Diplomatico

Your stated issue doesn't really have anything to do with "credit card travelers", though. When you buy basic economy tickets - whether you pay with cash or with credit card points - you don't get an assigned seat and you forfeit other amenities in return for the lower price.

So it's not really a "points" issue - or an issue of airlines treating "credit card travelers" differently - it's the fact that you're purchasing a ticket in a fare bucket that is encumbered with additional restrictions.

Redhead

I think the OP is confusing the term "basic economy". I may be wrong but I believe he is saying "basic economy" without regard to the fare class, but saying, "a basic flight, not biz/first" whereas most FTers know that Basic Economy is a fare class where such elements as carry-on and seat selection have been stripped out of the cost

EdofFX

I also think that OP does not understand Basic Economy is a class of service, and that he (or she) can get what he want by picking the "main cabin" class. Main Cabin will probably require more points, or OP can look at Basic Economy as taking fewer points. For infrequent travelers, credit card may be the only way they can earn a free ticket. How else can they accumulate miles if they don't fly?

pgary

As to the original question: '"Are travel credit cards really worth it now?"

To answer that question, on must define "it". The starting cost of miles from travel credit cards is their opportunity cost. This is the amount of money you give up from cash back cards when spending on a miles earning card. See this discussion to compute that: The Opportunity Cost of Credit Card Miles Offers

Xlr

If you like the idea of last-minute ("this weekend", "tomorrow", etc) personal trips, travel credit cards are a good way to enjoy that freedom and avoid paying through the nose.

To clarify: I think it's still worth it despite the new restrictions on Delta.

javabytes

kapooncha

I'm not really going to get into whether people can select seats in advance for basic economy. But I will address the OP's question about whether travel cards are still worth it.

For me, yes. I got into this hobby back in early 2014 and have accumulated millions of miles from churning. I've been to 35+ countries in the last 4 years and that wouldn't have happened without all the miles I've racked up. Even now, almost 5 years after I got into the hobby, I still have a huge stash of points and miles that I can use.

I've slowed down a bit. Banks have gotten smarter about putting in rules to limit the amount of gaming the system that people can do. I still do it when able.

So for me, travel cards are still absolutely worth it. But I'm certainly not as crazed about it as I use to be.

Adelphos

darthbimmer

My advice for the past few years has been:

1. Do you understand the churning game? If so, then pursue lots of cards & programs.
2. Do you travel paid flights periodically (at least a few times a year) on an airline? Then get a credit card aligned with that program for some of its fringe benefits and to combine the points earning from flying & spending.
3. None of the above? A cash-back card is your best bet nowadays.

mia

Agreed, but even when (2) applies, if you generally travel in coach class on domestic USA routes served by more than one carrier, it may be better to put most of your spending on the 2% cashback card, and use the airline affinity card primarily for benefits. Cash allows you access to more seat inventory than miles, -and- you are unlikely to net more than $0.02/mile in economy on competitive routes.

kapooncha

Cash cards are best for daily spending (for nearly the entire population). Miles/Points cards are best for sign-up bonuses. There is no harm in having both types.

SkyTeam777

What's the best airline credit card at the moment for benefits and perks?

sdsearch

That depends entirely on what you need, because some benefits are only needed for some flyers, and some benefits may overlap with elite status that some people have at that airline. For example, early boarding might matter to someone who has no status, but is irrelevant to someone who boards even earlier because of their status. And some people, including me, fly "carry-on only", meaning we never check bags, and so a checked bag benefit is pretty useless to us.

Meanwhile, I doubt there is an unambiguous best. Do you value the 2 lounge passes with a United card more, or do you value the 10% back on miles redemptions (up to 10k a year) on AA cards more, or the $50 annual credit for DL purchases on DL cards more, or the 3x (rather than 2x) earning on AS flights as well as an annual Companion Fare (but with AS being only a "regional" airline) with the AS card? These benefits are so different, I don't see how anyone can rank them for anyone else.

And btw, sometimes for some things a non-airline card trumps an airline card. Amex DL cards earn 2x on DL purchases, but the Amex Gold card earn 3x on DL (and other airline purchases made directly with the airline), and MR points transfer 1 to 1 to DL! So you earn more DL miles on DL purchases by using the Amex Gold card (and then transferring to DL) than any DL card.

Adelphos

dreamspeed