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

[hsmamato2]

Just got off phone with Carnival yep cruise is cancelled. I’m not sure if they sent me an email I’ll have to go back and look. Now I need to call Advantage and cancel flights.

they didn't tell you???

 

[gottalovepluto]

--

 

[elgerber]

That comment pissed me off too so you got an up from me. Alas knowing that crowd I was not surprised to see you get downvoted. I ❤ DIS

I missed the comment was going to go try to find it.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

as far as PC'ing the CSR, I wouldn't be able to do this if I'm currently holding a res. that I booked thru the portal,right? (since I booked with the better CSR price point) This is what always holds me back from doing this, I always seem to have something booked

You can PC the card with a current reservation, but you would lose the travel protection on it

 

[hsmamato2]

Called for a retention offer on my Plat. Was told I didn't spend enough to warrant an offer but I could try throwing more spend at the card until the 8th. No thanks. I didn't cancel yet because I needed somewhere to park my MRs. Decided to go for the 50k incognito offer on the Gold card. Guess I spent enough to ward off the pop-up and got instant approval to boot! It puts me at 5/24, but only until my CSP falls off next month and I will have plenty of MSR to keep me busy until then. Also PC'd my Freedom (formerly my CSP) to a CSR a few days ago so I could redeem a bunch of points for our 10th anniversary trip in February.

Decided to go to the Grand Canyon. Used URs to book a lodge in the National Park and a hotel in Scottsdale our last night plus a rental car for the whole trip. Used my FNC from Marriott for our arrival night near the Phoenix airport. Then transferred a few URs over to top off my SW account and booked our flights. Used up about $22 of the CSR travel credit for the fees so I could utilize the insurance on the CSR. So far $0 OOP for this trip. Hooray!

lodges in the GC park are on the portal???

 

[gottalovepluto]

Here is my PSA for today. I had an AMEX gift card I got for a gift from an old boss for Christmas 2015 or 2016. It says funds never expire, and the expiration date on the card is 2024. I went to check the balance today and was told the card needs to be replaced. So I called and because it hadn't had use yet, the funds were given to the state, and only the person who bought the card can get the funds now. So much for funds never expire.

Oh wow I had no idea. Shmucky states. I just read up on that super briefly but apparently some states require gift card funds be turned over to them as unclaimed property if they haven’t been used in X number of years.

CA requires gift card funds with an expiration (like Amex, Visa) date be escheated to state after 3 years it looks like.

Thank you for highlighting this. Very sorry you lost your money!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all! Dh and I returned from our amazing India trip last night---so much still to process about what we saw and did, but I am so happy that we were able to travel with our friends.

Some things potentially related to redemptions:

• Lufthansa from PHL-FRA-DEL (and reverse) in business was wonderful. We had the upstairs 747 cabin on the PHL-FRA legs. It was such a relaxing experience, very quiet with great service. The FRA-DEL legs were on an A380 which we had never flown before--so smooth! We were able to sleep several hours on all 4 legs---lay flat seats rock. Dh is now asking how the Air Canada and United biz seats for Australia will compare
• Lounge report: PHL Centurion lounge was just as good as it was when we flew to Rome. The Frankfurt business class lounge (Z gate area) was excellent with loads and loads of seating, hot and cold foods, sweets and baked goods, bowls of fruit everywhere, self-serve beverages of all kinds, and multiple fancy coffee machines. Bathrooms were constantly being cleaned, and there were many, many shower rooms (the waits were at least 1 hour so book those right away). The wifi didn't work well in the far corner on our outbound visit but it was fine on the homeward visit. We used a Priority Pass lounge at the Delhi airport, the Plaza Premium in the Lounges B area. It was SO crowded between 1:30 and 2:30 am with all the international departures, but we managed to find seats for the 7 of us. Interesting note---they allow unlimited guests per PP holder! We were prepared to pay for one entry because 2 of us had PP but didn't need to. Dh and I didn't get any food though our friends did (they weren't flying business). Drinks were abundant as was bottled water.
• Leela Palace hotel in Delhi is on Amex FHR--highly recommend this property. Great food, almost over-the-top service, beautiful room. It definitely spoiled us for the vast majority of the places we stayed the rest of the trip!
• ITC Mughal (Luxury Collection) in Agra, a Marriott cat 2 and available with UR)---not recommended. Our room and those of our friends were on the lowest level and smelled musty. Had we stayed there longer than 1 night we would have asked to switch rooms. Food wasn't very good at the lobby restaurant (v late dinner) and was extensive but just ok at the included buffet breakfast.
• ITC Rajputana in Jaipur, Marriott cat 3 and on UR portal---recommended. Service was slow (why did it take 30 minutes to check in and 15 to check out??) but attentive, food was quite good yet pricey.
• Narhargarh Ranthambhore near the Ranthambhore National Park and Tiger Preserve, on UR portal---highly recommended. It's in the style of a fort/palace, with every room different. Just gorgeous! And the staff was great, very friendly and helpful. It's full-board, not just breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but tea/coffee/biscuits before and after everyone heads out for their early game drives. The bar was great and decently priced too. And the same-day laundry service was SO cheap, 1/10 of what all the other hotels were charging. I had read about this on Tripadvisor so had planned ahead. I would stay there again should we return to India.
• JW Marriott near the Delhi airport (Aerocity location), Marriot cat 5 and on UR portal---recommended for first/last nights. We used rooms from 5pm to midnight before heading to the airport for our 3:30a flights (worked out, took a bubble bath/showered, ate at one of the restaurants, and napped). The standard rooms are very nice, service was good, and the 24 hour lobby level restaurant was excellent and a good value.

And then some things related to the trip itself:

• We had a great time! I had always wanted to visit India but dh did not. The opportunity to travel with friends, including one who is from India, was one we could not pass up.
• We discovered that we are NOT group travel people but that's really the only way to go in India. One couple in the group tended to lag behind (the group was only 9 people lol) which was frustrating. We hadn't met them before the trip (all the others are friends, and we had previously traveled to China with one couple)--perfectly nice and well-traveled just sorta wander-y.
• Traffic is insane everywhere including in the countryside. Lane markings are only suggestions. So much honking everywhere, usually to indicate someone passing. We saw bikes, motorcycles, horse- and camel-drawn carts and tractors even on toll roads!
• The food, omg the food
• Trash is everywhere, except in national parks and historic sites.
• Indian people are so friendly. We had children on field trips come up to us to practice their English everywhere. Sometimes I felt like I was reciting English 1 dialogues
• I forgot how much my blonde hair would stick out. I was very uncomfortable at points. Lots of avoiding eye contact. However, I was happy to take pictures with school kids and young women while we were touring historic sites. It got to the point that our friends would take pictures of those encounters lol
• My favorite city was Delhi (even though the air quality was not good). My favorite touring occurred in Agra (horrible air quality) with Agra Fort (aka the Red Fort) and the Taj Mahal. Our guide for those days was just excellent. My least favorite city was Jaipur---it's in a drought-prone area so it was very dusty and there were no green areas at all. Plus, it was the only place we experienced in-your-face street hawkers and vendors. We saw amazing wildlife at Ranthambhore including 2 female tigers just feet from our open vehicle and at a bird sanctuary elsewhere in the countryside (so much so that I started a Life List).
• Clean water and clean air are precious gifts everyone should be able to access.

My BIL just returned from a 3 week business trip to India. I didn’t get a chance to talk to him much at Christmas but he was impressed with Agra Fort, liked Taj Mahal but less than Agra Fort. Also noted the trash everywhere. I doubt he tried much food because he is the ultimate picky eater

 

[gottalovepluto]

I’m gonna follow @SouthFayetteFan ’s lead here and try to disconnect today & for the weekend. Safe travels to those traveling, fun times to those celebrating, & my prayers go with you to those who want the kids back in school already

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

That comment pissed me off too so you got an up from me. Alas knowing that crowd I was not surprised to see you get downvoted. I ❤ DIS

I also was thinking pretty frustrated by the guy wishing ill will towards AA employees and hoping they get fired. Like...seriously? That was a couple weeks ago I think.

I’m gonna follow @SouthFayetteFan ’s lead here and try to disconnect today & for the weekend. Safe travels to those traveling, fun times to those celebrating, & my prayers go with you to those who want the kids back in school already

Me too - swim lessons are over so I’m out for awhile friends!!

 

[Oscar Madison]

Check your AMEX offers. There is a $15 off $30 Sams club offer. Found it on my Aspire.

Got it too. Thanks!

 

[jhoannam]

Good morning churners!!

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday, I’m at a point that I have to look at my phone to know the day of the week. Today is only Friday! Woohoo!!

Plans for 2020:
February: Anaheim for a conference, the fam is tagging along for our only Disney trip of the year. Work paying for my part, SW for DH and the girls + Hyatt points to extend through the weekend.

Spring: the girls and I are headed to Mexico for spring break to celebrate my grandma’s 85th bday with all of my extended family. AA award flights booked, I should be fine. Only 2 SUBs in 2 years. fingers crossed

Summer: Utah’s Mighty 5 road trip. Delta Vacation package for flights, 2 nights hotel, & 9 day car rental. And a mixture of UR portal, transfers to Hyatt, and cash for the rest of the trip.

Fall: We plan to go somewhere for fall break with friends but we haven’t picked a location. We’ve vacationed with them the last 2 fall breaks but the vacations were pre-planned and the other families were invited later. This will be the first time we decide together where to go.

Winter: Grand Canyon and Arizona. We have 3 nights booked at GC, hoping a snag a night a Phantom Ranch. Nothing else booked. Might make the 18 hour drive there or might fly to Phoenix. Lots of planning left to do.

 

[havaneselover]

In a weak moment I bought the sugar cookie ugly sweater pop tarts. Not terrible but I prefer brown sugar cinnamon and s’mores.

 

[elgerber]

No AMEX Sams offers for me :-(

 

[DisneyMandC]

Woohoo, I've officially earned my free night cert for 15k spend on the Hilton Surpass!!!

 

[Albort]

Here is my PSA for today. I had an AMEX gift card I got for a gift from an old boss for Christmas 2015 or 2016. It says funds never expire, and the expiration date on the card is 2024. I went to check the balance today and was told the card needs to be replaced. So I called and because it hadn't had use yet, the funds were given to the state, and only the person who bought the card can get the funds now. So much for funds never expire.

its quite possible that the cards were not activated at payment. I had this happen a couple of times to me and i had to take it back to the purchase location to get them activated. There is times also where the card load had a failed payment and they usually throw it away, but its possible they didnt with ur amex card... Lesson usually is whoever buys them should check balance before gifting. Hope you solve your program and get your money!

This seems like such a newbie question, but oh well. I am new to MRs and don't have a specific redemption in mind for them. I have even considered Home Depot gift cards! I know that the best redemption is often transferring to airlines, but what about just redeeming them for travel on their portal? I'm specifically looking at cruises. Are they just worth 1% or is there a multiplier at all like the 1.25 and 1.5 with Chase? Thanks!

I dont think there is any multipliers on the MR side, usually MRs are usually worth $.02 per point if u transfer for premium cabin(usually ANA). also it sometimes get 20%-40% bonus to airlines which increases the value of the $.02.
At the end though, if u redeem it a 1%, its still free right? :] Id much prefer using URs than MR on a cruise though but everyone redeems points differently.

No AMEX Sams offers for me :-(

have u tried to shuffle your amex offer?

 

[elgerber]

its quite possible that the cards were not activated at payment. I had this happen a couple of times to me and i had to take it back to the purchase location to get them activated. There is times also where the card load had a failed payment and they usually throw it away, but its possible they didnt with ur amex card... Lesson usually is whoever buys them should check balance before gifting. Hope you solve your program and get your money!

have u tried to shuffle your amex offer?

No, I have checked the balance on it, more than once. And I checked the states money website, and it is indeed now listed under his name and unused prepaid card, or something like that, that he can claim.

Shuffle? Is anyone finding the offer anywhere but the Aspire?

 

[alryan]

I dont think there is any multipliers on the MR side, usually MRs are usually worth $.02 per point if u transfer for premium cabin(usually ANA). also it sometimes get 20%-40% bonus to airlines which increases the value of the $.02.
At the end though, if u redeem it a 1%, its still free right? :] Id much prefer using URs than MR on a cruise though but everyone redeems points differently.

Thank you, that's what I thought, but just thought I'd check. You're right, free is free, but I spend my points so fast that I'm trying to figure out how I can accumulate enough for both a cruise and Costa Rica.

 

[WVMomof3]

No, I have checked the balance on it, more than once. And I checked the states money website, and it is indeed now listed under his name and unused prepaid card, or something like that, that he can claim.

Shuffle? Is anyone finding the offer anywhere but the Aspire?

I don't know what shuffle means but I had the Sams offer on my SPG biz.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

No, I have checked the balance on it, more than once. And I checked the states money website, and it is indeed now listed under his name and unused prepaid card, or something like that, that he can claim.

Shuffle? Is anyone finding the offer anywhere but the Aspire?

DH had it on his BBP

 

[havaneselover]

So I bought DD (my companion) EBCI and she got A35 on our SW flight tomorrow. DS and I are B2 and B3. It seems like I don't need to buy priority boarding (if available) but I still have four to buy at no charge. Should I just buy them?