I love credit cards so much!

[chattadisser]

Question...I know you can book DCL through the Chase UR Cruise and Tour department but when you do that, are you charged the same price as whats on the DCL website? So you'd be best to book something on opening day when prices are at their lowest? Do we know what the approximate conversion of UR to DCL is? I'd love to go on an Alaskan cruise but I'd afraid the amount of UR's would be frightful.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Ok so update- in less than a week I got 3 cards off my credit report! I thought it would take much longer. Thank you all for the advice. I confirmed with all the credit bureaus that they no longer see these cards. I am now at 3/24.

I also lowered my credit line with my Disney VISA so I should be all good to go there... I am way under.

SO... I still have time to possibly get the CSR before I have to book my rental on early next week. However, I am also fine to wait for the double dip. My latest dilemma though is that my refinance went through on my credit report and as a result, my credit score has dropped a little. I was in the 800's and now I am at 799. Experian says what is hurting my score is trying to get too much new credit recently (thinking that must be mortgage related... can't be the one CIP application?)

I am nervous to apply and get denied again. Should I wait a few more weeks and hope that my credit boosts back up or should I be ok to go for the CSR alone, or double dip in a few weeks? I am so ready to join the fun!!! But just want to be smart and not get denied again.

Congrats on getting down to 3/24....when did you apply for the CIP...you can apply for 2 chase cards in 30 days...other questions I’m not sure about sorry

 

[WVMomof3]

Trying to do the cost/benefit analysis on the new SW Priority card...I think I might go for it *as long as* the offers for the other personal cards stay at 40K this fall and winter. With 7500 points + $75 credit each year, I'd come close to breaking even on the annual fee with just one flight a year to visit family, and I could meet the extra $6k spend for the CP in Jan-Feb-Mar while waiting for my CSR/CSP double dip. Those perks sound nice too. No plans to use the CP anytime early next year so I could wait a bit to get that last 25k RR to put us over the top. Anything I'm not thinking of?

What are y'all thinking?

I am confused what you mean on the extra $6k spend for the CP. The extra points on this card was for $15,000 spend, right? Then you would still need to get a business card for enough to get the CP with $3000 spend for 60,000. Am I missing something? Or are you not talking about getting the extra points for the $15,000 spend. Now I am confusing myself. lol

 

[mmmears]

Is Chase Sapphire Reserve automatically expedited for shipping? Any recent data points on this?
Less than one week until Disney trip and needed for that huge spend.
I also have sapphire preferred coming and I thought I heard that is not.
How long for you?

Just another DP.

DH signed up for both on a Thursday evening. The CSR arrived that Saturday, and the CSP didn't come until the following Saturday.

ETA - from what I can tell Chase hasn't reduced the credit limits on either card (yet).

 

[havaneselover]

Question...I know you can book DCL through the Chase UR Cruise and Tour department but when you do that, are you charged the same price as whats on the DCL website? So you'd be best to book something on opening day when prices are at their lowest? Do we know what the approximate conversion of UR to DCL is? I'd love to go on an Alaskan cruise but I'd afraid the amount of UR's would be frightful.

TA price is always the same as what’s on DCL’s website. The conversion rate depends on your credit card. If you have CSR a $10,000 cruise would cost 667k ur points. With csp it would be 800k ur points. Dcl for Alaska is crazy expensive and the annual increases have been huge.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Question...I know you can book DCL through the Chase UR Cruise and Tour department but when you do that, are you charged the same price as whats on the DCL website? So you'd be best to book something on opening day when prices are at their lowest? Do we know what the approximate conversion of UR to DCL is? I'd love to go on an Alaskan cruise but I'd afraid the amount of UR's would be frightful.

The price is the same as on DCL's site. I just priced one last night. The points don't convert, exactly. They are worth a penny per point. More if you have CSP, CIP, CSR, etc. So the cruise I am considering is $8400, or 560,133 URs using a CSR.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Dcl for Alaska is crazy expensive and the annual increases have been huge.

So I never quite understand when people say this. I mean, I know DCL is more expensive than other lines but comparing cruises within DCL, Alaska doesn’t seem much different. For instance, in the same week May 2019,there is a 7 day W Caribbean and Alaska. For inside and OV, Alaska is actually cheaper by $200 and $800 respectively. Now once you get to Verandah, Alaska is $1600 more. I know I’m not comparing exact rooms but seems Alaska is not across the board more expensive. Though totally agree, DCL is more expensive in general.

 

[havaneselover]

So I never quite understand when people say this. I mean, I know DCL is more expensive than other lines but comparing cruises within DCL, Alaska doesn’t seem much different. For instance, in the same week May 2019,there is a 7 day W Caribbean and Alaska. For inside and OV, Alaska is actually cheaper by $200 and $800 respectively. Now once you get to Verandah, Alaska is $1600 more. I know I’m not comparing exact rooms but seems Alaska is not across the board more expensive. Though totally agree, DCL is more expensive in general.

I'm a bit lost. The cruise I'll be on this year (booked opening day) cost me 10% less than had I booked the same cruise for 2019 opening day this year. The prices in 2017 were significantly cheaper than 2018, the prices in 2016 were significantly cheaper than 2017, etc.

Oh, now I see what you're saying. This is our 6th Disney cruise. I typically pay $500 / day for the three of us. Alaska is about twice that. A 7A for 8/20/19 in Alaska is $3900/person. A 7A on the Fantasy for the same week is $2400/person.

 

[miztressuz]

I don't want anyone to gasp at what I'm about to say . I'm trying to help my daughter out. She has a credit card with about a $7,000 balance and yes, she's paying significant interest on that every month. I'm hoping she could do a balance transfer to another card with 0% interest for XXX number of months. On Credit Karma her credit score is reported as fair (but high fair; close to good). She pays her bills every month, but she's in her early 20's and this is really her only credit card so I assume that plays into the credit score. Anyhoo, can anyone recommend what kind of credit card you think she would have good odds of being approved for that would give her that introductory balance transfer offer?

Have you looked into AmEx? The Everyday card has a offer for 0 BT fee if made within 60 days of account opening, and a 0% interest rate for 15 months. I saw some reports of mid 600's getting it but if it's closer to 600 might be iffy and maybe have to research a bit.
It'd be a good keeper card - 0 AF, earns MR, gets good offers; and if she ever got into the bonus game (some day in the distant future) a good place to park MR's

It gets hard with only fair credit, you wind up with some oddball companies and sometimes you can find a better rate but might have to pay a AF or pay close attention to avoid weird fees. Hubby found some companies I'd never heard of when he was building his credit, but it worked well enough... and now he has like 3 Quicksilver cards from when CapOne bought a bunch of these little companies and they converted him.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Oh, now I see what you're saying. This is our 6th Disney cruise. I typically pay $500 / day for the three of us. Alaska is about twice that. A 7A for 8/20/19 in Alaska is $3900/person. A 7A on the Fantasy for the same week is $2400/person.

So maybe opening prices are similar, but Alaska increase exponentially? Or Caribbean cruises decrease? Although I thought DCL never went down. Lol. I’m not sure. I’ve never cruised before but when it try to compare cruises on the week we are going, the 7 day are similar. I must be missing something.
I guess I’m not comparing the exact same rooms i.e. 11a vs 11b

 

[havaneselover]

So maybe opening prices are similar, but Alaska increase exponentially? Or Caribbean cruises decrease? Although I thought DCL never went down. Lol. I’m not sure. I’ve never cruised before but when it try to compare cruises on the week we are going, the 7 day are similar. I must be missing something.
I guess I’m not comparing the exact same rooms i.e. 11a vs 11b

Caribbean doesn’t go down in my experience. I’m not sure though. My Alaska cruise went up about 30% from opening day. I think my last Caribbean cruise went up the same—maybe more. But cruisefish does show a lot of increases already for Alaska for 2019.

All I know is I never ever could have imagined spending this much money on a vacation and my flights and pre-cruise hotel are covered by points and between onboard booking, paying with gift cards, and using Costco I saved about 35% off the fare. I’m trying not to add up the excursion costs!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Caribbean doesn’t go down in my experience. I’m not sure though. My Alaska cruise went up about 30% from opening day. I think my last Caribbean cruise went up the same—maybe more. But cruisefish does show a lot of increases already for Alaska for 2019.

All I know is I never ever could have imagined spending this much money on a vacation and my flights and pre-cruise hotel are covered by points and between onboard booking, paying with gift cards, and using Costco I saved about 35% off the fare. I’m trying not to add up the excursion costs!

I’m using URs for excursions but yes the cruise cost is ridiculous. (And we used Costco too) So far bank bonuses, cash back cards and Disney GCs are my savings.

 

[havaneselover]

I’m using URs for excursions but yes the cruise cost is ridiculous. (And we used Costco too) So far bank bonuses, cash back cards and Disney GCs are my savings.

I used URs for Vancouver excursions but am saving the rest of my UR stash for plane tickets to Europe. I booked everything (private whale watching, float plane to Misty Fjords, ziplining in Whistler, car rental in Skagway) independently and they're a good value but they're still so stinking expensive! This better be a good trip

 

[mmmears]

Just another DP.

DH signed up for both on a Thursday evening. The CSR arrived that Saturday, and the CSP didn't come until the following Saturday.

ETA - from what I can tell Chase hasn't reduced the credit limits on either card (yet).

I spoke too soon. They just called and said they lowered them both (to less than half of the first card). Not a problem, honestly (although this means they will get less of our business in the long run, but we like the MRs anyway). Based on what they left us with, I think it's more that they are trying to penalize us for getting both than their worry about extending us too much credit. So I'm updating my DP.

 

[Artygal90]

I am confused what you mean on the extra $6k spend for the CP. The extra points on this card was for $15,000 spend, right? Then you would still need to get a business card for enough to get the CP with $3000 spend for 60,000. Am I missing something? Or are you not talking about getting the extra points for the $15,000 spend. Now I am confusing myself. lol

Ah, sorry, I was typing out my stream of consciousness too quickly on my lunch break! And then I confused myself thinking about it at work, so I tried to sketch it all out on a Post-It between clients, and then got more confused, lol. Here's me mathing it out in real time:

I want the CP. I'm planning to get the SW Premier Business card, so that (60k points for $3k spend) + one of the SW Personal cards (40k points for $1k) will get me 100K points from signup bonuses plus 4k points from spend. That would leave me 6k short of the 110k points I need to get the Companion Pass, so I would still need to put $6,000 on my Southwest cards (that's the "extra $6k" I mentioned)

What I was *trying* to say (I think) was that if I go for the Priority Personal + Premier Biz combo, my plan would be this:
1) Focus all my spending on SW cards in Dec-Jan-Feb-March to earn the CP. This would be $4k for the original signup bonuses, plus $6k to get the CP.
2) I'd do my CSP/CSR double dip around April. That's an $8k MSR.
3) Once I'm done with the MSR for those, I would move my spending back to the SW Priority card to finish up the remaining $9k of the $15k spending requirement for the extra 25k points. But I would already have spent enough earlier in the year to earn the Companion Pass - the extra points are just gravy and something to keep me occupied while I cool off a bit with Chase.

BUT...if the personal cards go back up to 50k points at the right time, or I happen to take a short weekend trip and sign up with a 50k in-flight offer, I'll probably just get the CP the normal way and may not mess with the Priority card. Everything is flexible!

 

[calypso726]

Does anyone have Discover miles card? I am looking for a 0% APR card to put my classes for my master on (I get reimbursed by work after the class is completed). So I am thinking the 1.5 miles is better than the 1x from discover it.

I don't have the card but why not get a Citi double cash card? It's 2x and a no fee card. You get 1x when you make the purchase and then another 1x when you pay the statement. Sounds better than 1.5.

 

[chattadisser]

TA price is always the same as what’s on DCL’s website. The conversion rate depends on your credit card. If you have CSR a $10,000 cruise would cost 667k ur points. With csp it would be 800k ur points. Dcl for Alaska is crazy expensive and the annual increases have been huge.

The price is the same as on DCL's site. I just priced one last night. The points don't convert, exactly. They are worth a penny per point. More if you have CSP, CIP, CSR, etc. So the cruise I am considering is $8400, or 560,133 URs using a CSR.

Thank you both! This is exactly what I was looking for. We have the CSR so we would get the best conversion but I doubt I could talk my husband into unloading that many UR's at once! We did a double dip on the Wonder a few years ago and loved DCL, but we're not really beach people so it leaves Alaska and Europe which both would probably be frightful amounts of UR's. I can dream...

 

[MrsAlexis]

Off topic but does anyone use Ibotta? I clicked through to booking dot com about 10 days ago and got almost instant confirmation of my pending cash back. I cancelled because cash back rebate increased then rebooked. Pending cash back no where to be seen and my support email request is unanswered after 3 days. I just booked two more bookings hoping it will all go through. Anyone have experience with this?

 

[brownhaired_girl]

I will be at 4/24 in Oct when my CSR drops off. My AF posts in Nov and my travel credit posted Dec 29th last year (i can use it right away on my timeshare maintenance fees and get 3x points). My thought was that I could pay the AF, use the travel credit, and then PC to CF to get some of the AF refunded. The plan then would be to wait a little while to do the sapphire double dip if that is still an option. I'm planning to cancel my southwest cards next time after the annual points are deposited. Then late 2019 I was hoping to apply for the SW personal and business cards and work towards my next CP. I have to say the new SW offer is a little disappointing. I need to make some kind of a long term plan and I am VERY open to thoughts and suggestions. I just completed MSR on DH SW business card that he may not even know he has. I am finding myself without a MSR. I'm fine with that today but ??? next week.

My cards: CSR 10/2016 (100,000 points and my first travel card)
Southwest Plus 4/2017
Southwest Premier 5/2017
Marriott 12/2017
Hyatt 10/2017

CIP / Marriott Business/ SPG business

 

[liloca]

I don't have the card but why not get a Citi double cash card? It's 2x and a no fee card. You get 1x when you make the purchase and then another 1x when you pay the statement. Sounds better than 1.5.

I did not know Citi double check also had 0%APR! The discover is double the first year so 3x