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

[calypso726]

I'm currently in the middle of a hyatt mattress run where we're actually not staying at the hotel. DH insists we go in every couple of days and mess things up so it looks like someone is actually staying there. Is this really necessary? It takes an hour out of my day to do this. Why would the hotel even care?

A Hyatt general manager shared a mattress run story with me. A guest was on a mattress run and at some point during their stay the toilet started to overflow. Since they were never in the room it went unnoticed for days. This was during Covid when they were only doing housekeeping once a week. The water damage to the room, floor etc was extensive. Since mattress runs are against the rules, per the manager, the guest was banned from participating in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. We did a nearly 30 night mattress run during Covid but did go to the hotel at least every weekend.

 

[punkin]

A Hyatt general manager shared a mattress run story with me. A guest was on a mattress run and at some point during their stay the toilet started to overflow. Since they were never in the room it went unnoticed for days. This was during Covid when they were only doing housekeeping once a week. The water damage to the room, floor etc was extensive. Since mattress runs are against the rules, per the manager, the guest was banned from participating in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. We did a nearly 30 night mattress run during Covid but did go to the hotel at least every weekend.

Now there's housekeeping every day. We're doing a 10 day run. We checked in on Tuesday. Went yesterday for a couple minutes. I'm thinking we might go Sunday and use the pool. But next week I'm really busy. I'm not even going to be back in town until late Wednesday and we check out Friday. I guess my question is... how bad would it be to miss going next week until it's time to check out. DH will probably try to go Wednesday anyway because he's of the same opinion you are and wants to go every third day at the very least.

I'm shocked at the 30 day run! That must have been ridiculously expensive!

 

[GZanta77]

I'm currently in the middle of a hyatt mattress run where we're actually not staying at the hotel. DH insists we go in every couple of days and mess things up so it looks like someone is actually staying there. Is this really necessary? It takes an hour out of my day to do this. Why would the hotel even care?

Not much help to you, but I have done a few of these and also believe in accessing the room every 36 hours or so - I'm sure some of these hotels can track when the room has been accessed by the key. It also takes me about an hour to my nearest hyatt and back.

I have no idea if this is necessary, but don't want to risk not getting my credit for for the nights stayed. In any case - just wanted to say your husband is not alone in thinking this way.

 

[platamama]

Anyone know of a way to extend the IHG United credits? I have the $25 from Jan, and now the $25 from July. The first $25 expires 7/14. I didn't know if I could book a refundable flight that I could either cancel or change when I do have travel plans that involve United? I know it's only $25 but I don't want to lose any of it if possible.

In my experience using UA Travel Bank funds, they retain their original expiration date. I used them to purchase a refundable ticket that I ended up canceling and when I canceled, they went back into the Travel Bank as if I had never used them. I don't know how it works if you change a ticket rather than cancel though...

 

[reliev]

I’m not on any social media either. But I’ll 2nd what CyndiLouWho said. Twitter messaging has been a life saver for me on multiple occasions. I’m not super tech savvy, but I signed up for an account, and pretty quickly learned how to message companies. I too get quick and easy answers and fixes to my problems that would otherwise require a drawn out phone call. I highly recommend it to anyone. But to be honest I use the DM feature so infrequently now that I simply delete the Twitter app from my phone, and on the rare occasions I need it I just reload it again.

same here this is my social media I basically use twitter for contest and reaching a hyatt concierge (mine is very slow on responding)

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Well that was easy....Citi Biz AA card w $16k line just approved. It's been 4 years since my last SUB, so I'm good to go. This will give me some more time before I try for Barclay Biz again. And it'll get me free checked bags in August

I tried to open a Wealthfront acct for my 18yo yesterday. They said they couldn't verify her. After googling, it seems this is common for 18yos. But they are allowing for joint accounts. Is there any downside to doing an acct w/ her? We want her to start earning interest on the money my dad left her.

For all those Hyatt people wanted to do mattress runs, I saw this on FB....I'm literally 5 min from my local HP and it's one of the super cheap ones. So if anyone wants a mattress run and you want to put me on it, I'll happily stop by and make it look legit Seriously though, it's literally at the end of my street and I pass it daily. I've actually thought about applying there as they have some decent employee bennies.

I saw that Macbooks are going to be on sale for Prime Day.

I'll check. Apple I get the educational discount (which is $100) and get $150 GC, as she is looking for new airpods. But if the discount is more than $250 it would be worth it.

Saw a few posters talk about 5 FNC through Marriott. Had done the SUB for 100k points, but only squeezed 4 nights out of that (with 10k pts leftover)

For those getting 5 FNC, what strategy/card are you using?

It's likely from the SUB that was offered. It was offered last summer. It was offered very shortly this year. I was hoping to jump on it, but no luck. I did another Hilton Biz FNC offer instead and the Wyndhan Biz card and now the Citi Biz AA, LOL.

 

[magickingdomprincess]

We got our return flight booked for Japan! We ended up picking ORD over SFO even though it’s a longer flight because it gives us an extra 2 days. After that there isn’t anything for 4-5 days which would make our trip too long. It’s hard to believe the 3 of us will be flying business class for $140

I was just wondering if you could explain how you did this? You used AA points to book flights via ANA, is that right? I wonder if anyone knows if it would be possible to do this for four tickets in Biz? Is the $140 the taxes/fees or did that include the AF on the AA cards? Trying to decide if this is feasible for a family of four or if I should just use our AA points for Hawaii. Thank you!

 

[DogCat]

It was a promo on the Chase Bonvoy Boundless - 5 free nights up to 50,000 pts.. DH got it a few years ago. We used them at the Swan at Disney. I have cancelled my Boundless recently and hope the promo comes back.

When and if that promo comes back, my plan is to apply on day 1 or 2. I have delayed and missed out every time I have seen it.

 

[afan]

I was just wondering if you could explain how you did this? You used AA points to book flights via ANA, is that right? I wonder if anyone knows if it would be possible to do this for four tickets in Biz? Is the $140 the taxes/fees or did that include the AF on the AA cards? Trying to decide if this is feasible for a family of four or if I should just use our AA points for Hawaii. Thank you!

AA miles are used for JAL. 4 can be done, posters here have done it. How easy it would be depends on when you want to go. If you can be flexible with dates and airports it'll be easier. There's still a ton of people booking to go next year.

 

[Haley R]

Do any of you have a preferred Hilton you stay at near the Dulles airport? We’re about to book one with points for our positioning flights to/from Germany and can’t decide.

 

[Haley R]

I was just wondering if you could explain how you did this? You used AA points to book flights via ANA, is that right? I wonder if anyone knows if it would be possible to do this for four tickets in Biz? Is the $140 the taxes/fees or did that include the AF on the AA cards? Trying to decide if this is feasible for a family of four or if I should just use our AA points for Hawaii. Thank you!

We used AA points to fly with JAL. We’re flying out of SFO and coming back into ORD. We had to be flexible with dates and airports to make it work. I think it’s definitely doable with 4 people if you can be flexible. We had to wake at 1 am eastern to book the flights on AA. They get booked almost immediately so you have to be ready to book right when they’re released. The $140 is for taxes and fees. I would have to see what we paid for AFs on the cards we opened.

ETA: We spent $200 in AFs to open cards. We were in a rush to get the points in time otherwise we might have been able to find a way to avoid AFs

 

[calypso726]

Now there's housekeeping every day. We're doing a 10 day run. We checked in on Tuesday. Went yesterday for a couple minutes. I'm thinking we might go Sunday and use the pool. But next week I'm really busy. I'm not even going to be back in town until late Wednesday and we check out Friday. I guess my question is... how bad would it be to miss going next week until it's time to check out. DH will probably try to go Wednesday anyway because he's of the same opinion you are and wants to go every third day at the very least.

I'm shocked at the 30 day run! That must have been ridiculously expensive!

Well, it was during Covid and the bonus journeys promo at that time was an extra elite night credit for each night's stay. I decided to mattress run my way to Globalist so I'd need 30 nights to get 60 elite night credits. I booked a stay that spanned December into January so my checkout would be January 2021 and I'd earn Globalist for the rest of that year, the following year and into February 2023.

I canceled my DVC stays for every weekend and just stayed at the Hyatt where I was doing the mattress run. I left my luggage there and all my stuff, so no need to pack when we drove up each weekend. It was great!

I think the rate at that time was about $30 a night or less due to low occupancy during covid. So all in for that mattress run was less than the cost of 3 nights at All Star Music the first weekend in October of this year
The same mattress run for the same dates at the same Hyatt, would be well over $5,000 now.

But yeah, with housekeeping each day, I doubt anything needing repairs would be overlooked. Personally, I'd want to opt out of housekeeping if I could and not take the chance the same person is cleaning and notices I am not there because the bed is untouched. Then show up every few days and make my presence known.

 

[platamama]

I got an interesting email from Royal Caribbean this morning. For context, we went on an Alaska cruise about a month ago and I ended up catching covid and being isolated to my cabin the last two days. Well, this email notification was to tell me that DH and I have a future cruise credit with RC for almost $1200! This came completely out of the blue because I never requested anything from RC (some might remember my trip insurance claim was denied due to "loss of enjoyment not being a covered reason"). I don't know what else could have triggered that email. So anyway, I had to look at RC's website to see where we might want to go. lol

 

[punkin]

Do any of you have a preferred Hilton you stay at near the Dulles airport? We’re about to book one with points for our positioning flights to/from Germany and can’t decide.

I can't speak for Hilton but the mattress run in question is at the Hyatt Regency Dulles and I like the hotel. It's a bit dated but very clean and reasonably priced.

Well, it was during Covid and the bonus journeys promo at that time was an extra elite night credit for each night's stay. I decided to mattress run my way to Globalist so I'd need 30 nights to get 60 elite night credits. I booked a stay that spanned December into January so my checkout would be January 2021 and I'd earn Globalist for the rest of that year, the following year and into February 2023.

I canceled my DVC stays for every weekend and just stayed at the Hyatt where I was doing the mattress run. I left my luggage there and all my stuff, so no need to pack when we drove up each weekend. It was great!

I think the rate at that time was about $30 a night or less due to low occupancy during covid. So all in for that mattress run was less than the cost of 3 nights at All Star Music the first weekend in October of this year
The same mattress run for the same dates at the same Hyatt, would be well over $5,000 now.

But yeah, with housekeeping each day, I doubt anything needing repairs would be overlooked. Personally, I'd want to opt out of housekeeping if I could and not take the chance the same person is cleaning and notices I am not there because the bed is untouched. Then show up every few days and make my presence known.

I am amazed! That's really incredible! DH had some Hyatt stays this year, so he only needed 10 nights. I got what I thought was an amazing rate at a Hyatt Regency ($93). We will see what happens.

 

[DogCat]

I would love some advice for the Bilt MasterCard and also the Amex Hilton Biz. We are 0/24 and do not have any Amex. Here are the cards:

Discover Student Card (OLD)
CIU (opened 2/2020)
CSP (opened 12/2020)
CIC (opened 2/22)
CIC (opened 1/23)

What do you recommend we should do as to timing the 2 applications? Which one first, if it matters, and how long to wait for the second one or do them both on the same day? The deadline for the Amex Hilton with the FNC is July 19 and we would like to get the Bilt asap so it can be used for rent on Aug 1st.

Also, regarding Amex biz card and/or getting a first Amex card, is there anything we should know before applying?

Thanks for any advice or tips!!

 

[Haley R]

I can't speak for Hilton but the mattress run in question is at the Hyatt Regency Dulles and I like the hotel. It's a bit dated but very clean and reasonably priced.

I am amazed! That's really incredible! DH had some Hyatt stays this year, so he only needed 10 nights. I got what I thought was an amazing rate at a Hyatt Regency ($93). We will see what happens.

We have Hilton points to use so that’s why we’re looking at those.

 

[djmeredith]

Saw a few posters talk about 5 FNC through Marriott. Had done the SUB for 100k points, but only squeezed 4 nights out of that (with 10k pts leftover)

For those getting 5 FNC, what strategy/card are you using?

As others have already mentioned, the 5 - 50K FNCs have been offered as a SUB a few times over the last couple of years. I did in 2020 and then a family member did it last fall. We are using those at Swan Reserve over Labor Day weekend, but had to top off with some points to cover each night.

When and if that promo comes back, my plan is to apply on day 1 or 2. I have delayed and missed out every time I have seen it.

I thought it was a very good deal because I try to do aspirational properties as much as I can.

 

[djmeredith]

Update on my United saga. I finally heard from them yesterday, after 7 weeks (it said it could take up to 8). They sent my $500 and said they would deposit the difference in mileage. Nothing for the fact that I didn't get it on the spot and had to contact them. They also did not send my nephew's credit to my acct. He was on my res and he isn't a member of their miles program. I emailed them back and explained that I only received one and that I was very disappointed that I had to take time our of yet another day to deal with their mistake. They promptly responded and let me know they gave us each an additional $150. However, their explanation for not receiving my nephew's yet seemed sketchy so I sent another follow up email asking them to confirm it was coming to MY account. They responded this morning to that email and put it in my account today (glad I followed up because I don't think it was "pending" like they claimed). Anyway, I'm glad to be done with that. I will be very hesitant to ever pay cash on United. I guess I've just been spoiled by SW's excellent and extremely fast customer service.

 

[DogCat]

As others have already mentioned, the 5 - 50K FNCs have been offered as a SUB a few times over the last couple of years. I did in 2020 and then a family member did it last fall. We are using those at Swan Reserve over Labor Day weekend, but had to top off with some points to cover each night.

I thought it was a very good deal because I try to do aspirational properties as much as I can.

Do you have to have Marriott points to top off or can you top off with cash?

 

[djmeredith]

Do you have to have Marriott points to top off or can you top off with cash?

You can only use points with the FNCs. When using points, they allow you to do points + cash.