I don't know if this is the right thread/questionnaire to use for asking about frequent flyer credit cards, but here it goes. I'd like to start flying places and seeing more of the country.
I'd like an airline-specific card if at all possible, and I'd like to avoid Chase (because I already have a hotel-specific Visa card and the Amtrak Mastercard through them.) I would prefer no fee but I could fairly easily swallow up to $200 in annual fees if the credit card carries more than $200 worth of redemption benefits.
1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
(e.g., upgrades, priority services, baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, lounge access)
Reply: Priority services - especially being able to get through to live human beings quickly when things go pear shaped.
2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
(e.g., <25000, 25000-50000, >50000 miles and <25, 25-50, >50 flights?)
Reply: I wouldn't expect to ever break 25000 miles in a calendar year. The vast majority of my earned miles are going to be credit card spend-based.
3. What fare class do you usually buy?
(e.g., first, business, premium economy, economy)
Reply: Domestic first or business class.
4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Yes and for pleasure.
5. Which routes do you fly most often
(e.g., U.S. domestic, transatlantic, intra-Asia)
Reply: Domestic
6. What is your home airport?
(e.g., SFO, LHR, HKG)
Reply: Whichever Northeast Corridor airport is going to give me the best utilization of a frequent flyer program. (The closest hub to me is BOS.) I very much enjoy rail travel and would consider it worthwhile to take the train down to EWR or PHL or even BWI/DCA if fares were consistently cheaper or my range of options were much better from any of those places.
7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in a FFP, if any?
(e.g., AA Executive Platinum, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro)
Reply: Amtrak Select Executive if that counts as an FFP. Note that Amtrak Select Executive apparently includes no-questions-asked access to United Club lounges, but I haven't had the opportunity to actually try out this privilege yet.
8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Reply: No clue! That's what I'm trying to figure out.