Originally Posted by sdflyer04
Couldn't you do the credit card trick with or without having the credits sent over early? I'm talking about making purchases at the end of April that would normally hit the CC bill on say May 25 (and therefore be sent to SW at about that time) and asking Bank One or SW to send over the credits by say May 10 so that I can use them prior to May 25. I swear I read somewhere that someone did this, but I can't find it with any searches.
Yes, you could do the CC trick without having the credits sent over early. For what it's worth, I have never heard of a bank such as BankOne sending the credits early (and if they did in fact do this I'm sure I would have taken advantage of something like this in the past). I understand what you are asking, I just don't think they would do something like that. What I suggested you might do (if in dire straights), is charge up your credit card early (as in Feb + March). Load up with refundable tickets that you can get refunded at your own leisure. Again, the only downfall to this is that you have to float the money from your own pocket (could be substantial......$10K or more depending on how many credits you need) for a few months.
Originally Posted by sdflyer04
I think the value of 2 RR credits (plus a 2 day rental) for $46 depends on the cost of your own transportation and the hassle of picking up and dropping off the car every weekend. For me the hassle value is high and $46 exceeds the cost of my weekend transportation without a rental car so I don't think it makes sense for me.
If you're not near an airport, you can try Hertz Local Editions. That's where I just rented from. The closest one to me is 2.3 miles. It was such a nice day out when I returned the car on Sunday that I decided to jog home rather than have the wife follow me and pick me up. And I actually have in fact left my car at this place for the whole 2 days as well. So if there is an H.L.E. on the way home from your work to your house, possibly you can swing by, swap cars and then head home. If you don't even want the rental car, you could technically check-in at the desk, get the rental car keys, walk them to the Express Return box, drop them in, and leave your rental car in the same spot and leave without actually stepping foot in the car. (At least you can do that at my HLE). But I'd rather burn miles using their car than mine anyways.
Originally Posted by sdflyer04
We've always had to show the CP card when we checked in. Are you just talking about making a reservation? I'm talking about flying shortly after earning the CP (or shortly before earning the CP).
I was under the impression that now that check-in and CP is automated that you no longer have to show it, kind of like you don't have to swipe your RR card anymore. If you make the reservation on-line, print your boarding pass out online, you get to the gate and then give them your boarding pass when they call your group. I didn't think they ask to see your CP at that time? Do they??!??!?!? I know it used to be different. And I honestly can't say I have any experience with it since the process was automated since I haven't taken a "companion" with me in several years. Others can correct me if I'm wrong though, which I may well be.