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

[Lain]

I feel like I’m all alone. I’m the only one just now getting my first Marriott biz card. Everybody else is canceling theirs. Oh well, I suppose some day I’ll cancel mine too.

The halcyon days ended just over a year ago. Hence, all the cancelations coming up now. Before then, you could’ve applied for Chase’s Marriott Premier/Premier Plus, Marriott Biz, and Ritz-Carlton (the true heavyweight champion) cards, and Amex’s SPG, SPG Biz, and SPG Lux (collectively, the “Starriott Gauntlet”), when the SPG cards were actually worth spending on (because 1 Starpoint = 3 Marriott), gotten all their SUBs and cross-support bonuses worth over 500k Marriott points, pool them all with your P2, without any restrictions across the two issuers.

 

[wendow]

Picked up DH the Amex gold delta biz. Now that I’m the new Delta fangirl I figured why not! We are flying them next month so the free bag will come in handy too! Used the dummy booking for 75k instead of a cross referral (was at a paltry 30k). And even better news no pop up! So those in pop up hell might want to try their luck with delta cards!

How do you pull up the offer on a dummy booking? I'm not seeing it?

Do you mean the SW thing? I saw DPs up to just over $100. I bought a ticket around $140 (legitimately needed a ticket and wasn't for credit) just to see if it worked, and it didn't.

I have seen several DPs of under $100 working though.

I just got an amex gold so I need to figure this out. It sounds like I book a ticket that is right at $100 (lots of $109's from Denver) and then what? If I cancel, I just get a credit. Is that the best there is?

 

[orangecuse]

@LuckyMamaInDE we did! We have Samsung and we like them. They are massive capacity (look normal size from the outside) which was really all I wanted haha They work well though and are pretty quiet!

 

[LB002]

I need a car rental for our HI trip in Feb (Hilton and Aulani, 9 nights on Oahu). I never rent cars, like it's been 12 years, so looking for advice.
- Good ways to use points? (UR or Hilton available, just burned MR on Delta promo)
- Recomended companies?
- Best time to book?
- Pitfalls to avoid?
- Best card to pay with (if not points) - Hilton Aspire, CSR, Amex Gold, CIP (fingers crossed for approval)

I checked the Chase UR site hoping to use points, but everything is $850+. Costco is similar, a bit less. DH has status from his Plat Amex (although canceling, not sure how that works) at National, Avis and Enterprise (if I remember correctly). Hilton Aspire has a 30% off Alamo promo right now, so $500ish but the desk is not in the terminal.

(I've been posting a ton this week. Can you tell the kids are hack in school???)

 

[disneymagicgirl]

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/swagbucks-complete-a-doordash-delivery-earn-15000-150/
Is anyone doing this? @disneymagicgirl you do delivery things right? I’m a little nervous but $150 for one delivery seems pretty easy. I’d try and sign SO and I both up and do them at the same time for $300.

I haven't worked all summer, but yes, I did DD in the spring. It is easy and actually kind of a fun way to make some cash. I'd def do that offer!!

 

[gottalovepluto]

I'm reading on FT right now about Amex reimbursements on airlines. Has anyone tried the new techniques?

DISchurners has some DPs on this in a little discussion found way down on the current news thread. These DPs are getting harder to find in places like FT as people have gone quiet about them after RAT got so aggressive in shutting stuff down.

 

[Lain]

I need a car rental for our HI trip in Feb (Hilton and Aulani, 9 nights on Oahu). I never rent cars, like it's been 12 years, so looking for advice.
- Good ways to use points? (UR or Hilton available, just burned MR on Delta promo)
- Recomended companies?
- Best time to book?
- Pitfalls to avoid?
- Best card to pay with (if not points) - Hilton Aspire, CSR, Amex Gold, CIP (fingers crossed for approval)

I checked the Chase UR site hoping to use points, but everything is $850+. Costco is similar, a bit less. DH has status from his Plat Amex (although canceling, not sure how that works) at National, Avis and Enterprise (if I remember correctly). Hilton Aspire has a 30% off Alamo promo right now, so $500ish but the desk is not in the terminal.

(I've been posting a ton this week. Can you tell the kids are hack in school???)

Have you checked autoslash?

 

[LB002]

Have you checked autoslash?

Nope, never heard of it! Will check!

 

[disfanforlife]

I feel like I’m all alone. I’m the only one just now getting my first Marriott biz card. Everybody else is canceling theirs. Oh well, I suppose some day I’ll cancel mine too.

You’re not alone. I haven’t gotten a Marriott Biz yet either.

 

[gottalovepluto]

--

 

[tink1970]

Any recommendations or anti-recommendations?

My Samsung frontload washer and dryer bought 3 or 4 years ago have been my biggest appliance regrets (not that I've bought a lot of appliances lol).

I got them because they were a lovely burgundy color -and still are- but that's the best thing about them. I've had the dryer fixed about 4 times (heating element and other things) and the washer works but I always feel like I'm wasting water since I can't control the load size. Also, there's a piece of plastic in the front which seals with the door and it never seems to dry out completely (even with wiping down religiously) and so it smells funky (mold) and I end up doing a hot water vinegar only load about once a month to help keep that odor down. I miss my really basic functional whirlpool set SO MUCH (note-that set died after 12 or 13 years and definitely earned its keep). The only good thing is I'm guessing this set will die in another 3 or 4 years and I can return to old school basic!

 

[amalone1013]

What are the available ways to reset the expiration on Hilton points? Besides points from the credit cards...

 

[apollodi]

Need some help to avoid getting Bonvoyed. I have 2 Marriott bookings made with “points advance” right now, both for the same dates. I also have 2 certs both of which will expire slightly before my bookings so I cannot apply them. I was hoping to wait until closer to my dates (next June) then call and have them extend the certs and apply them. Now I’m afraid even though I have booked rooms at standard points, since I haven’t used points yet I will be subject to the new peak pricing and not be able to use my certificates either. (I don’t plan on keeping both bookings, I’m just afraid to cancel one in case I get stuck somehow).
Does anyone understand Marriott’s plan well enough to advise me how to avoid getting Bonvoyed, or will I be ok since I already booked even though they are points advance reservations?

ETA: after watching videos and reviewing info on the Bonbon site, I think I understand. If I don’t pay with points now, I’ll likely face peak pricing. I think I need to apply points now, then call and get the certs extended and applied next year. I need about 4K more points but can transfer URs over. Was hoping to earn them but that will be too late.

According to the original blog post, Marriott intends to honor some points advance bookings at the standard rate should your night fall on a peak rate in the future. (https://viewfromthewing.boardingare...-pricing-next-month-along-with-other-changes/)
However, I don't know if it would hold that rate when trying to switch it to a FNC. I seem to recall @havaneselover (maybe?) having an issue with that on the last go around.

I have been wondering the same thing. Frequent Miler seems to think you'll be able to apply a 35k cert at standard pricing to a points advance booking made before 9/14, even if your dates end up being subject to peak pricing: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/surviving-marriott-peak-off-peak-award-pricing/

But, I'm also leery of whether the reps will actually allow this. We will have 2 35k certs next summer that haven't posted yet. I have my eye on several different trips where I might use them (Seattle, Chicago, or DC). All of these hotels are 35k hotels, and I suspect they will be subject to peak pricing since it's summer. I'd like to book 5 points advance bookings to keep my current Bonvoy points available for use before the summer, but I'm not sure I'll be able to apply the certs to next summer's bookings in reality.

Right now I have 5 points advance bookings set up for different 35k hotels. But I'm debating switching the ones I want most to actual points bookings, even though it will tie up my Bonvoy points.

 

[Lain]

Nope, never heard of it! Will check!

Definitely check Autoslash through Priceline. You can rebook whenever the rental price drops. If you have status with any of the car rental companies, it’ll be honored as long as you pay at the counter and not prepay.

Do you or DH have the CSR? That gives primary car rental insurance coverage and you can decline the car rental company’s insurance. It also gives you Emerald executive status with National, and I believe status with Avis and Hertz too.

The Amex Plat also offers status with Avis, Hertz, and National, but its rental insurance benefit is secondary, which means you need to submit a claim with your other insurance first before you can submit a claim through Amex.

 

[Lain]

What are the available ways to reset the expiration on Hilton points? Besides points from the credit cards...

Spend the equivalent of 1 cent in Hilton points using Pay With Points on Amazon.

 

[Judique]

Just cancelled my wife's Marriott card which was originally opened back in 2016. It was upgraded to the new Marriott card a year ago and it was just time to go. I could not justify the $95 AF - due to the PC, my free night posts on a different schedule than the AF so I had already gotten the free night in March and used it this summer. Why am I typing all of this - I dunno, haha. I guess it's just hard to say goodbye to an old card! In our first year of "heavy churning" we got 24 cards and only 6 of them remain open. Goodbye Marriott card - you did me good, friend! You did me good!

...I get oddly sentimental about my credit cards...

I updated my card last December when it was just about to reach it's anniversary on Xmas Day. My free night posted about then, my $85 was returned and I didn't hear another peep until June when they charged me the $95. So, that was making me wonder if my night would be tied to the annual fee date. So my night should still come in December? That's what I want.

 

[amalone1013]

Spend the equivalent of 1 cent in Hilton points using Pay With Points on Amazon.

Aha! I realized yesterday that the AF posted on DHs Hilton biz too and the statement closed, and now the next statement close will be 30 days after the AF posting... so I wasn't sure any spend (even $1) on this statement would go through since I need to close the card ON the last day of the statement before it cuts.

 

[LB002]

Definitely check Autoslash through Priceline. You can rebook whenever the rental price drops. If you have status with any of the car rental companies, it’ll be honored as long as you pay at the counter and not prepay.

Do you or DH have the CSR? That gives primary car rental insurance coverage and you can decline the car rental company’s insurance. It also gives you Emerald executive status with National, and I believe status with Avis and Hertz too.

The Amex Plat also offers status with Avis, Hertz, and National, but its rental insurance benefit is secondary, which means you need to submit a claim with your other insurance first before you can submit a claim through Amex.

Perfect, I will play with it tonight. I have CSR, so I will book with that! Thanks!

 

[Lain]

Perfect, I will play with it tonight. I have CSR, so I will book with that! Thanks!

One more thing: If you use Ebates, you can click your browser extension when in Priceline and have the rental credit.

 

[snugglebug]

I need a car rental for our HI trip in Feb (Hilton and Aulani, 9 nights on Oahu). I never rent cars, like it's been 12 years, so looking for advice.
- Good ways to use points? (UR or Hilton available, just burned MR on Delta promo)
- Recomended companies?
- Best time to book?
- Pitfalls to avoid?
- Best card to pay with (if not points) - Hilton Aspire, CSR, Amex Gold, CIP (fingers crossed for approval)

I checked the Chase UR site hoping to use points, but everything is $850+. Costco is similar, a bit less. DH has status from his Plat Amex (although canceling, not sure how that works) at National, Avis and Enterprise (if I remember correctly). Hilton Aspire has a 30% off Alamo promo right now, so $500ish but the desk is not in the terminal.

(I've been posting a ton this week. Can you tell the kids are hack in school???)

I rented a minivan in Hawaii. I know my initial booking was around $500. By checking weekly and rebooking, I got it down to $360 (24062 UR) within 2 weeks of our trip. I booked Enterprise via Chase UR. I pretty much only book Enterprise or National, I have National status via the CSR. These two companies have never given me issues and I get free second driver (dh).

Parking in Hawaii is expensive. Hale Koa has a parking garage very near Hilton Hawaiian Village if that's where you're staying, not far of a walk at all, it's basically across the street. If you're military related (active duty and I can't remember what else) you can get parking validated, it's only $30/day. However, it does not code as travel on CSR I've discovered. So much for getting my parking offset by travel credit lol