Credit Card Programs - Mileage Goals?

In regards to getting all these credit cards to earn bonuses and miles what generally are the goals? I've spent the past few days reading throughout the forums and searching different cards terms and conditions and it seems as though generally miles are not transferable to other programs.

So the way I look at it, the goal would be to sign up for say the US Airways Dividend Miles card and only keep it for a year (or before the annual fee hit). Try to maximize miles during that time frame then use the rewards to take a flight somewhere. Does that sound correct? (As i've read it is hit and miss on ability to churn).

So I do not travel very often in a year and maybe take a few small trips. This sounds like the logical route for me, yes? Get a discount on a particular airline through their program then cancel before annual fee, repeat the next year?

I'm sure its been asked before in varied form but if anyone could reach out to make sure i'm on the right path I'd appreciate it.

Global world travel domination, of course! Whoever flys the most miles free wins the prize.:p

In regards to getting all these credit cards to earn bonuses and miles what generally are the goals?

Global world travel domination, of course! Whoever flys the most miles free wins the prize.:p

Like James Bond in the Movie playing that electronic game for World Domination where you get electric pain and Largo loses and Bond get to dance with Domino.

In regards to getting all these credit cards to earn bonuses and miles what generally are the goals? I've spent the past few days reading throughout the forums and searching different cards terms and conditions and it seems as though generally miles are not transferable to other programs.

So the way I look at it, the goal would be to sign up for say the US Airways Dividend Miles card and only keep it for a year (or before the annual fee hit). Try to maximize miles during that time frame then use the rewards to take a flight somewhere. Does that sound correct? (As i've read it is hit and miss on ability to churn).

So I do not travel very often in a year and maybe take a few small trips. This sounds like the logical route for me, yes? Get a discount on a particular airline through their program then cancel before annual fee, repeat the next year?

I'm sure its been asked before in varied form but if anyone could reach out to make sure i'm on the right path I'd appreciate it.

Welcome to Flyertalk!

I think you have a pretty good strategy. I'm doing pretty much what you are - keeping credit cards for 11 months, spreading them out over the different banks and airlines, taking bonus miles as I can get them. I've sort of worked out a slow churn over the years as well. For one year, United (Chase) is the primary card, the next year Delta (Amex), the next year another bank and airline...and after a couple of years Chase comes out with a new kind of card with a new bonus, and the cycle starts again. :)

Welcome to Flyertalk!

I think you have a pretty good strategy. I'm doing pretty much what you are - keeping credit cards for 11 months, spreading them out over the different banks and airlines, taking bonus miles as I can get them. I've sort of worked out a slow churn over the years as well. For one year, United (Chase) is the primary card, the next year Delta (Amex), the next year another bank and airline...and after a couple of years Chase comes out with a new kind of card with a new bonus, and the cycle starts again. :)

So with the other cards that aren't primary cards you are keeping them but not using them? I'm guessing no annual fee's on these or sometimes do you eat the fee?

Thread moved to Credit Card Programs forum which is the primary venue for general discussions of earning miles and points with credit cards.

Yeah, no need to sign up for every offer in the world if you won't be using the miles. There are cases when there's an insane offer. But, before signing up for something always ask yourself if what your travel plans are for the next 12 months and work towards those goals with the best miles/hotel points/etc. There are mergers/changes to the plans all the time so no point investing in program you won't use for another five years.

I think that USAir gives 10K miles every year you renew their card, so you are in effect getting 10K miles for $89, not a bad deal. You also get a 5K discount on redemptions if you have their card.

You do have to keep the miles active but there are lots of ways to do that, you usually just have to generate one transaction. In general the airlines aren't trying to actually diminish the value of miles with expirations, it's mostly an accounting thing. (They have to book a liability for miles outstanding. Say someone has 50K miles, or even 5K, in their account, and hasn't touched the account for 10 years. Since the miles COULD be used, they have to carry a liability for them.)

Personally I burn a lot of DL and Air Canada miles, but I am trying to accumulate miles on US, AA, and UA, and bank them for a big trip in a few years. I know there could be changes and devaluations, but little is lost by getting them now.

So the way I look at it, the goal would be to sign up for say the US Airways Dividend Miles card and only keep it for a year (or before the annual fee hit). Try to maximize miles during that time frame then use the rewards to take a flight somewhere. Does that sound correct? (As i've read it is hit and miss on ability to churn).

This is generally what people do. Sign up bonuses usually give the most miles, as opposed to regular spending. You should consider where you want to go, whether you want to fly in a premium cabin, and what airlines are best for your origin and destination.

Some cards I will keep even with the annual fee. I plan to keep my Chase Sapphire Preferred (that's my everyday card), and will keep my Citi AA card if I get some sort of incentive when the annual fee comes due (if Citi waives the fee or gives me a mileage bonus to keep it). I'd also keep cards like hotel cards that give a free night every year. That would be worth the annual fee. I usually stop using cards after I meet the minimum spend for the sign up bonus.

I'd also keep cards like hotel cards that give a free night every year. That would be worth the annual fee. I usually stop using cards after I meet the minimum spend for the sign up bonus.

I'm a bit new to hotel credit cards been mostly focusing on airlines ones, I'm trying to find out which cards include a free night once a year. So far I found three all from chase:

Marriott Rewards Premier Visa Signature - $85
Chase Priority Club - $49 year
Chase Hyatt Visa Signature - $75

Are there any others out there worth keeping from chase or others? What would people consider the most valuable of the three or others? I know that's rather subjective and depends where I want to stay and what hotels are around, but overall.

I'm a bit new to hotel credit cards been mostly focusing on airlines ones, I'm trying to find out which cards include a free night once a year. So far I found three all from chase:

Marriott Rewards Premier Visa Signature - $85
Chase Priority Club - $49 year
Chase Hyatt Visa Signature - $75

Are there any others out there worth keeping from chase or others? What would people consider the most valuable of the three or others? I know that's rather subjective and depends where I want to stay and what hotels are around, but overall.

Yes, it does depend on what hotel chain you prefer, but I personally would go for the Chase PC and the Chase Hyatt. I am actually planning on applying for both of those, but am holding off because I recently just got two Chase cards. The PC card gives you a free night annually at ANY IHG property. Hyatt gives a free night annually at any category 1-4 hotel, but two free nights at any Hyatt property for signing up. Personally, I've had better experiences at InterContinental hotels and Hyatt hotels than at Marriotts, though I haven't stayed at any Ritz Carlton properties.

You can also consider the SPG Amex card. Starpoints are one of the most valuable points out there, for many reasons that I'm sure you can find on this site and others.

Yes, it does depend on what hotel chain you prefer, but I personally would go for the Chase PC and the Chase Hyatt. I am actually planning on applying for both of those, but am holding off because I recently just got two Chase cards. The PC card gives you a free night annually at ANY IHG property. Hyatt gives a free night annually at any category 1-4 hotel, but two free nights at any Hyatt property for signing up. Personally, I've had better experiences at InterContinental hotels and Hyatt hotels than at Marriotts, though I haven't stayed at any Ritz Carlton properties.

You can also consider the SPG Amex card. Starpoints are one of the most valuable points out there, for many reasons that I'm sure you can find on this site and others.

Thanks, and yes the SPG will most likely be my next card. I believe I'll get it before the 4th when the deal runs out. It doesn't a free annual night so I don't think I'll keep it when the fee comes due. Was considering looking at other hotel cards that give a free night a year. Wondering if there are more I missed. Sounds like PC card is the best of the three I know and lowest fee! Not too familiar with their hotels so I'll have to check and see if they fit in with where I'd plan to stay.

Thanks, and yes the SPG will most likely be my next card. I believe I'll get it before the 4th when the deal runs out. It doesn't a free annual night so I don't think I'll keep it when the fee comes due. Was considering looking at other hotel cards that give a free night a year. Wondering if there are more I missed. Sounds like PC card is the best of the three I know and lowest fee! Not too familiar with their hotels so I'll have to check and see if they fit in with where I'd plan to stay.

There are some very nice InterContinental properties all over the world. My most recent stays were in the IC Shanghai and the IC Hong Kong - Kowloon. They were very nice; I was quite impressed.

Great responses, greatly appreciated.

Let me ask a stupid question: How do you gain frequent filer miles when you use your mileage points to pay for the ticket? Do you get credited miles even though you aren't paying for them?

Great responses, greatly appreciated.

Let me ask a stupid question: How do you gain frequent filer miles when you use your mileage points to pay for the ticket? Do you get credited miles even though you aren't paying for them?

You do not earn any miles if you are redeeming miles for your flight. The only miles you can earn is by using your credit card to pay the fees and taxes.

However, one exception is the Citi AA Visa, which gives you a 10% back on redemptions, up to 10k miles per year. So if you redeem a ticket for 100k miles, you'll get 10k back.

Another thing I can think of is if you use UR points to book a flight (not transferring to miles), you might still get miles for you flight. I'm not sure on this. But doing that is rarely cheaper than transferring the points to miles and then using those to book.

+1 on PC card. You get the free night cert(no cat limit), plat status, 10% back on point redemptions, and no foreign trans fees. Not to mention the nice sign up bonus. Amazing value for $49. This card is a keeper imo.

I say this in a huge number of threads, I am not a fan of hotel cards, as often point redemptions are not as valuable compared to the prices I can get on Priceline. However, there are certainly exceptions. I got the Hyatt card (one each for my wife and I) and am getting 4 nights at a $700-a-night hotel in Paris. And $49 for the PC card with a free night is a great deal. A lot of cards are starting to have renewal incentives.