You will get the biggest flexibility having the AMEX starpoints card - and you have a year at no fee to see if you like it. The points can go to any airline with 20K and the 5K bonus, or smaller amounts to top off a ticket. Starpoints helped me attain lifetime platinum with AA, and just recently with the BA and starpoints promo 140K points became 350 miles on BA. I also have several aavantage credit cards - where my fee is waived because I have a citigold account at citibank, and I also have a diners club card with the fee waived. I used the AMEX for everything I can, the AAdvantage cards for anyplace that doesn't take AMEX, and DC for car rental insurance and their dining program (idine but with 20% off). I have had the Delta card in the past and have about 100K miles in Delta, but I hardly fly Delta and will keep them alive but my preferance is AA - I flew BA to London, and have a trip planned to Tunisia in June on BA. I booked the trip before their increase - so club tickets were 80K (they would now be 130K). Their recent promo made up for those double miles I would have gotten with Delta. You have so much more flexibility with Starwood that I think it is a better choice, especially since you aren't committed to Delta.