Who's ready for the Amazon 20th anniversary sale? [July 15th]

[purbeast0]

southwest card owns. we used the points on there to fly to las vegas, san diego, fort lauderdale (then drove to the keys), and are going to use it to fly to aruba in september. all from the free points for opening 2 accounts.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

southwest card owns. we used the points on there to fly to las vegas, san diego, fort lauderdale (then drove to the keys), and are going to use it to fly to aruba in september. all from the free points for opening 2 accounts.

Open 2 at once like I did, then only pay for 1 ticket for everywhere you go with companion pass ^_^

Honestly outside of the sign-on bonus' I'm not a fan. The card sucks for getting anything afterwards. The only bonus is 2pts for booking SOUTHWEST related flights. Big whoop. No foreign transaction fees isn't bad either, but any card with an annual fee does that.

Next in line for me is marriott, nearly done with the sign-on bonus for that. Then I'm contemplating moving on to Delta card for 50k miles there.

 

[Xonim]

Yeah I don't get into the manufactured spending bit either. When I hit the bonus on one card, I open another. Same goes for my wife. I guess the closest I get to MS is loading my grandfathered Softcard/Serve account with my Arrival+ to pay my car payment, and then every once in a while I add extra to cash out at an ATM / withdraw to bank account. I don't do the full $1500/mo though.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Spill the beans man.

I've got $1900 saved up from the Chase Amazon card I haven't used yet. Why shouldn't I use them on Amazon?

Chase on Amazon gives you 1 cent per point.

If you have a Chase Ink card or Chase Sapphire card, your points are worth 1.25 cents on their travel portal for flights and hotels.

You can also transfer these points to their partner airlines for reward flights where you can get some insane bookings that can net you 2 cents or even more per point.

Here's a good article on it.

http://thepointsguy.com/2015/03/redeeming-chase-ultimate-rewards-points-for-maximum-value/

Basically if you travel you're better off saving them.

My for Citi points it's worse since you get like 0.7 cents per point on Amazon.

 

[RearAdmiral]

Use your citi points for your mortgage!

Looking forward to this sale. Getting married next month so there's some stuff we can get. Maybe some new computer stuff for a build.

 

[maddogchen]

I hope some kindle books go on sale... need a new sci-fi or fantasy book to read.

 

[purbeast0]

Open 2 at once like I did, then only pay for 1 ticket for everywhere you go with companion pass ^_^

Honestly outside of the sign-on bonus' I'm not a fan. The card sucks for getting anything afterwards. The only bonus is 2pts for booking SOUTHWEST related flights. Big whoop. No foreign transaction fees isn't bad either, but any card with an annual fee does that.

Next in line for me is marriott, nearly done with the sign-on bonus for that. Then I'm contemplating moving on to Delta card for 50k miles there.

yeah they didn't offer that when we opened our cards. that is somethign that is more recent i believe.

but we've already used both of them for my wife and i so i don't think we can get anymore free points

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Use your citi points for your mortgage!

Looking forward to this sale. Getting married next month so there's some stuff we can get. Maybe some new computer stuff for a build.

Found out about this waay too late lol.

 

[Exterous]

Getting to Australia for free is tricky, but certainly possible -- you can check www.reddit.com/r/awardtravel for help with that. Flyertalk could be helpful too.

Off the top of my head, options would be to chase AA miles to redeem on Qantas flights (I think from either LAX or DFW). United should be an option somehow too (probably out of SFO) but I've never really looked into it.

Other than peak travel season (Holidays\New Years) economy availability is generally pretty easy to find on both United and AA. Business class and up is a different story. United had ok availability but AA was very sparse which is why we are flying United. Part of the issue is that Qantas opens up award seating for its members well in advance of when AA allows its members to book and Qantas is already stingy with them. United flies out of LAX and SFO to Sydney and Melbourne nonstop but you can also route through Hawaii on Hawaiian air which also opens up Brisbane. Qantas flies from DFW and LAX and AA is about to start a LAX to SYD flight in December

but we've already used both of them for my wife and i so i don't think we can get anymore free points

Terms and conditions vary but the general Chase rule is you can get the 'New Card Member' signup bonus 24 months after you cancel the card. DOn't forget that they have 2 personal Southwest cards and 2 Southwest business cards

 

[purbeast0]

United flies out of LAX and SFO to Sydney and Melbourne nonstop but you can also route through Hawaii on Hawaiian air which also opens up Brisbane. When we booked the availability of Econ and Business was FAR better on United than AA. Part of the issue is that Qantas opens up award seating for its members well in advance of when AA opens up seats and Qantas is already stingy with them. Qantas flies from DFW and LAX



Terms and conditions vary but the general Chase rule is you can get the 'New Card Member' signup bonus 24 months after you cancel the card. DOn't forget that they have 2 personal Southwest cards and 2 Southwest business cards

are the business and personal ones from a different "pool"? as in, you can get the bonus signup miles regardless of signing up for one or the other? and do you need to have an actual business to sign up for the business card lol?

 

[K1052]

Other than peak travel season (Holidays\New Years) economy availability is generally pretty easy to find on both United and AA. Business class and up is a different story. United had ok availability but AA was very sparse which is why we are flying United. Part of the issue is that Qantas opens up award seating for its members well in advance of when AA allows its members to book and Qantas is already stingy with them. United flies out of LAX and SFO to Sydney and Melbourne nonstop but you can also route through Hawaii on Hawaiian air which also opens up Brisbane. Qantas flies from DFW and LAX and AA is about to start a LAX to SYD flight in December

Daily AA metal (777-300ER) LAX-SYD service is coming back in December FWIW. Edit: I should bother to fully read posts.

Also Quantas will be resuming SFO service with 747s as well.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

yeah they didn't offer that when we opened our cards. that is somethign that is more recent i believe.

but we've already used both of them for my wife and i so i don't think we can get anymore free points

If I recall, there are 3 Southwest cards. Each person can have the sign on bonus of each, so if you include your wife that is 6 possible cards.

There is....
Southwest Premier Card (I have this)
Southwest Premier Business (I have this)
Southwest Plus

https://www.southwest.com/html/rapi...cards/southwest-airlines-rapid-rewards-cards/

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

are the business and personal ones from a different "pool"? as in, you can get the bonus signup miles regardless of signing up for one or the other? and do you need to have an actual business to sign up for the business card lol?

A business card and a personal are entirely separate. If you get the sign on bonus for 1, you can still get the sign on bonus for the other immediately after (usually)

No, you do not need a business to sign-up. Make up a name and give some stupid estimate info of the "business" and apply. I have been able to get 2 business cards with Chase. (Chase Ink & Chase Southwest Business)

 

[purbeast0]

wow okay, i know what i'm doing tonight then for some more southwest points lol.

we both just have the premier card i believe.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

wow okay, i know what i'm doing tonight then for some more southwest points lol.

we both just have the premier card i believe.

The only thing I'm weary of for putting all these points into Southwest is that like most airlines, they do expire if your account isn't used for 24 months.

Unlike Delta, which is the one airline where they never expire.

 

[Phoenix86]

There are some sentences you just never expect to see in a lifetime.

I had 5 sheets of the lexan, acrylic glue, dremel cutting kit and some other stuff in my cart when the naked lady showed up.

:hmm:

 

[Exterous]

I should bother to fully read posts.

Good to know about the SFO Service.

No, you do not need a business to sign-up. Make up a name and give some stupid estimate info of the "business" and apply. I have been able to get 2 business cards with Chase. (Chase Ink & Chase Southwest Business)

Huh looks like they dropped one of the business cards or my brain is dying due to old age. FWIW they may be getting pickier about approving business accounts. We always get 'Pending approval' notices and call in. My wife was denied a Chase Ink card last year because her (real) business was too new (<1 yr) even though the year before that I got approved before I had my first customer. (She also has a slightly higher 800 credit score) She was approved this year though. When I applied for the Southwest Business card last November I had to answer some questions about the last two quarters of sales and expected growth. No verification documentation required and it may completely depend on who answers the phone but YMMV

Unlike Delta, which is the one airline where they never expire.

With the downside of being the worst miles to try and actually use

 

[CraKaJaX]

:hmm:

:hmm: :sneaky: :awe:

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

you should try to get the companion pass if you sign up for more than one southwest card. preferably at the beginning of 2016 since the card is good for the current year and the following.

https://applynow.chase.com/FlexAppW...=FDHN&CELL=6RLH&MSC=1515622903&fb_ref=Default

 

[purbeast0]

thanks to this thread, i checked my last southwest card i opened because i knew i had to cancel it before the year re-upped.

well turns out i made a purchase on amazon in march for $106 and another in april for $9. and it was past due and my account had been closed.

i had no clue i purchased those things, i think i selected the wrong card on amazon when purchasing and assumed it took it out of my normal check card which i don't closely monitor.

i called them up and they would only refund me late fee of 1 month, which is better than nothing. but i had to pay $172 on a $115 balance. oh well lesson learned - cancel account as soon as i get the points.

 

[purbeast0]

The only thing I'm weary of for putting all these points into Southwest is that like most airlines, they do expire if your account isn't used for 24 months.

Unlike Delta, which is the one airline where they never expire.

i'll easily use points within 2 years. we go on like 3-4 vacations a year, but that will probably be slowing down a bit since we just had a kid.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

i'll easily use points within 2 years. we go on like 3-4 vacations a year, but that will probably be slowing down a bit since we just had a kid.

Eh, I try to conserve points to later blow my load on a big vacation later instead of using them for simply trips. We go on vacations quite often as well, except some of it usually includes international. THAT is where I wish i could use southwest miles the most.

*groans about paying $1800 for his ticket to Japan last month*

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

By the way, I had my heart set on Delta for my business travel. They have been doing well as far as getting me upgrades and such. I haven't had a problem with them.... but... I just got an offer from American Airlines that is making me VERRRRRRRY itchy to possibly abandon them. Right now I'm currently not traveling for work on my current project since it's local. But once that is over (in ~3 months it is LIKELY to change, but I can't promise anything.


The offer:

We want you to discover why there's never been a better time to fly with us, which is why we're offering you the chance to enjoy complimentary American Airlines AAdvantage® elite status when it's most beneficial for your travel schedule.

To help you experience the benefits of elite status we have a special offer for employees of <My Company>. Already have elite status with us? You can take your status to the next level by selecting an offer for a status higher than the one you currently hold.*

Choose from one of the following offers to get started:
AAdvantage Executive Platinum status for 3 months with the option to extend through February 28, 2017 via a 3 month challenge + the opportunity to earn 50,000 bonus miles
AAdvantage Platinum status for 3 months with the option to extend through February 28, 2017 via a 3 month challenge + 12 500-mile upgrades + the opportunity to earn 50,000 bonus miles
AAdvantage Gold status through February 28, 2017 + 6 500-mile upgrades + the opportunity to earn 10,000 bonus miles
Learn more about the benefits of AAdvantage elite status.

All that's left to do is decide when you'd like your promotion period to start between now and September 23, 2015 and register for your desired elite status.

Sign up for your offer before you begin travel. The final day to register is September 23, 2015.

What does ATOT think? Should I...

1. Keep Flying Delta
2. Take the Free gold upgrade at AA along with the free upgrades.
3. Take the Executive Platinum upgrade challenge. Requires I fly 25k miles within the first 3 months

or....
4. Try to call up Delta and tell them to offer me something similar or I'll go to the competition.

 

[purbeast0]

Eh, I try to conserve points to later blow my load on a big vacation later instead of using them for simply trips. We go on vacations quite often as well, except some of it usually includes international. THAT is where I wish i could use southwest miles the most.

*groans about paying $1800 for his ticket to Japan last month*

yeah most of my vacations are to tropical places, and they are going to the carribean now too which is nice. wish they flew to hawaii though.

i may look into one of those chase saphire cards at some point though as well just to rack up more and more points.

question about the southwest cards - i saw today that i did see the fine print that if you haven't used the bonuses in 24 months you can get them again. it's been like 3-4 years since i got my southwest card. so i am going to apply for that, and then i think i'm also going to apply for the southwest business card as well and get 100k points.

can i just use the same RR number for both?

also, is there a link to info about the companion pass? i saw something vague that you need like 110k points in your account and you automatically get one or something? just seemed kind of vague from what i saw though.

 

[Crono]

I'm over Amazon. To me their height was when they didn't have so many third-party marketplace vendors (who often are slow to ship), didn't charge so much for shipping (no, I don't always have $35 worth of items to order to get free shipping, and it's a waste of money to stock my cart with fillers to get it), and Prime was $79. The only time I order anything from them is when they are the only ones who have a product I want.