MilesBuzz! - Opinions on FF Credit Cards?

In your opinion which is the best FF mile Credit card out there. Which gives you the "best bang for the buck" so to speak.

I have several reward/rebate cards. Cashback, Amex MR Points, MBNA Worldpoints, but cards with miles seems to give more for charging.

I currently have the Amex Platinum Delta, and just applied and received the new Bank of America US Airways Signature Visa. Are these some of the better?

I want to know the BEST card to accumulate miles.

Please do a search. There are countless existing threads on this topic.

Please do a search. There are countless existing threads on this topic.

I did a search, I was just asking opinions of those that have these cards. I did not ask to be told to do a search.

I did a search, but all the information I can find is rather outdated! :confused:

I did a search, I was just asking opinions of those that have these cards. I did not ask to be told to do a search.

I did a search, but all the information I can find is rather outdated! :confused:

I would go with Starwood AmEx card. Can transfer points to 29 different airlines with most transfers being 1:1 ratio. Plus, for every 20K transferred => SPG adds 5k bonus. The annual fee is usually free the first year and $30/yr the following years.

I'd think the best bang for your buck really depends on what airlines you frequently fly on or what hotels you stay at. I currently hold CCs with NW, HH (Amex) and the SPG Amex. Since my primary carrier is NW, I charge almost everything on the NW Visa and use the SPG/HH Amex(s) as back-up cards. The SPG Amex card is great because it allows you to top off any FF account and gives the 5,000 bonus with a 20,000 point transfer, but IMHO, the best card for you may still be the affinity program you are most loyal to.

aloha

I would go with Starwood AmEx card. Can transfer points to 29 different airlines with most transfers being 1:1 ratio. Plus, for every 20K transferred => SPG adds 5k bonus. The annual fee is usually free the first year and $30/yr the following years.

This does sound pretty good. Sounds better, or about the same as the Amex with the MR points.

Starwood, not too familiar with them.... Holiday Inn hotel chain?

I'd think the best bang for your buck really depends on what airlines you frequently fly on or what hotels you stay at. I currently hold CCs with NW, HH (Amex) and the SPG Amex. Since my primary carrier is NW, I charge almost everything on the NW Visa and use the SPG/HH Amex(s) as back-up cards. The SPG Amex card is great because it allows you to top off any FF account and gives the 5,000 bonus with a 20,000 point transfer, but IMHO, the best card for you may still be the affinity program you are most loyal to.

aloha

I concur. My NWA Visa is pretty darn good.

I really like the SPG Amex. The 1.2 airline miles per dollar, is great to top off accounts.

Tehre are also some excellent Starwood redemption options, too. For example, the the recent 25% off award reservation special. Cash and points is always good for a cheap night a top hotel, and points and miles can get you an entire vacation....

the major drawback, is that it's AMEX and not accepted everywhere, so you'll need a Visa / M-card backup. I used a Fleet cashback card w/o annual fee for that.

I really like the SPG Amex. The 1.2 airline miles per dollar, is great to top off accounts.

Tehre are also some excellent Starwood redemption options, too. For example, the the recent 25% off award reservation special. Cash and points is always good for a cheap night a top hotel, and points and miles can get you an entire vacation....

the major drawback, is that it's AMEX and not accepted everywhere, so you'll need a Visa / M-card backup. I used a Fleet cashback card w/o annual fee for that.

Once Diners Club card is rebranded with MasterCard early next year, it will be the best FF card around. High annual fee and the FF transfer fees are drawbacks but IMHO, its other features more than make up...

Starwood, not too familiar with them.... Holiday Inn hotel chain?

Starwood is Sheraton, Westin, W hotels, Luxury Collection, Four Points, St. Regis.

SPG Points are very versatile. As noted, they can be used to top off other FF accounts. They can also be transferred with the 1/1.25 ratio when transferring in 20,000 SPG point increments.

But another great feature of the SPG points is the no blackout date availability of rooms at the Starwood hotel brands with the SPG points.

So I would have to agree that the SPG Amex is the best card, for these reasons. (And I have made great use of the extended warranty and purchase protection features as well, although they are not really FF related, but they do make the annual fee more than worthwhile when compared to no annual fee cards.)

I did a search, but all the information I can find is rather outdated! :confused:

In the last six months alone:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=336006&highlight=card
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9500&highlight=card
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9461&highlight=card
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9385&highlight=card
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9346&highlight=card
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9339&highlight=card
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9329&highlight=card

In the last six months alone:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=336006&highlight=card
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9500&highlight=card
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9461&highlight=card
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9385&highlight=card
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9346&highlight=card
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9339&highlight=card
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9329&highlight=card

You are SO helpful Upgrade.

I did a search, I was just asking opinions of those that have these cards. I did not ask to be told to do a search.

I did a search, but all the information I can find is rather outdated! :confused:

snicker :rolleyes:

In your opinion which is the best FF mile Credit card out there. Which gives you the "best bang for the buck" so to speak.

I have several reward/rebate cards. Cashback, Amex MR Points, MBNA Worldpoints, but cards with miles seems to give more for charging.

I currently have the Amex Platinum Delta, and just applied and received the new Bank of America US Airways Signature Visa. Are these some of the better?

I want to know the BEST card to accumulate miles.

What might help is consider which airline you would frequent the most. I'm in Austin so I use Citibank/AA and Amex/DL. Also, are you looking for free coach tickets or using points for upgrades?

You are SO helpful Upgrade.
giggle :p

Bad mood, nevermind.

What might help is consider which airline you would frequent the most. I'm in Austin so I use Citibank/AA and Amex/DL. Also, are you looking for free coach tickets or using points for upgrades?


Hmmm....how would the choice of free tickets vs. upgrade impact the decision on which card gives the best amount of return? I have so far been an aggregator - but not really used my mileage for anything.

I guess the only point I can think of is that if you get miles using say an Amex Delta - you really cant use that for upgrades on any other airline except for flights with delta numbers on it.

Did I just answer my question? Or would there me something else to consider to?

I've gone exclusively to hotel credit cards. The 2 I have (Hilton Amex and Marriott Visa) charge a $50 fee, but they each give you lowest-tier Elite sttaus. In my case, I pay them off in full every month so I can't tell you if finance charges, etc. are competitive. My main reason for going with hotel cards is that it just seems easier to get the hotel Reward stays where you want and when you want them than to get free flights, but my experience with the latter has been mostly with CO. Enough said.

Hmmm....how would the choice of free tickets vs. upgrade impact the decision on which card gives the best amount of return? I have so far been an aggregator - but not really used my mileage for anything.

I guess the only point I can think of is that if you get miles using say an Amex Delta - you really cant use that for upgrades on any other airline except for flights with delta numbers on it.

Did I just answer my question? Or would there me something else to consider to?


Well, some airlines will allow the lowest priced transatlantic tickets to still be upgraded with miles, while others will not. Hence, that might influence what airline you might want to accumulate miles on, and what credit card.

Djlawman

Once Diners Club card is rebranded with MasterCard early next year, it will be the best FF card around. High annual fee and the FF transfer fees are drawbacks but IMHO, its other features more than make up...

Are you serious? Cool! ^

For those who belong to one, If not find a relative who does and ask them to sign you up. My Navy Federal Credit Union's Travel Visa card ($49 per annum), allows a free ($5 fee) flight on any available flight on any airline up to $300 for 15,000 pts, $500 for 20,000 pts, and $1000 for 25,000 pts, etc. They book via a special travel agent so is not restricted to limited "free" seat. The best part is you also earn regular airline miles on those free flights.

I've gone exclusively to hotel credit cards. The 2 I have (Hilton Amex and Marriott Visa) charge a $50 fee, but they each give you lowest-tier Elite sttaus. In my case, I pay them off in full every month so I can't tell you if finance charges, etc. are competitive. My main reason for going with hotel cards is that it just seems easier to get the hotel Reward stays where you want and when you want them than to get free flights, but my experience with the latter has been mostly with CO. Enough said.

It's my understanding that the Hilton Amex charges no annual fee and gives you Silver status. The Marriott Visa waives the annual fee for the first year and gives you Silver status as well. The fee for the Marriott Visa in subsequent years is only $30.

I think that the Hilton Amex will give you 7,500 to 10,000 points for signing up and the Marriott Visa will give you 15,000 points at sign up. If you look at the value of Hilton versus Marriott points, I think you will find that Marriott points are more valuable but that Hilton points are easier to obtain.

Lots of people like the SPG Amex as their card of choice. SPG points can be converted to airline miles with the 20,000 point bonus threshold and are quite valuable for hotel rewards at Starwood hotels.

As they have done formerly with Diners Club, British Airways Executive Club made a deal this year for a 2 month window to convert 1 SPG point into 2 British Airways miles. Converting 20,000 Starwood points at a time which earn a 5,000 point bonus for a total of 25,000 points that converted into 50,000 British Airways miles. As a practical matter this meant that 20,000 SPG points would pay for an economy round trip accross the Atlantic.

If history is any guide, I suspect SPG and BA will make the same deal again next spring.