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

[hsmamato2]

Sounds like fun!! I've only done the South Rim. I need to put the North Rim on my bucket list
.

did the North Rim a couple of years ago (along with Bryce/Zion/etc) it was so lovely and a whole different world from south... we stayed in a "Lincoln Log' cabin right on the rim and it was so perfect

 

[hsmamato2]

PNC..... I opened a checking last week sometime,still no debit card in the mail which is making me crazy b/c I can't set up online without it and thus can't do anything to get to my money yet (and the cc payment is due!!!) is this normal to take so long to get the card????

 

[Lain]

Thanks to everyone’s advice regarding the 100k Amex Plat / 50k Amex Gold, I was ready to apply as the mailer expired 2/18 when I received the 100k mailer again yesterday with a new 100k Plat offer with a date into April. I’d rather wait until March so I can use summer camp expenses to meet the spend but I want to make sure that letting the first offer expire won’t negatively affect me.

If there’s no problem waiting, tonight I will refer my husband to CIP tonight as I want to have as many UR as possible stashed for any summer travel.

Lucky you! There shouldn’t be a problem getting the 100k MR Plat if you actually have a new mailer with a date into April. If for some reason, the site is giving you problems, you could call in to request the same 100k offer. An Amex rep would ask for your rsvp code then take your app for the 100k offer over the phone. A lot of folks who try calling in for this unicorn offer aren’t able to produce a rsvp code because they weren’t targeted, and are denied. That’s not you.

 

[Lain]

I can't recall who, but didn't someone load Visa GCs into Masterpass to use through Plastiq?

Yes. @SBWB48 said she did, but her success rate was like 1 in 3 VGCs.

 

[amalone1013]

Yes. @SBWB48 said she did, but her success rate was like 1 in 3 VGCs.

I am 0 for 1, have 3 more to try. Picked up the Safeway deal on my way home yesterday.

 

[DisneyMandC]

PNC..... I opened a checking last week sometime,still no debit card in the mail which is making me crazy b/c I can't set up online without it and thus can't do anything to get to my money yet (and the cc payment is due!!!) is this normal to take so long to get the card????

My deposit shows in my PNC account for 1/8 and my first debit card transaction was 1/14, so it must've been about a week or so for me to get it. Still no bonus though.

 

[MrPTato]

I am 0 for 1, have 3 more to try. Picked up the Safeway deal on my way home yesterday.

My Stop & Shop hasn't had any gas deals on the VGCs since November....ugh...gonna have to bite the bullet with Discover before the quarter is over.

 

[Lain]

I am 0 for 1, have 3 more to try. Picked up the Safeway deal on my way home yesterday.

If Plastiq doesn't work, I usually end up auto draining these at Costco, or using the $100s at BBY+SB.

My Stop & Shop hasn't had any gas deals on the VGCs since November....ugh...gonna have to bite the bullet with Discover before the quarter is over.

Nothing to be envious about. We don't earn any gas reward points on VGC/MCGC at Albertsons/Safeway.

 

[amalone1013]

If Plastiq doesn't work, I usually end up auto draining these at Costco, or using the $100s at BBY+SB.

BBY+SB was my backup, but Costco is a good option too. I just always forget them

 

[Natgridenergy]

Limited-time enhanced signup offers on Amex's Bonvoy Brilliant (formerly the SPG Lux) and Bonvoy Business (formerly SPG Biz) are now available.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card - 100,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. Offer ends 4/24/2019. $450 Annual Fee. 6x Points at Marriott Hotels. 3x Points at U.S. restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2x Points on all other eligible purchases. $300 Marriott statement credits each year of card membership. 1 Free Night Award every year after your card account anniversary for redemption at or under 50,000 points. Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status.

The Bonvoy Brilliant welcome bonus is not available to applicants who have or have had the following cards in the last 30 days:

• The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card from JPMorgan
• The J.P. Morgan Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card

It’s also not available to applicants to have or have had the following cards in the last 90 days:

• The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless from Chase
• The Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase
• The Marriott Bonvoy Premier from Chase
• The Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase
• The Marriott Bonvoy Premier Business from Chase
• The Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase

It’s also not available to applicants who have received a welcome bonus or upgrade offer on the following cards in the last 24 months:

• The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ from Chase
• The Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase
• The Marriott Bonvoy Premier from Chase
• The Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase
• The Marriott Bonvoy Premier Plus Business from Chase
• The Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase

Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card - 100,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. Offer ends 4/24/2019. $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 for the second year if application received before 3/28/2019. Effective 3/28/2019, $125 Annual Fee. 6x Points at Marriott Hotels. 4x Points at t U.S. restaurants, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers & on U.S. purchases for shipping. 2x Points on all other eligible purchases. 1 Free Night Award every year after your card account anniversary for redemption at or under 35,000 points. Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status.

The Bonvoy Business welcome bonus is not available to applicants who have or have had the following cards in the last 30 days:

• The Marriott Bonvoy Premier Business from Chase
• The Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase
• The Marriott Bonvoy Business from Chase
• The Marriott Rewards Business Credit Card from Chase

It’s also not available to applicants to have or have had the following cards in the last 90 days:

• The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless from Chase
• The Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase
• The Marriott Bonvoy Premier from Chase
• The Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase

It’s also not available to applicants who have received a welcome bonus on the following cards in the last 24 months:

• The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless from Chase
• The Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase
• The Marriott Bonvoy Premier Plus from Chase
• The Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase

There are no "support" links available for these cards yet, although the bloggers are already peddling their affiliate links. (The above are public links, not referrals or affiliates.) The 100k bonus offers end 4/24/19, so you have some time. If you're thinking about applying for the Bonvoy Biz it's best to get your application in before 3/28/19 to avoid a first year AF and pay a lower $95 AF in the second year to get the 35k FN certificate (presumably, the AF will then go up to $125 in the third year).

If you'd rather wait on Chase's Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card, which will have its own 100k bonus offer, that comes out 2/28/18.

If I do this, can I combine my wife's SPG points with these "bonbon" points?

 

[hsmamato2]

So, now you are taking credit lol!?! Obviously, you have given me great advice over the years so I, naturally, assumed it was you And really, thanks...I get this song in my head and CANNOT get it out...I'll be singing it all tonight when I cannot sleep.

that song is always in my head lol (maybe b/c I sing it to my fam whenever I feel like it)

 

[hsmamato2]

Sorry you are feeling sick, but what a great present!!! I still think flowers delivered to work are a good idea.

If I brought my DH a car as a surprise he'd die of a heart attack(and not in a good way lol)

 

[hsmamato2]

If Plastiq doesn't work, I usually end up auto draining these at Costco, or using the $100s at BBY+SB.

what does auto-drain mean?

 

[amalone1013]

If Plastiq doesn't work, I usually end up auto draining these at Costco, or using the $100s at BBY+SB.

0 for 4 for me.

 

[jen7233]

I know, I said no cards for a long time for me because I may have taken too much on last year (unless the 100k AMEX plat mailer comes in), BUT, thinking ahead to next year: What is the benefit if I upgrade my CSP to CSR? Is it just point valuation? Can you upgrade to CSR and then ask for a PC to CF if deciding the AF isn't worth it?

 

[Lain]

If I do this, can I combine my wife's SPG points with these "bonbon" points?

Unfortunately, Marriott restricts points transfers to 100k per year, and charges a $10 fee unless you’re Gold Elite (which is complimentary with the SPG Lux/Bonvoy Brilliant) or higher.

I miss the SPG program, where points transfers were free and unlimited within the same household.

ETA: To be clear, SPG points converted 3:1 to Marriott points last August. The old Marriott Rewards points are the same as the “new” bonbon points. And they can be combined, subject to Marriott’s points transfer restrictions.

 

[Lain]

what does auto-drain mean?

Costco’s (and I’m sure many others’ now) POS automatically drains the value of a prepaid card down to $0 rather than decline a card for insufficient funds. Makes it easy spending a card with $100, $14.32, $1.09, or whatever, especially since the cards we’re talking about are low denomination $50s and $100s.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

.

 

[wendow]

I think I’m going to use URs for Disney tickets next time since I’m using AA miles for my hotel. Seems like a decent option despite having to do the flex tickets.

I have $1600 travel dollars from our two arrival+ cards but that’s only 4 tickets. I could use URs to cover those other two. AA miles for the hotel. If we stay at Pop, those miles go a LONG way so thinking at least the first four nights at Pop.

 

[Alexle2007]

Have you tried to press x or cancel when the card reader defaults to debit? That may switch it to the credit card option. And have you tried the 4-digit number under the silver scratch strip? For these MCGCs, I believe the activation codes come in the mail, and the pin for each card is underneath the strip.

I had no idea you could do that since I never use VGCs or MCGCs for payment. I just usually put everything on my CC. I do see a code now when I removed that little gray strip so I'll try that next time. Thanks so much for your help! I'll let my mom know since I am sure she would have problems figuring them out also.