I love credit cards so much!

[Lain]

I’m new to this too but I also applied for CSR a couple of weeks ago. I called the number few times to check the status and it said my app was still under review. However, I just checked my mail yesterday and there was a letter from chase asking me to call and verify my app.(It was dated like a week ago but I don’t check everyday). It said that if I did not call within 10 days my app would be cancelled. Anyway, I called and was approved over the phone.

You may be new, but you still deserve an approval party! Congratulations!

 

[Lain]

Quick question - Marriott Business card - the 75 k/free night one - does this card have a referral offer?

No.

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

Two questions from my dh:

When you are not working on a minimum spend, what card do you use for purchases that do not qualify for a bonus amount (for example, car repairs)? Why did you choose to use that card?

Thanks

 

[Ngwira]

Just remembered, @Ngwira stayed at the Hyatt by the airport. I feel like she said it was 8k pts per night.

We are staying there this Saturday after our 11:00pm arrival at MCO. I booked a points plus cash (6,000 points plus $75 rate) but it's a Category 4 so 12,000 ppn normally.

 

[Ngwira]

Two questions from my dh:

When you are not working on a minimum spend, what card do you use for purchases that do not qualify for a bonus amount (for example, car repairs)? Why did you choose to use that card?

Thanks

I use my CFU (Chase Freedom Unlimited) because it gets 1.5 points on all spend.

 

[peel]

Two questions from my dh:

When you are not working on a minimum spend, what card do you use for purchases that do not qualify for a bonus amount (for example, car repairs)? Why did you choose to use that card?

Thanks

I'm currently using the SPG, because come August 1st and the Marriott/SPG merger there will be an earnings devaluation, so I'm trying to get as many SPG points as I can until that time. After that, I'll go back to racking up URs with the CFU at 1.5x.

 

[amalone1013]

We are staying there this Saturday after our 11:00pm arrival at MCO. I booked a points plus cash (6,000 points plus $75 rate) but it's a Category 4 so 12,000 ppn normally.

I'm not as good as @Lain, I need my own spreadsheet


ETA: oops, I was talking about Vegas for @wendow. Did you stay at the Hyatt in Vegas? Otherwise I'm making things up in my head!

 

[Ngwira]

Another option - Hilton Garden Inn Las Vegas South - we stayed there for 2 nights a few years ago and thought it was good. They have a double queen junior suite which will take six. Its about 3 miles south of the bottom of the strip.

We did the Hyatt Place Las Vegas and for 4,000 points plus $55, it was pretty good.

 

[Ngwira]

I'm not as good as @Lain, I need my own spreadsheet


ETA: oops, I was talking about Vegas for @wendow. Did you stay at the Hyatt in Vegas? Otherwise I'm making things up in my head!

Yes, we stayed at the Hyatt Place Las Vegas in February and it was a good stay. We are at the Hyatt Regency MCO this weekend and have 3 upcoming stays there due to late flights in August and November.

 

[elgerber]

All of the sudden I feel I need that t-shirt. I didn't know I needed it 30 seconds ago, but it is crystal clear to me now that I do. As for getting kissed by a giraffe I think I'm good watching others, like when I bought the t-shirt in Mexico that said "I fed a shark" but I absolutely did NOT join those crazy people being dropped into that shark tank ...

 

[schmass]

I'm currently using the SPG, because come August 1st and the Marriott/SPG merger there will be an earnings devaluation, so I'm trying to get as many SPG points as I can until that time. After that, I'll go back to racking up URs with the CFU at 1.5x.

Me too on the SPG until August 1. I don't have a CFU, so I'm not sure what my go-to card will be after that. I'll probably try buying giftcards with my CIC. @LuckyMamaInDE

 

[tink1970]

When you are not working on a minimum spend, what card do you use for purchases that do not qualify for a bonus amount (for example, car repairs)? Why did you choose to use that card?

I juggle--use my Amex Everyday Preferred for 1.5 MR most places, but if the location doesn't take Amex either Discover It (in my first year so the 1% is matched at the end of the year so 2%) OR Chase Freedom Unlimited at 1.5% as others do. What is the tiebreaker between Discover It and CFU? Basically my mood

 

[jhoannam]

Hi everyone... so I'm rethinking our Hawaii trip - mostly because I keep reading how expensive everything is. We are planning 13 days, I could cut that back but I feel like we should do at least do 10 days since travel time is about 17 hours.
We would have all flights and hotel covered via points, but that still leaves all food and activities. I could see us spending $500/day, would you all agree with that? Is that a reasonable amount for a family of 4 - we would like to do some activities- like snorkeling, Kualoa Tour, Road to Hana, boat rental, Luau. Car rentals and activities would be about $3.5K.
We are now considering Costa Rica, is that just as expensive as Hawaii? We would only do 8 days in Costa Rica. I haven't done much research there so I'm not sure how expensive an 8 day trip would be, we would also do many activities including zip-lines, hot springs, tours.

Trip would be around Memorial Day 2019.

 

[Lain]

I have met my spend and bonus posted on Amex SPG Business a couple weeks ago. I do not have a minimum spend and I am trying to be good but it is making me sad. I am also on the waitlist to buy a small direct DVC contract and it would be awesome when that came through to put the spend on a card and meet it all at once!

DH (player #2) wants to take a break for a bit on his cards. Which is fine since I plan on getting him the new Chase Ink Business Unlimited but want to space it out for a while since this will be his third Chase business card and we just got the CIC at the end of April. I think Amex doesn't like him (all my drama with his bonus posting on the Delta Amex business) so I want to stay away from them.

I am tapped out with Chase right now. I think it was a minor miracle I got the CIP. Before I even consider applying again I figure I need to wait about 6 months, be 3/24, and lower some credit limits.

Should I try to pull the Amex Platinum offer now for 100,000? Maybe wait a bit until the fall? I know @Lain talked about that it makes more sense later on in the calendar year. I have not ventured into Amex MR's at all. I want too but also don't want to push my luck with Amex.

I am intrigued by the rumored Barclaycard 60,000 Arrival Plus. I had the first version years ago but cancelled it when they changed some of the redemption rules on it. Should I maybe just try applying for it when it drops in a couple weeks?

If you apply for the Amex Plat in late-November or December, you’ll be able to triple dip the $200 airline fee credit on one AF before possibly canceling the card before the second AF comes due. If you apply at any other time of the year, you can still double dip the airline fee credit.

You mentioned wanting to get back under 5/24. The Plat will add to your */24 count, but it likely won’t get reported on your credit reports until the close of your second billing statement, so about 2 months after the Plat is approved.

If you can pull the 100k MR offer, that’d be awesome. Cardmatch is supposedly targeting the 100k MR offers again.

(Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to pull up the 100k MR offer on Cardmatch for DW again. But I was able to pull the 75k MR offer by going incognito with my VPN set to Brazil.)

I think the best redemption value on MR is probably to transfer the points to a partner airline, particularly when there’s a transfer bonus. All MR points earned on any of your MR cards are automatically pooled into your MR account, but you’ll need to keep at least one MR-earning card open to keep all the points alive. I’ve been eyeing the Blue Business Plus (“BBP”) for that purpose, because I do want to cancel my PRG next year and may want to churn through the Platinum flavors eventually, so there might be some gap where I won’t have an MR card.

Points aside, if you go for the Plat now, would you have any use for the other card benefits, like Hilton and SPG Gold status; Pre-check and Global Entry credit, $15/month Uber credits ($35 in December); Centurion/PP/Escape Lounge access? You’re a Delta hostage in or around SLC, right? The Plat also offers complimentary access to Delta Sky Clubs when traveling on same-day Delta operated flights, but guest access is another $29 per person. I’m not sure if your Delta cards offer the same or better lounge benefits.

 

[Ngwira]

Re: Chase freedom categories-I have several walgreens near my house so can buy giftcards. I also commute 100 miles a day so the gas category is a welcome gift. Don't use lyft much though.

I plan to use my Discover It to max out restaurant categories on Disney dining.

 

[amalone1013]

Just sitting here, mulling over the really important questions...

Can I make a Labor Day trip work to do the waterparks? Why doesn't DH have more vacation time? Is it excessive to do that and go again 2 weeks later? Do we need APs again?

 

[Judique]

No.

Thank you!

 

[calypso726]

Two questions from my dh:

When you are not working on a minimum spend, what card do you use for purchases that do not qualify for a bonus amount (for example, car repairs)? Why did you choose to use that card?

Thanks

Currently SPG card since it will be devalued on August 1st and those points are the most valuable to me. I also want to try to ahve enough points to get 2 more hotel flight packages by transferring to Marriott and ability to upgrade those packages as well.

After that, I may be splitting the difference between the Amex Blue Business card which is 2x MR on all spend and the CFU which is 1.5x.

 

[calypso726]

Just sitting here, mulling over the really important questions...

Can I make a Labor Day trip work to do the waterparks? Why doesn't DH have more vacation time? Is it excessive to do that and go again 2 weeks later? Do we need APs again?

Yes.
Dunno, but is his PTO negotiable during an annual review. I'd be negotiating more PTO if that was on the table.
Of course not.
Doesn't everybody?

Signed,
The person who is contemplating a weekend trip to Paris to hit the 2 parks just so we can say we did all 12 parks the same year. * pages through dictionary searching for the definition to the word "excessive" *

 

[DisneyMandC]

The person who is contemplating a weekend trip to Paris to hit the 2 parks just so we can say we did all 12 parks the same year.

I'm pretty sure it was in your trip report that you mentioned that you'd been to 11 of 12 parks in the past year? Thought it was you...

Anyways, whoever's it was, I read that and thought "oh, they definitely need to remedy that."