melbox4

On 1/7/2023 at 1:08 PM, SusieQft said:

I have Amex Platinum and an Amex Green card.  I can charge the trip on my Amex Green card and still get the Platinum $300 OBC, along with the Green 3 points per dollar (same as Chase Sapphire Reserve).  Amex T&Cs say that I have to pay the entire trip on Amex (either card) to get the Platinum OBC benefit.  My TA says that may not be the case, and I can charge part of the cost with another company's card.  I am currently testing this advice to see if it works.

 

The Platinum OBC on Regent is nowhere near as good a deal as it was with Crystal, where I got $500 OBC, per segment.  We usually do B2Bs, so this is a big difference.  Then again, look what happened to Crystal....  I was very glad I had all my Crystal bookings on Amex, though, because Amex came through with reimbursement even though it would have been too late for successful Chase disputes.

 

On Regent, I get $300 Amex Platinum OBC per booking.  Often my TA's consortium will do the same, but I cannot have both.  I have to choose either $300 from Amex or $300 from the consortium, which makes that particular Amex benefit essentially worthless much of the time.

 

The Chase Sapphire Reserve trip cancellation/interruption coverage is up to a maximum of $10K per person, $20K per trip, and $40K per year.  If you have to cancel multiple trips for a covered cause in the same year, you may not get the full $20K for all of them.  Amex Platinum also provides some trip cancellation coverage, but not if I charge the trip on my Green card.

 

My current strategy is to make the deposit on my Amex Green card to get the Platinum OBC benefit (if there is one), 3 points per dollar, and to have the oldest payment(s) on Amex, just in case a credit card dispute is needed in the future.  When it comes time for final payment, I will put up to $20,000 on my Chase Sapphire Reserve card.  I will still get trip insurance, with a company that covers pre-existing conditions even if I don't insure the full cost of the trip with them, but for less than the full cost of the trip, by at least the amount paid with my Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

 

At some point, I will probably rethink whether or not it is worth it to have both Chase and Amex, but for now there is enough benefit to us to justify both cards.

Do you have to book through AMEX travel for this benefit?

11 minutes ago, Pcardad said:

Is there an OTC self-test that you suggest?

Abbott

On 9/27/2021 at 8:30 PM, DatawCruiser said:

I am on the 2/3/2022 Splendor cruise in a PHC Suite.  I have another 8 days until final payment.  I am having a hard time justifying this cruise, primarily because of the masking requirement.  I have cruised on Regent before and actually cancelled a previous Mediterranean cruise in September because I thought things would have settled down by next February.  My issue is with the all encompassing mask requirement onboard.  I am not willing to pay the premium prices for Regent if I have to wear a face covering on a 100% vaccinated guest and crew population. I understand there is a risk of excursions causing the possibility of a breakthrough infection.  But I take that risk every time I go grocery shopping even though I mask up for that (because there are no vaccination guarantees  for grocery shopping in SC).  I am on the fence as to whether to cancel.  Any thoughts?

 

Thanks.  Be gentle.

 

Andy

I find the mask issue perplexing. Cloth masks give 0 protection, surgical masks provide 11% protection and a correctly fitting N95 is 95% effective and very uncomfortable...why are we masking when we are fully vaccined and pre-testing negative...why? 

On 9/30/2021 at 5:39 PM, Portolan said:

So, Regent's test says positive and they deny you boarding.  But your test from a "provider other than those retained by" Regent, is negative.  Therefore no FCC/refund?  I don't see how they can deny boarding and not recognize that as sufficient...

The " gold standard" is the PCR test. The antigen test has both many false + and false - results. Plus both tests are only as good as the person administering it. Many factors contribute to invalid results. As a HCP, I am always suspect when a pt. states, "I had covid but I had no S & S". I am disappointed to hear Regent is using an antigen test. I wish they would state which company they use for testing. Certain companies have higher false +. Those are the cheaper tests.

Thank you!

Thank you for all the useful information.