on applying for the CIC again. Need to figure out if we can meet the spend for DH double dip and that or just the double dip.

Yes. Good catch! UR points live and die on their cards. Before you close any Chase UR card, transfer the points onto another Chase UR card you plan to keep open.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

is FOP worth missing all the mountains at MK?

Yes. Absolutely.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Any issues with booking a one night stay on Hilton Honors points now if I need to cancel it later (ie a couple days in advance)? Thinking I might book a 20,000 point stay near our airport before our 5:40 AM flight out next week.

I canceled and rebooked our AZ trip a couple times. Points available instantly. As long as it doesn’t say non refundable

 

[Lain]

That’s my problem. I really don’t have any firm travel goals at the moment. Business cards are a no go for me right now. I don’t really need a companion pass, but I wouldn’t really be against it if I could manage it without the business card. Or, maybe by December, when I plan to apply for SW again, I’ll have gotten over my fear of business cards.

I think I saw mention of a 100000 Marriott card I might be eligible for before the changes happen. I’m not brand loyal to any particular hotel chain or airline.I'm small potatoes compared to you guys, but anything free is ok in my book.

Oh, and here comes a really dumb question. I’ve not joined the Dis reddit group, mostly because I can barely keep up HERE. However, I think it’s time so I can at least use a support link for whatever I do decide to apply for, if one is available. I’ve seen posts that mention pm ing with your user name. That means I need to sign up on the regular reddit site first, right?

@Albort already got back to you about joining Reddit. Hope to see you over there soon.

Tricky thing about you next card is you don’t want a business card, which means personal cards only and any personal card you open will take you to 5/24+, and your next oldest card doesn’t drop off until around December 2018. Without any firm plans to use the points or miles, flexible points like URs, MRs, and to some extent Marriott might be better, but you don’t really have the slots, without opening biz cards, to build up your URs; and new restrictions will limit what Marriott and SPG cards you’ll be able to get after the next few weeks. The only 100k Marriott points offer right now is for the Amex SPG Biz with a $5k/3 months MSR. The SPG personal, Marriott Premier Plus, and Marriott Biz all have some variation of 75k Marriott points for $3k/3 months MSR.

 

[Lain]

Any issues with booking a one night stay on Hilton Honors points now if I need to cancel it later (ie a couple days in advance)? Thinking I might book a 20,000 point stay near our airport before our 5:40 AM flight out next week.

With points? No. Just check the cancellation policy for when you need to cancel by. I’ve had to cancel points reservations before and the points were back in my HH account within a few minutes.

 

[tink1970]

You are my hero

Oh, thanks

And if @calypso726 is impressed that is quite the feat.

I know, right!!!

Thanks for your kind words. I didn't know if my long post would be helpful but thought, hey if not, people can skip it. I like to know what's possible with planning and creativity which is why this thread is so helpful for me

 

[speedyfishy]

The Amex BGR isn’t offering Gsuite anymore right?

 

[Lain]

The Amex BGR isn’t offering Gsuite anymore right?

Pretty sure that was abused to death.

 

[3 DD love princesses]

Ugh decisions decisions. Im so indecisive. My SO is no help either lol I can’t skip Epcot because my sister really wants to do test track. We could just do testtrack and leave, but it seems easy to get a Soarin fastpass the same day for a few hours later... she has no must dos at MK so if we don’t get there it won’t be that big of a deal, but maybe if we even just went to the after hours rode the mountains and got some food and left if we were tired? I can’t believe I’m willing to pay $89 a person for that lol but it’s only points not real money lol and it’s my sister so I want to spoil her and her to have a good Disney experience. But if we do that she won’t get to do FOP unless a miracle happens and we get a same day fastpass or just wait standby. Im not a standby person. lol normally if I don’t get a fastpass for rides I don’t go on them lol is FOP worth missing all the mountains at MK?

FOP is def worth doing. I never stand in a line longer than 20 min but we rope dropped this and stood 2+ hours. Def worth it since we didn’t have a fp.

 

[PolyRob]

The CIP is good to use it with plastiq. But you have to be open to a business card. Remember when you go for your double dip I used incognito click on a dischurnner link and apply for the csr. Then once approved. Close your window and open a new incognito window. Click on a dischurnners link and apply for the csp. Good luck applying.

Thanks. I think I will do the double dip Wednesday. I will be home from work all day and can start the process early and have plenty of time to call Chase if need be. I haven't had a new card since Jan 2016 so I think I will be ok with the CSR first. I've read reports of people getting caught up with the auto-approval on the CSP. Does anyone know if its best to apply right after the CSR or wait a certain amount of time on the same day? This is also assuming I get an automatic approval for the CSR.

 

[speedyfishy]

Thanks. I think I will do the double dip Wednesday. I will be home from work all day and can start the process early and have plenty of time to call Chase if need be. I haven't had a new card since Jan 2016 so I think I will be ok with the CSR first. I've read reports of people getting caught up with the auto-approval on the CSP. Does anyone know if its best to apply right after the CSR or wait a certain amount of time on the same day? This is also assuming I get an automatic approval for the CSR.

I did it back to back and got an instant approval for both. Use a different web browser though. Or use two different devices.

 

[StephPlum]

Major FOMO on the Marriott/SPG cards. I don't want to get any personal cards right now since I want CSR/CSP later in the year; and a personal SW later which will put me at 4/24. I will be going after the personal Citi AA card so that will push me to 5/24 as well. Also I have CIP and CIC so not sure how likely it would be to get a Marriott Biz. Would rather save a potential 3rd Biz spot for SW biz. Planning to drop the CIP after AF next year so will only have 1 Biz before going for SW Biz.

So it may be time to bring in my Player 2 who plays along but is a little reluctant. He is on board with Biz cards. He has no need for any SW cards so I don't have to save any spots for that for him. Also thinking I'll definitely refer him to CSP at some point but not sure on the CSR. We will not need 2 CSRs and while I can justify a $95AF, not sure he will buy $450 (I know really $150 with the travel credit). So I think he has a lot of room for personal cards.

That is a lot of rambling to get to: if you have no SPG/Marriott cards, which would you go for before 8/26? I need to go back and read all the benefits of each one to help me decide if I/DH should go for one. Thanks.

 

[Lain]

Thanks. I think I will do the double dip Wednesday. I will be home from work all day and can start the process early and have plenty of time to call Chase if need be. I haven't had a new card since Jan 2016 so I think I will be ok with the CSR first. I've read reports of people getting caught up with the auto-approval on the CSP. Does anyone know if its best to apply right after the CSR or wait a certain amount of time on the same day? This is also assuming I get an automatic approval for the CSR.

For a double dip, it's usually recommended to start applying early during regular business hours of a non-holiday weekday in case you need to call Chase reconsideration ("recon") or verification departments. Chase Credit Card Reconsideration. Personal: 1-888-270-2127, open: 8am-10pm ET Monday to Friday. 8am-8pm ET Saturday & Sunday. The verification department may have different hours.

For personal cards, be sure you're not running afoul of the 2/30 rule: you can only have two Chase credit card applications every 30 days or you'll likely be denied.

Apply for the card you want first. If you're not instantly approved and perhaps got the we'll let you know in 30 days message, call the automated status line at 1-800-432-3117 to check the status of your application. If you still aren't approved, call recon at 1-888-270-2127 to get it approved. Mention you’re calling (only) about the first application, and ask what can be done to move the application towards approval. They'll likely ask you identity verification questions.

After that first card is approved, use a different internet browser or an incognito window for the second application (and you can even clear the history), so Chase doesn’t get your cookies crossed and think you’re submitting a duplicate application in error. If you're not insta-approved, you can try to wait it out by checking the automated status line after an hour or so, but if you're not approved then call recon again to get the second application approved on the same day as the first approval. If you have to call recon, mention that you are calling about the second card only, and ask how you can help get it approved. You don't want recon realizing you've just been approved for an earlier Sapphire. It's likely an issue with needing to move around credit lines in order to have enough available credit to open up a new card. (Not sure if you have any Chase cards from which you can move credit to a new card. You won't be able to move credit from the newly approved Sapphire card to a second card, nor should you try.) If the rep does mention the other Sapphire card, and asks why we need the two cards, a lot of us just say we want to separate expenses.

Recently, Chase has been manually reducing the CLs on both cards following approvals on a double dip, likely to mitigate their credit exposure.

Good luck!

 

[3 DD love princesses]

Thanks. I think I will do the double dip Wednesday. I will be home from work all day and can start the process early and have plenty of time to call Chase if need be. I haven't had a new card since Jan 2016 so I think I will be ok with the CSR first. I've read reports of people getting caught up with the auto-approval on the CSP. Does anyone know if its best to apply right after the CSR or wait a certain amount of time on the same day? This is also assuming I get an automatic approval for the CSR.

Once approved for the CSR then you can apply for the CSP. I was instantly approved for both so didn’t have to call but I know a friend that didn’t get auto approved. If you don’t get auto approved then I would call. To help get it approved. Don’t apply for the CSP until your CSR is approved.

 

[speedyfishy]

Major FOMO on the Marriott/SPG cards. I don't want to get any personal cards right now since I want CSR/CSP later in the year; and a personal SW later which will put me at 4/24. I will be going after the personal Citi AA card so that will push me to 5/24 as well. Also I have CIP and CIC so not sure how likely it would be to get a Marriott Biz. Would rather save a potential 3rd Biz spot for SW biz. Planning to drop the CIP after AF next year so will only have 1 Biz before going for SW Biz.

So it may be time to bring in my Player 2 who plays along but is a little reluctant. He is on board with Biz cards. He has no need for any SW cards so I don't have to save any spots for that for him. Also thinking I'll definitely refer him to CSP at some point but not sure on the CSR. We will not need 2 CSRs and while I can justify a $95AF, not sure he will buy $450 (I know really $150 with the travel credit). So I think he has a lot of room for personal cards.

That is a lot of rambling to get to: if you have no SPG/Marriott cards, which would you go for before 8/26? I need to go back and read all the benefits of each one to help me decide if I/DH should go for one. Thanks.

Not anyhelp on the SPG/Marriott cards but why waste a slot on Citi AA? Have you gotten the Citi Biz and Barclay AA Biz first? You can also buy a Citi Biz mailed on Reddit so you can churn the Citi Biz every 60 days. You can set up a dummy AA account in your dogs name and try to get mailers sent to you. I haven’t had luck with that tho but others have.

 

[PolyRob]

I did it back to back and got an instant approval for both. Use a different web browser though. Or use two different devices.

Glad to hear it worked out for both. Hopefully I have the same luck. I can use my laptop for one and then go to the desktop for the other if it works better than incognito.

For a double dip, it's usually recommended to start applying early during regular business hours of a non-holiday weekday in case you need to call Chase reconsideration ("recon") or verification departments. Chase Credit Card Reconsideration. Personal: 1-888-270-2127, open: 8am-10pm ET Monday to Friday. 8am-8pm ET Saturday & Sunday. The verification department may have different hours.

For personal cards, be sure you're not running afoul of the 2/30 rule: you can only have two Chase credit card applications every 30 days or you'll likely be denied.

Apply for the card you want first. If you're not instantly approved and perhaps got the we'll let you know in 30 days message, call the automated status line at 1-800-432-3117 to check the status of your application. If you still aren't approved, call recon at 1-888-270-2127 to get it approved. Mention you’re calling (only) about the first application, and ask what can be done to move the application towards approval. They'll likely ask you identity verification questions.

After that first card is approved, use a different internet browser or an incognito window for the second application (and you can even clear the history), so Chase doesn’t get your cookies crossed and think you’re submitting a duplicate application in error. If you're not insta-approved, you can try to wait it out by checking the automated status line after an hour or so, but if you're not approved then call recon again to get the second application approved on the same day as the first approval. If you have to call recon, mention that you are calling about the second card only, and ask how you can help get it approved. You don't want recon realizing you've just been approved for an earlier Sapphire. It's likely an issue with needing to move around credit lines in order to have enough available credit to open up a new card. (Not sure if you have any Chase cards from which you can move credit to a new card. You won't be able to move credit from the newly approved Sapphire card to a second card, nor should you try.) If the rep does mention the other Sapphire card, and asks why we need the two cards, a lot of us just say we want to separate expenses.

Recently, Chase has been manually reducing the CLs on both cards following approvals on a double dip, likely to mitigate their credit exposure.

Good luck!

Thank you, I can't wait to see what happens!

I only have one other Chase card and it is the Disney Visa. It was automatically approved 2+ years ago with a $15,000 CL. I have never charged anything close to that much on that card. Hopefully it doesn't affect my chances. I would be fine dropping it down if it helps the second come through. I have no intentions of keeping the CSP and will product change it to a freedom card after the first year so even the minimum $5,000 CL would suffice.

Once approved for the CSR then you can apply for the CSP. I was instantly approved for both so didn’t have to call but I know a friend that didn’t get auto approved. If you don’t get auto approved then I would call. To help get it approved. Don’t apply for the CSP until your CSR is approved.

Glad to hear another double dip was automatically approved. I hope I am lucky enough! I will make sure to see the first approval. When I did the Disney Visa it told me immediately in the web browser. Is that the same process for the CSR if you are automatically approved? Or do you have to wait for an e-mail or something?

 

[PolyRob]

Another question on the Sapphire double dip... Say I am fortunate enough to get both approved, can I expedite one or both of them? Or is that just asking for trouble with Chase?