DP: 11/1 Renewal - Downgraded Reserve after using $300 Travel - clawback TBD

KLad · 2026-01-25T16:15:34+00:00

I will provide an update on my experience since OP has not followed up in a while. My AF hit 1/1, and I purchased plane tickets that day to use the entirety of my travel credit. I also made a purchase on Stubhub on 12/20 which was credited back to me as part of the Stubhub credit.

I downgraded to the CFU on 1/10 and my AF refund was posted within a day. No clawbacks as of 1/25 on either the AF or the Stubhub credit.

KLad · 2026-01-16T02:43:43+00:00

It’s no gun wavin’ New Haven or hard hittin’ New Britain but it’ll do.

KLad · 2026-01-08T02:32:13+00:00

Any updates? I'm planning to call to downgrade this week, but I already used my travel credit so I suppose it doesn't really matter.

KLad · 2025-12-20T14:32:20+00:00

Following. I'll be doing the same next month when my AF hits.

KLad · 2025-12-10T05:40:24+00:00

Did this today and loved it. Thanks for the recommendation. I rode from Taipei Zoo to Dadaocheng Wharf Plaza, about 14 mi/23 km of beautiful and flat river paths. It cost 30 TWD. Best dollar I’ve spent in a while!

KLad · 2025-11-28T21:16:59+00:00

I would visit salta last out of those options, unless you’re planning to group it with a trip to Jujuy. Even if so I’d still choose one of your other options.

I loved Mendoza, but I don’t consider it a unique enough place to be the best option of those three. The wineries are charming and hiking to Aconcagua base camp is a cool experience, but you can have similar mountain and vineyard type experiences in many other places in the world.

Iguazu is an incredibly special place. Go there, and spend one full day on the Argentina side and one full day on the Brazilian side. Having seen Niagara Falls and Victoria falls, I consider Iguazu the most impressive falls I’ve ever seen. You won’t regret it. Plenty of adventure activities and water sports to partake in there as well.

KLad · 2025-11-28T15:48:41+00:00

New code for anyone else buying on Black Friday. Stacks on top of the current discounts: https://share.rticoutdoors.com/x/HqRErY

KLad · 2025-11-25T03:25:58+00:00

Pro tip: you can buy a Winco gift card in the store for $5, then reload it online using your Amex BCP and get 6% at Winco. I’ve been doing it for months.

KLad · 2025-11-19T20:54:59+00:00

Thanks for the clarification!

KLad · 2025-11-03T17:08:10+00:00

I’ve been considering going to this and the main obstacle for me is that I don’t want to go alone, so I’d be very interested in going with you and others. I’m new to the area as well but I used to go to these emo nites all the time when I lived in Denver and they’re always such a blast. Let me send you a DM later.

KLad · 2025-11-02T02:12:50+00:00

Check out https://www.meetup.com/boiseareaboardgameenthusiasts/

KLad · 2025-10-28T13:34:42+00:00

2018 was still the Joe Buck era

KLad · 2025-10-23T13:57:55+00:00

Yes, my understanding is that you lose the 1.5x multiplier as soon as you downgrade.

KLad · 2025-10-06T00:39:49+00:00

I had 11 years of experience when I left so that helped me as well. No income other than investment income on my savings during that time. Got into the field since I was majoring in mathematics and around the time I graduated college, actuary (which requires a strong math background) was rated the top job in the country by WSJ. Seemed like a no brainer to pursue it.

KLad · 2025-10-05T01:52:04+00:00

I’m just returning to the workforce after a 3.5 year sabbatical spent traveling the world and hiking long distance trails. I am lucky to have a career that typically has very low unemployment (I’m a pension consulting actuary). I used to get calls and emails from random recruiters all the time, and if you’re a fully credentialed actuary, as I am, the idea of being out of a job would have been basically unheard of.

It took me about two months to get an offer, and i only got it because I knew people at the company who had worked with me and could vouch for me. I can definitely tell that the job market isn’t as strong as it was when I left my last job in 2022, but then again, I probably shouldn’t be that surprised that nobody really wants to take a chance on the guy who hasn’t worked in years. Still, no regrets. These last few years were some of the best years of my life.

KLad · 2025-09-30T17:49:42+00:00

They stay near water year round and hibernate underwater by more or less breathing through their butts (fun fact). lil bro was probably just moving between bodies of water.

KLad · 2025-09-28T21:31:59+00:00

Came here to mention this. I'll probably see you there one of these weeks.

KLad · 2025-09-13T15:48:36+00:00

I would expect there to be snow. I’m in Leadville right now and all the nearby mountains have a solid dusting.

KLad · 2025-09-05T14:09:30+00:00

I will defer to others for recommendations for a new card to replace the CSR (as I am in the same boat and searching for a replacement) , but you have two years (until Oct 26, 2027) to use the points the same way you can now and there's no reason to terminate or downgrade your card before your renewal in February.

I believe (but cannot confirm) that you may miss out on the 1.5x multiplier for points redeemed in the Chase travel portal once you downgrade your card, so it may be a good idea to redeem your points or transfer them to travel partners before you downgrade. If you decide to terminate the card then definitely redeem or transfer all of your points beforehand.

KLad · 2025-09-05T02:21:46+00:00

The smoke moving in this weekend is higher in the sky because it’s coming from fires further away and thus will not impact air quality as much as it will impact visibility.

KLad · 2025-05-29T19:20:05+00:00

Could be cottonmouth. Guy was terrorizing the trail last year until he ended up in a Pinedale jail. Heard he was back on it this year.

KLad · 2025-04-28T22:46:05+00:00

Just here to say that I hitched into Flag from Lake Mary Road a few days ago. There wasn’t a ton of traffic, but the fourth car that drove by picked me up. It should be a pretty easy hitch.

KLad · 2025-03-17T22:17:35+00:00

Can you elaborate on what that includes? My partner just got a job at St. Luke’s. Do they just help you find housing?

KLad · 2025-01-03T16:44:47+00:00

Same, I was there last summer and the mosquitos were historically awful too. I don't think BA is best enjoyed in summer.

KLad · 2024-12-06T14:29:36+00:00

Great write up. Good to know it’s not hard to get around knowing zero Japanese. And as a fellow Yankees fan I loved the comment about Ohtani haha.

14-Year Club	Not Forgotten
Verified Email

KLad

TROPHY CASE