AARP /HAL Gift Cards

[polphi]

12 hours ago, Real NHDOC said:

When you check out there is the option to pay using gift cards or credit cards. There’s a little pull down above the credit card section that says “apply gift cards”. Just click on the arrowhead. I have done it myself so know it’s there. 

 

Thank you Real and Mary!

 

I got the gift card option after the "complete transaction" prompt, which is a bit unusual, but it worked.

 

Oddly, I can't seem to get the gift card option to stick when trying to pre-pay gratuities.  It showed up briefly for a second, but went away upon refresh, allowing only a credit card.  Have others been able to pay this with gift cards?  I'm guessing a glitch on my end.

 

Edited to add: when I try to add a beverage package, it lets me "apply gift card".  But it won't let me check out without paying a $50 balance due because of a name change.  Then when I remove beverage package and add the pre-paid gratuities, it removes the "pay $50 balance" AND the option for gift card payments.

Edited August 30, 2023 by polphi

[Haljo1935]

24 minutes ago, polphi said:

...

Edited to add: when I try to add a beverage package, it lets me "apply gift card".  But it won't let me check out without paying a $50 balance due because of a name change.  Then when I remove beverage package and add the pre-paid gratuities, it removes the "pay $50 balance" AND the option for gift card payments.

Highly encourage you to call in - they can take your payment using gift cards. 

[Mary229]

40 minutes ago, polphi said:

 

Thank you Real and Mary!

 

I got the gift card option after the "complete transaction" prompt, which is a bit unusual, but it worked.

 

Oddly, I can't seem to get the gift card option to stick when trying to pre-pay gratuities.  It showed up briefly for a second, but went away upon refresh, allowing only a credit card.  Have others been able to pay this with gift cards?  I'm guessing a glitch on my end.

 

Edited to add: when I try to add a beverage package, it lets me "apply gift card".  But it won't let me check out without paying a $50 balance due because of a name change.  Then when I remove beverage package and add the pre-paid gratuities, it removes the "pay $50 balance" AND the option for gift card payments.

You cannot prepay gratuities with the gift card, why?  I just don’t know. If they are in cart you need to remove them then you can pay whatever else with gift card

Edited August 30, 2023 by Mary229

[billco]

36 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

You cannot prepay gratuities with the gift card, why?  I just don’t know. If they are in cart you need to remove them then you can pay whatever else with gift card

Can you buy OBC with a gift card and then use that to pay gratuities once on board?

[Mary229]

4 minutes ago, billco said:

Can you buy OBC with a gift card and then use that to pay gratuities once on board?

Yes you can.  I do a little of both. I actually buy cards at sea and bring them to the office to pay down my bill as I go if need be. 

[LabMom57]

This is the BEST hack I have learned from these boards! I am paying for as much as I can and taking advantage of that 10% discount on an upcoming cruise around Japan.

 

One note for those who haven't read through the details:  You are limited to purchasing 5 GCs a day and 25 a month, so plan ahead if you have a very expensive trip or multiple cruises.

[Real NHDOC]

1 hour ago, LabMom57 said:

This is the BEST hack I have learned from these boards! I am paying for as much as I can and taking advantage of that 10% discount on an upcoming cruise around Japan.

 

One note for those who haven't read through the details:  You are limited to purchasing 5 GCs a day and 25 a month, so plan ahead if you have a very expensive trip or multiple cruises.

It's actually 5 a month per AARP account, but you can have a few accounts...

[iflyrc5]

It is actually $2500 worth per month per person.  We can purchase $2500 for myself and my wife for $5000 each month.  We pay for our October cruise totally with AARP gift cards and I already have enough to pay for our Jan/Feb 42 days of cruising.  Great benefit.

[Haljo1935]

Yes, it is an awesome perk of belonging to AARP and is even better w/AARP OBC on top!

[polphi]

I just purchased casino chips using AARP cards, and found a limit of $1,000 per transaction, and $1,500 for our overall booking.

 

I hadn't seen data points anywhere else discussing these limits.  I wonder if limits per booking vary?

[Haljo1935]

11 minutes ago, polphi said:

I just purchased casino chips using AARP cards, and found a limit of $1,000 per transaction, and $1,500 for our overall booking.

 

I hadn't seen data points anywhere else discussing these limits.  I wonder if limits per booking vary?

I haven't seen anyone mention casino chip purchases - hopefully someone w/experience will chime in. 

[mcrcruiser]

Of we bought a $500 AAEP gift card  for on board credit  & say used $200 of it  .how would the balance be credited ?

 

TIA 

[sandiego1]

Didn’t you already ask a similar question on another thread? If you don’t use all of your AARP gift card, the balance remains on the card (or is refunded back to the card if you buy OBC).

[mcrcruiser]

Any one who has purchased AARP gift Cards please let us know, if we used the $500 gift card for extra on board credit & used $250 of it ,will HAL credit our credit card on file ?

 

TIA

[0106]

I believe your questions were answered on your previous threads about AARP gift cards.

[mcrcruiser]

1 minute ago, 0106 said:

I believe your questions were answered on your previous threads about AARP gift cards.

We did not see answer to this question & that is ehy I posted it now .It seems to me that HAL woud have to credit the unused AARO gift card balanxce to our crefit card onfile but I wanted to hear from those that actually did this 

[0106]

I believe your question was answered in your 8/24 post but if you are not confident with the replies you received I suggest you call HAL on Monday.

[mcrcruiser]

3 minutes ago, 0106 said:

I believe your question was answered in your 8/24 post but if you are not confident with the replies you received I suggest you call HAL on Monday.

looked but could not find that post

[Toofarfromthesea]

1 hour ago, mcrcruiser said:

looked but could not find that post

 

He linked to it in message #2 oof this thread.  If you click on it it will take you to that thread.

[sandiego1]

Asked and answered. HAL credits it back to the AARP gift card, not to the credit card used to purchase the gift card. 

[sailawayward]

look again. you posted about this 3x.

[mcrcruiser]

5 minutes ago, sandiego1 said:

Asked and answered. HAL credits it back to the AARP gift card, not to the credit card used to purchase the gift card. 

But   using a $500 gift card which cost $450 ,then using $200  on the ship ,how can HAL returjn it to a gift card that originally cost $450 ? Perhaps the answe qill be a phone call to HAL id we could count on that person really knowing ? oe hopefully referring the question to the right dept to answer .We like to use the gift card for special restaurants 

[sandiego1]

You get a card worth $500, not $450. Again, any credit is returned directly to the AARP gift card.

 

if you only want to use $200,why don’t you buy a $200 card instead of the $500? Then your problem is solved.

 

[sandiego1]

I have purchased and used the cards on prior cruises. This is the way HAL deals with them.

[alwaysfrantic]

Can all travel agencies process gift cards for payment? (I pay the agency but the charge is from HAL)

 

im not sure it’s worth the risk.  If we did cancel the trip I know it would go back on the gift card