The worst feeling is when someone who has criticized you for your points obsession unilaterally goes out there and applies for credit cards and gets the wrong ones. At this point, I’ve annoyed enough friends and family that they come to me first before taking the plunge. Although I do not have affiliate links, I do get the same referral bonus that anyone would receive for recommending a card.
Amex frequently has 5k referral bonuses for the SPG business and personal card. This year I recommended the card to a few people and received the bonus from some but not from others. From February on, I called Amex periodically to ask what happened to the bonus. Each time Amex opened a new case and then I would hear nothing. Yesterday, a manager took control of the situation. With some research she found out that the marketing team had denied my claim way back in August. They said that they could not find the referral link to the accounts mentioned.
Paranoid that this would happen, I always write down the name, email, and date of application for each entry. I told the manager that I had provided this information many times and she put me on hold while she relayed this to the marketing team. A few seconds later, she came back and said that my points will be reflected after my next billing statement closes.
In my experience, Amex and Chase are really good at matching offers, researching points issues, and making a customer feel important. Citi? Not so much.
Since this mix up, I have begun taking screenshots of the offer code and archiving the confirmation email that my referral has been sent.
How far do you go to ensure you get your points? How much is your time worth? For me, it is the principle. In the words of Jay-Z, “If you owe me ten dollars, you ain’t giving me nine.”
Any reader out there still without an SPG card? Referrals readily available.
SPG Refer A Friend: Bonus Paid…9 Months Later
The Peaceful Conclusion: US Bank Follows Up
In my comments section, I often get readers who exclaim, “TPOL, you complain too much!” One person wrote in regards to my Delta experience that I should pay for first-class if I wanted better service. How does that make sense? To the assertion that I complain too much, I would like to point out that the section that these posts are in is the ‘Complaining’ section. What were they expecting? (Check it out, it’s nonstop whining)
I will always voice my loud, shrieking Gilbert Gottfried voice when I believe that I have been wronged. At the same time, and unlike most media outlets, I will write a follow-up story when that gripe has been rectified. Following my awful experience at US Bank in Montana, I was contacted by someone in its PR department. They apologized for my experience and let me vent my frustration. Today, I was contacted by the district manager in Montana and received another apology. That was a nice gesture worth sharing.
As is my complaining nature, I tried to get a few Club Carlson points or perhaps some FlexPerks for the trouble but I received nothing. Relax Mr. Reader, I am only 3/4 of the way being serious.
In the end, I opened a business account with Capital One but have to say to US Bank that I ain’t mad at ya.
Travel Hacking a Myth? This Reporter Thinks So
Our parents think we are doing something illegal. Our friends don’t bother liking our vacation photos anymore. And our colleagues are waiting for retirement before they travel the world the ‘right way’. Add in another points skeptic by the name of Simon Calder, a travel writer for the Independent, a UK media outlet, to this list.
In his article, “The Myth of ‘travel hackers’ who bag luxury trips for pennies“, Calder writes, “Personally, I’d rather stick to economy even on the 14-hour-plus flight from Abu Dhabi to New York than spend days on end managing multiple credit cards.” He then cites a travel blogger, Upon Arriving, who took a great trip around the world on points as an example of what is possible if you do points the right way. Finally, he concludes, “Although it means missing out on the credit-card shuffle and the inflight canapes, I prefer a simple life of travel.”
I fail to see how the title of the article and the evidence provided by the offer are congruent. What is the myth? Clearly, the blogger used in the article proved that it can be done and many of us bloggers and readers have proved it time and time again. The article should be called “I’m too lazy to spend time to figure out the points game which is why I rationalize that peasant class is preferable.”
This conclusion is the same as when I dismiss reselling. “Oh that’s too much work. That’s such a hassle just for points.” Since the end of easy MS, many have quit the points profession, frustrated that it isn’t as convenient as the glory days of the Bird. While I’m not going to spend my time perfecting reselling, I have found other ways to keep this ‘myth’ alive. And if this adventure ever ends, I’ll always have the memories as evidence that, at one point, this was a reality. By then, I hope to be a cash money millionaire, flying private jets, and staying on my own island in the Grand Caymans anyway.
The Grand Tour: Being A Jerk Pays Off
What do Floyd Mayweather, Donald Trump, and Jeremy Clarkson all have in common? None of them have been nominated for Mr. Congeniality. You’re either a fan of them or you absolutely detest them. Say what you want, but their grandiose personalities have brought them international celebrity. One of them will soon be the leader of the free world.
This blog post focuses on Jeremy Clarkson, the host of the newest show on Amazon Prime. Despite being sued for assault and despite his polarizing personality, Jeremy Clarkson is back with his mates in a remix of Top Gear. Top Gear was an excellent show and I was disappointed when it was cancelled (sorry Matt LeBlanc, your show is not Top Gear). I tried to audition to become Clarkson’s replacement but was rebuffed by the BBC, most likely due to the fact that I can’t drive stick very well, if at all.
Today, I watched the first episode which has received mixed reviews. I love expensive cars, exotic travel, and the mighty dollar. Watching motivates me to push it a little harder the next time I travel and do crazier things worth blogging about beyond publishing anecdotes of heated toilets and free breakfast.
I will be tuning in weekly on Amazon Prime to see what these old men do next.
Anyone else watch? Who is your favorite character? Or do you like and dislike all of them simultaneously as much as I do and don’t?
Stiffed Citi AA Exec Bonus Points: Arbitration Right Away?
Here’s another candidate for the 2016 Festivus Airing of Grievances. This time it’s brought to you by Citi, another bank who no longer cares for points enthusiasts. Before Citi introduced the rule that a customer could not receive another bonus whether it be Hilton, AA, or ThankYou, if they have opened a card within 2 years, I and many in my congregation, applied for cards that would otherwise be excluded. I chose the Citi AA Exec and a couple of weeks later, I applied for the Citi AA Gold. I was approved for both. In fact, Citi gave me an additional 5k for my Citi AA Exec because they couldn’t send it to the right address.
I received the bonus miles for the AA Gold, the second of my applications, but not for the Citi AA Exec. Foolishly, I thought the chat person could help me with this and, as usual, they were useless and recommended I call in. Well, to the shock of none, the customer service representative said that I did not qualify for the Citi AA Exec bonus points because I had opened a Citi AA World Explorer or World Explorer Elite or whatever the hell it is called within the last two years. That, she said, was a violation of the terms and conditions for receiving the bonus.
I quickly pointed out that I had received the bonus for the AA Gold card after I had applied for the Citi Exec so her logic was incorrect. Citi is now launching an investigation and I am sure I will get a letter saying that I am not eligible. Worse, I’ll be stuck with the $450 annual fee as there is a limited duration for when the card can be cancelled and prorated amount refunded. From there, I have two choices: write a useless letter to the Office of the President or simply file my intent to arbitrate.
As a consumer protection attorney, I have helped many Frequent Miler readers who have had claims from Citi to eBay resolve their disputes. Now, I find myself in the interesting situation where I have a fool for a client.
Why does it always have to be such a battle? Why can’t the banks just live up to the terms of their agreement that they and their behemoth legal team create? As consumers, we have to abide by the terms lest the banks close are cards at any time and for any reason.
If you or someone you love has suffered an injury from mesothelioma, call one of those attorneys you see on TV. If you or someone you remotely like is getting the runaround from a bank, email me, leave me a comment, send me a Tweet, or follow me on Instagram for pics of what I used to do when I had points. Enough is enough. I gotta have my points!
Grand Hyatt DC And My Unintended $80 Wine Bill
Two weeks ago I was in DC for BACON, a great experience where I had the chance to meet blogging celebrities. Trying to hang with the cool kids, I booked a room at the Grand Hyatt DC after jumping from one Hyatt House to another in order to requalify for Diamond. (those hotels reviews will not be coming as someone named Alex lost his Samsung S7 for the second time in 2 months. Sidebar: 34 years of living and debauchery and I never lost a phone before. Criticism welcome.) Anyhow the time was 7PM and our BACON event was was just starting. Before heading over there I decided to go to the Club Lounge for a drink or two.
I arrived to see Lucky, Gary, Angelina, and Mr. Pizza himself in motion sitting in the backroom carrying on and having a good time. I went to pour myself a glass of wine only to find that the liquor cabinet was locked. I asked the waitress for a glass of white and she has me fill out an inventory card. After that, I joined the gang who had a full bottle opened. With my cup empty, I went back to the waitress and said that the table would like another bottle. Once again, I filled out the inventory card.
Not too long thereafter, we left the lounge to catch up with the rest of the BoardingArea crew. From there, the night proceeds as nights do.
Out of DC, I received a folio for my stay that had an $80 charge for wine, $16 for the first glass and $64 for the bottle. Confused, I Googled, “Grand Hyatt DC Club Lounge” and read on TPG’s page that drinks are not complimentary but are on the ‘honor system.’ Obviously I have no honor because I thought that the drinks were free as the Hyatt Regency Chicago O’ Hare has the same inventory card but does not charge for drinks. Indeed, most lounges from the Grand Hyatt Shanghai to the Hyatt Regency Mexico City do not charge for drinks.
Feeling foolish, I called the Grand Hyatt DC and spoke to accounting. I began the conversation by saying that I had a funny anecdote about my bill. Laughing the entire time, the person in accounting said that she would waive the balance because my story was very entertaining. I concluded by telling her, “No wonder the table was all smiles when I came back with a bottle! They must have thought I was so generous.”
Disclaimer: While I allow all comments on my blog and am open about the stupid things that I do, I’m hoping, just this once, that all readers, young or old, diamond or platinum status, will see the humor. Otherwise, be my guest and tell me how the hotel doesn’t owe me anything, that I’m lucky to have gotten the credit, and I’m a cheap you know what.
Pho @TheSpot: #NotSoMuch
Maybe I don’t like pho as much as I thought I did or maybe my review from years ago that NYC has terrible pho is wholly accurate. In my latest disappointment, I visited @TheSpot, a takeaway pho place located at 719 2nd Ave. After my less than stellar dining experience at Nha Trang One, a reader recommended this place.
Chase Ink Preferred 80k Bonus! Why You Shouldn’t Care
Oh look everyone, a great Chase offer. 80k Ultimate Rewards when you apply and get approved for the Chase Ink Preferred Card. I’m sure you’ve read all the details about how great the card is. Rumor has it that it comes with Priority Pass to enter heaven but it is limited to one guest, so be sure to call recon for your significant other if you want to see him or her in the afterlife.
So why doesn’t TPOL care about this card? It’s obviously because I’m such a nice person that I will be on St. Peter’s VIP list while those that apply for the card will have to pay the $95 annual fee. Besides theology, the reason I do not care about this offer or any other offer that Chase promotes is because I am in UR purgatory or perhaps UR hell. Lucifer himself could not have devised a more evil rule than 5/24. “I’m sorry but you’ve been such a great customer to Chase but unfortunately, you aren’t a Chase Private Client and you aren’t sponsored on our commercials. Accordingly, you are shut out for all offers unless you take the vow of abstinence and give up churning for two years.”
As more and more banks adopt rules such as this, the less I care to click on the headlines for these big offers. I am not blessed with affiliate links for these offers so I do not have a selfish reason to promote this. And, more importantly, most of my readers are no, no, notorious churners like myself. They too pass these headlines in the same way they skip over the stupid, superfluous, aggravating Uber promotions that say $20 off your [first] ride. We are all Uber subscribers now. Thanks for nothing. On that note, try Via if you are in NYC or Chicago, King James’s preferred method of transport when the Cavs are in the Chi.
I’ll say it once, I’ll say it again, the future of staying ahead in this game and reaching the heavens [via a first-class flight on Emirates] is to start your own business and crank out real spend. You do not need divine intervention in the form of an economic downturn to knock some sense into banks as was the case when Saul was struck blind for persecuting those who practice the faith. Alternatively, perhaps you could launch a Hail Mary by filing an arbitration claim against Chase under some federal credit law that guarantees life, liberty, and the pursuit of points travel. That, to quote the gospel of Bon Jovi is, ‘livin’ on a prayer’.
God help us all!
Hyatt Herald Square: Right Price, Great Location
The Hyatt Herald Square New York City is part of the ongoing Trip Report: TPOL in NYC where I bumble around the city for months on end pretending to be a real New Yorker.
Getting There: From Penn Station, the walk to the Hyatt Herald Square is a breeze. Walk east towards 6th Avenue or take my favorite carpool service Via. The address is: 30 W 31st St, New York, NY 10001
HKG-BKK: AA Bumps Me Down to Business
I was looking forward to flying Cathay first from JFK-YVR-BKK then business on Malaysia from BKK-KUL-CTG this December. Then a schedule change email came from American Airlines today. That’s always bad for me. Last time it happened I was demoted from Etihad Apartments to the 777. I managed to fix that one but this time around I have no choice as the new airplane does not have a first-class cabin. Apart from missing out on Krug, it’s not the worst thing in the world because the product changed from the 777 to the A350, something that I have not flown and has not been extensively reviewed. So long as I am allowed in the Champagne Lounge in HKG, this will be the extent of my complaint.
