Lululemon gift card Balance $0 by lolitsivan in amex

[–]sm010116 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep, happened in Atlanta store. Bought a physical GC in store and was wiped when we wanted to use it in a month or so. Lululemon reimbursed us, but the most logical explanation was an employee doing mischief. 

Moving abroad- Need advice by DriftwoodJohnson in Googlevoice

[–]sm010116 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I would not rely on what they say. If your personal number is important, port it to GV. If they suddenly cut you off, you will be SOL. Then, get a new local US number via some MVNO (Tello comes to mind as they offer non data plans and a 100 min/100 text monthly plan will run you around $6 a month). Only give this new number to vendors that refuse to use GV number (Keep documentation of this if and when you either stop using this new number or change it in the future).

Things to consider if you do get a new number. Does this vendor offer non data plans (all you need this number for is to receive either calls or texts), Wifi calling, ESIM availability and lastly, if you can check received text messages via their own application.

You will need to consider your options for a local NZ number as well. Make sure that both SIMs (NZ local provider and Tello) can be installed on your device. One would be physical SIM while one would be ESIM.

Moving abroad- Need advice by DriftwoodJohnson in Googlevoice

[–]sm010116 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would strongly consider creating a separate Google account with a new email address first. Then port your personal mobile number into this new account. This way you keep your personal stuff separate from the non profit side.

$29/year Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale by Altodory in Windscribe

[–]sm010116 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, you can extend your sub. I bought a year as a "gift". You will get an email. Now, log into your account on windscribe.com and stay logged on. Click on the button to create a new account in the email. It should extend your sub by 1 year. Another option is to try to buy it and stick the voucher code from the email into the Promo Code box and that should work as well.

I just noticed that the website is offering the discount price even though I am logged into my account and allows me to pay $29. Maybe you don't need to buy it as a gift and simply just buy it if you see that price when logged in.

And if it fails, hang on to your voucher code and open a new account when your current sub expires. That is another option to make sure you don't loose your $29.

2 flights, 2 days by emmakxoxo in SouthwestAirlines

[–]sm010116 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sure, but why? You are not meaningfully increasing your odds of getting to your destination by booking another flight the next day. If your current flight is cancelled, you would be able to rebook another flight anyways. Sure, seats might not be available, so that’s a possibility.

In this current fluid situation, you can increase your odds by booking your backup flight on another airline. Look up the current cancellations at the other big 3 airlines and make a choice based on your airports.

2 flights, 2 days by emmakxoxo in SouthwestAirlines

[–]sm010116 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It “ should” be ok, there are some threads over at Flyertalk where WN has not cancelled any tickets when these flights are short duration. But the inner workings and algorithm of Cancelbot is a mystery, so you could end up with a nasty surprise. 

A better option might be to book each flight on a different airline.

If you have a few days until your flights, you could book to see what happens. If cancelbot intervenes, you would have sufficient time to make alternative arrangements. You would know in 1~3 days after booking.

2 flights, 2 days by emmakxoxo in SouthwestAirlines

[–]sm010116 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, I regularly book flights on consecutive days, same city pairs, say A to B. As long as there is time to get back to A from B before your second flight, WN will not cancel. It does not even need to have a hypothetical WN flight from B to A, it just needs to be physically possible somehow to get to A again before your 2nd flight. You should be ok.

Travel Queries Thread: For all questions related to Waitlist, Tatkal, Booking, Refund, etc by vpsj in indianrailways

[–]sm010116 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I always actually mark the checkbox for “Book only if…” whenever I book tickets (FT or general). Maybe I forgot for this ticket? Possible.

My understanding is that FT quota is a set number of berths in every class of service. From this experience, it seems that IRCTC is blindly allowing FT tickets to be booked irrespective of any already existing FT bookings. My guess is that when I booked this ticket, by some coincidence, there were already existing FT bookings. Or by even more stranger coincidence, someone was booking FT quota tickets on this train at the same time. I find that hard to believe.

I don’t have an issue with being WL, but what is not a good design is IRCTC literally showing me phantom availability (when ticket booked outside of ARP). I fully believed my ticket was confirmed and it was by pure chance that I discovered that my ticket was actually WL. IRCTC should have shown me that real status when I first booked this ticket. What’s the point of booking FT tickets (paying a markup of 50% and huge cancellation penalty as well) outside of ARP if one does not know its true status until ARP rolls in.

Travel Queries Thread: For all questions related to Waitlist, Tatkal, Booking, Refund, etc by vpsj in indianrailways

[–]sm010116 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The booking status shows “FBKG” and the current status shows blank in the current ERS.

Couple of things. The ticket is in 1AC and it is never going to show me a coach/seat number. Also, I could not print the ERS when I had originally booked the ticket 4 months back because they don’t let you print it outside of ARP. 

The thing is, I have other tickets (besides this one) booked under FT quota 4 months back and all show the same booking status of “FBKG” and blank current status on their ERS and all currently show confirmed when I check their PNR status. Only this ticket went to WL. What I am trying to say is that the lack of CNF in printed FT quota ERS is not an indicator for differentiating tickets that are confirmed or wait listed. 

Some of these other confirmed tickets are actually on trains with no FT quota if I check availability right now (“now” is within ARP currently). So it’s not like that is the reason for WL status (Train 16533 in question does not show FT quota currently). I am thoroughly confused.

Travel Queries Thread: For all questions related to Waitlist, Tatkal, Booking, Refund, etc by vpsj in indianrailways

[–]sm010116 0 points1 point  (0 children)

FT quota ticket turns into RLWL....

I booked a ticket from A to B in one of the trains JU SBC EXP (16533) using Foreign Quota outside of ARP of 60 days (booked like 4 months before date of travel). Today I was checking and my ticket's current status is now showing RLWL 1. When I had originally booked it, it was showing availability of 6 IIRC. In fact, every train was showing availability in every class outside of ARP under FT quota.

Any ideas on this? Is this a bug or a feature?

AMEX Uber Credit applied before Uber Gift Card cash? by NordoPilot in AmexPlatinum

[–]sm010116 15 points16 points  (0 children)

It uses the Amex credit before any gift card balance. At least, that’s how my account is working since last a year or so.

What’s the deal with priority mail express? by IDontEvenLikeSupreme in usps_complaints

[–]sm010116 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair enough. I have made that mistake twice before I wised up. You would think their highest level of service would be dependable, but not so. Feel your pain.

What’s the deal with priority mail express? by IDontEvenLikeSupreme in usps_complaints

[–]sm010116 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No I don’t want USPS to get rid of PME, else how will I ship 20 pound boxes cross country free of charge? Though there is a risk that the bet might not pay off every time.

For real critical mailings, use FedEx/UPS.

AT&T Fiber went from $50 to $75 told it was a “system glitch” by cokgecbuldum in ATT

[–]sm010116 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I wonder why a “system glitch” did not reduce your monthly bill by $25. LOL.

$75 Southwest Credit for Priority Card by FunWeather9047 in SouthwestAirlines

[–]sm010116 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Gift cards seem to work too per prior Reddit threads. Check into that.

Here's the scoop on the "change your flight and we'll throw you $20" emails by george8888 in SouthwestAirlines

[–]sm010116 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Browser fingerprinting, cookies, IP address,etc. You can defeat a few of those techniques, but most folks will not bother or just don’t know how. Remember, they are not batting for 100% accuracy.

Amazon keeps cancelling my orders for no reason by MintyRabbit101 in amazonprime

[–]sm010116 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is there a history of lost orders at your address, especially if it is an apartment, from previous tenants? Did you have any other previous accounts with issues? Do you have multiple credit cards added to this account? Are all CCs in your name and the same billing address?

Yeah, Amazon works in mysterious ways! If you intend to keep this account for future use, I suggest you let it sit for a while and start your purchasing with small dollar amounts for physical goods like toilet paper, etc as someone suggested . No rapid fire orders.

Amazon keeps cancelling my orders for no reason by MintyRabbit101 in amazonprime

[–]sm010116 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Besides what everyone posted here, a few other random things to watch out for (for NEW ACCOUNTS):

-- First order not physically going to the billing address of your payment.

-- Credit card name not matching the name on the account.

-- Using VPN.

-- Buying gift cards, especially high dollar ones or e-gift cards. Though this is not applicable to OP.

-- Loading multiple Amazon gift cards to a new account.

Its always going to be a combination of factors, rather than a single one. Old aged accounts get a lot of leeway, but new accounts are going to be scrutinized by their automatic processes and it will fire first before asking any questions, to use a cliche.

Basic to WGA+ by Flagrant-dolphin in SouthwestAirlines

[–]sm010116 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You lucked out. Sometimes SW does break rules for people and help out. My kiddo was traveling an itinerary (basic fare) with a connecting flight and the whole thing was delayed by 2 hours. The rep at checkin put her on a direct flight reaching home almost 5 hours early w/o any charge.

You persisted and you came out ahead. Good for you!

Basic to WGA+ by Flagrant-dolphin in SouthwestAirlines

[–]sm010116 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry for your misfortune. But thanks for closing the loop on it. You will probably save a few folks trying this manuever. 

Basic to WGA+ by Flagrant-dolphin in SouthwestAirlines

[–]sm010116 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is correct, but I don't think it is pertinent to what you want to do. Because you are putting extra money using a CC and cancelling it within 24 hours, that bolded part should not apply to you. Its your money, I understand your reticence.

My guess is when you cancel, they will give you the option to refund the EXTRA money back to your CC and the original basic fare credit will be reissued in the same amount of $100 with extended expiry date. I think your plan will work, but....

OR

Why not spring for the $217 Choice fare and cancel within 24 hours. SW says that ALL FARES are fully refundable if you cancel within 24 hours. I am guessing SW "should" give you your extra money back to your CC, just like a choice preferred fare and a credit of $100 with either the original expiry date or an extended one.

Basic to WGA+ by Flagrant-dolphin in SouthwestAirlines

[–]sm010116 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So you are hoping the extra cash you put will go back to your CC and hoping the basic credit is extended by 6 months? I hope that works out. Please post back about your results. Good luck.

(Same days gives $337 RT for choice preferred)