I love credit cards so much!

[elgerber]

We did get gold status but we were also flying AA. I believe we achieved gold because we paid for a number of flights with AA gift cards, UR, MR and TYP so it looks like cash to AA and we earned the requisite butt in seat miles plus spending requirement. So far, it got me an upgrade to first when I was flying in economy (without DH) this past Christmas Eve. When I was coming back home from a work trip in Antigua we were able to use the priority lane to check in our bags even though the tickets were in coach. This saved us a huge amount of time because the line for those with economy tickets was really loooong. There was no one in the priority lane so we were able to get in and out of there. Gold status with AA means I have Ruby status with One World air alliance. Therefore, I would be able to use the priority business class check in lane for any One World alliance carrier I am flying, not just AA. AA gold gets one free checked bag, 24 hour upgrade window, complimentary auto upgrade requests on flights that are 500 miles or less and 40% elite mileage bonus.

DH decided to figure out how all this status stuff works and what exactly is and EQD and EQM and how to calculate those. While doing this he realized that our flights to Hawaii next month would earn us gold for next year too. He also discovered that we could do a Platinum challenge that would give us Platinum on AA for next year. Between the flights to/from Hawaii and the flights to DC to see Hamilton next month we'd be able to meet the criteria without doing anything extra. So, we are signed up for this AA platinum challenge now.

Thanks for the list of possible benefits! Still makes absolutely no sense that I have gold status.

.

I was going to say go for the Barclay, but you already have it? I'm confused, am I missing an AA biz card? Or is there a personal Aviator? I got the Barclay Aviator Biz bonus today, and working on the Citi AA biz now.

Yes, there is a personal Aviator as well, I had one, closed it a few months ago.

On the Hilton conversation, we really like Hamptons, never had a bad one yet, which is why I like a nice stash of Hilton points

 

[shairpdrh]

This is my DH, despite everything I show him to the contrary

Yesterday for fun I checked our TU score (granted only one DP but a reasonable estimation) and mine was 821...his 820

I think his theory is wrong!!! Of course I'll never mention it to him, instead will be quietly smug

• They assume the 2% they get back on their double cash is as good as it gets

And my husband is this one. I think that I won him over with the CSR that I asked him to open. It was (too) easy to meet the minimum spend and when I told him he could switch back to his double cash except for when he eats out he admitted that is all he really does with his CC. I think he will be more willing to work with me now. I do know he will never want to make a call, but that is pretty much his MO for all tasks that require phone calls.

 

[mefordis]

I have no experience buying gift cards for extra points, so I have a question. When my CIP comes, I should buy gift cards for my upcoming Disney trip? I need to buy two parkhoppers, so that would be almost $1000, which at 5x points from Staples would give me 5k points, from what I understand.

Thanks!

 

[amalone1013]

My favorite one is "that sounds exhausting." I've heard it from several people and more than once. To that I usually ask how many hours would they need to work and save in order to fly first class to Europe and stay in a nice hotel for a week. The flights will cost around $5,000 per person and the hotel will be about $2,000 for the week. I let them think about that for a bit. Then I explain that I spend an average of 15 minutes a day on learning to do what I do. Now tell me which one of us is more exhausted?

Exactly! A quick look in my spreadsheet tells me that I would have had to work 1300 hours over the last two years, at my average after tax rate, to have the cash equivalent of my points stash/usage. I know I didn't spend anywhere close to 1300 hours researching and applying for cards!

And I feel like $2k for a hotel is generous, depending on where you go! My friend and I spent $1400 for 11 nights here in October 2015: https://www.choicehotels.com/united-kingdom/london/comfort-inn-hotels/gb182

And then $120 a night for here: http://www.hotelcarladez.com/English--Rooms.phtml (double room with comfort shower - this one was a pretty cute place though for being cheap, I've actually looked for it on the UR portal...)

And of course these photos make everything look much larger; I'll have to see if I can find my own photos today.

Is there a way to see the seasonal points rates for Starriott properties? Trying to see how many points the Swolphin will be for Oct. 2019. Trying to decide what card(s) to recommend for DM to get. Thanks!

We don't know what dates will be considered seasonal, but they did post a generic category chart where it showed that category S/D would be will be +/- 10k points for the high and low seasons. 50k points normally.

My 50,000 UR points from CIC posted finally. I'm really bored right now with no minimum spend and I'm sitting at 3/24 with no clue what to do next.

I'm getting really impatient for the SPG Lux card...

 

[amalone1013]

I have no experience buying gift cards for extra points, so I have a question. When my CIP comes, I should buy gift cards for my upcoming Disney trip? I need to buy two parkhoppers, so that would be almost $1000, which at 5x points from Staples would give me 5k points, from what I understand.

Thanks!

Were you going to use your tickets towards your MSR anyways? I would definitely go buy the gift cards!

That's one thing I wish I'd realized originally... when I got my CSR I bought our APs as part of the MSR. If I had known more I would have at least bought gift cards at Kroger with the CSR for fuel points and used those for the APs. I missed out on $80+ in fuel savings!

 

[amalone1013]

I have no experience buying gift cards for extra points, so I have a question. When my CIP comes, I should buy gift cards for my upcoming Disney trip? I need to buy two parkhoppers, so that would be almost $1000, which at 5x points from Staples would give me 5k points, from what I understand.

Thanks!

I got too excited though, CIC is the card that earns 5x at office stores. Not CIP

 

[mefordis]

I got too excited though, CIC is the card that earns 5x at office stores. Not CIP

Really? I thought CIP gave 5x at office supply stores. So, the gift card wouldn't help me then?

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Right, should have just checked with him first.

In my case I talk alot and no one "likes" to listen.

 

[amalone1013]

Really? I thought CIP gave 5x at office supply stores. So, the gift card wouldn't help me then?

It could still somewhat. How much do your tickets come to?
Do you have a Sam's membership? Do fuel points at a grocery store?

 

[palhockeymomof2]

I have no experience buying gift cards for extra points, so I have a question. When my CIP comes, I should buy gift cards for my upcoming Disney trip? I need to buy two parkhoppers, so that would be almost $1000, which at 5x points from Staples would give me 5k points, from what I understand.

Thanks!

The CIP unfortunately does not earn 5x at Staples....the CIC does

 

[mefordis]

It could still somewhat. How much do your tickets come to?
Do you have a Sam's membership? Do fuel points at a grocery store?

I don't have fuel points and have Costco not a Sam's membership.

 

[elgerber]

In my case I talk alot and no one "likes" to listen.
View attachment 343909

Ha, mine says that too!

 

[amalone1013]

I don't have fuel points and have Costco not a Sam's membership.

I'm low on ideas then Sorry! Maybe someone else would have an idea... Not sure how quickly you need to get tickets or how much they are.

I have fuel points to use, and I have a Costco membership but signed up for Sam's a couple months ago mainly for Disney gift cards. I've found that quite a few things are cheaper at Sam's. I did one of their deals where you got a gift card and some food items. But I cash out some reward sites for Walmart gift cards and use those to buy Disney gift cards at Sam's once a month, so it made sense for me.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

The Marriott Stellaris Resort and Casino. Always been tempted to stay there, but they have double beds instead of queens so that is a big no in our family.

Oh yuck. Why do hotels even buy those beds?! I ask myself that soooo frequently.

 

[amalone1013]

Gyft is still

I've linked to my google and facebook accounts, added my phone number, tried paying through paypal with multiple different cards, tried paying with multiple different cards straight through the site, tried buying gift cards to different stores in various amounts, tried online and in the phone app...

And the help emails just keep saying: You can try:

-Adding a mobile number to your account
-Connecting a social media account to your Gyft account
-Try purchasing the gift card with a different payment method

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Can I just get a $30 gift card for the offer at Staples or do I need to get something else with it. I need to look for the Walgreens as well. I haven't made too much attention at what either place sells for GCs.

I’m not sure what staples has in store but Walgreens sells variable load Disney.

My staples only has $50 GC

I have no experience buying gift cards for extra points, so I have a question. When my CIP comes, I should buy gift cards for my upcoming Disney trip? I need to buy two parkhoppers, so that would be almost $1000, which at 5x points from Staples would give me 5k points, from what I understand.
Thanks!

Really? I thought CIP gave 5x at office supply stores. So, the gift card wouldn't help me then?

As mentioned, CIC is 5x at office supply.
Edit:...off to get more coffee.
You can use your points earned from the CIP sign up bonus to purchase disney tickets through the UR portal. Your points would be worth 1.25x. So a $300 ticket would be $240 (24,000 points).

 

[pillow]

My 50,000 UR points from CIC posted finally. I'm really bored right now with no minimum spend and I'm sitting at 3/24 with no clue what to do next.

Hyatt???

 

[MrPTato]

My staples only has $50 GC

What I typed was vague looking back on it. I should have said...will a gift card purchase trigger the requirement or should I add on something else small so its not an even amount.

 

[DaveL]

Gyft is still

I've linked to my google and facebook accounts, added my phone number, tried paying through paypal with multiple different cards, tried paying with multiple different cards straight through the site, tried buying gift cards to different stores in various amounts, tried online and in the phone app...

And the help emails just keep saying: You can try:

-Adding a mobile number to your account
-Connecting a social media account to your Gyft account
-Try purchasing the gift card with a different payment method

What amount are you trying to buy? I had so much trouble and support just had no clue about their system... I found that if I did $25~$50 they would go into a 4hr 'Processing' state and then get approved. After I did that 4~6 times I was able to buy $100 cards without a processing delay. Still have not gotten $250 cards successfully. One thing they did say and it might have a slight amount of truth to it was that if they deny one transaction all others are denied within the next 24 hours so you had to wait a full 24hrs before trying again.

 

[amalone1013]

What amount are you trying to buy? I had so much trouble and support just had no clue about their system... I found that if I did $25~$50 they would go into a 4hr 'Processing' state and then get approved. After I did that 4~6 times I was able to buy $100 cards without a processing delay. Still have not gotten $250 cards successfully. One thing they did say and it might have a slight amount of truth to it was that if they deny one transaction all others are denied within the next 24 hours so you had to wait a full 24hrs before trying again.

Mainly $50, but I've tried $10 and $25 too. I figured I'd have a better shot starting lower I've been waiting at least 24 hours, mostly trying every other day.

ETA: Maybe on the way home I will sign up via DHs phone and give that a try.