I love credit cards so much! v6.0 - 2023 (see first page for add'l details)

[LynnTH]

Just finished MSR for my AMEX Biz Gold Card (after paying for our new countertops). Have about $100 left on my IHG Premier Biz. Can't stand to not have a SUB to work towards. Tried for the AMEX Green for DH and I, but got the pop ups. Trying to space out my Chase more so ended up trying for another Cap One Venture Card. I currently have one open plus a Venture X. Was instantly approved. Will be nice to add more points to that stash. Nice to use for misc travel things.

With our remodel almost all paid for and no more tuition bills, I don't have as much spend as normal. Will be getting the SW Cards again towards the end of the year for CP. DH has CP thru 2024. We alternate every other year.

 

[elgerber]

Just finished MSR for my AMEX Biz Gold Card (after paying for our new countertops). Have about $100 left on my IHG Premier Biz. Can't stand to not have a SUB to work towards. Tried for the AMEX Green for DH and I, but got the pop ups. Trying to space out my Chase more so ended up trying for another Cap One Venture Card. I currently have one open plus a Venture X. Was instantly approved. Will be nice to add more points to that stash. Nice to use for misc travel things.

With our remodel almost all paid for and no more tuition bills, I don't have as much spend as normal. Will be getting the SW Cards again towards the end of the year for CP. DH has CP thru 2024. We alternate every other year.

I saw this morning on DOC that Cap One now has a 48 month bonus rule. Have you had a Venture in the last 48 months? Just curious if it's accurate. I love churning those, and was hoping to churn another one. I too am flying through Chase subs and should slow down.

 

[LynnTH]

I saw this morning on DOC that Cap One now has a 48 month bonus rule. Have you had a Venture in the last 48 months? Just curious if it's accurate. I love churning those, and was hoping to churn another one. I too am flying through Chase subs and should slow down.

My last Can One Venture was July 2022 and my Venture X is from November 2021. Would Cap One Approve me and not give me the bonus? Is that a thing?

 

[elgerber]

My last Can One Venture was July 2022 and my Venture X is from November 2021. Would Cap One Approve me and not give me the bonus? Is that a thing?

I have no idea, I would hope not.
this is what I read...
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/capi...ility/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

 

[Arcades]

[Deleted]

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

I was very excited to find that Air France was starting direct flights to Paris from my airport (RDU). That would mean not having to reposition to JFK or elsewhere for crossing the Atlantic in J seats booked with points! They start Oct 30 but I can't see any availability with miles for any day. The route is there for cash bookings but disappears when I choose miles, same for the FlyingBlue agents on the phone. What gives? Anyone have any input? I'm hoping that the ability to book with miles will be activated at some point, though it may be too late to change my Nov 10 flight to Paris.

 

[iujen94]

I was very excited to find that Air France was starting direct flights to Paris from my airport (RDU). That would mean not having to reposition to JFK or elsewhere for crossing the Atlantic in J seats booked with points! They start Oct 30 but I can't see any availability with miles for any day. The route is there for cash bookings but disappears when I choose miles, same for the FlyingBlue agents on the phone. What gives? Anyone have any input? I'm hoping that the ability to book with miles will be activated at some point, though it may be too late to change my Nov 10 flight to Paris.

No answer for you, but just wanted to say hi from another RDU flier!

 

[LynnTH]

I have no idea, I would hope not.
this is what I read...
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/capi...ility/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Hmmm.. The way it reads is that I would not even be eligible for the card. But since I was approved - hoping that the bonus will work, otherwise I would think they would have just denied me...

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

No answer for you, but just wanted to say hi from another RDU flier!

Hiiiii

 

[trenty]

There are regular cabins that fit 3 or 4 people. 2 cabins with 3 and 4 people would be the cheapest. Or if you want your own, a 2/2/3 split should be cheaper than 2 and 5 in a suite.

Yes. I saw that. I was playing around with all the options. Probably need to do a 2/2/3. Thank you.

 

[elgerber]

Hmmm.. The way it reads is that I would not even be eligible for the card. But since I was approved - hoping that the bonus will work, otherwise I would think they would have just denied me...

I was going to take a look myself. I don't like that rule, hopefully it's all good.

 

[orangecuse]

ETA: I love this thread. I don't post here often. But I read it every day. Everyone is so helpful and nice.

Thank you! I just did some research about the Wydham Biz. If we want to cruise in July, I don't think I have enough time. And, I am not set on MSC. But if we love our first cruise, I am definitely looking into this card again.

I did look at Carnival after my initial post. They only have two leaving from NY in July. We might be interested in one of them. Leaning towards Royal out of NJ at this point, but still not sure.

One of my issues is our traveling party will be 3 couples and 1 single. Getting a room for the single is pricey. Putting her in one of the other rooms will require a suite type situation. One of the lines (forget which one) had a 2 bedroom suite available - breaking our party up into 5 and 2. The 2 would be me and DH. The 5 would be our 3 adult kids and 2 SOs. This is also a very pricey option and would give the kids a better room than mom and dad. LOL

A friend of mine gave me a TA to work with. I think I am going to do that since this is all overwhelming.

Travel agents are great for cruises because most offer OBC (on board credit) you can use on gratuities, drink packages, or shore excursions etc. Once you book some lines will already have excursions up so look and make sure none you like are low capacity. E.g our cruise next November we booked an excursion that only had 6 spots left and we needed all 6 of them. Thats rare though- most will sell out much closer to cruise time. Everything else like internet, drink package, excursions with high volume- book on Black Friday! Big savings there.

Once you book also find your cruise group online on the book of faces (am I allowed to say the actual name? Lol). People will post updates and its so helpful to follow- we found out Royal changed some show times from our group before they even emailed us!

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

IA for the CIBP (biz preferred) card! CL $14k. Will wait for snail mail since dh won't be at the house until the week after next. By the end of September I'll have another 100K URs (last property tax payment for 2023, dd's first tuition & residence installments).

 

[leeniewdw]

I am okay tipping 20% at establishments where service warrants it, but I won't do it at cafes where I am basically serving myself (I tip a token amount). People here are getting upset at the 'new' tipping etiquette -- some restaurants have 22% as the lowest amount, which I think is excessive. I tipped 20% after my pedi this morning and the girl gave me a look to indicate she didn't approve. Tipping culture is becoming a hot topic here. Yes, I did tip more during and just after COVID, but unless it's warranted I don't feel the need to tip excessively any longer. Actually I rarely eat out because the cost has gone up SO much in the past few years.

Oh yes, I understand what you are saying. I usually tip something at most counter places,but not 20%. And we don't go out that much now either, which is probably why I end up tipping well if we do since we normally go to a few local places where we know the staff and know if they are being overworked on a given shift, which contributes to the timely service. Plus we know the waiter/tress we've known for years and years is not going to sudddenly become lazy or rude! We also go to a neighborhood place where kids we know have cycled thru working there in HS and College.

I'm not talking about things that are out of their control, I really have noticed a decline in service. Like having to ask to get my water refilled when there aren't many customers is unacceptable. I waited tables all through high school and college, so I get when things are out of the servers control.

Yeah -- I agree. And as I said above, we tend to revisit the same places where we've enjoyed eating for years.

I'll say this -- we're mostly retired and we work at a lovely amphitheater for some concerts in the beer/wine kiosks. The pay is crap ($10/hour) so it's the tips that make it worthwhile. Yes, $10 isn't bad generally speaking, but you have to be a certain age, you have to complete alcohol training, you have to check IDs, you have to deal with a PACKED venue and sometimes unpleasant people. So, you can bet I hope people are tipping us. We were recently positioned in the middle of the crowd at a beer stand and many people thanked us for being there so they didn'tahve to walk up to the main concession area. I honestly can't decide if tipping in that situation is stupid, but I know we wouldn't do it if there wasn't tipping in the mix!

 

[leeniewdw]

I was very excited to find that Air France was starting direct flights to Paris from my airport (RDU). That would mean not having to reposition to JFK or elsewhere for crossing the Atlantic in J seats booked with points! They start Oct 30 but I can't see any availability with miles for any day. The route is there for cash bookings but disappears when I choose miles, same for the FlyingBlue agents on the phone. What gives? Anyone have any input? I'm hoping that the ability to book with miles will be activated at some point, though it may be too late to change my Nov 10 flight to Paris.

No answer for you, but just wanted to say hi from another RDU flier!

Hiiiii

Same here! I've been wondering about using points for these RDU-Paris (or even LHR) and my research thus far shows..nothing. I wonder if the infrequency of these flights makes them popular and less likely for award reservations?

We're looking at Sept or Oct 2024 for a Europe trip and have to decide on our strategy soon I suppose. I'm also a little nervous about booking a pts trip from RDU (if it's possible) and then having the itinerary disappear since it's so long before the trip.

Is the AF to CDG a daily itinerary?

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Same here! I've been wondering about using points for these RDU-Paris (or even LHR) and my research thus far shows..nothing. I wonder if the infrequency of these flights makes them popular and less likely for award reservations?

We're looking at Sept or Oct 2024 for a Europe trip and have to decide on our strategy soon I suppose. I'm also a little nervous about booking a pts trip from RDU (if it's possible) and then having the itinerary disappear since it's so long before the trip.

Is the AF to CDG a daily itinerary?

I'm hoping that it's just because it's a new itinerary. They are flying this route MWF, and on a bigger plane than Delta uses (they currently do this route), so I would think they expect the customer base is a decent size or will expand:

"Service is scheduled to begin on Oct. 30 and fly every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on a 279-seat Boeing 787. The 787 is a larger aircraft that has not previously flown from RDU and has more seats than the plane currently flying the Paris route" - https://www.rdu.com/air-france-to-become-rdus-15th-airline/

 

[EACarlson]

Just read an article in The NY Times about restaurants adding fees for paying with a CC. Ran into this myself a few days ago on vacation in Wisconsin. 4% fee if paying by card. I used cash instead. It’s a touristy area.

Touristy area, I'm guessing Door County. Please call them out so I can make sure not to go there. It's almost certainly a violation of their merchant agreement to charge a fee. When I was in DC last week I saw a couple places that had a 3.25% "Service Charge" listed on the menu. Basically a minimum wage increase recovery fee rather than changing the prices on the menu.

 

[DogCat]

DH recently went to pick up his car after purchasing new tires (around $900) and, when he went to pay with a cc, they told him there would be a 3% service fee. When he complained, the woman just said "they do that everywhere." Then she said they'd take a check, which he didn't have either. He asked to speak to the manager, and the manager agreed to waive the fee. I guess we got lucky but I plan to ask in advance whenever I expect a large bill. So annoying!!

 

[georgina]

Touristy area, I'm guessing Door County. Please call them out so I can make sure not to go there. It's almost certainly a violation of their merchant agreement to charge a fee. When I was in DC last week I saw a couple places that had a 3.25% "Service Charge" listed on the menu. Basically a minimum wage increase recovery fee rather than changing the prices on the menu.

Yep. Mink River Basin in Ellison Bay. Went up to Newport SP to do some hiking, had dinner there and went back to Newport to see the Perseids.

RAMP CREDIT CARD SERVICES COLLECTS A SEPARATE 4% FEE FOR ALL CREDIT CARD TRANSATIONS AT THIS ESTABLISHMENT

 

[leeniewdw]

DH recently went to pick up his car after purchasing new tires (around $900) and, when he went to pay with a cc, they told him there would be a 3% service fee. When he complained, the woman just said "they do that everywhere." Then she said they'd take a check, which he didn't have either. He asked to speak to the manager, and the manager agreed to waive the fee. I guess we got lucky but I plan to ask in advance whenever I expect a large bill. So annoying!!

This reminds me that we booked a restaurant for my DS’s rehearsal dinner next year. They said there would be 3% charge if we used a CC. Granted this is 6+ months away and they definitely told us before we even booked. We put the $800 deposit on my Amex Plat (towards a retention offer), no 3% in that, but will be 3% in the balance for the dinner. I think we may still use a CC because it will satisfy a SUB, but we’ll see.