I love credit cards so much!

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Thanks for the SWA reminder. I was able to get my flights to the Star Wars Half, but will have to wait to next release to get the return on Monday.

I also had to share my exciting award travel news. I was able to secure premium cabin seats for all four of us for our flights to and from our ABD Japan trip next summer. For DH and DS, I got Business/First seats via the Virgin Atlantic/ANA redemption for a *crazy* 154,000 MRs (total). Thank you VS Amex transfer bonus! They will be flying to Tokyo in Business and returning in First. I had them booked in Business on JAL via BA at 150,000 avios ONE WAY (same flight my daughter and I are on). Now they are on ANA and getting the first class return ticket essentially for free.

The Virgin Atlantic/ANA deal has to be one of the best award deals out there. I'm pinching myself. The cash cost for these flights? $21,391.

But while DH and DS will have to "slum it" (ROFL!!) in business one way, DD and I have RT First award seats on JAL!!! Right now my cost is 400k avios, but I'm hoping to get that down. Cash cost for these flights right now for the two of us? A whopping $31,495. I'll definitely be adding to my jammy collection and it will be nice to compare the two ANA/JAL first products.

So I now have over $52,000 worth of flights booked for 554,000 miles (may go down if I switch around a few things). Not that I would ever pay that, but not too bad! Bring on the Cristal!

 

[amalone1013]

One last perk my job does have...

 

[Calfan]

A few random items:

Twitter was definitely the way to go with Delta customer service. Within 60 seconds of Tweeting my displeasure with the lack of any response from Delta CS, I had a reply Tweet and then a PM from someone offering to help. His initial PM indicated it can take Delta CS 60 to 90 days to respond to a CS inquiry. Are you serious??? I wonder if that is the direct result of the number of CS complaints/inquiries received, lol! The upshot of our back and forth is that CS still needs to address the issue, but he is reaching out to them directly on my behalf. He took all of the details about the flight, confirm #, ticket #s, etc. So now still need to wait for a response from CS, but hopefully his facilitation will light a fire under them and generate a response.

United is looking better and better in comparison. The 3K additional miles (on top of the 7,500 already provided) hit each of our MileagePlus accounts as of this morning.

Hit Southwest this morning to buy my flight to MCO for the Star Wars Half Marathon weekend in April. My return date was just outside the booking window opened up by SW, so will have to wait for the next release to book that one.

Maxed out my CF for this quarter with a lunchtime run to Walgreens. Walgreens turned out to be a super convenient category for maxing out CF. It is really close to my office and has a huge selection of gcs. And so far, I've received $9 cash back from RMN in-store Walgreens offers, with another $2 pending.

 

[Alexle2007]

FWIW, YC/BC is where my boys ALWAYS ask to stay.

Thanks! DS and I have come u with plan while at the pool in VA Beach. Sat- pool and Halloween party, Sun- Epcot to ride Test Track (his favorite ride), HS to ride ToT, RnR and TSM and off to AK for the rest of day to ride FOP, EE and Dinosaur (FOP is the must do) and Mon-pool until it’s time to leave the airport. I’ll take my PP with so maybe we can hop over there while killing time for our SW flight since we will only have a carry-on and we have Pre-check. Looking forward to this time with DS

 

[vanjust14]

Thanks! DS and I have come u with plan while at the pool in VA Beach. Sat- pool and Halloween party, Sun- Epcot to ride Test Track (his favorite ride), HS to ride ToT, RnR and TSM and off to AK for the rest of day to ride FOP, EE and Dinosaur (FOP is the must do) and Mon-pool until it’s time to leave the airport. I’ll take my PP with so maybe we can hop over there while killing time for our SW flight since we will only have a carry-on and we have Pre-check. Looking forward to this time with DS

Sounds like a GREAT plan! My son also loved Stormalong Bay. BC/YC is definitely one of my faves...you will have a blast!

 

[MrsAlexis]

I am (finally) expecting to receive my Amex Hilton Biz today. Do I need a separate login for the biz card?

Also with all the talk of the Amex offer clawbacks, is an offer used on a personal card and used on a business card considered the same "person"? Do we know the specifics of this yet?

 

[MrPTato]

We love the BC/YC pool! It's my kid's fav

Sounds like a GREAT plan! My son also loved Stormalong Bay. BC/YC is definitely one of my faves...you will have a blast!

Ok ladies (or anyone else)...which has the better pool(s) and things to do? No park...just Disney Springs and hotel. BC or BW? My 4yo loved the pool at BLT in May and it was pretty basic. Thinking about maybe doing a character breakfast before heading to port. Cape May?

 

[Calfan]

OMG it’s the day to book JNB trips! Well, technically I only got my return but I’m really hoping something opens up with UA for the fight there. Right now the best I’m seeing for my dates is 75k AA miles + $880 for fights in biz on AA & BA, I’m really hoping something on Swiss or Lufthansa up with UA from the West Coast because I’d much rather pay 80k UA!

All the Africa love is awesome, lol My advice on United is definitely to check the website at least daily, if not several times a day. I found our Business Savers on Swiss by searching for just 1 seat, on the theory that I could start upgrading us one at a time (at least with our original itinerary, so we'd all be on the same plane). This was the first time since initially booking quite a few weeks ago, that I saw a Business Saver for the entire route (versus a mixed route with only one leg being Business and the others being Economy). Once I saw it, I redid my search for 4 seats, and it still popped up. I immediately called United to get the upgrade processed. I called the number on the back of my United Club card, which got me to a Premier CS agent. He was totally on the ball and knew exactly what he was doing with the upgrade. I checked United again this morning because now my thinking is: if a First Saver opens up on the same flight, why not?? No such luck with First (but I'll keep checking), and the Business Savers are gone now for our flight. I guess I wiped them out

 

[FloridaNative8]

Ok ladies (or anyone else)...which has the better pool(s) and things to do? No park...just Disney Springs and hotel. BC or BW? My 4yo loved the pool at BLT in May and it was pretty basic. Thinking about maybe doing a character breakfast before heading to port. Cape May?

I cast my vote for BC! Especially for your 4yo - so many different parts of the pool that he can use (the sandy bottom is fun too). We enjoyed Cape May for breakfast - what a fun way to kickoff a cruise!!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

30 minutes on the phone with Marriott so they can tell me nope, we won’t extend your cert which expires at the beginning of March so you can use it at the end of March. Maybe you can call back in February, sometimes we can extend the certificates when they are close to expiring.

 

[chattadisser]

A few random items:

Twitter was definitely the way to go with Delta customer service. Within 60 seconds of Tweeting my displeasure with the lack of any response from Delta CS, I had a reply Tweet and then a PM from someone offering to help. His initial PM indicated it can take Delta CS 60 to 90 days to respond to a CS inquiry. Are you serious??? I wonder if that is the direct result of the number of CS complaints/inquiries received, lol! The upshot of our back and forth is that CS still needs to address the issue, but he is reaching out to them directly on my behalf. He took all of the details about the flight, confirm #, ticket #s, etc. So now still need to wait for a response from CS, but hopefully his facilitation will light a fire under them and generate a response.

United is looking better and better in comparison. The 3K additional miles (on top of the 7,500 already provided) hit each of our MileagePlus accounts as of this morning.

Hit Southwest this morning to buy my flight to MCO for the Star Wars Half Marathon weekend in April. My return date was just outside the booking window opened up by SW, so will have to wait for the next release to book that one.

Maxed out my CF for this quarter with a lunchtime run to Walgreens. Walgreens turned out to be a super convenient category for maxing out CF. It is really close to my office and has a huge selection of gcs. And so far, I've received $9 cash back from RMN in-store Walgreens offers, with another $2 pending.

Glad that Delta is moving now due to your tweet! But doesn't it just make you mad that you have to tweet them to get them to respond? And for it to take CS 60-90 days to respond...I would say they must have one person responding but I think it is because they have that many complaints coming in. Hey Delta...news flash, start having real people answer your phones and you won't have that many complaints.

You also reminded me, I need to run to Walgreens and pick up a few gift cards for the CF 3rd quarter.

 

[1st*toright]

All the Africa love is awesome, lol My advice on United is definitely to check the website at least daily, if not several times a day. I found our Business Savers on Swiss by searching for just 1 seat, on the theory that I could start upgrading us one at a time (at least with our original itinerary, so we'd all be on the same plane). This was the first time since initially booking quite a few weeks ago, that I saw a Business Saver for the entire route (versus a mixed route with only one leg being Business and the others being Economy). Once I saw it, I redid my search for 4 seats, and it still popped up. I immediately called United to get the upgrade processed. I called the number on the back of my United Club card, which got me to a Premier CS agent. He was totally on the ball and knew exactly what he was doing with the upgrade. I checked United again this morning because now my thinking is: if a First Saver opens up on the same flight, why not?? No such luck with First (but I'll keep checking), and the Business Savers are gone now for our flight. I guess I wiped them out

Hmmm... I was looking at the United Club card, in anticipation of a possible family trip to Europe in 2020, but then I was thinking I don't need another lux card with a $450 fee (I've currently got the Amex Plat Biz and 2 CSRs in the house). I know, most of those fees get offset with card benefits and I do bank account bonuses specifically to cover the rest of the AFs, but I'm starting to feel a little silly with all these high end cards...

I'm getting to the end of my Amex Lux spend, so feeling the need for another MSR...

 

[wendow]

Hope my WL comes through...I think my little ones would love the pool.

The area for littles is great! That pool offers something for all ages which is why we love it so much.

 

[havaneselover]

Yeah I really don't know how we're gonna meet the $5k spend on the new Lux. I'm also working on Hyatt, but thats Visa and much easier. I need to see if my electric company takes Amex. Prepaying that is probably the easiest thing.

I paid Dominion using my SPG Biz in April.

My DD's swimming dues are due in April so I'm in good shape with my SPG Lux

 

[Albort]

I am (finally) expecting to receive my Amex Hilton Biz today. Do I need a separate login for the biz card?

Also with all the talk of the Amex offer clawbacks, is an offer used on a personal card and used on a business card considered the same "person"? Do we know the specifics of this yet?

you may need to create one, then merge it into whatever account u have set up. i recall having to create one for SPG biz to combine with my SPG personal. When i got my Biz Plat, i just added it to my main login.
At the moment, it seems like it only affects the Business card side only. The only one that was on personal card, the term seems to suggest we are safe.(best buy). All the other ones, were only available on Amex Biz cards.

 

[calypso726]

Still catching up on the thread

So . . . for those with the SPG Luxury card AND the $300 Amex offer . . .

If I charge exactly $300 at the Marriott front desk, will I get $60 back from the Amex offer AND the $300 Lux credit? Or, would my Marriott spend be netted as $240 for Lux credit purposes. Just wondering if I should charge $360 at the front desk, which would net me $300 in order to use up the Lux credit.

Scrambling to try and figure this out before we leave town tomorrow. Marriott res tomorrow night!

I am hoping to be a DP for this in the near future but with the $500 Ritz for $100 of on the SPG lux combo. I wasn’t able to get the $300 for $60 on my card but I did get the other one. We’ll see if I can squeeze in a Ritz stay somewhere soon.

So, how do you decide where to go/what to do? Are there resources you use for trip inspiration with points/miles?

I feel like we have so many options opened up to us now. There's so much I want to do! See all 50 states, travel internationally!

Now I'm torn, do I try to hoard my points for an international trip in 3ish years? Utilize points to travel more frequently to cheaper places in the U.S.? Use points to help a good friend and her children experience WDW?

Oh the decisions!!!

Deciding: Part of it crossing off bucket list items. Part of it is ridiculous and fanciful whims “because we can” thanks to this hobby. Part of it is inspiration from others who share their trips and goals. I’d like to get to the point that I’m literally throwing a dart at a world map and then plan to go where it lands. That’s also a bucket list item so, two birds, same stone.

To answer the other questions:

Yes, do hoard your points and travel internationally.

Yes, go see all 50 states and get in some frequent inexpensive trips.

Yes, help your friend with the gift of travel using points and miles.

The beauty of this hobby is that you don’t have to choose. Once you get the ball rolling, you can do all of those things and then some.

Yeah, decisions are hard. That's why I just go to the same 3-4 places each year...HAHA (yeah it's true...and it makes me happy )

*looks for darts to throw at the map on the wall to plan the 2021 trip*

Lol lately I have been questioning if kids are the best choice. I want them but then I went to Steakhouse 55 and Blue Bayou and spent $220 and $185 for just SO and I. How on earth could we afford those meals if we had more people??? I’ll get my final food costs when we check out Friday but I think we are approaching over $1k spent on food this trip. Are kids really worth giving up nice Disneyland meals? Lol maybe our income will also increase so I won’t have to make any sacrifices. Lol

Well I see you’ve heard from some of the parents. I’ll chime in since we have no kids. Best. Decision. Ever. FOR US. I love kids and so does DH but we did not have that burning desire to be parents. I’m not wired that way. That is ok. Some folks are meant to be parents and that is awesome. We were meant to be an aunt and uncle. There is a wonderful lack of responsibility that comes with that and financial freedom. That said, when the clock stops ticking you can’t go back so it isn’t a decision to be made lightly. Do what is right for you.

 

[tink1970]

Ok ladies (or anyone else)...which has the better pool(s) and things to do? No park...just Disney Springs and hotel. BC or BW? My 4yo loved the pool at BLT in May and it was pretty basic. Thinking about maybe doing a character breakfast before heading to port. Cape May?

I think the clown head pool (if it's still there) at BW is freaky and scary (but I did read IT while housesitting so there's that). BC is much better for most people, I think. Cape May is a great idea and such a fun way to start off a cruise. Well played!

I'm getting to the end of my Amex Lux spend, so feeling the need for another MSR

That was...fast! Since the card has existed for a week, even more impressive

 

[DisneyMandC]

Can someone else with an upcoming Disney reservation maybe do me a favor and check something on MDE for me? I have my room, tickets, etc. linked on MDE and am 70 days out. I just decided to play around with the "choose FP" button, and when I went to choose the date I want to make a FP for, it only lets me advance 30 days from now, not 60 even though I have a room reservation. Anyone else seeing this, or is something wrong with mine? I just don't want to be staring this problem down 10 days from now when I'm trying to make FPs for HS!

ETA: the system will actually let me click on a date within 30 days and make FP, but I can't get beyond 30 days. I only purchase one day tickets.

 

[amalone1013]

@vanjust14 When you did the Universal ticket promo for the 3 days plus 2 free, did you do just the 2 park USO/IOA tickets?

 

[MrPTato]

Can someone else with an upcoming Disney reservation maybe do me a favor and check something on MDE for me? I have my room, tickets, etc. linked on MDE and am 70 days out. I just decided to play around with the "choose FP" button, and when I went to choose the date I want to make a FP for, it only lets me advance 30 days from now, not 60 even though I have a room reservation. Anyone else seeing this, or is something wrong with mine? I just don't want to be staring this problem down 10 days from now when I'm trying to make FPs for HS!

ETA: the system will actually let me click on a date within 30 days and make FP, but I can't get beyond 30 days. I only purchase one day tickets.

You can book 30 days forward and that is it if you don't have an AP. Once you are at 60 days, your trip will then populate on the calendar for the entire length of your trip (up to 10 days). Does that make sense?

ETA: I just looked and I can only book through Sept 13th...when our APs expire. I still think above it correct when you have a room booked. Hope someone can chime in.