Originally Posted by wanaflyforless
Depends what other souces of miles he has into these accounts. Also, value of miles depends on travel needs - for many travellers, they are worth 1 cent or less - other like me always redeem them for needed expensive tickets. Totally depends on travel needs.
In case you didn't notice, the poster of the original question (whom I was replying to) was specifically looking for a MasterCard (to use mostly for MC-specific promos), but all the programs he actively particpates in currently only partner with either Visa or Amex. If that weren't his case, my recommendation might be completely different (for example, a 1 mile/$2 no-annual-fee card for one of those FF programs).
Please explain to me how needing expensive tickets makes it worthwhile to subject yourself to a 90% devaluation by going through a points-transfer service or how earning a few hundred points a year on a card which has a 5000-point transfer threshold? (Because those seem to be the main point/mile-earning options he has right now with MasterCard relative to the FF programs he prefers.)