For the people that complain about the current coupon style nerfed benefits, especially the long term card holders, how did you get $595 in value before last year's refresh?
Perhaps the simplest and most vivid example of how the mind works in day-to-day life.
" Know the (individual) self as the master of the chariot, and the body as the chariot. Know the intellect as the charioteer, and the mind as verily the bridle.
They call the organs the horses; the organs having been imagined as horses, (know) the objects as the roads. The discriminating people call that Self the enjoyer when It is associated with body, organs, and mind."
The intellect mentioned here is the buddhi, the function of mind that discriminates between the truth or untruth not the common meaning of discriminate that has negative connotations. The organs or horses are our senses. The road is the world of sense objects.
"But the organs of that intellect, which, being ever associated with an uncontrolled mind, becomes devoid of discrimination, are unruly like the vicious horses of the charioteer.
But of that (intellect) which, being ever associated with a restrained mind, is endowed with discrimination, the organs are controllable like the good horses of the charioteer.
But he, (that master of the chariot), does not attain that goal (through that intellect), who, being associated with a nondiscriminating intellect and an uncontrollable mind, is ever impure; and he attains worldly existence. "
To add to this, the reins are the function of mind called manas, which brings the sense objects to the charioteer and which the charioteer can guide the horses.
So, the question to all of us is how tight are our hands on the reins? Do we allow the horses of the senses to run amok and chase everything they see on the road? Or do keep a firm hand on the reins?
A simple, practical example is whether to have a second piece of pie for dessert where we're already stuffed. Is the desire for a second unnecessary piece given free rein,, or is it pulled in?
I hold both the CSR and Amex Platinum and prefer direct vs portal bookings. For my travels I might do a series of one way bookings : NYC-BCN-AGP then MAD-VCE then ZCH-JFK with some train rides within. Different airlines and alliances for the lowest cost.
Do you prefer the Chase 4x UR and better travel insurance or 5x Amex?
If we were to include portal bookings would this change your thinking?
Thank you.
Many of these topics I don't believe made it into the movie.
Dubois has three doctorates in physics, biology, and chemistry. Presumably, after years of tutelage under Grace, he is his equal in Astrophage biology, and probably superior in other scientific things like astrogation. He had extensive training in space suits and presumably extravehicular travel. A far superior science crew member.
He is a tinkerer outside of biology. The fatal explosion was caused through no fault of his own by his tinkering with an astrophage engine. So he's proficient at figuring things out at the physical level.
His social skills seem well developed. Probably better first contact person. He could have just as easily developed the relationship with Rocky as Grace.
It looks like there are plenty of lounges, but if you look at them, they're for international or domestic only, of which US crossborder is neither.
Fortunately, I got into the Desjardins Odyssey Lounge with my Amex Platinum. A little small, but there was room for everyone.
As I've said in other posts, I look to Chase Edit as experience enhancers, not getting the most for your buck at the lowest cost. More of a Whole Foods rather than a Costco's.
Looking at the Mondrian Seoul December 9-12. The cost on the Accor website and Chase Edit were exactly the same: $774. This is for the same room, refundable with breakfast on the Accor site. $150 a night is more in line with my winter Seoul spend for a basic no frills hotel, so this is giving me a much better experience that I would have had otherwise. It's $550 non-refundable and no breakfast, a little out of my price range. Accor also has an Ibis brand, with rooms 25% smaller at $360 refundable, well within my price range. So for my $525 it's a no brainer. It's still $25 less than direct non-refundable with all the Edit benefits. To me the $165 extra for the bigger room, breakfast, $100 hotel credit, and other if available benefits versus the no frills Ibis price is worth it.
Likewise for the Kimpton in Taipei Nov 25-28. $1041 on Edit, $913 for non-refundable no breakfast, $1012 for refundable with breakfast.
So, to summarize, the pricing of refundable and breakfast on the hotels site is close to the Edit pricing for the two that I'm looking at. In effect, Chase is forcing you to buy extras that you may or may not want. However, the $250 Edit credit, $100 hotel credit, and other benefits make it a no-brainer for me.
Ultimately, we have to make the decision for what works best for us in each situation.
I've recently noted two synergies of other memberships with the CSR card:
For the infamous Door Dash grocery credit, I link my Door Dash to my BJ's account. The $10 credit becomes a $6-$7 credit after tip and Delivery fee if over $12. The convenience of not having to spend the hour and a half to go to my local BJs is well worth it for those once in a while items, especially if they're discounted on BJs
United Airlines redemptions. They've recently changed their redemption rules to favor cardholders. I've got the United Explorer, I believe the lowest tier annual fee card. I recently redeemed hnd-ewr business class tickets for 90k points per person where they had 250k points crossed out. Every redemption has a minimum of 10% discounted for cardholders. This was a major value driver for me this year. I don't have $8000 or 500k points for a couple of business class tickets, but do have 180k points.
Anything you've found that you'd like to share?
I'm a value driven traveler on a relatively modest budget. I usually stay in a budget three star hotel. With the Edit, I can stay at a 4 or 5 star depending on whether I'm in Western Europe or SEA. My research shows when comparing to refundable direct bookings, the prices are usually within 5%. It might cost $50 a night more with the credit, but I'm getting a bigger room (usually 50 square feet or more), a nicer place, better breakfast, $100 credit and the rest. Also, we're in hotel rooms 60 or more nights a year, so six or so slightly more expensive nights doesn't stain the budget too much.
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In a way, the Chase hotel partnership strategy is working with me. I look for IHG properties first now. These have been a step up from hotels I would have stayed in without the credit and are actually in my price range with the credit in the less expensive cities.
A lot of people complain about the Stub Hub credit being an overpriced ticket for something that they wouldn't go to normally.
That's exactly why I'm enjoying the credit so much.
One of my most vivid childhood memories was standing in line outside of Radio City Music Hall in NYC waiting to see A Charlie Brown Christmas. It was a magical night, seeing the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, getting hot chocolate, the Rockettes, the movie. As I was passing Radio City last Christmas, nostalgia swept over me, but the tickets were more than I would pay for. I'm nostalgic, but still thrifty. I used the Stub Hub and saw the Christmas show. TBH, it didn't live up to my childhood memories, but was still a nice way to spend the afternoon.
I'll be going to the NY Philharmonic later this month. Something I would not pay $175 for, but for $25 I'll give it a shot.