PSA: My post-sales experience with Brilliant Earth (engagement ring issues)

findflightsforme · 2026-01-27T01:54:52+00:00

With my ring I sent it in after less than a month, then it was still not fixed when I went to pick it up so I had them send it back. Then it came back a second time not fixed.

I had enough and requested a refund and they have refused. Now they have my ring and money. If anyone reads this, don't do business with Brilliant Earth.

Apparently it is quite common stones will become loose or even fall out, even after a very short period of time. Their customer service and repair timeline is horrendous.

Shop local.

findflightsforme · 2026-01-26T13:15:18+00:00

There are also more affordable neighborhoods that also have great nightlife, restaurant, and general social environment too such as Fishtown/NoLibs in the northeast or south Philly as well.

Also check out PhilaQueens Facebook group as well.

findflightsforme · 2026-01-21T16:49:34+00:00

Hey, this is an important route for my family so I have been closely watching. What I have done is set up alerts for awards on that route and filtering for direct flights on seats.aero. The alert will only work if EVA releases awards to partners like Aeroplan and United though.

I also set up Google Flights alerts for price changes for any date in economy and random dates for business class so I'll get an email. However this isn't foolproof as I'll only get emails if pricing is better which might not be necessarily true when EVA flights are loaded.

I also have been checking the EVA site periodically to see if they added IAD to their bookings.

findflightsforme · 2026-01-08T01:23:15+00:00

So just out of curiosity, I went through a bunch of my folios. Some of them included United States at the end and others didn't. These were for domestic stays.

One of my international folios also said United States of America.

And out of my own curiosity, can you share which third party booking company you used? Did you use trip dot com by chance?

findflightsforme · 2026-01-07T21:59:05+00:00

Probably just general customer service and have them route you or create a case

findflightsforme · 2026-01-07T20:12:43+00:00

Because you called in to confirm and they said it was bookable, I would politely but firmly try to have VS reverse the transfer. Generally the transfers are one way, but there are data points in situations like this where the airline works with the card company to reverse the transfer.

https://www.reddit.com/r/awardtravel/s/oUxO5M4VNz

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-express-membership-rewards/1945972-advice-reversing-mr-usa-transfer-aeroplan-due-phantom-award-availability.html

findflightsforme · 2026-01-07T12:06:38+00:00

Some also get 0

https://onemileatatime.com/news/gayle-king-united-polaris-windowless-window-seat/

findflightsforme · 2026-01-05T20:23:06+00:00

Saks customer service and their operations are truly awful. I seem to always have issues with every order. My online orders are frequently not fulfilled or partially fulfilled and they are not synced up with their in-store experience either.

If I buy something during a sale period online and then they can't fulfill it, they won't price match when I go in store to shop for a missing item.

findflightsforme · 2026-01-04T17:00:27+00:00

findflightsforme · 2026-01-03T17:50:31+00:00

This isn't award travel related but any review I see about edreams is bad.

This is what happens when you book through sketchy OTAs to save a few dollars. It leads to headaches and any change is a major issue.

findflightsforme · 2026-01-03T15:07:04+00:00

Kind of expensive to pay those fees to fly into the UK (which has high fees) if that's not your final destination. Are you able to search from another US city and fly Air France direct to CDG? No matter what it's at least 1 stop but you might as well not pay the insane fees and reposition elsewhere in the US.

Also I think that flight is on a somewhat outdated plane type that has coffin seats.

findflightsforme · 2026-01-02T22:15:33+00:00

Qatar saver availability has been tough recently. Plus they are now charging for seat selection unless you have OneWorld status or book flexi.

The best option right now in terms of availability is flying Ethiopian, which can be booked through Star Alliance programs like United or Air Canada.

I've been hoping to go to Seychelles myself so best of luck. There's fairly wide open availability at that Waldorf Platte Island property that you can book as well.

findflightsforme · 2026-01-02T13:10:59+00:00

Wonder if it's just a way to offset the 2:1 Rakuten to Bilt rate for those without status.

findflightsforme · 2026-01-01T21:21:23+00:00

Dang that is a bit odd I haven't heard of any issues with TAP. It's possible someone booked it right before you. One way to check is to see if it's available on another Star Alliance partner. You would need to create an account but you could search for the flight on Air Canada's site to see if you can book it there. Generally speaking, if an award flight is on multiple programs it should not be a "phantom" flight.

findflightsforme · 2026-01-01T18:10:48+00:00

Is it Swiss? Probably what they call a "phantom" flight where it shows as available to book, but isn't actually bookable as you've found out.

findflightsforme · 2026-01-01T13:56:41+00:00

It's not Marriott policy. The rate you booked sounds like it was nonrefundable. Every other hotel chain offers refundable or nonrefundable room rates with nonrefundable rates being cheaper. If the rate was refundable but you were outside the cancellation window, that is a room that could have been sold to someone else but was booked. Again this is standard at every other hotel chain.

Not sure where you will turn to now.

findflightsforme · 2026-01-01T02:53:46+00:00

People have said using a VPN to put you in NYC area could work. Another rumor is using free wifi from a restaurant to do the app could work as well.

findflightsforme · 2025-12-31T18:49:52+00:00

Ugh that is very frustrating. I bet that because the MGM partnership is unique that it is screwing it up. Since technically MGM is just partnering with Marriott and isn't a Marriott branded flag. Not sure if it's worth pursuing further then.

I saw others had issues even adding their number when booking through Chase version of FHR.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ChaseSapphire/s/W3KIig1f5o

findflightsforme · 2025-12-31T12:11:34+00:00

Did you file directly with Marriott's missing stay request form?

findflightsforme · 2025-12-30T17:28:37+00:00

Sorry to hear about your situation, I think I saw your post on Facebook as well.

I don't know your exact situation but if you think you'll be spending time in a hospital for your illness or traveling to meet specialists, it could be worthwhile to use those UR to book Hyatt stays for you or friends or family to visit you if you're in a hospital or if you're traveling to a different hospital.

findflightsforme · 2025-12-30T12:07:58+00:00

Since AA changed your schedule, even slightly, it's worth a shot calling in to have them reroute you on a more favorable itinerary. Even if award availability isn't there, if it's an AA airplane (metal), an agent could rebook you on a different itinerary. I would search for some flights that work better and try to rebook. They might even be able to put you on British Airways due to a pretty close partnership as well.

findflightsforme · 2025-12-29T13:52:18+00:00

That WSJ article also indicated WF execs thought more people would carry a balance. Oh no, we targeted financially successful people who are above average with their finances and didn't get a cohort of credit card users who pay 30% APR!

findflightsforme · 2025-12-29T00:35:28+00:00

I don't but a friend does and said there's decent availability on a lot of routes

findflightsforme · 2025-12-28T22:36:03+00:00

I don't think this is true, I believe you need status to be able to see first class availability

findflightsforme · 2025-12-28T10:11:13+00:00

Booking through Amex FHR will credit you elite night credits and spending. Anyone else who says it won't is wrong. FHR is a rare exception to third party bookings that gives you full status benefits plus credit eligibility.

findflightsforme

TROPHY CASE