I love credit cards so much! v6.0 - 2023 (see first page for add'l details)

[calypso726]

Friendly PSA: Periodically check your flights. Friends we are meeting up with in Egypt received a notification that their flights from NYC to Cairo changed and they wound up having to add an additional night in NYC to accommodate the new time. This didn’t affect our flights to Cairo as we are flying there from London and meeting up with everyone.

DH happened to go take a look at our flights and discovered that our return flight changed. Our flight home is SSH-CAI-JFK on one reservation not separate tickets. Well our connection in Cairo changed to 6 hours prior to the SSH flight! Our travel party is also on the same return and none of them got a notification that the flight had changed. Their departure tickets back to NYC are on one way tickets not a RT. Some booked directly with Egypt Air and some with a partner airline and none of us received any notification.

Unfortunately, this change and the only flights available required that we either forego the farewell evening activities with ABD and leave the day before since the last SSH flight is after 9 pm and the only Cairo to JFK flight is at 3 am, or stay an extra day and leave in the evening. We opted for the latter and were able to change the fights to the following day. Still, it was quite disconcerting to have such a drastic change and no heads up from UA or Egypt air at all for any of us.

 

[punkin]

That's so frustrating. You could download the app Seat Alert by Expert Flyer. I think there are some paid seat alerts as well as some free ones. I have done it and it costs about $1 for an alert. You could put one in one for the seat next to DH or maybe for two seats together?

For our biz class flights with the kids, I read that I should put in an alert on the seats we've selected. That way if they switch equipment, our seats suddenly become available and I'd get an alert. I did try it and I did get an alert; turns out our flight was cancelled. So that was my only experience.

I think there are some other Pro programs that will notify of equipment change, but I think they have more expensive annual fees, and I'm "thrifty."

It's too late now. We're flying tomorrow.

 

[jujubiee4]

A friend of mine is thinking about booking something through Luxury Escapes from an Amex
offer. I have never heard of them. I went on my account and saw the offer. Looks like
they are a travel company/agent. Anyone heard of them or have experience?

 

[sinnika]

Hopefully you won't be affected by the strikes! Have a great trip and pre-congrats on your new grand-child. I'm looking forward to pics of your time there.

I just heard about the strikes!!! By a parent at our office who works for United! Now I’m thinking of either flying into Amsterdam or Paris. Decisions, decisions! Need to figure out who to fly with on points. I have UR and MR and cap1 to transfer. I am leaving April 2 or sometime that week. I’m flexible.

 

[eticketplease]

The original Freedom is still available for PC, but not for new accounts. I have not seen recent DPs but in the past Chase has changed some card numbers when going from a Sapphire product to a Freedom product.

Ahh that makes sense so you are going from a Visa Infinite to a Visa Signature

 

[Haley R]

Have any of you done global entry upon arrival? Since we’re thinking about going to Toronto later this year we thought that would be a good idea so we could have our interviews done that way.

 

[StephPlum]

DId any of y'all do the Chase checking/savings thing with the $600 SUB? I opened both accounts and my $300 checking has posted, but nothing (the $200 for svgs and the $100 for doing both at the same time) is even pending for the savings yet.

I'm just wondering how long it has been taking for other people...

Checking bonus posts as soon as you make the required deposit. Savings you have to wait the 90 days. Then you’ll get the bonus. My 90 days isn’t up until 4/20.

 

[LynnTH]

ARGHHH!! Foiled again by AMEX. I had mentioned previously that we are doing a big remodel and will be able to pay a majority of it by Credit Card. I just recently got the AMEX Plat Biz Card (after pop up jail for a few years). Spend on that will be done by next week.

Plan was to get me the AMEX Plat and AMEX Gold Personal with the new SUB's and DH the AMEX Plat Personal. Figured we should be good as they let me have the Biz Plat and had been getting emails for both of us about being approved for Biz Cards.

I should know better - not eligible on all of them.....Now to try and figure out a Plan B. I will still have about $16,000 to $25,000 in spend. Was trying to stay away from Chase for awhile, since most of our cards are Chase Cards.

I am 4/24 with 2 cards falling off beginning of April and DH is 2/24. I may get DH the Cap One Venture and maybe get me the Chase IGH Biz Card before the high SUB goes away... Any other ideas!!

 

[EACarlson]

Have any of you done global entry upon arrival? Since we’re thinking about going to Toronto later this year we thought that would be a good idea so we could have our interviews done that way.

It may not be available to you on that trip since YYZ is a Preclearance facility. When you land at your US destination you land as a domestic flight.

 

[AndreaDM]

Have any of you done global entry upon arrival? Since we’re thinking about going to Toronto later this year we thought that would be a good idea so we could have our interviews done that way.

I tried this back in 2021 coming into ORD from Iceland and was told I needed an appointment, the little room was full of people there that had made appointments. I don't know if it depends on the airport or what, but it was a no go for me. Fortunately I was able to get an appointment at our home airport not too much later.

 

[Haley R]

It may not be available to you on that trip since YYZ is a Preclearance facility. When you land at your US destination you land as a domestic flight.

I tried this back in 2021 coming into ORD from Iceland and was told I needed an appointment, the little room was full of people there that had made appointments. I don't know if it depends on the airport or what, but it was a no go for me. Fortunately I was able to get an appointment at our home airport not too much later.

Thank you both for replying. I guess we'll try to find interviews here then after we get Ds's passport.

 

[wanderlust7]

Have any of you done global entry upon arrival? Since we’re thinking about going to Toronto later this year we thought that would be a good idea so we could have our interviews done that way.

Looks like you can do it at Toronto airport. Link

We did Enrollment on Arrival at SJC coming back from Scotland (no appointment needed). It took awhile because they had trouble with the fingerprint machine. But was otherwise easy. It wasn't really an "interview". The agent kept asking if we had any questions lol.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

I need to use the rest of my AMEX Platinum airline credits. From what I've seen Southwest flights under $100 usually trigger the credit. Has this been true for anyone recently?

Yes, I did flight under $100 and they credited about six days later. I also did the trick I learned about on here to build up one large credit instead of several smaller credits. You buy a fare and then instead of canceling, you change the flight. I did this multiple times and all of the charges received the credit. I can't remember who recommended this, but thank you!!

Also, something I learned from FT which will save me a bunch of effort in the future. Let's say I have a $200 credit to use. You can book 2 people, one-way on the same reservation, for fares that are say $100 each. It will pend at Amex for $200, but once it posts, it splits per person, so $100 each*. In the past, I've made individual ressies, but this will save me a lot of time. You can also pair this with the above tip to build up a larger credit across multiple cards.

*A round-trip will post together, per person, so be careful.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

It's too late now. We're flying tomorrow.

That might actually be your best chance, as people miss flights, get delayed, etc. I think sometimes some carriers hold bulkheads as well (sometimes opening up at 24 hours), so those might come available. Good luck- it's really junky not to have the experience together. Biz is great, but can be a bit isolating and it's nice to share it with someone. If nothing else, maybe try inquiring at check in if there's anything that can be done?

 

[MarBee]

Is anyone familiar with the Disney Rewards card and loading points to cards for redemption? We currently have 3 cards. I have 1 with $7 rewards dollars that doesn’t charge a fee and a linked redemption card with $13 on it. I can’t at the seven dollars I have in there to close out the account because I need $10 to add to the $13. I also have a fee bearing Disney Visa card that I’d like to close with $5 points that I can’t add to a $23 redemption card. DH has the no AF Disney Visa with $3 in points and $0 on a redemption card. I don’t know what we were thinking when we opened three of these cards, most of which we no longer use. DH really doesn’t need to reduce any of his limits or close any cards, but I definitely would like to eliminate at least one of mine. Should I just not worry about the small amount of dollars remaining to add to a redemption card and hold onto the redemption cards I have to use later? If I could add the $7 to the $13, that’s 20 bucks toward a gift card. Just curious if anyone has ever called and if they made an exception to allow you to add points if it wasn’t at the $10 minimum? Or is it possible for me to transfer the Disney visa points from one card to another?

Are you a Disney regular? You could just bring 3 redemption cards with you and use three payment forms. Same if at Disney store. Just a thought…

 

[becauseimnew]

Have any of you done global entry upon arrival? Since we’re thinking about going to Toronto later this year we thought that would be a good idea so we could have our interviews done that way.

DH did it on our flight from Paris to DFW. There were about 10 people on our flight that did the interview, it took him about 15 minutes total (including the wait). He was like 5th in line.

 

[eticketplease]

Are you a Disney regular? You could just bring 3 redemption cards with you and use three payment forms. Same if at Disney store. Just a thought…

I think the problem is @have2getaway didn't have enough Disney dollars to transfer ($10 to an existing Redemption card, $20 to a new Redemption card)

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

I just heard about the strikes!!! By a parent at our office who works for United! Now I’m thinking of either flying into Amsterdam or Paris. Decisions, decisions! Need to figure out who to fly with on points. I have UR and MR and cap1 to transfer. I am leaving April 2 or sometime that week. I’m flexible.

I'm trying out seatspy, so thought I'd do a quick search for you. I think you fly from somewhere in Texas, maybe houston? I think flying blue might transfer from all three currencies you have. 50 euro change/cancel fee so you'd wanna be sure. AF has a reportedly really nice new biz product, so you might want to take a peek at some recent reviews and see if that aircraft matches any of your dates.

KLM has 65k biz class fares + 200ish euros in taxes from IAH-AMS on your preferred dates.



80k from IAH-CDG + 189 euros

 

[becauseimnew]

ARGHHH!! Foiled again by AMEX. I had mentioned previously that we are doing a big remodel and will be able to pay a majority of it by Credit Card. I just recently got the AMEX Plat Biz Card (after pop up jail for a few years). Spend on that will be done by next week.

Plan was to get me the AMEX Plat and AMEX Gold Personal with the new SUB's and DH the AMEX Plat Personal. Figured we should be good as they let me have the Biz Plat and had been getting emails for both of us about being approved for Biz Cards.

I should know better - not eligible on all of them.....Now to try and figure out a Plan B. I will still have about $16,000 to $25,000 in spend. Was trying to stay away from Chase for awhile, since most of our cards are Chase Cards.

I am 4/24 with 2 cards falling off beginning of April and DH is 2/24. I may get DH the Cap One Venture and maybe get me the Chase IGH Biz Card before the high SUB goes away... Any other ideas!!

Could you try a NLL Biz Plat? (Doc Link)

I received a target Biz Gold NLL but I think the Biz Plat are better since I could use the $200 airline credit and the Dell credit to buy Christmas gifts.

 

[LynnTH]

Could you try a NLL Biz Plat? (Doc Link)

I received a target Biz Gold NLL but I think the Biz Plat are better since I could use the $200 airline credit and the Dell credit to buy Christmas gifts.

I may try as a last resort. It was just so nice that the Personal Cards only have $6000/$4,000 spend...instead of $15,000.