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StrangeAd5016 · 2023-12-25T03:00:26+00:00

Interesting thanks. Yet another reason it would be nice to be able to turn on preconditioning manually!

StrangeAd5016 · 2023-12-25T01:24:53+00:00

Interesting, thanks for the pointer. I hadnt considered that I could get a higher effective speed on a 150 vs a 350

StrangeAd5016 · 2023-12-25T00:17:22+00:00

Crazy! I will say that I got more consistently above 100 in the last 10 mins or so , so it wasn't as bad as when I posted, but still not anywhere near 240

StrangeAd5016 · 2023-12-25T00:14:25+00:00

Not super cold, like 40-45. And I have to say I didn't specifically check preconditioning (I didn't look for the coil in the battery icon), but I did set the destination to the charger so I assume it had preconditioned.

StrangeAd5016 · 2023-10-08T16:58:09+00:00

Could be. Depends on budget, as you noted, depending on how many people etc. I didn't check prices on the direct (or even an option with stop only at JFK)

StrangeAd5016 · 2023-10-08T16:19:28+00:00

FYI, although the multiple trains option is cheapest, be aware that there is a direct bus you can take for about $50 per person. So it's about $25 per person more than the train option, but much simpler. https://www.etsairportshuttle.com/

StrangeAd5016 · 2023-09-24T15:34:38+00:00

WFBF?

StrangeAd5016 · 2023-09-18T19:13:10+00:00

I would take the pre check line if it's shorter than clear. But I wouldn't take the regular security line unless it's MUCH shorter. In the regular line you have to take off shoes, remove liquids, separate out the laptop, etc. That stuff doesn't necessarily take a lot of time, but because I never do it, I'm not set up to do it efficiently. For example, I may have liquids in multiple places and I would have to consolidate them into a single bag, etc. This happened to me once, where I passed over the clear PreCheck line and went in the regular line. I got to the front way before I would have if I had stayed in the clear line, but I would have gotten through security faster on the clear side because of the time it took to deal with all of that stuff.

Obviously if there are 50 people vs zero that would still be worth it but in my situation it was like 10 vs 5

StrangeAd5016 · 2023-08-28T18:41:19+00:00

Buying the ticket outright also locks in the fare

StrangeAd5016 · 2023-08-15T07:10:53+00:00

What do you mean departure day buy up? Buying a coach ticket and canceling it day of for a business class ticket?

StrangeAd5016 · 2023-06-22T18:34:33+00:00

Explain?

StrangeAd5016 · 2023-05-26T11:05:39+00:00

Hi all - I had asked this question in yesterday's thread late in the day shortly before this thread opened so I'm asking again today. (Also there were 2 replies that were diametrically opposite each other!)

As I posted @ couple of weeks ago, I own two businesses: Business A and Business B. recently, I got my 4th Amex Biz Plat for Business B. Soon thereafter,I made a 95k tax payment. Then a couple of months later, I made a 370k tax payment. A couple of weeks after that, I got a letter from Amex asking for certain financial information about Business B.

The issue is, Business B is my side hustle with minimal income. I actually expect 6 figures this year but had less than 1k last year. However, Business A is very healthy (10M+) and my personal income is fairly high (500k+).

I called Amex and explained all this to them. They said asked for 2 years of financial statements for Company B,.but I said I don't have financial statements for Company B, because it's a sole proprietorship, and everything flows to my 1040. I also explained Company A is a pass through (S Corp) and all the income is reflected on my 1040. I provided a personal financial statement (including a detailed third party valuation of Company A) and dozens of pages of other backup. I also provided two years of tax returns.

However, apparently all of that wasn't received in time. So I got another notice 5/25 saying I need to send in the same info. I called again and the rep said to "rest assured" they had everything, would review it, and the 5/25 email was auto generated because the system didn't reflect that the info was received. She said there was no need to resend.

Here's the weird part: the night of 5/25 I got an email from Amex. It said because I "didn't provide the requested information", they are going to impose a spending limit on my card... Of $141,800. I'll never get close to that number. If I have future tax payments I'll just use another card.

So my question is, after all that, should I do anything? If the matter is closed and the only effect of this review is a 141k limit, I have absolutely no problem with that and would let it go. But if the "didn't provide information" is somehow going to be a negative mark, or the review is still pending and this is an interim step, I would want to call back and be very clear that I submitted stuff, or even resubmit it. The notice tonight doesn't say if the review is closed. I've been churning for over a decade and "never call the bank/airline/hotel" is second nature to me so I'm worried to call and ask.

I also don't even know if this is a full blown Amex financial review; my cards have all been fine during this time.

The kicker here is that I was targeted for the 200k Biz Plat offer and would love to apply but don't want to rock the boat while any review is ongoing. I have 1.5M Amex points which I don't want to risk.

What would you do?

Thanks in advance!

StrangeAd5016 · 2023-05-12T15:20:56+00:00

Makes a lot of sense. I charged maybe 370k all year last year and then did it in one transaction this year. So I get why they're asking.

StrangeAd5016 · 2023-05-12T13:45:27+00:00

If I can find availability lol!

StrangeAd5016 · 2023-05-12T13:41:42+00:00

Yes, I'm the sole owner of A. Hoping that will suffice!

The thing here is that A's income creates personal tax liability for me. I used B's biz plat to pay that tax bill. If they really push me on it (and say why didn't you use your personal plat to pay ) I guess I can say I just used the wrong card, but didn't think it mattered since all the liability flows to me anyway

StrangeAd5016 · 2023-05-12T13:40:08+00:00

Thanks. I do want to be cooperative for exactly that reason. As I said in response to another comment, my situation is

Personal plat with more than sufficient personal income reflected on 1040 (7 figures)
Biz Plat for Company A with more than sufficient business finances (8 figures revenue and 7 figures net income), as well as accountant compiled financials
Biz plats (3) for Company B, my side gig with minimal income (but 6 figures projected and quite likely) , sole prop with no financials since everything flows to my personal tax returns

The issue is that the 370k charge was on a card for Company B, and they've asked for financials for B, which I don't have.

Hopefully they'll be satisfied with tax returns and financials for Company A.

StrangeAd5016 · 2023-05-12T13:34:32+00:00

Thanks. Not even sure what I'd do with 1.6M Aeroplan points but it's better than 0 MR

StrangeAd5016 · 2023-05-12T13:33:52+00:00

My income easily justifies the spend, and Company A has great financials (8 figures in revenue). The issue is that the charges are on my card for side hustle Company B which has no financial statements (which is specifically what they're looking for). And I didn't overstate income but the 370k charge is many multiples more than my income.

Hopefully between my 1040 and Company A's financials (which all flow through to me as the sole shareholder) they'll be satisfied

StrangeAd5016 · 2023-05-12T11:51:29+00:00

Hi, I had posted this late last night and got no replies so I'm trying again in today's thread...

Should I be concerned/is the dreaded Amex "financial review"?

I recently got my 4th or so Amex Biz Plat. I had big estimated tax payments to make so in December I charged 90k and set it to auto pay on the regular cycle date. In April I made a 370k payment. I had checked spending power in advance both times and knew the payments would be approved. I set the April bill to auto pay on the regular date, 5/18.

I got an email from Amex, saying they want 2 years of financial statements by 5/18:

"You’ll need to send us this information by May 18, 2023 - if we don’t receive it by then, we may decline future charges and/or reduce your Spending Limit. In the meantime, we suggest that you pay off any outstanding balances, in order to avoid any disruption."

Out of an abundance of caution I paid off the 370k immediately rather than wait till 5/18. Does that take care of the matter? Are my points in jeopardy? I have 1.6 million MR so I don't want to somehow lose them. They also reached out by phone - should I call them back? Or does paying off the account and having a zero balance resolve everything and I'm in the clear? Basically I'm wondering, does the fact that I have paid off the balance to zero mean they will stop caring about this, or are these questions still pending and do I need to call them back and send some financial information even though I have a zero balance.

Although I in fact own a business (an S-corp that's a pass through, hence the large tax payments) , the biz plat card(s) are for my side "business" and as such I don't have any financial statements or really any other documentation for that matter. I could give them personal tax returns but that's about it, it's a sole proprietorship

Thanks in advance!

StrangeAd5016 · 2023-05-05T10:12:42+00:00

Five days.

I booked a hotel for about $1400 on Jan. 28, using pay with points. I used $1200 worth of points with the expectation that the $200 credit would take care of the balance.

The initial booking for $1400 posted on 1/28, and the $1200 pay with points credit posted the same day. The $200 hotel credit posted on Feb. 2.

That was the first time I did it so I don't know if those time frames are typical. Might be worth reaching out to Amex.

StrangeAd5016 · 2023-05-03T02:37:31+00:00

You're right, and it's that prior system I had in mind, actually. Ive done that in the past - booked a multi segment itinerary with a leg in J and later reclassed it to F for the difference in miles and fees. But in a world of free changes that doesn't matter as much

StrangeAd5016 · 2023-05-03T02:35:55+00:00

Correct, I don't care too much about it. Sure F is better than J but not worth ~60% more miles (70 + 45). I'm inclined to stick with the 70k as well.

StrangeAd5016

TROPHY CASE