FLYING J & Pilot TRAVEL CENTERS

[sc3283]

whoaaaaaa, maybe a wee bit less ego here?? come on guys these boards are for help, not ego inflation or slandering others.

[Fred1609]

We applied for our card some time ago. I like the idea of a company pursuing our business. Although looking at the locations I don't see a bunch in Washington or Oregon. Well, time will tell. You know for me its now all about service. I don't care if I pay a cent or two more....But I want good service. So we'll see how this experience with Flying J works out.

[deSanford]

Barlow46 sounds like you are happy with your savings. It took us "some time" to get our NEW card, and then we shredded our OLD cards. If anyone would like to see frequent questions answered about this NEW card go to the Good Sam or Pilot/Flying J web sites. I only posted this info so others can save money and enjoy the convenience this NEW card offers. deSanford

[BobGed]

For those of us that have a fuel rebate card like the Pen Fed card, you can have both your Frequent Fueler/My Rewards card and the RV Plus card active at the same time.

If I pull into a PFJ and there's no one at the RV pumps, I can use my Frequent Fueler card, pay with my Pen Fed card and get my credit card rebate. If the RV pumps are backed up, or if I'm in a hurry, I can fuel and pay at the truck pumps with the RV Plus card. I like having choices.

[Wizard]

One other reason I stop at FJ is that after pumping, I can pull over to the parking area and rest for a while. Can't do that at most small gas stations.

[Bill2]

Originally Posted by Diplomat Don

I was just pointing out that you can save quite a bit more money if you're willing to spend a few minutes to look.

docj......Does that mean your coach never comes to a stop. You don't stay in campgrounds? On this last trip as with most, we do stop at least overnight and other periods of 1-3 days. We get fuel in the morning when we leave. No driving around.

Maybe I was imagining what the prices were on those big neon signs vs what I paid.

akadeadeye.....If you read my post again...I didn't call anyone here dumb. When I tow my boat I'm 60' long. I don't have an issue getting it in smaller stations. I guess its a skill level!

Don,
I have the Pen Fed card for the 5% back. The problem I seem to have is at the Flying J Pilot you have to go inside to pay for the fuel which nills the 5% back. You have to use it at the pump to get the 5%. I think maybe that is why you look for other stations, is tha right? I would like to figure out a way to get it (5%) all of the time on the diesel. There is a code on the charge that identifies whether you used the card at the pump or inside. Any ideas would be appreciated.

[Ramblin]

I drive a gasser, so using truck lanes is not an option for me. My main criteria is not fuel price, as I find them all to be pretty competitive (within 8-10 cents). My top priority is getting in/out safely and easily. For this, I've found the PFJ to be pretty good, with few exceptions.

Next coach I buy (the retirement/fulltime coach) will be diesel, and one of the primary benefits of the switch for me will be the ability to use the big truck lanes at the PFJ.

[BobGed]

Originally Posted by Bill2

Don,
I have the Pen Fed card for the 5% back. The problem I seem to have is at the Flying J Pilot you have to go inside to pay for the fuel which nills the 5% back. You have to use it at the pump to get the 5%. I think maybe that is why you look for other stations, is tha right? I would like to figure out a way to get it (5%) all of the time on the diesel. There is a code on the charge that identifies whether you used the card at the pump or inside. Any ideas would be appreciated.

The only way to get the Pen Fed rebate is to swipe the card at the pump, which in the case of fueling at a PFJ would mean you have to use the RV pumps. There is currently no way to swipe any credit card at the truck pumps. There was some talk about PFJ providing that feature, but I have a feeling they went with their RV Plus program instead.

[LeeB]

Here is what I am doing I not only have the Frequent Fueler Card that I have had for years with $03 off. That I can use with my Pen Fed 5% rebate. I also have the Pilot/Flying J Credit Card with a $1000 monthly limit.. With the PFJ CREDIT Card I get $.08 off a gallon (Diesel). I can not use the truck lanes away my coach will not except the high pressure nozzles. But I like using PFL for all the reasons listed above.

Now I switched my Pen Fed back in February from Visa Platinum Cash Rewards Card to the PenFed Platinum Rewards Card. We use it as a Mini Savings account when we cash out they send us Visa GIFT CARD that can be used anywhere. The following is part of the e-mail Pen Fed sent me and it will help you to understand what I did..

This e-mail is to acknowledge your request to switch from the Visa Platinum Cash Rewards Card to the PenFed Platinum Rewards Card, authorized on PenFed Online on February 8, 2012. Upon your account's next billing cycle, scheduled for February 13, 2012, you will start earning 5 points per dollar spent on gas purchases, 3 points per dollar spent on supermarket purchases, and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Don't forget that starting February 13, 2012, you also have the opportunity to earn 25,000 bonus points - that's equal to $250. You will receive 5,000 bonus points upon your first purchase on or after February 13, 2012. You will receive an additional 20,000 bonus points if you spend $1,000 within 3 months of February 13, 2012.

So as you can see I not only get 5 points back for gas I also get 3 points per dollar at supermarkets and 1 point for other purchases. Note points translate into $
IN case your wondering I have already met my obligation.....

[deSanford]

LeeB I believe you saved most of your fuel expense after reading your bottom line: "HR Endeavor Being Pushed by a 2011 Colorado". deSanford

[RVhauler]

Dipolmat Don- one of the advantages of using PFJ (or any other truck stop) is the fact you always get fresh fuel. The odds of picking up water/algae/etc from mom and op stations is high and the cost of having your tank cleaned with associated costs is not worth it in my mind. Plus many stations list their price as "cash only" and add a surcharge for credit card use so your fuel isn't so cheap

[Dutch Star Don]

Bill2.......I just don't like the FJ's and Pilots....I guess everyone has figured that out. We use places like a Unocal in Fresno that has both car and truck lanes where we can use the card at the truck pump.

I apologize to deSanford for possibly stating my dislike for the FJ and Pilots the way I did. I just don't like them. We were forced to use one in Blythe years ago and waited in the left turn lane in the street for 30 minutes while two old guys discussed the world situation while blocking both RV pumps. Then when they were done, they did their windows. There were three RV's in line waiting to get in.

As I said before, I wasn't calling anyone HERE stupid, but I've just had bad luck pulling in and getting stuck behind some old piece of crap with ma and pa Kettle driving that decided to pump fuel, go shopping and come back about 30 minutes later.

With a 100 gallon tank, I pick and choose my stops. In Ca, Az, Nv, Or and Washington State, I pretty much know where I'll purchase my fuel. For example, there is a Pilot as you enter Quartzsite, but I've been getting my fuel at a Chevron in town that is always .5 -.6 cents cheaper for years.

[deSanford]

NO apology needed this is a forum where we are FREE to express our opinions. I skip both the Pilot and the Chevron and stop at the Flying J just North of Quartzsite. They have a dump and Propane.....plus easy in and out. The BIG issue of higher fuel prices is the inflation this causes to everything. The government is doing their best to make everything look good when in fact it isn't. It is throwing Israel under the "bus" so one man can get reelected. Sorry I didn't mean to get off of thread subject. deSanford

[docj]

Originally Posted by Diplomat Don

As I said before, I wasn't calling anyone HERE stupid, but I've just had bad luck pulling in and getting stuck behind some old piece of crap with ma and pa Kettle driving that decided to pump fuel, go shopping and come back about 30 minutes later.

Don:

Everyone is free to do as they wish. However, I am puzzled why someone with a larger rig would bother to use the RV lanes at a truck stop. I don't even look at the RV lane availability; I just follow the truck signs. Truckers are quite respectful of the rules about fueling and leaving; they pump, they pull forward, they leave. Some RVer's complain that the truck lanes are dirty; IMHO fueling stations aren't clean places and I'm not planning on eating in the lane anyway.

I do sometimes use Valero's and similar stations as long as they have truck lanes, but that is not something one always knows in advance if you are driving in areas where you've never been before. For us, as full-timers, that is most of the time. I do, however, try to look for stations that seem to have reasonably high volumes. A tank of fuel with water and/or algae can be a singularly bad experience and I'm willing to pay a small premium not to have to worry about that.

Joel