Best Mileage Cards?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 137
Best Mileage Cards?
Hi there, thanks for such a great resource. I know Ill be annoying to some of you regulars, but Ive tried looking through the website and have never seen so many messages in a forum, so Im a little lost. Im looking for any credit cards that you guys (the experts) recommend for accumulating miles. I usually fly from LAX to PIT and sometimes to Atlanta, DC, and New Orleans. I take all kinds of airlines United, American, US Air, Southwest, Delta, AirTran, etc. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
#2
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: CLE
Programs: UA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,647
Why do you want to accumulate miles? You could get a cash back cc and buy the tickets you want with the cash you save.
You can get a credit card that allows you to "buy" tickets on any airline.
You can get a credit card that gives you miles on a particular airline.
I've chosen to stick with one airline and get status on that airline. I get free baggage, early boarding (great if you have carry-ons), and "preferred seats." That means you have to stay with one airline (or alliance). Occasionally I get upgrades.
My sister and BIL don't fly a lot, not enough to make elite. They have a cc that lets them buy tickets on the cheapest airline. Because my BIL puts all his business expenses on that, they have plenty of points to fly to Europe once a year.
What is best for one person may not make sense for another.
You can get a credit card that allows you to "buy" tickets on any airline.
You can get a credit card that gives you miles on a particular airline.
I've chosen to stick with one airline and get status on that airline. I get free baggage, early boarding (great if you have carry-ons), and "preferred seats." That means you have to stay with one airline (or alliance). Occasionally I get upgrades.
My sister and BIL don't fly a lot, not enough to make elite. They have a cc that lets them buy tickets on the cheapest airline. Because my BIL puts all his business expenses on that, they have plenty of points to fly to Europe once a year.
What is best for one person may not make sense for another.
#7
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: UA, AA, SPG, HH
Posts: 672
As a previous poster mentioned the SPG Amex is the default card of choice for many FT'ers, as you get better at managing all the moving parts you can rotate different cards in depending on category bonuses and spend requirements. If you do end up deciding to go with the SPG Amex I'd be happy to provide you with a referral in order to ensure that you receive the best sign-up offer currently available (and AMEX also provides me with a nice little bonus for referring you ) Private Message me if you're interested
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 137
As a previous poster mentioned the SPG Amex is the default card of choice for many FT'ers, as you get better at managing all the moving parts you can rotate different cards in depending on category bonuses and spend requirements. If you do end up deciding to go with the SPG Amex I'd be happy to provide you with a referral in order to ensure that you receive the best sign-up offer currently available (and AMEX also provides me with a nice little bonus for referring you ) Private Message me if you're interested
#9
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: IAD
Programs: UA Gold + 1MM; HHonors Gold; Marriott Plat
Posts: 746
rwalia99, Welcome to FT. As many posters have already said, there are several factors to consider when getting a Mileage card. May not hurt to get more than one either. Here is a blog post I wrote on this very topic. Hop it helps you makde a decision: http://boardingarea.com/blogs/unroad...t-card-part-i/
#10
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: Whatever's Cheapest, Accruing Miles, Redeeming for Premium Cabins, Not Chasing Status Unnecessarily
Posts: 2,264
Thanks
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 137
#14
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, CO Plat, UA 1P, FB Plat, Marriott PLT, PC Plat, HH Diamond, Starwood Gold, Nat'l Exec
Posts: 107
Delta Amex cards have some decent built-in benefits ($25 lounge access, free checked bag, extra MQM offers), but the downside is the overall devaluation of Skymiles. I have the Platinum card which packs a $150 annual fee up front, too.
#15
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: New York
Programs: Cutting down :-(
Posts: 604
+1 to AMEX starwood preferred guest (SPG)
By moving SPG point to an airline in buckets of 20000 you get 1.25 miles per dollar (except on United and Continental). If you move point to ANA then you can get some really nice deals to Europe. ANA has different award prices depending on the length of you trip and they often come out much cheaper than the standard carriers. And they partner with Virgin Atlantic (and you pay less in fees to ANA than with Virgin)
This year my SPG points are going to fancy hotels in Europe at roughly 3-5 cent per point.
By moving SPG point to an airline in buckets of 20000 you get 1.25 miles per dollar (except on United and Continental). If you move point to ANA then you can get some really nice deals to Europe. ANA has different award prices depending on the length of you trip and they often come out much cheaper than the standard carriers. And they partner with Virgin Atlantic (and you pay less in fees to ANA than with Virgin)
This year my SPG points are going to fancy hotels in Europe at roughly 3-5 cent per point.