Why might it make sense? For the past 25 years, Mrs. 747FC and I have been using our miles to take first class international trips. For example, later this year, we are going from HNL to IST, then IST to VCE, then back from FCO to HNL. If paid in hard cash, the total cost for F (and within Europe, C) would have been $39,656. When we booked this trip, our mileage cost was approximately 130,000 miles each. We consider this a huge benefit of the mileage program.

In short, the mileage credit card, coupled with the mileage that you fly, can really add to the quality of your vacation experience. At least it has for us over the past 25 years.