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

Status
Not open for further replies.
Sticky #3 back up for @Lain 's spreadsheet :laughing: (not really but :rotfl2:)

No kidding! I want @Lain's spreadsheet posted. He knows WAY too much! We need to know what he knows about each of us lol!

He does know way too much, which is why I DON'T want it posted. :scared1::rotfl::scared1::rotfl::scared1:

(even though I want to see it, too)

Really guys, there’s no spreadsheet. I just try to read everything and keep a really good memory because I think it helps me in my replies to know where you all are coming from and what you want out of this hobby. And besides, you all are like old friends and new to me. I’m pretty good with the search button too.
 
Last edited:
No kidding! I want @Lain's spreadsheet posted. He knows WAY too much! We need to know what he knows about each of us lol!

He can only know what he's been told, and it's all on record on the other thread. I want to know if he has a unique search function that he has developed to find comments since I can't even find my own posts when I want to let alone remember what someone else said.

Either that or he has an eidetic memory.
 
You, ridiculous redemptions?? You, who just got back from Antarctica?? We all live and breathe by your redemptions, wishing we could have those ourselves! But I agree, you may be the queen of Annual Fees. It is your influence that helps us all to justify them.

Touche! Thank you :flower3: When I say Ridiculous Redemptions, I was thinking more along the lines of flying from FL to SanFran to see Hamilton, flying to London for the weekend to see the Harry Potter play, flying to Scotland for a long weekend to see the Fairy Pools, flying to NYC for the weekend to see the Harry Potter play there, flying to DC for the weekend to see Hamilton again, flying to DC for the weekend because cherry blossoms, blowing half a million points on one flight to try out Singapore Suites etc.

I think Antarctica or any other real vacation is something that is a reasonable goal or bucket list place. Most folks would save and earn lots of points and burn the points to fulfill these types of vacations without anyone batting an eye. It's a reasonable thing to do. Meanwhile, I'll throw gasoline and light a fire to any number of points on a whim. I've had people IRL tell me I'm crazy and that wasting that amount of points for those things is stupid with regards to some of the aforementioned point redemptions. Therefore, I can only imagine that some in our DISchurner family here may think the same thing too, but are polite enough not to voice their opinion in writing. Maybe not. In any case, that's ok. I'd sooner wear wear those sentiments as a badge of honor than be shamed by it. So bring on the points, because I've always got something absurd in mind, gasoline and a lighter at the ready! :D
 


I welcome any and all feedback on the first 3 sticky comments.

1) Is a welcome message of sorts - can edit, add, or eliminate if necessary
2) Is what we need to give good advice - are we missing anything there?
3) I tried to not get too crazy with the glossary (it needs to be readable...) If anything super important is missing let me know. If you think anything is confusing let me know. Should anything be removed as it's just not used often enough?

Do you think a short list of the regulars and their relative respective areas of expertise would be beneficial. The thread moves fast and sometimes a question may be asked but missed and knowing who to tag about that question would help. A short list of the Delta hostages, the AA hostages, the bank bonus gurus, SW experts, Schwab cash out King, using airline partner peeps etc.
 
Fine. Then I'll take "Queen of Annual Fees and Mistress of Ridiculous Redemptions."

I'm going to go ahead and quote the conversation starter from @GlamMistress here for continued discussion along with my reply over here. I think it's a good topic especially in light of OMAAT's blog article.





Ok, I'm back to give my thoughts and perspective on this conversation starter which I think discussing would provide value and perspective to those of us who've been at this game a long time and to the newer folks for consideration down the line. I'm quoting my post from 2017 that was in response to another person who didn't see the value of holding multiple cards beyond meeting the spending bonus. While that post is over a year old, it still holds true. For me, having options is still the name of the game. I've always been an advocate of diversifying my portfolio. I think it was just a few weeks ago that I was on here kicking and screaming in my head over Chase's craptastic Expedia platform :badpc: that would not display flights to book with URs in first or business. So, I went ahead and booked them with Amex MRs on their glitchy but less frustrating travel platform. Then, when I decided to come in early for the Japan ABD and go to Tokyo to check out the robot restaurant, I thought I'd like to stay at the Park Hyatt that I've heard so much about. Little did I know it's over $1500 per night! Fortunately, the same room and nights were available on points so I used 60,000 UR points that instantly transferred to Hyatt and booked my stay.

The airline transfer partners that Chase and Amex have both hold value for me. Therefore, I am happy to earn in both currencies. There is no way I could accumulate the number of points I do with just one card. In 2017 we blew through 1.7 million points and miles. Below are our 2018 points and miles spending we did and we blew through another million and then some. For 2019 travel I will very likely surpass 2 million.

2018
March - DC to see cherry blossoms (2 nights at The Willard free IHG night certs)(AA first - 58,842 Amex MR after 50% rebate with Amex biz Plat)
April - Dapper Days at DLR (Delta first class 153,000 Sky Pesos)
May/June - Adventures by Disney China (Singapore Suites - 500,000 KrisFlyer miles transferred from 400,000 SPG points)
July - New York to see Harry Potter Play (2 nights at Hilton Times Square with free night certs from Aspire) (AA first class paid with various AA GCs from airline credits on various cards)
September - Hawaii (AA first class 89,812 MR after 50% rebate with Amex biz Plat)
September - DC to see Hamilton (2 nights at The Wilard free IHG night certs)(AA first paid with various AA GCs from airline credits on various cards)
December/Jan - Antarctica (AA business/first - 505,000 AA miles)

2019
January - NYC for Mickey True Original Exhibition (2 nights at Residence Inn Central Park with Marriott free night certs)(AA economy 24,362 Amex MR after 35% rebate with Amex biz Plat)

March - Dubai and Maldives (4 nights at Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa 240k Marriott points)(3 nights Conrad Rangali over-water bungalows 285k Hilton points and hopefully replacing 95k with a free night cert)(1 night Dubai Int'l airport hotel 12,888 UR points)(Emirates first class 300k Alaska miles via Marriott Flight/Night packages)(AA first flight to position for Emirates flight 68,775 Amex MR after 35% rebate with Amex biz Plat)(United flights in first to get back home from Emirates flight 72,696 Amex MR after 35% rebate with Amex biz Plat)

May - New Orleans (7 nights, but only staying 4 from Marriott nights and flights package 270,000 Marriott points)(AA flights in first paid with various AA GCs from airline credits on various cards)

June/July - Scotland (BA first class 125,000 Avios and Travel Together ticket)(2 nights Radisson Blu 140,000 Club Carlson points)(1 night at Holiday Inn Inverness 30,000 IHG points)(1 night at Hilton free night cert)

August - NYC Hamilton (haven't booked flight or hotel since I don;t know if we are going for 2 or 3 nights yet)

September/October - Adventures by Disney Japan (ANA first class with 240k Virgin Atlantic miles from Amex MR w/30% bonus transfer so 185k Amex MR)(AA first to position at IAD for ANA flight 60,347 Amex MR after 35% rebate with Amex biz Plat)(1 night at Westin Dulles using free night cert from Marriott)(JAL business using 110K AA miles with 10% back benefit in case my return ANA dates don;t come through)(2 nights Park Hyatt Tokyo 60,000 UR points transferred to Hyatt)


Writing this has caused me to mourn the 50% back we used to get with the Amex business Platinum card again :sad: But, I think it does illustrate how one or two cards will never be able to earn and replace the number of points we go through each year. The bonus categories boost the earning potential. I also have cards that bring me value that surpass the AF even though they may not necessarily be cards that I use for spend. I'd say my two main currencies are UR and MR with regards to spend. It does take some card shuffling to maximize each spending category but for me it is worth it.

Amazing list of trips...and redemptions.....:worship:
 


Touche! Thank you :flower3: When I say Ridiculous Redemptions, I was thinking more along the lines of flying from FL to SanFran to see Hamilton, flying to London for the weekend to see the Harry Potter play, flying to Scotland for a long weekend to see the Fairy Pools, flying to NYC for the weekend to see the Harry Potter play there, flying to DC for the weekend to see Hamilton again, flying to DC for the weekend because cherry blossoms, blowing half a million points on one flight to try out Singapore Suites etc.

I think Antarctica or any other real vacation is something that is a reasonable goal or bucket list place. Most folks would save and earn lots of points and burn the points to fulfill these types of vacations without anyone batting an eye. It's a reasonable thing to do. Meanwhile, I'll throw gasoline and light a fire to any number of points on a whim. I've had people IRL tell me I'm crazy and that wasting that amount of points for those things is stupid with regards to some of the aforementioned point redemptions. Therefore, I can only imagine that some in our DISchurner family here may think the same thing too, but are polite enough not to voice their opinion in writing. Maybe not. In any case, that's ok. I'd sooner wear wear those sentiments as a badge of honor than be shamed by it. So bring on the points, because I've always got something absurd in mind, gasoline and a lighter at the ready! :D
I still say even your ‘ridiculous’ redemptions are awesome and drool worthy. I definitely can see why you deserve the title though. We are all just sitting here with our popcorn watching for what you’ll do next :)
 
I'm just gonna throw in a Who Dat for this weekend, as someone born in New Orleans and raised on the Mississippi Gulf Coast it's in my blood and there's nothing I can do about it.

Actually, as long as the Pats lose, I think the Super Bowl will be awesome. Both Chiefs-Rams and Chiefs-Saints are far more interesting games than Pats-Rams and Pats-Saints.
 
@Lain I am assuming you just used up your CSR credits before PCing. Did you wait long after this last travel credit hit? My fee hit 1/1 and is due on the 1/26 bill and I used all my credits up a few days ago. Do I just need to do it before the bill is due? I don't know why I am so nervous about it.
 
How many pages can we make it to before anyone actually starts talking about credit cards....:P
I got bank bonuses on to pg 2 at least :p
I think we should count @palhockeymomof2 update on the Chase offer as credit card and give it pg 3... that seems respectable... otherwise we might not make it until double digits with how big (and chatty :) ) our little community is :D

ETA: Ah I see @VWMomof3 made us doubly legit while I was typing. I think we're off to a good start!
 
No kidding! I want @Lain's spreadsheet posted. He knows WAY too much! We need to know what he knows about each of us lol!

I need this! I have the bad habit of only reading posts themselves without looking at who posted it.

People gonna wake up tomorrow and find themselves on page 10 saying WHAT HAPPENED!!

That’d be me! :). Thanks for all your hard work!
 
The format you should use to do that is as follows:
MM/YY - ISSUER Card Name
  • MM = Month (add a 0 before single digit months to make it look even more uniform)

In that case I would like to be referred to as the "Most High King of Spreadsheets and Benevolent Dictator of all things Churning!"

How much does it bother you that most people don't put a "0" so things aren't lined up...because on my spreadsheets, it makes me crazy when I have to reformat stuff to line up! :duck::rotfl2::rolleyes1
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!






Top