Author Topic: steve dave provides the definitive review of things (requests accepted) (Read 18026 times)

puniraptor · « **Reply #150 on:** April 30, 2015, 02:06:39 PM »

please review "dogs"

steve dave · « **Reply #151 on:** April 30, 2015, 02:11:36 PM »

Quote from: K-S-U-Wildcats! on April 30, 2015, 01:59:55 PM

Southwest Rapid Rewards - the Visa card and the program.

WHAT IS IT?
An airline frequent flying program and credit card(s) issued by Chase.

IS IT GOOD?
Yes to both. The miles are very easy to use with no blackout dates and a roughly set value (recent change to the program added some variability to how "set" they are). The no blackout dates are somewhat deceiving though because they will run out of "wanna get away" space which is essentially their low level award space and you never want to use your miles to redeem for either of the higher cost tiers. flights can be cancelled free of charge and points thrown back into your account with no penalty. If you live in a city with SW service and want an easy option for domestic flight rewards this is it. The card offers periodic 50k point sign up bonuses which are good. The real value comes with attaining a companion pass in the program. to do so you either need to spend a ton of $ flying southwest or obtain 110k points in a calendar year. because chase has multiple versions of the SW card you are able to obtain a companion pass by getting two different 50k point bonuses and spending $10k on the cards. Then you companion can fly with you for free on any paid or award ticket for the remainder of that calendar year and the next. mrs. dave has the companion pass (I'm her companion) and over 100k miles so we will be flying the entire family wherever and whenever we want for the next two years for free on SW. Downside to the program is that there is no first class service, no service to HI, and limited international options. Using the card after you obtain the companion pass is a bad idea because there are a lot of better cards for everyday spend after the bonus is obtained.

SUMMARY
A great program for someone who doesn't need upper class service or international flights and who values simplicity.

GRADE:
A

puniraptor · « **Reply #152 on:** April 30, 2015, 02:13:15 PM »

Quote from: steve dave on April 30, 2015, 02:11:36 PM

Quote from: K-S-U-Wildcats! on April 30, 2015, 01:59:55 PM
Southwest Rapid Rewards - the Visa card and the program.

WHAT IS IT?
An airline frequent flying program and credit card(s) issued by Chase.

IS IT GOOD?
Yes to both. The miles are very easy to use with no blackout dates and a roughly set value (recent change to the program added some variability to how "set" they are). The no blackout dates are somewhat deceiving though because they will run out of "wanna get away" space which is essentially their low level award space and you never want to use your miles to redeem for either of the higher cost tiers. flights can be cancelled free of charge and points thrown back into your account with no penalty. If you live in a city with SW service and want an easy option for domestic flight rewards this is it. The card offers periodic 50k point sign up bonuses which are good. The real value comes with attaining a companion pass in the program. to do so you either need to spend a ton of $ flying southwest or obtain 110k points in a calendar year. because chase has multiple versions of the SW card you are able to obtain a companion pass by getting two different 50k point bonuses and spending $10k on the cards. Then you companion can fly with you for free on any paid or award ticket for the remainder of that calendar year and the next. mrs. dave has the companion pass (I'm her companion) and over 100k miles so we will be flying the entire family wherever and whenever we want for the next two years for free on SW. Downside to the program is that there is no first class service, no service to HI, and limited international options. Using the card after you obtain the companion pass is a bad idea because there are a lot of better cards for everyday spend after the bonus is obtained.

SUMMARY
A great program for someone who doesn't need upper class service or international flights and who values simplicity.

GRADE:
A

question: do points transferred from a partner card that you got a bonus on count towards the 110k? like a barclays card or some crap?

steve dave · « **Reply #153 on:** April 30, 2015, 02:19:10 PM »

Quote from: puniraptor on April 30, 2015, 02:13:15 PM

Quote from: steve dave on April 30, 2015, 02:11:36 PM
Quote from: K-S-U-Wildcats! on April 30, 2015, 01:59:55 PM
Southwest Rapid Rewards - the Visa card and the program.

WHAT IS IT?
An airline frequent flying program and credit card(s) issued by Chase.

IS IT GOOD?
Yes to both. The miles are very easy to use with no blackout dates and a roughly set value (recent change to the program added some variability to how "set" they are). The no blackout dates are somewhat deceiving though because they will run out of "wanna get away" space which is essentially their low level award space and you never want to use your miles to redeem for either of the higher cost tiers. flights can be cancelled free of charge and points thrown back into your account with no penalty. If you live in a city with SW service and want an easy option for domestic flight rewards this is it. The card offers periodic 50k point sign up bonuses which are good. The real value comes with attaining a companion pass in the program. to do so you either need to spend a ton of $ flying southwest or obtain 110k points in a calendar year. because chase has multiple versions of the SW card you are able to obtain a companion pass by getting two different 50k point bonuses and spending $10k on the cards. Then you companion can fly with you for free on any paid or award ticket for the remainder of that calendar year and the next. mrs. dave has the companion pass (I'm her companion) and over 100k miles so we will be flying the entire family wherever and whenever we want for the next two years for free on SW. Downside to the program is that there is no first class service, no service to HI, and limited international options. Using the card after you obtain the companion pass is a bad idea because there are a lot of better cards for everyday spend after the bonus is obtained.

SUMMARY
A great program for someone who doesn't need upper class service or international flights and who values simplicity.

GRADE:
A

question: do points transferred from a partner card that you got a bonus on count towards the 110k? like a barclays card or some crap?

you can transfer UR points from Chase to SW but they don't count towards the bonus. BUT, you can transfer points from other programs and they do (Marriott points, SPG points, etc.). But, the transfer rate makes it a poor value. Better to just spend the money on the card or fly paid miles on SW.

steve dave · « **Reply #154 on:** April 30, 2015, 02:29:41 PM »

Quote from: puniraptor on April 30, 2015, 02:06:39 PM

please review "dogs"

#RAPIDFIREREVIEW: see response to "kids"

steve dave · « **Reply #155 on:** April 30, 2015, 02:33:50 PM »

Quote from: michigancat on April 30, 2015, 09:41:46 AM

Father John Misty concerts

#RAPIDFIREREVIEW: very enjoyable. dances around awesome. talks to the crowd a lot. A+

Brock Landers · « **Reply #156 on:** April 30, 2015, 02:34:10 PM »

steve dave · « **Reply #157 on:** April 30, 2015, 02:34:37 PM »

Quote from: sys on April 30, 2015, 10:25:25 AM

sandhills/niobrara river

#RAPIDFIREREVIEW: I have no idea, never been to either. F-

steve dave · « **Reply #158 on:** April 30, 2015, 02:36:28 PM »

Quote from: Brock Landers on April 30, 2015, 02:34:10 PM

Zoos

Can range from A+ to F-. Sad zoos are very sad. Good zoos are one of the best things in the world. If you are going to make a zoo make it so the animals think it's awesome. Also make sure your gorilla can't smash the glass and rip everyone's heads off like ALMOST happened to me when I was at the world famous Henry Doorley Zoo two weekends ago which was the weekend after the gorilla almost did that.

michigancat · « **Reply #159 on:** April 30, 2015, 02:41:56 PM »

Gooogle chrome
mozilla firefox
safari

steve dave · « **Reply #160 on:** April 30, 2015, 02:45:23 PM »

Quote from: michigancat on April 30, 2015, 02:41:56 PM

Gooogle chrome
mozilla firefox
safari

#RAPIDFIREREVIEW: Chrome. B I guess. It's all I use and seems to work well enough.
#RAPIDFIREREVIEW: Firefox. no idea, never used. NA
#RAPIDFIREREVIEW: Safari. I used for a bit on my mac, ipad, phone. Don't like it as much as chrome but don't know for certain why. C.

asava · « **Reply #161 on:** April 30, 2015, 02:45:56 PM »

The 3rd Season of "Martin".

mocat · « **Reply #162 on:** April 30, 2015, 02:55:52 PM »

wearing a seatbelt

420seriouscat69 · « **Reply #163 on:** April 30, 2015, 02:57:34 PM »

Quote from: mocat on April 30, 2015, 02:55:52 PM

wearing a seatbelt

What a softball.

mocat · « **Reply #164 on:** April 30, 2015, 03:02:53 PM »

softball

BIG APPLE CAT · « **Reply #165 on:** April 30, 2015, 03:07:21 PM »

Dadbods

0.42 · « **Reply #166 on:** April 30, 2015, 03:07:29 PM »

equestrian

meow meow · « **Reply #167 on:** April 30, 2015, 03:08:25 PM »

lunchacking

puniraptor · « **Reply #168 on:** April 30, 2015, 03:17:00 PM »

Quote from: BIG APPLE CAT on April 30, 2015, 03:07:21 PM

Dadbods

K-S-U-Wildcats! · « **Reply #169 on:** April 30, 2015, 04:06:13 PM »

Quote from: steve dave on April 30, 2015, 02:11:36 PM

Quote from: K-S-U-Wildcats! on April 30, 2015, 01:59:55 PM
Southwest Rapid Rewards - the Visa card and the program.

WHAT IS IT?
An airline frequent flying program and credit card(s) issued by Chase.

IS IT GOOD?
Yes to both. The miles are very easy to use with no blackout dates and a roughly set value (recent change to the program added some variability to how "set" they are). The no blackout dates are somewhat deceiving though because they will run out of "wanna get away" space which is essentially their low level award space and you never want to use your miles to redeem for either of the higher cost tiers. flights can be cancelled free of charge and points thrown back into your account with no penalty. If you live in a city with SW service and want an easy option for domestic flight rewards this is it. The card offers periodic 50k point sign up bonuses which are good. The real value comes with attaining a companion pass in the program. to do so you either need to spend a ton of $ flying southwest or obtain 110k points in a calendar year. because chase has multiple versions of the SW card you are able to obtain a companion pass by getting two different 50k point bonuses and spending $10k on the cards. Then you companion can fly with you for free on any paid or award ticket for the remainder of that calendar year and the next. mrs. dave has the companion pass (I'm her companion) and over 100k miles so we will be flying the entire family wherever and whenever we want for the next two years for free on SW. Downside to the program is that there is no first class service, no service to HI, and limited international options. Using the card after you obtain the companion pass is a bad idea because there are a lot of better cards for everyday spend after the bonus is obtained.

SUMMARY
A great program for someone who doesn't need upper class service or international flights and who values simplicity.

GRADE:
A

Did not know you could combine two 50k signup bonuses for two cards onto 1 RR account. That doesn't seem possible. If so, that would be an amazing way to quickly earn a companion pass. We've already gotten a 50k bonus once when we signed up a few years ago so I don't think we'll ever be eligible again, but I'd still like details on how you accomplished this.

Tobias · « **Reply #170 on:** April 30, 2015, 04:08:47 PM »

will this hit FT-level mean?

mocat · « **Reply #171 on:** April 30, 2015, 04:14:07 PM »

blink 182

Cartierfor3 · « **Reply #172 on:** April 30, 2015, 04:32:30 PM »

Reading Magazines. Not on the computer or phone but like a legit magazine you hold

CNS · « **Reply #173 on:** April 30, 2015, 04:45:52 PM »

CF3, you should receive your review via mail in 4-5 biz days.

steve dave · « **Reply #174 on:** April 30, 2015, 05:34:12 PM »

Quote from: K-S-U-Wildcats! on April 30, 2015, 04:06:13 PM

Quote from: steve dave on April 30, 2015, 02:11:36 PM
Quote from: K-S-U-Wildcats! on April 30, 2015, 01:59:55 PM
Southwest Rapid Rewards - the Visa card and the program.

WHAT IS IT?
An airline frequent flying program and credit card(s) issued by Chase.

IS IT GOOD?
Yes to both. The miles are very easy to use with no blackout dates and a roughly set value (recent change to the program added some variability to how "set" they are). The no blackout dates are somewhat deceiving though because they will run out of "wanna get away" space which is essentially their low level award space and you never want to use your miles to redeem for either of the higher cost tiers. flights can be cancelled free of charge and points thrown back into your account with no penalty. If you live in a city with SW service and want an easy option for domestic flight rewards this is it. The card offers periodic 50k point sign up bonuses which are good. The real value comes with attaining a companion pass in the program. to do so you either need to spend a ton of $ flying southwest or obtain 110k points in a calendar year. because chase has multiple versions of the SW card you are able to obtain a companion pass by getting two different 50k point bonuses and spending $10k on the cards. Then you companion can fly with you for free on any paid or award ticket for the remainder of that calendar year and the next. mrs. dave has the companion pass (I'm her companion) and over 100k miles so we will be flying the entire family wherever and whenever we want for the next two years for free on SW. Downside to the program is that there is no first class service, no service to HI, and limited international options. Using the card after you obtain the companion pass is a bad idea because there are a lot of better cards for everyday spend after the bonus is obtained.

SUMMARY
A great program for someone who doesn't need upper class service or international flights and who values simplicity.

GRADE:
A

Did not know you could combine two 50k signup bonuses for two cards onto 1 RR account. That doesn't seem possible. If so, that would be an amazing way to quickly earn a companion pass. We've already gotten a 50k bonus once when we signed up a few years ago so I don't think we'll ever be eligible again, but I'd still like details on how you accomplished this.

You can get each card every two years. There are multiple versions of the card (2 personal, 2 business). The same person has to get both. Get one, make min spend to get the points. Get another, spend until you get that bonus plus enough for the companion pass. Doing this in January gets you almost two years of companion pass. You should religiously follow me in the CC thread.