I love credit cards so much!

[miztressuz]

Done and approved on CSR. Do I wait until afternoon to apply for the other or can I do it now?


So wait to add my spouse until after I am approved!

Awesome You can apply for the CSP now, no need to wait. Just be sure to follow Step 4 and do it from a different browser etc etc.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Awesome! Thanks for updating. I have to place an order soon to meet my Citi AA Biz MSR.





Ugh, I missed that. I wanted to double dip in like three/four months and there are all these negative changes happening.

By then we should have a good handle on whether the AU bonus is still posting.

 

[miztressuz]

I use DH's CSR all week long at home and he travels most of every week all over TN. We haven't had a fraud issue related to that.

Great! I was hoping to hear from you since you do this a lot Thanks!

 

[Lain]

I just cannot believe how EASY Amex makes it! It seriously is like the old guy in my neighborhood who holds his bucket of candy out to my kids on halloween and tells them to take all they want. My kids adore him and I love Amex in that same way!!

Super easy-peasy approval for a SPG biz! I think I've got all the Starriott cards I can/want to get for now. It appears I'm locked out of Amex credit cards though for a couple of months. Maybe the MSR's I have currently will keep me busy for that long but I kind of doubt it so I will be eyeing my next Amex charge card.

Although I do drop to 4/24 in 9/18. I'd like to stay on Chase's good side and DD the CSR/CSP in 5/19. But maybe a 12/18 Chase card

Yeah until the old guy starts telling you when, where, and how to eat that candy.

 

[AmyAnne]

We had no problems with being creative with our dining plan credits - the waitstaff were great about charging the complete meals to credits and taking cash for the extras. If you have 2 rooms going, that is really the best way to use the dining plan. You can even pay for everyone on credits for the pricey meals (any character meals for sure). We did the deluxe plan, and there were several meals where we used 2 TS credits between the 4 of us and it was plenty of food. We often skipped dessert, or only got 1 dessert to share between all of us, but for the trip we did, we came out ahead on the meal plan, even skipping dessert a lot and using very few of our snacks. We like TS as a break in the parks, so it was good for us. We did a ton of character meals, and we had one person at the kid rate, so that helped it make $$ sense for our week long trip. We've not done it for any of the shorter trips we've done since - the numbers just don't add up. If we were in 2 rooms, it would make a lot of sense.

Thanks! This is exactly my plan for Christmas week. We have at least one TS scheduled per day - partly as a break in the parks and also partly because I have read that CS lines during that week can be crazy.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Ok, so I think I have a gameplan.
1) just SM'd chase to confirm if I close SW Prem account prior to statement closing, I will still get my points for this month. Assuming they say yes, I will close it today.
2) Once it updates on my CR, I will app for the SW Biz...hopefully in a few days. (I saw DH's updated quickly when I closed his last month.) I have alot of credit extended with chase...which is why I want to wait for this step to app.
3)Once SW biz is approved, app for SW deluxe (name?). I am considering a DD here with another SW personal. What do we think about that? It would put me 4/24 until next summer.
4)Sometime early 2019 CIC?
5)July or Aug 2019 CSR/CSP DD

**Throw in some amex biz cards here and there to help pass the time. Also, will come up with plan for DH that will be thrown in between my apps.


OK, so critiques?

Goals...Build back up UR and RR. Need some URs for pre/post cruise stay in Dec. Need RR for spring break ski trip. Possibly Hawaii summer 2019 since we have the marriott cert to use up.

I realized if I hold out on the SW CP to post in Jan, I will get more use out of it. However, we have 2 more flights before end of 2018 and having it for those will save me at least 40k points based on current pricing. I know we will use it in 2019 for the ski trip, possibly Hawaii, flights to SC to house hunt in April, maybe MI to visit the inlaws. I don't think I will use it as much in 2020 since we are moving to SC...with no flights needed anymore for disney or to fly home to see my family. So I am ok with going ahead with it now. Just wish I had realized this several months ago. Oh well.

 

[Lain]

You Like me...You REALLY LIKE ME!!

I've topped 10,000 Likes and I have to imagine the VAST majority of them have come from this thread! Thanks @DisneyMandC for being my 10,000th like

Congratulations, my good man!

Now the important question, any way we can status match our DIS likes to r/churningreferrals karma?

Jk jk jk!

 

[DisneyMandC]

I agree on the meal plan. We have done the whole eat-what-we-want-and-save-receipts thing too. I actually did a write up on it probably 5 years ago on the dis. We always come out way ahead skipping the dining plan. Plus then we have the flexibility to eat how/what/when we want and not have to stick to their parameters.

Yeah we came out ahead when we did the deluxe dining plan on our honeymoon, but we broke even on our trip last year. But I feel like at a 1.5 redemption rate with CSR, we might come out ahead. I think what I'll need to do is get everyone to go through and pick which restaurants they'll be interested in. Won't need any character meals with 6 adults, so really it'll come down to whether someone is dying to get a steak from Le Cellier, or if we're good with splitting a pizza and some appetizers at Via Napoli.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Congratulations, my good man!

Now the important question, any way we can status match our DIS likes to r/churningreferrals karma?

Jk jk jk!

I'm up to 44 karma points after posting in the trip reports thread this week! I didn't know there were that many of you reading it to upvote my post

 

[AmyAnne]

I agree on the meal plan. We have done the whole eat-what-we-want-and-save-receipts thing too. I actually did a write up on it probably 5 years ago on the dis. We always come out way ahead skipping the dining plan. Plus then we have the flexibility to eat how/what/when we want and not have to stick to their parameters.

This has been my philosophy on previous trips. However, since we are planning for at least one TS each day and because we are going at an insanely busy time (so not as much flexibility), I'm thinking that the deluxe dining plan for one room makes sense.

 

[Lain]

I'm up to 44 karma points after posting in the trip reports thread this week! I didn't know there were that many of you reading it to upvote my post

I upvoted! I was surprised you weren’t downvoted into oblivion for paying the cash rate and choosing to vacation at Disney.

 

[AmyAnne]

Anyone ever try to book with UR points? Is it possible if we use a TA? Or would Chase be the TA? Trying to figure out what to do about a placeholder and I’d appreciate any advice.

By "placeholder" do you mean a DCL reservation booked while on board? If so, I'm pretty sure you can transfer to Chase within 30 days -- and yes, Chase would be the TA. But I have never done this, so maybe someone else has first-and knowledge.

 

[miztressuz]

I only recently discovered this group and would appreciate some advice. I am new to discussion boards in general and this is my first post, so please be patient with me. I have historically charged everything possible in order to earn cash rewards, but after finding “The Points Guy” on Twitter I opened the CSR and Citi Premier cards. These have helped us to earn some nice hotel stays, rental cars, and an airfare or two, but after browsing this thread I am interested in taking a step up. My wife is on board, as she has enjoyed the freebies we have earned to date. We have a Disney/Universal trip planned for April 2019 for 4 of us (we have 2 kids, 9 and 11). Airfare has been booked, 5 nights at WBC booked through TripBound, and 3 nights booked at Royal Pacific (booked using UR.) We will use our remaining stash of about 100K UR for the Disney tickets soon. We will likely allocate the 80 K we receive from my wife’s recently opened CIP for the Universal tickets. So now it’s time to start squirreling away points for a trip in 2020.

Here is our situation:

Me:

05/18 AMEX Delta Gold

11/17 TD (merchant account)

09/16 Chase Sapphire Reserve

07/15 Citi AA Platinum ($95 AF posting early September)

05/15 Citi Premier

06/14 US Bank Cash+

04/12 BOA Cash Rewards

04/99 Discover


Wife:

08/18 Chase Ink Preferred

07/16 Citi AA MilesUp

-Authorized user on my Citi Premier, BOA Cash, AMEX, Discover, and US Bank

-Various (4-5) store sponsored cards (nothing recent)


Thank you in advance for any advice you folks could provide to help me develop a strategy.


Mike

I would not disagree with getting the CIP for yourself from your wife's referral. That's a good way to restart the stash. If you're liking UR's then I can't help but see that you're coming up to churning the CSR you have there. Once it's been 24 months from when you earned the bonus on the CSR, you could PC it to a Freedom and then reapply for it or the CSP to get another bonus. Even better if you can make the 8k in spend within 3 months, double dip it and get both

If you want to have 2 CSR's, you could have your wife double dip it instead. Either way you do it, make sure you use your own referral link to get an extra 10k for it. If you go the CIP/CSR/CSP route for 13k in MSR's you'll net 220k+ in UR points. (sign up bonus/referral points/min spend)

If that sounds interesting and doable, let us know. There's good ways to space this out so it's doable from a spend and risk perspective. You don't want to hit Chase too hard or it can all blow up So many combinations and timings available to work it into a long term plan. What other parts of the 2020 trip may need to be covered? Sometimes brand specific cards can be helpful not only for points but status and other perks to pair with flexible use points like UR. (and help you space out Chase applications)

 

[AmyAnne]

I have been meaning to ask the same thing for the last week and keep forgetting. I'd like to do this as well. I think that since we will be putting the initial deposit down with cash onboard, we won't have to pay with points until final payment is due, or you move it to a specific cruise (instead of placeholder status) since you have to pay the full 10% deposit amount at that time. So, my thought is to pin down a specific cruise onboard if possible so that buys me the longest time to rack up URs to put towards it.

I think you would still need to transfer the reservation to Chase within 30 days (but I am not 100% sure).

 

[miztressuz]

I upvoted! I was surprised you weren’t downvoted into oblivion for paying the cash rate and choosing to vacation at Disney.

Me too! I thought 'uh oh' when I upvoted, but I think the Trip thread isn't as cut throat. At least the days I check in on it, it hasn't been. I'm super stoked you've been getting positive feedback @DisneyMandC I do believe there's more closet Disney folks there then they like to lead us to believe.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Ok, so I think I have a gameplan.
1) just SM'd chase to confirm if I close SW Prem account prior to statement closing, I will still get my points for this month. Assuming they say yes, I will close it today.
2) Once it updates on my CR, I will app for the SW Biz...hopefully in a few days. (I saw DH's updated quickly when I closed his last month.) I have alot of credit extended with chase...which is why I want to wait for this step to app.
3)Once SW biz is approved, app for SW deluxe (name?). I am considering a DD here with another SW personal. What do we think about that? It would put me 4/24 until next summer.
4)Sometime early 2019 CIC?
5)July or Aug 2019 CSR/CSP DD

**Throw in some amex biz cards here and there to help pass the time. Also, will come up with plan for DH that will be thrown in between my apps.
View attachment 343718

OK, so critiques?

Goals...Build back up UR and RR. Need some URs for pre/post cruise stay in Dec. Need RR for spring break ski trip. Possibly Hawaii summer 2019 since we have the marriott cert to use up.

I realized if I hold out on the SW CP to post in Jan, I will get more use out of it. However, we have 2 more flights before end of 2018 and having it for those will save me at least 40k points based on current pricing. I know we will use it in 2019 for the ski trip, possibly Hawaii, flights to SC to house hunt in April, maybe MI to visit the inlaws. I don't think I will use it as much in 2020 since we are moving to SC...with no flights needed anymore for disney or to fly home to see my family. So I am ok with going ahead with it now. Just wish I had realized this several months ago. Oh well.

I know you want the CP but .wondering if 3 SW cards is too agressive....

 

[danjoealexis3006]

Report back on the results of your CSP application too

Done and approved!!

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Done and approved on CSR. Do I wait until afternoon to apply for the other or can I do it now?


So wait to add my spouse until after I am approved!

Congrats...

 

[DisneyMandC]

I upvoted! I was surprised you weren’t downvoted into oblivion for paying the cash rate and choosing to vacation at Disney.

Me too! I guess the triple points promotion bonus outweighed it

Me too! I thought 'uh oh' when I upvoted, but I think the Trip thread isn't as cut throat. At least the days I check in on it, it hasn't been. I'm super stoked you've been getting positive feedback @DisneyMandC I do believe there's more closet Disney folks there then they like to lead us to believe.

Thanks! Yeah, I always like reading the TR thread. I feel like it's generally friendlier and has some really useful information.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

CONGRATS!! That's great! You can NOW do your CSP application. (Just make sure different device, browser or incognito). You don't need to wait, My caution was just in case the FIRST card went pending, which it didn't - you were AUTO-APPROVED!

Report back on the results of your CSP application too. We aren't going to want to add your spouse at all - Chase has this pesky rule called 5/24 that any new personal CC counts against their 5 card limit. Meaning IF you have 5 personal cards from ANY issuer opened in the past 24 months, they'll stop approving you for new cards. AND unfortunately AU cards count in that mess...

The way around that is to add an AU card for your nickname, your middle name, your kid or something like that (just not your spouse).

AU question......assuming I should wait until my CSR arrives...then request the AU card online...wasn’t sure if that was the way to go or ask for a replacement or plastic card