I was on a US Airways flight and they handed out an application form. Why not apply, I thought to myself. My credit isn't great (mid-600s) and I didn't expect to get it, but I do need to fly US Airways fairly often, I hate paying for checked baggage, and I want to get a heap of flyer miles, so I applied.

I got the email today that they approved me for a $10k credit card! I was quite surprised by that.

For me, the advantages are:

• No checked bag fees - this will pay for the annual fee right away
• 40,000 miles for signing up. This means a free flight basically.
• Getting qualifying miles after $25k in spending is pretty good, because I will make that level within a month or so.
• Getting lots of points when I fly US Airways, which I need to do quite often
• First class check-in line. I usually check a gun in my luggage, and I usually arrive late to the airport, so I need the first class check-in line!

The APR is crazy-high, just about 25%. They give a generous credit limit and they know people will max it out and carry a balance, and Barclays will make a lot of money from that. The only way to win with these cards is to never carry a balance. If you carry a balance, the free points are kinda like the "free" drinks gamblers get in Vegas. Free, but very expensive.

In my situation I can run a lot of business expenses through credit cards and pay them at the end of the month so I win, so long as I keep everything under control.

My #1 credit card right now is my Chase Mileage Plus Explorer Visa Signature. Their service is great, Visa Signature is great, and that's where the bulk of my spending will go, but I do want the US Airways card so as to get the benefits when I need US Airways.