I love credit cards so much! v2.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[platamama]

While we were in Maui, I saw this and immediately thought of you @calypso726

 

[vanjust14]

I load the 200 MCGC from staples/OD to serve/bb at Walmart. They auto drain, don't even have to enter a PIN.

I really need to do this as well. How are you loading them...at the kiosk?

 

[Kawnipi]

I really need to do this as well. How are you loading them...at the kiosk?

I've loaded them at the money center or at the regular checkout lines. YMMV on how comfortable or knowledgeable the regular cashiers are doing a load. Now that the garden center is open at WM I've also been loading there. Usually a shorter line.

 

[Angrose]

Actually still have not received it. Not very happy.

Oh no. We really need a "dislike" button on the DIS!

I actually get to call Walmart soon because I ordered a gift card online and typed my own email address wrong. Yes, I am THAT stupid! I tried emailing them about it and this was their response:

"I have searched in the system about this request to resolve this case unfortunately the item you are requesting is not refundable. In this case since we can't provide a replacement or refund for the item, please be advised to dispute the charges with your financial institution."

Ugh.

 

[amalone1013]

Guys, I don't like sharing my hammer because it means bad things are happening.

 

[Lain]

DISLIKE DISLIKE DISLIKE

Ugh, I'm expecting DH's 75K United Biz card miles to post in a few days, for whatever those are worth going forward. Blech.

Yeah, one of my first thoughts was, wow, I’m glad I had my wife and I go for CIP#2s instead of the United Biz. Meanwhile, I’m sitting on over 335k UA miles wondering how best to burn them before they’re worth who knows what.

 

[bernina]

OUCH!
@amalone1013, let me borrow your hammer.

United Eliminating Award Charts and Close-in Booking Fees - VFTW

United MileagePlus Abolishes Award Charts - OMAAT

United’s Award Chart is Extinct – Here’s What Awards Now Cost - TPG

I'm still digesting the news, but it's not good. MileagePlus redemption rates on United will be dynamic, and there will no longer be a minimum or maximum price for awards. Changes effective 11/15/19.

 

[1st*toright]

OUCH!
@amalone1013, let me borrow your hammer.

United Eliminating Award Charts and Close-in Booking Fees - VFTW

United MileagePlus Abolishes Award Charts - OMAAT

United’s Award Chart is Extinct – Here’s What Awards Now Cost - TPG

I'm still digesting the news, but it's not good. MileagePlus redemption rates on United will be dynamic, and there will no longer be a minimum or maximum price for awards. Changes effective 11/15/19.

Noooooooo.... I'm still a month out from being able to book my trip to Europe. I have enough points now, just hope its enough when my booking window comes around.

 

[amalone1013]

So, @calypso726 ... going to WDW Dapper Day? Asking for a friend

 

[1st*toright]

You sure you want to visit Santa Cruz?

Yeah, there is no way that I'm going to see that movie, so I think I'll be ok. But we are definitely not going into any fun houses on the boardwalk.

 

[bernina]

I've loaded them at the money center or at the regular checkout lines. YMMV on how comfortable or knowledgeable the regular cashiers are doing a load. Now that the garden center is open at WM I've also been loading there. Usually a shorter line.

Once upon a time I had 2 Bluebird cards that were eventually shut down due to the frequent loading and unloading the max each month. Any chance to get back into the game or am I blacklisted for life?

 

[bernina]

Totally but, I hope someone here will have advice. We are planning to drive to Lynchburg, VA tomorrow morning from the Baltimore area, leaving at 7:30ish. The route has us going around 495 and then taking I66 to Gainesville and picking up Route 29 to Lynchburg. We can't be late, LOL.
My questions are
1. Will 495 be too crazy on Saturday morning due to the Cherry Blossom Festival?
2. How is Route 29 through VA? Is it a restricted access 4 lane highway or will be be slowing down through every small town?

I’m in Michigan so definitely not a DC expert, however I have two very recent FB posts from good friends about how much DC traffic bites due to the cherry blossoms. One is simply driving through on her way back to Maine, the other was headed into downtown to view the blossoms (I know you’re not doing that). As others have said use Waze and any other apps that let you see expected future travel times and add in a decent buffer.

 

[Lain]

Semi-good news?

• United isn’t immediately adjusting redemption costs on partner airlines, but they’re also not publishing a partner award chart anymore, so I expect we’ll see those change over time. - OMAAT
• [T]hese changes do not affect how partner awards are being priced at this time. There will be “some variability if United segments” are included in the flight itinerary. - VFTW

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

Semi-good news?

• United isn’t immediately adjusting redemption costs on partner airlines, but they’re also not publishing a partner award chart anymore, so I expect we’ll see those change over time. - OMAAT
• [T]hese changes do not affect how partner awards are being priced at this time. There will be “some variability if United segments” are included in the flight itinerary. - VFTW

10:1 partner awards will be dynamic by October when I will be booking

 

[havaneselover]

I’m in Michigan so definitely not a DC expert, however I have two very recent FB posts from good friends about how much DC traffic bites due to the cherry blossoms. One is simply driving through on her way back to Maine, the other was headed into downtown to view the blossoms (I know you’re not doing that). As others have said use Waze and any other apps that let you see expected future travel times and add in a decent buffer.

I think the big question mark is whether taking 495 will minimize the congestion. I suspect it will but 495 can still be a mess on a normal weekend day. DC traffic is bad/unpredictable so a geneous buffer is the only way to handle it. I still remember a 16-hour trip after thanksgiving break from SW CT to Charlottesville (sat for about 8 hours just south of DC).

 

[trstno1]

I load the 200 MCGC from staples/OD to serve/bb at Walmart. They auto drain, don't even have to enter a PIN.

Any problem transferring from Serve to your bank account?

 

[Kawnipi]

Once upon a time I had 2 Bluebird cards that were eventually shut down due to the frequent loading and unloading the max each month. Any chance to get back into the game or am I blacklisted for life?

I've seen no DPs for anyone getting unbanned. I think you are probably done with BB/Serve.

 

[Kawnipi]

Any problem transferring from Serve to your bank account?

Nope.

 

[Judique]

Okay, Hilton Honors/American Express is playing with me. I got a HH email for an 80k bonus on the no fee personal card with 1K spend.

I look on the Amex website and its 100K (for me) with 1k spend.

I log in and it's 75K with 1k spend.

I mentioned possibly getting this card. They are spying on me.....

 

[Judique]

Totally but, I hope someone here will have advice. We are planning to drive to Lynchburg, VA tomorrow morning from the Baltimore area, leaving at 7:30ish. The route has us going around 495 and then taking I66 to Gainesville and picking up Route 29 to Lynchburg. We can't be late, LOL.
My questions are
1. Will 495 be too crazy on Saturday morning due to the Cherry Blossom Festival?
2. How is Route 29 through VA? Is it a restricted access 4 lane highway or will be be slowing down through every small town?

I think the big question mark is whether taking 495 will minimize the congestion. I suspect it will but 495 can still be a mess on a normal weekend day. DC traffic is bad/unpredictable so a geneous buffer is the only way to handle it. I still remember a 16-hour trip after thanksgiving break from SW CT to Charlottesville (sat for about 8 hours just south of DC).

Picking up on the 'we can't be late'. What time is late? I'm in the area and drive the beltway fairly often.

The biggest challenge is when there is an accident, which is pretty frequent. Google says 3 and 1/2 to 4 and 1/2 hours from B'More to Lynchburg.

The Cherry Blossom peak was earlier this week - Monday or Tuesday I think. I doubt they will have much impact on the beltway, but if you try cutting through town (295) you will probably have a problem.

I would give myself a 2 hour cushion and then have breakfast somewhere around Fredericksburg. Not sure about using 29 as I've never needed to use 29 that far north to south in Virginia, and it wouldn't occur to me to do that. Not that it's a bad idea, but I'm more the 'jump in the express lanes and use my ez pass' type, but in the AM, they may be closed going south on Saturday morning after the Springfield interchange. The lanes on the Virginia side of 495 would be open until Springfield at least. I'd probably take 95 all the way to Fredericksburg and then 3 to Culpepper and then pick up 29 through Charlottesville to Lynchburg.

One thing guaranteed - there will be substantial traffic - the question is whether it will move at 60mph or 5mph, and your best guess on this will be to check it early tomorrow morning to see what is actually happening.

Editing to add in that 66 west to 29 could also be challenging as lots of people head that way on a Saturday to get out of town.