I am still on the fence about this. Check the chart below to see if this is correct.
I probably will use the miles in 3 years but you have to decide now if you want to hedge them. The cost of extending the miles can get a little high. Paying the annual fee the 1st 3 years provides no benefit.
For example, say you get the miles on 6/1/13.
Miles expire on 6/1/16 but here are the costs if you want to extend them. I calculated it at $395 to get 1 more year. Kind of like an extended warranty.
Get card on 6/1/13, pay $79, total spend $79, miles expire 6/1/16
- 6/1/14, pay another $79, total spend $158, miles expire 6/1/16
- 6/1/15, pay another $79, total spend $237, miles expire 6/1/16
- 6/1/16, pay another $79, total spend $316, miles expire 6/1/16
- Keep using card monthly, miles expire when card is not used
- 6/1/17, pay another $79, total spend $395, miles expire when card is not used
Do I have this right? Still $400 for 3 one way US FC flights is a good deal, not amazing by FT standards, but good.