Dear OP,

IMHO, try a different approach--because, generally, secured cards are not really good for getting miles. Get a secured card or two (don't worry too much about miles right now) and make TIMELY payments for six months or so.

Then see about getting some unsecured cards with big bonuses. Some are tought (Chase Sapphire Preferred), some not so tough to get (reputedly Citi AA).

And, what I see as the important question: "How do I improve my bad credit?" would likely be better taken up on creditboards.com or by reading that and other credit sites (not flyertalk) such as http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit...a-credit-card/

This is not really an FT issue.