Originally Posted by
thetravelingRedhead
I would like to note that my travel goals are mostly in Latin America (Central America, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina), UK/Ireland/Scandinavia, Hong Kong, India, Thailand, Carribean. I dont fly much sadly, and I wish I could more. I am also a college student, graduating next year and trying to get a firm foundation with a stable job (things are looking really good. and of course this comes first), so maybe CC's or other forms of getting miles are the best (once I get a stable income). Or I wont be able to get any for a long time
Hi Redhead,
Being in Chicago, I would say AA is a natural choice. UA could also be very useful. I'd start with focusing on those two. But given that you're just starting out, and looking at earning through CC more than on heavy BIS miles from flying, I would say plan some of your awards out, read trip reports, and start with CC's for those awards you have planned rather than blindly applying for every card you see. From ORD you will have many ways to get international flights. UA miles give you great flexibility, allowing stopovers, and having many partners. BA has good use in South America and can be a good method for domestic flights too. AS has good award space from ORD to HKG, so keep them in mind too. So you really have lots to choose from, and if you're earning from cards you'll eventually end up with accounts in many programs, but I'd start by planning some trips and building balance with a target in mind.