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

[Lain]

These numbers are just making me green with envy. My goal is to get enough points to fly two people round trip on United Polaris to and from Europe in summer or fall 2020 and pay for all hotels (good hotels) completely on points. I do not have nearly enough.

If it makes you feel any better, nobody feels like they'll ever have enough points.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Well, I'm pretty jealous of y'all!

Lol you wouldn't be if you knew that Amex has given me two pop-ups on apps when I only have two cards with them.

 

[Lain]

I'm not seeing the appeal in the backpacks. They are kind of plain. But I guess I am not a kid or a millennial. lol My friend told me Dakine is the hip brand. lol She did get a lot of compliments on it by millennials while we were walking around Key West. It did have a cute pattern. I thought it was the 7 dwarves, but now am second guessing myself because I don't see that online anywhere. But you really couldn't tell what they were unless you looked closely. I bought my DH a plain colored Dakine backpack and he loves it.

I keep meaning to ask @Lain, how is the Casper mattress? I still haven't bought anything but made the mistake of giving them my email. They keep sending me 10% coupons.

Dakine is a very hip, but practical [eta: functional] brand. Fjällräven is hip, but there's not nearly enough storage or pockets, but hey they come in tons of colors that the kids love.

I'm really loving our new Casper mattress! My wife does too. You might recall that I prefer a firmer mattress and my wife likes a softer mattress; the Casper is kind of a nice medium for both of us. We LOVE LOVE LOVE the pillows though! But of course, picking a mattress (or even a pillow) is a very personal thing. Fortunately, Casper has a 100-day free trial and free returns on most of their products. We'll be keeping ours. Casper's products are also pricey, and I don't know if I would've splurged that much if it weren't for the Amex Offers. I was lucky enough to get targeted for and stacked 2 Amex Offers at Casper and got a $250 statement credit and 25k MRs! Throw in a coupon and 4% back from Ebates, and I think we got a pretty good deal.

 

[Chancery8]

Just some updates from last week...I waited patiently for DH's 3 months from last app to get him to take his second sip from the CIPpy cup. Approved one day after submitting the app! SM'd to expedite it and should be here today. Had been concerned about expediting it because the first card, opened 3 months ago, is still open, but no issues. He also received his approval letter from Citi stating they would match his 40k pt dummy offer to the 60k pt offer.

I wasn't so lucky with my match to 70K pts. Alas, I got a big fat denial letter from Citi saying I wasn't solicited for the offer, etc. DH so helpfully told me that's what I get for being greedy...The letter asked me to send in proof I was solicited for the offer. I'm thinking, solicited? It's a public offer. Guess they didn't get the memo that the public offers were updated. I was tempted to send in the public link, but decided to just do another late night chat, but asking for the typical 60k this time. Now to wait another 7-10 days to see what they say.

Oh, and I made my very 1st redemption using my CSR on the Chase portal to book a hotel! Love the 1.5x redemption. DS's spring break is this week and we're off to LA on Wed, and we'll also head to Anaheim while we're there to go to Disneyland! I'm excited, but also a bit wary of how busy it'll be since it's spring break week. Any opinions on whether we should get MaxPass, or not worth it if it's so busy all the fast passes get distributed in the first few hours?

 

[DisneyMandC]

Just some updates from last week...I waited patiently for DH's 3 months from last app to get him to take his second sip from the CIPpy cup. Approved one day after submitting the app! SM'd to expedite it and should be here today. Had been concerned about expediting it because the first card, opened 3 months ago, is still open, but no issues. He also received his approval letter from Citi stating they would match his 40k pt dummy offer to the 60k pt offer.

I wasn't so lucky with my match to 70K pts. Alas, I got a big fat denial letter from Citi saying I wasn't solicited for the offer, etc. DH so helpfully told me that's what I get for being greedy...The letter asked me to send in proof I was solicited for the offer. I'm thinking, solicited? It's a public offer. Guess they didn't get the memo that the public offers were updated. I was tempted to send in the public link, but decided to just do another late night chat, but asking for the typical 60k this time. Now to wait another 7-10 days to see what they say.

Oh, and I made my very 1st redemption using my CSR on the Chase portal to book a hotel! Love the 1.5x redemption. DS's spring break is this week and we're off to LA on Wed, and we'll also head to Anaheim while we're there to go to Disneyland! I'm excited, but also a bit wary of how busy it'll be since it's spring break week. Any opinions on whether we should get MaxPass, or not worth it if it's so busy all the fast passes get distributed in the first few hours?

I LOVE MaxPass. It's so worth the $10 in my opinion and is super easy to use.

 

[MrsAlexis]

Happy April 15th everyone! Hope you got your taxes or extension filed! I haven't been able to keep up or even lurk for 3 months but I am free! Hope all has been well

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Just some updates from last week...I waited patiently for DH's 3 months from last app to get him to take his second sip from the CIPpy cup. Approved one day after submitting the app! SM'd to expedite it and should be here today. Had been concerned about expediting it because the first card, opened 3 months ago, is still open, but no issues. He also received his approval letter from Citi stating they would match his 40k pt dummy offer to the 60k pt offer.

I wasn't so lucky with my match to 70K pts. Alas, I got a big fat denial letter from Citi saying I wasn't solicited for the offer, etc. DH so helpfully told me that's what I get for being greedy...The letter asked me to send in proof I was solicited for the offer. I'm thinking, solicited? It's a public offer. Guess they didn't get the memo that the public offers were updated. I was tempted to send in the public link, but decided to just do another late night chat, but asking for the typical 60k this time. Now to wait another 7-10 days to see what they say.

Oh, and I made my very 1st redemption using my CSR on the Chase portal to book a hotel! Love the 1.5x redemption. DS's spring break is this week and we're off to LA on Wed, and we'll also head to Anaheim while we're there to go to Disneyland! I'm excited, but also a bit wary of how busy it'll be since it's spring break week. Any opinions on whether we should get MaxPass, or not worth it if it's so busy all the fast passes get distributed in the first few hours?

Were you trying to match a 40k offer to 70k? If so, that isn't possible based on all DPs available. The maximum Citi will offer in the form of a match is 20k apparently regardless of what offer you chose initially. So basically it's the lesser of 75k total points or 20k additional points.

 

[speedyfishy]

600 more MR's coming my way. My Safeway has Apple Pay. Shoutout to the cashier that let me split my groceries into three separate transactions.

 

[Chancery8]

I LOVE MaxPass. It's so worth the $10 in my opinion and is super easy to use.

Haha, I was reading about it and it didn't sound super easy...my brain is on strike after doing taxes. It does seem like it would be worth it if I can figure out how to stack the fastpasses. I was just concerned about availability of the passes on busy days. Read something on another thread about all the good rides being gone after just an hour or two on busy days, making MaxPass not worth it. I'm so used to Disney World fast pass system and so clueless about MaxPass.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Haha, I was reading about it and it didn't sound super easy...my brain is on strike after doing taxes. It does seem like it would be worth it if I can figure out how to stack the fastpasses. I was just concerned about availability of the passes on busy days. Read something on another thread about all the good rides being gone after just an hour or two on busy days, making MaxPass not worth it. I'm so used to Disney World fast pass system and so clueless about MaxPass.

We went to DL in July last year and while it wasn't over a holiday, I would say it was pretty prime summer season. Like FPs, the good stuff obviously goes quicker, but we did get to ride Guardians of the Galaxy twice, as well as Soarin, and Radiator Springs Racers. Can't remember what all we rode at DL, but I know there was nothing we missed out on riding. We didn't rope drop the parks and actually didn't get to DL until 10 AM. I can't recall specifically how to book FPs on the app, but I know it was easy to figure out.

 

[Chancery8]

Were you trying to match a 40k offer to 70k? If so, that isn't possible based on all DPs available. The maximum Citi will offer in the form of a match is 20k apparently regardless of what offer you chose initially. So basically it's the lesser of 75k total points or 20k additional points.

Ya, it was 40 to 70. I had thought maybe because the 70k was a brand new public offer that you didn't have to be targeted for, that maybe it would work.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Ya, it was 40 to 70. I had thought maybe because the 70k was a brand new public offer that you didn't have to be targeted for, that maybe it would work.

There's been 75k public offers on and off for a long time and nobody has ever matched for more than 20k that I have seen. Never hurts to try but your DP is in line with all the others. Surprising though that they didn't just come back and give you 20k though.

 

[wendow]

Ya, it was 40 to 70. I had thought maybe because the 70k was a brand new public offer that you didn't have to be targeted for, that maybe it would work.

I tried the same match lol (and did include the link to the offer in my chat...they asked me for it) but I've not received the letter yet. Guessing I'll be denied as well and have to try for a 4th time (the first two I asked for a match to 60 and was denied).

 

[Lain]

I LOVE MaxPass. It's so worth the $10 in my opinion and is super easy to use.

I think it's $15/person now.

MaxPass is a MUST if Disneyland is busy, and an added perk is it includes all the PhotoPass pics you take that day. We used MaxPass last October during the Gay Days weekend and over Thanksgiving week when the parks were jammed packed. We were able to pull FPs for most rides into the late afternoon and evening (the E-ticket rides do disappear by about noon, but we always front load the popular rides for early in the day so we don't miss out, and if we can ride them again at night bonus), although the return times tend to get later as the day wears on, which will impact your pace of pulling more FPs and getting on the attractions.

Definitely familiarize yourself with the timing rules for how long to wait between pulling FPs. In the mornings, you can have multiple FPs pulled if you're strategic about it. See:
https://disneyadulting.com/disney-maxpass-101/
https://www.getawaytoday.com/travel-blog/best-maxpass-tips-for-disneyland

 

[WVMomof3]

Happy April 15th everyone! Hope you got your taxes or extension filed! I haven't been able to keep up or even lurk for 3 months but I am free! Hope all has been well

Just mailed DDs taxes. Like a peasant. Lol Had to mail her nonresident PA taxes because they needed additional forms. Speaking of which, does PA really only mail checks? @SouthFayetteFan @georgina who else are my PA peeps I didn’t see any direct deposit options. And I thought my state was as backwards as you can get.

 

[kayteekt]

Off the wall question, buy maybe someone knows. My mom's car needs to be in the shop for a few days. She's not getting it done at the dealership (twice as much). She was talking about getting a rental. Could I use my CSR to book a rental for her and add her as a driver?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Just mailed DDs taxes. Like a peasant. Lol Had to mail her nonresident PA taxes because they needed additional forms. Speaking of which, does PA really only mail checks? @SouthFayetteFan @georgina who else are my PA peeps I didn’t see any direct deposit options. And I thought my state was as backwards as you can get.

I don't really know the answer on that one. PA taxes for residents are super simple and I'd say for 99%+ people either owe a small amount or owe nothing and very rarely do you get a refund (if ever) so I don't even know what the options are.

 

[calypso726]

If I cashed out SO and Is MRs with Schwab Plat we would have a bit over $12,000. Someone tell me not to do it lol.

Ok, I will. $12,000 is awesome but it still can’t purchase as many business or first class lie flat seats as nearly one million MR can. I respect the decision to cash out but it isn’t something I’d ever do.

 

[Chancery8]

We went to DL in July last year and while it wasn't over a holiday, I would say it was pretty prime summer season. Like FPs, the good stuff obviously goes quicker, but we did get to ride Guardians of the Galaxy twice, as well as Soarin, and Radiator Springs Racers. Can't remember what all we rode at DL, but I know there was nothing we missed out on riding. We didn't rope drop the parks and actually didn't get to DL until 10 AM. I can't recall specifically how to book FPs on the app, but I know it was easy to figure out.

That sounds promising. I'm definitely leaning towards getting it and hope it's easier to figure out when you're actually using it than reading about it.

There's been 75k public offers on and off for a long time and nobody has ever matched for more than 20k that I have seen. Good try but your DP is in line with all the others. Surprising though that they didn't just come back and give you 20k though.

That was what I was kind of hoping would happen. I didn't have high hopes for 70k, but thought they would say something like, well, we can at least give you 20k for your troubles. I'm just hoping that my first request for 70k isn't going to mess up my second request for 60k (we already told you no...).

 

[wanderlust7]

I got the Junior. Mainly because I want to fit it under the seat. I'm replacing this backpack: https://www.amazon.com/Sierra-Expedition-inch-Cymba-Backpack/dp/B01LYSBKWL
Next week will be my big test for it for a 5 day trip I was aiming for similar size-ish, I can try to pass it off as a personal item if need-be, but pack better/easier. Though we got good use out of the Sierra bags - I got two at Goodwill for $6 each. They were Target clearance items that got sent there. We've taken them on every trip including our wedding/honeymoon since Jan 2017. DH did take the JR once on a work trip so far and fit it under the seat.

What toiletry bag did you get? I'm debating between a couple.

Ooo, so same one. Let me know how it works out for you!

I got this one:
https://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/pack-it-flat-toiletry-kit/54638?productid=10553362

Haven't receive it yet, hope I'll like it.