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

[Judique]

The second tier of my Hyatt SUB posted, so I went ahead and transferred over the last 4k points I needed to book our Tokyo hotel. I now have our flights and hotels 100% booked for next year's tentative Japan trip in mid-May. Yay!

For fun here is what I've spent so far on AFs vs the cash price of what I have booked. I used Google flights and the best available prices on Hotwire/Expedia/Priceline to price out the hotels since that is what I would do pre-churning. This is still a rough accounting - I gave up on the spreadsheet tracking every cent a while ago:

Retail price, 2 RT tickets in first class on ANA from IAH to HND = $45,496 (this number is so big it's practically imaginary)
My cost - $550 (DH's Plat) + $95 (my CSP)+ $100 in change fees + $100 in fuel surcharges= $845

Retail price, 5 nights at the Hyatt Regency Tokyo = $1,230
My cost = $95 (my personal Hyatt)

Retail price, 5 nights at the Park Hyatt Kyoto = $4,450
My cost = $190 (DH's CIP, my CIP)

Retail price, 3 nights at the Hilton Tokyo Bay = $648
My cost = $190 (1 Hilton Biz each for me and DH)

Total "cash value" of our two-week trip =$51,824
Out-of-pocket costs to date = $1320

Which puts us ahead by $50,504.

I have definitely taken international trips for close to $1300 before...for one person, for 6 nights, scoring some super-cheap airfare in economy in the off-season, and sleeping in hostel dormitories with ten other loud people. So saying "I have plans to fly first class to Japan next year and stay in four-star hotels for two weeks" is just...something else. Gosh, I love this hobby

I am trying not to get too worked up about this trip in case it doesn't happen, so I am firmly sitting on my hands and not looking into the JR pass, or planning daily itineraries, or buying tickets to anything, or spending *any* more money on this trip until the future is more certain. But I wanted to write up this little report and allow myself some excitement about this big redemption, which is my first one in almost a year!

Even though I don't dream about redemptions like this I am so happy that you (and others) can make this happen and give you experiences that otherwise would be unattainable for most!

In my early years I did dream and found ways to travel, but not in the way that this hobby provides. In fact I remember being in Europe at age 23 or 24 wondering where my next meals were coming from, but what a time I had!

Enjoy these trips while they are important to you and live and learn from the world.

 

[Alexle2007]

The second tier of my Hyatt SUB posted, so I went ahead and transferred over the last 4k points I needed to book our Tokyo hotel. I now have our flights and hotels 100% booked for next year's tentative Japan trip in mid-May. Yay!

For fun here is what I've spent so far on AFs vs the cash price of what I have booked. I used Google flights and the best available prices on Hotwire/Expedia/Priceline to price out the hotels since that is what I would do pre-churning. This is still a rough accounting - I gave up on the spreadsheet tracking every cent a while ago:

Retail price, 2 RT tickets in first class on ANA from IAH to HND = $45,496 (this number is so big it's practically imaginary)
My cost - $550 (DH's Plat) + $95 (my CSP)+ $100 in change fees + $100 in fuel surcharges= $845

Retail price, 5 nights at the Hyatt Regency Tokyo = $1,230
My cost = $95 (my personal Hyatt)

Retail price, 5 nights at the Park Hyatt Kyoto = $4,450
My cost = $190 (DH's CIP, my CIP)

Retail price, 3 nights at the Hilton Tokyo Bay = $648
My cost = $190 (1 Hilton Biz each for me and DH)

Total "cash value" of our two-week trip =$51,824
Out-of-pocket costs to date = $1320

Which puts us ahead by $50,504.

I have definitely taken international trips for close to $1300 before...for one person, for 6 nights, scoring some super-cheap airfare in economy in the off-season, and sleeping in hostel dormitories with ten other loud people. So saying "I have plans to fly first class to Japan next year and stay in four-star hotels for two weeks" is just...something else. Gosh, I love this hobby

I am trying not to get too worked up about this trip in case it doesn't happen, so I am firmly sitting on my hands and not looking into the JR pass, or planning daily itineraries, or buying tickets to anything, or spending *any* more money on this trip until the future is more certain. But I wanted to write up this little report and allow myself some excitement about this big redemption, which is my first one in almost a year!

That’s awesome!

 

[becauseimnew]

sooo close.... no new SW cards for DH this year.

 

[becauseimnew]

Can you all please confirm that I'm am understand this correctly. If I book AA award flights for next summer I can cancel and have the miles reinstated for free as long as I do it more than 60 days out AND they are AA flights. (no AA status)

 

[ski_mom]

DH and I are taking a short trip to San Antonio at the end of the month. We are renting a car - usually I use UR points and book through the Chase portal, but I was thinking about trying to use up some of my Arrival Plus money since our Airbnb didn't work to use them this summer.

I was ready to book last night when I thought about the fact that the card is in my name and I want DH to be the driver. That probably will not work, right??

 

[becauseimnew]

DH and I are taking a short trip to San Antonio at the end of the month. We are renting a car - usually I use UR points and book through the Chase portal, but I was thinking about trying to use up some of my Arrival Plus money since our Airbnb didn't work to use them this summer.

I was ready to book last night when I thought about the fact that the card is in my name and I want DH to be the driver. That probably will not work, right??

That depends on the rental company, I think most allow free second "spouse" driver, in which case it won't be a problem.

 

[afan]

Got half my flight to Japan for next Sept! I'll call in a couple of weeks to change the return.

It was 90k or 65k citi and 25k UR so while it wasn't I feel like it was only 25k cause I don't have any other use for citi but will probably keep them around for this type of thing though it wiped out all but 235 of my points.

It's biz rt because ANA doesn't fly first out of SEA but a non stop from my home airport was much more important. Only 58.75 in taxes plus the 50 change fee makes this so good.

 

[platamama]

DH and I are taking a short trip to San Antonio at the end of the month. We are renting a car - usually I use UR points and book through the Chase portal, but I was thinking about trying to use up some of my Arrival Plus money since our Airbnb didn't work to use them this summer.

I was ready to book last night when I thought about the fact that the card is in my name and I want DH to be the driver. That probably will not work, right??

Something to keep in mind is that you would get primary car rental insurance if you use URs associated with your CSP/CSR*, whereas the Arrival+ is secondary coverage. Meaning that if there are any accidents/damage to the rental car then with the Arrival+ you'd have to deal with your auto insurance company first and then Barclays would kick in.

My most recent car rental required the reservation to be in my name since my name was on the credit card used to pay for the car rental (this was Alamo, booked thru Costco Travel). The rep was able to change it right at the service counter though, so it was no big deal.

*Assuming you have a CSP/CSR, I would still make sure a small charge showed on your credit card for the rental (mostly use URs, but put a small amount on the card) so that you can easily substantiate any potential claim.

ETA: This didn't really address whether the card should be in his name since he'll be primary driver; lots of rental companies allow an authorized driver to be added and sometimes for free (Costco Travel). You have to read the fine print.

 

[disneybirds]

I was a late to the game back then, I applied and completed the MSR in Feb '17 so have a few more months to wait.

I am right there with you! Waiting until March 2021.

 

[ten6mom]

Seeing @Artygal90 and @afan post about Japan makes me so sad...

I think we are going to try again in the fall of 2022. In 2021 my older son will be a senior and November will be the end of his marching band season so I cannot miss that.

Here's to hoping my Virgin miles stay in tact for that long and that redemptions are still a thing....

 

[ten6mom]

Ohhhh all my friends here will understand... more sadness as I read about DL still not being given guidelines to reopen.

2020 can just take a long walk off a short pier.

 

[afan]

Seeing @Artygal90 and @afan post about Japan makes me so sad...

I think we are going to try again in the fall of 2022. In 2021 my older son will be a senior and November will be the end of his marching band season so I cannot miss that.

Here's to hoping my Virgin miles stay in tact for that long and that redemptions are still a thing....

Not that long until you can book again. From what I've read virgin should be goof, they've gotten funding. If I had any hesitation I wouldn't have booked with them.

 

[georgina]

Has anyone tried to use the pay yourself back for CSR charities recently? I did it back in July with World Central Kitchen, they weren't going to allow me to use points at first, claiming I hadn't gone through their links to the charity. I made a fuss and they allowed it. They have added some new charities and I would like to try again with Habitat for Humanity, but can't find a link anywhere on their pages to donate for PYB. It's such a pain!

 

[ten6mom]

WDW Skyliner question... I've been reading over on the boards about the Skyliner and long lines where they all merge at CBR (we are staying at CBR).

Does the Skyliner at Riviera go to DHS, or to Epcot? Sort of confused about that.

 

[calypso726]

Under 5/24 Churners everywhere right now...

CIP?
CIU?
CIC?
CSP?
CSP/CSR MDD?
CFF?
CFU?

I can't believe I'm still under 5/24 but I was thinking I might as well churn and swap some stuff while I can. I mean I only got under for the Hyatt card but then decided to grab a CIP while I was at it. My next card was going to be a new Boundless to replace the one I upgraded to the Ritz Carlton and then downgrade my Brilliant. Then Chase decided to add a nice CSP bonus and do away with straight BonBlah points and offer FN certs instead. Uhm, no thanks. So churning the Chase BonBlah is on hold until they come back with a points offer. December will bring me to 48 months since I had my CSR bonus hit. If the 80K offer is still around, I will be applying for a CSP.

 

[ten6mom]

Uuggggghhhhhh just logged in and American has changed my flights (booked on points)... I now have a stop in DFW with a plane change on the return.

I purposely booked NONSTOP!

Anything I can do? It was a "cheap" flight....

 

[afan]

Uuggggghhhhhh just logged in and American has changed my flights (booked on points)... I now have a stop in DFW with a plane change on the return.

I purposely booked NONSTOP!

Anything I can do? It was a "cheap" flight....

If there's still a nonstop you can have them change it but I'd guess they probably temporarily got rid of it.

You could prob get a refund due to the change but if there's no other airline flying nonstop why bother as you'd probably have to pay more.

Is this phoenix? Guessing nonstop to MCO doesn't have much demand right now.

 

[ten6mom]

If there's still a nonstop you can have them change it but I'd guess they probably temporarily got rid of it.

You could prob get a refund due to the change but if there's no other airline flying nonstop why bother as you'd probably have to pay more.

Is this phoenix? Guessing nonstop to MCO doesn't have much demand right now.

OK thank you. I'll have to go look to see if there are others.

Interestingly, the departure time hasn't changed but all the flight numbers did.

Yes, PHX-MCO direct/nonstop

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

Uuggggghhhhhh just logged in and American has changed my flights (booked on points)... I now have a stop in DFW with a plane change on the return.

I purposely booked NONSTOP!

Anything I can do? It was a "cheap" flight....

American changed our flight back in August from Charlotte to Fort Lauderdale twice! I was able to call both times and change it no problem. The first time I changed to a later flight same day that was nonstop, second time I changed to a whole day earlier. They did not give any issue whatsoever, and these were $50 round trip flights!

 

[ten6mom]

American changed our flight back in August from Charlotte to Fort Lauderdale twice! I was able to call both times and change it no problem. The first time I changed to a later flight same day that was nonstop, second time I changed to a whole day earlier. They did not give any issue whatsoever, and these were $50 round trip flights!

Well that's encouraging, at least.

So... what you're saying is, I have to get on the phone. Ick