I love credit cards so much! v3.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[Haley R]

My first thought was that can't be a thing - cats don't catch human flu. Googled it and they do! Huh. The things I learn from this thread, lol.

Hope you feel better soon!

Wow I didn’t know this either!

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

@*WDW*Groupie*

YAY!!! Good for you! Jammies coming your way!

Oh boy, loaded question. I love Edinburgh and could happily stay there for a week. But Edinburgh is my favorite city in the world so this is a very biased opinion.

If I had a week and was taking someone to Scotland for the first time, I would stay in Edinburgh for a couple of days, visit St. Giles Cathedral, do the Real Mary King Close tour, go to Edinburgh castle, visit Hollyrood Palace see Greyfriar's Kirkyard do some walking tours etc. I would also book a 3 day Isle of Skye/Highlands tour that picked me up from Edinburgh and had an itinerary like this one.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attract...s_Tour_from_Edinburgh-Edinburgh_Scotland.html

In my opinion, you can't truly experience Scotland until you've visited Skye and explored the Highlands.

I love visiting London and I enjoy the English countryside very much. But it doesn't hold a candle compared to visiting Skye and the Highlands for me. I'm not caught up yet and don't know if @tink1970 or @CaliforniaGirl09 have chimed in yet but I know both enjoy visiting Scotland.

Ok then I will add these. My favorite pub in Edinburgh is The Whiski Bar & Restaurant. It's my go to every trip. Do visit The World's End Pub for lunch at the end of the Royal Mile. If you like Cider even just a little bit, then try a Thistly Cross Cider. I know Haggis sounds disgusting and no one was more surprised than I was to discover it tastes really good! Lasagna used to be my favorite food and now it is Haggis. Try some Haggis! If you like Harry Potter, do a Harry Potter tour. These are loads of fun! If you want to see a good aerial view of your surroundings, hike up Arthur's Seat. I managed it despite the fact that I am not athletic or young. Amazing view. If you visit during the month of August, I highly recommend getting tickets to see the Royal Military Edinburgh Tattoo. Make sure to take time to stop and see some Heelan Coos (Highland Cows). They are just adorable!

Thanks so much for the tips!

I was leaning this way. I booked another night at the WA Edinburgh on points. Then I could take the tour you mention above and spend the last 2 nights back at the WA using FNCs. That would work out perfectly! I might also see what Scott Dunn could put together for me, but since I'll be solo I think I'd prefer to be with a group.

Totally agree with Calypso about sticking around Scotland for the whole week. As much as I love London, Scotland is an amazing country and you could spend weeks there and still be yearning for more. I should know, LOL. I don't know how many months cumulatively I've spent there, but it's many. I think I've hit 20ish? of the Isles with many of them in the multiples. I've stopped counting Skye and Orkney as they are over 6 or 7 each, LOL. I always encourage people to hit at least one or two isles if they will be in Scotland for any length of time. Skye is one of the most accessible and a great choice. Rabbies also runs tours there from Edinburgh so definitely check them out. I really like that the one Calypso recommended goes the the Trossachs. That's one of my favorite parts of Scotland (Argyll is another).

I second all of Calypso's recommendations in Edinburgh proper. I highly recommend Arthur's Seat on a clear day. It's really stunning. My "must do's" for Edinburgh: the Castle, Holyrood, and Arthur's Seat. Also on the list Mary Queen's Close, and as a big royal fan, I absolutely love visiting Britiannia. I also highly recommend having tea at the Elephant House (one of the places where JK Rowling wrote HP)--you can see where she got her inspiration. I also love the White Hart Pub in Grassmarket (right below the royal mile), which claims to be the city's oldest pub.

I'd reserve one afternoon or morning for the short train ride to Stirling. Stirling Castle is IMO one of the best non-ruinous castles in Scotland and a must do.

@Calfan and I are HUGE cider fans. I "discovered" it 10+ years ago when my husband bought me a strongbow in London. Now it's pretty much all I drink. I love thistly cross! Look for it at any pub and try whatever they have on tap. You won't be disappointed. When Calfan and I did the coast to coast hike across England, we basically drank a different type every night wherever we stayed. It was awesome. Have a great time! I'll be in Scotland this summer myself.

And welcome to the Jammie club! I've started a collection myself. I'm actually wearing a pair right now

 

[ten6mom]

OK so please forgive the newbie questions but the jammies mention got me thinking.

I guess I assumed, like robes in a hotel, that pajamas provided to passengers on planes would be returned to the plane at the end of the flight. Am I mistaken?

Also- since this will more than likely be the ONLY time we ever fly first class (although I suppose my goals might change after this), I want to take advantage of every perk that I can without being the .. gosh. I don't know how to say it. Like I don't want it to be painfully obvious that I've never done it before but I also don't want to miss out on any the perks because we want to experience as much as we can. So forgive me for sounding both ignorant and uncouth, but I figure you're a safe group to ask these questions in. So, please bear with me.

To recap: We are flying ANA from LAX to NRT in first, and back from NRT to LAX in business.

1. Jammies. Keep or get returned at the end of the flight?
2. Alcohol (both in the lounge and on the plane). Complimentary? I don't drink much other than foofie drinks, but my husband would like to try this Hibiki (?) whiskey that might be on the plane. Is there a limit? (Not that he is going to get sloshed, but if he likes it I'm sure he would like more than one glass). If this is frowned upon, I would like to know beforehand.
3. Basically any no-nos. I mean, I don't normally think of myself as tacky, but I'm definitely not used to airport lounges (of any sort), nor international first class flights. So is there anything we should take care NOT to do?
4. Any other perks we SHOULD make sure to take advantage of? I definitely plan to visit the lounge at LAX prior to departure. Since the flight leaves relatively early (around 1130), I want to take an early airport shuttle over. I think there will be a different area where we can check in (with potentially shorter lines). I am guessing, but am not certain, that after checkin and after security they will point us in the direction of the lounge. If they don't, is it tacky to ask?
5. IN the lounge, I have to assume there are speakers so we can hear when our flight is being called?
6. Anything else anyone can think of that I should know about?

 

[gottalovepluto]

I used URs to book Hard Rock club level. It’s the weekend before DSs 11th bday. We will also be at Universal Hollywood in June, which he knows about. I finally convinced him to watch Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. He has not been interested until now (and didn’t like the tiny bit he watched in the past) but I wanted him to understand some of the Harry Potter stuff at USH/USO. Well, he really liked it and has now read the first 2 books, in less than a week. It’s huge because he hates to read. I mean absolutely, kicking and screaming, hates reading. The only reading he’s ever done is the required reading for school. I’m pretty sure he won’t get through the last few books as they are kind of dark and likely to give him nightmares but I’m so glad he’s actually enjoying a book. Plus now he’ll be excited for Universal even more.

That’s great he’s reading!

But yeah, Harry Potter takes a dark turn in the second half. I had a professor in college who randomly one day was like “do you all read Harry Potter books? I read the beginning and let my daughter (like 12?) read and then I picked up the book she was reading today- OH MY!! So dark!!” Daughter has apparently made it to book 6 and the prof thought the happy go lucky feel of book 2 was how the whole series went Surprise!

 

[wendow]

I have used Free Tax USA for several years now. Our taxes are pretty easy and straightforward, but I really like the Free Tax website. It’s very user friendly and spells things out in plain English. I also find discount codes for filing every year with a simple Google search. Cost is around $5. If we ever get a refund it’s usually deposited within a week.

I'm so glad to read good reviews for other places. I've been a loyal TT user for years but the constant price increases have gotten to be too much. I remember when I first started using the online version, the price was $14.95 and that could even easily be discounted. I've dreaded making the change but I think this year I'll try Free Tax USA.

 

[striker1064]

Sigh Amex. I spent the $100 on Dell on the Biz Plat, got the credit, and forgot I had enrolled in the 10% off Dell a long time ago. So now I have a negative $10 balance on the card. If they know they're clawing this stuff back, why do they still allow it? I guess I'm gonna let that $10 credit balance ride so I don't forget and get billed in 3 years.

So that works with a rental? I have used TT for years and am very familiar with it. Hate having to buy the more expensive version because of the rental. I also have done my mom’s since my dad passed away but hers are generally very simple.

Yes, I can confirm. I haven't filed yet because I'm still waiting on a few forms, but I've put everything in for our rental and it all looks correct.

 

[Alexle2007]

Ok SW experts I need a little help. We have decided to extend our spring break trip for another day, so I need to cancel & rebook our flights. I’ve never cancelled a SW flight, too chicken. I always envision cancelling then the new flight disappearing so I’m stuck. DH and I are booked on points, DS is DHs Companion.
So I need to cancel Companion flight, then cancel our flight, right? Then rebook ours and add Companion back on. So taxes go back on the cc paid with and EBCI gets refunded or do you get travel funds?

Since you have EBCI, you do not want to cancel since you will lose those funds. If this instance, your best Avenue is to call SW to make the change. They can do it without you losing EBCI.

 

[Alexle2007]

I used URs to book Hard Rock club level. It’s the weekend before DSs 11th bday. We will also be at Universal Hollywood in June, which he knows about. I finally convinced him to watch Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. He has not been interested until now (and didn’t like the tiny bit he watched in the past) but I wanted him to understand some of the Harry Potter stuff at USH/USO. Well, he really liked it and has now read the first 2 books, in less than a week. It’s huge because he hates to read. I mean absolutely, kicking and screaming, hates reading. The only reading he’s ever done is the required reading for school. I’m pretty sure he won’t get through the last few books as they are kind of dark and likely to give him nightmares but I’m so glad he’s actually enjoying a book. Plus now he’ll be excited for Universal even more.

That’s awesome! HRH is a great location and such an easy walk to the parks. My DS is exactly the same and hates reading. They are reading Romeo and Juliet for school and he particularly dislikes it. Heck, even I have a hard time trying to figure out what they are saying.

So glad he is enjoying the HP books!

 

[calypso726]

OK so please forgive the newbie questions but the jammies mention got me thinking.

I guess I assumed, like robes in a hotel, that pajamas provided to passengers on planes would be returned to the plane at the end of the flight. Am I mistaken?

Also- since this will more than likely be the ONLY time we ever fly first class (although I suppose my goals might change after this), I want to take advantage of every perk that I can without being the .. gosh. I don't know how to say it. Like I don't want it to be painfully obvious that I've never done it before but I also don't want to miss out on any the perks because we want to experience as much as we can. So forgive me for sounding both ignorant and uncouth, but I figure you're a safe group to ask these questions in. So, please bear with me.

To recap: We are flying ANA from LAX to NRT in first, and back from NRT to LAX in business.

1. Jammies. Keep or get returned at the end of the flight?
2. Alcohol (both in the lounge and on the plane). Complimentary? I don't drink much other than foofie drinks, but my husband would like to try this Hibiki (?) whiskey that might be on the plane. Is there a limit? (Not that he is going to get sloshed, but if he likes it I'm sure he would like more than one glass). If this is frowned upon, I would like to know beforehand.
3. Basically any no-nos. I mean, I don't normally think of myself as tacky, but I'm definitely not used to airport lounges (of any sort), nor international first class flights. So is there anything we should take care NOT to do?
4. Any other perks we SHOULD make sure to take advantage of? I definitely plan to visit the lounge at LAX prior to departure. Since the flight leaves relatively early (around 1130), I want to take an early airport shuttle over. I think there will be a different area where we can check in (with potentially shorter lines). I am guessing, but am not certain, that after checkin and after security they will point us in the direction of the lounge. If they don't, is it tacky to ask?
5. IN the lounge, I have to assume there are speakers so we can hear when our flight is being called?
6. Anything else anyone can think of that I should know about?

Jammies are yours to keep. So are any slippers and the amenity bags.

It depends on the lounge. Each one is different. No harm in asking as everyone has had to have their first time at some point.

Alcohol on the plane should be complimentary. If it isn’t there should be a price next to the item. I may or may not have gone through half a bottle of Krug champagne on SQ. On BA I like to have a port before requesting turndown service. The flight attendant will lay the seat flat add a mattress pad And covers.

Very rarely will your flight get called. Do not assume it will. Judge your walking distance from lounge to gate and arrive at the gate right before boarding time.

Tipping in Japan is frowned upon. Many see it as an insult. A well thought small gift or token nicely wrapped or packaged that inspires no reciprocal obligation is preferable. Example, we stayed in touch and became FB friends with a cast member we met at TDL hotel in 2018. We let her know we were returning in 2019 and hoped to visit with her. She pulled some strings to get us a difficult dining reservation. If that would have been here I would have given the CM a thank you card with a gift card as a token of appreciation. Instead, I selected some Florida specific treats and placed them in a decorative gift box with matching tissue paper and coordinating bow as a token of our appreciation.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Ok SW experts I need a little help. We have decided to extend our spring break trip for another day, so I need to cancel & rebook our flights. I’ve never cancelled a SW flight, too chicken. I always envision cancelling then the new flight disappearing so I’m stuck. DH and I are booked on points, DS is DHs Companion.
So I need to cancel Companion flight, then cancel our flight, right? Then rebook ours and add Companion back on. So taxes go back on the cc paid with and EBCI gets refunded or do you get travel funds?

EBCI is not refundable...so do not cancel you will lose the $$ and since you have a CP it cannot be done online...
I have switched flights by call SW and they easily made the change and the EBCI moved to our new flights..just be aware that they assign the your slots based on the date the new flight is booked

 

[Budzooka]

Ok SW experts I need a little help. We have decided to extend our spring break trip for another day, so I need to cancel & rebook our flights. I’ve never cancelled a SW flight, too chicken. I always envision cancelling then the new flight disappearing so I’m stuck. DH and I are booked on points, DS is DHs Companion.
So I need to cancel Companion flight, then cancel our flight, right? Then rebook ours and add Companion back on. So taxes go back on the cc paid with and EBCI gets refunded or do you get travel funds?

As others have said, no need to cancel. You can just change the flight. But with a companion, you will have to call and can’t do it online.

 

[iujen94]

I’m curious what y’all think....I got the SW Priority personal card a few weeks ago, and the initial 40k bonus plus my $1k spend to get it will get me to 125k points for the companion pass.

i sent a secure message to Chase and found out my closing date is Feb 14. DH and I are flying to Orlando on SW on Feb 20, and then home on Feb 24.

I know it’s a guess, but what do you think the chances are that my points will hit quickly enough that I can designate him as my companion and use the companion pass on our Feb 20 flight? How about our Feb 24 flight? (I’ve booked his tickets with points, so I cancel his ticket(s) and rebook him with the companion pass if it comes through in time.)

 

[Judique]

I have one still! I think I will use 4 nights of it in Orlando which is worth more than the 45k I might could get from Marriott. Thanks for sharing the article though!

Where are you planning to use it? DD got hers extended again for the rest of this year and then was (I think but not quite sure) able to use it in Hong Kong/Cambodia. She changes up on things so much I can't keep up, but if she still has it, nice to know some options.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

I’m curious what y’all think....I got the SW Priority personal card a few weeks ago, and the initial 40k bonus plus my $1k spend to get it will get me to 125k points for the companion pass.

i sent a secure message to Chase and found out my closing date is Feb 14. DH and I are flying to Orlando on SW on Feb 20, and then home on Feb 24.

I know it’s a guess, but what do you think the chances are that my points will hit quickly enough that I can designate him as my companion and use the companion pass on our Feb 20 flight? How about our Feb 24 flight? (I’ve booked his tickets with points, so I cancel his ticket(s) and rebook him with the companion pass if it comes through in time.)

I think your chances are really good for the 2/24 flight...the 2/20 flight not so sure....
.my points usually hit the next day...but it took a few days for the CP to show in the account...
It works for the 2/20 flight

 

[Judique]

Thanks everyone!

So my update after whining this morning - this afternoon we both got the referral GC's! I got my $10 and hubby got his $20 as the new member. I checked the order and it shows the whole things as "Shipped" now but we never got the $20 new member GC for the offer we tried to layer with it. That eGC is showing as "Shipped" as well on the order so we'll give it a bit. We've been checking the Inbox and Spam every day since we signed up and we haven't seen it.

Now for the more interesting bit: Our order shows the $45 membership fee plus $50 worth of eGC for a subtotal of $95, a savings of $50 so the final total was $45 for the membership. That was the pending charge on 1/21. It was still showing that yesterday on the order.
Checking the order after the GC's came in today, somehow we have a savings of $63.85 Have no idea how they came up with that number.
What's even odder is the charge popped up on the AmEx as $13.85
I have no idea what's going on here. I guess if we only pay $13.85 for the membership we're still ahead?? But I'm confused.

My pending charge for the membership has disappeared. My pending charge for the Disney $50 egift card that I ordered to use up the $15 off $30 offer has posted as $47.98.
Looking on my daughter's new account, I have the same 'you saved $63.85'.

Of course I am expecting to pay $47.98 minus $15 = $32.98 plus $45.00 minus $25 = $20 for a total of $52.98 on my Amex, and we got $30 in egift cards plus the $50 egift card and the membership, so over all, a 'good' deal. Hopefully it will all play out by tomorrow. If I get charged $13.85, plus get my $15, I'll be very happy.

Edit: The membership was purchased and was pending 3 days before the egift $50 Disney card.

 

[Alexle2007]

I’m curious what y’all think....I got the SW Priority personal card a few weeks ago, and the initial 40k bonus plus my $1k spend to get it will get me to 125k points for the companion pass.

i sent a secure message to Chase and found out my closing date is Feb 14. DH and I are flying to Orlando on SW on Feb 20, and then home on Feb 24.

I know it’s a guess, but what do you think the chances are that my points will hit quickly enough that I can designate him as my companion and use the companion pass on our Feb 20 flight? How about our Feb 24 flight? (I’ve booked his tickets with points, so I cancel his ticket(s) and rebook him with the companion pass if it comes through in time.)

Points should post on 2/15 to SW. It can take to 3 days for the CP to post that would put you at 2/18. I would check multiple times a day since the CP comes through at all hours. (Mine was probably 3 pm but others have had it in the morning.) So if everything goes right, you are golden as long as there is a seat left. So I would say hope for the best but you are already prepared if it doesn’t come through.

My experience was very different but then I was at the beginning of the calendar year in Jan and all bets are off there since very little seems to go at the regular pace.

Good luck!

 

[Judique]

I had no idea! And just to make sure, I wasn't blaming you for not getting the shot. I just wanted to know because some years they guess better than others.

Interesting about the cats and the flu! My orange tabby always ends up on the foot of my bed by morning. The black Persian will sleep on the bench at the foot of my bed, but when she wants breakfast and if I don't get out of bed when she thinks I should, will walk across my pillow/head area.
I was sick around early December through Xmas but it was sinus, not flu. I am 67 and have never gotten a flu shot and probably won't ever willingly get one. Other family members get them. Daughter gets sick from the flu shot and is usually sicker looking and acting than I am when I get sick. Son and girlfriend both got shot and were recently sick, her more than him - she's a teacher and he works in a hospital. Kids get you sick, and hospitals make you get all kinds of preventive shots. I stayed away from all of them when I knew they were sick.

 

[Haley R]

Interesting about the cats and the flu! My orange tabby always ends up on the foot of my bed by morning. The black Persian will sleep on the bench at the foot of my bed, but when she wants breakfast and if I don't get out of bed when she thinks I should, will walk across my pillow/head area.
I was sick around early December through Xmas but it was sinus, not flu. I am 67 and have never gotten a flu shot and probably won't ever willingly get one. Other family members get them. Daughter gets sick from the flu shot and is usually sicker looking and acting than I am when I get sick. Son and girlfriend both got shot and were recently sick, her more than him - she's a teacher and he works in a hospital. Kids get you sick, and hospitals make you get all kinds of preventive shots. I stayed away from all of them when I knew they were sick.

This season was the first time in forever that I got the flu shot since I’m pregnant. I normally never get the shot.

 

[spacerangerqueen]

Successful MDD on the SW personal cards for P2! Now to spend $10k!

 

[GlamMistress]

So I thought (and has always been my experience) that you never paid the resort fee while staying 100% on points at Hilton. I am going through all my documents for my trip tomorrow and I catch that I will be charged the resort fee and tax for staying at the Caribe Hilton. That's like $88. I will NOT be charged these fees in New Orleans. Is this just a mainland US policy?

Also, I had to pay bag fees on United. I booked my tix when I had my Explorer card... apparently that free bag benefit doesn't confer after the card is canceled. I had read online that it used to do so.

On the plus side, I've been texting back and forth with my tour operator in Puerto Rico and this company has been very responsive so far.

I just have to get through this workday which is going to be hellish I think...