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

[DisneyMandC]

Something to keep in mind if your going to do online check in 24 hours before...
with everyone on one reservation you get everyone checked in together.....if you have multiple confirmation numbers...each one is done separately.....may or may not matter depending on your travel party

That's when we all synchronize watches

If I'm just doing it for two we always wind up within a couple numbers of each other, but for more I get at least 2 people involved and simultaneously checkin with multiple tabs/windows ready to go

Haha yeah, I already told everyone (6 adults) that we were likely not going to be sitting together. My MIL is the only nervous flier but she's not too bad so she'll be fine. For a direct two hour flight I really don't need to be next to DH haha.

 

[platamama]

Not to encourage anyone to do something they are uncomfortable with, but you can also SM to claim the RC credit. Sometimes they will deny you over SM, but sending another SM always worked for me. And AA GCs work well in my experience.

Otherwise, DW has successfully used the credit to cover real AA seat upgrades both last and this year without any problems.

ITA. I've used mine to upgrade seats and SM the requests for reimbursement. Since I was reminded, just upgraded DM/DD from ATL-PHL so once that charge hits I'll have another DP. While it's not as easy to use at Amex since there's another step with the SM (or call), I've still been able to use the credit easily. Of course YMMV.

Yes, seat upgrades are a legitimate use of the $300 travel credit, and if you have legitimate use for the $300 then it's a very nice benefit. I was referring more to gc purchases which are YMMV; I was denied via SM when I tried (then called in and still got denied). This was years ago, but IIRC I said it was for baggage fees and got denied (maybe because they could see something on my account that I couldn't?) TBH I didn't SM a 2nd time.

Really, I just wanted to point out the $300 airline incidentals are not a slam dunk with the R-C card if used for "creative" purchases like we do with the Amex airline incidental credit. (Not that those are a slam dunk either, and AA's description of the gc purchase can change at any time.)

 

[havaneselover]

I'm looking at that possibility, but after 8.5 hours of travel I'm not sure how I'd feel about a 2.5 hour drive up the mountain (dh isn't coming on the trip and I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to long drives in the snow).

If it is snowing the RCMP can close the gate up the mountain (at Squamish) and check every car -- if you don't snow tires they may not allow you to continue. There have been too many bad accidents on the Sea to Sky Highway to allow people to continue without them. It would really suck to be turned around or have to sit and wait for the roads to clear. I doubt this would happen, but it is still a possibility.

I checked the prices on Costco for renting an SUV (we have gear and won't fit in a car) and it's about $500.00, then another $210.00 for parking at the hotel plus maybe $150.00 for gas (gas is quite a bit more expensive in Canada). So savings would be around $160.00. That's about the price I put on my peace of mind relaxing in the back of a nice SUV while someone else drives!

Got it. I did the drive in August--different story! It was a gorgeous drive in the summer

 

[miztressuz]

Oh boy - I see my Chase 1099s and some more AMEX 1099s coming in the mail today.

My opinion on the whole thing: it's unfortunate that I'll owe some taxes on this but I still got more money than I'll owe. It may mess with my AGI a little and cause a phase-out on traditional IRA capabilities, But I should just be able to turn to Roth instead if that happens. I think I've calculated that my worst case scenario is this increases my Federal tax obligation by $3,624 - I guess I can just cash out some URs to "cover" that. $1,200 of that would be due to the trad. vs. Roth IRA though so that's not really a fair inclusion as a result of referrals (I was on the fence about which way to go with that to begin with). I guess there will also be some minor affects on state and local - maybe another $500 there.

With the exception of Hilton, I don't regret earning any of the referrals (and am still kind of sad that the whole churning setup changed because that has greatly diminished my earnings capabilities). I can definitely understand why some folks on r/churning who used their referral points for lavish 1st class flights (and other redemptions they may not have otherwise made) may see it differently though.

I think most of the initial dismay is because we didn't get a chance to plan for it - like your situation. While it's been mentioned on the referral pages that it's a possibility to get a 1099, with them not issuing it before it seems like just a CYA boilerplate and so no one took it really seriously. I planned for my bank bonus interest but forgot to estimate the "what if" for support. Mine's just a blip so it's covered by my fed refund (which don't even get me started on that one, stupid IRS calculator, I think it was rigged) but it'd really suck if we meticulously planned to have a $0 federal return and then I end up owing money I don't have (at least not budgeted). I'd be taking that drive to NYC to pick up that $500 checking bonus for sure at that point

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Nice. I haven’t actually stayed there but we did stop for cocktails and to walk the grounds once when we were at Stanford for a recruitment trip. R-C was gorgeous especially with the fireplaces going. And the campus at Stanford was fabulous. That’s where DS currently wants to go for architectural engineering.

Great choice DS, from a Stanford grad DH and I both went there. It’s a great school and great place to live. Someone else on this board went there with me, but she likes to forget that lol.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I think most of the initial dismay is because we didn't get a chance to plan for it - like your situation. While it's been mentioned on the referral pages that it's a possibility to get a 1099, with them not issuing it before it seems like just a CYA boilerplate and so no one took it really seriously. I planned for my bank bonus interest but forgot to estimate the "what if" for support. Mine's just a blip so it's covered by my fed refund (which don't even get me started on that one, stupid IRS calculator, I think it was rigged) but it'd really suck if we meticulously planned to have a $0 federal return and then I end up owing money I don't have (at least not budgeted). I'd be taking that drive to NYC to pick up that $500 checking bonus for sure at that point

I agree that the dismay among those "well-grounded" is just that - a lack of planning time. I do see some other over the top reactions out there that I just don't get...but that happens in any discussion board.

I was close to filing before we left for the trip and I hesitated. I also almost completed our IRA fundings and again, glad I hesitated. I would be much angrier (really only at myself) if I had already filed. But in the back of my head I have a rule to wait until at least until Mid-February for any straggler tax forms that I didn't see coming.

 

[miztressuz]

Haha yeah, I already told everyone (6 adults) that we were likely not going to be sitting together. My MIL is the only nervous flier but she's not too bad so she'll be fine. For a direct two hour flight I really don't need to be next to DH haha.

If you all stay on the same reservation and you checkin right at 24 hours you stand a good chance of being near each other, especially if you're ok sitting after the exit aisles. If you're mid B or lower higher there should still be empty rows towards the back, even lowhigh B's you should be able to split in 2s. If you end up in C's you might be making new friends

Edit: had my directions reversed.

 

[Alexle2007]

Does anyone know how to add passport info to SWA international reservations? They sent me an email but the links don't work.

I thought you could just go and edit your reservation. I thought that is what I did from my mom since she didn't have a passport when I initially booked our flights to Punta Cana.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Received my 1099 from Chase....expected the referrals...not a lot only added 1,200 to our taxable income

But was not expecting my SW cards listed....personal with $35 in income and business with $100..both are the amounts of statement credits received last year after I called for a retention offer



Still nothing from Amex...but only had one SPG business bonus from them

 

[platamama]

No it was originally opened 5/2017. I’m not canceling the CSR right now, but will cancel the AU Card.

Interesting DP. I'm not surprised you got charged the AU fee, just surprised that the AF would post on Feb 1 if you opened the original card in May and upgraded in Sept.

But then again, I was expecting DH's (upgraded in Dec) Marriott Premier AF to post on 2/1 (which is when the AF posted historically on the old Marriott) and it hasn't. Though he received a 35K night FN cert in Jan on his (original) card anniversary.

My CSR AF posted Feb 1 for $450. DH had been an AU until 4 months ago when I removed him, and I'm happy to see I wasn't charged for him being AU. When I added him as AU originally in 9/2017 the AU fee didn't show up until my Feb 1 '18 AF posted.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Received my 1099 from Chase....expected the referrals...not a lot only added 1,200 to our taxable income

But was not expecting my SW cards listed....personal with $35 in income and business with $100..both are the amounts of statement credits received last year
So Chase is including statement credits and referrals on the 1099


Still nothing from Amex...but only had one SPG business bonus from them

Statement credits?? Not that it matters much from a dollars perspective but that’s crazy wild - those should be “offset” by paying an annual fee.

 

[platamama]

Received my 1099 from Chase....expected the referrals...not a lot only added 1,200 to our taxable income

But was not expecting my SW cards listed....personal with $35 in income and business with $100..both are the amounts of statement credits received last year
So Chase is including statement credits and referrals on the 1099


Still nothing from Amex...but only had one SPG business bonus from them

Were these retention offers?

 

[Alexle2007]

Great choice DS, from a Stanford grad DH and I both went there. It’s a great school and great place to live. Someone else on this board went there with me, but she likes to forget that lol.

We'll see how it goes once he finally gets into high school (he's in 7th grade now.) Plus I understand it is harder for East Coasters to get accepted and being an Asian Pacific male might even hurt his chances more. I just want him to select somewhere warm since we plan to move wherever he goes

 

[miztressuz]

I agree that the dismay among those "well-grounded" is just that - a lack of planning time. I do see some other over the top reactions out there that I just don't get...but that happens in any discussion board.

I was close to filing before we left for the trip and I hesitated. I also almost completed our IRA fundings and again, glad I hesitated. I would be much angrier (really only at myself) if I had already filed. But in the back of my head I have a rule to wait until at least until Mid-February for any straggler tax forms that I didn't see coming.

Yeah, even though we get a refund each year (albeit usually a small one) I wait until March since there's different deadlines for everything. I think investments have until sometime in Feb to send out 1099's as we always get something from them much later. Stupid HSA doesn't come until May, so that one's always more of a "yep, good job, you reported it correctly" since I already had to do my own calculations from my statements. Hm, now that I think about it, maybe I'll look up the deadline for 2018 contributions and see if I can use that to offset the support income.

 

[amalone1013]

Received my 1099 from Chase....expected the referrals...not a lot only added 1,200 to our taxable income

But was not expecting my SW cards listed....personal with $35 in income and business with $100..both are the amounts of statement credits received last year
So Chase is including statement credits and referrals on the 1099


Still nothing from Amex...but only had one SPG business bonus from them

What seriously.... I had those statement credits too for SW

I agree with all of the talk that this is just really annoying that it was unexpected/unplanned for. And I'm annoyed because I had just filed ours, normally we file really early because we don't have lots of forms to wait on.

 

[miztressuz]

Received my 1099 from Chase....expected the referrals...not a lot only added 1,200 to our taxable income

But was not expecting my SW cards listed....personal with $35 in income and business with $100..both are the amounts of statement credits received last year
So Chase is including statement credits and referrals on the 1099


Still nothing from Amex...but only had one SPG business bonus from them

What?! The SW is insane, how is that any different than using a benefit of the card or earning points which is not taxable income (at least not yet)? You paid the AF (made a purchase) and they gave a statement credit based on that (rebate for that purchase). That doesn't make any sense, that's not income at all.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

What seriously.... I had those statement credits too for SW

I agree with all of the talk that this is just really annoying that it was unexpected/unplanned for. And I'm annoyed because I had just filed ours, normally we file really early because we don't have lots of forms to wait on.

If all you had were the $135 in statement credits I don’t think they will send you a 1099...if you also had referrals that would put you over $600...you’ll probably get one

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Were these retention offers?

Yes...they gave me those credits when I called for a retention offer

 

[mhartman09]

Just checked my informed delivery email and it looks like I'm getting my "gift" from AMEX today. Should only be some BCE referrals on there, so I'll see how much damage it adds as soon as I get home. Haven't filed our taxes yet as I'm still waiting on a few forms, so no issue there.

 

[amalone1013]

I see a Chase 1099 for me in the mail today. Nothing for DH yet - he just had 2 CIP referrals. I had 40k in UR referrals, a SW referral, and also got the $100/$35 statement credits from the SW cards. Will see what it says when I get home.

Nothing from AMEX yet.