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

[mmmears]

Upgrading a standard award reservation with cash or paying more points for an upgraded room depends on the property and what they make available.

TPG actually had a pretty good article about this recently (just ignore the shilly bits at the end):
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/redeem-marriott-points-upgraded-rooms/

Thank you, @Lain. I never think to turn to TPG when I get stuck. I'll read up on it and see if I can somehow get the right room.

ETA - he's saying it will show up on the website, and sadly it's not there for the one we want. Will have to look around I guess.

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

@kmc8826 - did you do the insurance on your Disney Packages? I’m going to book w/o flight but would like some flexibility with dates/resorts. To make changes and get price reductions you need the insurance? Did you do the cheaper one?

 

[afan]

I see the Dream got pushed out til tomorrow

 

[Judique]

Did @calypso726 just get another day added to her trip?
Disney Dream cruise extended to Thursday because the port is not ready for the ship's return.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Just cancelled my wife's Marriott card which was originally opened back in 2016. It was upgraded to the new Marriott card a year ago and it was just time to go. I could not justify the $95 AF - due to the PC, my free night posts on a different schedule than the AF so I had already gotten the free night in March and used it this summer. Why am I typing all of this - I dunno, haha. I guess it's just hard to say goodbye to an old card! In our first year of "heavy churning" we got 24 cards and only 6 of them remain open. Goodbye Marriott card - you did me good, friend! You did me good!

...I get oddly sentimental about my credit cards...

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Marriott question - please send any advice my way on this one. Has anyone been able to upgrade a points room with cash? They won't let us book the room we want with points, just a standard room or a suite that is far more than we need (and far more than we want to spend). The issue here is that we *might* need a room for 3 and in Europe standard rooms only fit 2. The room for 3 isn't much more, cash wise, but they won't give it to us for points. Is using URs my only way around this? Other than dropping a few thousand dollars for 4 nights, that is? That last option isn't an option - I'd rather stay somewhere else if I have to pay cash. Really annoyed with Marriott at the moment. I did book the room for 2, so at least we are covered if DD can't join us, but then it'll be a mess if she can. And she won't know until much closer to the actual date.

For the last 2 years we have been able to upgrade our basic room at the Westin Whistler to a 1 bedroom suite. This year it was a free upgrade, but in 2018 we had to pay around $70.00 / night for the upgrade. We have another reservation booked for February, 2020 in a basic room and I'm hoping for another free upgrade (this year I called about 5 days before to ask and the nice young man on the phone upgraded me instantly; my friend tried the same day and she was refused, however she did get an upgrade when she checked in). I'd probably book the standard room on points and 1 on cash (refundable). If you don't get an upgrade and your dd joins you she can use the cash room. Just a thought.

 

[PolyRob]

If you think you will ever want to cash out MRs, open the Schwab account now. There's no fee to keep it open - mine sits with literally $1 each in checking and brokerage - but Schwab is sensitive to too many bank accounts and has closed accounts after opening in the past.

Thank you! I opened 2 accounts (Chase and BoA) between 2018 and 2019 so I think it should be fine to do this next! Better safe to have it now if I can leave just $1 in it.

 

[FloridaNative8]

Are there any negative DPs on closing CIP #1 days before going for #3? It's been just over a year since opening #1.

Alternatively, should I PC to something else? I don't ever venture out to office supply stores, so not sure if the CIC (?) would be worth it?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Are there any negative DPs on closing CIP #1 days before going for #3? It's been just over a year since opening #1.

Alternatively, should I PC to something else? I don't ever venture out to office supply stores, so not sure if the CIC (?) would be worth it?

People have closed theirs with no issues going on to get #3. I’d think you are fine to close.

You could PC to CIU or CIC. You can always close it later if you don’t need it so maybe just having a CIC For now is good just in case something changes??

 

[miztressuz]

Very interesting! Is it advisable to open one of these accounts if you would ever like to cash out MRs via Schwab? I know you need the CC too, but does having this already make the process easier in the future?

Depends on how into the bank bonus game you get into. They are Chex sensitive and also do a HP (YMMV if opting out of margin trading avoids it. for most people it does, I've seen reports like me where it didn't) so some people who hit the CC and bank game hard had a harder time getting the accounts later. If you open the linked checking account with the brokerage, both are fee free so there's no real harm in doing it now - unless you think they'll have a better bonus later.

If Schwab Plat cash out is your ultimate goal, I concur with @striker1064 and just get it now.

 

[Lain]

Thank you, @Lain. I never think to turn to TPG when I get stuck. I'll read up on it and see if I can somehow get the right room.

ETA - he's saying it will show up on the website, and sadly it's not there for the one we want. Will have to look around I guess.

FYI - Amex is running a 30% transfer bonus for MR to Marriott through 10/31/19. Not the best use of MRs, but the transfer bonus makes it better than transferring URs if that’s what you were considering.
https://onemileatatime.com/amex-marriott-transfer-bonus/https://viewfromthewing.com/2019/09...ess-transfers-to-marriott-through-october-31/

 

[miztressuz]

Just cancelled my wife's Marriott card which was originally opened back in 2016. It was upgraded to the new Marriott card a year ago and it was just time to go. I could not justify the $95 AF - due to the PC, my free night posts on a different schedule than the AF so I had already gotten the free night in March and used it this summer. Why am I typing all of this - I dunno, haha. I guess it's just hard to say goodbye to an old card! In our first year of "heavy churning" we got 24 cards and only 6 of them remain open. Goodbye Marriott card - you did me good, friend! You did me good!

...I get oddly sentimental about my credit cards...

This will be me next March. We haven't cancelled a hotel card yet but I highly, highly doubt we can justify the $125 fee on the Bananaboy Biz. It was my first ever Biz card so a little sentimental. It was back in the day where AmEx were like gateway biz cards, hand them out like candy, get your feet wet, move on to the big boys Oh, such a far away land of... 2018

 

[PolyRob]

Depends on how into the bank bonus game you get into. They are Chex sensitive and also do a HP (YMMV if opting out of margin trading avoids it. for most people it does, I've seen reports like me where it didn't) so some people who hit the CC and bank game hard had a harder time getting the accounts later. If you open the linked checking account with the brokerage, both are fee free so there's no real harm in doing it now - unless you think they'll have a better bonus later.

If Schwab Plat cash out is your ultimate goal, I concur with @striker1064 and just get it now.

Thank you!

 

[DisneyMandC]

Totally doesn't make sense, what makes sense is going for the Starbuck CC, right @DisneyMandC ?

$844 in URs versus 6500 stars... it's a toss up

 

[amalone1013]

Just cancelled my wife's Marriott card which was originally opened back in 2016. It was upgraded to the new Marriott card a year ago and it was just time to go. I could not justify the $95 AF - due to the PC, my free night posts on a different schedule than the AF so I had already gotten the free night in March and used it this summer. Why am I typing all of this - I dunno, haha. I guess it's just hard to say goodbye to an old card! In our first year of "heavy churning" we got 24 cards and only 6 of them remain open. Goodbye Marriott card - you did me good, friend! You did me good!

The free night was posting on/around your PC anniversary, yes? I was just thinking about this because mine posted 8/29 last year and I PC'd on 10/17

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

The free night was posting on/around your PC anniversary, yes? I was just thinking about this because mine posted 8/29 last year and I PC'd on 10/17

No, the free night continues to post on your original anniversary. I got my free night on 3/15. I did my upgrade in May and my AF charged on 9/1 last year. Then this year I got my free night again on 3/15 and my AF posted on 9/1.

 

[amalone1013]

No, the free night continues to post on your original anniversary. I got my free night on 3/15. I did my upgrade in May and my AF charged on 9/1 last year. Then this year I got my free night again on 3/15 and my AF posted on 9/1.

Ok, this is what I originally thought and then was starting to think I am wrong since it hadn't posted yet. Tomorrow is my actual honest to goodness original anniversary, so hopefully it will come around then

 

[Lain]

$844 in URs versus 6500 stars... it's a toss up

No it’s not.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

$844 in URs versus 6500 stars... it's a toss up

No it’s not.

EXACTLY!! Do both!!

(This is a joke people...do not listen to me...)

 

[miztressuz]

Need some help to avoid getting Bonvoyed. I have 2 Marriott bookings made with “points advance” right now, both for the same dates. I also have 2 certs both of which will expire slightly before my bookings so I cannot apply them. I was hoping to wait until closer to my dates (next June) then call and have them extend the certs and apply them. Now I’m afraid even though I have booked rooms at standard points, since I haven’t used points yet I will be subject to the new peak pricing and not be able to use my certificates either. (I don’t plan on keeping both bookings, I’m just afraid to cancel one in case I get stuck somehow).
Does anyone understand Marriott’s plan well enough to advise me how to avoid getting Bonvoyed, or will I be ok since I already booked even though they are points advance reservations?

ETA: after watching videos and reviewing info on the Bonbon site, I think I understand. If I don’t pay with points now, I’ll likely face peak pricing. I think I need to apply points now, then call and get the certs extended and applied next year. I need about 4K more points but can transfer URs over. Was hoping to earn them but that will be too late.

According to the original blog post, Marriott intends to honor some points advance bookings at the standard rate should your night fall on a peak rate in the future. (https://viewfromthewing.boardingare...-pricing-next-month-along-with-other-changes/)
However, I don't know if it would hold that rate when trying to switch it to a FNC. I seem to recall @havaneselover (maybe?) having an issue with that on the last go around.