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

[Haley R]

Great Clips is an inexpensive hair cut place, at least around here.

And I actually go there!

I go there too lol

 

[Haley R]

I absolutely love Google Photos. No need to transfer photos from your current phone or worry about your photos taking up storage on your phone. Every picture you take with your phone automatically gets uploaded and saved to Google Photos. I know some people don't like the facial recognition or worry about privacy, but I love it. I currently have 10 years of photos on my phone that I can easily search and bring up a photo at any time. I am in the process now of scanning older photos.

Another google photos fan here! Dh and I both use it and shared our libraries with each other

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I lie about the flight, I alway pick a flight that leaves an hour after my real flight.

genius!

 

[LB002]

The resort credit will work if the charge comes from the individual hotel. If it's an advance purchase rate, the charge might come from Hilton corporate, then it won't work. What I've read on r/churning is that the U.S. advance purchase rates will be charged by corporate, but not the international ones. No personal experience yet though.

Thanks for these data points! We have teh Aspire and find a lot of value in the card - a keeper for us. Sounds like we could be maximizing it even further!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Now I'm gonna start something I can't finish: At what age should a child get their first phone? (Thinking she deserves a perfectly good 4S) Bahaha

According to my DS11, who is in 6th grade....everyone has one but him. So apparently upper elementary in other people's homes....just not mine.

 

[LB002]

Weve always done a carry-on for both wife and I and backpacks for everyone else. My now 6 (today, happy bday Ellie!) year old has done a backpack but it gets heavy after a while and I've second guessed myself on her not simply getting a carry-on instead. I think if I were to do it all over again, I'd get her a carry-on and then when she is around 10-12, getting a backpack to supplement the carry on.

This was our setup (kids are on the floor- little one for 6 year old and big one for 10)

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

Hey- I'm cheap and was raised by a dad you'd think grew up in the depression.


Small advice- I'd never cancel a Hilton Personal. I'd always downgrade to the basic no fee and wait for an upgrade offer. They pop up every couple months and it's a "free" ~120k points. I even downgrade a couple months after I get the bonus and repeat it 2-3 times a year.

We are an ebags family too! DH is mildly obsessed with his Motherlode backpack. I got the carry on version, but it's smaller than my old one and does;t have spinners, so I am kind of wanting something new (I needed an International size carry on). Maybe I will check out the Away luggage people keep mentioning.

How do you like the backpacks - those are the professional slim, right? I have been eyeing that as well. Which size do you have and how does it fit under the seat? Can you get a water bottle in the side pocket?

Also, the motherlode backpack I see you have as a personal item - is that the full version or the weekender?

My kids have the larger Potter Barn Kids spinners for carryons (got stripes, not a cutesy print, so hopefully they won't outgrow them for a while). We usually fly SW and the PBK bags are fine for size, but I am concerned they will be too big on Hawaiian Air in Feb (spinner wheels take them over the size limit for carry on), so I may just have them bring their large LLBean backpacks. Kids are 9 and 6 and I worry the backpack will get heavy for the little one...

 

[gottalovepluto]

Wait they are clips? I’m so confused?

Entirely possible my cheap self gets her hair cut there (Hey, it’s cheap and my hair grows fast!)

 

[Nuggies]

to the Board Nuggies!!!

I'm fairly new here, but it looks like you are organized and in good position for keeping your options open, especially with respect to the Chase 5/24 rule. I don't do much in the way of flights or hotels, so the CIP was my choice for flexibility from cash to travel to transfer, and because of the nice SUB. It is a business card, and I used a rental house as my business. Presumably about any side-hustle you might have, or be thinking about starting this year could qualify. Others will have to help out with options like AmEx and airline cards.

I wanted to mention that WDW has a place where babies can get their first haircut. Not sure if DL has that or not, but if so, that might fun. They do kids and adult too.

Thank you Hoosier John! I'll look a little harder into the CIP. My wife is a hairdresser so that would cover the business side and little Mr.'s 1st haircut. He's due for one now, haha. I didn't realize how fast this thread moves.

 

[bernina]

Refresh my memory, Chase referrals normally show as earning on next statement on a Tuesday evening? P2 was approved for CIP #2 last Tuesday so I shouldn’t be concerned that they don’t yet show as pending, right?

Just logged on and looks like they tracked sometime last night or today.

Showing 20K and change earned on next statement. Yippee!

 

[PolyRob]

Just logged on and looks like they tracked sometime last night or today.

Showing 20K and change earned on next statement. Yippee!

Wooo 20,000 pending from my 9/5 approval! Thank you for reminding me!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Hi, I'm new to the boards and to credit card rewards. I have a goal of funding our Disneyland trip. I don't have a date in mind yet, but ideally before my 18mo son turns 3. I will be utilizing player 2, but I'll be the only one playing the game. My wife and I have decent scores sitting right under 800.

Here are my main goals:

1) Disneyland tickets for 2 adults and 1 child for 5 days (The little guy should be free)
2) Hotel stay - We like the Park Vue Inn, If there is something closer and better that I can use rewards for I'm interested
3) Potential flight: I'm not sure if my wife wants to fly or not. We live about 7 hours away and typically drive, but if rewards handle the flight she might be interested

I need some advice as the best way to go about achieving these goals. I know it's lame, but as a full time worker, full time student, and father of 2 young children I just can't find a lot of free time to research and fear that I might be missing something in my strategy. I have several older cards that are not relevant to the rewards game:

07/06 - Capital One Teamstercard
01/07 - Chase Amazon Rewards
08/07 - Discover
11/11 - Best Buy Citicard
10/13 - Chase Freedom
04/15 - Target Redcard
05/18 - Costco Citicard
12/18 - Old Navy
05/19 - Kohl's
09/19 - Capital One Venture Rewards

I will utilize those when not trying to get minimum spend for the bonus categories, but my 1st major player is the Capital One Venture rewards. I'm 1/3 of the way through the minimum spend on this card and would love some advice as to which card I should pursue next for my wife. Looks like I can only get one more card myself until I hit a 5/24. Only one of those cards has been opened in my wife's name so it might be smart to start on Chase. My player 2 strategy is just to get a card for myself, hit minimum spend, and get a card for my wife, hit minimum spend and repeat. Any advice on card strategy or Disney planning strategy is welcome and greatly appreciated. I apologize for the long winded post.

Here's some more information about me:

What amount of spend would you put on a card monthly (i.e. groceries, gas, insurance, cable, cell phone, other expenses)?
Roughly $1,600
Do you currently payoff your CCs in full every month or do you carry any balances/pay any interest?
No interest ever
What airport(s) do you typically fly out of?
Not much of a flyer
Do you have a Hotel Rewards program preference?
Just joined The Best Western Rewards
Do you currently have any travel points in any program? (if so, which programs and how much)
Currently Point Broke
What at your specific goals for churning credit cards? (i.e. Disney World Trip, Cruise, European Trip, Cash Back to pay-off a mortgage or student loans, etc. - you can have multiple goals too!)
Disneyland vacation for family of 4 - Kids are 6 and 18 months
New TV (After the trip is thoroughly enjoyed)

Thank you Hoosier John! I'll look a little harder into the CIP. My wife is a hairdresser so that would cover the business side and little Mr.'s 1st haircut. He's due for one now, haha. I didn't realize how fast this thread moves.

@Nuggies - Welcome to the best thread on the DIS! Normally I would send you a PM (private message) to invite you to our reddit group DISchurners but you have to have made 10 comments on the DIS to enable PMs. You've only made 2 so I'll invite you right here on the main thread. Once you say 10 things though you will be able to PM then, lol.

Would you be interested in joining our private reddit group DISchurners? To join I just need your reddit username (or you can join at reddit.com and just let me know). In that group we have some of our best tips listed out as guides, we discuss some advanced strategies, and you can also support another DISer when you apply for a card (the best way to give back to our little community) and you can even share support links of your own! Let me know and I can get you all setup. ​

If you want to join, you can just reply to me here on the main thread with your reddit name and I can get you setup.

I think it would be helpful if you re-list your cards in the past 24 months separated by player (you don't have to do it back to the beginning - just the past 2 years). You and your wife are two distinctly different people in this game and that will affect the advice we may give greatly. Also, if you have added each other as an AU (authorized user) on any cards, you should put that card in that person's list with *AU listed at the end. This will also help in determining each of your exact 5/24 status AND whether you need to take any action to remove AU cards.

You're going to find that we are huge supporters of the Chase UR program (Ultimate Rewards) and so we'll suggest cards in that arena above others initially. URs are flexible, can be used for travel, have a tangible cash value, and are a favorite among all of us here.

At your convenience could you re-list the cards as I suggested? You're right that the thread moves very fast so it can be difficult to keep up with all the chatter. DISchurners has a news thread that can help with that if you join.

 

[gottalovepluto]

-

 

[LB002]

Yeah, I was leaning towards the actual carry-on. I saw a pair of toddlers at SNA with their own kid’s carry-ons and those things are small — cute, but small. My kiddo just turned 6 and tends to overpack. She’s fine handling our Tumi international carry-ons, and wants her own luggage, but it has to be pink.

My 6yo isn't good at handling a carry on for a full trip through the airport. It's fun for the first 5-10 minutes and then I am pulling 2 bags. My kids (9 and 6) have had rolling backpacks for a years and they work well for us. But maybe my kid is just lazy, LOL!!!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Hello all- I have been reading for awhile but this is my first post...

Hi and welcome! I didn't want you to think that we were ignoring you. Glad to see you come out of "lurkdom".

Your post earlier today referenced an advanced strategy. We have a private group called DISchurners on reddit that is open only to DISboards friends from this thread. We are currently in the process of moving discussions on "advanced strategies" to the reddit group. You likely have realized how lucrative they can be so this is an attempt to keep this information more protected. If you ask the same question over there we'd be glad to provide more insight.

You're welcome to join that group (typically I'd send you a PM invite but you can't do PMs on the DIS since you've only made 1 comment). To join I just need your reddit name or you can register at reddit.com.

 

[kmc8826]

What is the best airline card for miles? What about best for other perks? We don’t fly often (haven’t flown in over 4 years) but now we have 2, potentially 3, flights this year (one international). Closest major airports are CLT and ATL. Flying SW to MCO for W&D half but probably can’t get a SW card in time (last chase app was 8/20). Not sure it even matters since the trip is already booked. Do the sapphire cards have any travel perks?

ATL as in Atlanta? If that is the case I would focus on Delta as Atlanta is their hub. That is especially the case if you want international travel options. If that is the case I would look at the Amex Delta cards and Amex membership reward cards. UR’s are not really helpful with Delta.

The CSR has trip insurance that is quite good. Is that what you mean with perks?

I canceled my Hilton Biz about 60 days ago and I'm also still gold.



I can't decide what I want to do about DME for going back to the airport on our trip. Flight is at 8:30... is DME really going to want to pick us up at 5? Is MCO even that crowded that early? Someone chime in if it is. Not everyone has precheck on our trip, but I'd have to get an Uber XL to get us all there.

Not an 8:30 am flight but we have had a 7:30 am flight more than once. At least with Delta the MCO airport is MOBBED at that time. Seriously as bad as or worse as the middle of the afternoon.

Has anyone cancelled yet? When I called my option was to cancel the entire package (tickets included) and get a voucher, but tje insurance cost was non refundable. I was OK with that (although I prefer to keep the tickets) BUT they calculated the insurance cost at 4x the cost I paid on my receipt! So instead of $148 it was almost $600. The person I spoke to couldn't do anything for me except reschedule or cancel the whole package and give me the reduced voucher. She suggested I call back during business hours to speak with finance team.

My other option is to cancel the travel insurance (you have 10ndays to cancel the insurance) and just eat the cost of the flight/hotel ($256) and keep the tickets.
I wonder if they'd refund $148 or $600?!?!?

That is insane they are multiplying the cost of the insurance. If that is the case if you cancel it makes me reconsider the getting insurance decision. I expected to have insurance cost deducted from voucher if cancel...but not have the number for it originally charged exponentially grow!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Advice please!

No credit card use this year. Stagnant, unused lowes card(for sudden house fixes), at least 4 years old. Nothing else out.

Would starting with a business southwest card be ideal? Husband buys his tickets monthly for work trip.

Houston is our SW hub.

His work pays for Hilton hotels only. Hilton has their best reward point business right now. The idea is adding more points to the free from work trips points.

Any idea if starting with cip works out better?

Goals would be flights paid for. Hotels I'm not as worried over. Not a luxury hotel aficionado. Hotels are more all over the place in what brand is good deal. Flights not so much.

Extreme long term goal japan for the parks there. Buisness flight. 2023 I could see Japan.

I know nothing about Japan but since his work pays for Hilton only I would look at the Aspire. Diamond status could make his travel life nicer. If he can put the spend on his credit card 14x on Hilton purchases and the Hilton credit each year would be great for him.

Recommendations for a credit card I can put an authorized user on and also put a spending limit? I know how on business cards, but not personal ones. This is for a nanny. Bonus if there’s a point bonus somewhere to do it! My only personal cards are chase Disney and chase southwest. Biz are legitimately biz and I can’t put her on there. Cap one, Am Ex, Chase Sapphire. Figured I’d ask the experts!

I know Amex and Chase allow it. Fwiw you can also get a “business” card if you want a business card that isn’t mixed up in your actual business...

ETA: feature is only available on Chase Biz cards it seems, not the personal ones

Not the best deal we see around here, but I wonder if there is any value to someone like me who doesn't have ANY AmEx cards?
Maybe this will give me some of the offers y'all talk about, or not because it's a branded card?
Would it hurt my chances of finding a Platicorn (should I ever develop the need for one)?
The reward categories are no better than I have with various existing cards.

ETA I'll be 2/24 next month, so I don't think that's a factor for me

View attachment 434849

That’s like the WF Propel World in that it is run on the Amex network but does not count as one of your 5 Amex cards.

 

[Hoosier John]

Thank you Hoosier John! I'll look a little harder into the CIP. My wife is a hairdresser so that would cover the business side and little Mr.'s 1st haircut. He's due for one now, haha. I didn't realize how fast this thread moves.

Yeah, you're not kidding about the velocity of this thread. I'd expect you'll be invited to join a private Reddit thread which summarizes our news headlines without the color this thread adds.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I know I'm late to the game on the DME conversation but it's worth pointing out that this is a one-size fits all program.

Disney is planning for folks who are (a) potentially not familiar with MCO, (b) may need to check luggage, (c) likely do not have pre-check, and lastly (d) allow time for potential delays with traffic, security or other unforeseen issues. So Disney operates in that 3-4 hour window as they see fit to ensure that nobody misses their flight because the worst way to end your Disney vacation would be to miss your flight and it is the Mouse's fault.

Now, I've heard people say, why doesn't Disney allow you to pick your window (sort of like "super shuttle" does). Well...if you've been to Disney recently you certainly realize that there are some "interesting" folks wandering around. People would not have the understanding or common sense to realize that they need more time. Everybody would choose "more time at Disney" resulting in panic and potential missed flights once they realize they've cut it too close.

If somebody in the know wants to game the system and "cut it closer", they could probably just tell DME a flight time about an hour after their actual flight and make that work. (I don't know that this works or not, just suggesting it).

For us, I've always felt that the arrival time at DME allows for a stress-free final few hours in Orlando. We arrive with plenty of time, find a quiet bathroom on the lower level to change. Make one last gift shop stop before heading through security and enjoying a leisurely dose of Jersey Mike's with just enough time to use the bathroom before board. I've never found us needing to "waste" more than 15-20 minutes.

 

[PolyRob]

Honestly I’m not one to pack it all in a carry on so I’m kind of immune to this for once lol!

When I buy my suitcases I just assume the airline is going to bust it and when they do I can get up to $150 towards a new one with minimal hassle. (Rather specific lol. My last one was busted by AA and I wanted like $200 or something- it was super old but nice when it was bought- and AA called and said they could issue me a check immediately for up to $150 or I would need to give them the case to fix/replace with their pick, I took the check.) This method dies if they bust the wheels or handle though as those aren’t covered...

It is very hard for me to justify expensive luggage (which is why I don't currently have any) LOL. I almost always check a bag for WDW because I just need so much! If I had a nice carry-on and it was gate checked I would probably have a heart attack. My checked bags have scuffs, sticky remnants from tags, and massive yellow lines (I assume from the baggage carousel?). My checked/carry-on set was $99 on sale from Costco and if it breaks, I will probably replace it with something similar.

 

[AmyAnne]

Sorry to hear it's been such a pain for you!

I've cancelled, but I didn't take the insurance. Refund amount shown was as expected (lost the flight cost).

@kidsfirsttrip 's also seems fine, but they cancelled before 24 hours.

So you need a DP of someone who bought the insurance and cancelled after 24 hours. Anybody? @AmyAnne or @NewbieMom ?

I have not canceled yet.

@LB002 I would call back during the day and insist on speaking to a supervisor if you keep getting this kind of odd information. I do think that Delta Vacations is kind of changing the rules as they go along, or maybe their rules just work poorly under these circumstances--last week wanderlust7 and I got conflicting info about whether the tickets could be issued in different people's names, when those people didn't also have flights booked. I suspect that this promotion has caused them some confusion.