I love credit cards so much!

[Gwmw1210]

If I were to apply for the Blue Business, would it count towards 5/24? MR are valuable to me since we fly out of a Delta hub. I was able to pull up the public 20k offer with $5k MSR.

I was 0/24, applied and approved for the Chase Ink Preferred April 2018 (just met MSR and the 80K+ points are pending on next statement, yeah!!), and was planning a CSR/CFP double dip.

Am I okay to do all three of these cards with just getting the Chase Ink Preferred recently? Is there a particular order I should apply (I know the Chase have to be on same day)?

Thank you so much for all of your help, I'm still trying to keep up with how fast this thread moves and I hope to soon be able to do more than just ask questions!! I used to be pretty good at this stuff but it was mostly before 5/24 and even lifetime language on Amex.

So using MR when redeeming for Delta flights is more valuable than redeeming for Delta flights with an Amex Delta card. Or does flexibility play into it as well? Looking ahead, I’m trying to decide whether to go down the MR road (for flight purposes) at some point or the Amex Delta route.

 

[miztressuz]

I liked the way the new A380 looks better. However, in terms of which I’d choose to do again given the chance, it would be the old one.

Now I'm intrigued and can't wait to find out why. I'll have to keep up on the trip report updates!

 

[Gwmw1210]

Is it more convenient to have them combined or does it not matter?
If I don’t combine, I assume it’s easy enough to move points from one to another?

Yes, convenient I’m sure but mine are not combined (for no particular reason I’m just ok with how the are) and I’m able to move points from one account to the other without problems.

 

[kmc8826]

So using MR when redeeming for Delta flights is more valuable than redeeming for Delta flights with an Amex Delta card. Or does flexibility play into it as well? Looking ahead, I’m trying to decide whether to go down the MR road (for flight purposes) at some point or the Amex Delta route.

MR points transfer straight across to Delta but you do have to pay a small excise tax to transfer. No tax with Delta cards. The Delta cards also have baggage benefit and if platinum yearly one time companion certificate. Don’t get Delta cards right now though. Sign up is pretty weak. Hopefully should get better again.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

I've already ridden a camel in Morocco near the base of the Atlas Mountains back in the 70ties. Maybe I can give you a tip: don't arrive in a dress.

Also, use the bathroom first! We went to the Pyramids at Giza and I had to use the bathroom so bad, but there weren't any facilities anywhere close. Because of that, I didn't go inside the pyramids or ride a camel. I made up for the camel riding when I was in Jordan, but I definitely have to return to Egypt in order to get the chance to go inside a pyramid.

 

[Judique]

Also, use the bathroom first! We went to the Pyramids at Giza and I had to use the bathroom so bad, but there wasn't any facilities anywhere close. Because of that, I didn't go inside the pyramids or ride a camel. I made up for the camel riding when I was in Jordan, but I definitely have to return to Egypt in order to get the chance to go inside a pyramid.

wait - no pit toilets anywhere???

We were on a tour and I wasn't actually expecting to ride a camel - but for a dollar a ride I wasn't passing it up, skirt or no skirt!

The pit toilets were the last straw for daughter when she was in Peace Corps in Kyrgyzstan.

 

[gottalovepluto]

DoC highlighted this article about how IHG/Radisson does not honor award bookings after a hotel leaves their chains. Seems to be a hard rule. (Please note the author does not hold back in their anger.)

https://saverocity.com/pointsadventure/ihg-radisson-wont-honor-award-booking-hotel-leaves-chain/

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

wait - no pit toilets anywhere???

We were on a tour and I wasn't actually expecting to ride a camel - but for a dollar a ride I wasn't passing it up, skirt or no skirt!

The pit toilets were the last straw for daughter when she was in Peace Corps in Kyrgyzstan.

This was in the 90s, so things might have changed. But yeah, there were no toilets of any kind near the pyramids for tourists to use. I just waited in the tour van while my brother and dad went inside. We didn't get to the Valley of the Kings on that trip, so I have always planned to go back to Egypt some day, though that might be some time because it seems much less safe now than when I went before.

 

[shairpdrh]

I had an interesting experience referring my husband to the CSR yesterday and hope what I learned may help any of you planning to refer someone in the next few days (and I don't think I have seen this posted here). I started by trying to use my link from Reddit and it gave me "no longer valid" message followed by showing the expected offer (but I was too nervous to use the link because I didn't want to miss out on the referral). I checked a few Reddit links from the group and got the same message. I then tried to generate a new link on the Chase website and I got two messages: "you are not eligible" and then "we are updating the refer-a-friend site". I then used the mobile app to email the link and it said it would take up to 7 days. I really want us to have the new card before my next trip, so that was frustrating. I then texted him the link and it generated a link and I could have the pasted it into a text or anywhere else.

Overall a little frustrating, but we ultimately got it to work. Of course he got the 30 day message, so now we start calling the status line!

 

[miztressuz]

I had an interesting experience referring my husband to the CSR yesterday and hope what I learned may help any of you planning to refer someone in the next few days (and I don't think I have seen this posted here). I started by trying to use my link from Reddit and it gave me "no longer valid" message followed by showing the expected offer (but I was too nervous to use the link because I didn't want to miss out on the referral). I checked a few Reddit links from the group and got the same message. I then tried to generate a new link on the Chase website and I got two messages: "you are not eligible" and then "we are updating the refer-a-friend site". I then used the mobile app to email the link and it said it would take up to 7 days. I really want us to have the new card before my next trip, so that was frustrating. I then texted him the link and it generated a link and I could have the pasted it into a text or anywhere else.

Overall a little frustrating, but we ultimately got it to work. Of course he got the 30 day message, so now we start calling the status line!

First, fingers crossed for you!
Second, I was curious to see what they changed with the offer since the bonus and everything else looked the same and saw they added the language about the travel credit not giving UR points (at all) like had been reported:

"...however, the following types of transactions won’t count and won’t earn points: travel purchases that qualify for the $300 Annual Travel Credit (beginning August 26, 2018), balance transfers,..."

So the offer itself looks the same but the details have been updated. I haven't read the rest of it yet, heading back to the page now to see what else they threw in there. I think the Priority Pass restriction was supposed to happen in the same update so I'll check that now.

ETA: Yep, here's the Priority Pass update:
"Primary Cardmembers and Authorized Users are granted complimentary access to the Priority Pass lounges and, beginning August 26, 2018, are allowed a maximum of two accompanying guests each."

I think the other change that was reported was the Price Protection but I'm not sure if that was mentioned in the offer before or not since the application only ever mentioned it as Travel and Purchase protections, not specifically what kind of purchase protection insurances are available.

 

[shairpdrh]

First, fingers crossed for you!
Second, I was curious to see what they changed with the offer since the bonus and everything else looked the same and saw they added the language about the travel credit not giving UR points (at all) like had been reported:

"...however, the following types of transactions won’t count and won’t earn points: travel purchases that qualify for the $300 Annual Travel Credit (beginning August 26, 2018), balance transfers,..."

So the offer itself looks the same but the details have been updated. I haven't read the rest of it yet, heading back to the page now to see what else they threw in there. I think the Priority Pass restriction was supposed to happen in the same update so I'll check that now.

I figured it was one or both of those changes, but I was honestly just frustrated and wanted to get a link that didn't have any errors! Thanks for taking the time to check and reporting back.

 

[GlamMistress]

Just signed up for the Gold Delta Amex for a targeted offer of 60k points / $1k spend. I've had this before but no once in a lifetime language. Wish me luck. I need the points for Barcelona!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Does anyone know if purchases at a restaurant in an SPG hotel earn extra points with SPG personal?

 

[miztressuz]

Just signed up for the Gold Delta Amex for a targeted offer of 60k points / $1k spend. I've had this before but no once in a lifetime language. Wish me luck. I need the points for Barcelona!

Ok that's really tiny, but it's crossed fingers for ya. Good luck!

Edit: And D'oh the picture didn't show up. Guess we'll just have to picture it in our minds...

 

[DaveL]

Gyft update... Waited the 24hrs (actually more just to be safe) and didn't use their broken app (according to them no one should use it as it hardly ever works) to buy a $100 Walmart gift card and now got the following message "Sorry, your payment is still pending. You will be able to reveal this code as soon as the payment is processed." Just for the heck of it I called PayPal to find out what was different and they still say all 4 transactions were approved by my CC and them and this last 'processing' one was no different. Sigh, what a way to run a company. I don't see them being around for long if they can't process such simple transactions.

Edit: Maybe this one will work... On the Chase side I just see the $100 transaction pending and no $100 credit back like the other three. LOL

 

[Albort]

Is it more convenient to have them combined or does it not matter?
If I don’t combine, I assume it’s easy enough to move points from one to another?

its more convenient to me to combine so i have them combined. Should be easy and simple to transfer if they are separated. No issues for me. up to you if you want them combined or not.

And mine was seamless at Lowes. I had loaded my daughters authorized user card to my Samsung to buy a gift card using an amex offer. Worked perfectly. Do you think it was a Sam's problem?

im hoping so. Ill have to give it a few tries elsewhere. I also have a metal plate in the back for my magnetic mount in the car. Im curious to see if that is causing issues too. *fingers crossed*

Does anyone know if purchases at a restaurant in an SPG hotel earn extra points with SPG personal?

You do earn the extra 1x. I did a room charge though instead of swiping my spg card. For future references if Starriott does this again, restaurants in an SPG hotel do not get included in multipliers. they get charged separately.

Gyft update... Waited the 24hrs (actually more just to be safe) and didn't use their broken app (according to them no one should use it as it hardly ever works) to buy a $100 Walmart gift card and now got the following message "Sorry, your payment is still pending. You will be able to reveal this code as soon as the payment is processed." Just for the heck of it I called PayPal to find out what was different and they still say all 4 transactions were approved by my CC and them and this last 'processing' one was no different. Sigh, what a way to run a company. I don't see them being around for long if they can't process such simple transactions.

Edit: Maybe this one will work... On the Chase side I just see the $100 transaction pending and no $100 credit back like the other three. LOL

yeah, keep at it. they asked me to get verified after i was getting so many issues with them. After doing so, it was smooth sailing. Keep trying!

 

[DaveL]

yeah, keep at it. they asked me to get verified after i was getting so many issues with them. After doing so, it was smooth sailing. Keep trying!

First I thought it might have been PayPal actually denying it because when PayPal Gift Cards had Lowes cards on sale for 10% off I tried to order some and it was denied! PayPal didn't trust the payment from PayPal!! So tried on eBay and PayPay would only allow payments from guess, PayPal! Finally after about 10~15 declined payments I called PayPal and they were like yeah all those were determined to be fraud... I was like REALLY you don't trust your own company's sales dept?! Anyway they allowed me to make payments to them selfs and it has worked since.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I had an interesting experience referring my husband to the CSR yesterday and hope what I learned may help any of you planning to refer someone in the next few days (and I don't think I have seen this posted here). I started by trying to use my link from Reddit and it gave me "no longer valid" message followed by showing the expected offer (but I was too nervous to use the link because I didn't want to miss out on the referral). I checked a few Reddit links from the group and got the same message. I then tried to generate a new link on the Chase website and I got two messages: "you are not eligible" and then "we are updating the refer-a-friend site". I then used the mobile app to email the link and it said it would take up to 7 days. I really want us to have the new card before my next trip, so that was frustrating. I then texted him the link and it generated a link and I could have the pasted it into a text or anywhere else.

Overall a little frustrating, but we ultimately got it to work. Of course he got the 30 day message, so now we start calling the status line!

Thanks for the heads up my CSR link was dead as well! Everyone check! (Also, I could only get a fresh one via the app like you.)

 

[Albort]

First I thought it might have been PayPal actually denying it because when PayPal Gift Cards had Lowes cards on sale for 10% off I tried to order some and it was denied! PayPal didn't trust the payment from PayPal!! So tried on eBay and PayPay would only allow payments from guess, PayPal! Finally after about 10~15 declined payments I called PayPal and they were like yeah all those were determined to be fraud... I was like REALLY you don't trust your own company's sales dept?! Anyway they allowed me to make payments to them selfs and it has worked since.

been there done that. I got a fraud alert from paypal for buying an $100 itunes card *@15% off. It locked my entire paypal account down. I had to call to get them to unfreeze. was also paypalgifts haha.
yeah, weird stuff for them.

edit: 85% off... lol more like 15% off.

 

[gottalovepluto]

FYI "New" Reddit is very picky about formatting. When you share a link you need to format it like this: [name](website) because if you format it [name] (website) New Reddit is too stupid to know what you're doing if you put that space in-between the two it posts your full link text.