MilesBuzz! - I need a make over

Ok that's the challenge. I need to revamp my system.

Former:
UA exclusive flyer (2P), MP CC super easy.

Current:
Should be pushing 50k flight miles a year, switched as much as possible personal spending to Starwood Amex. Still using MP visa for vendors that do not accept Amex. Will be happy to begin flying on a new carrier (which may end up being necessary anyway.)

Future: Have just incorporated and need a "Business" Card. Ultimately want to capture all business "miles/points" for personal use.

Situation:
Business Travel SFO-NRT 4X a year.
I'm an owner of the company and call the shots in terms of MR approval, etc.
Attorney says using a CC without my company name on it (aka a second Amex personal *wood) is not a good idea.

Observations:
Don't want to waste time on MP if UA sinks. AA doesn't seem anymore solid than UA.
MR has a crummy conversion to *wood plus I need a backup visa or MC for the business because Amex is not always accepted.

And yes, I've searched and searched and as a matter of fact read most all of the posts in the Amex/MC/Visa forums. I've posted in Buzz because my topic/concept is a total solution.

Love to hear any suggestions/schemes/strategies that anyone would like to contribute.

Thanks in advance,

Scho

[This message has been edited by schoflyer (edited 04-15-2003).]

Are your "major" flights in paid F or C? If not, is an upgrade something you need or seek? Are there airlines you won't or prefer not to fly on? What other destinations do you fly?

The Alaska Airlines Visa might do you well, with the AS Mileage Plan for your accumulation. You earn miles on most OneWorld carriers as well as NW and CO - and many count for qualifying miles. The 50K on other carriers will qualify you for AS top status. You don't get a lot of benefits as an MVP Gold flying the other carriers, but you do get some.

I use the AS Visa as my primary business card. I don't know the reasoning behind your attorney's advice if you keep all the charges segregated. But I am not second-guessing him, nor giving you advice. What I will say is that I'm an attorney that has used a "personal" Alaska Airlines Visa as my exclusive business card for about a decade, without issue (well, issue other than with the bank...)

In the past I've flown mostly economy. However, until now, it hasn't been business. Moving forward a decent discount C fare will be acceptable, but full C is probably not at this stage of our development.

As for the card, my attorney agrees that due to the fact I will need to personally guarantee the card, it comes down to optics, but why not eliminate a "hook" that someone could go after in an attempt to pierce the corporate veil.

As for the rest of our personl travel it is pretty much all over. That is why I figured I could go after free *wood hotels and pay for flights.

Scho

Through Bank One, you can also get a business card that yields UA FF miles. Costs are similar to the personal card, so you'll have to decide if the annual fees, etc., are worth the miles you will earn. In the case of my business, we don't push enough charges through on a credit card in a year to make it worthwhile.

Having said that, I wouldn't worry too much about needing a separate card. Plenty of other businesses require their employees to use their personal cards and then reimburse the employees based on their receipts/policy/etc.

If you apply for a credit card as a business, they'll end up granting it to you based on the personal credit report they will pull, and you'll be personally liable for the charges anyway, so it sure looks and smells similar to just using your personal card.