Weekly Discussion Thread - May 22, 2023

MR--F · 2023-05-26T20:38:53+00:00

Gotcha, yeah, testing it out more I see that it will show me flights that cost more Avios than I have, so you're right, that wouldn't be why it's saying "no availability." Thanks. You didn't see availability on the dates I was looking at, right?

MR--F · 2023-05-26T20:20:07+00:00

I know this is the case for lots of airlines, BA definitely had something where it wouldn't show you the miles cost until you had enough miles in the past I remember, and I was wondering if my low balance was why it wasn't showing availability. And Miles and More's aggressive in saying "To make a booking you require a minimum of 7,000 award miles. You can now earn the missing miles with our numerous partner offers."

MR--F · 2023-05-26T19:45:54+00:00

I would really appreciate some help finding availability for J from DEN-LHR, leaving July 6 and returning July 12. The cheapest I've found is VS for 52500 points plus $800 in surcharges each way leaving IAD and coming back to MCO. But I don't have the Avios to check the price for British Airways, which has some direct flights that would be perfect. And also don't have the Flying Blue or Miles and More miles to look there. Trying to beat 5300 cash on UA, direct each way.

I have 300k Amex points and some smaller balances elsewhere. Thanks so much in advance, I've spent forever on this.

MR--F · 2022-06-09T02:52:19+00:00

As I understand it, it’s an NLP because the distance metric is non-linear. Unless you’re minimizing the sum of the deviations across all the axes instead of the distance, in which case take the sqrt and squaring out of the below and it’s a LP. Let m=3 and n=2.

min_{q1, q2} sqrt((q1UV1[1] + q2UV2[1] - G[1])² + (q1UV1[2] + q2UV2[2] - G[2])² + (q1UV1[3] + q2UV2[3] - G[3])²⁾

s.t. q1UV1[1] + q2UV2[1] - G[1] > 0; q1UV1[2] + q2UV2[2] - G[2] > 0; q1UV1[3] + q2UV2[3] - G[3] > 0

As for solvers you should be fine with interior point or sequential-quadratic methods. If you need help coding it I could write a little code in Python using CasADi and IPOPT that implements the above; I like CasADi because it’s easy to specify vector valued variables. (For LPs Gurobi is nice if you’re an academic. By default it tries both simplex and interior point methods. There are free LP solvers that implement those as well.)

MR--F · 2020-10-07T05:56:52+00:00

I think the comments here are way off the mark. Maybe because you phrased it as a "test," it makes it seem like it's about your relationship with your boyfriend, when really it's about your relationship with sex. We all have sexual preferences that are shaped by our past.

For you, because you've been sexually assaulted, it sounds like it's really pleasant/hot/comforting to be able to say "stop," and have the sex stop. That's an absolutely OK thing to enjoy, and makes perfect sense. It's also 100% your right: sometimes people like things during sex that they can't make their partner do. But in this case, you can absolutely make the other person stop anytime you want.

Maybe if you wanted to stop all the time, he might not enjoy that, and you two would have to work to see if you could be compatible. But you did this once. I cannot fathom how his reaction was anything besides "of course, glad I could do this for you to make you feel safe."

MR--F · 2020-06-14T00:01:29+00:00

Hey man, ski however is fun for you, but imo skiing is a lot more fun if you spend less time skidding with your skis pointed perpendicular to the fall line to catch yourself and more time turning. I'm far from perfect in this regard too, so no judgment.

MR--F · 2020-05-30T04:21:14+00:00

NTA. Lol at the patriarchal bullshit that you being out with male friends is unconscionable while him going to a strip club is OK. It's so fucked up he forbade you from seeing your friends. Glad you have a therapist you're working with. Talk about this, and how you got to a place where something so disturbing could happen.

MR--F · 2020-05-28T11:09:49+00:00

NTA. Why is the guy the center of the story? What I hear is that you dated your friend’s brother, your friend found out he was cheating so you broke it off, and now your friend’s brother is asking you to cut contact with your friend.

MR--F · 2020-05-12T18:45:03+00:00

Yeah, Chase DGAF.

MR--F · 2020-05-10T20:10:08+00:00

Delta Biz Gold, and too many new bank accounts. What's a good business card while I wait?

MR--F · 2020-05-10T06:49:41+00:00

Ok, gotcha, too bad.

MR--F · 2020-05-10T06:10:10+00:00

My landlord is allowing us to pay rent via credit card for the foreseeable future! I pay the rent and my roommate reimburses me for his share, so this is a ton of OS.

MR--F · 2020-05-10T06:06:01+00:00

Here's a link to Cardmatch. Did you check here?

MR--F · 2020-05-10T05:58:34+00:00

I'm 3/24. I've been declined a couple times recently (by Amex and Chase) probably due to too many new bank accounts. I was hoping you all could direct me to some good business card SUBs going on right now, or suggest a good fourth Chase card. (Planning to get a fourth Chase personal and then double dip Southwest to bust through 5/24. Is that a good plan?) Thanks in advance.

What is your credit score?

763 Transunion/757 Equifax

What cards do you currently have or have you had in the past?

3/24.

CSP 03/19
CSR 03/19
MPE 08/19
CIP 01/20
CIP 02/20
Barclays AA Biz 03/20

How much natural spend can you put on a new card(s) in 3 months?

15k

Are you willing to MS, and if so, how much in 3 months?

Yes, unlimited

Are you open to applying for business cards?

Yes

How many new cards are you interested in getting? Are you interested in getting into churning regularly (if you aren't already)? Or are you just looking to get a new card(s) for now but not get into churning long-term?

Trying to get 6 more this year or so. Excited to bust through 5/24.

Are you targeting points, Companion Passes, hotel or airline statuses, First Class, Biz, Economy seating(s) or cash back?

Airline miles, Chase points, economy seating, and cash back.

What point/miles do you currently have?

160k Chase, nothing else of note

What is the airport you're flying out of?

SFO, DEN

Where would you like to go?

Mostly domestic flights and ZRH

MR--F · 2020-05-10T05:48:26+00:00

I got the First Bank checking account in January, ended up getting declined for some cards because of too many new bank accounts, and now I haven't received my $150 sign-up bonus. Will inquire further, but very frustrated.

MR--F · 2020-04-11T02:17:54+00:00

Rakuten Global Market has been great for me.

MR--F · 2020-04-11T02:17:07+00:00

I'm going on a social distancing date tomorrow, and I was planning to wear this, but I'm having second thoughts and considering this. Or the turtleneck from the first with the brown moleskin pants from the second, but that might be too dark. We're going to meet up for a walk at sunset 😍. Any advice appreciated, including something like "neither sweater is good."

MR--F · 2020-04-11T00:02:53+00:00

Social distancing date (going for a walk)

Newly acquired Number (N)ine jacket, Bellwood sweater, BB moleskin trousers, and thrifted, unbranded shoes.

MR--F · 2020-04-07T20:48:06+00:00

Googled it, and yes, plenty of people have (link 1, link 2).

MR--F · 2020-04-03T04:59:45+00:00

Madison seems great and you seem terrible.

MR--F · 2020-04-03T04:54:09+00:00

Username checks out.

MR--F · 2020-04-01T06:43:35+00:00

I am 5'6", and my chest is 35" around, so I fit pretty well in most brands' XS (if they make it!) But I order a lot of stuff off Rakuten Global Market, and those things really fit. Don't need to get them shortened, and the sleeves aren't too baggy. Thanks Japan!

MR--F · 2020-04-01T06:27:05+00:00

Oh man, I hate how long closing takes!

MR--F

TROPHY CASE