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

[wanderlust7]

Did you ask about the ticket upgrade thinking you’ll get it through Delta Vacations? Wanted to report back that I had no luck upgrading the Delta WDW tickets from flex to dated. Flex to dated wasn’t the issue - CM told me I could as well (as long as the value was more). It was tickets from Delta going from flex to dated that was the issue it seems. The second person I called said it can only be done at a ticket office.

I linked the tickets in MDE and can upgrade them there. I just can’t go to dated, so they’ll stay flex. I won’t be saving as much, but I’ll use my stash of discounted Disney GCs.

Also wanted to report back about getting the tickets from Delta. I had totally forgotten that they send out the tickets 60 days before for onsite stays. I’m at 4 months out. I remembered this as I was on hold on my HUCA call. But I lucked out with someone who was willing to make things work for me. 3 calls on her end to the ticket office. With me stressing to her that I need it linked, FP opens at 7 am, I don’t want to be disadvantaged, etc, etc. She got the ticket office to push it through. Said email would come within a week, but I got it in 15 min.

Quoting myself. Another update on my ticket upgrade saga. Tagging @apollodi just in case. Turns out it IS possible to go from flex to dated for a Delta Vacations package ticket! I just didn't reach the right people. The internet help desk at 407-939-7765 transferred me to ticketing and they were able to do it! Cost to upgrade was a little more than I expected, but less than the upgrade if it stayed flex. I wasn't about to argue though!

This was after I tried to upgrade online (with it staying flex), but it errored out after I hit purchase. After that, every which way I tried (different browsers, on app, on phone browser, incognito) all just errors. So then I searched for good phone numbers to call and came across that one.

Lesson of the day - don't just HUCA the same number, try different ones!

 

[570traveler]

Who are our AA experts? Are the Economy Web fares here to stay? Because they are amazing! I can book RT to Europe for 37.5K miles from a tiny regional airport that has free parking.

Not sure about international flights but I’ve been booking economy web specials for over a year. I’ve been able to book several round trips from the PHL/WAS area to both Orlando and the west coast. I’ve never had to use more than 5,500 miles per ticket each way. I check periodically and the cheaper fares usually stick around for a while.

 

[apollodi]

Did you ask about the ticket upgrade thinking you’ll get it through Delta Vacations? Wanted to report back that I had no luck upgrading the Delta WDW tickets from flex to dated. Flex to dated wasn’t the issue - CM told me I could as well (as long as the value was more). It was tickets from Delta going from flex to dated that was the issue it seems. The second person I called said it can only be done at a ticket office.

I linked the tickets in MDE and can upgrade them there. I just can’t go to dated, so they’ll stay flex. I won’t be saving as much, but I’ll use my stash of discounted Disney GCs.

Also wanted to report back about getting the tickets from Delta. I had totally forgotten that they send out the tickets 60 days before for onsite stays. I’m at 4 months out. I remembered this as I was on hold on my HUCA call. But I lucked out with someone who was willing to make things work for me. 3 calls on her end to the ticket office. With me stressing to her that I need it linked, FP opens at 7 am, I don’t want to be disadvantaged, etc, etc. She got the ticket office to push it through. Said email would come within a week, but I got it in 15 min.

Bummer about the Delta tickets! Thanks for reporting back. Yes, I was asking about ones I ordered through a Delta Vacations package. My tickets won't arrive until May, so I'll see what I can do with them then. If I can only upgrade them to flex tickets with more days, I'll just use discounted Disney gcs too.

I booked my Delta Vacations package for a June 2020 trip, but I actually bought some of the Delta Vacations tickets with the intention to let them expire, then apply the credit to a March 2021 trip I have planned. If I have to, I'll use the flex tickets for the June 2020 trip, and let my dated June 2020 tickets (bought directly from Disney) expire and apply them to March 2021 instead. Won't be as big of a savings, but it'll be better than paying cash.

 

[brownhaired_girl]

For my friends who booked SW flights today, the last release date, I was able to get some cheap WGA fares for part of my party and then a higher price for the rest. The next day I was able to rebook at the lower rate. So, you might want to check again tomorrow morning.

 

[platamama]

It comes out to about 2.8%. The fees are $310 plus the $8.95 fee for using a credit card. We could put it all on Dh's BBP that we're trying to hit the MSR on or when I apply here soon for my CIP.

Don't you have Serve? "Mail a check" with Serve.

Buy vgc with BBP at grocery store, load to Serve, mail check to HOA.

 

[bernina]

Anyone have issues with UPS SurePost? It's where the package is shipped UPS and they deliver it to your local postal facility and your carrier or other USPS person actually delivers it.

I ordered skincare items from my usual company (Paula's Choice) and it was supposed to be here this week. Monday night I receive an update saying there was an exception. I log on to track and it says they attempted delivery at 6pm and left a note with instructions. Well we were home at 6 and have cameras on mailbox and front door. There was no activity at either.

UPS can't help because they no longer have it. USPS is frustrating because they don't recognize UPS tracking number (all I have) and I don't have the magical number that was apparently left with the mysterious note. If I wanted to talk to a person the hold time was 1 hr 25 minutes. No thanks.

So I called the company I bought from and they are so awesome and immediately sent a replacement no questions asked with 2 day FedEx to avoid any further issues.

I did log an incident on USPS website but I'm not expecting much. They told me if original package shows up just to keep it.

On a positive note all of my DGC from BJ's finally arrived after their cross state adventure.

 

[DaveL]

So reworked my summer WDW trip this morning... The flights on Sunday were not the best and the only direct flight out was too early... So ended up grabbing the direct flight out on 6/6, should have booked it last month when it was 7k/ea less! Ended up having to move two reservations by one day, canceled the two Hyatt stays (Before and After) and decided with direct flights we'd just head right to Disney. We land at 3 and it was only a 3hr flight we won't be dead tired as spending 6hrs traveling had we had a connection... Well I *think* I got everything shifted. I am hopeful it will be light crowds as I was able to move every dinning reservation a day earlier and get the times I wanted.

 

[magickingdomprincess]

This morning I am not pleased with my DVC administrators. They've reallocated points costs again and this time a week in November starting 2021 in a standard studio will cost 90 points versus 76. These changes are always made because the members supposedly 'requested' them. The excuse is that we will be able to use our points for other seasons more cheaply and increase availability. Yeah, fat chance I'm going in hot as hades August or September instead of November. It costs me a day extra per trip. To compensate, I will be in a constant state of borrowing in. Yes, there are probably people screaming that they couldn't get their dates last week and at other times, but that is what we purchased. I'll still be trying to book early to mid November regardless of the point cost as that is my preferred time and what made me want to own DVC. I will not purchase more points. I will not sell. I also know that November is popular because Disney chose to put a marathon right there to increase bookings overall, and that Jersey week is going to be in that time frame and that many DVC members love the marathons - I don't participate but I think they are awesome when I see groups displaying their shirts and medals and feeling pride.

But but but - it was a quiet time years ago. Now not so much.

I'll have to go check out the points charts! I didn't realized the new ones had come out.

And for my $.02 worth...
I can't remember any restrictions on lunch meat for my DS born in 1998, but for my last two (2011 and 2013) I'm pretty sure the guideline was to limit it, but not eliminate it all together. I remember back then I ate a turkey sandwich almost every weekday for lunch (not heated). I have to admit I'm kind of glad I wasn't told to eliminate it all together...

 

[Lain]

@Calfan, it looks like you might need to change your handle to "CalStateFan."

https://www.sfgate.com/cal/article/cal-football-redbox-bowl-shirts-illinois-14898920.php

 

[StephPlum]

$310 for our neighborhood. So it's about 2.8% I think. We have to pay other HOA fees for the city, but those haven't come through yet. I don't think they're through the same company either.

Plastiq is 2.5% fee so cheaper than the 2.8%.

 

[Haley R]

Don't you have Serve? "Mail a check" with Serve.

Buy vgc with BBP at grocery store, load to Serve, mail check to HOA.

Wouldn’t we just get stuck paying the fee for the VGCs though?

 

[Lain]

Wouldn’t we just get stuck paying the fee for the VGCs though?

A $500 VGC at a grocery store typically has a $5.95 fee, or only 1.19%.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Don't you have Serve? "Mail a check" with Serve.

Buy vgc with BBP at grocery store, load to Serve, mail check to HOA.

Not sure if this helps @Haley R , but OD has MC GCs save $15.00 when you purchase $300.00 this week. I bought $300.00 (6 x $50.00) on Sunday; they range up at $47.50 each. If you purchased 3 x $100.00 cards you'd just about break even ($4.95 activation fee). Then you could do the Serve check.

 

[wed100105]

I added an instant-approval for a CIP yesterday with a $5000 limit to my churning. I guess it's a blessing and a curse that we keep running through MSRs. My Transunion credit was pulled. (I have several Chase cards.) Is it too late to ask for them to expedite the card?

Today my AMEX Aspire showed a change in the airline travel credit, but no credits on my recent transactions. It said $25 remaining on the "benefits" page. I haven't received any credits. I selected Frontier on 11/27 and booked flights on 11/28. The customer service rep in chat said that they didn't know why it was showing $25 remaining, but that a supervisor approved it and I have $160 remaining. Tempted to try it again for our return flights.

I booked 3 flights one way under $98 on Southwest yesterday on DH's Aspire card to hope to get the credit for 2019.

In other news, I found Coronado Springs on Priceline for the night of our trip, but it's the same price that I paid. I'm hoping to see a great deal on a 1-night stay as it gets closer. I wish Hotel Canary was working though!

Regarding hot dogs and lunchmeats....when I was pregnant with DD1, everything was off-limits unless heated to 165 degrees. With DD2 (8 years later) my OBGYN had lifted the no lunchmeats, but only wanted me eating deli meat from a deli, not prepackaged and no from sandwich shops. It's interesting to see everyone else's restrictions/advice, too.

 

[platamama]

Who are our AA experts? Are the Economy Web fares here to stay? Because they are amazing! I can book RT to Europe for 37.5K miles from a tiny regional airport that has free parking.

Not an expert, but I've used AA miles numerous times for international travel.

I think the concept of Economy Web fares is here to stay. The regular points fares (saver and anytime) have the benefit of you being able to change your dates/times/routing for free as long as your origin and destination remain the same (within 12 mo of original booking). The Economy Web fares do away with that flexibility, and all you can do is cancel and lose your miles OR pay the redeposit fee (I think it's $150 for the 1st pax on a PNR and $25 for each add'l pax on the PNR). This is a nice moneymaker for AA.

That 37.5K for RT to Europe sounds like a great deal as long as you don't need to make any changes (which I suspect may cost the same as redepositing the miles, but I can't find proof of that). I've been getting an average value of 1AA = $0.014 for ticket redemptions, so that's my standard for comparison for cash fares.

@smmco had a good suggestion for putting an itinerary on hold. I've not had any problems with the ticket price changing while on hold, but I think there was someone here on the boards who did experience a "price increase" while tickets were on hold. I just can't remember who that was.

 

[Haley R]

A $500 VGC at a grocery store typically has a $5.95 fee, or only 1.19%.

Would Walmart work for this or no? That’s where we normally get our groceries. Otherwise we have Publix.

Also, we have until the end of January. Would it be worth it to wait until I get my CIP and hope there is a staples deal on VGCs?

 

[Calfan]

@Calfan, it looks like you might need to change your handle to "CalStateFan."

https://www.sfgate.com/cal/article/cal-football-redbox-bowl-shirts-illinois-14898920.php

I know! OMG, seriously Redbox Bowl?!? I tweeted my disdain for them yesterday when I first heard about this. It's actually become kind of a funny joke thing on Twitter with the Cal players, etc., though, so pretty amusing. My son and I are going to go to the game. I was kind of hoping for a more fun bowl destination than Santa Clara, but the timing of the game is good for us, and we can stay at my MIL's in Palo Alto, so an easy trip. And we both had SW travel funds that I was able to use to book our flights. Hopefully the Redbox Bowl will have figured out which team they invited to play in their game by then.....

 

[Haley R]

Not sure if this helps @Haley R , but OD has MC GCs save $15.00 when you purchase $300.00 this week. I bought $300.00 (6 x $50.00) on Sunday; they range up at $47.50 each. If you purchased 3 x $100.00 cards you'd just about break even ($4.95 activation fee). Then you could do the Serve check.

Is serve check pretty easy? We’ve never used that before

 

[jhoannam]

Not an expert, but I've used AA miles numerous times for international travel.

I think the concept of Economy Web fares is here to stay. The regular points fares (saver and anytime) have the benefit of you being able to change your dates/times/routing for free as long as your origin and destination remain the same (within 12 mo of original booking). The Economy Web fares do away with that flexibility, and all you can do is cancel and lose your miles OR pay the redeposit fee (I think it's $150 for the 1st pax on a PNR and $25 for each add'l pax on the PNR). This is a nice moneymaker for AA.

That 37.5K for RT to Europe sounds like a great deal as long as you don't need to make any changes (which I suspect may cost the same as redepositing the miles, but I can't find proof of that). I've been getting an average value of 1AA = $0.014 for ticket redemptions, so that's my standard for comparison for cash fares.

@smmco had a good suggestion for putting an itinerary on hold. I've not had any problems with the ticket price changing while on-hold, but I think there was someone here on the boards who did experience a "price increase" while tickets were on hold. I just can't remember who that was.

Awesome! Thank you. I do like the flexibility of the Saaver, but for almost half price it might just be worth it, specially since there are 4 of us.

 

[apollodi]

Quoting myself. Another update on my ticket upgrade saga. Tagging @apollodi just in case. Turns out it IS possible to go from flex to dated for a Delta Vacations package ticket! I just didn't reach the right people. The internet help desk at 407-939-7765 transferred me to ticketing and they were able to do it! Cost to upgrade was a little more than I expected, but less than the upgrade if it stayed flex. I wasn't about to argue though!

This was after I tried to upgrade online (with it staying flex), but it errored out after I hit purchase. After that, every which way I tried (different browsers, on app, on phone browser, incognito) all just errors. So then I searched for good phone numbers to call and came across that one.

Lesson of the day - don't just HUCA the same number, try different ones!

Hooray! There is hope for my March 2021 tickets yet. Thanks for the update!