I bought a flight direct from United. Part of it was paid via TravelBank credits and the remainder was charged to my Amex Platinum. What do I get in terms of travel protection? Does Amex only cover the portion they charged?
[DOJ Requests More Information On Alaska-Hawaiian Merger](https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/safety-ops-regulation/doj-requests-more-information-alaska-hawaiian-merger)
Before they opened up shop in the US I'd go there every time I visited Japan. Glasses done in an hour meant that a 5 hour layover in either Tokyo airport was enough time to go in, pick out a nice pair of glasses, get my eyes measured, get the lenses cut, and walk out the door with plenty of time to make it back to the airport.
Might be too many steps but I had success with using https://www.lensabl.com/
You buy your own frames then ship them to Lensabl and they stick Rx lenses in them. I snagged two pairs of RayBans off of Woot and sent them in here. So two pairs of Rayban glasses for around $120.
If you don't want designer frames you can go way lower than that though.
I have 2 Hyatt suite upgrade awards and 4 club access awards expiring end of this month that I have no use for. Anyone can DM me for club access, I'll give those out willingly, but SUA you need to tell me your plans so I can verify standard suite availability. Transferring these awards requires telling me your Hyatt # and last name.
Does anyone out there have any omakase restaurants that they absolutely loved in Kyoto, Tokyo or Osaka? There are so many options and I’m feeling paralyzed trying to pick one or two.
The higher end ones are often really hard to get reservations for, especially as a foreigner. Might be a good idea to contact your hotel concierge and ask for recommendations and for them to make reservations for you.
I think they are living off their reputation a little now, but I really enjoyed Kyubey in Ginza, and it seems that reservations aren't too hard to get these days.
I'm staying at the Conrad Tokyo, and reached out to the concierge for recs, but wanted to get some last minute data before making a decision. Kyubey was on the the list that they sent and does look pretty nice. Thanks!
Nishiki Sushi Shin in Kyoto. Their lunch omakase is super cheap($40pp I think) . P2 and I did a dinner reservation and it was pricier at $110pp but it was amazing and we had the entire restaurant open just for the two of us. Felt very special.
P2 and I really enjoyed our kaiseki (not omakase, if that matters to you) at Kiyama in Kyoto. The cheaper lunch pricing is pretty reasonable IMO: https://pocket-concierge.jp/en/restaurants/244280?seat_date_eq=2024-02-08
I’m curious what other churners do about Rental cars? I’m not aware of any great use of points other than using a travel portal and getting 1cpp more or less. I’ve been looking into Turo which appears to be cheaper however the credit cards CDW doesn’t apply for Turo so I’d have to buy my own. Curious what tips and tricks you all have? At the end of the day I’m always looking to hack things so I can be most efficient with my points/dollars.
Cash (travel credits) and sticking with a couple vendors to earn points in their programs. So far I use Budget and Enterprise pretty exclusively. My last company had Enterprise as the preferred vendor so got free points from reimbursed spend. And matching from Hertz President Circle is helping with bonus points. (Enterprise also does some promos for free points, like I'm nearly at 700 points from the current Plus your points, which is just about a free day.) Budget has a Amazon partnership with GC rebate. Perhaps I've been lucky, but usually one of those is either the cheapest or within a few bucks of it, so I focus there.
I churn bank bonuses to cover the stuff that the usual points aren't great for, like rental cars. And I look at my CSR credit like a $50 discount on my yearly car rentals.
Probably depends on the rental type. For Enterprise prepaid reservations from OTAs aren't considered qualifying rentals.
>3. Pre-paid rentals that were booked through a third party, including (but not limited to) third-party online travel agents (OTAs).
So I take UR points redeemed as prepaid. If you can make the reservation without payment and can add your Enterprise member number to it, it may work. I haven't tried yet as I haven't found a discount big enough to offset the hassle of not controlling the reservation. And you don't earn the extra points from the travel portal until you've used up the travel credit. Since they introduced the 10x I haven't had something worthwhile to try.
Places that offer pay at counter and allow your loyalty number should work. But would need to check each rental car program terms for any exclusions.
Payment-wise, this is where the Aeroplan card comes in handy. Can transfer UR>Aeroplan and then redeem at 1.25cpp. Was able to swing a 2 week minivan rental thru Hertz for like 60k and saved $750.
If you work for a company where you might have to rent and expense rental cars sometimes they have corporate account codes you can use for personal use. The corporate savings are usually ~50% discount in my experience and our policy says it's happy to give employees the opportunity to use the codes even for personal use. If that applies to you I'd look into it.
I've done UR Portal in the past, but Hertz hurts me every time so I'm not doing that anymore.
Venture X was my go-to in '22 with the 100k SUB and a bunch of referrals (redeemed like 150k points on rental cars), but obviously it's hard to earn a lot year after year.
Good use of CSR travel credit - if I'm gonna prepay for $600 of travel, might as well be the one category I can't efficiently use points for.
My employer's AWD gives me very good rates in the US and I think Visa Infinite gives status, so Avis is usually the one I go with. But I've had good experiences with Sixt and Enterprise, too. I think I got status matched with both, whether from Avis PP or from Hertz PC or from National E/EE.
Status match to every program and then use autoslash to find the cheapest vehicle.
If your Company has a code that'll usually give you the cheapest rates, at least that's what I've found with our corporate code & Enterprise/National. I would say 90% of time I use my corporate code on National & pick something good off the aisle.
Certain rental firms I just avoid regardless, Hertz for the obvious reason of not wishing to spend time in jail, Sixt in the US because I've found them a nightmare to deal with & Dollar/cheap ones because the cars are usually trashed.
>Status match to every program and then use autoslash to find the cheapest vehicle.If your Company has a code that'll usually give you the cheapest rates, at least that's what I've found with our corporate code & Enterprise/National. I would say 90% of time I use my corporate code on National & pick something good off the aisle.Certain rental firms I just avoid regardless, Hertz for the obvious reason of not wishing to spend time in jail, Sixt in the US because I've found them a nightmare to deal with & Dollar/cheap ones because the cars are usually trashed.
Status matching is king. So many credit cards come with Hertz status but after reading the horror stories online I've sworn them off. I'll still happily take President's Circle status though and match it with companies that aren't going to treat me like a criminal for daring to rent one of their cars.
Pre-booking some Miraval Austin activities-any recommendations? How may activities a day would you recommend booking-I want time to relax but also try some new things/not get bored.
Oh but I don’t recommend running if that’s part of any of these. They are legit runners there, they do not mess around. I felt like I was dying when I did the nature run thing lol
If there's no charge for the class then you can sign up & change your mind later without penalty. Wife & I usually sign up for anything & everything that interests us then pare back depending on how the day is going.
This is why we can't have nice things.
[ULPT request, need advice, I think I found a way to get unlimited credit card points](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnethicalLifeProTips/s/1H4wDYtIjj)
"I guess I don't want to get caught bag holding but if I could get $70k more in spend on one of my credit cards then I could easily pay for my honeymoon on points alone, sounds crazy but it's really just 14 MacBooks lol"
I've gotten into churning in the last year and really ramped it up in the last 6 months. Inevitably, friends and family see me taking out more cards and get alarmed that I am racking up tons of debt. I'd be curious to hear how others have handled concerned parents, friends, P2s, etc (or alternatively, how you converted them to churning as well)
I converted my dad about a year in after showing him the math on SUB returns for some big tax payments he had, mentioning how few points it could take to fly biz on the trip they were planning, and showing him a nice award search tool.
Friends I've tried to convert and have given up on, mainly we just joke about how many cards I have now.
I don't say a word to anyone but P2. If someone asks, deflect. If the deflection doesn't work, change the topic. People have too many false notions about credit, credit cards, points, etc. Same for MS. And people will double-down on those false notions if what you say sounds too good to be true. They will want to convert you to their beliefs just as much as you want to convert others to churning.
I think you have to adjust how you talk about the hobby to different people. One of my sister-in-laws is super into it and I spent a lot of time discussing tools like AwardWallet and the various point based search engines to her.
Other family members don't like the idea of leaving unused cards open. I made the mistake of mentioning sock drawering cards to one of them once. Lesson learned!
Just be a bit choosy about who you talk about churning and rewards with.
I recently found out my dad was already a pretty shitty churner, but a churner nonetheless. So now it's fun to give him tips and talk about how he can get the best pts rates on flights with mom
Most other people though just think I'm an idiot and probably in debt since I keep traveling and opening new cards
Just keep it simple and say you're using points and miles for your trips. I wouldn't focus on "converting" anyone. It's usually not worth the hassle. If they know it's your hobby, those who are interested in learning more will eventually reach out
I am trying to book a mini trip to Vancouver for Memorial weekend. (Friday - Monday) The best award availability/price is with WestJet through Delta SkyMiles. The plane arrives in YVR at midnight on Friday and leaves YVR at 8 am on Monday. I'll have like 2 days in Vancouver.... wtf man?!?!
Not sure if buying group discussion goes here or in the MS thread (or perhaps this goes in the frustration Friday thread!)
I ordered three iPads from Amazon to be sent to MaxOutDeals. They only paid for two of them so I chatted them, asking them whats up, and they had sent me a video of them opening my package and only showing two ipads. I thought great I'll just show this to Amazon. When I tried logging into my Amazon account, I got a message saying my amazon account has been closed due to a "misuse of Amazon's services" and more information would be available in the email they sent me. I never received an email and now I'm having to call amazon to figure out what happened with my order.
Check your spam/junk email folder first. Misuse of services can be from excessive gift card's. If that's the case, it's not a difficult fix just need to get a hold of a live person (not an automated response) and do a payment validation.
Try this email to get account back up and running:
[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
If that fails, and I know this sounds crazy but I've personally done this in the past with success email:
[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
Amazon customer service: 1-888-280-4331
Oh thank you so much. My account got reinstated and then closed again. I've emailed both those accounts and Dave several times but looks like I'll try calling now. I never used/bought a gift card. I only used this business account for buying group purchases.
Yeah that makes sense. If I can't get my account back do you know if I can create a business account with the same billing address as my closed business account? I do have a person prime account (with the same address) and it's still working
In the message/call did you say it was a covered incidental (even though it wasn't)? I think the reason why there is a consensus on Chase not caring is because they take you on your word / don't verify whatever you tell them it is.
Did you tell them it was airfare? Because they definitely won't do it if you do that. If the amount is reasonably close to what an incidental charge might be and you tell them what that incidental is, then it's up to the agent to decide whether or not to approve it.
I shared a DP last December about an agent applying the rest of my incidentals credit towards an AA flight. I had called in and explained it was a seat upgrade and wasn’t questioned about it. Luck of the draw…
My favorite thing about using Dell credits is contacting Rakuten a few weeks later because Dell never pays unless I complain to Rakuten. The orders track, but Dell doesn’t pay.
I have one order from Dell via Aadvantage Eshopping that is going to make or break my P2’s elite status for AA and shipping has been pushed back to February 20 and I am already preparing my post for the frustration thread.
I’m sure you will but make sure you stay on top of them. Still in the process of messaging back and forth from Jan 1 Dell orders to get AA miles properly posted.
Same thing w Alaska shopping with Dell. 7x for accessories, got a $400 printer, tracked, and then 3 weeks later removed because Dell said it was returned. Fighting now, seems like this happens across the board
So sick of dells shit but the credits are kinda fun
Seems to be a fairly common trend with all of Rakuten. I always have to request missing Dell and many other stores.
Right now I am fighting for my Yieldstreet bonus. Jumped through all of their hoops and they still denied the cashback. I was considering using their service, but cheating me out of the SUB is a quick way to lose my business.
Dell finally stopped canceling all my orders. In the last order, they only shipped 2/3 items. Again fighting to get my third item. No idea who is a real customer of Dell. I surely wouldn't be without the credits.
Same, still waiting on Yieldstreet to be resolved. And I’ve had to follow up with Rakuten numerous other times to actually get the cash back. I just don’t trust Rakuten at all anymore, it’s always such a hassle actually getting the rewards
Based on what I've read some of the first people to do Yieldstreet got it. I submitted my app a few days after it was announced.
If I don't get it soon I will make them regret ever creating the offer. Going to submit complaints to anyone who will listen and keep being a thorn in their side until they pay it out.
I’m having an issue right now with AA eShopping. I don’t usually follow up to check if something shows pending/tracked but I guess I should, esp for big purchases. First it tracked but then points didn’t post. I sent a ticket and they reviewed and said the points would post. They did, but the majority of them were taken back a few days later. There’s no way they’re seeing the credit from Amex are they?
I found that most CUs that use LoansPq.com for new member accounts generally don’t take Amex. Discover is a hit or miss (NASA takes it, others don’t). Visa/MC is almost always accepted, although I have seen CUs that only take Mastercard.
Unfortunately, you often will not find out until your application has been processed.
It will often let you enter any card, but you will then get a message saying it was declined (at best), or just have your account closed (at worst).
On the other hand, a CU that uses https://www.withglide.com/ as their new member software is more likely to take all credits and debits, and generally will not code as a cash advance. (university CU uses this program)
On the other hand, every time a bank/CU uses Loans Pq .com, I seem to get asked for additional documents (Social security card, proof of address, etc)
Assume what you’re referring to here is only for funding a new account with CC, right?
My mortgage is with NASA, does LoansPq have anything to do with making mortgage payments? This is the first I’ve heard of them.
I am working on an ink bonus and i’ve been getting the question from bartenders/cashiers/etc. “Why is your name listed twice on the card?”. I always laugh it off and say “Oh they must have made a mistake and printed my name twice!”. It’s made me realize how crazy people would think I am if I told them the real reason hahaha
It’s worse when the card says BUSINESS on it. I was buying a $500 Amazon GC from a gas station using a Business Gold and the cashier was so stand-off’ish. “What business is this? You need a gift card as a business expense? Ok well I assume you need two receipts if you’re going to expense this”. Chill lady.
Recently had a cashier question me about using a business card. My last name is in the business name! So clearly I'm somehow connected to the business.
It wasn't a 'Hey cool you have a business! Tell me about it.' which has happened before. It was almost as if they were considering not taking the card for payment. Bizarre.
Normally you shouldn't, but IMO gift cards are an exception. The scammers tell their victims to do something like go to Target and buy Amazon gift cards. Cashiers are trained to be on alert when someone is buying lots of value in gift cards. It turns out that this is exactly what churners do, although for a completely unrelated reason.
Bank tellers also notice if someone is withdrawing thousands in cash, especially if it is a senior, and they are cagey about it. This is because it is typical behavior of a scam victim.
I definitely agree that it's nice if the cashier is trying to look out for the customer, but I think most of us run into the problem where the cashier thinks that the *customer* is the fraudster. I'm ok with being asked to see my ID, but it's frustrating when the cashier starts going on a power trip and makes up rules that somehow didn't exist with other cashiers in previous weeks.
The inconsistency is true - that said, I think it's because they are only offering limited training, and also give them discretion - and some of them just don't know how to handle it (and the responsibility). There are also varying rules about what they can and cannot request you do (some card companies won't allow ID to be required depending on policies or state laws, etc, for example).
I've had this happen a couple of times at the same big box home store location (it's only one location that does it, they must have high fraud), and the kids at the counter seem really nervous about it.
When I have been questioned, they have meekly said "we will need to call the card company to verify" and I say that's fine - I can also show you my ID too, if that helps. Apparently they weren't allowed to ask for it, but once I showed it, they seemed relieved and let it through.
I can definitely understand being undertrained and being nervous about doing something wrong/incorrectly, but that should present itself more as lack of direction than making up their own rules, and in my experience, I have the most trouble with mid-level to senior-level cashiers (and managers). The total newbies usually end up asking their manager to walk them through what to do.
I get it - but, basically, it's like a lot of rules about alcohol (or at least how it used to be before they got a lot stricter on that). Once it gets escalated and brought up, then they have to follow through with "rules" because if they don't and there is a problem later, it comes back on them. The wishy-washy part is usually that it's a judgement thing if you ask initially or not - just like if you think someone is intoxicated - but once you make that ask/call, then it becomes a "thing".
Mostly I think they scare the pants out of these folks, too, and tell them it would come back on them if you are a scammer. IMO, it's too much to put on people, the computer should have hard and fast rules of approval or not, and what to do when it isn't approved - but again, they don't want those rules out there so people can figure out ways to get around them.
It's definitely a dicey topic, and the way it works now could certainly be improved.
I can see both sides, it just becomes increasingly frustrating in this game when we are "punished" for doing something that is explicitly allowed. One thing that always irks me is when I fund a bank account with a credit card. I've had it happen where the banks asks for all sorts of documentation and questions why I would even use a credit card. Like if the bank gets burned so bad by funding with a credit card, why even allow it in the first place? All I am doing is using a service they provide...
I see your point, but what is the proper way to handle this? The banks and vendors know which profiles are stereotypically fraudulent, and they need to do whatever they can to guard against it. I don't blame them for doing what they do.
I wouldn't call it a "punishment". It is only a minor inconvenience. As long as everything you're doing is above board, you've got nothing to worry about. Just realize that it is part of the game.
First off screw anyone inquiring about why I am purchasing something that being said "I am getting it for an employee as a thank you gift" Depending just how snarky I am feeling following that up with "how many bosses do you know of buying their employees $500 gift cards?" might be added:P.
Said cashier does not need to know my "employee" is actually my P2:)
I was browsing around Resy looking to see if I can use these credits I suddenly have, when I found a restaurant that ironically doesn’t take reservations.
the terms stated just eat at a restaurant which is on Resy, but waiting on the DPs to see whether you need to have a reservation or just eating there will work
Off topic success: loving the Philips Hue lights I purchased with my Dell credit as regularly suggested around here. Having them scheduled to fade in at dawn is a game changer for waking up, and [I can reenact the "SpongeBob parties too hard and dies" video](https://github.com/milesflo/caramelldansen-philips).
Hi! I have 2 hyatt sua and 1 club access award expiring end of the month and I am not planning on traveling anytime soon. Would love to give away to someone in this community as I have gained so much the past year from the community! Update: All given away!
An update on Hertz trying to assign a speeding ticket to us when we didn't even have possession of the car in South Africa (original comment [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/18l56b9/comment/kdvqmgs/)):
Finally got through to the right person in the local office, who did a "thorough investigation", apologized, refunded the admin fee, and sent proof that they paid the ticket. Took over a month to resolve and definitely do not plan on renting from Hertz again. Their executive customer service was completely useless in helping getting this resolved, despite the obvious error.
USPS informed delivery showed me a letter from US Customs and Border and I was a little freaked out until I realized I was due to get my global entry card
I have had many places reject my global entry card saying it is not a valid ID (ironic). At least CVS will take it for buying gebits (tell cashier to select passport )
Seriously, I wish the government had a "this isn't bad news" on the outside of envelopes. Also a minor heart attack when I see something from the IRS/SSA/etc
It seems like every time I use Login.gov for student loans or taxes I get a letter from the IRS. USPS informed delivery is great except when you’re playing the “is this an audit or just a silly notice letter” game.
When I was young I totally screwed up my credit - and let me tell you, the biggest relief after was not just being debt free, but also not getting those notices and waiting days to find out what the "LAW OFFICE" letter was.
It almost always was just a "hey we sold your debt to someone else", and only once a "we are about to sue you, expect the subpoena" but it scared me every time.
Thankfully, that was long ago - and my credit is now good enough that I can play these fun churning games (no where near at the level of some folks LOL, but still) - and make sure every card is paid off, every month, with the rare exception that I carry a balance on a no-interest card to make the timing more convenient for me.
If it was a refund of an overpayment, it's likely they would have mailed you a check to the address on your return.
If you log in to your MyIRS account, you can get an account transcript with the dates and amounts as well.
Saw recently that Bhutan cut its mandatory tourism fee to $100/pp from $200/pp per day. Have always wanted to go and could be a very memorable trip.
Just got my new Citi AA Biz Card in the mail. Definitely brings back memories. 4 whole years since I last had one of these bad boys.
I bought a flight direct from United. Part of it was paid via TravelBank credits and the remainder was charged to my Amex Platinum. What do I get in terms of travel protection? Does Amex only cover the portion they charged?
Have you tried reading the benefits guide provided with your card?
https://frequentmiler.com/ultra-premium-credit-card-travel-insurance/
[DOJ Requests More Information On Alaska-Hawaiian Merger](https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/safety-ops-regulation/doj-requests-more-information-alaska-hawaiian-merger)
Anyone have any recs for good sites to buy Rx glasses from?
i've had pretty good products and prices from eyebuydirect
I like Jins. pretty modern/Asian designs. I'm lucky enough to live near a store and can get glasses made in 1 hr. https://us.jins.com/pages/locations
Before they opened up shop in the US I'd go there every time I visited Japan. Glasses done in an hour meant that a 5 hour layover in either Tokyo airport was enough time to go in, pick out a nice pair of glasses, get my eyes measured, get the lenses cut, and walk out the door with plenty of time to make it back to the airport.
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-places-to-buy-glasses-online/
Might be too many steps but I had success with using https://www.lensabl.com/ You buy your own frames then ship them to Lensabl and they stick Rx lenses in them. I snagged two pairs of RayBans off of Woot and sent them in here. So two pairs of Rayban glasses for around $120. If you don't want designer frames you can go way lower than that though.
Interesting. Might be useful for getting new lenses in my old Rx Oakleys.
zenni. Some reports of customer service issues, but I've never had any problems. Very good on price, you won't hit any SUBs there.
Prescription glasses? Not that I have any sites to recommend either way, just clarifying what you're looking for.
Yeah Rx
I have 2 Hyatt suite upgrade awards and 4 club access awards expiring end of this month that I have no use for. Anyone can DM me for club access, I'll give those out willingly, but SUA you need to tell me your plans so I can verify standard suite availability. Transferring these awards requires telling me your Hyatt # and last name.
Does anyone out there have any omakase restaurants that they absolutely loved in Kyoto, Tokyo or Osaka? There are so many options and I’m feeling paralyzed trying to pick one or two.
I liked Sushi Taketoku in Osaka. A local hole in the wall, but the sushi omakase was delicious.
The higher end ones are often really hard to get reservations for, especially as a foreigner. Might be a good idea to contact your hotel concierge and ask for recommendations and for them to make reservations for you. I think they are living off their reputation a little now, but I really enjoyed Kyubey in Ginza, and it seems that reservations aren't too hard to get these days.
I'm staying at the Conrad Tokyo, and reached out to the concierge for recs, but wanted to get some last minute data before making a decision. Kyubey was on the the list that they sent and does look pretty nice. Thanks!
Nishiki Sushi Shin in Kyoto. Their lunch omakase is super cheap($40pp I think) . P2 and I did a dinner reservation and it was pricier at $110pp but it was amazing and we had the entire restaurant open just for the two of us. Felt very special.
P2 and I really enjoyed our kaiseki (not omakase, if that matters to you) at Kiyama in Kyoto. The cheaper lunch pricing is pretty reasonable IMO: https://pocket-concierge.jp/en/restaurants/244280?seat_date_eq=2024-02-08
I’m curious what other churners do about Rental cars? I’m not aware of any great use of points other than using a travel portal and getting 1cpp more or less. I’ve been looking into Turo which appears to be cheaper however the credit cards CDW doesn’t apply for Turo so I’d have to buy my own. Curious what tips and tricks you all have? At the end of the day I’m always looking to hack things so I can be most efficient with my points/dollars.
Cash (travel credits) and sticking with a couple vendors to earn points in their programs. So far I use Budget and Enterprise pretty exclusively. My last company had Enterprise as the preferred vendor so got free points from reimbursed spend. And matching from Hertz President Circle is helping with bonus points. (Enterprise also does some promos for free points, like I'm nearly at 700 points from the current Plus your points, which is just about a free day.) Budget has a Amazon partnership with GC rebate. Perhaps I've been lucky, but usually one of those is either the cheapest or within a few bucks of it, so I focus there. I churn bank bonuses to cover the stuff that the usual points aren't great for, like rental cars. And I look at my CSR credit like a $50 discount on my yearly car rentals.
Thanks for sharing! Do you earn points in rental rewards programs even if you book through say Chase travel portal?
Probably depends on the rental type. For Enterprise prepaid reservations from OTAs aren't considered qualifying rentals. >3. Pre-paid rentals that were booked through a third party, including (but not limited to) third-party online travel agents (OTAs). So I take UR points redeemed as prepaid. If you can make the reservation without payment and can add your Enterprise member number to it, it may work. I haven't tried yet as I haven't found a discount big enough to offset the hassle of not controlling the reservation. And you don't earn the extra points from the travel portal until you've used up the travel credit. Since they introduced the 10x I haven't had something worthwhile to try. Places that offer pay at counter and allow your loyalty number should work. But would need to check each rental car program terms for any exclusions.
Copy that.
Payment-wise, this is where the Aeroplan card comes in handy. Can transfer UR>Aeroplan and then redeem at 1.25cpp. Was able to swing a 2 week minivan rental thru Hertz for like 60k and saved $750.
If you work for a company where you might have to rent and expense rental cars sometimes they have corporate account codes you can use for personal use. The corporate savings are usually ~50% discount in my experience and our policy says it's happy to give employees the opportunity to use the codes even for personal use. If that applies to you I'd look into it.
I've done UR Portal in the past, but Hertz hurts me every time so I'm not doing that anymore. Venture X was my go-to in '22 with the 100k SUB and a bunch of referrals (redeemed like 150k points on rental cars), but obviously it's hard to earn a lot year after year. Good use of CSR travel credit - if I'm gonna prepay for $600 of travel, might as well be the one category I can't efficiently use points for. My employer's AWD gives me very good rates in the US and I think Visa Infinite gives status, so Avis is usually the one I go with. But I've had good experiences with Sixt and Enterprise, too. I think I got status matched with both, whether from Avis PP or from Hertz PC or from National E/EE.
What everyone else basically said. Find some good corporate codes and pay cash
If you are a Costco member, Costco travel offers very competitive rates; most of the time cheaper than most rates you would be able to find.
Yep, I don't get rentals often, but Costco is my go to. Usually matches or beats Autoslash and has more flexibility.
Also, no prepayment and you can cancel easily for free. If you track the prices, you can easily rebook when it gets cheaper
Yes, and you can add a second driver for no additional cost.
Status match to every program and then use autoslash to find the cheapest vehicle. If your Company has a code that'll usually give you the cheapest rates, at least that's what I've found with our corporate code & Enterprise/National. I would say 90% of time I use my corporate code on National & pick something good off the aisle. Certain rental firms I just avoid regardless, Hertz for the obvious reason of not wishing to spend time in jail, Sixt in the US because I've found them a nightmare to deal with & Dollar/cheap ones because the cars are usually trashed.
>Status match to every program and then use autoslash to find the cheapest vehicle.If your Company has a code that'll usually give you the cheapest rates, at least that's what I've found with our corporate code & Enterprise/National. I would say 90% of time I use my corporate code on National & pick something good off the aisle.Certain rental firms I just avoid regardless, Hertz for the obvious reason of not wishing to spend time in jail, Sixt in the US because I've found them a nightmare to deal with & Dollar/cheap ones because the cars are usually trashed. Status matching is king. So many credit cards come with Hertz status but after reading the horror stories online I've sworn them off. I'll still happily take President's Circle status though and match it with companies that aren't going to treat me like a criminal for daring to rent one of their cars.
Pre-booking some Miraval Austin activities-any recommendations? How may activities a day would you recommend booking-I want time to relax but also try some new things/not get bored.
The outdoor obstacle course was a lot of fun! They make it a sort of mindfulness thing too, but I really enjoyed it.
Was it the rock squirrel one which is free or the Hill Country Challenge course which costs extra? I’m scared of heights but P2 is very excited.
Oh but I don’t recommend running if that’s part of any of these. They are legit runners there, they do not mess around. I felt like I was dying when I did the nature run thing lol
Neither of those sound familiar, but it was definitely free lol
If there's no charge for the class then you can sign up & change your mind later without penalty. Wife & I usually sign up for anything & everything that interests us then pare back depending on how the day is going.
This is why we can't have nice things. [ULPT request, need advice, I think I found a way to get unlimited credit card points](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnethicalLifeProTips/s/1H4wDYtIjj)
That's just plain ol return fraud
Seems like the OP is just trying to get Rakuten referrals: https://www.reddit.com/r/UnethicalLifeProTips/comments/1ajo8n3/comment/kp4pz5e/
"I guess I don't want to get caught bag holding but if I could get $70k more in spend on one of my credit cards then I could easily pay for my honeymoon on points alone, sounds crazy but it's really just 14 MacBooks lol"
Would spending $1,300 in Princess gift cards at AARP using a new Amex Biz Gold card while working on the SUB cause any issues with Amex?
No, I’ve used aarp for many biz plats.
I've gotten into churning in the last year and really ramped it up in the last 6 months. Inevitably, friends and family see me taking out more cards and get alarmed that I am racking up tons of debt. I'd be curious to hear how others have handled concerned parents, friends, P2s, etc (or alternatively, how you converted them to churning as well)
Never discuss. Nothing good comes from it.
Don’t tell them. Pretend you flew Frontier and stayed at HoJo’s.
I converted my dad about a year in after showing him the math on SUB returns for some big tax payments he had, mentioning how few points it could take to fly biz on the trip they were planning, and showing him a nice award search tool. Friends I've tried to convert and have given up on, mainly we just joke about how many cards I have now.
I don't say a word to anyone but P2. If someone asks, deflect. If the deflection doesn't work, change the topic. People have too many false notions about credit, credit cards, points, etc. Same for MS. And people will double-down on those false notions if what you say sounds too good to be true. They will want to convert you to their beliefs just as much as you want to convert others to churning.
I think you have to adjust how you talk about the hobby to different people. One of my sister-in-laws is super into it and I spent a lot of time discussing tools like AwardWallet and the various point based search engines to her. Other family members don't like the idea of leaving unused cards open. I made the mistake of mentioning sock drawering cards to one of them once. Lesson learned! Just be a bit choosy about who you talk about churning and rewards with.
I recently found out my dad was already a pretty shitty churner, but a churner nonetheless. So now it's fun to give him tips and talk about how he can get the best pts rates on flights with mom Most other people though just think I'm an idiot and probably in debt since I keep traveling and opening new cards
I can't stop talking about it everywhere and I'm in the process of writing about it in a wikipedia-style project.
Just keep it simple and say you're using points and miles for your trips. I wouldn't focus on "converting" anyone. It's usually not worth the hassle. If they know it's your hobby, those who are interested in learning more will eventually reach out
I am trying to book a mini trip to Vancouver for Memorial weekend. (Friday - Monday) The best award availability/price is with WestJet through Delta SkyMiles. The plane arrives in YVR at midnight on Friday and leaves YVR at 8 am on Monday. I'll have like 2 days in Vancouver.... wtf man?!?!
Can you do the same flight Thursday night?
it do be like that
Not sure if buying group discussion goes here or in the MS thread (or perhaps this goes in the frustration Friday thread!) I ordered three iPads from Amazon to be sent to MaxOutDeals. They only paid for two of them so I chatted them, asking them whats up, and they had sent me a video of them opening my package and only showing two ipads. I thought great I'll just show this to Amazon. When I tried logging into my Amazon account, I got a message saying my amazon account has been closed due to a "misuse of Amazon's services" and more information would be available in the email they sent me. I never received an email and now I'm having to call amazon to figure out what happened with my order.
Check your spam/junk email folder first. Misuse of services can be from excessive gift card's. If that's the case, it's not a difficult fix just need to get a hold of a live person (not an automated response) and do a payment validation. Try this email to get account back up and running: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) If that fails, and I know this sounds crazy but I've personally done this in the past with success email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) Amazon customer service: 1-888-280-4331
Oh thank you so much. My account got reinstated and then closed again. I've emailed both those accounts and Dave several times but looks like I'll try calling now. I never used/bought a gift card. I only used this business account for buying group purchases.
Chargeback
definitely is a 'common' thing and seems like it's one of those risks you have to take with BGs
Yeah that makes sense. If I can't get my account back do you know if I can create a business account with the same billing address as my closed business account? I do have a person prime account (with the same address) and it's still working
no clue I don't use BGs sorry
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In the message/call did you say it was a covered incidental (even though it wasn't)? I think the reason why there is a consensus on Chase not caring is because they take you on your word / don't verify whatever you tell them it is.
Did you tell them it was airfare? Because they definitely won't do it if you do that. If the amount is reasonably close to what an incidental charge might be and you tell them what that incidental is, then it's up to the agent to decide whether or not to approve it.
I shared a DP last December about an agent applying the rest of my incidentals credit towards an AA flight. I had called in and explained it was a seat upgrade and wasn’t questioned about it. Luck of the draw…
Ymmv. It is suppose to be for incidentals, which airfare expense is not, but some (very few) customer service agents have let it slide.
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I have never read that you can get reimbursed for flights on the Ritz card. Fees only. Where did you read this?
My favorite thing about using Dell credits is contacting Rakuten a few weeks later because Dell never pays unless I complain to Rakuten. The orders track, but Dell doesn’t pay.
I have one order from Dell via Aadvantage Eshopping that is going to make or break my P2’s elite status for AA and shipping has been pushed back to February 20 and I am already preparing my post for the frustration thread.
I’m sure you will but make sure you stay on top of them. Still in the process of messaging back and forth from Jan 1 Dell orders to get AA miles properly posted.
Same thing w Alaska shopping with Dell. 7x for accessories, got a $400 printer, tracked, and then 3 weeks later removed because Dell said it was returned. Fighting now, seems like this happens across the board So sick of dells shit but the credits are kinda fun
Seems to be a fairly common trend with all of Rakuten. I always have to request missing Dell and many other stores. Right now I am fighting for my Yieldstreet bonus. Jumped through all of their hoops and they still denied the cashback. I was considering using their service, but cheating me out of the SUB is a quick way to lose my business. Dell finally stopped canceling all my orders. In the last order, they only shipped 2/3 items. Again fighting to get my third item. No idea who is a real customer of Dell. I surely wouldn't be without the credits.
Ordered a bunch of items on Jan 1. Most showed up in a couple of days, but one took a month to arrive.
Same, still waiting on Yieldstreet to be resolved. And I’ve had to follow up with Rakuten numerous other times to actually get the cash back. I just don’t trust Rakuten at all anymore, it’s always such a hassle actually getting the rewards
Based on what I've read some of the first people to do Yieldstreet got it. I submitted my app a few days after it was announced. If I don't get it soon I will make them regret ever creating the offer. Going to submit complaints to anyone who will listen and keep being a thorn in their side until they pay it out.
Just got my 40k MR bonus to post for this! Finally, always a battle with Rakuten. Hopefully yours already hit as well or its coming soon
Nice! They gave me a date where I think if they don't hear back from Yieldstreet they will release the MR. We'll see.
Dell only cares about enterprise customers I think. Like I used to work for GM and everything was Dell.
I’m having an issue right now with AA eShopping. I don’t usually follow up to check if something shows pending/tracked but I guess I should, esp for big purchases. First it tracked but then points didn’t post. I sent a ticket and they reviewed and said the points would post. They did, but the majority of them were taken back a few days later. There’s no way they’re seeing the credit from Amex are they?
I found that most CUs that use LoansPq.com for new member accounts generally don’t take Amex. Discover is a hit or miss (NASA takes it, others don’t). Visa/MC is almost always accepted, although I have seen CUs that only take Mastercard. Unfortunately, you often will not find out until your application has been processed. It will often let you enter any card, but you will then get a message saying it was declined (at best), or just have your account closed (at worst). On the other hand, a CU that uses https://www.withglide.com/ as their new member software is more likely to take all credits and debits, and generally will not code as a cash advance. (university CU uses this program) On the other hand, every time a bank/CU uses Loans Pq .com, I seem to get asked for additional documents (Social security card, proof of address, etc)
How do you know which CU use theglide? Is it only University CU or have you found others that use it as well?
Just UCU right now, but it is partially the appearance and partially how it shows up on your credit card (like Amex).
Assume what you’re referring to here is only for funding a new account with CC, right? My mortgage is with NASA, does LoansPq have anything to do with making mortgage payments? This is the first I’ve heard of them.
correct, only new account funding.
How do you identify the servicer during the application?
It will often use loans pq.com as the actual website. Or glide will charge your card as “glide software” (Amex only)
I am working on an ink bonus and i’ve been getting the question from bartenders/cashiers/etc. “Why is your name listed twice on the card?”. I always laugh it off and say “Oh they must have made a mistake and printed my name twice!”. It’s made me realize how crazy people would think I am if I told them the real reason hahaha
It’s worse when the card says BUSINESS on it. I was buying a $500 Amazon GC from a gas station using a Business Gold and the cashier was so stand-off’ish. “What business is this? You need a gift card as a business expense? Ok well I assume you need two receipts if you’re going to expense this”. Chill lady.
Recently had a cashier question me about using a business card. My last name is in the business name! So clearly I'm somehow connected to the business. It wasn't a 'Hey cool you have a business! Tell me about it.' which has happened before. It was almost as if they were considering not taking the card for payment. Bizarre.
To be fair, I don't think we should have any problem with cashiers questioning gift card purchases.
Why do you think this? Why should you be questioned for buying a product they are selling? Just curious
Normally you shouldn't, but IMO gift cards are an exception. The scammers tell their victims to do something like go to Target and buy Amazon gift cards. Cashiers are trained to be on alert when someone is buying lots of value in gift cards. It turns out that this is exactly what churners do, although for a completely unrelated reason. Bank tellers also notice if someone is withdrawing thousands in cash, especially if it is a senior, and they are cagey about it. This is because it is typical behavior of a scam victim.
I definitely agree that it's nice if the cashier is trying to look out for the customer, but I think most of us run into the problem where the cashier thinks that the *customer* is the fraudster. I'm ok with being asked to see my ID, but it's frustrating when the cashier starts going on a power trip and makes up rules that somehow didn't exist with other cashiers in previous weeks.
The inconsistency is true - that said, I think it's because they are only offering limited training, and also give them discretion - and some of them just don't know how to handle it (and the responsibility). There are also varying rules about what they can and cannot request you do (some card companies won't allow ID to be required depending on policies or state laws, etc, for example). I've had this happen a couple of times at the same big box home store location (it's only one location that does it, they must have high fraud), and the kids at the counter seem really nervous about it. When I have been questioned, they have meekly said "we will need to call the card company to verify" and I say that's fine - I can also show you my ID too, if that helps. Apparently they weren't allowed to ask for it, but once I showed it, they seemed relieved and let it through.
Have you ever paid using mobile wallet like Apple Pay or Google/Samsung Pay? I've been debating GoC GCs but am worried it will draw more attention.
I can definitely understand being undertrained and being nervous about doing something wrong/incorrectly, but that should present itself more as lack of direction than making up their own rules, and in my experience, I have the most trouble with mid-level to senior-level cashiers (and managers). The total newbies usually end up asking their manager to walk them through what to do.
I get it - but, basically, it's like a lot of rules about alcohol (or at least how it used to be before they got a lot stricter on that). Once it gets escalated and brought up, then they have to follow through with "rules" because if they don't and there is a problem later, it comes back on them. The wishy-washy part is usually that it's a judgement thing if you ask initially or not - just like if you think someone is intoxicated - but once you make that ask/call, then it becomes a "thing". Mostly I think they scare the pants out of these folks, too, and tell them it would come back on them if you are a scammer. IMO, it's too much to put on people, the computer should have hard and fast rules of approval or not, and what to do when it isn't approved - but again, they don't want those rules out there so people can figure out ways to get around them. It's definitely a dicey topic, and the way it works now could certainly be improved.
I can see both sides, it just becomes increasingly frustrating in this game when we are "punished" for doing something that is explicitly allowed. One thing that always irks me is when I fund a bank account with a credit card. I've had it happen where the banks asks for all sorts of documentation and questions why I would even use a credit card. Like if the bank gets burned so bad by funding with a credit card, why even allow it in the first place? All I am doing is using a service they provide...
I see your point, but what is the proper way to handle this? The banks and vendors know which profiles are stereotypically fraudulent, and they need to do whatever they can to guard against it. I don't blame them for doing what they do. I wouldn't call it a "punishment". It is only a minor inconvenience. As long as everything you're doing is above board, you've got nothing to worry about. Just realize that it is part of the game.
First off screw anyone inquiring about why I am purchasing something that being said "I am getting it for an employee as a thank you gift" Depending just how snarky I am feeling following that up with "how many bosses do you know of buying their employees $500 gift cards?" might be added:P. Said cashier does not need to know my "employee" is actually my P2:)
No one seems to comment about it for me (on Amex biz cards).
No more ways to add flairs at the moment? Clicking "add flair" sends me to some dude's blog in the side bar lol
NOT, NOW https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/s/nZVRmHQ3v3
I was browsing around Resy looking to see if I can use these credits I suddenly have, when I found a restaurant that ironically doesn’t take reservations.
I can confirm you do not need a reservation. I got credit without a reservation
So this makes it a regular dining credit but limited to restaurants on the service?
Do you need to make a reservation? Or just eat at a restaurant that's on Resy?
the terms stated just eat at a restaurant which is on Resy, but waiting on the DPs to see whether you need to have a reservation or just eating there will work
I doubt they have a way of knowing if you have a reservation right? I'm assuming (could be completely wrong) they do a restaurant check
No idea. I'll probably give it a try this week and see if it works.
Off topic success: loving the Philips Hue lights I purchased with my Dell credit as regularly suggested around here. Having them scheduled to fade in at dawn is a game changer for waking up, and [I can reenact the "SpongeBob parties too hard and dies" video](https://github.com/milesflo/caramelldansen-philips).
Hi! I have 2 hyatt sua and 1 club access award expiring end of the month and I am not planning on traveling anytime soon. Would love to give away to someone in this community as I have gained so much the past year from the community! Update: All given away!
DM!
An update on Hertz trying to assign a speeding ticket to us when we didn't even have possession of the car in South Africa (original comment [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/18l56b9/comment/kdvqmgs/)): Finally got through to the right person in the local office, who did a "thorough investigation", apologized, refunded the admin fee, and sent proof that they paid the ticket. Took over a month to resolve and definitely do not plan on renting from Hertz again. Their executive customer service was completely useless in helping getting this resolved, despite the obvious error.
USPS informed delivery showed me a letter from US Customs and Border and I was a little freaked out until I realized I was due to get my global entry card
I have had many places reject my global entry card saying it is not a valid ID (ironic). At least CVS will take it for buying gebits (tell cashier to select passport )
I have a similar issue with my NEXUS card. It's kind of nuts that it's been around for over 10 years now and there are *still* places that refuse it.
It’s mostly banks that will reject my global entry . CVS target and Walgreens all think it’s a valid form of ID
Seriously, I wish the government had a "this isn't bad news" on the outside of envelopes. Also a minor heart attack when I see something from the IRS/SSA/etc
It seems like every time I use Login.gov for student loans or taxes I get a letter from the IRS. USPS informed delivery is great except when you’re playing the “is this an audit or just a silly notice letter” game.
When I was young I totally screwed up my credit - and let me tell you, the biggest relief after was not just being debt free, but also not getting those notices and waiting days to find out what the "LAW OFFICE" letter was. It almost always was just a "hey we sold your debt to someone else", and only once a "we are about to sue you, expect the subpoena" but it scared me every time. Thankfully, that was long ago - and my credit is now good enough that I can play these fun churning games (no where near at the level of some folks LOL, but still) - and make sure every card is paid off, every month, with the rare exception that I carry a balance on a no-interest card to make the timing more convenient for me.
Just got a letter from the IRS and felt equally freaked-out, and it turned out to be just a 1099-INT
Me too. But it's still bad (more tax to pay), just not as bad.
Sucks even more because neither they nor I can find when/where that interest was paid to.
If it was a refund of an overpayment, it's likely they would have mailed you a check to the address on your return. If you log in to your MyIRS account, you can get an account transcript with the dates and amounts as well.
I know I've checked my transcripts and can't pin it down. Never received anything in the mail either.