I love credit cards so much!

[CyndiLouWho]

Is there any way to see prices on the UR website without having an UR earning card? I'm curious about the WDW hotel prices.

I don't think so. You have to be logged in. Prices vary a lot by date of trip but also by how close the date of the trip is. I was looking for DL dates and the prices fluctuated quite a bit.

 

[Ngwira]

Been MIA a bit working on my dream of taking my family of 4 to the Canadian Rockies for Easter/Spring Break next year on miles and points, specifically to stay at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. I have the hotel booked for 5 nights, thanks to the Fairmont Card from Chase which is giving me 2 free nights plus the 3rd night free when you pay for 2 nights. Next up, booking award flights on aeroplan using AMEX MR rewards from the platinum and prg sign up bonus. Flights on United from PHL to Calgary are 100,000 points plus $425.00 in taxes and fees for 2 adults and 2 children. Award flights only go up to Feb 2018 so I have a month or so to go. I will be booking a rental car so that we can get to BANFF national park and possibly Jasper. I'll use UR's from the CSR sign up bonus or my $300 travel credit for 2018 to do so. Thanks to miles and points, this super expensive trip is becoming a reality.

 

[Aanna]

Is there any way to see prices on the UR website without having an UR earning card? I'm curious about the WDW hotel prices.

I do not believe there is a way to see the UR site without a UR card (I tried before I got my first one).

Been MIA a bit working on my dream of taking my family of 4 to the Canadian Rockies for Easter/Spring Break next year on miles and points, specifically to stay at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. I have the hotel booked for 5 nights, thanks to the Fairmont Card from Chase which is giving me 2 free nights plus the 3rd night free when you pay for 2 nights. Next up, booking award flights on aeroplan using AMEX MR rewards from the platinum and prg sign up bonus. Flights on United from PHL to Calgary are 100,000 points plus $425.00 in taxes and fees for 2 adults and 2 children. Award flights only go up to Feb 2018 so I have a month or so to go. I will be booking a rental car so that we can get to BANFF national park and possibly Jasper. I'll use UR's from the CSR sign up bonus or my $300 travel credit for 2018 to do so. Thanks to miles and points, this super expensive trip is becoming a reality.

I'm super interested in how all of this works out for you: that exact trip is at the top of my points and miles "to do next" list!

 

[Ngwira]

I do not believe there is a way to see the UR site without a UR card (I tried before I got my first one).


I'm super interested in how all of this works out for you: that exact trip is at the top of my points and miles "to do next" list!

I'm so excited. It doesn't even seem real!!! I'll keep everyone posted.

 

[MrPTato]

Applied and approved for the Amex green card which has a bonus of 25,000 points for only $1,000 spend. No annual fee for first year and $95 after, which I can live with. I'm hoping to find the no fee version of the everyday with 25,000 bonus points. Could only pull up 15,000 in incognito. But saw the spg 30,000 bonus and the 50,000 prg bonus. I've gotten both of those already, but 35k for the spg.
Now I can cancel my platinum and prg with no worries.

Why not downgrade the oldest account to keep that open? Close the new green before the AF hits next year.

 

[Ngwira]

Why not downgrade the oldest account to keep that open? Close the new green before the AF hits next year.

Amex doesn't like when you downgrade the platinum or prg. I've heard of clawbacks and shut downs due to downgrades of those premium cards. I can live with the $95.00 annual fee on the green so I plan to just keep it along with my BCE. I won't close my platinum or prg until I am at the 11 month mark which is September and October respectively. At least they know that I've tried it for almost one year.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Been MIA a bit working on my dream of taking my family of 4 to the Canadian Rockies for Easter/Spring Break next year on miles and points, specifically to stay at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. I have the hotel booked for 5 nights, thanks to the Fairmont Card from Chase which is giving me 2 free nights plus the 3rd night free when you pay for 2 nights. Next up, booking award flights on aeroplan using AMEX MR rewards from the platinum and prg sign up bonus. Flights on United from PHL to Calgary are 100,000 points plus $425.00 in taxes and fees for 2 adults and 2 children. Award flights only go up to Feb 2018 so I have a month or so to go. I will be booking a rental car so that we can get to BANFF national park and possibly Jasper. I'll use UR's from the CSR sign up bonus or my $300 travel credit for 2018 to do so. Thanks to miles and points, this super expensive trip is becoming a reality.

My next 2 wishlist trips are Seattle/Vancouver and Grand Canyon. Maybe 1 this summer & 1 next summer.

 

[Ngwira]

My next 2 wishlist trips are Seattle/Vancouver and Grand Canyon. Maybe 1 this summer & 1 next summer.

Wonderful! Would love to see how you are getting there with miles and points. I think it's very helpful to see what can be accomplished in travel via travel reward credit cards.

 

[Albort]

Amex doesn't like when you downgrade the platinum or prg. I've heard of clawbacks and shut downs due to downgrades of those premium cards. I can live with the $95.00 annual fee on the green so I plan to just keep it along with my BCE. I won't close my platinum or prg until I am at the 11 month mark which is September and October respectively. At least they know that I've tried it for almost one year.

Have you tried the retention route?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...812751-american-express-retention-offers.html

doesnt hurt to try.

 

[MrPTato]

Amex doesn't like when you downgrade the platinum or prg. I've heard of clawbacks and shut downs due to downgrades of those premium cards. I can live with the $95.00 annual fee on the green so I plan to just keep it along with my BCE. I won't close my platinum or prg until I am at the 11 month mark which is September and October respectively. At least they know that I've tried it for almost one year.

Not worth it then!

 

[Ngwira]

Have you tried the retention route?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...812751-american-express-retention-offers.html

doesnt hurt to try.

No need to keep the platinum or prg since I don't fly much. Only benefit would be the Centurion lounge and gold status with Marriott and SPG and Hilton. Can't justify paying $450.00 a year for those benefits.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Wonderful! Would love to see how you are getting there with miles and points. I think it's very helpful to see what can be accomplished in travel via travel reward credit cards.

Just applied for AA Business MC, 60k mile bonus. Plan is for Marriott card next, usually 80k bonus. Then possibly Amtrak cards for the Grand Canyon trip, for train ride instead of flying.

I love this thread. Everyone else thinks I'm nuts. You guys get it.

 

[Albort]

Just applied for AA Business MC, 60k mile bonus. Plan is for Marriott card next, usually 80k bonus. Then possibly Amtrak cards for the Grand Canyon trip, for train ride instead of flying.

I love this thread. Everyone else thinks I'm nuts. You guys get it.

honestly, compared to the pros, we are all quite low key... haha

 

[CyndiLouWho]

honestly, compared to the pros, we are all quite low key... haha

True but people I talk to IRL think I'm risking my credit score, identity theft or I'll plunge into bankruptcy. I do follow The Points Guy but sometimes I can't even wrap my head around the complicated methods he uses to book first class tickets.

 

[calypso726]

True but people I talk to IRL think I'm risking my credit score, identity theft or I'll plunge into bankruptcy. I do follow The Points Guy but sometimes I can't even wrap my head around the complicated methods he uses to book first class tickets.

My dad thought for sure I was doing something illegal Others swear I'm risking my credit score and then don't believe me when I tell them it from low 700's to well over 800. Those who do listen tell me it all sounds complicated and exhausting and that I should teach classes on how to do this. I try to explain that I barely know what I'm doing and it works for me. Ah well. I don't care. They can believe what they want while I plan my next trip.

Yeah, I follow TPG and a few others. I can manage booking award flights in first since that is what we usually do. What I still have a hard time wrapping my head around is how to book the free one ways available on some airlines with open jaw and stop over award tickets.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

My dad thought for sure I was doing something illegal Others swear I'm risking my credit score and then don't believe me when I tell them it from low 700's to well over 800. Those who do listen tell me it all sounds complicated and exhausting and that I should teach classes on how to do this. I try to explain that I barely know what I'm doing and it works for me. Ah well. I don't care. They can believe what they want while I plan my next trip.

Yeah, I follow TPG and a few others. I can manage booking award flights in first since that is what we usually do. What I still have a hard time wrapping my head around is how to book the free one ways available on some airlines with open jaw and stop over award tickets.

I'm ok not flying first class, especially with a kid plus I don't have anywhere near enough miles. But the whole open jaw thing confuses me. Plus the "use BA to book a flight on another airline" etc is above me. But I'm learning

So far my credit score is fine. Started over 800, still over 800

 

[calypso726]

I'm ok not flying first class, especially with a kid plus I don't have anywhere near enough miles. But the whole open jaw thing confuses me. Plus the "use BA to book a flight on another airline" etc is above me. But I'm learning

So far my credit score is fine. Started over 800, still over 800

Ok, the BA to book on AA I can explain. You check for the flight on AA as if you are booking an AA award ticket. If the flight is available in the saver miles category then you can book that flight with BA using BA Avios to fly on AA. If the AA saver flight has connections you will need to look for each leg on BA. If it doesn't show up on BA's site, call BA, tell them the website won't let you book it (so you can avoid the charge for a phone booking) give them the AA flight numbers, dates, times etc. and they will be able to book it.

Once in a wile you have to be persistent if they don't see it on their end. Tell them to keep scrolling down until they find it or insist it is there. This happened with friends who were booking AA flights for a family of 4 to go to Hawaii with us next month. I was helping them to use their BA Avios to book the AA flights. Three times they had to HUCA because they agent said it wasn't bookable and I said don't give up because it is and I could see it on AA's side. Finally, they were able to get able to get the BA agent to book the flights.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

Been MIA a bit working on my dream of taking my family of 4 to the Canadian Rockies for Easter/Spring Break next year on miles and points, specifically to stay at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. I have the hotel booked for 5 nights, thanks to the Fairmont Card from Chase which is giving me 2 free nights plus the 3rd night free when you pay for 2 nights. Next up, booking award flights on aeroplan using AMEX MR rewards from the platinum and prg sign up bonus. Flights on United from PHL to Calgary are 100,000 points plus $425.00 in taxes and fees for 2 adults and 2 children. Award flights only go up to Feb 2018 so I have a month or so to go. I will be booking a rental car so that we can get to BANFF national park and possibly Jasper. I'll use UR's from the CSR sign up bonus or my $300 travel credit for 2018 to do so. Thanks to miles and points, this super expensive trip is becoming a reality.

I did a backpacking trip in Banff, Jasper and Yoho about 8 years ago. It was an amazing trip. You will love it there. I went in August, but during the nights it got below freezing, especially at our higher elevations. Make sure to take some warm clothes, hats, gloves, etc.

 

[hsmamato2]

My dad thought for sure I was doing something illegal Others swear I'm risking my credit score and then don't believe me when I tell them it from low 700's to well over 800. Those who do listen tell me it all sounds complicated and exhausting and that I should teach classes on how to do this. I try to explain that I barely know what I'm doing and it works for me. Ah well. I don't care. They can believe what they want while I plan my next trip.

Yeah, I follow TPG and a few others. I can manage booking award flights in first since that is what we usually do. What I still have a hard time wrapping my head around is how to book the free one ways available on some airlines with open jaw and stop over award tickets.

this could be my post exactly.... it still baffles me how a few simple steps can seem like magic to so many people..... I keep trying to tell them it's not magic and I have no special skills but no one believes me! (latest trip is a 7 night cruise to Alaska for 4 people plus the hotel plus airfare for $700 pre tax& fees) everyone thinks it's impossible but no one wants to hear the explanation....

 

[Aanna]

this could be my post exactly.... it still baffles me how a few simple steps can seem like magic to so many people..... I keep trying to tell them it's not magic and I have no special skills but no one believes me! (latest trip is a 7 night cruise to Alaska for 4 people plus the hotel plus airfare for $700 pre tax& fees) everyone thinks it's impossible but no one wants to hear the explanation....

Okay, I *definitely want to hear that cruise explanation! The only request I've ever heard my dad make is for an Alaskan cruise. If I could make that happen for us....!!