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

[Artygal90]

I filed a claim (for car rental coverage, not hotel or flight, so there might be differences) with my CSR back in 2019. The claim is handled through a 3rd party, not Chase itself. I would read the fine print very carefully if you are going to rely on the credit card for protections. You have to upload PDFs of everything - credit card statements showing a (partial or full) charge on the card, probably a note from the doctor advising against travel in case of illness, an official document (or maybe a screenshot will work these days? idk) from the airline regarding cancellation/delays due to weather. It is time-consuming, just be aware. In my case with the car rental (someone hit my rental car when I left it with the valet, but the valet wasn't sitting in it when it happened so the hotel said it wasn't their problem even though the hotel cameras caught the whole thing). It took months, and many hours of me following up, for things to get settled.

I hope others who have had to make claims on the CSP/CSR for travel protections can share their own experiences. I think it would be really helpful for all of us with CSP/CSR to know the details of how it worked for them.

ETA: thread on FT about this subject, this link goes to 2024 but the wiki has a link to the preceding thread that covers 2019-2023 https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cha...rruption-delay-insurance-benefits-2024-a.html

Good info, thanks for sharing. As it turns out my friend preferred the idea of splitting the hotel cost evenly, so I ended up booking my flights on miles. It'll be nice to have that peace of mind.

 

[mmmears]

I didn’t try for a suite at the PHPV since I wasn't stalking the release and availability as it opened 13 months out to know there should be standard suites available. I booked that trip after getting off the waitlist for Taylor Swift tickets in Wembley. So that was about 8 -9 months out. I decided to fly in a few days early and go to Paris first because I saw the PHPV was available, Air France had decent award flights and I had some AF miles due to expire. I should probably call and ask, now that you mention it. Worst they could do is say no.

It worked for a suite in Mykonos for one night but I have since canceled that one. Also worked for the London Churchill. My other Paris stay is for the Etoile but there were standard suites available when I booked that and was able to apply a SUA.

I can't use a SNU at the Churchill either (same trip). Please let me know how you work this kind of magic - I'd really appreciate it. My issue is that we didn't have the certs when we booked the rooms. Now we have a lot of certs and nowhere to use them. I did manage to use one in Kauai recently.

 

[LAX]

Does anyone have any info on when the Chase lounge will be opening in Phoenix? We have a four hour layover there in July. Thanks!

Would like to know the same for Philly!

LAX

 

[StephPlum]

Thanks for the input! Would my having access to the CSP travel insurance change your advice one way or another? In theory as I read the policy I would be able to cancel and get a refund if I cancel due to illness or weather. But I also am leery of nonrefundable bookings.

I guess it really depends on if my friend is willing to split the cash cost of the hotel with me. She might need to save that money to make the rest of the trip happen, or maybe she doesn't want to share a room with a toddler who will be waking up at 6 am each day!

I think you already made your choice but I’ll just close the loop. I’d always go refundable first and then non refundable with some type of insurance if there was no refundable option.

When I first started hacking I got a CIP and booked plane tickets for a Glacier NP trip. No points yet so paid cash. That was a bad year for wildfires and we had to cancel our trip. I did eventually get refunded for the flights through the insurance. It took a few months and sending the same documents about 4 times. It felt like they were trying to wear me down to give up or were just not very organized.

 

[Sheree]

gm
would love some thoughts about a trip I'm planning quickly!
yesterday my friend and I decided to go to Lisbon and Warsaw in June or July.
she'll pay OOP , I'll try to use points, miles.
TAP flies non stop ewr to isbon, looks like Wizz air for inter europe and LOT to come home.

may add Budapest or Berlin in between. Trains seem long

any thoughts, experience with Wizz?

having to ook one ways vs RT is more costly.

hotels will be a combination of IHG, Hilton and my amex FHR.

which is better for booking air, csr or ame platinum?

appreciate the input

and I need another msr soon!

 

[gottalovepluto]

gm
would love some thoughts about a trip I'm planning quickly!
yesterday my friend and I decided to go to Lisbon and Warsaw in June or July.
she'll pay OOP , I'll try to use points, miles.
TAP flies non stop ewr to isbon, looks like Wizz air for inter europe and LOT to come home.

may add Budapest or Berlin in between. Trains seem long

any thoughts, experience with Wizz?

having to ook one ways vs RT is more costly.

hotels will be a combination of IHG, Hilton and my amex FHR.

which is better for booking air, csr or ame platinum?

appreciate the input

and I need another msr soon!

CSR has some baggage protections the Amex Plat doesn’t have so I prefer it for airfare.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Yosemite datapoint - I've been checking the Chase portal for my dates in September for Yosemite Valley Lodge or Ahwahnee Lodge. They are now showing up BUT at 2x the cost I booked on the official Yosemite site AND they are non-refundable. Also when I check the official direct site, I don't see any availability. Maybe they are held for 3rd party reservations but seems odd. Anyway, I know some ask about NPS lodging on points.

I did get two lodges in Sequoia/Kings Canyon on the Chase portal for this same trip. Booked last year when they first became available. Those were the same cost as direct and refundable.

Sometimes blocks of rooms are sold off to OTAs and not bookable direct.

Smart move to grab it when you did. Nobody should ever book Yosemite non refundable, especially during fire season. The park or parts of it can stay open if the fire isn’t there while the smoke from fires far away can make it so you can’t see jack and all you’re doing is damaging your lungs breathing that stuff in. “There was smoke, so I cancelled” isn’t gonna be covered by cc insurance.

Hope you have a beautiful trip! I’m in the CA Central Valley, we haven’t had nearly as much perception this year as last but it’s tracking very average- which is great compared to the winters a couple seasons back. I hold out hope we have a lovely summer season in the Sierras this year!

 

[calypso726]

I can't use a SNU at the Churchill either (same trip). Please let me know how you work this kind of magic - I'd really appreciate it. My issue is that we didn't have the certs when we booked the rooms. Now we have a lot of certs and nowhere to use them. I did manage to use one in Kauai recently.

I called the" My Hyatt Concierge" that I was assigned when I hit 60 nights between mattress running, real stays and spend. Its the same person I have had since 2021. She rarely answers the phone or emails back in a timely manner btw so when I call and I get the message she isn't available, I just wait for another person on the My Hyatt Concierge team. I explained that I had been watching the availability open up day by day for the last several days/weeks and at no point did I see a standard suite on points become available. I said that it was highly improbable that I had poorly timed every drop and it was scooped up a nano second faster than me hitting enter so many times. I asked her if she could please call the hotel and see if they were able to release a standard suite for the number of nights I needed and apply my Suite Upgrade Award on the reservation. She placed me on hold and after a while got back with me and said the hotel was able to make the reservation happen.

I don't recall if you have Hyatt Globalist by hitting 60 butt in bed/mattress running nights or by spend. However, if it was by a status challenge then you wouldn't have been assigned a My Hyatt Concierge person. My Hyatt Concierge is a milestone award that comes with reaching 60 nights. It isn't a benefit of being Globalist like 4 pm checkout, waived resort fees and free parking etc. I don't see a path where I will be hitting Globalist again through mattress running, spend and stays for next year. However, if there is a status challenge and I get Globalist that way, I won't have access to a My Hyatt Concierge.

Oh I love Kauai and am definitely planning to return at some point. Anyhow, I hope the above helps and I wish you success!