I love credit cards so much!

[SouthFayetteFan]

Love this detail! I have been out of the loop for spring break visiting the mouse and trying to catch up. I have decided to get a CIP for my DH. I will probably PC my CSP to a CFU and apply for a CF. Thanks!!

Hope your trip was awesome! How were those crowds?? Sounds like you got a good plan to have URs covered on all bases!!

 

[mom2elal]

Ok. Reading all these posts about SW and seating is kind of making me feel like an a**hole, lol. It’s moot now since I no longer have it, but (due to commuting back and forth from the Bay Area to Boise before we moved) I was A-list for much of 2016 and all of 2017. I’d just get on before my husband and kids and save seats. I’ve probably done this a dozen or more times without any issue.

If you're an ******, then we are too. We've done that a time or two. BUT, we also like to sit in the back, so we generally have no problem sitting together. I'm a weirdo who likes to be in the very last row and it's literally often the last row to fill up. There have been several times I was flying alone and because I sat in the last row, I ended up with nobody next to me. That makes it worth having to wait to get off the plane for me.

Not churning related, but...when we went to WDW on SW, we were flying from Sacramento and we had two stops where we were not allowed off the plane and we were on that plane for 12 HOURS! It was tortuous. Of course, I picked those flights because they were the cheapest, but now I know that if you're not changing planes, they won't let you get off at all because of the fast turn-around.

 

[mom2elal]

How funny, I typed the letter "a" dash hole and it got censored, lol. I was trying to censor myself.

 

[pillow]

I absolutely know that to be true ...I also wouldn't ever chance it once our family boarding priority goes away - as @pillow said, if you forget you could get severely punished. My wife already hates flying and I force her to do it 3-4 times a year...if we were impacted in that way she would never fly Southwest again ...

I'm just going to accept at least 3x the EB checkin price as a cost of flying once she turns 7.

I might consider doing EB next time on our return flight - simply because I don't want to plan my vacation around flight check-in (major downer). My DD and her friend are almost adults, so it wasn't a big deal really, but I would have stressed out if they were younger.

 

[pillow]

Where are you staying in Punta Cana? I'm looking at beach vacation options for us for next February break. I think we've settled on Grand Cayman but DR looks interesting too.

You all will probably appreciate this. As mentioned above, I've been looking at beach resorts for a trip next February. For two years in a row I've said 'next year we're going somewhere warm on Feb break' but I haven't followed through on it yet. Now that I'm more into points/miles, I'm determined to make it happen for 2019. One of the blogs I read, MommyPoints, sold me on the idea of Grand Cayman so I booked a points reservation at the Marriott there even though I don't have nearly enough points in my account, lol. (LOVE this about Marriott Rewards & hope they keep the feature when they fully merge with Starwood.)

So, this morning I jump onto Google Flights to see what flight options are from NYC to Grand Cayman or Bahamas (which is my 2nd choice). And all the options were terrible layovers or astronomical prices for President's Week. My dream of a Feb beach vacation died a little bit in that moment. So we go about our day, and then later it hits me. Neither Southwest nor Jet Blue were showing up on Google because their schedules haven't been released that far out yet! Jet Blue flies direct from here to pretty much every Caribbean island you can think of, and Southwest could get us there with a connection in Ft. Lauderdale. The dream is back alive!

Now I just need to hoard UR points like crazy since I was planning to use them to buy flights to London for next summer, and will probably need to buy JetBlue flights to Grand Cayman with them too if we actually commit to this trip, unless I can quickly get a bunch of JB points. I have about 15,000 right now, which might get me a single one-way ticket.

Also check Costa Rica. Southwest flies to both San Jose (SJO) and Liberia (LIR). Gorgeous beaches there and a very safe and friendly country. We loved it!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

BUT, we also like to sit in the back, so we generally have no problem sitting together. I'm a weirdo who likes to be in the very last row and it's literally often the last row to fill up.

We always head straight to the back as well. We like to be close to the bathrooms and always wait for luggage anyways, so what is the rush?

 

[wendow]

I initially wasn't interested in business cards, but reading all the posts here made me more comfortable with the idea. Now I am excited about all the points I can earn so I am willing to try for one!

I get 2x on dining with my JetBlue so that wouldn't be a terrible loss. I'll also probably go for the CSR when I can.

We hit the $4k for the CSP quicker than I thought so I think $5k is totally doable. 5x on gift cards is great too though!

Looking over the reddit group now.

If you go for the CIP, you'll earn 80k UR points. I used just under 80k UR's for 4 nights x 2 rooms (so really 8 nights!!) at Coronado Springs back in Sept 2017. It's a great bonus, and imo, definitely one of the better ones out there.

I'm also a big fan of the CSR so I agree with going for that card also when you can.

Just to clarify, the CIP will not earn 5x on GC's. That is the CIC. That may be the card you are referencing but just want to make sure

 

[wendow]

BUT, we also like to sit in the back, so we generally have no problem sitting together. I'm a weirdo who likes to be in the very last row and it's literally often the last row to fill up.

We are another family who heads straight to the back! We always did it when our kids were really little and might cry because the plane is noisier in the back so we hoped our crying baby would not bother other passengers as much. But we still do it now even though no more criers as we just find it convenient to be close to the bathrooms and if there are going to be any empty seats, they will be around us Of course, as a fam of 6, we take up two rows so never have to sit next to awkward strangers lol!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

We always head straight to the back as well. We like to be close to the bathrooms and always wait for luggage anyways, so what is the rush?

We try to sit near the front on the way to Disney - I know it probably only gains 5 minutes (and then we just stand at DME anyways) but I'm just so excited to be there !! On the way home we head towards the back as we'll beat the luggage anyways

 

[gottalovepluto]

. . . and just want to add . . . was having so much fun I totally forgot to check-in for my SW flight home! 3 hours later when I finally remembered, I was assigned a boarding number of C42, so naturally none of us got to sit together. I both love Southwest and hate Southwest!

All this Southwest talk helps temper my annoyance at not having Southwest at my airport. I am borderline obsessive about seating and seat guru-ing the crap out of every flight I take, just an equipment change would throw me off so much! Not knowing where I was going to sit would drive me up the freaking wall. Old school airlines have me way too conditioned...

 

[wendow]

We try to sit near the front on the way to Disney - I know it probably only gains 5 minutes (and then we just stand at DME anyways) but I'm just so excited to be there !! On the way home we head towards the back as we'll beat the luggage anyways

I am so excited to get to Disney but we get off the plane, and always head straight to the bathroom. Then we stop at the food court for a snack (our flight is almost 4 hours...we're hungry!), then gotta snap a few pics with the Mickey outside the Earport and peek in just for a min, then make our way to DME so we can stand and wait to be let on the bus and then sit on the bus for 30 mins so they can fill every stinking seat before we leave. Maybe they only do that in the slowness of Sept but either way, it's irritating. Not sure where we sit on the plane really matters. In the end, typing all that just made me miss WDW really badly

 

[wendow]

All this Southwest talk helps temper my annoyance at not having Southwest at my airport. I am borderline obsessive about seating and seat guru-ing the crap out of every flight I take, just an equipment change would throw me off so much! Not knowing where I was going to sit would drive me up the freaking wall. Old school airlines have me way too conditioned...

My first airplane ride ever was at 7yo and on SW. It's all I've ever known growing up in TX. I've flown other carriers with their assigned seating but never loved an airline as much as I love SW. If you aren't used to it though, I could totally see where their seating system would bug you.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I am so excited to get to Disney but we get off the plane, and always head straight to the bathroom. Then we stop at the food court for a snack (our flight is almost 4 hours...we're hungry!), then gotta snap a few pics with the Mickey outside the Earport and peek in just for a min, then make our way to DME so we can stand and wait to be let on the bus and then sit on the bus for 30 mins so they can fill every stinking seat before we leave. Maybe they only do that in the slowness of Sept but either way, it's irritating. Not sure where we sit on the plane really matters. In the end, typing all that just made me miss WDW really badly

They are vivid memories aren't they! I can close my eyes and see the Orlando airport... I also know that where I sit on the plane makes no difference, but it still makes me feel better to get off quick, LOL. I basically skip to the tram and past the fountain to the escalator...yes Disney brings out my giddy side!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

All this Southwest talk helps temper my annoyance at not having Southwest at my airport. I am borderline obsessive about seating and seat guru-ing the crap out of every flight I take, just an equipment change would throw me off so much! Not knowing where I was going to sit would drive me up the freaking wall. Old school airlines have me way too conditioned...

I think it's all in what you're used to. I've flown Southwest about 20:1 vs. other airlines and any other airline drives me up a wall now. I don't think it's because Southwest's way is better, I think it's just because I'm so used to it. I don't have a tally on this (shocking for me, I know!) but I'd imagine between vacations and business I've flown over 50 round trip flights on Southwest in the past decade.

 

[platamama]

All this Southwest talk helps temper my annoyance at not having Southwest at my airport. I am borderline obsessive about seating and seat guru-ing the crap out of every flight I take, just an equipment change would throw me off so much! Not knowing where I was going to sit would drive me up the freaking wall. Old school airlines have me way too conditioned...

Lol, and I am (pleasantly) surprised when I get to choose my seat when I fly on another carrier! Still, with the free checked bags and no change fees, Southwest is still my favored airline. It bugs me to no end to pay $150-$200 just to change a time or date or destination on a flight itinerary. That's another ticket on SW, at least one way if not round trip! Getting high enough status with any airline to be exempt from those fees would be great, but not gonna happen for me I'm afraid.

 

[wendow]

I basically skip to the tram and past the fountain to the escalator...yes Disney brings out my giddy side!

One of my absolute favorite things about Disney. We all become kids again There is just nothing else like it here on Earth.

 

[wendow]

They are vivid memories aren't they! I can close my eyes and see the Orlando airport... I also know that where I sit on the plane makes no difference, but it still makes me feel better to get off quick, LOL. I basically skip to the tram and past the fountain to the escalator...yes Disney brings out my giddy side!

Oh and I'll be in the Orlando airport in two days. I just cannot wait to see the fountains, the Earport, feel the energy there...We don't get to go to the parks but get this, I decided to do one of those Hotwire Hotdeals (could NOT decide on an offsite hotel for just one night to save my life) so I decided to let Hotwire decide for me. I got POFQ! For $116 tax and all. Sorry if I already posted this here but I was shocked and I'm excited. It's only one night as we are in a different hotel each night but thrilled to just get be at Disney for a night.

 

[Alexle2007]

Where are you staying in Punta Cana? I'm looking at beach vacation options for us for next February break. I think we've settled on Grand Cayman but DR looks interesting too.

This is our 5th visit to the DR in 2 years and we've always stayed at the Bahia Principe Esmeralda. Seven nights for 3 is $1500 in June. It is also our Christmas destination but a little more expensive during the holiday.

Now you have me intrigued for Grand Cayman. We've stopped there twice on cruises. The first time we did the swim with the dolphins there and the second time we just enjoyed the ship since we were on the Allure of the Seas and there was more than enough to do on it.

 

[WVMomof3]

All this Southwest talk helps temper my annoyance at not having Southwest at my airport. I am borderline obsessive about seating and seat guru-ing the crap out of every flight I take, just an equipment change would throw me off so much! Not knowing where I was going to sit would drive me up the freaking wall. Old school airlines have me way too conditioned...

My DD 17 has only flown SW. She has an all expense paid trip to visit college next week, so we had nothing to do with booking her tickets. She had a little anxiety attack when she saw there were seat numbers assigned. lol "What do you mean I can't pick out my seat???" I guess definitely all in what you are used to.

 

[GZanta77]

New offer on my Amex card this morning - Get $20 back on $100+ spent on online tickets for Busch Gardens Tampa.

Check Amex offers as not everyone will get it.