You may want to confirm that an AmEx GC is treated the same as other vendor GCs -- I do not know, definitively, how Cap1 reflects an AmEx GC -- even for qualifying spend!

Yeah, problem is I can't really call up CapOne CS and ask them (if they even know). So I was hoping that maybe another FTer had already tried.

It will be difficult to "swap with someone" because GC are not allowed on the Coupon Connection. I only mention this as a reminder to those not familiar with the CC forum rules.

As far as Hawaii tours, I don' know, but what about purchasing them from a travel agency?
I bought a hotel night from Hotwire thought it didn't count, but found that the points redemption folks said it would even if it doesn't say "travel" on my screen.

I understand the CC forum rules, -- it was merely a suggestion if someone knows someone who may still have certs left. I know that I've seen random posts by folks who've noted that they still have some certs left!

There are some 'exacting' calculations that would need to made to ensure that all the 'miles/points' earned are redeemed, -- since every time you make a purchase (travel or otherwise) w/the card (despite 'redeeming' to cover charges), the 2% earning of add'l miles/points is effected. Otherwise there is the 'risk' of leaving miles/points on the 'table'.:p

It's probably not even possible but I will use all of them that I can before the annual fee!

Btw do you know if I had a $100 travel purchase and only 3000 points can I use it to pay $30 of the $100 I charged or do you need enough to cover 100% of what you charge ?

AFAIK, you have to have the total amount of points (available) to redeem to cover the entire travel charge. I recall seeing someone mention that in the case of a multiple airline tkt purchase -- they were given the option to specify 'how many' tkts they wanted to cover via miles/points -- as in '1 to 10' (or 10% increments). So, this is clearly a YMMV situation. I will have to study the redemption offerings & see if there are possibilities for a couple thousand miles/pts!

so I suppose if I just show up in Disney world and get a room at the Contemporary resort which costs $300-400/nite I could potentially later pay this bill with points from both my wife's and my card??

If the answer is yes then I will finally get to stay at the place I first saw and wanted to stay at when I was 10

Yes, this should be a 'redeemable' travel charge -- to be covered by 'miles/points'!

You would have to charge different nights on each others card(to much trouble) or better just transfer the points to 1 card and use that one. They have free transfers.

Apparently you need enough to be able to credit it 100%. At least that's what the general consensus has been.

thanks!
yeah this could work!

indeed but we are actually only planning a 5 day stay this trip so it may not be a huge problem. But yeah I guess if they allow free transfers we could do that too.

will see!
but thank you

A strategy I employed to redeem all points in my account was first to put a baggage fee charge on my Venture card. As airfare, Capital One lets you indicate whether the charge was for 1 to 10 "tickets". I chose 10, which permitted me to redeem either 10%, 20%, 30% . . . 90%, or 100% of the baggage fee charge. This effectively let me redeem my last few Venture points in $2 increments (because I had a $20 baggage fee).

On the earning side, I knew how many total points I needed to have in my account to clear it out, so I purchased gas for the exact amount needed, and now my Venture point balance is 0.

Bingo....My wife and I each have the Cap1 Venture personal and business cards (4 cards total). I will probably transfer all of the points to one card and keep that card even after the annual fee is due so no fear of losing the miles if not used this year.

We will cancel the other three cards before the annual fee is due.